Kindle Notes & Highlights
Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa maha-mantra is the quickest and easiest way to realize God and attain perfection in life.
By learning the truth about the holy names (nama-tattva), and by establishing a solid relationship with the holy name (sambandha-tattva), one will quickly learn the “simple art of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.”
Only a liberated soul can purely pronounce the transcendental holy name.
A conditioned soul covered by the modes of nature cannot utter the pure name (cintamani-nama).
Kṛṣṇa’s holy name–full of mercy, full of compassion, full of affection, full of rasa and full of prema–is the rarest treasure in the world. Without hearing from sastra and saints, however, one can never understand the power, value and benefit of Sri Kṛṣṇa’s divine name, form, attributes, pastimes and holy abode (nama, rupa, guna, lila, dhama).
“Yes, in the same way,” said the guru, “most people cannot appreciate the value of the holy name. For this reason, they are indifferent to the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa. The Hare Kṛṣṇa maha-mantra is an open secret that is revealed only to the qualified.”
“Chanting gradually diminishes the propensity to sin, and simultaneously purifies the consciousness. At this juncture, a taste for chanting begins to manifest. The inclination to commit sinful acts vanishes, though a faint residue of previous sinful acts still lingers in the consciousness. The receding sinful reactions leave an odor of sinful habits. But the chanter’s contact with the name produces a purity of mind and strength of willpower that overcomes the clinging smell of sin.” (Hari-nama-cintamani)
‘In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.’ (Cc. Madhya 6.241-2)
Of all the different spiritual practices, the nine forms of bhakti (sravanam, kirtanam, etc) are the best because they have great potency to deliver Kṛṣṇa and ecstatic love for Him. Of these nine practices, nama-sankirtana is the best. By chanting the holy name without offense, one very easily obtains the priceless treasure of kṛṣṇa-prema. (Cc. Antya 4.70-1)
Bhakti-sandarbha says no form of bhakti (i.e. mathurā-vāsa, sādhu-saṅga, srī-murti sevā, and bhāgavata-sravana) is complete without Śrī Kṛṣṇa nāma-saṅkīrtana.
The Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya says that saṅkīrtana is the best and foremost of all spiritual practices for attaining Kṛṣṇa’s mercy. If the other practices of bhakti are helpful to it, they should then be accepted.” (Sri Caitanya’s Teachings)
“Sri-nama bhajana is more powerful than all other forms of bhajana (nava-vidha-bhakti). There is no difference between nama (the holy name) and nami (Bhagavan, who possesses the name.) If you chant nama without offense, you will very quickly attain all perfection. All nine forms of bhajana are automatically carried out by performing nama-bhajana. When one utters sri-nama, he is engaged in hearing and chanting (sravanam, kirtanam). As one continues to chant, one also remembers the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, and within the mind one serves Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet (pada-sevanam), worships Him (arcanam), offers
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“The most advanced devotees who have fully dedicated themselves to Śrī Kṛṣṇa take exclusive refuge in kṛṣṇa-nāma amongst all other practices of devotion. There is no other performance so pure and spiritual as singing the name of Kṛṣṇa.” (Nama-bhajana)
Chanting secondary names of the Lord gives piety, material elevation and salvation. However, kṛṣṇa-prema, the most perfect result of chanting the holy name of the Lord, is attained only by purely chanting Kṛṣṇa’s principal names.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “The kṛṣṇa mantra (gopala mantra) gives one freedom from material existence. And kṛṣṇa nama (the Hare Kṛṣṇa maha-mantra) delivers one to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.” (Cc. Ādi 7.73)
In the Gaudiya conception, samsara-mocana, or liberation means to realize one’s svarupa. At this stage, the Brahma Gayatri and the gopala mantra retire, but chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa continues to deliver one to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa (kṛṣṇa-carana), in the spiritual world.
Whether one is in Kṛṣṇaloka or the material world, chanting Kṛṣṇa’s holy name is the eternal function of the soul. In the material world, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa is the primary activity for purification and spiritual elevation.
Therefore, it is good to cultivate attachment and affection for one’s eternal companion–Kṛṣṇa’s holy names.
One will strengthen his faith and determination to chant japa by repeatedly hearing the wonderful glories of the holy name, and by studying different slokas in praise of nama-bhajana.
Whether chanted correctly or incorrectly, knowingly or unknowingly, carefully or carelessly, the all-powerful name of Kṛṣṇa will always give results. The unlimited glories of the holy name cannot be understood with logic, reason or intellect. Only by faith, devotion, and constant chanting can one realize the greatness of sri-nama. In this dark age of Kali, kṛṣṇa-nama is the easiest, quickest, safest and surest way to attain spiritual perfection in love of God. In the matter of self-realization, nama-japa is the “king of all sadhanas.” Chanting Kṛṣṇa’s sweet names purifies the heart; sanctifies
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No one can understand the transcendental nature of the name, form, quality and pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa through his materially contaminated senses. Only when one becomes spiritually saturated by transcendental service to the Lord are the transcendental name, form, quality and pastimes of the Lord revealed to him. (Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.234)
Nama-aparadha is an utterance of the holy name that is made with enmity in the heart. It is the lowest form of chanting wherein one commits any of the ten offenses against the holy name. As long as one chants with offenses, it is absolutely impossible to attain love of God.
“Offenses against the holy name (nama-aparadha) are the most frightening of all kinds of sins and offenses.
Committing any one of the ten offenses can constitute a major obstacle to chanting the holy name and should be carefully avoided.
By offending sri-nama one loses his taste and attraction for sadhana-bhakti. In other words, a devotee will no longer derive any happiness from hearing and chanting, sadhu-sanga and serving Sri Guru.
Apathy toward Kṛṣṇa is a diseased condition of the soul.
As a sick man taking medical treatment quickly regains his taste for palatable foods, similarly, an offender who continually chants the holy name will nullify his transg...
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Although a devotee tries to give up offenses, he is actually helpless and cannot do so alone. One can only get free from nama-aparadha through bhakti, the power of Kṛṣṇa’s name, and by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa’s associates.
“The accumulation of sins from nāma-aparādha is even more dreadful than the result of committing the five mahā-pāpa millions of times.
“The holy name will give whatever result the nāma-āparādhī desires while he is chanting the names, but it will not award kṛṣṇa-prema. At the same time, the offender has to suffer the result of his offenses against the holy name.
It is also an offense to the holy name to think that the names, forms, qualities and pastimes of the all-auspicious (siva) Supreme Personality of Godhead are different from the eternally perfect, transcendental body of the Lord. By performing kṛṣṇa-nāma saṅkīrtana with this sambandha-jñāna one will not commit this offense to the holy name.” (Jaiva Dharma)
“Conducting sinful activities on the strength of chanting the holy name. By chanting the holy name of the Lord with faith, one’s previous sinful reactions are destroyed and one loses the taste to commit further sinful actions. But if one desires to commit sins with the hope that the holy name will afterwards eradicate them, then that is an offense.
“The holy name is never revealed to one who is situated in the bodily concept of life and thinks in terms of “I” and “mine.” If one doesn’t reject the enjoying mentality, the transcendental platform will never be attained.” (Prākṛta Rasa Śata Dūṣiṇī v.4)
The main cause of vaisnava aparadha is asat-sanga, association with materialistic people, which makes one feel envious of devotees, judge them by material standards, and find faults with them.
A serious devotee must give up all bad association in order to attain perfection in chanting.
The first business of a Vaiṣṇava is to give up the association of persons who are not devotees of Kṛṣṇa and who are too attached to material things–wife, children, bank balance and so on. (SB 5.18.10 p.)
Tigers, wild beasts and forest fires cannot destroy devotion, but the deathly association of lusty men and women, sense enjoyers, demigod worshipers, and desires for honor, wealth and material things can destroy the impressions of bhakti in one’s heart. Vaiṣṇava aparādha includes the actions of the body, mind, words and heart. To not feel joyful upon seeing a Vaiṣṇava is an offense arising from a heart immersed in envious feelings.
“A person who calls one Vaiṣṇava ‘a big Vaiṣṇava’ and another Vaiṣṇava a ‘little Vaiṣṇava’ may be peaceful and happy for now, but for how long will he remain peaceful and happy? One should avoid a person who offends Vaiṣṇavas, even if that person is otherwise very qualified. A little association with an offender will make one fall down.
If a person studies the four Vedas and then blasphemes others, he will fall into hell and suffer birth after birth.
The sin of blasphemy robs all intelligence, and fills the heart with suffering. Lord Caitanya delivers everyone, except the sinners who blaspheme Vaiṣṇavas.
“Lord Caitanya said, ‘All the living entities in the numberless universes are My eternal servants. Therefore, any living entity who harms or offends another living entity will perish. If a sannyāsī blasphemes an innocent ...
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“Then raising His golden arms, Lord Caitanya declared to the entire world, ‘Renouncing criticism of others, everyone please chant Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare! I will personally deliver anyone who does not criticize others and who once chants “Kṛṣṇa!” Hearing L...
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“Bhakti-devī completely disappears by committing Vaiṣṇava aparādha. Vaiṣṇava aparādha means to blaspheme, find fault, criticize or speak ill of devotees. Generally, this is done out of fear and enviousness. Vaiṣṇava aparādha takes place where there are fear and enviousness.
Speaking ill of others is a great anartha for the sādhaka who has come to the path of bhajana.” (Sri Guru Vandanam)
Anyone who fails to immediately leave the place where he hears criticism of the Supreme Lord or His faithful devotee will lose his piety and fall down to hell. (SB 10.74.40)
What is the use of reading sastra and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa if one keeps an evil eye and a foul tongue? Why do you maintain a vision of enemies and speak badly of others?
If a devotee has ulterior motives, however, the demigods, fearing the devotee may usurp their posts, will send various obstacles to break his vows.
Devotees can take advantage of the extraordinary power and mercy of the demigods to quickly progress on the path of bhakti.
What is the relationship between chanting the holy name and blasphemy of the Vedas? The four Vedas, 108 Upanisads and the eighteen Puranas emanate from the breathing of Kṛṣṇa, so they are perfect transcendental knowledge beyond the four defects of conditioned souls.
Throughout the Vedas, the chanting of Kṛṣṇa’s names is described and glorified as the principal process of self-realization.
