Interviewer:
Pranam, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Pranam.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, we see that Deeksha (initiation) is being performed here every day. You are initiating many devotees, and they are accepting it. There seems to be a widespread call for initiation from you. Please tell us something about this.
Gurudev:
Well, there is nothing much to say. This has happened many times before, like when Ramnarayan Ram was here, or during the time of Balak Brahmachari. At those times, too, there was a surge of people seeking initiation. It happens from time to time; a certain wave rises, and people flock to take initiation.
Gurudev:
Actually, those who take initiation often don't fully understand what it is at first. For instance, today, a lady said to me, "You initiated me today; I will come back again tomorrow or the day after." I told her, "Look, the initiation is done. Now, leave this place and don't come back here for a while."
Gurudev:
The relationship between a Guru and a disciple is very profound and complex. Once I have given what was due to her, she shouldn't feel the need to keep disturbing me. I live in my own spiritual world. If people keep bothering me constantly, my inner peace is disturbed. I don't let just anyone into my world. That is the rule.
Gurudev:
We live in society for the welfare of others, so some initiations are necessary. But more importantly, this is often a result of Prarabdha (past life) karma. Perhaps I was their Guru in a previous life. That's why they have found me in this life. Some are taking initiation at 60 or 65 years of age. Why now? Because the time is right.
Gurudev:
Many young men come to me now after seeing me on YouTube. I sometimes get angry and tell them, "You saw a man on YouTube—how do you know if he is a thief, a fraud, or a dacoit? You should verify first." They reply that there is nothing to verify; they have understood and they want me as their Guru. What can I do then? My job isn't to mislead anyone.
Gurudev:
The truth is, to call upon God, initiation is necessary. Just as you need a teacher to learn to read and write, you need a Guru to enter the world of God. People are coming from Canada, France, Germany—from all over—to take initiation. It surprises me because I have no prior connection with them. They see me on YouTube and decide I am their Guru.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, seated next to you is one of your long-time disciples, Dada Ghatak. He is very experienced. Dada, what are your thoughts on this tradition of initiation?
Dada Ghatak:
Honestly, speaking while sitting next to Gurudev feels a bit audacious. As Gurudev mentioned on our YouTube channel, Gupta Sadhak Shyama Khapa, the Guru-disciple tradition is an ancient pillar of Sanatan India. In the Vedic and Upanishadic eras, this was the way life was structured.
Dada Ghatak:
The Guru is the pathfinder. In our scriptures, the Guru is compared to Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara. A disciple comes to the Guru with many questions and doubts, and the Guru's job is to clear those doubts and show the right path.
Dada Ghatak:
I once asked Gurudev, "You initiate people you don't even know. Shouldn't you know who they are before giving them something so sacred?" Gurudev told me that he perceives them from within. It's not just about one day; he recognizes the connection.
Dada Ghatak:
After initiation, there are many rules to follow. The mantra given by the Guru must be chanted constantly—while sleeping, dreaming, or awake. And although Gurudev says the Guru-disciple connection is "over" once the initiation is given, the Guru actually resides in the disciple's heart forever. If a disciple is in trouble, who else will they go to?
Dada Ghatak:
Here at Shantikunj, Gurudev maintains a very simple atmosphere. There is a sign that says, "Do not give a single penny in this temple." He says, "Mother (Goddess) feeds me, so what can I possibly feed Her?" These things are easy to hear but very difficult to practice.
Dada Ghatak:
Even Vivekananda tested Ramakrishna many times before accepting him as a Guru. Ramakrishna knew he was being tested, but he would tell the Mother, "Mother, he is my food. Don't let him go elsewhere for initiation; I will be his Guru."
Dada Ghatak:
When Vivekananda later established the Math (monastery), he didn't place idols of various gods. He emphasized the Guru. Kali, Tara, Durga—it all comes down to the Guru. As the saying goes: "If Mahadev (Shiva) is angry, the Guru can save you; but if the Guru is angry, even Mahadev cannot."
Gurudev:
The Guru remains in a hidden state. My white clothes are just an external shell. Very few people know my true identity. To those who have glimpsed it, I jokingly say, "I'll kill you if you tell anyone," because they have seen my true form.
Dada Ghatak:
The fact that the youth are turning toward spirituality is a good sign for the future of India. Gurudev has often predicted that a great spiritual awakening will start from Bengal. We are all waiting for those better days. Pranam, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Pranam. Joy Guru.
Spiritual Insight
This profound discourse on the sacred tradition of Deeksha (initiation) reveals the complex, ancient relationship between Guru and disciple that forms the pillar of Sanatan Dharma. Gurudev explains that surges of initiation seekers come in waves—just as they did during the time of Ramnarayan Ram and Balak Brahmachari, who attracted 300,000 disciples. The connection is often rooted in Prarabdha karma—past life connections that bring devotees to their Guru at the appointed time, even at age 60 or 65. Dada Ghatak eloquently explains that the Guru is the pathfinder, compared in scriptures to Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara combined. While Gurudev maintains strict boundaries to protect his inner peace—telling initiates not to return immediately—the Guru actually resides in the disciple's heart forever. The powerful saying "If Mahadev is angry, the Guru can save you; but if the Guru is angry, even Mahadev cannot" underscores the primacy of this relationship. The fact that youth from around the world (Canada, France, Germany) are seeking initiation through YouTube suggests the spiritual awakening Gurudev has predicted may indeed be beginning from Bengal.