Formal Initiation is a Formality
BY: GEORGE A. SMITH
Aug 30, 2010 — USA (SUN) — In his recent article, "Understood by the Sincere and Blessed", Rasaprema has attempted to portray several of those who disagree with his interpretive conclusions as being demoniac and as being denigrating or belittling of the practice of formal or ritual initiation commonly referred to as diksa.
While it certainly is Rasaprema's right to think whatever he likes based upon what he has read or heard from the spiritual masters, I think that it is important for us to get all of the facts before we jump to any conclusions.
From his last article dealing with the particular topic of diksa, or formal initiation, linked above, here is the thing that some of us are not so sure of as Rasaprema is:
"In response to the demoniac public denigration by Hasti Gopala dasa, Kurma dasa and George Smith of the vital Vaisnava Diksa Samskara, I wrote "Initiation by a Bona Fide Spiritual Master". The point being made is simplicity itself: the august Diksa Samskara is an essential element of Vaisnava-sadhana."
Here is more elaboration of his point from a previous article by Rasaprema dasa, "Initiation by a Bona Fide Spiritual Master":
"According to the Vaisnava regulative principles, one must be initiated as a brahmana. The Hari-bhakti-vilasa (2.6) quotes the following injunction from the Visnu-yamala:
adiksitasya vamoru krtam sarvam nirarthakam
pasu-yonim avapnoti diksa-virahito janah
"‘Unless one is initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, all his devotional activities are useless. A person who is not properly initiated can descend again into the animal species.'"
In response to Rasaprema's conviction that his interpretation of the word 'initiation' as referring to the formal ceremony commonly referred to as dika is the correct one, and that therefore everyone must undergo this formal rite in order to receive spiritual initiation, the Rtviks have responded in agreement, only differing in minor details of how it should be conducted within ISKCON. I have responded differently than the Rtviks, with the counterclaim that what Rasaprema believes to be an "essential" element of Vaisnava Sadhana that is applicable to all times, places and circumstances is not, and that it is only a mere formality. Despite what Rasaprema believes, that such a wild idea goes completely against everything and anything that guru, sadhu and sastra have ever claimed or supported, I would like to present evidence that it does not:
"Sanatana Gosvami wrote his Vaisnava smrti, Hari-bhakti-vilasa, which was specifically meant for India. In those days, India was more or less following the principle of smarta-vidhi. Srila Sanatana Gosvami had to keep pace with this, and his Hari-bhakti-vilasa was compiled with this in mind."
(Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 23.105)
I have presented evidence here in the form of the words of the Sampradaya Acarya that strongly suggest that what he accepts to be the standard for all time and places was an adaptation based upon a particular cultural configuration. Here is more evidence:
"This Hari-bhakti-vilasa, also Vaisnava-smrti, that is also imitation of smartaism. It is called smrti. So at least in Europe and America, they will never be able to take all these things. The things should be made shortcut; at the same time, they should be successful. So that is chanting of Hare Krsna maha-mantra, depending on..."
(Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, July 16, 1973, London)
So according to the Sampradaya Acarya Srila Prabhupada, what Rasaprema says he believes must always be practiced in all circumstances and everywhere will never be practiced always and everywhere, and will never, ever in completeness be practiced here.
Rasaprema says always or that it is essential, Srila Prabhupada says never.
So far in this article I have only suggested that the formality of diksa, or ritualized initiation may not be an essential requirement of receiving initiation from a qualified spiritual master. This in itself should be sufficient to convince anyone at least to be tolerant of others opinions regarding the matter of diksa, but further proof is needed to confirm more than just the suspicion that it is not.
"Well initiation or no initiation, first thing is knowledge... knowledge. Initiation is formality. Just like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That is not very important thing."
(Srila Prabhupada Press Interview, October 16, 1976, Chandigarh)
Here Srila Prabhupada is expressly stating that initiation is a formality, just as I have maintained in my earlier article.
"Whether a Vaisnava is properly initiated or not is not a subject for consideration."
(Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 15.111)
"The chanting Hare Krishna is our main business, that is real initiation. And as you are all following my instruction, in that matter, the initiator is already there."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter to Tamala Krsna, August 19, 1968)
So far I think that I have supplied sufficient evidence to at least exonerate the viewpoint that formal initiation may not always be required. I have yet to show why formal initiation should, in fact, be strictly avoided at times. I do so now:
"Now the next initiation will be performed as a ceremony officially, of course that ceremony has value because the name, Holy Name, will be delivered to the student from the disciplic succession, it has got value, but in spite of that, as you are going on chanting, please go on with this business sincerely and Krishna willing, I may be coming to you very soon."
(Srila Prabhupada Letter to Tamala Krsna, August 19, 1968)
Now look at this:
"Regarding the action of Bon Maharaja: We shall discuss the matter when we meet. For the present, you may know that this gentleman is very much materially ambitious. He wants to utilize Krishna Consciousness for his material name and fame. Sometimes he greatly offended our Guru Maharaja, and it so happened that at the last stage, practically Guru Maharaja rejected him. And the result, we can find that instead of becoming a great preacher of Krishna Consciousness, this gentleman has become artificially a head of a mundane institution. To become a very important man in the mundane estimation is not success in Krishna Consciousness. He was first deputed by my Guru Maharaja, along with our late God Brother, Bhakti Pradip Tirtha Maharaja, to open a missionary center in London, and they stayed there for 3 years, but didn't make any appreciable advance. Except that spent enormous money of my Guru Maharaja, and later on they were called back to India. So that is a great history; it is not possible to say everything in this letter, but for the present, be satisfied with these words, and later we shall talk more and more. On the whole, you may know that he is not a liberated person, and therefore, he cannot initiate any person to Krishna Consciousness. It requires special spiritual benediction from higher authorities"
BR>(Srila Prabhupada Letter to Janardana, April 26, 1968-04-26)
It has got value, but not when it is given by an unqualified person, and if that is the only option that offers itself at the time it can (and should) be completely dispensed with.
sri-nanda-nandanah krishnah
sarva-deva-siro-manih
padambujaika-bhag eka-
diksha prokta manishibhih
"Lord Krishna, the son of Nanda, is the crest jewel of all Deities. One should worship His lotus feet alone. One time only should one accept initiation to the worship of His lotus feet. This is said by the wise."
(Sri Sanatkumara-samhita)
Quite a few of the devotees that I know have been up and down on the ISKCON merry-go-round for as many as three or four times, going from heart ache to heart break, accepting one guru, thinking him to be qualified, only to discover that he is not and then having to move on to another, only again to discover that he too is unqualified. Their heads are spinning and they have become physically ill, what to speak of the consequences to their spiritual lives.
Please do not let anyone rush you into initiation.
Ys,
George Smith
