Preparation for Mantra-Diksha

[Guest guest]

Preparation for Mantra-Diksha

(Spiritual Initiation)

 

Swami Bhuteshnanda

 

This lecture, originally in Bengali, was delivered by Swami

Bhuteshananda, the President of the Ramakrishna Order,

on 4 August 1995 at Ramakrishna Ashrama, Sylhet, in

Bangladesh and had appeared in the Bengali monthly Udbodhan, 7th

issue, 1406 Shraban, from where it has been translated by Swami

Hitakamananda. ¨

 

Many desire to have initiation. Some show great interest. But before initiation,

unless one is familiar with the ideal which we want to present before you, the

initiation will not be fruitful. That is why it is our practice that one must be

familiar

with the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami

Vivekananda. Hence one seeking initiation is asked to prepare himself. Those who

are found underprepared are advised to wait. Only the eligible candidates are

advised to take initiation. This preparedness helps us to do our duty properly.

Besides, the recipients also are able to grasp easily what we instruct.

 

According to scriptural injunction, whosoever approaches a guru for initiation

must

have certain qualifications. Let me cite an example. Narada went to Bhagavan

Sanatkumara for initiation. Sanatkumara said, `Tell me first what you know; then

I

shall decide what is to be taught.' At this Narada gave a detailed list of what

he had

studied. None of the principal scriptural texts were left out. He had come to

Sanatkumara after finishing the studies of all the major scriptures. He said he

had

read Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharva Veda, the six Vedangas; also all

the principal puranas (eighteen), and many texts dealing with secular branches

of

learning. In spite of so much learning he said, `I am not in peace, neither am I

satisfied. I still feel discontented. This sense of unfulfilment is probably the

cause of

my mental unrest.' `Well, Narada,' said Sanatkumara, `I understand that you have

studied quite a lot. But what you know are only some words. You have become a

master of words; but you do not know yourself. You are not an atmavid. Only a

knower of the Self overcomes grief. Since you are not an atmavid, a knower of

one's Real Nature, you have been overpowered by grief.' Then Narada humbly

said, `Bhagavan, kindly impart me that knowledge by which I can get rid of all

misery.'

 

What does this story suggest? It suggests that it is necessary to prepare the

ground

of one's mind before initiation. It is no use sowing seeds without preparing the

soil.

The soil must be properly tilled, and manure must be spread beforehand. If the

seed

is sown after that, it grows well. But if we sow the seeds without tilling the

soil and

without adding manure, will there be a good crop? No. Similarly, careful

preparation is required before receiving mantra-diksha. This preparedness

conduces to success. This must be kept in mind.

 

Most humbly, I want to touch another point. There is no end to this preparation.

Before taking the name of God, before receiving the mantra, the soil of our mind

has

to be processed. Unless the mind is pure, the mantra will not be effective. The

mind

has to be prepared through the practice of good conduct, humility, shraddha, and

true yearning. If there is a genuine urge in the mind for taking the name of

God, the

result of initiation will be highly rewarding. There is a beautiful simile given

by Sri

Ramakrishna. The oyster eagerly awaits with its mouth open. If a drop of rain

falling

during the ascendancy of the Swati constellation enters, the oyster closes its

mouth,

goes to the bottom of the ocean and turns it into a pearl. Mantra-diksha is just

like

this drop of water in association with the star Swati. Before having initiation,

one

must keep one's heart open to receive that Truth with great yearning like an

oyster.

Only then will the mantra be effective in life.

 

We always say, even at the time of initiation, that without devotion and faith

it does

not become fruitful. Hence we must have faith. One has to receive the mantra

with

shraddha. Only then the mantra, like a seed, will sprout and flourish into a

full

grown tree, bearing flowers and fruits. Hence it must be borne in mind that

prepared-ness before receiving the mantra-diksha is mandatory. In fact, nothing

in

spiritual life can be achieved without preparation. The scriptures recommend

that a

spiritual seeker must approach the Guru for learning the ideal by being

serviceful,

humble, with selfless devotion, making himself pure and blemishless. Why is so

much importance laid in the scriptures on preparedness? The reason is, the

moment

is an invaluable one, when the name of God is presented to us. Receiving that

holy

name in our heart with faith and devotion and concentrating our mind on it, if

we can

dive deep into our being, like the oyster, and remain engrossed in it, the most

valuable gem will take shape within us. This is to be especially borne in mind.

We

get this lesson from the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna. In the Bhagavad Gita

(18.67)

also it is said,

 

Idam te natapaskaya

nabhaktaya kadachana

Na chashushrushave vachyam

na cha mam yobhyasuyati.

 

This is never to be spoken by thee to one who is devoid of austerities or

devotion, nor to one who does not render service, nor to one who cavils at

Me.

 

Why have these categories of people been excluded? Because the field (of their

mind) is not prepared. The criteria mentioned earlier are only preparatory

steps. Once the field is ready, one develops love for the name of God. This is

to be remembered by both those who are seeking diksha and also those already

initiated. Hence it is said in the scriptures that one must be humble, inclined

to

serve and must keep one's life as pure and stainless as possible. Many people

have an opposite notion. They think that their body and mind will be purified

after mantra-diksha. This is a wrong concept. Before being initiated, our

hearts are to be purified to receive initiation. Before installing the deity,

the

temple and its surroundings must be well cleaned. Then only can we think of

the installation ceremony. Receiving mantra signifies installation of God in

one's life. All preparations are aimed at this only. Without compliance to these

conditions, or even being indifferent to them, we cannot really install God in

our heart. This must be especially borne in mind.

 

We do not want to initiate young boys and girls. But at times devotees insist

on initiations of boys and girls of ten to twelve years or even less in age.

They

feel hurt when we reject their request. They repeatedly request us. These

people do not realise the significance of mantra-diksha. Are these young ones

ready for initiation? Are their minds mature enough to grasp the importance

of initiation? Not at all. `Please initiate, please initiate' etc. is nothing

short of

childish insistence. Maybe some guardians put such requests with true faith

and in all seriousness. But they also do it due to lack of understanding of the

importance, meaning, and gravity of mantra-diksha. There is an appropriate

time for mantra-diksha. When the mind becomes restless for initiation, then it

must be understood that it is capable of receiving the mantra. To keep this

fact in mind is beneficial.

 

We should not forget that mantra- diksha is a very significant event in life.

So,

it should be taken with all seriousness. Here I like to point out one thing not

only for the initiated but for everyone. Let not initiation be looked upon as a

status symbol or as a means to attain a status either. Let us not forget that it

is a means of God-realization only. Those who come to take initiation should

be serious about it. That the moment of initiation is a unique one should be

borne in mind. Suppose the guru is speaking something that requires close

attention but some are not attentive and are thinking of something else. It

clearly suggests that they have not understood the importance or seriousness

of mantra-diksha. I have no intention to criticize anybody. I mention it to

drive home the point that one must have a reverential attitude towards

initiation. One must remember that it is an important event in one's life.

Otherwise, one will not feel the worth of this event. At times, we are forced to

pass through a number of adverse situations. They must be overcome. From

where shall we get the strength and motivation to overcome them? If we get

initiated after due preparation, that initiation itself will provide us with

that

strength.

 

There is another point to be remembered in this context. Our conduct should

be in tune with our state of being initiated. I recommend following five codes

of conduct at the time of initiation. There is nothing secret about it.

Everybody should know it. Hence I speak for everyone. No one can move

towards God, unless he is pure in conduct. To proceed towards God the

conduct must be pure. We often hear about the necessity of taking pure food.

Does it mean that our diet should include sufficient clarified butter? Not that.

Pure food implies sattvika food, nourishing food. This is the scriptural

injunction. The food that is beneficial both for the body and the mind and for

building them up is to be consumed as much as the body needs it, i.e., one

must not eat to satisfy one's greed. We must partake of the food with the idea

that it will nourish our body and mind, and we shall use the nourished body

and mind for contemplation of God. We have to be particular about food, not

merely that `I shall not take this, I won't take that' and so on; these are not

the

criteria of aharashuddhi or consumption of pure food. It implies consuming

food in appropriate quantity that ensures sound body and mind.

 

......To be concluded .........

 

[note- unfortunately I do not have part-2 of this talk - will post it if I

can find it. Girish]