The Nectar of Devotion - 1970 ISKCON press edition ... - Prabhupada

Characteristics of Pu.re Devotional Service 5vent the growing of contamination, similarly, the practical injectionto stop all the fructifications of the seeds of our sinful activities issimply engagement in Krwa consciousness.In this connection, Sukadeva Gosvam1 speaks in the Sixth Cantoof Srimad-Bhiigavatam, 2nd Chapter, 17th verse, about the story ofAjamila, who began life as a fine and dutiful briihmw;w but in hisyoung manhood became wholly corrupted by a prostitute. At theend of his wicked life, just by calling the name of "Narayaa[Kra] ," he was saved despite so much sin. Sukadeva points outthat austerity, charity and the performance of ritualistic ceremoniesfor counteracting sinful activities are recommended processes, butthat by performing them one cannot remove the sinful desire-seedfrom the heart, as was the case with Ajiimila in his youth. This sinfuldesire-seed can be removed only by achieving Kn;a consciousness.And this can be accomplished very easily by chanting the mahiimantra,or Hare Krffla mantra, as recommended by Sri CaitanyaMahaprabhu. In other words, unless one adopts the path of devotionalservice, he cannot be one hundred percent clean from all thereactions of sinful activities.By performing Vedic ritualistic activities, by giving money incharity and by undergoing austerity, one can temporarily becomefree from the reactions of sinful activities, but at the next momenthe must again become engaged in sinful activities. For example, aperson suffering from venereal disease on account of excessiveindulgence in sex life has to undergo some severe pain in medicaltreatment, and he is then cured for the time being. But because hehas not been able to remove the sex desire from his heart, he mustagain indulge in the same thing and become a victim of the samedisease. So medical treatment may give temporary relief from thedistress of such venereal disease, but unless one is trained to understandthat sex life is abominable, it is impossible to be saved fromsuch repeated distress. Similarly, the ritualistic performances, charityand austerity which are recommended in the Vedas may temporarilystop one from acting in sinful ways, but as long as the heart is notclear, one will have to repeat sinful activities again and again.Another example is given in the Srimad-Bhiigavatam of the ele-