is the Hare Krishna maha mantra addictive?

[KrishnaBhakta]

is the Hare Krishna maha mantra addicting? i cannot say that i am addicting yet, but do have an urge sometimes to just start chanting. so, is it addicting (in a good-positive way)? say, one starts to chant two rounds daily. does he automatically by addiction to the mantra, have a desire to chant more? i am not complaining, but think that this is cool, the mantra that is.

[KrishnaBhakta]

I read in some post, that these devotees, that used to do drugs, started chanting the Maha Mantra, and soon their addiction to the drugs wore off, and they got addicted to the mantra. that is why i ask.

[Priitaa]

Q) Is the Hare Krishna mantra addictive?

 

A) Gosh, I hope so! ha

 

Seriously tho, in the sense of a real addiction, I doubt it. That would put it in the category of brainwashing (something I just posted about!), which it is not.

 

I do agree tho that many gave up drugs to chant Hare Krishna, but I think that has been misunderstood. In the west no one knew about Krishna or much anything eastern. Left on their own, they turned to drugs to elevate their consciousness. It was sort of an, all be it wrong, way to look for God. Once they found God/Krishna through the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, they were easily able to renounce drugs - because they weren't really addicted to drugs, but searching for God in a way their fundamental, hell fire and brimstone churches could not offer.

 

If you are experiencing a desire to chant more, that is a spiriutal increase, not a form of intoxication. Count your blessings, cuz its often a gift from Krishna, to give us a taste. Then its gone and we have to work for it. Oh, it returns intermittently, but especially in the beginning, He often gives us this nice little "welcome" present.

[KrishnaBhakta]

what about the desire to chant more and more?

does that not mean addiction? it's just that many think of addiction as a bad thing. always wanting to associate with VaishNavas is kind of a positive addiction also, so to say.

 

i do not mean brainwashed, but purification of the brain, the body, the mind, the soul-the self. addiction, but in a positive manner, right?

[Priitaa]

wow, You're fast. lol I was just editing my reply, as I thought of that too, so added it. Then you posted the question. So reread my last post, as its a bit different now.

[KrishnaBhakta]

by addiction, i meant 'want to rely more and more on it, to want to chant more and more, to want to remember Krishna all the time'. i did not mean any type of intoxication. It was just a thought that came to me when i decided to put on my site: BEWARE: this maha mantra (mantra of deliverance) has been reported addicting. Chanting the mantra has many effects upon the chanter, but none that have been addicted have complained, and have accepted the nectar of the mantra.

 

this is on:

http://srikrsna.0catch.com/maha-mantra.htm

 

any more replies are greatly appreciated.

 

 

Thank you Pritaa,

 

Jay Shree Krishna

[Priitaa]

Haribol prabhu,

 

I'm not one to s usually, just cuz its time conuming and I have a slow comp. Maybe I'll come back later and check it out, since you mentioned its your site.

 

But I understand you are using a different definition of the word 'addiction.' Sometimes deovtees have joked like that. "Oh, I am addicted to this service!" ha Or, "I am addicted to this cool HariNama chaddar." And yes, even "I am addicted to the Maha Manatra and Krishna." This kind of addiction, we want. But the nondevotees, were they to hear, they would not understand, due to the actual definition of the word. So maybe amongst ourselves it is ok, simply around others we must watch what we say.

 

P.S. If you want to put it on your site, I think that is ultimately up to you and how it makes you feel. If you feel good about it then fine, if unsure, then pay attention to that. Or maybe just need to add a footnote, or addition of some sort. But you will know what works for you as a preacher.

[gHari]

Then the heart is more receptive to God, less addicted to the temporary material fascination. Therefore, one will relish the mahamantra more and more.

 

I find it comes out of me spontaneously at times when I least expect it.

 

Addiction? Perhaps more an increasing fondness for it, an increasing identification with it as being ME. That's who I really am - the one listening to that wonderful song. The more I listen the more I know this is true. Get REAL - reality is verrrrry addictive, as noted in CC Adi 5.224:<blockquote><font color="red"><center>smerAM bhaGgI-traya-paricitAM sAci-vistIrNa-dRSTiM

vaMzI-nyastAdhara-kizalayAm ujjvalAM candrakeNa

govindAkhyAM hari-tanum itaH kezi-tIrthopakaNThe

mA prekSiSThAs tava yadi sakhe bandhu-saGge 'sti raGgaH

</center>

smerAm--smiling; bhaGgI-traya-paricitAm--bent in three places, namely the neck, waist and knees; sAci-vistIrNa-dRSTim--with a broad sideways glance; vaMzI--on the flute; nyasta--placed; adhara--lips; kizalayAm--newly blossomed; ujjvalAm--very bright; candrakeNa--by the moonshine; govinda-AkhyAm--named Lord Govinda; hari-tanum--the transcendental body of the Lord; itaH--here; kezi-tIrtha-upakaNThe--on the bank of the YamunA in the neighborhood of KezIghATa; mA--do not; prekSiSThAH--glance over; tava--your; yadi--if; sakhe--O dear friend; bandhu-saGge--to worldly friends; asti--there is; raGgaH--attachment.

</font>

"My dear friend, if you are indeed attached to your worldly friends, do not look at the smiling face of Lord Govinda as He stands on the bank of the YamunA at KezIghATa. Casting sidelong glances, He places His flute to His lips, which seem like newly blossomed twigs. His transcendental body, bending in three places, appears very bright in the moonlight."

 

PURPORT

This is a verse quoted from the Bhakti-rasAmRta-sindhu (1.2.239) in connection with practical devotional service. Generally people in their conditioned life engage in the pleasure of society, friendship and love. This so-called love is lust, not love. But people are satisfied with such a false understanding of love. VidyApati, a great and learned poet of MithilA, has said that the pleasure derived from friendship, society and family life in the material world is like a drop of water, but our hearts desire pleasure like an ocean. Thus the heart is compared to a desert of material existence that requires the water of an ocean of pleasure to satisfy its dryness. If there is a drop of water in the desert, one may indeed say that it is water, but such a minute quantity of water has no value. Similarly, in this material world no one is satisfied in the dealings of society, friendship and love. Therefore if one wants to derive real pleasure within his heart, he must seek the lotus feet of Govinda. In this verse RUpa GosvAmI indicates that if one wants to be satisfied in the pleasure of society, friendship and love, he need not seek shelter at the lotus feet of Govinda, for if one takes shelter under His lotus feet he will forget that minute quantity of so-called pleasure. One who is not satisfied with that so-called pleasure may seek the lotus feet of Govinda, who stands on the shore of the YamunA at KezItIrtha, or KezIghATa, in VRndAvana and attracts all the gopIs to His transcendental loving service.</blockquote>

<center><img src=http://home.primus.ca/~caitanya/Syamasundara.jpg></center>

gHari

[gHari]

"1. Came to believe in a power greater than myself,"

 

Oooops that ain't gonna help us God junkies. We are doomed forever on the banks of the Yamuna. Everything reminds us of our habit. He is everywhere, His flute pervades the universe. Lost in an ocean of love, we can only fall at His feet, solely dependent on His mercy.

 

[Guest guest]

Yes, the Hare Krsna maha mantra can indeed quickly become highly addictive and replace all other addictions! All that we ever wanted and moreso is contained therein. As we come to genuinely rely on chanting, the more we find ourselves spontaneously turning towards the Holy Names. Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita that remembrance and forgetfulness both come from Him, so when He kindly reminds me of His greatest gift -- so readily accesssible -- I just start chanting automatically, internally or externally. Haribol!

[Guest guest]

 

"My dear friend, if you are indeed attached to your worldly friends, do not look at the smiling face of Lord Govinda as He stands on the bank of the YamunA at KezIghATa. Casting sidelong glances, He places His flute to His lips, which seem like newly blossomed twigs. His transcendental body, bending in three places, appears very bright in the moonlight."

 

 

gH, That is the exact verse I was thinking of but did not mention. Thanks for finding & posting it. Great quote!

 

YS,

Priitaa d.d.

[Guest guest]

 

by addiction, i meant 'want to rely more and more on it, to want to chant more and more, to want to remember Krishna all the time'. i did not mean any type of intoxication. It was just a thought that came to me when i decided to put on my site: BEWARE: this maha mantra (mantra of deliverance) has been reported addicting. Chanting the mantra has many effects upon the chanter, but none that have been addicted have complained, and have accepted the nectar of the mantra.

 

this is on:

http://srikrsna.0catch.com/maha-mantra.htm

 

 

KrishnaBhakta,

 

Just saw your site and it looks great!

 

Only thing you need to do is go thru it and change the word "Kanea" over to "Krishna." I have had this problem myself in the past. For some reason the Sanskrit doesn't always copy over correctly.

[Guest guest]

Darn, I'm not signed in and forgot. That last post was from me.

 

YS,

Priitaa

[ancient_paztriot]

"Casting sidelong glances, He places His flute to His lips, which seem like newly blossomed twigs. His transcendental body, bending in three places, appears very bright in the moonlight."

 

What is this bending the body in three places?

[gHari]

From the above painting reflecting the description provided by Lord Brahma we can see Lord Syamasundara standing with an attractive bend at the shoulders, waist and hip.

 

The end of the purport to Brahma-samhita 5.38:<blockquote>The sum and substance of this zloka is that the form of KRSNa, who is SyAmasundara, NaTavara (Best Dancer), MuralIdhara (Holder of the Flute) and TribhaGga (Triple-bending), is not a mental concoction but is transcendental, and is visible with the eye of the soul of the devotee under trance.</blockquote>

 

Madhya 19.102:<blockquote><center><font color="red">zyAma-rUpera vAsa-sthAna zreSTha mAna' kAya?

‘purI madhu-purI varA'----kahe upAdhyAya

</center>

zyAma-rUpera--of the supreme form, SyAmasundara; vAsa-sthAna--residence; zreSTha--the supreme; mAna'--you accept; kAya--which; purI--the city; madhu-purI--MathurA; varA--best; kahe--said; upAdhyAya--Raghupati UpAdhyAya.

</font>

"Of all KRSNa's abodes, which do you think is the best?"

Raghupati UpAdhyAya said, "Madhu-purI, or MathurA-dhAma, is certainly the best."

 

PURPORT

Lord KRSNa has many forms, as stated in the Brahma-saMhitA (5.33): advaitam acyutam anAdim ananta-rUpam. SrI Caitanya MahAprabhu asked Raghupati UpAdhyAya which form was the best of Lord KRSNa's millions of forms, and he immediately replied that the supreme form was the SyAmasundara form. In that form, KRSNa stands curved in three places and holds His flute. The SyAmasundara form is also described in the Brahma-saMhitA (5.38):

<center><font color="red">

premAJjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena

santaH sadaiva hRdayeSu vilokayanti

yaM zyAmasundaram acintya-guNa-svarUpaM

govindam Adi-puruSaM tam ahaM bhajAmi

</center></font>

"I worship the primeval Lord, Govinda, who is always seen by the devotee whose eyes are anointed with the pulp of love. He is seen in His eternal form of SyAmasundara, situated within the heart of the devotee."

 

Those who are filled with ecstatic love for KRSNa always see the form of SyAmasundara within their hearts. Raghupati UpAdhyAya confirms that the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has many incarnations--NArAyaNa, NRsiMha, VarAha and others--but KRSNa is distinguished as the supermost. According to SrImad-BhAgavatam (1.3.28), kRSNas tu bhagavAn svayam: "KRSNa is the original Personality of Godhead." KRSNa means SyAmasundara, who plays His flute in VRndAvana. Of all forms, this form is the best of all. KRSNa lives sometimes in MathurA and sometimes in DvArakA, but MathurA is considered the better place. This is also confirmed by RUpa GosvAmI in his UpadezAmRta (9): vaikuNThAj janito varA madhu-purI. "Madhu-purI, or MathurA, is far superior to the VaikuNThalokas in the spiritual world."</blockquote>

 

SB 4.9.2:<blockquote><center><font color="red">sa vai dhiyA yoga-vipAka-tIvrayA

hRt-padma-koze sphuritaM taDit-prabham

tirohitaM sahasaivopalakSya

bahiH-sthitaM tad-avasthaM dadarza

</center>

saH--Dhruva MahArAja; vai--also; dhiyA--by meditation; yoga-vipAka-tIvrayA--on account of mature realization of the yogic process; hRt--the heart; padma-koze--on the lotus of; sphuritam--manifested; taDit-prabham--brilliant like lightning; tirohitam--having disappeared; sahasA--all of a sudden; eva--also; upalakSya--by observing; bahiH-sthitam--externally situated; tat-avastham--in the same posture; dadarza--was able to see.

</font>

The form of the Lord, which was brilliant like lightning and in which Dhruva MahArAja, in his mature yogic process, was fully absorbed in meditation, all of a sudden disappeared. Thus Dhruva was perturbed, and his meditation broke. But as soon as he opened his eyes he saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally present, just as he had been seeing the Lord in his heart.

 

PURPORT

Because of his mature position in yogic meditation, Dhruva MahArAja was constantly observing the form of the Personality of Godhead within his heart, but all of a sudden, when the Supreme Personality disappeared from his heart, he thought that he had lost Him. Dhruva MahArAja was perturbed, but upon opening his eyes and breaking his meditation he saw the same form of the Lord before him. In the Brahma-saMhitA (5.38) it is said, premAJjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena: a saintly person who has developed love of Godhead by devotional service always sees the Lord's transcendental form of SyAmasundara. This SyAmasundara form of the Lord within the heart of a devotee is not imaginary. When a devotee becomes mature in his prosecution of devotional service, he sees face to face the same SyAmasundara he has thought of during the entire course of his devotional service. Since the Supreme Lord is absolute, the form within the heart of a devotee, the form in the temple and the original form in VaikuNTha, VRndAvana-dhAma, are all the same; They are nondifferent from one another.</blockquote>

 

He hides from us all in Krsna Book:<blockquote>"Dear moon-god, we think you have been attacked by a severe type of tuberculosis. For this reason, you are becoming thinner and thinner day by day. O lord, you are now so weak that your thin rays cannot dissipate the darkness of night. Or is it a fact that, just as we have, you also have been stunned by the mysteriously sweet words of our Lord SyAmasundara? Is it a fact that it is because of this severe anxiety that you are so grave?

 

"O breeze from the Himalayas, what have we done to you that you are so intent on teasing us by awakening our lust to meet KRSNa? Do you not know that we have already been injured by the crooked policy of the Personality of Godhead? Dear Himalayan breeze, please know that we have already been stricken. There is no need to injure us more and more.

 

"Dear beautiful cloud, the color of your beautiful body exactly resembles the bodily hue of our dearmost SyAmasundara. We think, therefore, that you are very dear to our Lord, the chief of the dynasty of the Yadus, and because you are so dear to Him, you are absorbed in meditation, exactly as we are. We can appreciate that your heart is full of anxiety for SyAmasundara. You appear excessively eager to see Him, and we see that for this reason only, drops of tears are gliding down from your eyes, just as they are from ours. Dear black cloud, we must admit frankly that to establish an intimate relationship with SyAmasundara means to purchase unnecessary anxieties while we are otherwise comfortable at home."

 

Generally the cuckoo sounds its cooing vibration at the end of night or early in the morning. When the queens heard the cooing of the cuckoo at the end of night, they said, "Dear cuckoo, your voice is very sweet. As soon as you vibrate your sweet voice, we immediately remember SyAmasundara because your voice exactly resembles His. We must frankly admit that your voice is imbued with nectar, and it is so invigorating that it is competent to bring back life to those who are almost dead in separation from their dearmost friend. So we are very much obliged to you. Please let us know how we can welcome you or how we can do something for you."

 

The queens continued talking like that, and they addressed the mountain as follows: "Dear mountain, you are very generous. By your gravity only, the whole crust of this earth is properly maintained, although because you are discharging your duties very faithfully, you do not know how to move. Because you are so grave, you do not move hither and thither, nor do you say anything. Rather, you always appear in a thoughtful mood. It may be that you are always thinking of a very grave and important subject matter, but we can guess very clearly what you are thinking of. We are sure that you are thinking of placing the lotus feet of SyAmasundara on your raised peaks, as we want to place His lotus feet on our raised breasts.</blockquote>

 

Then the gopis swoon in the summary of SB 10.35:<blockquote>As the gopIs' mood of separation from SrI KRSNa becomes ever more intense, His names, forms, qualities and pastimes begin spontaneously manifesting in their hearts. Thus they join together and sing as follows: "The beauty of KRSNa attracts the minds of all. When He stands in His threefold-bending way and plays upon His flute, the Siddhas' wives, flying in the sky with their husbands, become attracted to Him and forget external reality. The bulls, cows and other animals in the pasture become stunned in ecstasy, and they stand so still, with the grass unchewed between their teeth, that they appear like figures in a drawing. Indeed, even the unconscious rivers stop flowing.

</blockquote>

gHari

[KrishnaBhakta]

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KrishnaBhakta,

 

Just saw your site and it looks great!

 

Only thing you need to do is go thru it and change the word "Kanea" over to "Krishna." I have had this problem myself in the past. For some reason the Sanskrit doesn't always copy over correctly. ---Pritaa

*****************************************************************

thank you for mentioning this to me. i fixed this.

in addition, i added a section about Srila Prabhupada