The difference between chanting Hare Krishna and Punya Karyas are:
a) Chanting Hare Krishna is perfect process of atonement, where as punya karyas are not perfect
process of atonement.
b) Chanting Hare Krishna with out offences washes away all the sins committed in millions of life
times, where as punya karyas do not negate reactions of the sins. Punya karyas may give some
good results but they cannot negate bad reactions which have to be suffered separately.
c) So by chanting Hare Krishna one can get out of this cycle of birth and death and go back home
back to Godhead, where as punya karyas, one will remain in the cycle of birth and death.
d) By chanting Hare Krishna offencelessly one can attain love of Godhead, where as performing
punya karyas one cannot achieve it.
Why do we chant Hare Krsna rather than other pious activities?
We Chant Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra for many reasons. Some of the reasons are the following:
* is the easy process recommended by Lord Caitanya especially for us (Bg 16.24 1st para)
* is the correct means of deliverance for people in this age (Bg 3.10 last half/ Bg 6.12 last half)
* is the only possible process in this age (Bg 8.11 last para)
* is the easiest and purest of all yajnas (sacrifices) (Bg 3.12p last sentence/ Bg 10.25+p)
* is the best and most inexpensive sacrifice (Bg 16.1-3p 9th para)
* is the easiest and best way to control the mind (Bg 6.34p last part)
* is the means to control the tongue (Bg13.8-12p 7th para)
* is the sublime method for reviving our original pure consciousness (SSR p. 146)
* cleanses and purifies one's own heart and anyone else who hears (NOI 4 41-43)
* for internal cleanliness (Bg 13.8-12p 6th para)
* cleanses the heart of all material dirt (Bg 4.39p)
* so that one can attain life's ultimate goal (Bg 10.11p 4th para)
* is transcendentally sweet but this is not appreciated by a diseased person (NOI 7 pages 66-67)
* is enacted on the spiritual platform, above all lower strata of consciousness (SSR p. 147)
* relieves one from all misconception (NOI 7 p. 69)
* is the only remedy for setting the world right (NOI 7 p. 69)
* is the best process for successfully changing one's state of consciousness at the end of life (Bg 8.6p, end)
* purifies one and enables one to go back to Godhead (Bg 8.19p/Bg 8.8-p)
* is mystic meditation (Bg 8.8 +p)
* enables one to easily and happily approach the supreme destination (Bg 12.6-7p 5th para)
* attracts one to Krsna (Bg 12.6-7p end of 2nd para) and is the means of pleasing Him
* When a devotee chants Hare Krsna, the Lord, being non-different from His name, dances with Srimati Radharani on the devotee's tongue (Bg-12.8p)
* By chanting you can understand everything of God (PQPA p. 25)
* waters the seed of love of God, which fructifies as a spiritual plant growing as far as Goloka Vrndavana (Bg 10.9p 2nd para)
* (when chanted inoffensively) is the highest perfectional stage of Vedic knowledge (Bg 2.46 +p) (so the best purpose of Vedic culture is served to even the fallen souls of this age)
* is chanted by someone who has been previously purified by passing through the tenets of the Vedas (Bg 6.44+p/ 16.24p 1st para)
* gives direct perception of spiritual pleasure and purification (Bg 9.2p 6th para)
* situates even a fallen devotee on the transcendental platform when chanted with determination (Bg 9.30p 2nd para)
* and protects a devotee from all accidental falldowns (Bg 9.31 p end)
* is the means of understanding Krsna (Bg 7.24p 3rd para)
* to attain actual education etc. (Iso 10, 6th para-->end)
* to make progress towards one's desired destination (Guruvastaka 8)
* to understand the real position of all living beings (Bg 4.35)
* to begin one's devotional service (Bg 12.20p)
* to distinguish between matter and spirit (Bg 13.35 1st para)
* the secret to advancement in spiritual life (Bg 4.34p)
* to understand the imports of Vedic knowledge (Bg 6.47p, near the end)
* to properly understand the difficult passages in the Vedic literature (Bg 16.1-3p, 14th para)
* because it is enjoined in the sastra for everyone who wants to advance in life (Bg 4.34/Iso 6+p, 5th para/ Bg 2.7p 1st para)
* to find out what Krsna practically wants us to do (Bg 18.57+p)
* to know Krsna (Bg 2.29p 2nd half)
* otherwise it is impossible ever to begin to understand Krsna (Bg 11.54p 2nd para)
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