A Seminar on

Chanting Hare Krsna

Srila Prabhupada
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krsna
Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna
Hare Hare
Hare Rama
Hare Rama
Rama Rama
Hare Hare
Sacinandana
Swami
 “Sri Harinama
Cintamani”

Srila Bhakti Vinode

Thakura
Srila Prabhupada on the
Holy Name
HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA
KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

Chanting Hare Krsna is the

sublime method for reviving
our transcendental
consciousness.
As living spiritual souls, we
are all originally Krishna
conscious entities
Due to our association with matter
from time immemorial, we are all
trying to be lords of material nature,
while actually we are under the grip
of her stringent laws.
 Four Stages of Consciousness

1. Animal Stage

2. Mental
speculative
Stage
3. Intellectual
Stage

4. Transcendental
Stage
 Anyone can take part in the
chanting without any previous
qualification and dance in ecstasy.
Everyone can chant and dance in
Ecstacy
Everyone can chant and dance in
Ecstacy
chanting should be heard from the
lips of a pure devotee of the Lord,
so that immediate effects can be
achieved.
 Chanting from the lips of non-
devotees should be avoided, just as
one would avoid milk touched by
the lips of a serpent because it has
poisonous effects
 The Meaning of Hare Krsna
Mahamantra
• HARA – Form of
addressing the
Supreme Pleasure
Energy of the Lord

• KRSNA – All –
Attractive

• RAMA – Supreme
Pleasure

Maya - the material energy

Hara helps us to reach the
Supreme Lord.
The chanting is a spiritual call for the Lord
and His internal energy Hara to protect the
conditioned soul. This chanting is exactly like
the genuine cry of a child for its mother.

Mother Hara helps the devotee achieve the

grace of the Supreme Father, Hari or Krishna,
and the Lord reveals Himself to the devotee
who chants this mantra sincerely.
Glories of the
Holy name
 Krsna and His Name Are
Non-Different
 Transcendentally blissful
 Bestows all spiritual Benedictions
 Form of Transcendental mellows
 Name is as powerful as Krsna
 Not Contaminated by Material
Qualities
 Krsna’s Name is always liberated
EXAMPLE
 Chanting is the Most Important
Element of Devotional Service
Srila Jiva gosvami Prabhu in his
Bhakti-sandarbha (270) says…
Chanting is the
 Chief means of attaining love of Godhead
 It does not depend on any paraphernalia
 No qualification required (High Birth, wealth,
material qualification)
 By humility and meekness, one attracts the
attention of Krsna and achieves Krsna Prema
which is the complete perfection of life!
 Rupa Goswami on Chanting
When the Holy Name is chanted, what
happens….???
‼ The devotee desires to have millions
and millions of tongues and ears to
chant and hear…………..
Vidagdha Madhava 1.15 quoted in Cc.
Antya 1.99
I need millions
of tongues and
ears to chant
and hear!
‼ Nama prabhu
dances on the
mouth and in the
courtyard of
heart……He
conquers our
activities of mind…..

THEREFORE……..all
other senses
become inert!!!
 Sastrical Evidences
Brhan – Naradiya Purana states…

“HARER NAMA HARER NAMA

HARER NAMAIVA KEVALAM
KALAU NASTY EVA NASTY EVA
NASTYEVA GATIR ANYATAH”

In this age of Kali, there is no other alternative, no other

alternative, no other alternative, for spiritual progress,
than the Holy Name, the Holy Name, the Holy Name of
the Lord!!!
 Sastrical Evidences
 Kali – Santarana Upanisad
Sage Narada’s conversation with
Lord Brahma in the beginning of
Kali yuga…
Narada: How can the fallen souls be
liberated in kali-yuga?
Brahma: Simply through the
chanting of Hare Krsna Maha
mantra, men are purified in this
age of Kali and the Supreme Lord
Sri Krsna will appear in front of
the chanter as the brilliant beams
of sun after the clouds are
dispelled.
 Sastrical Evidences
Brhad- Visnu Purana states:-
 By chanting the Holy name, a sinful
person counteracts the reactions to
more sins than he is able to commit
 Displays it’s force even when chanted
unknowingly or unintentionally

Example :- The story of a Muslim

“Harama”
 Brhad – Visnu – sahasra – nama stotra

Lord Siva tells to his wife Durga:

“Sri Rama Rama Rameti

Rame Rame Manorame
Sahasra – namabhis tulyam
Rama – nama varanane”

3 times chanting Rama’s name = 1000 Holy

names of Visnu
 Brahmanda Purana
“Sahasra – namnam punyanam
Trir-avrttya tu tat phalam
Ekavrttya tu krsnasya
namaikam tat prayacchati”

1 time chanting Krsna’s holy name = 3 times

chanting the holy name of Rama = 3000 times
chanting the Holy name of Visnu
Effects of the Holy name
Srila Sanatana Goswami says
…
 Holy name causes the
devotee to give up all
conventional duties,
meditation and worship
 Somehow or other chanted
once awards liberation
 Holy name of Krsna is the
highest nectar
It is my very life and my only
 Sastrical Evidence
Sri Caitanya caritamrta Antya 4.71

tare madhye sarva-srestha nama-sankirtana

niraparadhe nama laile paya prema-dhana
“Of the 9 processes of devotional service, the
most important is to always chant the
holy name of the Lord. If one does so,
avoiding the 10 kinds of offenses, one very
easily obtains the most valuable love of
Godhead.”
 Why there is no taste for
chanting?
As long as we are on the platform
of NAMA APARADHA (or) NAMA
ABHASA, our chanting will not be
always be tasteful.
Simply continue to chant and one
will certainly make an experience
of Krsna’s real nature
 ANALOGY AND SOLUTION
Holy Name “KRSNA” is like Sugar
Candy
Our tongue is afflicted by the jaundice
of avidya (Ignorance). We cannot taste
anything sweet.
By carefully chanting the sweet names
every day, natural taste awakens within
the tongue and the disease is gradually
destroyed at the root.
 Relationship between the
chanting the Holy name and the
different levels of Devotional
Service
A first class Vaisnava is he
whose very presence makes
others chant the Holy name
of Krsna!!!
 The meaning of the Holy name
 It is an offense to interpret the meaning of the Holy name
 We must adopt the explanation given by Srila Prabhupada
HARE KRSNA MAHAMANTRA CONSISTS OF 32 SYLLABLES
HARE, KRSNA & RAMA
Meaning of Krsna:-
KRS  ALL- ATTRACTIVE
NA  SPIRITUAL BLISS
Another meaning :-
KRS  either ‘To Draw’ or “The entire existence”
NA  TERMINATION

Therefore Krsna means

i. He who draws the Conditioned Souls
ii. He who finishes the material existence of birth and death
 The meaning of the Hare
Krsna Maha mantra (Contd.,)
Meaning of Rama :-
RAMA  SPIRITUAL
ENJOYMENT
Meaning of Hare :-
HARE  Srimati Radharani, the
most excellent of all the Gopis
 CONCLUSION
The maha mantra expresses the
following prayer:
“Oh Hare, energy of Krsna (Hare,
Radhe), Oh Krsna! Please
engage me in Your devotional
service so that I can get relief
from the service of maya.”
Effects of the Holy Name
“Ceto darpana marjanam
bhava maha davagni
nirvapanam…”
“…sreya kairava candrika
vitaranam…”
“…vidya vadhu
jivanam…”
“…anandambudhi
vardhanam…”
“…pratipadam
purnamrtasvadanam…”
“…sarvatma snapanam…”
“…Param Vijayate
Sri Krsna Sankirtanam”
 “Let there be all victory for the chanting of the
holy name of Lord Krsna,
which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and
stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material
existence
.
That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads
the white lotus of good fortune for all living enti
ties
.
It is the life and soul of all education.
The chanting of the holy name of Krsna expand
s the blissful ocean of transcendental life.
It gives a cooling effect to everyone and
 Ceto darpana marjanam
The mirror of the heart is purified of the dust of
material impressions consisting of desires to
enjoy separately from Krsna and of bad
habits, anarthas
Bhava maha davagni nirvapanam
 Chanting extinguishes the sufferings of
the tremendous blazing fire of material
existence.
☼ The spiritual master is receiving
benediction from an ocean of mercy. Just
as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to
extinguish it, so the spiritual master
delivers the materially affected world by
extinguishing the blazing fire of material
existence.
 Therefore, Srila Prabhupada said that the
most important instruction of the spiritual
master is to chant 16 rounds daily.
Sreyah kairava candrika vitarana
m
Chanting resembles the
cooling moon rays
which cause the white
lotus of good fortune be
burst into bloom!
The moonlight of the
holy name reveals all
auspicious things to the
sincere chanter
The chanter is freed
from all past sins
Vidya vadhu jivanam
Chanting is the
life and soul of all
knowledge
In the heart of a
devotee who
chants the holy
name, bhakti-
devi, the bride of
the Lord,
appears, with her
two sons,
knowledge and
renunciation
Ananda ambudhi vardhanam
♣ Chanting gives rise to the auspicious
ocean of transcendental life
♣ The whole spiritual life develops from
one’s chanting, like a big tree which
grows out of a seed
Pratipadam purnamrta svadanam

On every step, chanting

conveys perfect, sublime
nectar
It is the bud of the flower
of divine love
blossoms and reveals
Krsna’s form and qualities
 His pastimes
Sarvatma snapanam
Chanting has a cooling and
refreshing effect on
everyone
It reduces the fever of
conditional existence
desiring to enjoy material
life
 One who is
always engaged
in hearing and
chanting the Holy
name will
remember the
Lord in the hour
of death and will
be elevated to
the spiritual
kingdom
Holy name is the Yuga - Dharma
In this age of Kali, the Hare Krsna
Maha- mantra, is the incarnation of
Lord Krsna.
Anyone who chants this is
certainly delivered.

“kali kale nama rupe krsna avatara

nama haite haya sarva-jagat-nistara”
 Chanting in different Ages
Satya Yuga: Dhruva chanted “Om
Treta Yuga: namo
In the yajna
conducted by Nabhi,
Bhagavate Vasudevaya”Father of Lord
Rishabhadev,
Brahmanas recited :
‘atha kathancit…tava
guna krta nama …’ [SB
5.3.12]
Also Valmiki chanted
‘Rama’……

Dvapara Yuga: Draupadi

called out Krsna’s
name
 3 ways of chanting

Manasa Upamsa Vacik

 Scriptural quotes
Loud chanting is a thousand times better
than silent chanting -Naradiya Purana
The names of God should be chanted
loudly -Srila Jiva Gosvami in Krama-
sandarba
If one chants the Hare Krsna maha
mantra loudly, Krsna personally dances
on the tongue -Stavamala-vibhusana-
bhasya by Baladeva Vidyabhusana
3 Main Potencies of Krsna
1. CIT-VAIBHAVA
1. SANDHINI
2. SAMVIT
3. HLADINI
2. ACIT-VAIBHAVA
3. JIVA-VAIBHAVA
 In Bhakti, the way and the
goal are same
Krsna’s holy name
is the way, but it is
also the goal, Krsna
Himself.
The story of a
beggar who went to
a king to see gold.
Krsna’s Principal and Secondary
Names
• Principal names (mukhya) are names
like Krsna, Govinda, Gopala, Rama, and
Gopinatha. They refer to Krsna in His
eternal pastimes with His devotees in
the spiritual world.
• Secondary names (gaunya)
characterizes His relationship with the
material world. Example, Paramatma,
Isvara, Visnu, God, Allah.
3 Stages
of Suddha nama
Chanting Nama-abhasa

Nama-aparadha
 Suddha nama

This is the pure stage of chanting

A suddha-nama chanter observes
Krsna appearing personally on his
tongue
As an effect of this chanting, he
receives pure love of Godhead
 Nama-abhasa
‘Abhasa’ means reflection
This is chanting on the clearing
stage
There is deliberate endeavor to
avoid offenses and to hear the
Holy name with full attention
By serving the spiritual master
with full attention, one rises to
suddha-nama stage
 Nama aparadha
Chanting with offenses
As long as the chanting is performed
with offenses, it is absolutely
impossible to attain love of God
Nothing else should be aspired than to
progress to the next stage as quickly
as possible. Offenses have to be given
up.
Offenses Against the Holy
name
 First Offense
• To blaspheme the devotees who
have dedicated their life for
spreading the glories of the Lord
• This is called Vaisnava aparadh
• It is also called ‘hathi matha
aparadh’
 2 kinds of qualities of a
Vaisnava
• Svarupa Lakshana
Surrender to Lord Krsna.
• Tatastha Lakshana
Other marginal qualities like being merciful,
tolerant, equal to all, performing penances
without excessively inflicting injury to the
body, truthful, pure-hearted,
compassionate, free from lusty intelligence
etc.,
 It is an offense when there is criticism
between disciples of different gurus or
between the gurus or between the
disciples of the same guru

I am great, I am great,
My My
spiritual spiritual
master is master is
the the
greatest! greatest!

Devotee A Devotee B
 4 kinds of offenses against
Vaisnavas
One should not criticize a Vaisnava about
his:
CASTE
UNINTENTIONAL SIN
LAST TRACES OF HIS PREVIOUS
SINS
SINFUL ACTIVITES PRIOR TO HIS
SURRENDERING TO LORD KRSNA
Causes for Vaisnava Aparadh

ASAT SANGA

ASSOCIATION TO MIX WITH ANY OF

WITH WOMEN 4 TYPES OF NON-DEVOTEES

ENVIOUS;
MAYAVADI PRETENDER ATHEIST
SENSE ENJOYERS
Whoever kills or blasphemes a
Vaisnava and
Whoever is envious of a Vaisnava or
angry with him or
Whoever does not offer him
obeisances or
Not feel joy upon seeing a Vaisnava

Certainly falls into a hellish

condition
 UTTAMA
VAISNAVA

3 kinds
of devotees
KANISTHA MADHYAMA
VAISNAVA VAISNAVA
 The Importance of
Associating with Devotees
• Krsna personally appears in the
heart of a pure Vaisnava, together
with bhakti (Devotion), hladini (His
pleasure-giving potency) and
samvit (His knowledge-giving
potency). By associating with such
a pure Vaisnava, one also receives
this bhakti.
 3 Objects Help us to Attain
Bhakti
Pure devotee’s:
Food remnants
The water which has
washed his lotus feet
The dust from his lotus feet
 KANISTHA VAISNAVA
Faith is formal and meager
Worships the Deity
Has not developed an interest
in serving a sadhu

A neophyte will have to receive a

pure devotee’s blessings to
advance in Krsna consciousness
 MADHYAMA VAISNAVA
 Develops loving affection for Lord Krsna
 Friendship with Lord’s devotees
 Compassion for the innocent
 Evades the company of atheists

 He quickly becomes a pure devotee

 He alone becomes eligible to chant the
pure name
HIS ACTIVITIES
 Uttama Vaisnava
Pure Devotee of the highest level:
 Sees Lord Krsna manifest everywhere
 Knows that everything rests in Him
 Lord Krsna is his life and soul
 Unconcerned with distinctions of who
is a Vaisnava and who is not
 His life revolves around the Holy name
 Holy name is the essence of everything
Madhyama Vaisnava’s Activities

He is always engaged in serving

sadhus
His stage marks the beginning of
pure Vaisnavism
Distinguishes Vaisnava from a
non-Vaisnava
Serving pure devotees is his
necessity
 A Devotee’s Activities should
Center Around
Association with sadhus
Service to sadhus
The chanting of the holy name
A constant attitude of
compassion for all living
entities
 Remedies for Sadhu Ninda
He must fall at the sadhu’s feet and
repent bitterly, weeping, he must
beg forgiveness, he should declare
himself a fallen wretch in need of
Vaisnava’s grace
A sadhu is very merciful; his heart
will soften and he will embrace the
offender, thus relieving him from
his offenses
 SECOND OFFENSE

To consider the names of

demigods like Siva or
Brahma to be equal to or
independent of the name
of Lord Visnu
 Lord Krsna’s Transcendental
position
 He is the Supreme Absolute Truth
 He is not subjected to the laws of material
world
 He exists beyond the 3 modes of material
nature
 He is the Lord of the universe
 He possesses transcen. Body and is in pure
goodness
 He is the master of Goloka
 He is the essence and source of Lord Visnu
 Scriptural quotes
• ‘Ekala ishwara krsna, ara
saba bhritya’
• ‘Yastu narayanam devam
brahma rudradi…’
• ‘yatha taror mula
nisecanena…’
64 qualities 60 qualities

55 qualities 50 qualities
 Analogy
• The purusa-avataras and the jivas,
among which are the demigods, obtain
their qualities from Krsna, in the same
way as an electric bulb receives it’s
energy from the power station.
 Difference between Krsna’s
name and Other names
Krsna’s name is identical with Krsna
Himself.
 This fact is not applicable to Demigods
or other lower living entities.

How can II Offense be rectified?

By repenting sincerely,
taking shelter of the Holy name and
by never committing this offense again.
Third Offense
To disobey the
orders of the
Spiritual Master
 Sastrical Evidences
• The Spiritual Master gives the Holy
name
‘sampradaya vihina ye
mantras te nisphala matah’
“If one is not actually connected with a
bonafide disciplic succession,
whatever mantras he chants will not
bring the desired result.”
 Srila Prabhupada writes…
“A Spiritual Master always
represents himself as the humblest
servitor of the Personality of
Godhead, but the disciple must
look upon him as the manifested
representation of Godhead…To
envy such an acarya is to envy the
Personality of Godhead Himself.”
The Characteristics of a Spiritual
Master
He knows the science of Krsna
He can control the six urges
Whether a brahmana, a sudra, a
householder or a sannyasi – he is
able to liberate the living entity
from the cycle of birth and death
……….
He has realized the conclusions of
the scriptures and can convey
them to others
He is firmly fixed in devotional
service – brahma nistha, and firmly
situated in spiritual life. He induces
others to give up their material life
and begin with spiritual life
He is an acarya, teaches by his
own example
How to serve the Spiritual
Master?

 DO’S
X DON’TS
 One SHOULD NOT :
 Regard the guru as an ordinary person.
Krsna has sent him to the disciple as
his eternal spiritual master, and he
should always be worshipped as a dear
servant of the Lord
 Disrespect the articles used by the
spiritual master (eg) his seat, bed,
shoes, vehicle, bath water etc.,
 Step on his shadow
………..
Worship another person in
his presence
Give initiation while he is
still alive
Try to impress others with
one’s spiritual knowledge in
his presence
Try to control him
 What should one DO :
The spiritual master should always be
worshipped before one starts to worship
Krsna
He should be offered a nice seat, shoes, foot-
bathing, cloth etc., Then with his
permission, the Deities of Sri Sri Radha
Krsna can be worshipped
Food should be first offered to the Deities
and then to the spiritual master
Whenever and wherever one sees his
spiritual master, he should offer his
prostrated obeisances to him with prayers
The Guru’s name must be uttered
with great reverence
His orders are never to be
disobeyed
Always be eager to honor his
remnants
Do not say anything that is
displeasing to him
Fall humbly at his feet and beg
shelter from him
 How and Why does the 3rd
Offense appear?
 The best is to concentrate on the
lectures and spiritual instructions and
not on the spiritual master’s physical
appearance
A disciple should actively seek his
pleasure instead of remaining
neutral
 Otherwise he runs the risk of
displeasing him by his complacency
and inattention
 Sastric Examples of
offenses committed by a
disciple to his guru
Indra insulted Brhaspati
Ramacandra Puri
offended Madhavendra
Puri
?COMMITS
? IF ONE HE SHOULD
BEG
AN FORGIVENESS
OFFENSE

SASTRIC EXAMPLES
 EXAMPLES
 When Sudarsana cakra was
chasing Durvasa Muni…
 Brahma, after stealing the
cows and the cowherd boys…
 Daksa became so puffed up…
 Indra’s statement of regret…
 Prayers of the Nagapatnis…
Eg: Indra surrendering to Krsna
 4 OFFENSE
th

To Blaspheme the

Vedic literatures and
literatures in
pursuance of Vedic
version
 Vedas
Vedas are free from 4 human defects :
• Kaaranaa paatava : imperfect
senses
• Pramaada : to be subject to illusion
• Bhrama : to commit errors
• Vipralipsaa : propensity to cheat
oneself & others.
10 Principal teachings of the
Vedas
Krishna is the only
Supreme Absolute Truth.
He is omnipotent;
He is Rasamurti;
Jivas are the Lord’s
separated parts and
parcels.
Proof of basis of real
knowledge is the Vedas.
Some jivas are bound in
the temporary material
universe, attracted by
illusory pleasures.
Other Jivas are
eternally liberated.
Krishna exists with all
His potencies – (acintya
bheda abheda tattva) :
SAMBHANDA
The first 7 of the 9 limbs of
devotional service belong to
VAIDHI BHAKTHI. They
establish SAMBHANDHA
JNANA.
The last two, Sakhyam and
Atma nivedanam, are
performed in Raganuga
bhakthi and explain
ABHIDEYA and PRAYOJANA.
The chanting of the holy
name is the most important
devotional activity.
Why is it an offense against the Holy
Name to Blaspheme the Vedas ?
Since the Vedas consider
the chanting of the holy
name as the most important
process, it is a great offense
to criticize the Vedas,
because then the holy name
is criticized as well.
 How can Fourth Offense be
rectified ?
One should openly repent and
offer obeisances to the
scriptures.
With great respect one should
offer flowers and Tulsi leaves to
the Srimad Bhagavatam and
the other Vedic literatures.
 5 Offense
th

To consider the

glories of the
Holy name to be
imagination
Offensive thought
The scriptural presentation
of the glories of the Lord’s
holy name is not entirely
true, because hyperbole
has been employed to
increase the reader’s faith
in the chanting of the
name
The results which are promised in the sastras,
are bound to appear in the life of the
chanter – sooner or later. They are like
seeds that are fructifying in due course of
time.
It depends on two factors:
The mercy of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead
Our sincere endeavour to avoid
offenses
 How can the Fifth Offense be
destroyed?
One should go to an assembly
of devotees and beg
forgiveness.
The devotees, who are fully
conversant with the glories of
the holy name, will mercifully
forgive and embrace the
offender.
Sixth Offense
To interpret the
holy name
 SOME CONCOCTIONS
 chanting hypnotizes the mind
 chanting is meant for meditating on Brahman
 A reporter asked Allen Ginsberg, “ What is
this chanting? “ He said, “ It is a biological
thing. The release of oxygen by constant
chanting produces ecstasy in the body”.
Where did he ever hear this? By his fertile
poetic imagination / concoction.
 These are MATERIAL EXPLANATIONS.
When I chant, I
see in my brain
- a big red light.
What should I
do?

Just keep
chanting.
It will go
away!
In Germany…
chanting works
like
HYPNOTISM!

No, it is not
hypnotism
– it is
purification!
 Seventh Offense

To commit sinful
activities on the strength
of the holy name
 Different stages of Sin
According to the Vedas, every
sin has 3 stages:
Ignorance
The desire to commit a
sin and
The sinful act in itself
 Types of Sins
Unintentional Sins - Sin without
a purpose (an accidental fall
down)
Intentional Sins - Committing
sins, thinking, the bad effect
will be washed off by the power
of the Holy name
 The process of chanting
Quickly removes the anarthas in
the heart and causes weakness of
heart to disappear.
Propensity to act sinfully is
removed immediately and his heart
shines with purity.
Softens the heart evoking
compassion for all conditioned
souls.
Frees the chanter from lusty desires
with no urge to enjoy the senses.
Makes him accept only what is
favorable for executing devotional
service and reject that is
unfavorable.
Convinces that Krishna is one’s
protector, savior and maintainer.
Makes him chant constantly the holy
names of the Lord in a humble state
of mind.
How can the Seventh Offense be
rectified ?
• If by some error this offense is
committed, one must cleanse
oneself in the assembly of
Vaishnavas.
• One should call aloud the name of one’s
spiritual master or Srila Prabhupada or
Krsna to protect oneself from committing
the offense
 Eighth Offense

To consider chanting Hare

Krishna to be one of the
ritualistic ceremonies
offered in the Vedas or
fruitive activities.
 What is the difference between
chanting the holy name and
pious activities ?
The holy name is directly
Krishna - the means and the
goal are identical.
For ordinary pious activities
–the means and the goal are
distinguished.
 Water…
water…
water…

If you are thirsty, you may cry. “Water…water…

water…” You will only become more thirsty,
because the utterance of the word ‘water’
cannot quench your thirst. But the holy name
of Krishna is non-different from the person
Krishna. NAMA CINTAMANI
 How can the 8th Offense be
rectified ?

Approach Vaishnavas and obtain

Sambandha Jnana, in order to
remove the ignorance. One
should avoid this mistake in the
future and should start
chanting seriously.
 Ninth Offense
To instruct the glories
of the holy name to a
faithless person
This offense refers especially
to giving the holy name by the
means of DIKSA, initiation.
This offense can also be
committed by someone who
openly speaks about the
confidential glories of the holy
name to an unqualified
audience.
 Chanting of an initiated & and
Not-initiated devotee
At the date of initiation, the spiritual master
establishes a genuine relationship
between the jiva and Krishna.
At the time of initiation, karma and
material contamination leave the sincere
disciple, and he receives a strong feeling
of liberation from his/her past.
Even chanting in the non-initiated stage
has its effects; it qualifies one for initiation.
 Tenth Offense
To not have complete faith in
the chanting of the holy name
and to maintain material
attachments even after
understanding so many
instructions on this matter.
 ‘janasya moho yam aham
mameti’
“I” &
I am the “mine
enjoye ” doer
r I am
the

the world is
my I am the
property creator of
my
destiny
 I am my own protector and
maintainer! *This is* my wealth, my
wife, my sons!! I can attain full
perfection and all fame through my
own efforts!!! I can increase and
expand art and science by my own
intelligence!!!!

I have great I am the

knowledg Lord of
e all I
survey
The self realized soul
can clearly realize the
material body which
he carries around with
all its needs as a
burden. Not only his
material covering but
this whole world is
discerned by him like
the pressure of a
bundle of wood on the
shoulders!
 Oh my Lord, how extraordinary Your devotees
are! For them :
• The wide ocean is like a tiny puddle
• The sun is like a fire-fly
• The looming golden Mount Sumeru like a
lump of dirt
• A powerful emperor like a minor servant
• Priceless jewels like useless stones
• Desire trees like dry twigs
• The whole material existence is like an
insignificant bundle of straw, What else to
say? They regard their own body as a
useless burden.
[Bhakthivinod Thakur in Manah siksa]
Difficult to wake up the one who
is pretending to sleep!!!

WAKE UP
SLEEPING
SOULS!
 CONCLUSION
The ten offenses to the chanting of the holy
name can easily be given up if we:
• Serve the Holy Vaishnavas, and not
criticize them;
• Worship Lord Krishna as the Absolute
Supreme Personality of Godhead;
• Respect the spiritual master who initiates
one into the holy name;
• Glorify the scriptures which reveal the
glories of the holy name;
SERVE THE SAINTLY
VAISNAVAS
5. Be convinced that the holy name is
eternally established in pure
transcendence;
6. Accept the explanation of the holy
name, which is given by Srila
Prabhupada and the scriptures;
7. Root out the desire of sinful activities;
8. Give up ritualistic fruitive activities;
9. Reveal the glories of the holy name
only to serious devotees; and
10. Chant very diligently and fully
surrender unto the holy name.
Improving Our
Chanting
Japa is a Barometer
of Our Spiritual
Life.
 Mind Wandering Problem

Car under Control Attentive Chanter

 Understanding Mind
Mind as Enemy/Friend
‘bandhur atmat manastasya…’
(eg) Knife: for
killing Operation
 Nature of mind :
‘cancalam hi manah Krishna….’
(eg) Monkey, Child
 Behaviour:
‘dhyayato visayan pumsah….’

(eg) Vishvamitra
Meditating on
Menaka
How to control?
Hrshikena Hrshikesa
sevanam…
(eg) Ambarish
‘sa vai manah Krishna
padara…’
 Controlled mind
‘vyavasa
yatmika
buddhir
ekehe…’
(eg) Haridas
Thakur
 Material attachments
 One of the prominent reasons
for Mind Wandering is
maintaining one’s material
attachments.
 (eg) Sanatana goswami and
touchstone
(eg) Wedding party was rowing all
night long.
Because they still had the anchor
out, they did not go anywhere.
The anchor is attachment to sense
gratification.
 PROBLEMS OF
INATTENTION,
POOR CLARITY AND
DROWSINESS
To be inattentive while chanting
the holy name is the root of all
offenses.
Distraction or inattention in chanting
produces:
A type of illusion, causing serious
offenses against the holy name
that are very difficult to overcome.
This illusion leads to craving for
wealth, women, position, success,
and even cheating.
When these attractions cover
the heart, the neophyte
gradually loses interest in
chanting the holy name.
One must take a constant effort
to drive these thoughts away
from the mind and diligently
follow the rules of vaisnava
etiquette.
Three Kinds of inattention:
Audaaseenya : Indifference, Lack
of Attraction
Even while chanting, WE GET attracted
to many things, thus remaining
indifferent to the holy name.
If one becomes inattentive while
chanting:
 He should immediately approach the
Vaisnavas who are free from material
influence and chant with them.
(Inspired by the Vaisnavas behavior,
one desires to give up frailty.)
 Jadya : Laziness

Laziness means
To stop chanting:
before finishing a round in
order to attend a so-called
“important” activity or
For rest.
 Viksepa : Distraction
To be absorbed in
attraction for wealth,
women, position and
material success
results in distraction.

While chanting, the

holy name will not
really be heard.
Overcoming inattention
 Remember DEATH
• King Kulasekhara : “ Now
that I am chanting in good
health, let me die thinking of
Krishna” (Krishna
tvadeeya..)
• Bhismadeva also drove all
the thoughts at the time of
passing away.
BHISMA
PASSING
AWAY
 Remember SUFFERING
Generally we don’t cry out unless we
are devastated.
‘janma mrtyu jara vyadhi dukha dosa
anudarshanam’
One should take advantage of all the
sufferings coming in one’s own life to
remember and take shelter of Krishna
helplessly instead of simply mourning
or cursing somebody or cursing the
will of providence.
 EXAMPLE

A Man hanging
on a rope in
a well
 Thru’ Prayerful mood
 Be troubled. Be bothered. Then you can
reform chanting.
 Read “Siksastakam’ prayers :
‘namnam akari bahuda…’
 Read sections of scriptures where Holy
name is glorified.
 knowing the meaning of the song while
imbibing the appropriate mood.
Please save me from maya.
Please save me from my
raging senses. Please let me
chant Lord, engage my
senses in Your service.
Please let me chant Hare
Krishna sincerely. Please do
not let me go away from
your Lotus feet into the jaws
of Maya.
The devotee should chant
feeling a personal
connection with his
spiritual master.
Always remember that you
promised your spiritual master
to chant Hare Krishna without
offenses, including the offense
of inattentive chanting.
 AVOID COMPLACENCY
A COMPLACENT EXAMPLE
person does not
feel the urgency
to become
Krishna
conscious.
He is also slack in
services,
in reading or
hearing sastras.
 Complacency is a disease of
hearing deficiency.
By NOT HEARING PHILOSOPHY :
 One falls into illusion
 One imagines injustices and difficulties in
spiritual life
 Becomes snared into material plan making
 Forgets his identity as servant of Krishna
 Mental activity replaces concentration of
rounds
 Japa is afflicted
 This illness in the advanced stages leads to Vaisnava
aparadh, guru aparadh, blooping.
Chanting is not just a technique
Don’t introduce chanting as a cheap
thing.
(eg) Narada muni in his previous life
Our trying to chant nicely is satisfying
to Krishna and He responds; but
ultimately it is not by our hard
endeavour that He does so.
Ultimately only loving service pleases
Him.
 Poor Clarity
Poor clarity is produced due to:
 Mumbling the words due to feeling
sleepy
 Missing one “Hare” regularly due to
chanting too fast
 Inattentiveness in hearing
 Haste to finish up 16 rounds and go for
some other important business.
 Lack of interest in chanting
 Drowsiness (or) Feeling sleepy

As far as sleeping in japa, if you

get a good six hours of rest you
should be able to avoid it.
Chanting japa in the association of
devotees helps.
Rupa Goswami compares such
reluctant chanter or the neophyte
to a man with jaundice.
If after chanting your rounds, you
realize there was no urgency, no
struggle, then that is a bad sign.
Japa is especially weakened by
material desires.
A lot can be accomplished simply
by approaching japa sincerely.
Keep a daily progress report.
Work daily on your japa and you will
see a difference!!!
NAMABHASA
 Example for Namabhasa

 When the sun of Holy name is covered by

clouds of ignorance and anarthas, only some
or no spiritual ecstasy comes while chanting
 Anarthas
• Artha means “value”, and the prefix an
means “without”. Thus anartha means
“that which has no value”
• Material assets yield no benefit at all for
the living entity, but as soon as he
becomes influenced by the external
energy, he unfortunately considers the
different anarthas as valuable and
becomes fully entangled by them
 4 Types of Anarthas
1. HRDAYA - DAURBALYA
(Defects of the heart)
a) Attachment to objects which have
no relationship to Krsna
b) The propensity to cheat and to
find faults
c) Envy; and
d) The desire for recognition
 2. APARADHA
(Offenses)
a) Offenses against the Holy name
b) Offenses against the form of the
Lord
c) Offenses against the devotees
of the Lord, and
d) Offenses against other living
entities, like violence or envy
 3. ASAT - TRSNA
Thirst or Desires for material objects
a) Desires for delightful sense-
objects;
b) Desires for sense enjoyment as
available on the heavenly planets;
c) Desires to obtain mystic powers;
and
d) Desires to be liberated by
merging into the impersonal
Brahman
4. TATTVA - VIBHRAMA
Illusion about spiritual knowledge
Ignorance about 
a) One’s own identity;
b) The position of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead;
c) The processes of sadhana-bhakti and
prema bhakti; and
d) The factors which are unfavorable for
the development of Krsna
consciousness
 3 types of Transcendental
Knowledge
• Sambandha – jnana
Essential understanding about:
The spiritual position of Sri Krsna, and
The position of the material world
The spiritual position of the living being,

• Abhidheya - jnana
Rules and Regulations of sadhana
Example: chant 16 rounds; follow 4 regulative
principles
• Prayojana - jnana
Pure love of God
EFFECTS OF NAMABHASA
1. Faith
2. Extinction of sinful reactions
3. Liberation from the effects of kali-
yuga
4. Disappearance of fear and advent of peace
5. Protection from the influence of ghosts and
adverse planets
6. Attaining the 4 goals of life (purusartha)
7. Spiritual bliss
 Overcoming the stage of
Namabhasa
As long as one is chanting
Namabhasa, he can even attain
liberation, but prema, love of
God, remains unattainable
Ignorance and Anarthas have to be
overcome to attain love of God
 Practice in chanting
Chanting the PANCA-TATTVA-MAHA-
MANTRA
This mantra is greatly beneficial,
because the holy names of Sri
Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri
Nityananda prabhu, Sri Advaita
Acarya prabhu, Sri Gadhadhara
prabhu, Sri Srivasa Thakura, and
all other devotees of the Lord
immediately purify and spiritually
elevate the chanter.
 Chanting at all times
 Chanting in the morning
 The time shortly before sunrise,
called brahma-muhurta, is the
best time for chanting.
 Chanting at least 16 rounds
 Chanting loudly enough to hear
oneself
 Chanting should be accompanied
by regulative principles
 Chanting in front of Tulasi
 Weeding in the garden of
chanting
 Nisiddhacara: Actions that are prohibited
in the sastras
Kutinati: Diplomacy and duplicity
Jiva-himsa: Killing animals, envying
others and stopping preaching
 Labha: Desire for material gain
 Puja: Striving for popularity and admiration
 Pratistha: Desire to become important
 Living with the Holy name
Becoming a Servant of the Holy
name
With the tongue by chanting
By propagating it all over the world

To remember the Holy name at the

time of death, we must practice to call
the Holy name all the time
 TECHNIQUE OF CHANTING
1. JAPA MALA AND THE BEAD BAG
2. BODILY POSTURE, PLACE AND TIME
3. PROPER PRONUNCIATION
Sri Caitanya’s Instructions

trnad api sunicena

taror iva sahisnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harih
 “One who thinks himself
lower than the grass,
who is more tolerant than a tre
e
, and
who does not expect personal
honor
but is
always prepared to give all res
pect to others
 2 Definitions of Humility
• Humility means one should not be
anxious to have the satisfaction of
being honored by others.
• Humility is even though a person is
possessing all good qualities, he
considers himself to be completely
unqualified, worthless and
unintelligent.
 Trnad api sunicena
As the grass in the street does not
arise after being trodden down by
the masses, in the same way the
pure devotee considers himself the
most fallen soul and instead of
responding to the aggression of
his torturers who might degrade
him out of envy, he even prays for
their benefit.
 Taror iva sahisnuna
The tree is reputed to be tolerant
because even the woodcutter who
wants to cut it down receives its
generous shadow and fruits.
Similarly, a pure devotee does not
argue and oppose when being
misunderstood and blasphemed.
He does not claim anything for
himself, but is always ready to give
and to help others.
 Amanina
One who does not expect person
al honor:
This means to have a pure heart,
free of all bodily designations
that are rooted in ignorance.
Pride is the greatest danger in
spiritual life and can cause fall
down on every stage.
 Manadena
One who is always prepared to give
all respect to others
A pure devotee instead of desiring to
be praised, recognizes himself as a
servant of all other devotees and
offers them obeisances and
service.
 Absorption into the Nectarean
Ocean of the Holy name
For deeply absorbed chanting, Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura advises as
follows:
• Association with saintly persons,
especially with the spiritual master and
advanced devotees.
• Isolation from the disturbances of
worldly life.
• Determination and steady enthusiasm.
 Conclusion
In order to test how far we have already realized the
qualities, we can ask ourselves the following 5
questions:
1. How eager am I to serve, or do I just want to be
served?
2. How eager am I to respect others, or do I rather
strive after being respected?
3. How much do I care for others, or do I mainly care
for myself?
4. Am I glad upon seeing the advancements of
others, or do I envy them?
5. Am I fully dependent on guru and Krsna, or rather
on my own arrangements?
 ASK FOR
THE
BOOKLET
AND
COLLECT IT.
 How do we
overcome the
anarthas of
INDIFFERENCE
AND
DISTRACTION?
 CHANTING IN THE
ASSOCIATION OF DEVOTEES
Association and example of other
devotees help us to develop the desire
and the knowledge how to improve our
chanting
Ex: MIGRATORY BIRDS
 TURNING THE MIND
TOWARDS THE HOLY NAME
CHANT IN THE ASSOCIATION OF
DEVOTEES ESPECIALLY ONE’S
SPIRITUAL MASTER
Thank you for attending the
course
All glories to Sri Sri
Guru and Gauranga!!!
 KNOW THE VALUE OF
CHANTING
 ONLY 2 SPIRITUAL OBJECTS
IN THIS MATERIAL WORLD
1. JIVA
2. HOLY NAME
 SIT IN A QUIET PLACE AND
CONCENTRATE ON THE HOLY
NAME