Do those who use intoxicants have the right to do naam jap?

A brief discourse of revered Maharaj Ji — to listen to the full talk, watch the video above.

The Complete Discourse

I'm not making this up — this is not an example. A wife came and said that my husband, he drinks alcohol and recites Chaurasipad. He does kirtan of Radha naam. Tell me Maharaj Ji, what will be his fate? So I said one day Chaurasipad and Radha naam will free him from alcohol. One day attachment to the lotus feet of the Lord will manifest in him, he will feel remorse, and he will become a mahatma. Leave it, Maharaj Ji, your understanding. Well, okay, so we didn't have this knowledge, but they gave us this information that he drinks and does the recitation, so we said let him do it. One day he will give it up. One day his complete welfare will come to pass. We pray to everyone: if you cannot give up evil conduct, then hold on to Radha naam. Why are you letting it go, brother? By chanting Radha, Radha, if evil conduct is happening, one day Radha naam will prevail over the evil and will make you give up your evil. Rest assured, there is great power in the naam of God.

This mind is a great rogue. Sensory pleasures are very alluring. They corrupt even the wise. So don't fear — do naam jap.

नाम से हरिवंश भरोसे भय निडर नित गरजत हरिवंश बल नाम बल ये आपको आगे बढ़ा दे।
With naam, Harivansh trusts fearlessly, always roaring — the power of Harivansh, the power of naam — may this carry you forward.

Yes, you've said something very good, because just three or four days ago someone came saying that we chew tobacco, but we also do Radha naam. So remembering your very point, I said to them: you keep doing it. These things gradually drop away on their own — I have hundreds of such experiences. An elderly person came. He used to smoke a pack of cigarettes and he said my heart is completely willing to do bhajan, but my mind tells me I'm very impure.

So Maharaj Ji, will you make me a disciple? You — I first bow to your honesty: you have spoken the truth. He is now engaged in constant satsang in Vrindavan. He doesn't smoke even once. He's given it all up. If we had said on the very first day that we won't give you diksha because you smoke cigarettes — come back after you've quit smoking — it would never happen. We gave him permission: gradually reduce the packs of cigarettes you smoke. We didn't speak about giving up this unclean conduct first because you simply cannot just give it up. First come to the refuge of God and do naam jap.

Then these unclean habits will gradually drop away on their own. Your heart will burn. "From today I will not do this. Lord, forgive me." Such remorse will arise in the heart and you will let it go.

This text is taken from the auto-generated captions of the video — there may be errors in the words. Please listen to the video for the authentic discourse.

Original video: Bhajan Marg (YouTube)