One question had been on my mind for a long time:
In the process of chanting our 16 rounds, we often struggle with attentiveness. And inattentive chanting is said to be the 11th offense. Now, if we chant extra rounds, and that too without much attention, won’t that cause further problems?

The general solution that the acaryas give for progressing from nāmaparādha to nāmābhasa is continuous chanting. But if our existing rounds are filled with inattention, then won’t additional chanting lead to more offenses?

I had once asked a senior devotee about this. He replied, “Actually, inattentive chanting is not an offense in itself, but it can lead to offenses.” He gave a nice example that if someone is driving inattentively, it doesn’t mean they’ll definitely have an accident. But the risk is certainly higher.

That made some sense. But then, while reading Harinama Chintamani, I came across a deeper understanding. It clearly mentions inattention as an offense. Not just an offense, but the mother of all other offenses.

anya aparādha tyāji sadā nāma laya
tabu nāme prema nāhi haya ta udaya
Even if one gives up all other offenses and chants constantly, still, love of God may not awaken.

tabe jāni ‘pramāda’ nāmete aparādha
prema-bhakti sādhane kariche bādhā
I understand that pramāda (inattention) is an offense to the Holy Name. It becomes a major obstacle in attaining prema-bhakti.

pramāda anavadāna ei mūla artha
iha haite ghaṭe prabhu sakala anartha
The root meaning of pramāda is “inattention.” O Lord, from this inattention all the anarthas arise.

So the question still stands: If inattentive chanting is an offense, then how does continuous chanting help us? Wouldn’t it increase inattentiveness and thus slow us down more?

Here are a few thoughts:

1. No Time to Commit Offenses!

Interestingly, the main problem is not just inattentiveness, but what inattentiveness leads to. And among all offenses, the 1st (blaspheming devotees) and the 7th (committing sins on the strength of the Holy Name) are particularly dangerous. If we are level-headed and have the right understanding of the philosophy, we won’t, by any means, commit the 7th offense at least.

What about the 1st offense? A person who is constantly chanting, even inattentively, won’t have much time left to gossip, criticize, judge, or get into material distractions. The tongue is engaged, and the mind is at least attempting to be spiritual. So, one is naturally saved from committing the mad-elephant offense.

So yes, while inattentiveness is a problem, continuous chanting builds a kind of fence. It protects us from a lot of unnecessary offenses that are born out of idleness and uncontrolled speech.

2. The Power of Even One Attentive Name

This was something I felt to be a striking revelation. We sometimes forget how powerful even one name of Krishna can be — if chanted with attention and sincerity.

One holy name chanted attentively is more powerful than a million rounds chanted inattentively.

The more we chant, the more chances we have to touch that one moment of sincerity. So, continuous chanting is never a loss. Because somewhere in those extra rounds, one ‘attentive’ name may slip through, and that one Holy Name can transform our life.

3. Eagerness for Association

Continuous chanting gradually builds eagerness. And this earnestness impels us to seek guidance, inspiration, and association. You can’t go on chanting continuously day after day without any inspiration. You’ll naturally want to hear how others chant, what helps them, what blocks them. So in a way, continuous chanting becomes a doorway to deeper association — and that, in turn, improves the quality of chanting.

Keep Chanting:

So, should we chant less rounds just to maintain quality? Definitely not.

Even inattentive chanting has brought us this far. And honestly, if we reflect on our own life, the progress we have made, even with imperfect chanting, is much beyond what we could have ever imagined. That’s the power of the Holy Name.

Now just think, if we try to chant a little more attentively, what would happen?

Sukadeva Goswami says,
mriyamāṇo harer nāma
gṛṇan putropacāritam
ajāmilo ‘py agād dhāma
kim uta śraddhayā gṛṇan
While suffering at the time of death, Ajāmila chanted the holy name of the Lord, and although the chanting was directed toward his son, he nevertheless returned home, back to Godhead. Therefore if one faithfully and inoffensively chants the holy name of the Lord, where is the doubt that he will return to Godhead? SB 6.2.49

So without fear or hesitation, we must try to chant continuously, begging for mercy. Continuous chanting will gradually purify us and lead us to the merciful shelter of Harinam Prabhu, who is non-different than Krishna.