Firing Blank Mantras

The Search For Sri Krsna
Reality The Beautiful

Through His holy name
sound transcendental
preached and practiced by Sri Caitanyadeva
who is none other than Radha and Govinda combined
and propagated by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura

by
His Divine Grace Bhakti Raksaka Srila Sridhara Deva Goswami
Founder Acarya of the Sri Caitanya Saraswat Math



Firing Blank Mantras

    Krsna will appear of His own accord. He will descend upon your tongue, and then your tongue will be able to chant the name of Krsna. A gun that has no bullet, but only a blank, may make some sound, but no bullet is actually fired. Similarly, chanting the name of Krsna without an attitude of service produces sound, but that is only tongue deep. It is like firing a gun with blanks instead of bullets. Our chanting of the holy name of Krsna must be surcharged with a serving temperament, the tendency to satisfy Krsna.
    Otherwise the sound we produce is bogus. It is only an imitation, or a permutation. The holy name cannot be experienced by our senses. It is supramental and trans�cendental. An ordinary sound of this mundane world cannot be the name of Krsna. Our ear cannot even hear the name if that mediator, the serving attitude, is not there. The earnestness to satisfy Krsna's will must med�iate between Krsna and the ear, through the mind. Then only will Krsna's name enter our ear and reveal to us His form, qualities, and pastimes. The holy name is not phys�ical, it is aprakrta, transcendental, supramundane. Only through our service attitude will it come down to this mundane world.
    Our guru maharaja laid the highest stress on developing a serving attitude. Otherwise it is all bogus, all imitation. And people will say, "Oh, there is no Krsna there. These men are hypocrites. They are only dancing and making noise, they are not surcharged with a serving spirit." Only through service can we directly come in contact with Krsna. The real point is to practice how to attain the spirit of service, vaisnava seva. The Vaisnava is doing service, and we must imbibe from him the methods of attaining this serving attitude.
    Under the order of a devotee we must practice to give ourselves. Self abnegation and self dedication are neces�sary. And that positive thing we will receive from a devotee. If children are given pen and paper in the begin�ning, it will not be fruitful, so a stone is given, and on the earth they practice writing. So, in the beginning, we must try to practice how we can develop a serving at�titude, dedicating habit. It is our innate wealth, and that is our solace.
    If we try to develop a serving attitude, the pure de�votee will help us. It is said that if one is miserly, he should at least give some trash in charity to anyone. One says to a miser, "At least give some trash to others and practice your hand to give." So, the serving spirit is a high thing. We must practice to give ourselves in the service of Krsna.
    We must not be afraid that we are not attaining the highest form of service in namabhajan, the worship of the holy name. We should not think, "Why have I been asked to sweep the temple? Any ordinary man can do this." We must not be afraid of that. It is necessary for us to acquire a service attitude. Self giving, selflessness, and self forgetfulness are required. It is said that Socrates is an example of self forgetfulness and Jesus Christ is an example of self sacrifice. And for what purpose? For the cause of the Supreme. And for that we must have a positive connection with a devotee. Under his order we will connect with the plane of service. Our energy may go to the transcendental plane only by his grace or media�tion. So, our guru maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, laid ninety percent stress on de�veloping a service attitude for preaching, and that should be our aim, whatever our position may be.

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