4.5: Ten Offenses to the Holy Name
Padma Purana
Brahma Khanda 25.15–18
- To blaspheme devotees who have dedicated their lives to chanting the holy name of the Lord. The holy name, who is identical with Krishna, will never tolerate such blasphemous activities.
- To consider the names of Lord Siva or Lord Brahma to be on an equal level with the holy name of Lord Vishnu.
- To disobey the orders of the spiritual master or to consider him an ordinary person.
- To blaspheme the Vedic literatures or literatures in pursuance of the Vedic version.
- To give some interpretation on the holy name of the Lord.
- To consider the glories of the holy name of the Lord as imagination.
- To think that the Hare Krishna mantra can counteract all sinful reactions and one may therefore go on with his sinful activities and at the same time chant the Hare Krishna mantra to neutralise them is the greatest offense at the lotus feet of Hari-nama.
- To consider the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra to be one of the auspicious ritualistic mantras mentioned in the Vedas as fruitive activity.
- It is an offense to preach the glories of the holy name of the Lord to the faithless.
- If one has heard the glories of the transcendental holy name of the Lord but nevertheless continues in a materialistic concept of life, thinking “I am this body and everything belonging to this body is mine [aham mameti],” and does not show respect and love for the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, that is an offense.
api pramadah: It is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting.
1. Blaspheming devotees
A sadhu is anyone who is surrendering to Krishna. To blaspheme such a person is compared to a mad elephant (hati mata) that comes and tramples the creeper of devotion.
Examples: criticising a devotee because…
- He has a lower social status
- His manners are not yet so polished
- He eats too much prasadam
- He had previously been a drug addict
- He has been weak and temporarily gave up devotional service
Faultfinding versus constructive criticism
Faultfinding:
Pride: making yourself feel superior.
Envy: when someone manifests an anartha that you yourself have.
Frustration: when others do not fulfill your expectations.
Constructive criticism:
With a caring attitude, free from envy, meant to benefit the person, keeping the good things about this person in mind.
A devotee should be like the honey bee that always looks for the nectar and not like the fly that always looks for stool or open sores. One associates with whatever qualities he focuses on, and thus he cultivates those qualities.
Just as a dirty man should no longer be regarded as dirty if he is having a shower, so a devotee, even though still impure, should never be criticised if he is sincerely involved in the purificatory process of bhakti.
How to counter-act the offence: Humbly approach that devotee, offer obeisances, and beg forgiveness.
2. Considering demigods to be equal to Krishna
- Applies mainly to India, where many people worship demigods.
- The demigods are subordinate and dependent. Whatever powers the demigods have and whatever benedictions they can offer are only possible because Krishna empowers them and gives them His sanction.
- Also refers to considering the holy name a material sound vibration.
- A devotee must know that the name of Krishna is absolute and non-different from Krishna Himself, whereas the names of the demigods are relative and different from them.
How to counter-act the offence: Study the scriptural statements regarding the nature of the holy name and Krishna; take shelter of the holy name and beg forgiveness
3. Disobeying orders of the spiritual master
- Explicit instructions must be followed
- Under certain circumstances the spiritual master may deliver general advice or suggestions but leaves it up to the disciple to choose what to do on specific occasions
- This offence includes having a material conception of the guru or envying him
How to counter-act the offence: Humbly approach the guru, offer obeisances, and beg forgiveness.
4. Blaspheming the Vedic Literature
- To denounce the information in the revealed scriptures.
- To regard the Vedas as mundane literature
- To keep scriptures in a dirty place
How to counter-act the offence: Offer flowers to the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita
5. Considering the glories of the holy name to be imaginary
- To consider the statements as exaggerations just to motivate people
- To think that devotees have given artificial importance to the holy name.
- Don't be surprised; the holy name is non-different from Krishna
- It’s simply a question of time before one gets the effects of chanting
- See conversation with Haridasa Thakur (CC Ant 3.176-86)
How to counter-act the offence: Study the philosophy, take shelter of the holy name and beg forgiveness
6. Giving some mundane interpretation
- To think that chanting creates a chemical reaction in the brain and simply produces some euphoric effect
- For example, thinking that Hari means impersonal Brahman, Krishna refers to the mind, and Rama means satisfaction; Or Krishna = black = unknown
- To define the holy name of the Lord in terms of one's mundane calculation
How to counter-act the offence: Reveal it to a devotees and beg forgiveness
7. Committing Sinful Activities
- To commit sins with the expectation of neutralising the reactions by chanting
- Prabhupada often repeated that this is the greatest offense
- For example, people who go to church to confess but then sin again next week
- After taking shelter of the holy name, one should strictly restrain him or herself from committing sinful acts.
- Accidental sins don't count
How to counter-act the offence: The only thing that can help is to sincerely repent
8. Considering chanting the holy name to be one of the auspicious ritualistic activities
- Karma-kanda: performing religious ceremonies, following austere vows, practicing renunciation, penances and austerities, fire sacrifices in order to gain material benedictions (wealth, power, health, etc.) from the demigods.
- To think that chanting Hare Krishna belongs to this category or is a pious activity
- To equate chanting to other spiritual activities, such as meditation, austerity, penance or sacrifice
- One should not try to utilise the holy name for one's personal service
- Chanting the holy name is meant for attaining love of God
How to counter-act the offence: Approach devotees and attain sambandha-jnana from them
9. Instructing a faithless person
- To glorify the importance of the holy name, or elevated information of Krishna to persons who have no interest; who are not ready to hear, or who may as a result of hearing become more antagonistic.
- Pseudo-spiritualists selling the holy name to unqualified persons.
What about public chanting and preaching?
- You can get people to chant; by chanting they will be purified and appreciate the holy name. Srila Prabhupada encouraged everyone to chant, but he didn't immediately tell them all the details.
- When you make this offence, you run the risk of diminishing your own faith
How to counter-act the offence: No recommendation given for counteracting this offense. Just don't do it.
10. Incomplete faith / material attachments
- Material attachments: to be attached to the misconception of possessing something, or to accept the body as one's self, while executing the process of spiritual cultivation.
- Bodily concept: I and mine.
- We must have a service attitude and let go of the attachments
- We may be attached but if we are stubbornly attached, one should intend to get free of attachments. We should mark them with “X” just as a woodcutter marks trees to be cut down in the future
- Having complete faith in the holy name means that you feel the holy name is all you need (to be happy, etc). Keeping material attachment means you still think you need these things
How to counter-act the offence: In order to develop complete faith and give up attachments, associate with advanced devotees and chant with them
Lack of Concentration
- This is like inviting someone around to visit, and then ignoring them. You are calling out to Krishna, but meanwhile you are distracted by the mind or what is going on elsewhere.
- Examples: While chanting, reading the notice board, having a chat, driving the car, tidying up the room, thinking about different things.
- To have the full effect, the holy name must enter the ear and make an impression on the mind. The mind must be focused on the sound vibration. This is an association with Krishna. We want to associate as fully as possible.
How to counter-act the offence: Pray to the holy name that one may always chant clearly and hear attentively