Negligence in Spiritual Life
Success in Kṛṣṇa consciousness depends on determination (dhṛti) and strict adherence to spiritual vows. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently warns that negligence is the gateway for māyā to re-enter a devotee's life. Whether it is failing to chant the prescribed number of rounds or being careless in Deity worship, negligence is classified as sevā-aparādha (offense in service). Conversely, strict attention to duty protects the devotee from falling down.
Negligence in Chanting and Vows
The most critical instruction for a disciple is to strictly follow the order of the spiritual master regarding the chanting of the holy name. Śrīla Prabhupāda equates the failure to complete sixteen rounds with negligence and offense. He emphasizes that one should prioritize chanting over even sleeping and eating. If one is negligent in this basic duty, spiritual strength diminishes.
- If you cannot finish sixteen rounds, then you must not sleep on that day, you must not eat... Why do you forget chanting Hare Krsna? This is negligence, aparadha, offense.
- If one is not even able to chant 16 rounds... If he does not strictly follow this out, then he is sure to be negligent. That is offensive in the service of the Lord.
- The proportion in which we fall back in Krishna Consciousness is filled up by the influence of maya. It is exactly like the proportion of negligence of our health is subsequently resulted in our falling ill.
- Regarding your dream, it is a great blessing to you that Krsna warned you. So you should never be negligent. Always be careful.
Negligence of Duty in Society
Śrīla Prabhupāda extends the concept of negligence to social and occupational duties. He explains that when leaders, parents, or kings neglect their responsibilities, the entire social fabric collapses. For example, if women are not properly protected (which Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies does not mean neglected), the population becomes polluted. Similarly, if a government neglects the land, there is a scarcity of grain.
- When there is deliberate negligence of the regulative principles of religious life, the women as a class become polluted, and as a result there are unwanted children.
- Women should be always protected. Protection does not mean negligence, no. Protection means to give her all facilities.
- When the government is negligent, less grain is produced.
- Whenever there is some negligence on the part of the king in discharging his duty, the intelligent class of men must dethrone him.
The Power of the Holy Name
Despite the dangers of negligence, the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is so powerful that it can act even when chanted without full attention, provided there is no blasphemy. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that even nāmābhāsa (a reflection of the holy name), chanted negligently or jokingly, has the power to drive away ghosts and dangerous elements. However, he warns that this should not be an excuse for deliberate negligence.
- SB (6.2.14) indicates that the chanting of the HK maha-mantra, even in joking... or in negligence, is called namabhasa.
- It is said that wherever the chanting of the holy name of Krsna is done, even negligently, all bad elements - witches, ghosts and dangerous calamities - immediately disappear.
- In Bhagavad-gita (BG 2.40), the Lord says svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat... even if performed to a very small, almost negligible extent, it can give one the supreme result.
Transcendental Negligence
In the higher stages of bhakti, "negligence" (helā) takes on a different meaning. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes it as a symptom of ecstatic love, where a devotee, out of intense emotion or intimacy, appears to neglect the formalities or even the Lord Himself. This is not material carelessness but a manifestation of the kila-kiñcita moods in mādhurya-rasa.
- The twenty different moods headed by kila-kincita are described as follows. First, in connection with the body, there are bhava - ecstasy, hava - gestures and hela - negligence; in relation to the self there are sobha - beauty, kanti (luster), dipti (brilliance), madhurya (sweetness), pragalbhata (impudence), audarya (magnanimity) and dhairya (patience); and in relation to nature there are lila (pastimes), vilasa (enjoyment), vicchitti (breaking off) and vibhrama (puzzlement). There are no English equivalents for the words kila-kincita, mottayita and kuttamita.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "The gopis entered the arena of the rasa dance in ecstasy, but after hearing Krsna's words of negligence and detachment, they understood that He was going to renounce them. Thus they began to chastise Him in anger".
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was actually always merciful within His heart, but He was sometimes externally negligent of His devotees.
Conclusion
The path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is like a razor's edge. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that while the Lord is merciful and accepts even a little service, the devotee must guard against the "purposeful negligence" of duty. Negligence in the beginning stages is a trap of māyā, whereas "negligence" in the perfectional stage is a symptom of love. To distinguish between the two, one must remain guided by the spiritual master and the scriptures.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Negligence. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.