Watch video at: https://www.radhakrishnaprem.com/p/the-importance-of-gods-name-partSushree Diwakari Devi Ji begins by quoting Chaitanya Mahaprabhuji’s teaching about the deep emotional connection that should accompany the chanting, "Oh Krishna, I am longing for that day when while singing Your Divine name, tears of love and longing will flow from my eyes!" This reflects the ideal devotional state, where the act of chanting is infused with deep love and longing for Krishna.Goswami Tulsidas also expresses this yearning, stating that ‘those eyes that have shed so many tears for the world, if they do not shed tears of love for Radha Krishna, then they should be packed with mitti (dirt)’. Didi ji reflects that even if we don't experience such tears immediately, chanting still has immense value, and we should not be disheartened: "We don't have to destroy our eyes...”, Tulsidas ji is only expressing the humble feelings of his heart."Didi Ji also shares an insightful story of a devotee who tried to follow Chaitanya Mahaprabhuji’s instruction to chant with tears of longing, but was unable to produce tears. In his sincere attempt, the devotee resorted to ‘touching a piece of cloth with chili powder to his eyes to force tears’ which was noticed by others and reported to Mahaprabhuji. The response from Mahaprabhuji was, "You are complaining about him, but he understands and realizes the importance of my instruction!" This story underscores that the true value lies in understanding the teaching and sincerely following it, even if the emotional experience isn’t there immediately.The speaker goes on to highlight that chanting the Divine name, even without the ideal emotional state, still holds transformative power. Scriptures say that even when ‘someone sings the Divine name jokingly or yawns while saying it, they will still receive benefit’. The Bhagwatam affirms this idea, stating that ‘it doesn’t matter how we chant the Divine name, we will receive the benefit of chanting it’. This is echoed by Adi Jagadguru Shankaracharya who says, "Whether we say it with shraddha (faith) or without faith, if we just simply remember and chant and sing the Divine name, that we will get the benefit." Tulsidasji also supports this notion saying, "Whether we say it with love or without love, with feelings or no feelings, just singing the Divine name, yes, we will receive the benefit."Sushree Diwakari Devi Ji affirms that the goal of devotion is to experience perfect love for Radha Krishna, transcending the material world. She concludes with a quote from Goswami Tulsidas who says, "The name of Sri Krishna is so extremely sweet. It is in none other practice, whether it's jap, tap, or niyam." Remembrance through chanting is essential on the path to achieving ultimate Divine love, "Remembrance is essential! It’s extremely important! The Divine name is a Divine power."Memorable Quotes from the Discourse:"Oh Krishna, I am longing for that day when while chanting Your Divine name, tears of love will flow from my eyes.""O Krishna, I am longing for that day when while longing for Your Divine vision, this whole world will seem dull and tasteless.""Those eyes that have shed so many tears for the world, if those eyes do not shed tears of love for Radha Krishna, then they should be packed with mitti (dirt)." (“We don't have to destroy our eyes...”, Tulsidas ji is only expressing the humble feelings of his heart.)"It doesn’t matter how we chant the Divine name, we will receive the benefit of chanting it.""Whether we say it with shraddha (faith) or without faith, if we just simply remember and chant and sing the Divine name, we will get the benefit.""Whether we say it with love or without love, with feelings or no feelings, just singing the Divine name, yes, we will receive the benefit.""The ras, the sweetness and the madhurima and the garima and the bliss that is in the Divine name of Shri Krishna, in the name of Gopal, it is in none other practice.Whether … the practice may be, jap, tap, niyam, all, any other kind of practice, the name of Sri Krishna is so extremely sweet.""Remembrance is essential. It’s extremely important. The Divine name is a Divine power.""But if our heart does not melt while chanting Their Divine name, then our heart is useless. What's the point of it?""The first reason is that when Saints, God-realized Saints, Mahapurush, from their very elevated state of Divine love consciousness, when they sing the Divine name or whether they hear the Divine name, they say from their very elevated state of consciousness they say, “It doesn’t matter; just sing the Divine name!""Chaitanya Mahaprabhuji used to lead the satsang of Harinam sankirtan, the chanting of the Divine name; it was his agya (instruction). It was his instruction to his devotees that while chanting the Divine name, they should shed tears of love and longing and yearning and separation."More DiscoursesHow to advance ...
