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Excerpt from a lecture by HH Nira\u00f1jana Swami<\/i><\/p>\n
Caitanya-carit\u0101m\u1e5bta, \u0100di-l\u012bl\u0101 8.16<\/i><\/p>\n
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This verse stresses the importance of chanting the Holy Name so that one can achieve the ultimate goal of this chanting. I wanted to read something also in connection to this. It is short but very relevant to this verse. In the words of our param-guru<\/i> \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura, in answer to the question, \u201cHow should we chant the Lord\u2019s Holy Names?\u201d I find this very relevant to myself and therefore I\u2019ve been sharing it with many devotees and I would like to read it first, and then in some way try to explain the meaning behind it.<\/p>\n
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\u201cPure devotees do not chant the Lord\u2019s Names to counteract sinful reactions, accumulate piety, attain heavenly pleasures, to mitigate famine, devastating epidemics, social unrest, disease, civil strife or to obtain wealth or an earthly kingdom. Since the Lord is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to ask Him to fulfill our wishes is to treat Him as our servant. This is an offense. Therefore, calling the Lord\u2019s Names for any reason other than to attain His devotional service is useless. Jesus Christ told us not to take the Lord\u2019s Name in vain.<\/b><\/p>\n
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However, this does not mean that we do not need to always chant the Lord\u2019s Names, while sleeping, awake, eating or enjoying happiness. To chant the Lord\u2019s Names, begging for His service, is not a useless activity. It is our only duty.<\/b><\/p>\n
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But to make a show of chanting for some other purpose \u2013 in other words to fulfill our own desire \u2013 is useless. We should not take to the chanting of the Lord\u2019s Names uselessly. We should not chant to attain religiosity, economic development, sense gratification or liberation. Instead we should always chant to attain the Lord\u2019s service.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
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I thought this was very relevant. \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura here explains that unless one is actually chanting for the service, then any other purpose \u2013 any other purpose<\/i> \u2013 is materially motivated. And he gives a long list of what is materially motivated: for social unrest, for epidemics, for material prosperity, any chanting to relieve distress, whether individually or collectively.<\/p>\n
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Therefore, he uses a strong word, he says it\u2019s \u2018useless\u2019 \u2013 which we may question, because sometimes we hear so many verses which explain that even once chanting the Holy Names of the Lord will eradicate all kinds of sinful reactions for millions of births. And here somebody may be chanting, collectively with a large group, for a particular purpose, yet he defines it as useless chanting.<\/p>\n
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It makes me think of a verse in the \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam<\/i>, in the 3rd<\/sup> Canto, spoken by Devah\u016bti. She says that anyone whose work does not lead to religious life; and any one whose religious, ritualistic performances do not elevate one to renunciation; and anyone who is situated in renunciation that doesn\u2019t lead to devotional service to the Supreme Lord, is to be considered to be a dead body, although breathing.<\/p>\n \n<\/p>\n Here, in this verse, emphasis is given on the ultimate goal. If we want to actually achieve the ultimate goal of chanting, which is the essence of today\u2019s verse, we have to become free from offenses. And unless the ultimate goal is achieved, which is devotional service to the Supreme Lord, any other achievement is useless. Because the only full achievement of chanting the Holy Name of the Lord, is to achieve love for the Supreme Lord. Love, which is freed from all material desires.<\/p>\n \n<\/p>\n Any\u0101bhil\u0101\u1e63it\u0101-\u015b\u016bnya\u1e41 j\u00f1\u0101na-karm\u0101dy-an\u0101v\u1e5btam [Bhakti-ras\u0101m\u1e5bta-sindhu 1.1.1]<\/i>: as \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b explains: such devotional service should be freed from the influence of karma<\/i> and j\u00f1\u0101na<\/i>. \u015ar\u012bla R\u016bpa Gosv\u0101m\u012b also states that [Bhakti-ras\u0101m\u1e5bta-sindhu 1.2.22]<\/i>,<\/p>\n \n<\/p>\n bhukti-mukti-sp\u1e5bha yavat \n<\/p>\n As long as the desire for bhukti<\/i> (the desire for material enjoyment) and mukti<\/i> (the desire for relief from suffering, liberation), are within the heart (these desires are considered to be like two witches which haunt one like a ghost), then one will never be able to taste the bliss of devotional service to the Supreme Lord. And therefore it is stated in Caitanya-carit\u0101m\u1e5bta<\/i> that the goal of chanting is to achieve this love.<\/p>\n \n<\/p>\n \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura here also states that to approach the Lord for something for ourselves is an offense. We should not ask anything for ourselves. He says that all these other purposes for which one chants are considered to be useless, unless we actually purposely, with intent<\/i>, sit and intensely pray for the service to the Lord. That service, that opportunity to engage in devotional service, is bestowed by the mercy of the Lord, and also bestowed by the mercy of the devotee of the Lord.<\/p>\n \n<\/p>\n \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da in his commentary quotes the verse that \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b \u1e6ch\u0101kura emphasizes as the siddha-pra\u1e47\u0101l\u012b <\/i>for Gau\u1e0d\u012bya Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas, <\/i>which is, [\u015aik\u1e63\u0101\u1e63\u1e6dakam, verse 3]<\/i><\/p>\n \n<\/p>\n t\u1e5b\u1e47\u0101d api su-n\u012bcena taror iva sahi\u1e63\u1e47un\u0101 \n<\/p>\n Lord Caitanya Himself has stated, when explaining this verse, that a devotee who is engaged in the chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord does not retaliate, even if he is rebuked or chastised. He never retaliates or says anything to anyone else about such activity. He gives an example that, even if a tree is cut, the tree will not complain, and even if the tree is drying up, it will not ask anyone for water. He says that such forbearance must be practiced by the devotee. Thus a Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava<\/i> should engage in the chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord, and he should never ask anyone for anything for himself. If someone offers, he will accept, but if someone doesn\u2019t offer, he is satisfied to accept whatever comes by its own means.<\/p>\n \n<\/p>\n But then He says something very, very<\/i> important: this type of behavior solidly maintains a devotee\u2019s devotional service. This type of behavior: he doesn\u2019t ask, he tolerates. So forbearing! There is a verse in the \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam,<\/i><\/p>\n \n<\/p>\n tirask\u1e5bt\u0101 vipralabdh\u0101\u1e25 \n<\/p>\n
\npisaci h\u1e5bdi vartate<\/i><\/p>\n
\nam\u0101nin\u0101 m\u0101na-dena k\u012brtan\u012bya\u1e25 sad\u0101 hari\u1e25<\/i><\/p>\n
\n\u015bapt\u0101\u1e25 k\u1e63ipt\u0101 hat\u0101 api
\nn\u0101sya tat pratikurvanti
\ntad-bhakt\u0101\u1e25 prabhavo \u2019pi hi<\/i><\/p>\n
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By Niranjana Swami<\/strong><\/p>\n