Prabhupāda Teaches His Disciples That Their Initiations Are Just the Beginning
Stepping onto the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness requires a sincere and formal commitment to the bona fide spiritual master. Clarifying the profound nature of this milestone, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that receiving a spiritual name and chanting beads is not a final stamp of perfection, but rather the essential starting point of a lifelong journey. By making and keeping sacred vows, the disciple actively invites the protection of the Supreme Lord to safely navigate the material world.
The Essential Prerequisites for Spiritual Vows
Before a candidate is formally accepted, strict standards of personal purity must be established. The core requirement is chanting sixteen rounds daily and rigorously following the four regulative principles. Pointing out the gravity of the spiritual path, Śrīla Prabhupāda ensures that no one is recommended cheaply without prior demonstration of this strict discipline.
- In order to be initiated by us, one has to chant at least 16 times around his japa beads daily (the Hare Krsna maha-mantra), he has to follow strict rules such as: no meat, fish, eggs, no intoxication - including tea and cigarettes, no illicit sex, and no gambling.
- When our student become serious to be initiated, we ask that you must give up these four prohibited principles. So, no illicit sex life, no gambling, no meat-eating and no intoxication.
- You must have to follow these rules and regulation (no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, no intoxication) if you are serious. Then take initiation. Otherwise, don't make farce. That is my request. One has to be very determined.
- All of our initiated devotees must strictly chant sixteen rounds a day and avoid the four pillars of sinful life completely.
- In the beginning we do not ask anybody to become initiated or a brahmana. No. We simply invite a person to join the chanting. This is our process. We should strictly follow this.
The Meaning and Purpose of the Ceremony
The actual ceremony is not the culmination of spiritual life, but rather the opening of the door. Accepting vows before the fire and the Deity marks the beginning of a genuine commitment to spiritual elevation. Highlighting its true value, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that it gives the conditioned soul the proper foundation to become fully liberated.
- The word initiation means "to begin" not that when he is initiated a disciple becomes slack; rather upon initiation he begins spiritual life in earnest.
- Initiation does not mean they have completed all spiritual perfection and now they can relax but it means now they have begun spiritual life.
- This initiation ceremony is a Vedic principle to lead a conditioned soul to the higher level of transcendental life.
- This initiation is the beginning of cleaning the contamination. Therefore this mantra suggests, apavitrah pavitrah va: either you be contaminated or not contaminated. When one is not contaminated, he's relishing this Hare Krsna mantra.
- An initiated devotee is given the chance for becoming free from the entanglement of karma wheel. Initiated means beginning, not perfection. The Spiritual Master's business is to guide him to the perfectional point.
The Grave Danger of Breaking Vows
Because the vows are taken before sacred witnesses, breaking them carries severe spiritual consequences. A disciple who returns to sinful habits after making a solemn promise essentially makes a mockery of the entire process. Thus, Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly warns that such negligence paves the way to hell rather than back to Godhead.
- You have taken initiation from me, so actually you are obliged to do this. You have promised, therefore there is no choice, you must follow strictly. Otherwise, you are carving your pathway to hell.
- Be determined. Don't make it a farce, that "Today I am initiated and tomorrow I again I give up everything and again grow my hair and then go to hell." No. Don't do that. If you want to be serious, then the path is clear for going back to home.
- If you think that after getting initiation, "I have become perfect. Now again, whatever nonsense I was doing, I shall go on doing it," then it will be useless.
- When the initiation takes place we promise so many things. But if we do not follow, if we do not keep our promise, that is a great fault.
- You have made promise when you took initiation that there will be no illicit sex connection. If still you are unable to fulfill that promise to your spiritual master, then what is the use of calling yourself devotee and disciple? That is simply pretending.
Advancing to Brahminical Standards
After practicing faithfully and proving one's steadiness, a devotee may be recommended for brahminical status. This second stage involves receiving the sacred thread and the gāyatrī-mantra, officially recognizing their advancement and authorizing them for altar worship. Emphasizing the responsibility, Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that one must actively maintain the purity and behavior of a qualified brāhmaṇa.
- Second initiation is real initiation. First initiation is the preliminary, just to make him prepared, just like primary and secondary education.
- We initiate our students. The preliminary initiation is offering chanting. Then we observe at least for one year, how he is chanting, how he is doing. Then the second initiation confirms. That is the system.
- They were initiated before for chanting the holy name; now they will be initiated with a sacred thread. Sacred thread means recognition of complete brahminical culture.
- In our Krsna consciousness society, unless one is twice initiated - first by chanting Hare Krsna and second by the Gayatri mantra - he is not allowed to enter the kitchen or Deity room to execute duties.
- Suppose you are initiated as a brahmana. That is not finish, that "Now I am initiated. I have got sacred thread. I can do all nonsense thing." No. You must act as a brahmana. Then you are brahmana. You always remember that.
Connecting to the Disciplic Succession
Beyond the external rituals, the profound essence of the ceremony is the disciple's connection to the unbroken chain of spiritual masters. The beads and instructions become spiritually potent because they are descending from the Supreme Lord through this pure channel. By surrendering to the representative of this lineage, Śrīla Prabhupāda confirms that the disciple receives unparalleled protection.
- One who becomes initiated is channelized to the authorities in the disciplic succession. One who isn't initiated may chant Hare Krishna and should certainly be encouraged to do so and serve in his own way. Gradually by doing so he may want to be initiated.
- About the importance of initiation, it is to be understood that initiation means that power is coming from the Supreme by the bona fide disciplic succession. This is required.
- I offer the same Hare Krishna beads, but it becomes spiritually powerful on account of being delivered in disciplic succession. And practically we see that the students who are initiated in this way, they are advancing slowly and surely.
- As I have several times explained, when initiation is given, the Spiritual Master becomes the spiritual father and the gayatri mantra becomes the spiritual mother and thus second birth takes place.
- The spiritual master accepts the sinful activities of his disciples from the first initiation.
Vigilance Against Offenses and Complacency
Even after being formally connected, a disciple remains in the material world where the pull of illusion is incredibly strong. Complacency is a major pitfall, as past habits and inattentive chanting can easily lead to serious offenses. Constantly guarding against these dangers, Śrīla Prabhupāda urges his followers to remain vigilant so they may successfully reach the supreme destination.
- Don't think that because you are now initiated and you are chanting Hare Krishna that now everything is guaranteed, now you may do whatever you like.
- In the beginning there are three stages: offensive stages, liberated stage, and relishing stage. So you will be initiated for chanting Hare Krsna, there will be so many offenses. So we have to defend ourself from the offenses.
- You do not try to be offensive, but because your past habit, you become offensive. Therefore ten kinds of offenses should be avoided. That we speak and give in list when initiation.
- Today some of you are going to be initiated. This is the beginning of your spiritual life. But if you don't take care for further development, then that is up to you. You may fall down. Because maya is very strong.
- This is our aim. Initiation into Krsna consciousness insures that the student ultimately can go to the supreme planet, Krsnaloka. We are not sitting idly; we are also attempting to go to other planets, but we are not merely wasting time.
Conclusion
Formal acceptance by a spiritual master marks the most important transition in a soul's existence, transforming ordinary activities into eternal, transcendental service. However, receiving dīkṣā is not a passive blessing; it demands active, daily adherence to the rules and regulations. By faithfully honoring these vows and maintaining strict spiritual practices, Śrīla Prabhupāda guarantees that his disciples will overcome all material illusions and successfully complete their journey back home, back to Godhead.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Our Initiations. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.