Sevanadi Dasi’s Second Initiation

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna. We have gathered for the second initiation or brahminical initiation of Sevanandi dasi and Vrindavani dasi. 

In our tradition, there are two initiations, or there could be three if you count sannyasa, but for most devotees two initiations. The first initiation is into the chanting of the holy names, hari-nāma initiation, and the second initiation is into the chanting of the Gayatri mantras, which is the dīkṣā in a way. And the requirement for a candidate to receive second initiation is that he or she should have been following strictly, all the regulated principles and practices, that come with first initiation, for at least one year. 

So, now I will read a verse from the Bhagavad-gītā that is relevant. This is Bhagavad-gītā Chapter Fourteen Text Twenty-six. 

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

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.

COMMENT

So, these devotees who are receiving second initiation become eligible to worship the deity and, as Srila Prabhupada says, to worship the Supreme Brahman, one has to come to the brahman platform. And one comes to the brahman platform by engaging fully in devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances.’

So, now I will read the purport. 

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

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. 

COMMENT

So again, this is the process for coming to the brahman platform, upon which one is able to serve the Supreme brahman.

PURPORT (continued)

One should also note that all the forms of Kṛṣṇa are fully transcendental, blissful, full of knowledge and eternal.

COMMENT

Now here we are learning about the Krishna, the Supreme Brahman, and that is also a qualification of a brahman—brahma jānāti iti brāhmaṇaḥ; a brahman is one who knows brahman.

PURPORT (continued)

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.

COMMENT

daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etāṁ taranti te

PURPORT (continued)

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.

COMMENT

And yes, to serve Krishna, to serve the deity, in one sense, we have to be on the same level. Of course, we are followers of the philosophy of Achintya-bheda-abheda-tattva, simultaneous inconceivable oneness and difference, that we are one with Krishna in quality but different in quantity because God is infinite and we are infinitesimal, or as Srila Prabhupada would pronounce it that Krishna is infinite and we are infinit-simal.

PURPORT (continued)

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.

COMMENT

I will read that again because this is really the essence of what these devotees are aspiring for.

PURPORT (continued)

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

And then I will read one other verse from Bhagavad-gītā, which describes the qualities of brahmans. Chapter Eighteen,

TEXT 42

śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ

kṣāntir ārjavam eva ca

jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ

brahma-karma svabhāva-jam

COMMENT

So my dear devotees, please make a note of these qualities because you are meant to have them or to exhibit them.

TRANSLATION

Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness – these are the natural qualities by which the brāhmaṇas work.

COMMENT

So my dear devotees, we are dividing this program into two sections. The first section is general or for everyone. But when I give the Gayatri mantras to Sevanandi dasi and Vrindavani dasi, we will have to leave this general meeting because the Gayatri mantra is only meant to be heard by Brahmas. 

So before we leave the general meeting, do any of you have any questions or comments? 

Alright. So my dear devotees, I will reluctantly take your leave. And yes, I wish you a wonderful Krishna conscious for the rest of the day or night, and thank you for joining us. Please give your blessings and support to the new initiates. 

And now, I will be leaving this meeting and using the special link, that is just for the new initiates. So, thank you very much.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

Nitai-Gaura premānande! Hari Haribol!