Q. I read in digest 189 that “who does not follow the regulative principles is not fit for chanting (kirtana)”. I am struggling with my attachments and find it difficult and sometimes or most times not motivated to chant. I feel very bad and sometimes dejected due to my own way of life of not watering the seed of devotion I received due to the mercy of devotees and especially one devotee.
Now after reading the statement in quote from digest 189, I am confused. I request you to be merciful to explain this statement.
Answer by Romapada Swami: The statement you refer to appears in the following context: “After receiving the spiritual master’s mercy, one must repeat his instructions, and this is called sravana-kirtana— hearing and chanting. One who has not properly heard from the spiritual master or who does not follow the regulative principles is not fit for chanting (kirtana).”
The particular emphasis here is on the importance of “hearing” from the spiritual master, and ‘applying what one has heard’, as a prerequisite for proper chanting; it is not meant to disqualify one from chanting all together.
In fact, this statement you have referred to could offer you a hint on how to overcome the present struggles you are grappling with in your devotional progress — the solution is to once again take shelter of the hearing process, and thus your difficulties in chanting will be overcome without extraneous effort.
It is further elaborated within that same question & answer (digest 189) how one can attract and receive the mercy of the spiritual master — by continuing to hear — with eagerness, warm regard, service attitude and willingness to change one’s conceptions. Within this hearing process, all perfection is available. By associating and hearing from devotees, you have received the seed of devotion, and by continuing to hear, the seed will be nourished and the taste for hearing as well as chanting will naturally grow.
Krishna reassures that in the beginning one may not be able to fully discharge all the injunctions of the Lord, but if one has firm faith in HIs instructions, without being resentful or envious of Him, and “works sincerely without consideration of defeat or hopelessness, he will surely be promoted to the stage of pure Krishna consciousness.” (Cf. BG 3.31 p)
It is possible to receive the mercy and overcome all misconceptions and attachments in just one instant, as described by the example of Srila Prabhupada’s personal life. However, even if one does not make such a breakthrough in one or few exchanges with devotees, it is not a cause for discouragement – one simply has to continue to eagerly and submissively hear. The process is absolutely powerful and will be effective in due course of time.
So there is no need for you to despair. You have some appreciation and gratitude for having received the seed of devotion; you also have the desire for properly cultivating the same, and a sincere regret for not doing so. Now, taking these as impetuses, continue to engage yourself in the process of hearing from realized devotees – seek out such opportunities to hear krishna-katha, if possible even on a daily basis for at least a few minutes.
Material attachments, although undesirable, do not disqualify one from devotional service. Rather, by enthusiastic engagement in devotional service, one will progressively and naturally find so much higher taste that would make all material attachments become pale and superfluous.
As stated in the Bhagavatam, “akama sarva kamo va” — whether one is full of all material desire, without any material desire, or desiring liberation, a person who has broader intelligence must by all means worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead.” (SB 2.3.10)
“Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.
By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.” (SB 1.2.17 and SB 1.2.18)
Srila Prabhupada reassures us in his purport to these slokas: “To become restless in the contact of women and wealth is not an astonishment, because every living being is associated with such things from remote time, practically immemorial, and it takes time to recover from this foreign nature. But if one is engaged in hearing the glories of the Lord, gradually he realizes his real position. By the grace of God such a devotee gets sufficient strength to defend himself from the state of disturbances, and gradually all disturbing elements are eliminated from his mind.”
