Anyone who thinks that "I shall counteract the resultant action of my sinful life by chanting, atonement," prāyaścitta . . . just like one . . . somebody commits some sinful activity, and according to different śāstra, scripture, there are atonement. Just like in Christian religion, if they admit, then it is all right. No. Harināma should not be taken like that, to counteract my sinful activities, or, "Because I am chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra I can go on committing all kinds of sinful activities. It will be neutralized by my chanting." This is offense. Nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhiḥ. Pāpa-buddhiḥ means the desire for committing sinful activities.
The sinful activities are summarized in four principles: no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, no intoxication. If I think, "Now I am initiated, I am chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, even if I commit some sinful activity it will be counteracted, because harināma is so strong that immediately it vanquishes the resultant action of all sinful . . ." That's a fact. But if I think, "Now I have got an instrument to counteract my sinful activities, so let me go on committing sinful activity and then chant Hare Kṛṣṇa; it will be neutralized," this is the most grievous offense. Nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhiḥ. (aside) You should sit properly. Not like that. Mother should take care.
So don’t accept Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra as a counteracting agent. No. The . . . we have to come to the pure chanting. Of course, in the beginning, because we do not know, we may commit offenses. But by chanting, chanting, as we become purified, we must have our aim to become offenseless. Nāma-aparādha. Nāma-aparādha. In the beginning we should not give up chanting, even there is offenses, because by chanting, chanting, we shall be purified.