Let's Turn History Right-Side Up

The world has become so much topsy-turvy that at the present moment it is completely up-side down. That which is good is considered to bad, and that which is bad is considered to be good. Therefore, now a total respiritualization of the human society is necessary to make it right-side up again. We cannot do this alone. For this we very much need your help. So kindly join forces with us to the full extent of your abilities to assist us in bringing a all-encompassing spiritual revolution to this planet as soon as possible.

Hare Krishna Kirtan Revolutionizes the Universe

Hare Krishna Kirtan Revolutionizes the Universe

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Nothing So Sublime and Pure as Transcendental Knowledge

Answers by Citing the Vedic Version

Question: Initiation is Required for Going Back to Godhead?

There are many people in the world who are Krishna consciousness but are uninitiated. Where in the sastras (scriptures) it is stated that initiation is necessary to get liberation from repeated birth and death? Faith in holy names (Sraddha) and chanting of holy names is not enough to get liberation? Before Srila Prabhupada coming to the West many were ignorant about Krishna consciousness. What about those who are still ignorant about Krishna consciousness. Do you equate them with uninitiated Krishna conscious devotees who are not eligible for liberation?

Hare Krishna
Veerendra Ekbote

Answer: Yes

Srila Prabhupada has written as follows in his introduction to Nectar of Devotion:

"The connection with the spiritual master is called initiation. From the date of initiation by the spiritual master, the connection between Krishna and a person cultivating Krishna consciousness is established. Without initiation by a bona fide spiritual master, the actual connection with Krishna consciousness is never performed.”

Regarding whether faith is sufficient for liberation consider the various steps on the pathway to perfection:

Faith is the first step. Association is the second step. Initiation is the third step. Cleansing of the heart is the fourth step. Becoming solidly fixed is the fifth step. Taste is the sixth step. Attachment is the seventh step. Ecstatic emotion is the eighth step. And pure love of God is the ninth step. Perfection is achieved at the ninth step, not on the first step.

Uninitiated devotees who have come to step one or step two are far more advanced than those who nothing about the process of Krishna consciousness. If they will continue practicing Krishna consciousness they will in due course of time pass through all the stages and achieve pure love of God.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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