Sri Harinama Cintamani :: Chapter 9 (part 1)
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Sri Harinama Cintamani :: Chapter 9 (part 1)
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Being inclined to sin is namaparadha

"A materialist has to perform proyoscitta and repent bitterly if he commits sin. But if he commits sin on the purifying strength of the holy name, then even prayascitta is futile. He faces certain ruination. Even after untold retribution in hell, he'll not be absolved from this namaparadha. Just the inclination to sin itself suits in enough tribulation for the soul; if he further compounds his difficulties by deliberately committing sin on the strength of chanting, his fate is most lamentable.

Monkey renunciants

"The scriptures declare that the holy name is so potent it can neutralize more sins than one can commit even in a hundred million lifetimes. The most heinous of sins are counteracted just in the namabhasa stage of chanting. That is why cheats and charlatans take up chanting the name: they forsake the responsibilities of household drudgery and, hiding behind the renunciant's attire, travel from country to country. Their hearts are laden with desire's for wealth and women. You have described such persons as markata vairagis or 'monkey renunciants'.


In the same way that the passing of the "childhood" body does not bring about the cessation of your (the self's) existence, so the passing away of the "old" body will not bring about the cessation of your existence.
Jagad Guru Speaks


This namaparadha is inevitable for the cheaters

"Some persons play-act as renunciants while maintaining a household mentality. These men are dead weights upon mother earth and human society, and should be avoided. A devotee who has taken shelter of the holy name can live in any situation—in household life or in the forest as a hermit. If the household situation is conducive to chanting, then the life of a mendicant is unnecessary and wrong; but if household life is unfavorable, the devotee is duty-bound to forsake home. It is a terrible offense to commit sins on the strength of chanting; this offender is forever banished from the path of devotional service.

"Devotees in the namabhosa stage of chanting must beware of such cheating company because it will have an evil influence on them. They will fall into committing this dreaded namaparadha. Those who chant the pure name are free from namaparadha.