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The Ten Offenses
from Japa Reform Notebook
By HH Satsvarupa das Goswami
Submitted by Manoj
There are ten offenses in chanting Hare Krsna. They involve not only the time when we sit down to chant japa, but our whole devotional life. These
offenses - disobeying the orders of the spiritual master, committing deliberate sins on the strength of chanting,
blaspheming the devotee-have to do with more than correct pronunciation of the names of the Lord. So whether we can carry out the orders of the spiritual master is our test. By the time you sit down to chant, it's already determined by your service
attitude you've either already committed the offenses, or you haven't. Both the offenseless chanting and the following are interdependent.
By chanting carefully, you get the strength to follow the orders of your spiritual master, as you associate with Krsna's name. But we know that if you associate without offense, it is much more effective. Following the four rules and living in devotional service assures you of avoiding the ten offenses.
The chanting of Hare Krsna has the power to erradicate all sins, but if you become an offender to the holy names of the Lord, then you have no chance of being delivered.
THE FIRST OFFENSE is to blaspheme those persons who have actually dedicated their lives to spreading the glories of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is called vaisnava-aparadha. We usually think first of the guru, guru
aparadha, but this offense refers to all devotees, even the so called little devotees with whom we are living.
Devotee means anyone who is actually surrendered to the teachings of God. You cannot indulge in faultfinding or criticizing such a person. One who has dedicated his life to the service of God is not to be considered an ordinary person. And not only should you refrain from blaspheming him, but you should keep his company. When mentioning those things favorable for devotional service,
Rupa Gosvami states, sangatyagat sato vrtteh sadbhir bhaktih prasidhyati: One should avoid the company of the nondevotee and keep company with the devotee and value his association.
We have been speaking about the community of devotees. So I am one devotee; each of us is one individual. We have to honor all devotees. Whoever chants Hare
Krsna has to be mentally honored. Whoever is initiated and is following the rules and regulations, you offer him obeisances. Whoever is actually an advanced devotee, you offer him service. Although one is himself a devotee-he's taken initiation, he's chanting
hari-nama- he must think of himself as a servant of the devotees and hold the devotees in reverence.
You cannot chant the holy name and still speak offensively, act offensively, think offensively about others who are chanting the glories of the holy name. The relationships may be different, but in none of these relationships is there neglect of a genuine devotee of God. And if you do neglect, then you will be in difficulty, you cannot chant with the pure effect. You cannot chant on your beads and at the same time be blasphemous or neglectful of the devotees of the Lord. That is like trying to build a fire while throwing water on it. The potency of Hare Krsna mantra is always absolute. But if at the same time
you commit such a great offense, it is like that-throwing water on the fire. You will make a great havoc of your devotional life.
All over the world devotees of God are working, in different religions, as followers of Mohammed or Jesus, and the Krsna conscious devotees should not blaspheme these persons. Anyone who is actually a devotee of God is dear to God. They shouldn't be blasphemed.
It is also an offense to the holy name when there is criticism between disciples of different gurus (whether disciples of Prabhupada toward the other disciples or toward the other gurus), or between the gurus or between the disciples of the same guru. They are all preaching, they have all received bona fide initiation, they are all following. So for myself, I should worship my guru exclusively, but respect all other bona fide devotees and spiritual masters in a humble way and try to improve my own Krsna consciousness in relation to my spiritual master. And everyone should uphold the principles of initiation, worship their spiritual master with the right understanding and the right
siddhanta, and not blaspheme any of the devotees of the Lord.
If we chant Hare Krsna but don't avoid this offense and the other offenses, then for us it is hopeless. The chanting is so purifying that all other discrepancies and offenses will be washed away. But if in
the chanting you are full of offenses, then what can save you ?
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