Prabhupāda: . . .material benefit, śubha-kriyā. So the initiation is not like that, that "I am taking to the process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra for some material benefit." No. Because people become religious mostly for material benefit.
- ārto jijñāsur arthārthī
- jñānī ca bharatarṣabha
- (BG 7.16)
Ārtaḥ means distress, and artha-arthī means one who is in need of money. Generally. . . Just like in Christian church, they go to the church for some material benefit: "O God, give us our daily bread," asking some material benefit. Similarly, Hindus also, they go to the temple, pray to the Lord, "My Lord, I am very much distressed. I have no money. Kindly give some money." So harināma, chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, should not be taken like that, that "I am chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra so that my material condition will improve." Not like that. Chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra means to come in contact with the Supreme Lord and increase my love for Him. That is the point. Prema pumārtho mahān. So if we think that it is śubha-kriyā—śubha-kriyā means something auspicious—no, that is also offense. We have already described so many offenses; this is also one of offense.