©1997-2003 VNN
|
EDITORIAL  Guru And Initiation BY KRISHNA DASA AND RUKMINI DEVI DASI EDITORIAL, Mar 10 (VNN) — - an answer for this time - presented to the Hare Krishna community by Krishna dasa Adhikari -and- Rukmini-Devi dasi harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha "Chant the Holy name, chant the Holy name, chant the Holy name. In the Kali yuga, there is no other way, no other way, no other way." (Brhan-naradiya Purana, 38.97) There is a most disturbing trend presently manifesting in the Hare Krishna movement, which is creating confusion over the issue of Guru and Initiation ... -The Background - There are two types of guru: siksa ("shiksha") -and- diksha ("diksha") ... A siksa-guru is one who is a transparent medium, offering pure information and knowledge of spiritual value, as given by his/her spiritual master. A diksa-guru is one who is empowered to conduct ritual brahminical initiation. Diksa (often called "2nd initiation") is not the same as hari nama initiation - in which the student is ritually given the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, beads, and a spiritual name. Hari nama (often called "1st initiation") was introduced only fairly recently, and is actually a rite of acceptance into the Hare Krishna movement. Actual diksa initiation is the ritual investing of certain applicable brahminical gayatri-mantras, intended to help deepen and expand the student's growth and experience of Krishna consciousness. -An Apparent Schizm - The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) -vs- the Rtvik ("ritvik") concepts of diksa-Guru and Initiation are opposing sides of the same "coin" - both in the mode of passion. While they appear to be mutually exclusive concepts, they are simply the same idea, with opposing conclusions. ISKCON's approach promotes the idea that any ISKCON devotee in good standing within the organization, who chooses to become an initiating guru, may do so essentially unhindered É provided they are not challenged or actively dis aapproved by their Governing Body of Commissioners (GBC) . Working under the auspices of the ISKCON organization, they are essentially "corporate" gurus. The Rtvik concept is based upon the idea that Srila Prabhupada's intentions were that any devotee may initiate on his behalf, acting only as a kind of "proxy" for him. It is not our intention to enter the debate on the apparent merits and/or drawbacks of the details of either system of Guru and Initiation. Rather, we wish to expose the single erroneous premise underlying both systems, and exactly what that means to all of us, at this point in time. -A Most Disturbing Trend - "The chanting Hare Krishna is our main business, that is real initiation. And as you are all following my instruction, in that matter, the initiator is already there." (Srila Prabhupada Letter to Tamala Krsna, 19 August, 1968) Both the ISKCON and Rtvik ideas of Guru and Initiation are being used by an alarmingly increasing number of devotees to fervently promote the same treacherous myth ... - that one must be initiated, in order to successfully pursue Krishna consciousness - Amost disturbing trend, is that people are now being told that the chanting of - Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare - is, by itself, "impotent" unless one has been initiated. This premise is nothing more than nonsense - and nothing less than a spiritually dangerous offense against the transcendental, incomparably all-powerful holy name of God. In his Purport on the Hare Krishna maha-mantra (linked below) Srila Prabhupada declares the unqualified power and efficacy of sincerely chanting the Lord's holy name for reviving our inherent Krishna consciousness. His Purport is spotless, and cannot be refuted by any reasonably sane devotee. To discount it, is spiritual suicide. To convince others to discount it, is spiritual murder. -The Illusion of Guru and Initiation - "Initiation is a formality. If you are serious, that is real initiation. My touch is simply a formality. It is your determination. That is initiation." (morning walk, Seattle, 02/10/68) Since Srila Prabhupada has left our material vision - one must be very cautious in considering taking ritual Initiation from any presently-available guru. If a guru is not an utterly pure devotee of Lord Krishna - as Srila Prabhupada is - there can be devastating spiritual consequences to both the diksa-guru and the initiate. Numerous post-Prabhupada diksa-"gurus" have manifested their inability to handle the spiritual weight of such a role, by devastating "fall-downs" from spiritual life - and even worse consequences. Because of the spiritual ties binding diksa-guru and initiate, every person who takes initiation from such spiritually unprepared "gurus" suffers severe reactions due to these "fall-downs." This has been well-proven by the (literally) thousands of good-hearted, pious devotees who have left the movement altogether, after losing their diksa-"gurus" to the allurements of Maya-Devi (material illusion, personified) . -Where Does This Leave Us Now ? - "Sometimes a diksa-guru is not present always. Therefore one can take learning, instruction, from an advanced devotee. That is called the siksa-guru." (Srila Prabhupada: lecture - Bhagavad-gita 17.1-3, Honolulu, 07/04/73) There have been many times throughout history, during which there has been no available diksa-guru. It is at such times that sincere devotees must be tolerant, taking full shelter of the holy name and of the empowered shiksa-guru, while trusting in the unimaginable mercy and compassion of Lord Krishna to make all things right. With Srila Prabhupada no longer available - and with no other persons yet proven to be spiritually pure enough to offer diksha without harsh karmic reactions - we are presently in such an admittedly difficult situation. Yet, we do continue to be blessed with Srila Prabhupada's presence as the self-effulgent jagat shiksa-guru for this time, in his incomparable writings. As he promised, he will live forever in his books! Of course, it is your choice... You can take any kind of Initiation from any kind of Guru you choose - ISKCON, Rtvik, or otherwise. However, we strongly encourage you to very carefully study, contemplate, pray and chant Hare Krishna, before making such a momentous choice. Remember, it's your eternal spiritual life. "Well initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge... knowledge. Initiation is formality. Just like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That is not very important thing." (Srila Prabhupada: Press Interview, Chandigarh, 10/16/76) Contact VNN about this story  Send this story to a friend
NEWS DESK | EDITORIALS | TOP |
