SEVEN STAGES OF CLEARING THE KARMA THROUGH CHANTING!
Actual Question from a female devotee:
“hare krishna ! I wanna know wen we do naam japa can it save us from bad things that r to happen in our life..whatever bad happens is a result of our own bad karma, then how does japa stop that result from coming to us”
REPLY:
There are two types of karma clearing processes. One is ‘STAGE BY STAGE’ GRADUAL PROCESS. Another is, if a devotee SURRENDERS TO LORD & SERIOUSLY INVOLVES IN KRISHNA CONSCIOUS PRACTICES, Krishna shows His causeless Mercy on that extraordinary devotee, his karma is cleared instantly. It is the RARELY SHOWN mercy of Krishna.
(THREE STAGES OF ATTAINING THE PERFECTION IN CHANTING! READ HERE!)
The first Stage by Stage clearing process can be used by anyone of us. The second process of instant clearing is rare and Krishna interferes only in the case of exalted and TRULY renounced devotees. Therefore, we have to first become an exalted and TRULY renounced devotee.
Let us know how we can come to that ADVANCED STAGE through chanting stage by stage and get cleared from karma INSTANTLY in that advanced stage:
(i) Chanting means CHANTING FROM THE HEART. So, if you chant from the heart sincerely with taste without offences, your consciousness is purified stage by stage and hence your involvement in Krishna Consciousness gets intensified.
(ii) This sincere involvement in chanting and devotion reduces your material attachments stage by stage.
(iii) At a point of time, you will come to a stage in which you will not have any attachment with the material affairs and will feel very attached to Krishna.
(I am disturbed by NEGATIVE THOUGHTS while chanting. What to do? READ HERE!)
(iv) This point of attaining MATERIAL DETACHMENT AND ATTACHMENT WITH KRISHNA is called REBIRTH IN THIS BODY ITSELF. That is, getting a new, pure and spiritual consciousness.
(v) Since you have nothing to do for your own benefit in this material world, and you are not going to act for yourself hereafter, how can the karma network give you the reactions? Only if you have works to do for yourself, those reactions can be implemented.
(vi) SO, UNTIL YOU REMAIN DETACHED FROM MATERIAL AFFAIRS, KARMA WILL NOT DISTURB YOU. IF YOU PERMANENTLY DETACH, YOU CAN PERMANENTLY GET RELIEVED FROM KARMA.
(vii) But, if you follow Krishna Consciousness seriously for some period for getting immunity from karma, but, if you become attached to material affairs again, the immunity is withdrawn and you again start to face the reactions for your past actions.
These are the SEVEN STAGES OF CLEARING THE KARMA THROUGH CHANTING!
(CHANTING HARE KRISHNA MAHA MANTHRA – IMPORTANCE, TIPS AND COMPLETE PROCEDURE! READ HERE!)
That is why, even in Krishna Consciousness, when you get initiated to a spiritual master and follow all the rules of devotional practices, ie, Vidhi bhakti, you get a new birth and remain insulated from karma, as your guru bears your karma. But, if you violate the instructions of guru and involve in material attachments again, the insulation goes and you again face karma reactions.
That is why, H.H.Radhanath Swami said: “One can not go back to Godhead just by taking initiation, unless he follows Chanting and all the recommended sadhanas”
So, clearance of karma is applicable UNTIL YOU FOLLOW THE DEVOTIONAL RULES, ie, VIDHI BHAKTI. It is conditional, not unconditional. Remember.
(Using intoxicants or other Violations while chanting – Will Krishna accept? READ HERE!)
Therefore, my advice to all the devotees including initiated devotees:
Do not just remain casual saying that your guru will take you to Lord just because you got initiated. Going back to Krishna is not an automated mechanical process. Unless you follow the sadhanas and develop the detached mind and attachment with Krishna, clearing karma and going back to Krishna is impossible. There is no doubt in this. Initiation is a formal process, like getting admission in school. Unless you study well, you can not pass though it is the number one school in the country. Similarly, Saadhanas are very important to elevate/pass from material world to Krishna. Initiation (Diksha) will bring you under your guru and you will grow fast in devotion after initiation with the power of your guru.
Chanting and other sadhanas MUST accompany your detachment from material affairs. If you chant and also involve in materialistic activities simultaneously, there is no chance of purification of consciousness. So, ONLY A SINCERE CHANTING AND SADHANAS CAN TAKE YOU TO LORD, NOT CARELESS CHANTING. If we chant carelessly, we have to take another good birth to improve our chanting.
So, please be sincere in devotional practices. Do not be casual. However, continue to do your assigned duties keeping Krishna in mind.
Hope you are clear about the SEVEN STAGES OF CLEARING THE KARMA THROUGH CHANTING!
(Should we have good karma to chant properly? READ HERE!)