Introduction:
In the beginning, every seeker of truth finds it difficult to properly chant the name of Krishna. The mind becomes distracted by many irrelevant things and material desires while chanting the maha-mantra, the great chant for deliverance. Consequently, we make offenses against the divine name which are called nama aparadha. Illuminations on Nama Aparadha clearly defines the ten offenses and gives practical hints on how to avoid them. This book fills one’s chanting with transcendental power and teaches us how to “Welcome Krishna properly”.
Softcover
Language: English
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Page 59
Symptoms of an Offenseless Chanter
One who chants without offense will exhibit the four qualities mentioned in the Çikñäñöaka verse tånad api çunicena:
(1) natural humility born of complete detachment from material sense gratification. (2) pure compassion unencumbered by envy. (3) a pure heart free from mundane, false ego. (4) a respectful attitude towards everyone according to their position.
Öhäkura Bhaktivinoda explains that an offenseless chanter will become overwhelmed with thoughts of other’s welfare and think like this: “O Lord! My friends, companions and all other conditioned souls are very unfortunate. How may they obtain love and attraction for Your all-auspicious name? Blinded by mäyä, they are sunk in the quagmire of family attachments, wealth and property, petty successes and reverses, profit and loss, joys and sufferings, birth and death.
“They are filled with anarthas, and are not the least bit detached from materialistic life. They are hopelessly bound by the strong ropes of unlimited desires for sense gratification. They waste their valuable time in useless affairs of karma and jïana. How can such persons awaken a desire for self-realization?” (Çikñäñöaka tika)
Page 60
Anarthas
The word anartha means worthless, useless, nonsense, meaningless and without value. In relation to devotional service, the word anartha refers to unwanted (useless, nonsense) material desires in the heart that impede one’s advancement in bhakti. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives an all-inclusive definition of anartha in Präkåta Rasa Çata Düñiëé, number 41: “One should never consider other than the following: Everything made of matter is an anartha and should be rejected.”
Harinama-cintamani describes four types of anarthas (useless, nonsense material desires and attachments) that shackle the living entity to the illusory energy. All anarthas can be eliminated by taking shelter of a bonafide guru, and learning from him how to properly execute devotional service and chant the holy name. After studying the following list of anarthas, one should try diligently to uproot them, so that the brilliant rays of the holy name can shine within the heart.
1. Four Defects of the Heart (hådaya-daurbalya)
a) Attachment to objects unrelated to Kåñëa;
b) Propensity to cheat and find faults;
c) Envy;
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