Becoming Krishna Conscious Requires Initiation

In the introduction to his book, The Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhupada has written as follows regarding the necessity of initiation:

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

While giving a lecture on 29 October 1972 in Vrindavan, India on this portion of the Nectar of Devotion Srila Prabhupada explained more regarding this point:

"Yes. We must connect with the current. Just like you have heated your room with electrical wires, but if you do not touch it with the current going on, then simply electrical heating with not help you. Similarly, initiation is essential. Ādau gurvāśrayam. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī recommends in his Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu for executing proper spiritual life, one must take shelter of the bona fide spiritual master. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreyaḥ uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. Person who is actually interested in uttamam. Uttamam means transcendental. Udgata-tamam. After darkness. This material world is darkness. Tamasi mā jyotir gamaḥ. The spiritual world is full of light. Therefore anything spiritual, that is called uttamam.

Kṛṣṇa's another name is Uttama-śloka. Bhagavaty uttama-śloke bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭikī. Kṛṣṇa does not belong to this material world. Only the fools and rascals, they think of Kṛṣṇa having material body. Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhāḥ mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam [Bg. 9.11]. Kṛṣṇa is always in His spiritual body, sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha. Īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ [Bs. 5.1]. Similarly, if we establish our bona fide relationship with the spiritual master, representative of Kṛṣṇa, immediately our connection with Kṛṣṇa becomes established."

So just as a heating system installed in your house is useless if you do not have any electricity, in a similar way initiation by the bona fide spiritual master is a requirement, not an option, for those who desire to revive their dormant Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Srila Prabhupada Giving Initiation

Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom

Question: No Connection to Krishna Without Initiation?

Dear Gurudeva,

Is it written in scripture that without taking initiation if we chant or do any devotional activities it will not be beneficial for us, that it will not connect us with Krishna?
Please englighten me.

Your student,

Rishmita

Answer: Initiation is Required

My Dear Rishmita,

Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada explains in his introduction to his book The 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."

Therefore if your chanting and devotional activities are bringing you to the point of accepting initiation from the bona fide spiritual master they are connecting you with Krishna, otherwise they are not.

I hope this meets you in the best of health.

 
Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Sankarshan Das Adhikari is a bona fide spiritual master with tens of thousands of students and disciples all other the world. Blessed by his spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, with the formula for solving all of the world's problems both individually and collectively, he is thus endeavoring to attract the whole world to pay serious heed to these teachings, which if followed will usher in a most glorious new enlightened era in global history.