19860704 Initiation Ceremony @ Balaramdesh

19860704 INITIATION CEREMONY IN BAHRAIN: We cross over this material ocean of nescience even if there are a few tests. Krishna helps those who are helping, trying to help themselves or trying to advance in this service. So I don’t take any more time. We are very endeared to see that people by chanting, those who have taken Sevak before they got, most of them received such inspiration that they are now coming up to take Sadhak or even in some cases Harinaam which shows that they are steadily advancing. Spiritual life is not theoretical. Real spiritual life means that you get a real taste for it, you get a real reciprocation from Krishna. So no one can get that taste unless they initially begin to chant. Unless they take this step and follow the instructions of guru. So those who are starting of as Sevaks, taking this beginning step or even those who are previous to Sevak who are starting to chant Hare Krishna on a regular basis as a trial we extend our hand to them that they can advance very quickly and develop their taste for Krishna consciousness. Our only objective is to see that people get back to home, back to Godhead. As many as we can save in the short time of our life span, that is our objective because once you go there naapnuvanti mahatmaanah samsiddhim paramam gata – you don’t have to come back again down into this material suffering again. So that end of suffering we like to do for as many people as possible. And what can be easier if one doesn’t have to go through extreme suffering to do it. One doesn’t have to go through extreme austerity to do it. One can simply lead a regulated life, chant Hare Krishna, dance in ecstasy, feast on Krishna prasadam, go back home back to Godhead. It is not very difficult because naturally our attraction and love for Krishna will draw us back to the spiritual world. So thank you very much for waiting.

Are there any questions? Last chance! Anyone has any question?

So we have these Sevaks are the first, then Sadhaks, then Harinaam. So the principles of the Sevaks are accepted by the others. The principles of Sadhaks are accepted by Harinaam. Also the principles of Harinaam of course, they are even more advanced. So when I asked the question, who are the Sevak and Sevika candidates, raise your hands. Nice, so I am going to ask the four basic principles and the other, when I ask the principle, if you agree then you will be saying Hare Krishna. The other Sadhak candidates can also confirm by saying Hare Krishna. Then I will call up for getting the blessing, then we will go to the next, Sadhak. We can have a cameraman take pictures when they come up, each one individually, they may want to keep it.

So those who believe that the Supreme Personality of Godhead and Absolute Truth is Lord Shri Krishna and who believe that Krishna has appeared in the age of kali as Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the most merciful avatar, say Hare Krishna!

If you believe that pure devotional service unto the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna is the perfection of life and your goal in life is to ultimately achieve pure devotional service unto Lord Krishna’s lotus feet, then say Hare Krishna!

In order to quickly achieve this pure devotional service unto Lord Sri Krishna, if you want spiritual guidance from me and accept me as your instructing spiritual master, shiksha guru, then say Hare Krishna!

If as a Krishna Sevak you intend to gradually increase your devotional service with practice to eventually become pure in your personal habits so that you can achieve eternal shelter of Krishna in this lifetime. For the Krishna Sevak candidates if in the future you want to receive Harinaam initiation from me, for that you want my blessings to advance quickly in Krishna consciousness, then say Hare Krishna!

Alright, if I call a husband, it does not mark here who the husband is so, the wife should also come at the same time. Is Jaigopal, his wife is Sangeeta? Krishna Sevak, Jaigopal.

There are four other principles for Sadhaks which we will read out quickly. If you agree with these principles, then you fold your hands and say Hare Krishna!

If you follow the principle of regularly chanting a daily minimum of rounds, that should be minimum 18 up to 16 depending upon each individual, what they have mentioned here to me and to regularly chant Hare Krishna sankirtan, congregational chanting as taught by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then say Hare Krishna!

The principle of studying Lord Krishna’s teachings – if you intend to regularly study and attend classes on Srimad Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Srimad Bhagavatam and other books by Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad under the guidance of myself and my representatives, then say Hare Krishna!

Then there is the principle of worshipping Lord Shri Krishna. If you are dedicated to practice worshipping Lord Krishna in the Krishna conscious temples and in your home if you are living outside the ashram, as far as practical including offering foodstuff and artik to Lord Krishna, worshipping the sacred Tulasi plant, worshipping the spiritual master as non-different representative of Lord Krishna, as well as following basic devotional practices or sadhanas, whether living in the temple or at home, then say Hare Krishna!

And if you are determined to – this is the principle of determination and desire for advancement. Actually this is very important because if we simply desire to advance and we are determined to step by step try for it, Krishna, He always helps His devotees. He takes one step, rather, He takes ten steps towards you for every one step you take towards Him. This is the principle if you are determined to attempt controlling your mind and senses by engaging them productively in Lord Krishna’s devotional service under my guidance through the regulative practice of bhakti yoga and if you want to quickly become qualified to accept the eternal shelter of Harinaam and become fixed in pure joy of spiritual practices, for this purpose if you want spiritual blessings from me then say Hare Krishna!

OK, so here we have Mr. and Mrs. Shivaneshan, Krishna Sadhak Shivaneshan, Hari bol!

Now Harinaam initiations. The process is that they come up one by one, both husband and wife, and then they offer their obeisances here. Then when I ask them they state the four principles and chanting. Then I give them their spiritual name and their beads. So we have here Dr. Sitaram and Sheela. One problem is that these beads are to have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, after the eighth bead, they are to have a string attached like this, but this is not attached, so this can be added later. But kindly don’t forget to add.

What are the four regulative principles? (devotees answer)

How many times Hare Krishna per day? (devotees answer) Minimum sixteen.

And dedicated to following the disciplic succession coming down from Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupad in his teachings. So your name already had Sitaraman. I didn’t want to change it too much because it was already a holy name. So slight change is there. Now instead of the servant of Sita and Rama you are the servant of Radha and Krishna, your name is Sri Radha Raman. Hari bol! Sitaraman to Radharaman! Sriradharaman.

The servant of Radharani who possesses all perfections, your name is Siteshwari devi dasi. Hari bol!

Mrs and Mr Venkataraman. Hare Krishna!

The four principles? (devotees answer)

How many times, chanting Hare Krishna every day? (devotees answer)

And dedicated to following the disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupad? (Devotees answer)

So your name means that you are the servant of Lord Krishna who is knower of the Vedas. By Krishna’s mercy one can know all the Vedas because He is the knower of the Vedas. Your name is Vedavit das Adhikari. Hari bol!

Your name means you are the servant of the Supreme form of pure love for Krishna, which is only manifested by Srimati Radharani and Lord Caitanya, your name is Mahabhaava devi dasi. Hari bol!

We have Mahendra. What are the four principles? (Devotee answers)

How many times chanting Hare Krishna every day?

And dedicated to following the disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupad? (Devotee answers)

So your name means you are the servant of – it is self-explanatory, everyone knows what it means. Your name is, right now you are unmarried so you are still a brahmachari. Your name is Mahavishnu das brahmachari.

Next we have Vinod. Four principles? (Devotee answers)

And how many times Hare Krishna chanting every day?

And dedicated to following the disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupad? (Devotee answers)

Your name is Vijay Madhavdas Adhikari. Madhav is a form of Krishna that takes away impediments from the heart of the devotees.

Also, we have here Govindan. How many times chanting every day?

You are dedicated to the disciplic succession from Prabhupad and Lord Caitanya? Your name is Gour Govinda das brahmachari.

Four principles? How many times chanting every day? And dedicated to following the disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Prabhupad? So name is already there Gopi, just a slight change, Gopinath das adhikari. Gopi to Gopinath.

Ramanujan. What are the four principles? (devotee answers)

How many times Hare Krishna chanting every day? (devotee answers)

Are you dedicated to following the guru parampara Srila Prabhupad?

Your name is, you are a servant of Lord Nityananda, who is an incarnation of Balaram. Your name is Ramnitai das adhikari. 16.14

Sudhakaran – what are the four principles? (Devotee answers)

How many times Hare Krishna per day? (Devotee answers)

Committed to following the guru parampara, Prabhupad? (Devotee answers)

Your name is – you are the servant of the spiritual master who is a devotee of Krishna – your name is Sadguru das Adhikari.

Balakrishnan – what are the four principles? (Devotee answers)

How many times Hare Krishna every day? (Devotee answers)

Minimum every day. And are you committed to following Srila Prabhupad’s disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahaprabhu? (Devotee answers)

So your name – you are the servant of Lord Caitanya as a boy – your name is Balagauranga das Adhikari.

Now we need is some initiated devotees or sadhaks to take position in the four corners of the fire. One here, one here, one there, one there and to be reading some scripture, Gita or Bhagavatam during the ceremony.

Om ajnana thimiraandasya gyanaanjana shalakhaya Cakshur unmilitam yena tasmai shri gurave namaha.

Svaahaa! Svaahaa! Svaahaa!

Vande Sri guru Sri Yuta padakalam…

Svaahaa! Svaahaa! Svaahaa!

Nama Om Vishnu paadaaya Krishna preshtthaaya bhutale Srimate Jayapataka Swamin iti naamine

Svaahaa! Svaahaa! Svaahaa!

Nama Om Vishnu paadaaya Krishna preshtthaaya bhutale Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin iti naamine Namaste Saaraswate deve Gaura vaani prachaarine Nirvishesha shunyavaadi Paashchyatha desha taurine

Svaahaa! Svaahaa! Svaahaa!

Nama Om Vishnu paadaaya Krishna Preshtthaaya bhutale Srimate Bhaktisiddhanta Swamin iti naamine

Svaahaa! Svaahaa! Svaahaa!

Srivrashabhanavi devi dayitaaya kripaabhdhaye Krishna sambhanda vijnaana daayine prabhave namaha

Svaahaa! Svaahaa! Svaahaa!

Nama Om Gaura kishoraaya saakshaad vairaagyaaya murtaye Vipralambha rasaambhodhe padaambujaaya te namaha

Svaahaa! Svaahaa! Svaahaa!

Nama Om Bhaktivinodaaya saakshaadh sachidananda naamine Gaura Shakti swarupaaya rupanuga varaaya te

Svaahaa! Svaahaa! Svaahaa!

Transcribed by: Jayaraseshwari devi dasi 27 June 2016


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