True Initiation

Back To Prabhupada, Issue 66, Vol 2, 2020, Interactive

"Many thanks for the wonderful magazine. Took my niece for her first temple visit yesterday (which she loved) and found Srila Prabhupada waiting for me when I got home! I will be giving it close attention this weekend. I particularly want to learn more about what Srila Prabhupada said about chanting and following the principles being the true initiation. A great comfort to those of us who were too young or ignorant to find him when he was here in person. Now we rely on his wonderful books. Keep up the good work."\- Elizabeth Wittig, Watford, UK

Editor replies:

You are correct in your conclusions regarding what constitutes "real" or true initiation:

"Initiation is a formality. If you are serious, that is real initiation. If you have understood this Krsna philosophy and if you have decided that you will take Krsna consciousness seriously and preach the philosophy to others, that is your initiation. My touch is simply a formality. It is your determination. That is initiation."
(BTG, Search for the Divine, emphasis added - as are all emphases within BTP Interactive)

"The chanting of 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, 19/8/68)

"So when this faith is created, then actually the initiation begins. [...] So this firm conviction is the beginning of initiation. [...] So initiation means to be engaged in that Brahman activities. [...] So adau sraddha, when one becomes firmly convinced that "By becoming Krsna conscious or being engaged in the transcendental loving service of Krsna, my life is successful, life will be successful," that is the beginning of Krsna consciousness, or initiation."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 29/7/68)

"A disciple means one who is always following the orders of the spiritual master. So I instruct my disciples to refrain from four prohibitions, namely no eating of meat, fish or eggs, no illicit sex life, no taking of intoxication, including tea, coffee, cigarettes, etc., and no gambling. Besides that my students must chant sixteen rounds of japa-mala of Hare Krsna mantra daily. So if you are able to follow these principles without fail, then you are as good as my disciple."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, 11/8/72)

This seriousness, determination, chanting, firm conviction and following strictly constitutes actual or real initiation. This real initiation, which has already taken place, may then be formalised by one officially agreeing to continue in this way:

"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 Interview, 16/10/76)

Devotee (2): "How important is formal initiation?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Formal initiation means to accept, officially, [...] I shall do whatever you say." This is initiation, official acceptance of the job. That's all."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 22/2/73)

Thus, formal initiation merely formalises the real initiation that already exists – rubber stamps it, if you like – rather than being responsible for suddenly creating it from nothing. And this formalisation of the initiation itself takes place simply on being accepted by one's guru, and not by any ceremony. This is made very clear in the July 9th, 1977 directive for ISKCON, wherein Srila Prabhupada gives the initiation system for ISKCON, by signing the following order:

"these representatives may accept the devotee as an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada by giving a spiritual name, or in the case of second initiation, by chanting on the Gayatri thread, just as Srila Prabhupada has done. The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, the above eleven senior devotees acting as His representative. After the Temple President receives a letter from these representatives giving the spiritual name or the thread, he can perform the fire yajna in the temple as was being done before."

Therefore, not only has real initiation already taken place before any formalisation, but the formalisation itself – "the newly initiated devotees", as stated above – has also already taken place before the ceremony has even been performed, just due to being officially accepted.

Back To Prabhupada, Issue 43, Spring 2014, Interactive

"Hare Krishna, Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories To His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada! I did not have yet a _hari-nama_ inititation. What is my situation? Hare Krishna," \- _Bhakta_ John Cabbigat, Ifugao, Philippines

Editor replies:

"So anyway, from 1922 to 1933 practically I was not initiated, but I got the impression of preaching Caitanya Mahaprabhu cult. That I was thinking. And that was the initiation by my Guru Maharaja."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 10/12/76)

"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."
(Srila Prabhupada article, BTG, Search for the Divine)

"The chanting of Hare Krsna 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, 19/8/68)

"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 Interview, 16/10/76)

"A disciple means one who is always following the orders of the spiritual master. So I instruct my disciples to refrain from four prohibitions, namely no eating of meat, fish or eggs, no illicit sex life, no taking of intoxication, including tea, coffee, cigarettes, etc., and no gambling. Besides that my students must chant sixteen rounds of japa-mala of Hare Krsna mantra daily. So if you are able to follow these principles without fail, then you are as good as my disciple."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, 11/8/72)

"Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to all Vaisnavas in our Society! All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna! I appreciate very much your immediate reply to my short letter. Right away I felt gladdened and most of all I felt guided in my spiritual life although it seems far yet, however, it was very satisfied. I'm always looking forward to a realization that would keep me up to get seriously engaging in devotional service as long as I can. Thank you very much. Hare Krishna." \- Bhakta John

Back To Prabhupada, Issue 52, Summer 2016, Interactive

"Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. I thought I would get in touch. I have read quite a few _Back To Prabhupada_ magazines and articles on your website and also GBC replies and letters, statements, etc. I also know a lot of ISKCON devotees and gurus. I was brought up in ISKCON in London. My dad's guru fell down a long time ago and so did my dad. My mum still goes to ISKCON London but hasn't ever been initiated due to being disillusioned and a lot of her friends left. I also lived in the London Temple when I was younger but never took initiation. I almost did but it never felt right. Also when I was living there someone came and gave me a _BTP_ magazine during _Ratha Yatra_, and when someone saw me reading it, there was a big thing about it with the temple authorities. I wanted to find things out and make my own mind up but I was told to just forget it and not read anything about it. Of course I didn't listen, I thought it was a bit weird how they reacted and I read stuff on the internet which has just confused me. I left the temple some years ago now but am very interested in your approach, it makes a lot of sense to me. I was wondering how someone would take _harinama_ and _brahmana_ initiation nowadays in the situation as it is now and what your thoughts about it are." \- Hanuman, London, UK

Editor replies:

Dear Hanuman Prabhuji,

Thank you for sharing your story and experiences.

Regarding the issue of formal initiation, we have to understand what initiation and diksa actually are.

Real initiation means to strictly follow Srila Prabhupada, not just sit in some ceremony. As long as one is not doing this, having some sort of do-it-yourself ceremony will not help. While those who are strictly following are already achieving the goal of initiation (all emphases added):

"Initiation is a formality. If you are serious, that is real initiation. If you have understood this Krsna philosophy and if you have decided that you will take Krsna consciousness seriously and preach the philosophy to others, that is your initiation. My touch is simply a formality. It is your determination. That is initiation."
(BTG #49, "The Search for the Divine")

"The chanting of Hare Krsna 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, 19/8/68)

"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 Interview, 16/10/76)

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