Since the holy name and Krishna are nondifferent

[Govindaram]

 

 

<font color="red"> Sri Caitanya caritamrita: Adi-lila 8.16 </font color>

 

 

<font color="blue"> TEXT 16 </font color>

 

bahu janma kare yadi sravana, kirtana

tabu ta'; na paya krsna-pade prema-dhana

 

 

SYNONYMS

bahu --many; janma --births; kare --does; yadi --if; sravana --hearing; kirtana --chanting; tabu --still; ta'; --in spite of; na --does not; paya --get; Krishna- pade --unto the lotus feet of Krishna; prema-dhana --love of Godhead.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

If one is infested with the ten offenses in the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, despite his endeavor to chant the holy name for many births, he will not get the love of Godhead that is the ultimate goal of this chanting.

 

 

PURPORT

 

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says in this connection that although one may go on chanting the Hare Krishna mantra for many, many years, there is no possibility of attaining the platform of devotional service unless one accepts Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. One must follow strictly the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu given in the Siksastaka (3):

 

trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna

amanina mana-dena kirtaniyah sada harih

[Cc. adi 17.31]

 

"One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly". One who follows this direction, being freed from the ten kinds of offenses, becomes successful in Krishna consciousness and ultimately reaches the platform of loving service to the Personality of Godhead.

 

One must come to the understanding that the holy name of the Lord and the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself are identical. One cannot reach this conclusion unless one is offenseless in chanting the holy name. By our material calculation we see a difference between the name and the substance, but in the spiritual world the Absolute is always absolute: the name, form, qualities and pastimes of the Absolute are all as good as the Absolute Himself. Thus one is understood to be an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead if he considers himself an eternal servant of the holy name and in this spirit distributes the holy name to the world. One who chants in that spirit, without offenses, is certainly elevated to the platform of understanding that the holy name and the Personality of Godhead are identical. To associate with the holy name and chant the holy name is to associate with the Personality of Godhead directly. In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu it is clearly said, sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah. The holy name becomes manifest when one engages in the service of the holy name. This service in a submissive attitude begins with one's tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau: One must engage his tongue in the service of the holy name. Our Krishna consciousness movement is based on this principle. We try to engage all the members of the Krishna consciousness movement in the service of the holy name. Since the holy name and Krishna are nondifferent, the members of the Krishna consciousness movement not only chant the holy name of the Lord offenselessly, but also do not allow their tongues to eat anything that is not first offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Lord declares:

 

patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati

tad aham bhakty-upahrtam asnami prayatatmanah

 

"If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it".(Bg. 9.26) Therefore the International Society for Krishna Consciousness has many temples all over the world, and in each and every temple the Lord is offered these foods. On the basis of His demands, the devotees chant the holy name of the Lord offenselessly and never eat anything that is not first offered to the Lord. The functions of the tongue in devotional service are to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and eat prasadam that is offered to the Lord.

 

 

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<font color="brown">Ps, the writing in bold, is amazing!..Srila Prabupada has such a simple and sublime way of explaining, I feel inspired! </font color>

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Sincere humble service attitude is essential for it connects us directly to the essence of devotion, Srimati Radharani. All aparadha separates us from Her, so while service may apparently continue, genuine devotion will not grow any further. Only by recognizing our absolute complete dependence on His Divine Grace under all circumstances, due to our most fallen position, will we continue to progress.

 

Quite naturally this becomes self-evident in the association of highly advanced devotees, however we must somehow or other always try to feel ourselves less than everyone. Practice and perseverence, along with prayer, finally makes perfect. Constant awareness that our inability to maintain this proper perspective towards others at all times is THE one main impediment, particularly when attempting to execute [/]devotional service, will eventually train the false-ego. Divine grave and mercy are always readily available, however the child must open it's mouth to be fed. When we get hungry enough, it happens...