Initiation—ISKCON in the Spiritual World

Giriraj Swami: In The Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhupada mentions five potent forms of devotional service. Out of all the items of devotional service, the most important is the chanting of the holy name. Srila Rupa Gosvami explains in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu that even by a slight contact with any of the five items, what to speak of the holy name, one will very quickly develop love for Krishna. But we find that we engage in the five activities every day, but still the desired result of love of Godhead is not there. Srila Rupa Gosvami has explained that even a slight contact with any of the five processes will awaken love of Godhead, provided the person is free from offenses. We are meant to develop love of Godhead. The whole purpose of the Krishna consciousness movement and everything we do in Krishna consciousness is to develop pure love of Godhead. The only thing that comes in the way is offenses.

When we begin to chant the holy name, we should be aware of the offenses to be avoided. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada began the tradition of mentioning the offenses in his initiation lecture so that his new initiates would know that the full effect of chanting the holy name can be experienced only when one is free from offenses. So, I shall read from Caitanya-caritāmṛta the list of offenses.

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda

jayādvaitacandra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

Sri Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, Chapter Eight,

TEXT 24

‘kṛṣṇa-nāma’ kare aparādhera vicāra
kṛṣṇa balile aparādhīra nā haya vikāra

TRANSLATION

There are offenses to be considered while chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Therefore simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa one does not become ecstatic.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

It is very beneficial to chant the names śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda before chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra because by chanting these two holy names — śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda — one immediately becomes ecstatic, and if he then chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra he becomes free of offenses.

COMMENT

In other words, we cannot become free from offenses just by the negative effort to become free from offenses. But when we actually begin to feel some ecstasy by chanting the holy name of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, by serving the lotus feet of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, by serving the mission of Sri Gaura-Nitai, then we can chant without offense. So, the mercy of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga is essential to become free from offenses, to experience some ecstasy, and then be able to chant without offense.

PURPORT (continued)

There are ten offenses to avoid in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. The first offense is to blaspheme great personalities who are engaged in distributing the holy name of the Lord. It is said in the śāstra (Cc. Antya 7.11), kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana: one cannot distribute the holy names of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra unless he is empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore one should not criticize or blaspheme a devotee who is thus engaged.

Śrī Padma Purāṇa states:

satāṁ nindā nāmnaḥ paramam aparādhaṁ vitanute
yataḥ khyātiṁ yātaṁ katham u sahate tad-vigarhām

To blaspheme the great saintly persons who are engaged in preaching the glories of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is the worst offense at the lotus feet of the holy name. One should not criticize a preacher of the glories of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. If one does so, he is an offender. The Nāma-prabhu, who is identical with Kṛṣṇa, will never tolerate such blasphemous activities, even from one who passes as a great devotee.

COMMENT

Every devotee in the Krishna consciousness movement is engaged in chanting the holy name and preaching the holy name throughout the whole world. Therefore, we should be careful not to blaspheme any devotees. One disciple asked Srila Prabhupada, “Whether the offense of blasphemy of a devotee only operates in relation to pure devotees?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “No, the offense operates in relation to any devotee, any devotee who is actually a devotee and who has the primary characteristic of always chanting the holy name, being surrendered to the holy name, knowing that the holy name is not different from Lord Krishna, and preaching the holy name all over the world. He is to be considered a devotee, and we should not blaspheme him or offend him or criticize him.”

Once, another disciple asked Srila Prabhupada, “All day long, I am practically engaged in committing offenses against other devotees.” He had heard that to become free from offenses, to be relieved from the reaction to some offense, one should approach the offended Vaishnavas and beg for forgiveness. So, the disciple told Srila Prabhupada that, “I commit so many offenses all day long. If I has to approach all the devotees I offends and ask for forgiveness, practically the whole day and night will be spent approaching the offended devotees. So, what should I do?” Srila Prabhupada replied that, “Every morning when the devotees come together in the temple, they should offer obeisances to each other with the mantra.”

vāñchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca

patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ

And within ourselves, we should ask all the devotees to forgive us for all of our offenses, and we should also be in the mood to forgive all the offenses of other devotees. Of course, if we commit some more serious offense, then we must go to the devotee whom we offended, fall at the feet of the devotee, and beg for forgiveness.

PURPORT (continued)

The second nāmāparādha is described as follows:

śivasya śrī-viṣṇor ya iha guṇa-nāmādi-sakalaṁ
dhiyā bhinnaṁ paśyet sa khalu hari-nāmāhita-karaḥ

In this material world, the holy name of Viṣṇu is all-auspicious. Viṣṇu’s name, form, qualities, and pastimes are all transcendental, absolute knowledge. Therefore, if one tries to separate the Absolute Personality of Godhead from His holy name or His transcendental form, qualities, and pastimes, thinking them to be material, that is offensive. Similarly, to think that the names of demigods such as Lord Śiva are as good as the name of Lord Viṣṇu — or, in other words, to think that Lord Śiva and the other demigods are other forms of God and are therefore equal to Viṣṇu — is also blasphemous. This is the second offense at the lotus feet of the holy name of the Lord.

The third offense at the lotus feet of the holy name, which is called guror avajñā, is to consider the spiritual master to be material and therefore to envy his exalted position. The fourth offense (śruti-śāstra-nindanam) is to blaspheme Vedic literatures such as the four Vedas and the Purāṇas.

COMMENT

Actually, we read in the Krishna book that offenses can be committed by body, by words, and within the mind. For example, if I strike another devotee, I commit an offense with the body. If I blaspheme another devotee, I commit an offense with words. If I fail to offer respect to another devotee, I commit an offense within the mind.

Actually, Srila Prabhupada explained in one purport in Caitanya-caritāmṛta that one should feel glad to see a Vaishnava, and if he doesn’t feel glad when he is seeing the Vaishnava, he is committing offense. Now, in relation to the scriptures, certainly we should not step over the scripture or keep the scripture on the floor or commit any such offense. Certainly, we should not blaspheme the scriptures by doubting the truth of what the scriptures say. But the subtle offense, the subtle lack of respect, will come when we don’t purposefully study the scriptures. If we actually have faith in the scriptures, then naturally we will want to study them to get guidance from them. So, to really be free from this offense, we have to study the scriptures. Srila Prabhupada’s books, and the books in pursuance of the same conclusions. As one devotee said, not to read the book is an offense. To avoid the books is an offense: Reading them and studying them. And in one lecture here in Vrindavan, Srila Prabhupada commented that the books are not just meant for distributing; the books are meant for reading.

PURPORT (continued)

The fifth offense (artha-vādaḥ) is to consider the glories of the holy name to be exaggerations. Similarly, the sixth offense (hari-nāmni kalpanam) is to consider the holy name of the Lord to be imaginary.

The seventh offense is described as follows:

nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhir
na vidyate tasya yamair hi śuddhiḥ

To think that since the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra can counteract all sinful reactions one may therefore go on with his sinful activities and at the same time chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra to neutralize them is the greatest offense at the lotus feet of hari-nāma.

The eighth offense is stated thus:

dharma-vrata-tyāga-hutādi-sarva-
śubha-kriyā-sāmyam api pramādaḥ

It is offensive to consider the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra to be a religious ritualistic ceremony. Performing religious ceremonies, following vows and practicing renunciation and sacrifice are all materialistic auspicious activities. The chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra must not be compared to such materialistic religiosity. This is an offense at the lotus feet of the holy name of the Lord.

COMMENT

As His Holiness Dhanurdhar Swami Maharaja quoted,

anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ
jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-
śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā

Pure devotional service should be without any other desire except to please Krishna, and it should not be covered by any other idea of any other process like karma, jnana, tapasya, or anything else. We should not think of ritualistic ceremonies on the same level as hari-nāma because the actual purpose of hari-nāma, and we should have the purpose in mind when we chant, is to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If we think that as one performs other ritualistic ceremonies to get some material facility either in the present life or the next life, that we can similarly chant the holy name to get some material benefit, it is offensive. When we chant, we should have no other desire except to serve and please Krishna.

PURPORT (continued)

The ninth offense is described as follows:

aśraddadhāne vimukhe ‘py aśṛṇvati
yaś copadeśaḥ śiva-nāmāparādhaḥ

It is an offense to preach the glories of the holy name among persons who have no intelligence or no faith in the subject matter. Such people should be given the chance to hear the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, but in the beginning they should not be instructed about the glories or the spiritual significance of the holy name. By constant hearing of the holy name, their hearts will be purified, and then they will be able to understand the transcendental position of the holy name.

COMMENT

Different devotees have mentioned what the purpose of Krishna consciousness is, what Srila Prabhupada said the purpose of Krishna consciousness is. As I was hearing some of them speak, I was reminded of one statement that I heard when I first joined, and the statement surprised me so much. The devotee said that Srila Prabhupada had stated that the goal of Krishna consciousness is to join the dancing party of Radha and Krishna. At the time, I was amazed. I hardly knew who Radha and Krishna were. I had some idea about Krishna; I didn’t have much idea about Radha and Krishna, and I didn’t know that they had a dancing party. I thought maybe they traveled from place to place with the troupe. Many years later, I began to vaguely understand what Srila Prabhupada meant, and today, being the auspicious day of the Vasanta Panchami, I thought of it because Vasanta Panchami is the day when Radha and Krishna and their dancing party danced at Govardhana. There are two main rasa dances performed by Lord Krishna, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the gopīs, who are expansions of Krishna’s energy. One takes place in the autumn season, Sharad-Purnima; and one takes place in the spring season, Vasanta Panchami. But the special feature of the vasanti-rasa is that it demonstrates the glories of Srimati Radharani.

When Lord Chaitanya was discussing with Ramananda Raya, what is the perfection of life? Ramananda Raya began from the position that by following varnashrama-dharma, one can please Lord Vishnu and thus attain the perfection of life. But Lord Chaitanya did not accept the answer. He said, “Go further. This is external. Go further.” Then Ramananda Raya gave various answers, one after the other, that by performing fruitive activities without accepting the result, one can achieve perfection. By giving the result to Krishna, one can achieve perfection. By giving up one’s duties in varnashrama-dharma, one can achieve perfection. By gaining knowledge of Krishna, one can attain perfection by surrendering to Krishna, and so on.

Finally, Ramananda Raya quoted one verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that by hearing the pastimes of Krishna, one can conquer Krishna. Conquer Krishna means one get love of Krishna and by the love of Krishna, Krishna becomes conquered. Then Lord Chaitanya said, “Yes, this is the actual process,” but he said, “Go further.” Then Ramananda Raya replied, he quoted one verse that by worshipping the Lord with various paraphernalia, one can be satisfied just as a hungry man or a thirsty man can be satisfied by eating and drinking. And then Ramananda Raya quoted another verse that one can achieve a transcendental love for Krishna only if he has intense greed, but such intense greed cannot be achieved even by performing pious activities for thousands and millions of lifetimes. But if one can get it, he should pay any price and get it. Then Lord Chaitanya said, “Very good. Go further.”

Then he said, “Service in the mood of servitude.” “Very good. Go further.” “Service in the mood of friendship.” “Very good. Go further.” “Service in the mood of mother and father.” “Very good. Go further.” “Service in the mood of the gopīs.” “Very good. Very good. But say something more.” Then finally, Ramananda Raya came to the point that the love of Srimati Radharani for Krishna and the service of Srimati Radharani for Krishna is the best and the highest. And what evidence did he cite? He cited the evidence from the rasa performance of Vasanta Panchami.

So I will just read two or three verses, and then I think we will conclude. Sri Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-lila, Chapter Eight,

TEXT 104

rāya kahe, — tabe śuna premera mahimā
tri-jagate rādhā-premera nāhika upamā

TRANSLATION

Rāmānanda Rāya continued, “Please therefore hear from me about the glories of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s loving affairs. They are beyond compare within these three worlds.

COMMENT

The three worlds don’t only mean māyā-dham. It doesn’t only mean the three worlds in the material universe. It doesn’t only mean devi-dham, Mahesh-dham and Hari-dham, but even in the three worlds of Dvaraka, Mathura, and Vrindavan, nothing can compare to Srimati Radharani’s love for Krishna.

TEXT 105

gopī-gaṇera rāsa-nṛtya-maṇḍalī chāḍiyā
rādhā cāhi’ vane phire vilāpa kariyā

TRANSLATION

“Finding Herself treated equally with all the other gopīs, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī displayed Her tricky behavior and left the circle of the rāsa dance. Missing Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s presence, Kṛṣṇa became very unhappy and began to lament and wander throughout the forest to search Her out.

TEXT 106

kaṁsārir api saṁsāra-
vāsanā-baddha-śṛṅkhalām
rādhām ādhāya hṛdaye
tatyāja vraja-sundarīḥ

TRANSLATION

“ ‘Lord Kṛṣṇa, the enemy of Kaṁsa, took Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī within His heart, for He desired to dance with Her. Thus He left the arena of the rāsa dance and the company of all the other beautiful damsels of Vraja.

TEXT 107

itas tatas tām anusṛtya rādhikām
anaṅga-bāṇa-vraṇa-khinna-mānasaḥ
kṛtānutāpaḥ sa kalinda-nandinī
taṭānta-kuñje viṣasāda mādhavaḥ

TRANSLATION

“ ‘Being afflicted by the arrow of Cupid and unhappily regretting His mistreating Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Mādhava, Lord Kṛṣṇa, began to search for Her along the banks of the Yamunā River. When He failed to find Her, He entered the bushes of Vṛndāvana and began to lament.’

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

These two verses are from the Gīta-govinda (3.1–2), written by Jayadeva Gosvāmī.

COMMENT

So as we sit here before the deity in the presence of Srila Prabhupada, in the presence of the assembled Vaishnavas, we resolve to chant the holy names of Krishna and follow the entire process of Krishna consciousness as revealed to us by the disciplic succession. Thus, by proceeding step by step, can hope to attain the final goal, which is to enter the family of Lord Krishna, enter the dancing party of Radha and Krishna, or enter the other ISCKON, which Srila Prabhupada said exists in the spiritual world.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!
Nitai-Gaura premānande Hari Haribol!