152 THE PATH OF PERFECTION
name there is all good fortune for the living entity, and therefore
You have many names, such as Krsna and Govinda, by which You
expand Yourself. You have invested all Your potencies in those
names, and there are no hard-and-fast rules for remembering
them. My dear Lord, although You bestow such mercy upon the
fallen, conditioned souls by liberally teaching Your holy names, I
am so unfortunate that I commit offenses while chanting the holy '
name, and therefore [ do not achieve attachment for chanting.”
We may take the effort to spend a great deal of money and at-
tempt to build or establish a temple for Krsna, but if we do so we °
must observe many rules and regulations and see properly to the Appendixes
temple’s management. But herein it is confirmed that simply by
chanting, any man can have the benefit of keeping company with
Krsna. Just as Arjuna is deriving benefit by being in the same
chariot with Lord Sri Krsna, we can also benefit by associating
with Krsna through the chanting of His holy names—Hare Krsna,
Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama,
Rama Rama, Hare: Hare. This mahda-mantra is not my personal
concoction but is authorized by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who
is considered to be not only an authority but the incarnation of
Lord Sri Krsna Himself. It was Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu who
said, ‘‘O Lord, You are so kind to the people of this material world
that You expand Yourself in Your holy name so that they can
associate with You.”
Although the mahd-mantra is in the Sanskrit language and
many people do not know its meaning, it is still so attractive that
people participate when it is chanted publicly. When chanting the .
maha-mantra, we are completely safe, even in this most dangerous
position. We should always be aware that in this material world,
we are always in a dangerous position. Srimad-Bhdagavatam con-
firms: padam padam yad vipadam na tesam. \n this world, there is
danger at every step. The devotees of the Lord, however, are not
meant to remain in this miserable, dangerous place. Therefore we
should take care to advance in Krsna consciousness while in this
human form. Then our happiness is assured.
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