You must be careful about the quality of the company. Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (2.13) explains the reasons: yasya yat sangatih pumso manivat syat sa tad gunah svakularddhyai tato dhiman svayuthany eva samsrayet Just as the qualities of an … Read More
The Vedas describe the truth concerning the holy name with these words from the Rig-vedas: om ity etad brahmin nedistam nama yasmad uccaryamana eva samsara-bhayat tarayati tasmad-ucyate tara iti om asya jananto nama cid-viviktan mahaste visno … Read More
According to Namastaka (2), the holy name is worshiped by liberated souls, as even namabhasa destroys all kinds of suffering. jaya namadheya muni-vrnda-geya jana-ranjanaya paramaksarakrte tvam anadarad api manag udiritam nikhilogra-tapa-patalim vilumpasi Oh Hari-nama! The great … Read More
The holy name of Krishna, overflowing with transcendental bliss, is the embodiment of transcendental sweetness. In Namastaka (8) it is written: narada-vinojjivana sudhormi- niryasa-madhuripura tvam krsna-nama kamam sphura me rasane rasena sada O Krishna-nama! You infuse … Read More
It is confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.12.48): sankirtyamano bhagavan anantah srutanubhavo vyasanam hi pumsam pravisya cittam vidhunoty asesam yatha tamo ‘rko’ bhram ivati-vatah When people properly glorify the Supreme Personality of God or even just when they … Read More
The chanting of the holy name allows us to taste all the nectar at every step. This is described as follows in the Padma Purana: tebhyo namo ‘stu bhava-vari-dhi-jirna-panka sammagna-moksana-vicaksana-padukebhyah krsneti varna-yugalam sravanena yesam anandathur bhavati … Read More
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (4.29.49), it is written: sa vidya tan-matir yaya A truly educated man rises to Krishna Consciousness. Transcendental knowledge, by which consciousness is absorbed into Krishna’s lotus feet, is the original or real vidya, which … Read More
The Heavenly Beings, in Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.5.40) state: dhatar yad asmin bhava isa jivas tapa-trayenabhihata na sarma atman labhante bhagavams tavanghri cchayam sa-vidyam ata asrayema Oh Father! Oh Lord! Oh Personality of God! Living entities in the … Read More
The holy name is the life of transcendental knowledge. In the Garuda Purana it is written: yad icchasi param jnanam jnanad yat paramam padam tadadarena rajendra kuru govinda-kirtanam O best of kings, if you want to … Read More
The chanting of the holy name spreads the moonlight that makes the transcendental lotus of good wishes blossom. In the Prabhasa Khanda it is written: madhura-madhuram etan mangalam mangalanam sakala-nigama-valli-sat-phalam cit-svarupam sakrdapi parigitam sraddhaya helaya va … Read More
By chanting the holy names, the raging fire of material existence is finally quelled. It is written in Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.2.46): natah param karma-nibandha-krntanam mumuksatam tirtha-padanukirtanat na yat punah karmasu sajjate mano rajas-tamobhyam kalilam tato ‘nyatha Those … Read More
Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.4) further condemns the way not following devotional service with these words: sreyah-srtim bhaktim udasya te vibho klisyanti ye kevala-bodha-labdhaye tesam asau klesala eva sisyate nanyad yatha sthula-tusavaghatinam My dear Lord, devotional service to You … Read More
Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.12) condemns karma and jnana yoga with these words: naiskarmyam apy acyuta-bhava-varjitam na sobhate jnanam alam niranjanam kutah punah sasvad abhadram isvare na carpitam karma yad apy akaranam Even if free from any relationship with … Read More
One can only get rid of all bad habits by chanting the holy name of Krishna. Thus, good luck awakens and love for Krishna begins to flow. While practicing Astanga Yoga, fear is always present. In … Read More
By performing the collective chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, one can destroy the sinful condition of material existence, purify the defiled heart and awaken all kinds of devotional service. The result of chanting is that … Read More
If the Siksastakas are remembered and smarana and kirtana are practiced according to them, the asta-kala service will gradually awaken in the heart. At that moment all unwanted defilements including religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and … Read More
Bhajana performed according to the sixth sloka indicates disappearance. The external symptoms of bhava are described in the sixth verse. At this level the sadhaka has already overcome almost all the anarthas and introduces the adhikara … Read More
One should practice bhajana for a few days. Through this discipline the practitioner must then mature, as explained in the second verse. To mature means that one should carefully avoid namaparadha as the word durdaivam indicates, … Read More
A. In Srimad Bhagavatam (3.25.25) it is written: satam prasangan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati (36) Talking about the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Lord in the company … Read More
It is written in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu that even namabhasa destroys all sins and grants liberation. tam nirvyajam bhaja guna-nidhe pavananam sraddha-rajyan-matir atitaram uttamah-sloka-maulim prodyann antah-karana-kuhare hanta yan-nama-bhanor abhaso ‘pi ksapayati maha-pataka-dhvanta-rasim O holder of all good qualities, … Read More
