Sri Harinama Cintamani :: Chapter 9 (part 1)
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Sri Harinama Cintamani :: Chapter 9 (part 1)
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Pure devotees are free from namaparadhas

"Devotees who have taken complete shelter of chanting the pure name are never prone to commit any of the ten namaparadhas. The holy name itself protects the pure devotees who have surrendered themselves to the pure name. But as long as the pure name has not dawned in the heart of the devotee, the danger of committing namaparadha is always threatening. Therefore devotees in the namabhasa stage have particularly to avoid this offense of committing sin on the strength of chanting.

Carefully avoid offenses

"A devotee must seek the association of pure devotees who chant the holy name offenselessly, and should be very alert against committing offenses. One who chants purely is of fixed mind and consciousness. He never deviates from thoughts of Krsna, even for a moment. As long as one has not strengthened his chanting to this point and has not fully surrendered to the holy name, he must be very vigilant to avoid offenses.


If the passing away of the body meant the end of your existence, then you, the self who existed along with the "childhood" body, should have ceased existing when that "childhood" body ceased to exist; and you, the self who existed along with the "adolescent" body, should have ceased existing when your "adolescent" body ceased to exist. The fact that you continued to exist, even though your body (bodies) did not, proves that your existence does not depend upon the continuing existence of a body.
Chris Butler Speaks


He must especially guard against the offense of committing sin on the strength of chanting. He should continuously chant the holy name and thus attract his spiritual master's mercy, which gives perfect knowledge of eternal relationship. This knowledge contains the science of pure devotion and the pure holy name.

Remedy for this aparadha

"If by some error this namaparadha is committed, one must search out the assembly of pure Vaisnavas. The propensity to sin is like a highway robber who accosts the wayfarer. The pure devotees are the guardians of the path who come to one's aid when the devotee calls aloud for their help. Just hearing that call, the robber immediately runs away, fearing that the guards will come. The guardians, the pure Vaisnavas, will console the devotee with soothing words and assurances of their protection."

I, the author of Harinama Cintamani, am a useless wretch. I impart this composition, having taken shelter of pure Vaisnavas.