Initiation: Formally Entering the Path

If we are at all serious about attaining spiritual perfection and returning to our original home in the spiritual world, we need to become masters in the science of bhakti. Our formal entrance to the path of bhakti is the moment we take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master. Just as someone who wants to earn a college degree solidly dedicates himself to the process when he formally registers in the university, the person who is fully committed to achieving spiritual perfection takes initiation from a bona fide spiritual master and under his expert guidance makes solid spiritual process through the various stages leading up to full spiritual perfection.

On Sunday October 22, 2006 in Kaunas, Lithuania it was my great pleasure to accept as my new disciple, Andriejus Radčenkowe, a Lithuanian college student, who is working on a masters degree. At the time of initiation, it is the system that the initiate is awarded with a new name, a spiritual name, to remind him of his eternal spiritual identity as a servant of Krishna and of Lord Krishna's devotees. I have named Andriejus as Abhinanda Das. Abhinanda is the elder brother of Nanda Maharaja, the foster father of Lord Krishna. And Das means servant. The name Das or Dasi (the feminine version) is added to the end of the spiritual name so that the disciple is always reminded that he is the servant of God and His devotees.

This is an auspicious new beginning for Abhinanda Das. I am reminded of that most auspicious day of 12 August 1971 when I was accepted as the disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I encourage all of my students to become very serious about attaining spiritual perfection and to qualify themselves for and accept initiation. This will enable them to quickly advance on the path of bhakti for attaining the ultimate perfection of going back to home, back to Godhead.

The qualifications are as follows: You must be strictly fixed in chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day on japa beads, and you must strictly avoid illicit sex life, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari (at far left)
awards initiation to Abhinanda Das (at far right)

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: Same Effect by Chanting Jesus or Allah?...

To classify Krishna consciousness as non-sectarian simply because we say to chant the name of God and you'll come to Krishna's abode through service, devotion to the spiritual master, and adherence to the regulative principles, seems to be an over-simplification of the process. In fact the regimented lifestyle that devotees are asked to live under the guise of service is most certainly dogmatic.

I spent time in a monastery as a much younger man, and I've lived in a Krishna temple recently. But I've always had trouble with this statement. I mean wouldn't the same affect be gained from chanting Allah or Jesus? And if so why is there so much deity worship?

David

Answer: Whatever Process is Most Conducive...

Spiritual awakening is a tangible experience. It is not something artificial or dogmatic imposed on the brain. In fact to identify as a member of a certain sect is the exact opposite of Krishna consciousness.

For one who is not awakened, the practices of the awakened and the awakening may sometimes appear to be dogmatic. But this is due to ignorance only.

There is one Complete Whole of which each and every one of us is a part. The process of re-harmonizing ourselves with that Complete Whole is neither sectarian, nor is it dogmatic. As long as we remain in our present dissonant state of consciousness, we can not properly understand things as they are. Therefore me must seriously adopt an awakening process under the direction of those who are awakened.

Whether that Complete Whole is understood as Christ, Allah, or Krishna does not matter, as long as one factually becomes perfectly dovetailed with Him. One who is eager to awaken his dormant enlightened consciousness will naturally enthusiastically adopt whatever practices are most conducive for quickly bringing him into direct contact with God.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari