Question : What is an offence towards others? And how I can recognize that I’m committing offences? What are the symptoms through which I can observe and verify that I’m committing offences?
Answer by Romapada Swami :
An offence literally means a transgression of law, or an act that causes insult, pain or displeasure to another. The determining character of an offence is something that causes displeasure to Krishna.
Offence can be of different kinds – it could be direct offence to Krishna or His Deity, as when one derides the form or the potency of Krishna, like the Mayavadis and atheists do.
Seva aparadha indicates an offence by violating the prescribed rules and regulations of devotional service, particularly in the worship of Deities. For example, failing to rise before the Deities or the Spiritual Master and offer obeisances to Them constitutes an offence. The Nectar of Devotion gives a detailed list of these offences to be avoided. (Please see Chapter 8 of Nectar of Devotion). By studying or hearing about these offences, we can learn to recognize and avoid them.
Offence committed to common living entities constitutes jana aparadha, as in the instance of slaughtering animals, or exploiting Nature, or speaking harsh words unnecessarily etc.
Offence could also be committed at the lotus feet of a vaishnava (Vaishnava aparadha). Of all types of aparadha, this is the most dangerous. Lord Caitanya called it the Mad-Elephant offense (hati-mata). Just as a mad-elephant can instantly trample and destroy a painstakingly cultivated garden, similarly offense to a vaishnava can damage the creeper of our devotional service. Therefore, one should be extremely careful to properly honor vaishnavas.
There are also offences in chanting the Holy Names of Krishna (nama aparadha). These are specifically 10 in number, and are also listed towards the end of CH 8, NOD.
Jana aparadha and seva aparadha can be easily overcome by sincerely chanting the Holy Name. But if one should be very much cautious to avoid offenses in chanting the Holy Name and towards the Vaishnavas. And if one knowingly continues to commit offenses in seva or towards others, thinking that it will be adjusted by chanting the Holy Name, then that becomes nama-aparadha. Srila Prabhupada greatly stressed the need to avoid offenses in chanting the Holy Name. As part of the morning program, devotees in all our temples and centers recite these 10 offenses, to remind oneself daily and recommit to diligently avoid these offenses.
The symptom that one is committing offence is that one has very little taste for chanting the Holy Names of Krishna. Lord Caitanya, taking the position of a conditioned soul, laments that in spite of the extraordinary potencies and merciful nature of the Holy Name, He has no taste for chanting, because of committing offenses. (Siksastakam prayer 2) Srimad Bhagavatam also states: “Certainly that heart is steel-framed which, in spite of one’s chanting the holy name of the Lord with concentration, does not change when ecstasy takes place, tears fill the eyes and the hairs stand on end…. If the reaction does not take place and if there is no change of heart, even after continuous hearing and chanting of the holy name of the Lord, it may be considered to be due to offenses only.” (SB 2.3.24) Thus, until we come to the stage of pure chanting in devotional ecstasy, we can take it for granted that we must be committing one or more or all of the offenses.
If you carefully consider, you will see that all of these offences spring from a material conception or an improper conception of something spiritual — of Krishna, of the Holy Name, of the vaishnava, or other living entities in their relationship to Krishna. The remedy for offence, therefore, is giving regular, submissive aural reception to the messages of Bhagavatam, and live by its directions, by which our material conceptions will be spiritualized.
Offence can be committed by the body, or by one’s speech or even in one’s mind, each being less serious than the other. Nonetheless, even mentally carrying ill-feelings or critical thoughts should be avoided, or they will soon manifest in one’s speech and actions. Even neglecting or failing to be happy to see a vaishnava can be an offense! The best policy to avoid offences is to always maintain a very happy and respectful disposition towards all devotees, and to cultivate the habit of appreciating and glorifying their devotional qualities and their service to Krishna. If you are always in a happy mood of service, eager to please Krishna and His devotees, and eager to *learn* how to please them, then under their able guidance you can avoid all offences.
