Re: Falldown and avoiding offenses

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!

Thank You Srinath for Your post. i find it very important and instructive.

i completely agree with You, that one should always try to avoid the offenses irrespective of the Holy Name one is chanting, be it even the Most Merciful Holy Names of Nityananda Gauranga. And when one commits offenses, due to ignorance or personal weakness, despite of a sincere wish not to commit them, one shall repent for that and ask for excuse in heart. i think it is a matter of sincerity. Lords Nitaai Gaura wants us to be sincere and humble.

Regarding following quote of Yours:

"In simpler language, it means if we commit an offense while chanting, that won't diminish the spiritual benefit we gained on that day's chanting. But at the same time the offenses being committed will not be eradicated unless there is a very powerful determination in the chanter that he should permanently cease from committing any of the offenses. Excusing is different from eradicating."

Good point. i believe however, that Nityananda Gauranga Naam and Shri Navadvipa Dhaama has the power to completely remove the offenses from one's heart even without the "very powerful determination". This is being pointed out several times in the introductory chapter of Shri Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya by Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. i would like to post some relevant verses here:

aparaadha baadhaa tara kichu naahi kare
niramala krishna-preme taara ankhi jhare..53

"Even the formidable obstacles posed due to the offenses in one's heart are rendered ineffective by the Holy Names of Nityananda and Gauranga and the eyes miraculously flow with the sublime tears of pristinely pure love for Lord Krishna when one chants the Holy Names of Nityananda and Gauranga even though offenses are present in the heart."

svalpa kaale aparaadha aapani palaaya
hridaya shodhita haya prema baadhe taaya..54

"After granting the most confidential pure love for Lord Krishna to even the offensive chanter, the Holy Names of Nityananda and Gauranga make the offenses run away from the heart within a very short time. Then the heart becomes fully purified and the love increases even more."

anya tirthe aparaadhi dandera bhaajana
navadvipe aparaadha sadaai maarjana..58

"The offenders and sinners in all other Holy Places of pilgrimage are liable to be heavily punished for their wrong-doings. But the offenses of the offenders in Shri Navadvipa Dhaam are destroyed and the offensive mentality is removed forever."

navadvipe jebaa kabhu karaya gamana
sarva aparaadha-mukta haya sei jana..64

"Those very fortunate souls who go to visit Shri Navadvipa Dhaam become totally free from all kinds of sins and offenses."

As per my limited knowledge, nowhere in this chapter it is mentioned that the prerequisite for Nityananda Gauranga Naam being able to manifest the above mentioned power of purification, is very strong determination. It could be mentioned however in some other scriptures. i would like also to know more in this regard... Please discuss.

Regarding Your other quote:

"Therefore the mantrajas mercy is not an excuse for committing offenses. It is very important to be vigilant as we do with the Hare Krishna maha mantra, perhaps even more vigilant because there is a risk of the lax attitude developing in the chanter which makes him go too easy on himself."

i totally agree. i sometimes feel the tendency of going to easy on myself because of my strong belief in the purificatory and merciful characteristics of Nityananda Gauranga Naam. How to deal with that?

Thank You very much

Yours humbly,
Matus

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