Prabodhananda Dasa’s Initiation—Class

Giriraj Swami:

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

Reading from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītā, Chapter Fourteen, “The Three Modes of Material Nature,” 

TEXT 26

māṁ ca yo ‘vyabhicāreṇa
bhakti-yogena sevate
sa guṇān samatītyaitān
brahma-bhūyāya kalpate

TRANSLATION

One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

This verse is a reply to Arjuna’s third question: What is the means of attaining to the transcendental position? As explained before, the material world is acting under the spell of the modes of material nature. One should not be disturbed by the activities of the modes of nature; instead of putting his consciousness into such activities, he may transfer his consciousness to Kṛṣṇa activities. Kṛṣṇa activities are known as bhakti-yoga – always acting for Kṛṣṇa. This includes not only Kṛṣṇa, but His different plenary expansions such as Rāma and Nārāyaṇa. He has innumerable expansions. One who is engaged in the service of any of the forms of Kṛṣṇa, or of His plenary expansions, is considered to be transcendentally situated. One should also note that all the forms of Kṛṣṇa are fully transcendental, blissful, full of knowledge and eternal. Such personalities of Godhead are omnipotent and omniscient, and they possess all transcendental qualities. So if one engages himself in the service of Kṛṣṇa or His plenary expansions with unfailing determination, although these modes of material nature are very difficult to overcome, one can overcome them easily. This has already been explained in the Seventh Chapter. One who surrenders unto Kṛṣṇa at once surmounts the influence of the modes of material nature. To be in Kṛṣṇa consciousness or in devotional service means to acquire equality with Kṛṣṇa. The Lord says that His nature is eternal, blissful, and full of knowledge, and the living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme, as gold particles are part of a gold mine. Thus the living entity, in his spiritual position, is as good as gold, as good as Kṛṣṇa in quality. The difference of individuality continues, otherwise there would be no question of bhakti-yoga. Bhakti-yoga means that the Lord is there, the devotee is there, and the activity of exchange of love between the Lord and the devotee is there. Therefore the individuality of two persons is present in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the individual person, otherwise there would be no meaning to bhakti-yoga. If one is not situated in the same transcendental position with the Lord, one cannot serve the Supreme Lord. To be a personal assistant to a king, one must acquire the qualifications. Thus the qualification is to become Brahman, or freed from all material contamination. It is said in the Vedic literature, brahmaiva san brahmāpy eti. One can attain the Supreme Brahman by becoming Brahman. This means that one must qualitatively become one with Brahman. By attainment of Brahman, one does not lose his eternal Brahman identity as an individual soul.

COMMENT

We are gathered on the auspicious occasion of the second initiation of Prabodhananda dasa, of the brahminical initiations. The Vedas say, Brahma jānāti iti brāhmaṇaḥ. A brahman is one who knows Brahman. But knowledge of Brahman is revealed to one who follows the principles of a brahman. A brahman is supposed to be in the mode of goodness. And by following the brahminical principles in the context of the practice of bhakti-yoga, one can gradually come to the brahman platform. Then one is actually able to serve the Lord. Srila Prabhupada has often given the example that unless one becomes fire, one cannot enter into fire. So unless one comes to the brahman platform, one cannot serve the Supreme Brahman. And what is the process for coming to the brahman platform? bhakti-yogena sevate, bhakti-yoga, devotional service, especially the chanting of the holy names:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

And following the regulative principles.

Srila Prabhupada explained that the first initiation is for encouragement. When the devotee has been chanting sixteen rounds and following the regulative principles for long enough, he can be given the first initiation, hari-nāma. But in order to be considered a brahman or to be fixed on the brahman platform, one has to be steady in one’s spiritual practices. The word used here in the Bhagavad-gītā is avyabhicāreṇa, without fail. One should not fail to chant one’s sixteen rounds. One should not fail to follow the regulative principles. And if one is steady in one’s regular practices of bhakti-yoga, then after some time, one can be considered for the second initiation, brahminical initiation. With brahminical initiation, one is eligible to worship the deity. Because again, unless one is on the brahman platform, he cannot serve the Supreme Brahman. So one must be steady in chanting sixteen rounds and following the regulative principles, unfailing in one’s determination, then one can be considered for the second initiation and be eligible to worship the deity.

Now, there are brahmans in India who feel that one must be born a brahman to be accepted as a brahman or to act as a brahman. But actually, that is not the case. In the Seventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Narada Muni states very clearly that even if one has all the twelve brahminical qualifications, but if he is not a devotee of Krishna, he cannot even purify himself, what to speak of others. Whereas one who is a devotee of Krishna, even if he is not born in a brahman family, can purify not only himself but his entire family. Similarly, in the Third Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Lord Kapila says that how wonderful it is that just by chanting the holy name of the Lord, one is immediately qualified to perform Vedic sacrifices. A brahman is considered qualified to offer Vedic sacrifices only if he undergoes all the reformatory processes required of a brahman. But a devotee who chants the holy names of the Lord is immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices.

And in the Bhagavad-gītā also, Lord Krishna himself says, cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ, the four varnas are created by Krishna, guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ, according to guṇa—one’s qualities, and karma—one’s work. He does not mention janma or birth. So if one has the qualities of a brahman, and if he engages in the activities of a brahman, he is considered a brahman, regardless of birth. But one has to remain fixed on the brahman platform. Even if one receives brahminical initiation, if later on one fails in the practice of bhakti-yoga, the performance of bhakti-yoga, then one is not considered eligible to worship the deity. In fact, there is one statement quoted in The Nectar of Devotion that unless one follows the regulative principles, he cannot touch the deity. So getting second initiation even in ISKCON doesn’t mean that one is automatically a brahman. One has to maintain one’s spiritual position by chanting sixteen rounds and following the regulative principles and doing all the other things that devotees are expected to do. But if one does, one is considered eligible to receive brahminical initiation and worship the deity.

There is one story in Caitanya-caritāmṛta. It is a long story, but in brief, Sanatana Gosvami was suffering from a skin infection, and he had sores on his body that were oozing some sort of bad liquid. By force, Lord Chaitanya caught hold of him and embraced him, which made Sanatana Gosvami feel very bad. But then Lord Chaitanya said that one who takes dīkṣā is on the same level as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Of course, it is not automatic. But if one sincerely follows the regulative principles of devotional service and receives the mercy of the Supreme Lord through the spiritual master, through the process of dīkṣā, he is accepted to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and one can touch the body of the Lord in the form of a deity or directly if one is as qualified as Sanatana Gosvami. But in all cases, the main practice is to chant the holy names. That will keep us fit spiritually. Always chant:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

A living entity contaminated atmosphere exists in the material world, and all the more so in the present age of Kali. Srila Prabhupada gave the example that if we have glass of ink in empty house, it is kept in an inky atmosphere, it will again fill up with ink. But if you empty out the ink and fill it with milk, then even in an inky atmosphere, it won’t fill up with ink because it is already filled with milk. There is no room for the ink. So we are in a contaminated atmosphere in material world, especially in Kali-yuga. But if we are always filled with Krishna consciousness, if we are always engaged in devotional service, then there will be no room for maya’s contamination to enter. Therefore, we always keep engaged in chanting the holy names or in some sort of service in glorification of Lord Krishna and the holy name.

Prabodhananda Prabhu has waited many years. He served faithfully, first in South Africa and now in Australia. He has been recommended by his GBC, Amai Swami, who sometimes stays at Prabodhananda Prabhu’s house. So we should all wish Prabodhananda Prabhu the best, that he can be steady in his practices of Krishna consciousness and be worthy of the opportunity that he has being given. As Srila Prabhupada says, initiation means beginning. You initiate an activity; you begin an activity. Initiation doesn’t mean that one is perfect. He has been given the opportunity to develop further in Krishna consciousness, to take on the authorized service of the deity with the chanting of the Gayatri mantras. So we pray that he will uphold his practices and his vows and be worthy of this great opportunity and also responsibility.

The procedure now is that we will give Prabodhananda Prabhu the mantra. In principle, no one should hear it when it is being given. But if someone has already received a mantra, exceptions can be made, especially because we need a photographer. I guess that would be you. The others can make ready for the feast afterwards. Follow me to the afternoon.