name. Slowly, one develops attraction for the holy name. Apathy and inattentivencss will gradually vanish.

The symptoms of laziness or jadya

"Indulging in laziness (jadya) prevents a person from relishing the nectar of the holy name. He begins by chanting and remembering the holy name, but very soon feels it unendurable and wants to sleep. Advanced devotees are cautious about this offense. They never waste a single moment in useless talks or activities, constantly meditating on the Lord's holy name. They are so absorbed in the nectar of the holy name that they do not care for anything else. One must make an effort to associate with such rare devotees and follow their example, thus ridding oneself of laziness. It is the nature of saintly Vaisnavas to be always engaged in devotional activities. They never waste rime uselessly. Seeing this, one will become immediately attracted to this devotional trait.

The subtle layers of matter that first cover you—such as the mind, intelligence, and false ego—are like underclothes. Then, over the subtle material elements come the grosser material elements (going from the more subtle to the more gross), which cover you, the self, layer by layer. The layer of ether or sky covers over the mind, intelligence, and false ego; then the element air covers the element ether; the element fire then covers the element air; next the element water covers over the element fire; and finally the element earth covers over the element water. So in this way, you, the self, are covered by these eight primary subtle and gross layers of material energy. Thus, just as a man may have different layers of clothes over his body, the self also has eight layers of "clothes."
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One will ask himself how he can also become like these devotees, immersed in meditation upon the holy name? How, from this very day, can he gradually increase his chanting until he can actually chant three lakhs of holy names with inspiration and eagerness? When Lord Krsna sees such enthusiasm, He reciprocates by removing the neophyte's mental inertia with the power of His name, and by bringing him into the association of advanced devotees.

Distraction (viksepa) and the antidote

"Distraction in chanting produces a type of illusion, causing serious offenses against the holy name that are very difficult to overcome. This illusion leads to craving for wealth, women, position, success and even cheating. When these attractions cover the heart, the neophyte gradually loses interest in chanting of the holy name.

"One must make a constant effort to drive these thoughts away from the mind and diligently follow the rules of Vaisnava etiquette. This endeavor will bring back his good fortune. Hs must begin by observing ekadasi vows, appearance days of the Lord