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4.4: Three Levels of Chanting

1. Namaparadha: Conditioned chanting with offences

(aparadha = offence)

This is the level that most people start on when they first take up regular chanting. The ten kinds of offences are covered in the next section.

To attain the next stage one must continue to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra regularly according to the principles of trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna (Siksastaka 3) and repent, "I have committed offences unnecessarily or unknowingly." Then one will attain the next stage called namabhasa (offenceless chanting).

2. Namabhasa: Liberated chanting without offences

(abhasa = morning twilight; "the faint light of the holy name")

This stage of chanting immediately frees the chanter of all sinful reactions and gives liberation. It has two divisions: sraddha-namabhasa and namabhasa.

Namabhasa: If someone chants the holy name accidentally.

Sraddha-namabhasa

This is when a completely faithful devotee chants on the liberated platform and avoids all the offences. This is almost on the transcendental platform. Continued chanting on this level leads to the next.

3. Sudha-nama: Pure chanting in love of God

(sudha = pure)

The perfectional stage: while the devotee fully relishes the nectar of the holy name (nama), he sees Krishna's form (rupa), realises His qualities (guna), and remembers His pastimes (lila).

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