We Do Not Present Our Own Opinion

From time to time some of our readers will write in to inform us that we are wrong on different points. According to them they have a higher, more accurate understanding of what is true than what we are presenting. One reader wrote in to tell us that we are crazy if we believe that the spirit-souls in this material world transmigrate through the 8,400,000 species. They speak to us as if we are presenting our own opinion, and then they present their opinion, which they consider to be far more enlightened than ours. What they fail to understand is that we are not presenting our own opinions here. We are presenting the conclusion given in the authoritative Vedic literatures and confirmed by the great Vedic authorities who guided the world civilization for thousands of years. We are simply messengers for the explanations given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the source of all existence. If they want to continue dreaming that they have a better understanding of reality than the person who created it, that is their prerogative. But we are not such fools to consider that we know more than the Supreme Omniscient Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Regarding Initiation

I have a couple of questions regarding initiation.

I had been a Buddhist the last 4 years under a Tibetan Lama, before I came across the books of Swami Prabhupada. These books have had a powerful impact on my life. They inspired me to begin chanting 20 rounds of the Maha mantra daily. I wish to earnestly pursue the path of Krishna consciousness. What are the requirements for initiation? How should I go about pursuing this?

Felix

Answer: We Will Happy to Accept You

For initiation you must chant at least 16 rounds daily of the Hare Krishna mantra on japa beads and follow these principles:

1. No illicit sex
2. No meat eating
3. No intoxication
4. No gambling

If you live near an ISKCON center, you should go there regularly to attend the classes and render volunteer service. This will greatly enhance your getting ready for initiation. Our normal procedure is take recommendation from someone who is seeing your progress. When the devotees who are seeing your progress recommend that you are steady enough in your practice of Krishna consciousness to be initiated, we will be happy to accept you as our initiated disciple with the performance of an initiation fire sacrifice ceremony and awarding you with a spiritual name.

Do you live near an ISKCON center?

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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