Wednesday, 26 June 2013

10th offense of the holy name

The 10th offense of the holy name is the most "scariest" as it is the most easiest to commit
"10) To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy name and to maintain material attachments, even after understanding so many instructions on this matter. It is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting."
The main focus of my question is on the bolded part. 
Now since we are chanting Krsna's name, it's obvious that our mind has to be towards Krsna, be it his name, his pastimes, his beauty, etc... but how far can this be stretched. Sometimes while I am chanting, my mind turns towards a bunch of topics that I sort of think about in a KC sense. Like, for example if I am chanting my japa, my mind would think about material relationships and it's relation to KC - sort of like a KC analysis of a random topic my senses notice. So "technically" my mind is on KC but at the same time that doesn't "feel" right because I have always assumed that not thinking about Radha, Krsna, Balarama, etc. while chanting is an offense, thus I sometimes try to visualize them and their pastimes according to the various descriptions I have read. 
To give a bit more detail - sometimes these questions are more KC than others. For example if my mind is engaged in analyzing a specific topic, I would try to quote verses from the Bhagavad Gita, while other times I would just use my gained knowledge from lectures and reading to analyze it. 
So to clarify - The instructions are very clear for the 10th offense, but how far can one stretch it. Of course thinking of only Radha, Krsna, Balarama, etc. is per se the "safety" line but at the same time is it improper to do what I do?
My answer would probably be that I sense what I do to be in the gray area since it does relate to KC, but at the same time it does distract me from the holy names and Krsna in subtle way, so it would be considered an offense.
I look forward to your instructions
Haribol Prabhus and Matajis,
YS

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