The ten offenses

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The ten offenses Padma PuranaBrahma Khanda 25.15 & #8211;18Ten offenses to the Holy Name(1)satam ninda namnah paramam aparadham vitanuteyatah khyatim yatam katham u sahate tad-vigarhamTo blaspheme devotees who have dedicated their lives to chanting the holy name of the Lord. The holy name, who is identical with Krsna, will never tolerate such blasphemous activities.(2)sivasya sri-visnor ya iha guna-namadi-sakalamdhiya bhinnam pasyet sa khalu hari-namahita-karahTo consider the names of Lord Siva or Lord Brahma to be on an equal level with the holy name of Lord Visnu.(3)guror avajnaTo disobey the orders of the spiritual master or to consider him an ordinary person.(4)sruti-sastra-nindanamTo blaspheme the Vedic literatures or literatures in pursuance of the Vedic version.(5)artha-vadahTo give

some interpretation on the holy name of the Lord.(6)hari-namni kalpanamTo consider the glories of the holy name of the Lord as imagination.(7)namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhirna vidyate tasya yamair hi suddhihTo think that the Hare Krsna mantra can counteract all sinful reactions and one may therefore go on with his sinful activities and at the same time chant the Hare Krsna mantra to neutralize them is the greatest offense at the lotus feet of Hari-nama.(8)dharma-vrata-tyaga-hutadi-sarva-subha-kriya-samyam api pramadahTo consider the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra to be one of the auspicious ritualistic mantras mentioned in the Vedas as fruitive activity.(9)asraddadhane vimukhe & #8217;py asrnvatiyas copadesah siva-namaparadhahIt is an offense to preach the glories of the holy name of the Lord to the faithless.(10)srute & #8217;pi nama-mahatmyeyah priti-rahito

narahaham-mamadi-paramonamni so & #8217;py aparadha-krtIf one has heard the glories of the transcendental holy name of the Lord but nevertheless continues in a materialistic concept of life, thinking & #8220;I am this body and everything belonging to this body is mine [aham mameti], & #8221; and does not show respect and love for the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, that is an offense.api pramadahIt is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting.1. Blaspheming devotees (sadhu-ninda)A sadhu is anyone who is surrendering to Krishna. One who shows gross irreverence or disrespect to those devotees who have dedicated their lives to Krishna is compared to a mad elephant (hati mata), which comes and tramples the creeper of devotion. Examples are 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 had

very bad habits. He has been weak and temporarily gave up devotional service. 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. How to counter-act the offence- Humbly approach that devotee, offer obeisances, and ask forgiveness.2. Names of demigodsThis applies mainly to India, where many people worship demigods. The demigods are subordinate to and dependent on Krishna. Whatever powers the demigods have and whatever benedictions they can offer are only possible because Krishna empowers them and gives them His sanction. 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 forgiveness3. Orders of the spiritual master (guror avajna)Explicit instructions must be followed. Under certain circumstances the spiritual master may deliver advice or suggestions but leave it up to the disciple to choose what to do. 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 ask forgiveness.4. Blaspheming the Vedic literature (sruti-sastra-nindanam)To disbelieve the Vedic statements. A devotee should accept that his disbelief may be due to his own limited perception. Even if he doesn't understand, he should still have faith in the Vedas. How to counter-act the offence: Offer flowers to the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita.5. Considering the glories of the holy name imaginary (artha-vadah)To consider these statements

exaggerations just to motivate people. To think that devotees have given artificial importance to the holy name. How to counter-act the offence: Study the philosophy; take shelter of the holy name and beg forgiveness.6. Giving some mundane interpretation (hari-namni kalpanam)To think that chanting creates a chemical reaction in the brain and simply produces some euphoric effect. Thinking that Hari means impersonal Brahman, Krishna refers to the mind, and Rama means satisfaction etc. To define the holy name of the Lord in terms of one's mundane calculation. How to counter-act the offence: Reveal it to the devotees and beg forgiveness.7. Committing sinful activities (namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhir)To commit sins with the expectation of neutralising the reactions by chanting. Prabhupada often repeated that this is the greatest offense. After taking shelter of the holy name, one should strictly restrain himself 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. Auspicious ritualistic activities (karma-kanda)Karma-kanda: performing religious ceremonies, following austere vows, practicing renunciation, penances and austerities, fire sacrifices in order to gain material benedictions from the demigods. 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 the devotees and attain sambandha-jnana from them.9. Instructing a faithless personTo 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. When you make this offence, you run the risk of diminishing your own faith. 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. How to counter-act the offence: No recommendation given for counteracting this offense. Just don't do it.10. Incomplete faith / material attachmentsMaterial 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. 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 that you still 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.It is also an offense to not have complete faith in chanting the holy name and to retain material attachments even after understanding so many instructions on this matter.This is like invitng someone around to visit, and then ignoring them. You are calling out to Krishna, but meanwhile you are distractedd by the mind or by what is going on elsewhere. Examples: While chanting, reading the noticeboard, having a chat, thinking in the mind 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.