Is it possible that chanting affects one negatively?

[Mestreech]

Hello

I have a very important question to you. First I will ask the question, then I will tell my story. The question: Can it be that chanting will affect you negatively when not following the rules (abstinence, eat vegetarian food etc.) because that way you insult krsna?

A couple of months ago I (a non-believer) ran into a Hare Krishna devotee that was �spreading the word� in my hometown. We had a conversation that lasted several hours and I still think she was one of the brightest people I�ve ever talked to. At the end of our conversation she offered me a book called �Chant and be happy�. When I told her I wasn�t going to read the book and that she�d better offer it to someone else she said �Please take it, even though you are a happy person, this book will make you even happier.� So just to do her a favor and to reward her for sharing her bright thoughts with me I took the book in exchange for a small payment. Once I got home I stored the book somewhere and totally forgot about it. Two weeks ago when I opened some old boxes I found the book again and got curious, so I started reading. I read the introduction (roman numbers) and now I�m at page 10, not intending to read on. Here�s why:

In my whole 20-year old life I never had an accident, but in the same week I started chanting the Hare Krsna mantra I ended up in the emergency department twice in one week for separate accidents. Now I suffer a broken rib, stitches in my hand, a mild concussion and some other injuries.
Today I say this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNnyc6GI_zE : A man explaining some things about how to chant the mantra and at 0.52 he claims that if you don�t follow the rules, chanting might hurt you. I do not follow these rules and am now wondering: Is that man talking gibberish or should I stop chanting right now and just go on living my life like I always did: already happy while believing in nothing but myself?

With kind regards, Mestreech

[charitra]

one only insults oneself, and no one can insult Krishna or shiva or simply Brahman. They always give and never take anything from me or you regardless of its being good or bad.The chant uttered improperly cannot hurt you either, it probably will have similar effect when you sing a bollywood tune. Your ending up in a hospital has again nothing to do the way you said those lines or your frame of mind/ focus at the time of singing them.One can pose a counter argument that since you started chanting you got away with less severe injuries (otherwise they could have been fatal). Make sense?

You started a path that can be arduous but at the same time be happy at least you started it now rather than after another 20 years. Food habits are bit overplayed, however try to be dispassionate about food, it takes time though. In the meanwhile please read as much as possible, since that is the surest remedy for ignorance. Didnt mean to advice or offend you. Ignore this as its all just for free.Namaste.

[Eastern Mind]

Hello

I have a very important question to you. First I will ask the question, then I will tell my story. The question: Can it be that chanting will affect you negatively when not following the rules (abstinence, eat vegetarian food etc.) because that way you insult krsna?

A couple of months ago I (a non-believer) ran into a Hare Krishna devotee that was �spreading the word� in my hometown. We had a conversation that lasted several hours and I still think she was one of the brightest people I�ve ever talked to. At the end of our conversation she offered me a book called �Chant and be happy�. When I told her I wasn�t going to read the book and that she�d better offer it to someone else she said �Please take it, even though you are a happy person, this book will make you even happier.� So just to do her a favor and to reward her for sharing her bright thoughts with me I took the book in exchange for a small payment. Once I got home I stored the book somewhere and totally forgot about it. Two weeks ago when I opened some old boxes I found the book again and got curious, so I started reading. I read the introduction (roman numbers) and now I�m at page 10, not intending to read on. Here�s why:

In my whole 20-year old life I never had an accident, but in the same week I started chanting the Hare Krsna mantra I ended up in the emergency department twice in one week for separate accidents. Now I suffer a broken rib, stitches in my hand, a mild concussion and some other injuries.
Today I say this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNnyc6GI_zE : A man explaining some things about how to chant the mantra and at 0.52 he claims that if you don�t follow the rules, chanting might hurt you. I do not follow these rules and am now wondering: Is that man talking gibberish or should I stop chanting right now and just go on living my life like I always did: already happy while believing in nothing but myself?

With kind regards, Mestreech

Vannakkam Mestreech: Firstly, there are several takes on this type of thing, and don't expect everyone here to agree. The fellow on the video and dear charitra already proved that.

In the end, it will be, "What do you think?"

My personal view is that these types of general mantras cannot harm you. Under certain circumstances, (like having diksha, or in conjuction with something else, or level of concentration) they may help you more than at other times. For me, its only, what degree of help is it?

There is also no clear definition of "help". Just as charitra suggested, perhaps it could have been worse. Also, in my experience sometimes an injury is His way of saying, "Slow down" or some other message.

In Hinduism, we're not always here to have fun, but rather to get closer to God. So what is helpful in that (getting closer to God) is what we look at.

Best wishes in figuring it out, and welcome to these forums. Hopefully we can be of some help.

Aum Namasivaya

[NayaSurya]

Last winter I slipped on a sheet of ice covering my porch because I was being VERY hasty...and impatient.

I broke a bone in my foot and my toes!

Accidents happen...to us all.

If you have never been in an accident..then you were definitely due.

There is a story I have told here about a beloved man who kept worrying over his automobile brakes. He kept pushing down on them and testing them...and kept worrying.

One day...after he wore those brakes down from worrying over themand constantly pressing them harshly down...they broke.

Now, I am not saying bad things can't happen because of some chanting. I have never had this happen...so I can not say one way or another.

But, I am saying that sometimes if we think about something too much...we can make it come true.

Suny has a very wise signature here...something about being careful...that our thoughts become our words...and words our actions?

This is very very wise advice.

I hope you feel better very soon<3

[Jainarayan]

Namaste all.

...because that way you insult krsna?

one only insults oneself, and no one can insult Krishna or shiva or simply Brahman. They always give and never take anything from me or you regardless of its being good or bad.

As charitra ji points out, the devas (gods) and devis (goddesses) are beyond being insulted. Even Maa Kali in Her fiercest battle stopped Her rampage to pick up and nurse the infant Shiva. Maa Durga kept Her sense of humor in the thick of battle with the worst demons.

he claims that if you don�t follow the rules, chanting might hurt you. I do not follow these rules and am now wondering: Is that man talking gibberish or should I stop chanting right now and just go on living my life like I always did: already happy while believing in nothing but myself?

With kind regards, Mestreech

With all due respect to ISKCONers here and elsewhere, they have some very different and strict views on things. If you are doing the chant with love and devotion, you will insult no god or goddess.

Lord Krishna says (which you can see it in my signature!): "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it."

Also, in my experience sometimes an injury is His way of saying, "Slow down" or some other message.

Indeed, we know Lord Ganesha removes obstacles, but He also places obstacles for us to show us something or rein us in.

[Ganeshprasad]

Pranam

Hello

I have a very important question to you. First I will ask the question, then I will tell my story. The question: Can it be that chanting will affect you negatively when not following the rules (abstinence, eat vegetarian food etc.) because that way you insult krsna?

Krishna is beyond three gunas how can he be insulted? as has been pointed out by others and i like what Charitra said, count your lucky star the chanting actually may have saved you from bigger disaster.
Krasna if you like i can give you a verse where he clearly says i do not take anyones punya or paap good deeds or bad.
who ever says chanting knowing or not, bring you bad luck has not realised true strength of the mantra, it is another matter if one tries to deliberating misuse it's power eventually it want have it's desired result.

Jai Shree Krishna

[sm78]

A couple of months ago I (a non-believer)

As a non-believer and by association a rationalist, you should really look for more consitent proof than a week of bad period to blame it on one cause.

But I like Nayasurya won't say it can't cause problems. What I mean is it not the mantra itself, but you starting to chant it can cause problems for you. Karmic repurcations I believe are too complex, and human being is far beyond than this mortal frame being all the time under influence of a variety of subtle influences/entities (for lack of better words). That's why intial period of purification and initiation are recommended to counter all the obstacles. So there is a possibility of what you say.

But as a non-believer it is better for you not to speculate and just keep away. And if mantra, hinduism starts to interest you then perhaves go through a normal slow process of transformation with help of practioners, than randomly start chanting - even if it is something like 'hare krishna'.

[devotee]

Hello

I have a very important question to you. First I will ask the question, then I will tell my story. The question: Can it be that chanting will affect you negatively when not following the rules (abstinence, eat vegetarian food etc.) because that way you insult krsna?

A couple of months ago I (a non-believer) ran into a Hare Krishna devotee that was �spreading the word� in my hometown. We had a conversation that lasted several hours and I still think she was one of the brightest people I�ve ever talked to. At the end of our conversation she offered me a book called �Chant and be happy�. When I told her I wasn�t going to read the book and that she�d better offer it to someone else she said �Please take it, even though you are a happy person, this book will make you even happier.� So just to do her a favor and to reward her for sharing her bright thoughts with me I took the book in exchange for a small payment. Once I got home I stored the book somewhere and totally forgot about it. Two weeks ago when I opened some old boxes I found the book again and got curious, so I started reading. I read the introduction (roman numbers) and now I�m at page 10, not intending to read on. Here�s why:

In my whole 20-year old life I never had an accident, but in the same week I started chanting the Hare Krsna mantra I ended up in the emergency department twice in one week for separate accidents. Now I suffer a broken rib, stitches in my hand, a mild concussion and some other injuries.
Today I say this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNnyc6GI_zE : A man explaining some things about how to chant the mantra and at 0.52 he claims that if you don�t follow the rules, chanting might hurt you. I do not follow these rules and am now wondering: Is that man talking gibberish or should I stop chanting right now and just go on living my life like I always did: already happy while believing in nothing but myself?

With kind regards, Mestreech

There are no rules to follow for chanting Lord's name which if violated can cause anyone harm. Yes, there can be a coincidence that you had an accident just when you started chanting the name of Lord. Whatever happens bad to you is due to your own past Karmas ... it never comes from chanting or not-chanting Lord's name. Chanting Lord's name can make things easy for you to bear the fruits of your bad Karmas ... like when you had an accident, you might get some help at the right opportunity.

Na Kartitvam, na Karmaani lakasya srijati prbhuh,
Na Karm-phal sanyogam, svabhavstu pravartate || (BG)

==> Neither the doership, nor the actions, not even the results arising out of the actions is created by God, it is the Nature that works.


God can make things easy for you out of compassion ... but you yourself are responsible for whatever happens to you. You must suffer the pains or enjoy happiness which are decided by your Karmas ... you have to decide whether you want to suffer all alone or with God's compassion on your side. The decision is yours.

OM

[SanathanaDharma]

Dear Friend,

There is a very short and meaningful story which will probably apply to your case....

Once there was a king who had a very knowledgeable guru in his court...the king always used to consult his guru to understand the subtle reality of everything...once the king had a doubt regarding atheists and hence approached his guru for an answer...the king asked.."what are the effects
of activities and their results on a atheist and a pure devotee "...for which the guru requested the king to summon an atheist and a devoted person to his palace on the next day...

Next morning, an atheist and a devotee, both appeared in front of the king...the guru gave both of them a bag full of gold coins, and asked them to return back in the evening and explain what happened all day long...

Just before leaving the palace, the devotee saw a Shiva Linga in the palace, and with devotion he offered his prayers, took the blessings of the guru and started his day chanting the Holy name of God
..where as the atheist laughed at him, made fun of his devotion, claimed with ego that its only those who do not have self confidence try such antiques and started his day, filled with personal ego...

At the end of the day, the atheist reached the place first, with a big sack full of gold and jewels..
and after sometime, the devotee barely made it to the palace, which his clothes torn, wounded severely....

now, the king was extremely shocked to see this and exclaimed.."how could this happen..."
The atheist explained that on his way, near the outskirts, he saw a few travelers killed by a tiger,
and thus he found this sack lying next to them....the devotee said that he barely escaped from a tiger that was on rage, near the outskirts of the city..

the king could not understand it clearly and requested his guru..

the guru, who was a knowledgeable one with foresightedness calmly explained the following..

"this person, who is an atheist, actually was supposed to take up your position of ruling a country today...but only due to his arrogance and ego, even though he made it to the palace today, he is not the king...and he has to be satisfied with just a sack of gold where as he could have become a king...

where as the devotee had higher amount of danger
today...in fact he should have been so fatally injured that both he and his family should have suffered a great loss..instead he was protected by Parameshwara as he was constantly thinking about Him alone..."

Moral of the story...many a times we think we have what we deserved and we are happy, but in reality our ego and faithlessness in Him, actually acts as a resistor...what we think that we have achieved is only materialistic happiness, its not even a minute part of actualy bliss, because we have the resistance called ego, everything we have we think is the best....
many a times when something bad happens, we curse our luck, try to think of thousands of reasons for it, forgetting completely about our past karma...

as Sri Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita...18.58...

mac-cittah sarva-durgani
mat-prasadat tarisyasi
atha cet tvam ahankaran
na srosyasi vinanksyasi

"If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace.
If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost."

As many have said, one cannot insult Him and my dear friend by chanting His holy name, He has in fact saved you from something more disastrous which you cannot even imagine.... as for the accidents,
its nothing but the results of your previous deeds...because of His name and grace, the amplitude is far less than what it could have actually been....

[sunyata07]

Namaste,

That is indeed a strange question coming from someone who professes to be a non-believer! Do you really think chanting a mantra could cause all these calamities to happen to you? I think others may have different opinions on this - no two people will hold the same beliefs about mantra use, but I have the same stance as many of the others who answered here in saying that in no way could a mantra ever harm somebody. TBTL was saying that some ISKCONers may have different beliefs about who can or can't use the Hare Krishna mantra. I believe they follow a very strict path of pure faith and devotion, which would not be suitable for sceptics or those of wavering belief in Sri Krishna.

The only way I feel it could ever have a negative effect on the chanter is if for reason the individual harbours intensely dark or malicious thoughts (either about himself or others around him), perhaps from karma in a past life or deeply ingrained negative samskaras in this current lifetime. As Nayasurya and sm78 were saying: sometimes when the karma is ripe (even thoughts can set up conditions for "bad" things), unhappy events seem to just happen, which is why it is so important to be mentally ready to use the mantra to gain from it the fullest beneficial effect possible. In body, mind and soul you are fully prepared to use the mantra as a tool to unbind all your past karmas and work your way to the feet of Bhagavan, the Supreme Universal Being.

Om namah Shivaya