Offences Against the Divine Name

Swami Sivananda, "It is true that the utterance of the Divine Name can absolve one from all sins and enable one to attain salvation or love of God (both of which are so difficult to get); but that is possible only when the Name is uttered with fatih and reverence and the practice is free from all taints of sin against the Name, viz., the following ten offences:

1. Vilification of saints and devotees.
2. Differentiation among (Divine) names.
3. Irreverence towards preceptor (Guru)
4. Speaking lightly of the scriptures.
5. Treating the glory of Name as nothing but exaggerated praise.
6. Commission of sins under the cover of Name.
7. Ranking the Name with other virtues and practising fasting, charity sacrifices, etc., thinking that the Name by itself is insufficient.
8. Recommending the practice of Name to irreverent and ungoldly persons who are not prepared to hear such advice.
9. Want of love for the Name even after hearing its glory.
10. Empahsis of 'I' and 'mine' and attachment to objects of enjoyment.

"If through inadvertence one laspses into any of the above ten sins, the only way to be absolved from it is to repeat the Name again and repent for the mistake.
 
"The Name itself is the best atonement for sins committed against the Name. Through constant Kirtan or Japa of the Name all the desires can be fulfilled and Moksha attained ultimately."

(pgs. 141-142, Japa Yoga)