740701 - Lecture Initiation - Melbourne

Lectures by Date, 1974

740701IN-MELBOURNE - July 01, 1974 - 14:08 Minutes

Prabhupāda: . . . puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ sa bahyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ (Garuḍa Purāṇa):

"I offer my respectful obeisances whose name, holy name, by remembering, by chanting, one becomes purified in either condition, purified or impurified," apavitraḥ, pavitraḥ; sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā, "in all circumstances."

So, so long we are in this material encagement we are supposed to be impurified. Because we are not purified, therefore we have to accept birth, death, old age and disease. Just like diseased condition is impurified. It requires to be purified by medical treatment so get out of the disease. So we living entities, we are part and parcel of God. Our original position is purified, but at the present moment we are contaminated. So by chanting the holy name of the Lord we become purified. The holy name of the Lord and the Lord, identical. By association with the Supreme Lord directly, by chanting the holy name, we become purified. Oṁ apavitraḥ pavitro vā sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā, yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣam (Garuḍa Purāṇa). Kṛṣṇa, His name is Puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ. Puṇḍarīka means lotus flower; akṣam means eyes—whose eyes are just like the lotus flower. Lord Visnu, or Kṛṣṇa, is identified with lotus flower in so many places. His navel is like lotus flower, His eyes are like lotus flower, His feet, lotus feet. So lotus is the comparison of the beauty of different limbs or parts of the body, transcendental body of Kṛṣṇa.

So those who are going to be initiated, they should understand that chanting of the holy name means directly associating with the Supreme Lord. So as I have given several times the example of the iron rod and the fire—if you touch the iron rod with the fire, it becomes warmer, warmer and then red hot—similarly, when you chant offenselessly the holy name of the Lord, gradually you become purified, and when we chant holy name without any offense, then we immediately live at the shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa. When we are almost free from contamination, then we become liberated, and when we chant purely the holy name, we are situated on the lotus feet of the Lord. And the more we go on chanting, we enjoy loving exchange affair between the Lord and ourself.

So we'll explain the ten kinds of offenses, and the initiated members should avoid the ten kinds of offenses. (aside) You have got the ten kinds of offenses? So first offense is to blaspheme great personalities who are engaged in glorifying the Lord within this material world. And, śruti-śāstra-nindanam, and to decry the Vedic literature. And third, to interpret the holy name in different way according to our own whims. This is also offense. And the most dangerous offense is namnaḥ balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhir (Padma Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa 25.15-18). Anyone who thinks that, "I am chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, so I am becoming free from contamination of sinful life; therefore let me commit sinful life and counteract it by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa," this is the greatest offense. We should not commit offenses on the strength of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. And then considering the different names of the demigods, they're independent—no. The Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa's name, Viṣṇu's name, is supreme; it cannot be equalized with other names. And, in spite of chanting the holy name, if one is attached to material enjoyment, that is also offense. And to instruct about the glories of the name to a person who is out of the jurisdiction of devotional service . . . of course, sometimes we have to do this, but that is for preaching sake. But generally we should not do that. I think these ten kinds of offenses are there. Anything more?

Satsvarūpa: To take the chanting as auspicious material ritual.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Śubha-karma. Just like to . . . there are many auspicious activities to counteract inauspicious activities. So this chanting of holy name should not be taken as that. It is just for the matter of pleasing the Absolute Personality of Godhead. So, you chant mantra. Hmm.

Madhudviṣa: Bhakta Johnny, your name now is Rāmāi dāsa.

Prabhupāda: You know what are the prohibitive rules? Prohibitive rules?

Rāmāi dāsa: . . . (indistinct)

Madhudviṣa: The four rules.

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Rāmāi dāsa: . . . (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: What is that?

Rāmāi dāsa: No illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, no intoxication.

Prabhupāda: So your spiritual name . . . how many rounds do you chant?

Rāmāi dāsa: Sixteen rounds.

Prabhupāda: Hmm.

Devotees: Jaya! Haribol! (break)

Prabhupāda: It is not properly done. It should be stuck up. So, what are the prohibitive rules?

Bhakta: No meat-eating, no illicit sex, no gambling, no intoxication.

Prabhupāda: Mmm, and you will chant?

Bhakta: Sixteen rounds.

Prabhupāda: Yes. So what is his name?

Madhudviṣa: His spiritual name is Pūrṇacandra dāsa.

Devotees: Haribol!

Prabhupāda: The neck beads must be tight.

Madhudviṣa: Next, next initiate is Bhakta Kenny . . . Bhaktin Penny. (break)

Prabhupāda: Hmm?

Devotee: Big books.

Prabhupāda: Hmm?

Devotee: Distributes big books.

Prabhupāda: Ācchā. So you are serving very nice. I am very glad. So what are the prohibitive rules?

Bhaktin Penny: No illicit sex, no gambling, no meat-eating, no intoxication.

Prabhupāda: Thank you very much. How many rounds you will chant?

Bhaktin Penny: Sixteen rounds a day.

Prabhupāda: Very good. What is her name?

Madhudviṣa: Bhaktin Penny's name is Śubha-lakṣmī dāsī.

Devotees: Haribol! (laughter)

Prabhupāda: Bring money more. (laughter) Lakṣmī means money, (laughter) and śubha means auspicious. So long you bring money, you are auspicious. (laughter)

Madhudviṣa: The next initiate is Bhaktin Carol. (break)

Prabhupāda: That's nice. So your name is Rāja-lakṣmī.

Madhudviṣa: Rāja-lakṣmī. (laughter)

Prabhupāda: Royal. Rāja means royal. So what are the rules and regulation?

Rāja-lakṣmī: No illicit sex. No meat-eating or eating anything that's not prasādam. No intoxication. No gambling or speculation.

Prabhupāda: Thank you. How many rounds will you chant?

Rāja-lakṣmī: Sixteen.

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Rāja-lakṣmī: Sixteen.

Prabhupāda: Thank you. Minimum. (laughter)

Devotees: Haribol!

Prabhupāda: Hmm.

Madhudviṣa: The next initiate is Bhaktin Eleanor. (break)

Bhaktin Eleanor: No intoxication, no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling or speculation.

Prabhupāda: Thank you. What is the name?

Madhudviṣa: Bhaktin Eleanor's name is Mohinī-śakti dāsī.

Devotees: Haribol!

Prabhupāda: Very nice name. It is Kṛṣṇa's incarnation. She allured the demons. Kṛṣṇa in the form of a beautiful woman allured the demons. The demons become allured by Kṛṣṇa's mohinī-śakti. And devotees, they are inclined to serve Kṛṣṇa being blessed by Rādhārāṇī. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Come on.

Devotees: Haribol!

Madhudviṣa: The next initiate is Bhaktin . . . Bhaktin Sue.

Prabhupāda: What are the rules?

Bhaktin Sue: No illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling and no intoxication.

Prabhupāda: How many rounds you will chant?

Bhaktin Sue: Minimum sixteen.

Prabhupāda: Thank you. What is her name?

Madhudviṣa: Bhaktin Sue's name is Guṇavati dāsī.

Devotees: Haribol!

Prabhupāda: "Full of good qualities." Yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ (SB 5.18.12). Anyone who is pure devotee of the Lord, all good qualities . . . (break) (end)