INTERVIEWER:
Pranam, Gurudev.
GURUDEV:
Pranam, Baba. Pranam.
INTERVIEWER:
In the previous episode, we were listening to you talk about Diksha (initiation). In that episode, you primarily spoke from the Guru's perspective—that is, the one giving the initiation. Today, I want to ask you about a very important matter: those who come to receive initiation. I believe there should be some preparation on their part before they think about Diksha. One thing you mentioned in the last episode was that parents should not witness the son's initiation while they are alive...
GURUDEV:
No, it's not just about being alive. Parents simply cannot witness the son's initiation. Just as a mother cannot witness her son's wedding ceremony—she doesn't go to the wedding, she stays home—similarly, in the case of Diksha, a mother cannot watch her son's initiation. That is the rule.
GURUDEV:
Now, regarding what you asked: these days, people act mostly on emotion. For example, someone might say, "I want to cook the food offering (bhog) for the deity." They are asked, "Are you initiated?" If they say no, they are told, "Well, get initiated, otherwise you can't cook the bhog." This is common talk now. Someone wants to serve the Mother, and they are immediately told they need initiation first. Because of this, people impulsively decide to take Diksha. In reality, almost no one is truly prepared.
GURUDEV:
You see, except for humans, all animals have tails. Humans are the only ones who lost their tails, which is why we became "human." The loss of the tail symbolizes our development of conscience, intelligence, and awareness.
GURUDEV:
Initiation is a very difficult path; the connection between Guru and disciple is profound. After I give initiation, especially to women, I tell them, "Child, continue your Japa (mantra chanting) as long as I am alive. If you can't do it, just remembering me will be enough. But try to do your Japa." Sit on your prayer mat every morning and evening. Those who are busy with household chores might not be able to do much, but I say, "Do what you can while I'm alive, but after I'm gone, you must chant."
GURUDEV:
This is because the Guru receives a portion of the disciple's chanting. If a disciple chants a mantra 100 times, the Guru gets 10 and the disciple keeps 90. That is the tradition. I tell them, "Go, live your life and do your work. If you get stuck anywhere, come to me."
GURUDEV:
Many people ask me, "Gurudev, you didn't take anything from me—no money, no offerings. Will my initiation be successful?" They ask these questions. But a Guru should never look at whether a disciple has money or not. We need to see how much spiritual inclination they have.
GURUDEV:
Some people get so emotional they fall at my feet and cry, saying, "Only you must initiate me, I won't go to anyone else." I tell them, "Since you have identified me as your Guru, I will call you when the time is right." I take their phone numbers and call them for initiation later.
GURUDEV:
In today's society, there is no real "system" left. People take initiation just so they can cook bhog or perform rituals. After initiation, I tell everyone, "Now go, and you don't need to see me again."
GURUDEV:
The reason I say that is because they won't understand the depth of it. The path between Guru and disciple is very difficult. When a disciple reaches the level of the Guru, the Guru always wants the disciple to rise above him.
GURUDEV:
Take the "Hare Krishna" maha-mantra: "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare." The word "Hare" refers to Mahadev (Shiva) and "Krishna" refers to Narayana. Sometimes Narayana is in front and Shiva is behind; sometimes Shiva is in front and Narayana is behind. Look at the relationship between Guru and disciple similarly. For Mahadev, the Guru is Narayana himself. Sometimes the Guru goes first, sometimes the disciple.
GURUDEV:
So I tell them, "Do your work. If you get stuck, come to me. Once I have given you initiation, there is no question of getting stuck—it depends on how much you can do." If a disciple surpasses the Guru, the Guru feels great joy, not jealousy. A true Guru is happy when the disciple rises.
GURUDEV:
There are some who take initiation and then do bad things. Some boys from Tarapith took initiation and then went astray.
INTERVIEWER:
I want to ask a question regarding this. You mentioned people taking initiation out of emotion or because they heard it from someone else. We see many people coming here to Shantikunj asking for Diksha. You often tell them, "Your time hasn't come yet," or you try to talk to them to see if they are prepared. After they take initiation, they often forget the instructions or the path you've shown them.
GURUDEV:
Yes, as I said, it's often emotional. They take it from a well-known person just to say, "I took initiation from such-and-such Baba." Then they forget everything. Many men and women come to me later saying, "Baba, I can't find the time because of work pressure." But before initiation, they promised, "I will do whatever you say, whenever you say." In practice, 99% fail.
GURUDEV:
We understand the situation. People have jobs, families, and earnings to worry about. It's hard for them to call upon God. We make a mistake—we think God sleeps when we are awake. We are awake during the day, so we think God is sleeping. When we sleep at night, that's when God is awake. The cycle is opposite. When God is awake, that's when we should call Him; He will respond. but common people work all day and sleep all night.
GURUDEV:
As for me, I had to give up everything. I even gave up my clothes. I became "Ulanga" (sky-clad/naked). I don't know why it happened. I had a wife and children. Today, my son is 40 and my daughter is 35 or 36. They are upset with me because I wasn't there for them during that time. I was absorbed in my Sadhana (spiritual practice). I couldn't provide for their education or help them. They are angry that I wasn't there when they needed me.
INTERVIEWER:
Gurudev, everything in this world is predestined. We believe your constant efforts for world peace and human welfare were predestined.
GURUDEV:
It is the Mother's command. I see so many people, and I have to take on their sins into this body. My family has to bear it too. If I decide today that I won't help people anymore, the Mother will be displeased.
GURUDEV:
You saw what happened with Bamdev Baba (Bama Khepa). When too many people started coming to him, he would sometimes kick them or hit them with a stick to drive them away. When he went before the Mother, she asked him, "Did I send you for this? Will you spend your whole life being a burden to others?" The Mother slapped him so hard he saw the three worlds. After that, he said, "Mother, you hit me; I won't come to your house anymore." Of course, the Mother didn't let him go.
GURUDEV:
So, it's not me doing this; it's the Mother managing everything. I just sit here. I might give someone a brick or a piece of wood in the Mother's name, or a bit of soil, and they get healed. It's because the Mother is alive here. There is no transaction of money here. We maintain purity (Sattvic nature), which is why the Mother is present. No one who comes to the Mother goes back empty-handed.
GURUDEV:
It's amazing—people from America and Canada come here saying, "You are my Gurudev." They see me on YouTube. There are many people on YouTube, but they come here. They say, "I want initiation only from you." I tell them, "There are so many others, go to them." They reply, "No, I offer you a hundred-crore pranams, but I must take initiation from you."
INTERVIEWER:
For such people, I ask you to give them some direction so they don't feel hopeless.
GURUDEV:
They don't feel hopeless. They say, "Kick us, beat us, but we will come to you." I tell everyone I initiate: I write down the Bija Mantra (seed mantra) for them. I tell them to chant it while eating, sleeping, sitting, or walking—whenever they can. There is no fixed limit. Even while traveling by bus, train, or plane, instead of looking at people's faces, just keep chanting.
GURUDEV:
One day, the Japa will become "Ajapa" (automatic/effortless chanting). You won't even have to try; it will continue on its own, even in your sleep. That is why Ram Prasad said, "Who needs Gaya, Ganga, or Kashi if one can chant 'Kali, Kali, Kali' until it becomes Ajapa?" If you reach that state, you don't need pilgrimages. The chanting itself is the perfection. Sri Ramakrishna used to say, "Chant and you will succeed." Chanting is the only way to reach the goal.
GURUDEV:
Vivekananda used to say, "Stay at the Guru's door like a dog. If he shows mercy, you will be blessed." The tradition of Guru and disciple will always remain. It exists in God, and it exists in us.
INTERVIEWER:
Pranam, Gurudev. Friends, you just heard Gurudev's thoughts on initiation. Please continue to subscribe to our YouTube channel, Gupta Sadhak Shyama Khepa. Like and share these videos. Pranam, Gurudev.
GURUDEV:
Pranam, Baba. Pranam.