When and How not to Share the Holy Name with Others
The ninth offense to the holy name is aśraddadhāne vimukhe 'py aśṛṇvati yaś copadeśaḥ śiva-nāmāparādhaḥ—to instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy name. While devotees are eager to share the nectar, doing so indiscriminately can actually create more harm than good.
Protecting the Confidential Treasure
The holy name is the most confidential treasure of the spiritual world. Sharing its deep glories with someone who is envious or completely faithless is compared to throwing pearls before swine.
- Mockery: The faithless person may mock the name or the practitioner, which creates a new offense for them.
- Contempt: Giving something precious to someone who doesn't value it leads to contempt.
What Not to Share Indiscriminately
- Esoteric Glories: Avoid explaining high-level concepts like Krishna-prema or confidential pastimes to those who don't even believe in the existence of God.
- The Power of Sins: Telling a faithless person that "one name destroys all sins" might encourage them to commit more sins (the 7th offense).
The Proactive Alternative
Instead of giving "confidential instructions" to the faithless, give them:
- Holy Name (Sound): Just let them hear the mantra during kīrtana. The sound itself will purify them without requiring their intellectual agreement.
- Prasādam: Sanctified food is a gentle way to awaken faith.
- Simple Truths: Speak about basic moral principles and the temporary nature of the world first.
Conclusion
Preaching is an act of compassion, but it must be performed with discrimination (viveka). By protecting the confidential glories of the Hare Krishna mahāmantra from those who would mock it, you honor the 9th offense and maintain the sanctity of your own practice. Wait for the soil to be prepared before planting the most precious seed.