(6/13) Internal Meaning of Initiation

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's Vyasa Puja Adhivas
Nrisingha Palli, 31 December 2020, evening, part 6

[Noise] Hey, why are the children talking so much? They do not come to listen to Hari-katha themselves, so they neither listen themselves nor let devotees listen. They do not understand all this. They walk around, travelling to many places, doing eye-exercise, going to the market, going to some melas (material festivals) – they do not see any good things. They have no interest in such things, no attachment to such things. It takes some fortune to have loving attachment to these things.

অল্প ভাগ্যে সেবা নাহি হয়
কোটি জন্ম থাকলে ভাগ্য
বিষয় ছেড়ে হয় বৈরাগ্য

alpa-bhagye seva nahi haya
koti janma thakle bhagya
visaya chhede haya vairagya

'Service does not come by just a little fortune. Only after ten million births of good fortune, can you give up this material world.'

ব্রহ্মাণ্ড ভ্রমিতে কোন ভাগ্যবান্ জীব ।
গুরু-কৃষ্ণ-প্রসাদে পায় ভক্তিলতা-বীজ ॥

brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija

'Having travelled throughout the universe, some fortunate souls receive the seed of the devotional creeper by the mercy of Sri Guru, who is non-different from Krishna.'

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.19.151)

I think that all of you have taken initiation and beads from Gurudev. One time, Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur was asked, 'Is everyone who has taken the mantra called a disciple?' I have written his reply in Guidance 3, in the 'Questions and Answers' chapter. Srila Prabhupad said no – not everyone who has taken the mantra is called a disciple. Not everybody is a disciple. Srila Gurudev also said this when he was leaving this world. When there was much disturbance in Nabadwip, Gurudev left the temple saying, 'There is no anugatya (submission, exclusive adherence) left in this world, all anugatya is gone.' A few days later, when Gurudev was lying down in his bed in Dum Dum Park and I was sitting at his bed, he asked me, 'Acharya Maharaj, you have been preaching so much, going village to village. You have brought many people from Midnapore. Travelling place to place, you have brought so many people for Gaura Purnima. You have brought them all, and I have given the mantra to so many... But can you say how many of them have become disciples?' One does not become a disciple just by taking the mantra.

When you are born in gurudev's family, you can become the owner of gurudev's property and wealth. To take birth in gurudev's family, it is necessary to take the mantra (to receive initiation), but:

Sri Gurudev is the only shelter for a disciple. Those who have become disciples live in complete adherence to their guru. If one retains independence (if they live as they please), they cannot be called a 'disciple' – they can take the mantra, they can take initiation, but if they do not accept the guidance, or disciplining, of Sri Gurudev, they cannot be called a real disciple. Remember this! Gurudev has a vast wealth. Those who are born into his lineage (who became his disciples, or sons), can get the right for his wealth. When one is born into a king's family, one becomes a prince. In the same way, when one is born into gurudev's family or lineage, they become his disciple, or child. Gurudev's wealth is not temples, buildings, houses, money. This wealth was in Nabadwip, but I have left it and you are all with me now. I have got this small place to stay at – I cannot give you all sufficient place, and when sadhus will come tomorrow, there is no place to sit (the nat mandir is large, but it is all full now).

[To a devotee dozing off] Are you sleeping? Are you sitting and sleeping quietly? You must be used now to it. You are getting sleepy... Eating, sleeping, fearing and breeding – the more you increase these things, the more they will increase. It is necessary to reduce these things. Eat less, sleep less, and as for fearing and breeding, you know it yourself.

Gurudev's wealth is not money. What is his wealth? His wealth is faith, devotion and divine love. Faith means believing what your guru says. Gurudev says, 'Krishna will certainly protect', then why do you worry about yourself? It means you do not believe what gurudev says – you think it is all lies.

So, when you take initiation, what do you do next? Many people take initiation and go back to their homes, 'I have got initiation from gurudev, that is it. I have got everything.' After that, they do not keep in touch, we hear no news from them. They never call and ask, 'Gurudev, how are you?' – they do not care whether gurudev has died during lockdown or what. They never call to get any news. It is coronavirus and lockdown now, and when you never call, we start wondering if you are alive or dead and start thinking that you must have died... So, what must you do after you take initiation? It is necessary to practise sravan (listening to Hari-katha), kirtan (chanting the Holy Name, practising Krishna consciousness), archan (worship Deities or gurudev) and seva (do service).

— : • : —

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READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Spiritual Conscience
2) Trust the Lord
3) Service Is Not a Chore
4) May You Live Clean Life
5) Four Biggest Hurdles
6) Internal Meaning of Initiation
7) Amidst What Are You Sitting?
8) Karma-Misra Bhakti
9) Beyond Jnana-Misra Bhakti
10) Indomitable Power of Mercy
11) Learn to Behave as Sadhu
12) Preparing for Festival
13) External and Internal Opulence