Sometimes people think that once a person has performed sinful acts, especially acts that are grievously sinful, he must be regarded as a sinner forever. This notion runs contrary to Vaishnava philosophy.

As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.2.8–10) about the sinful Ajamila:

etenaiva hy aghono ’sya    krtam syad agha-niskrtam
yada narayanayeti    jagada catur-aksaram

stenah sura-po mitra-dhrug    brahma-ha guru-talpa-gah
stri-raja-pitr-go-hanta    ye ca patakino ’pare

sarvesam apy aghavatam    idam eva suniskrtam
nama-vyaharanam visnor    yatas tad-visaya matih

[The Visnudutas said] Even previously, while eating and at other times, this Ajamila would call his son, saying, “My dear Narayana, please come here.” Although calling the name of his son, he nevertheless uttered the four syllables na-ra-ya-na. Simply by chanting the name of Narayana in this way, he sufficiently atoned for the sinful reactions of millions of lives.

The chanting of the holy name of Lord Visnu is the best process of atonement for a thief of gold or other valuables, for a drunkard, for one who betrays a friend or relative, for one who kills a brahmana, or for one who indulges in sex with the wife of his guru or another superior.

It is also the best method of atonement for one who murders women, the king or his father, for one who slaughters cows, and for all other sinful men.

Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Visnu, such sinful persons may attract the attention of the Supreme Lord, who therefore considers, “Because this man has chanted My holy name, My duty is to give him protection.”

Sometimes people think that once a person has performed sinful acts, especially acts that are grievously sinful, he must be regarded as a sinner forever. This notion runs contrary to Vaishnava philosophy.

We find relevant instructions in Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.5.42 (translated, with commentary, by disciples of Srila Prabhupada):

I posted in this journal an item, under the title “Shabby Behavior,” complaining about disregard for copyrights. The particular circumstance that prompted that item has now been cordially settled. I have therefore deleted the item.

Though I felt justified in writing it, its tone was sharp, so I feel far better about deleting it than I felt about writing it.

My thanks to my godbrother involved for dealing with the matter in a conscientious way. The error may very well have been mine.

Thank you also to Candidasa and Sitapati Dasa for commenting on the item. Since I’ve deleted it, we lose the benefit of their comments. But since both offered suggestions on how the problem I wrote about might be resolved, I trust they’ll both be pleased that in this case it has been.

Sometimes people think that once a person has performed sinful acts, especially acts that are grievously sinful, he must be regarded as a sinner forever. This notion runs contrary to Vaishnava philosophy.

Several important quotations pertaining to this point appear in Chapter One of The Nectar of Devotion, “Characteristics of Pure Devotional Service,” in the section “Relief from Material Distress.” One such verse is Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.14.19, which Srila Prabhupada renders as follows:

“My dear Uddhava, devotional service unto Me is just like a blazing fire which can burn into ashes unlimited fuel supplied to it.”

Sometimes people think that once a person has performed sinful acts, especially acts that are grievously sinful, he must be regarded as a sinner forever. This notion runs contrary to Vaishnava philosophy.

In the book Surrender unto Me, Bhurijana Dasa comments on Bhagavad-gita 4.36–37, with references to the commentary of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.

Sometimes people think that once a person has performed sinful acts, especially acts that are grievously sinful, he must be regarded as a sinner forever. This notion runs contrary to Vaishnava philosophy.

The Brihad-vishnu Purana says:

Sometimes people think that once a person has performed sinful acts, especially acts that are grievously sinful, he must be regarded as a sinner forever. This notion runs contrary to Vaishnava philosophy.

In Bhagavad-gita (9.30–31) Lord Krishna says:

Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.

He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura comments on these verses as follows:

Sometimes people think that once a person has performed sinful acts, especially acts that are grievously sinful, he must be regarded as a sinner forever. This notion runs contrary to Vaishnava philosophy.

I am posting here the first of a series of quotations in this regard.

From Bhagavad-gita As It Is (9.30) by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

api cet su-duracaro
bhajate mam ananya-bhak
sadhur eva sa mantavyah
samyag vyavasito hi sah

api — even; cet — if; su-duracarah — one committing the most abominable actions; bhajate — is engaged in devotional service; mam — unto Me; ananya-bhak — without deviation; sadhuh — a saint; eva — certainly; sah — he; mantavyah — is to be considered; samyak — completely; vyavasitah — situated in determination; hi — certainly; sah — he.

I have posted two new articles about the editing of Srila Prabhupada’s books:

• Editing the Unchangeable Truth

An overview of the editorial history of the books
of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

This is an article recently published in ISKCON Communications Journal.

• What is Adi-vani?

A discussion of the term adi-vani, what it means, and how it may be misused.

I hope these articles will foster a better understanding of the writing, editing, and publishing of Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Some three years ago, someone floated the tale that Srila Prabhupada had for two years sat patiently with his editor Hayagriva Dasa to refine the text of Bhagavad-gita As It Is.

I wrote a reply—“Dispelling an Internet Myth”—demonstrating that this story was historically out of the question.

But now the same myth has resurfaced. So on this site I have now posted that reply, Dispelling an Internet Myth.

That internet myths can be permanently dispelled is probably beyond hope. But let’s hope this one disappears again at least for a while.

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust is sponsoring its First Annual BBT Art Seminar, to be held in Vrindavan, India, for three weeks in October. The well-known BBT artists Dhriti Dasi and Ramdasa Abhirama Dasa will be teaching. Only 15 seats available. All seats free to qualified applicants.

To learn more, see the announcement page for the BBT Art Seminar on Krishna.com.

Downloadable audio files of some of my classes and seminars are now available on this site. The link to them appears on the sidebar at the right.

More files will appear in the future.

Many thanks to Uddhava Dasa, from the Netherlands, for cleaning up and archiving these files and putting up the link.

From time to time I see it reported that I have “admitted” to this or that. And that prompts me to write a brief review of a basic item of journalism.

To get across that someone has said something, the most highly esteemed neutral verb is the simple word said. It’s short, clear, and free from bias.

But you can choose from many alternatives.

Each word offers its own shade and color, vivid or subtle, and its own implications.

At the suggestion of a friend, I’ve posted an Invocation for a conference on spiritual relationships. I spoke the invocation at a conference held in 1993 at the Hare Krishna community in Alachua, Florida. Hare Krishna devotees interested in psychology, relationships, and related topics may find this invocation of interest.

This evening at Bhaktivedanta Manor near London I led (forgive me if I have a hard time giving in to “facilitated”) a discussion among senior Hare Krishna devotees—all over forty, most over fifty—concerning the vanaprastha asrama, the stage of “retired life” in Vedic culture.

In the Vedic scheme, this retired stage is a time not for material complacency but for spiritual renewal. We talked about the opportunities this asrama offers, and also the issues it raises and the challenges it presents.

More about this in a future posting.