Guest guest Posted February 12, 2003 Report Share Posted February 12, 2003 Digest 52, Feb 12, 2003 Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja *** You are welcome to send in your questions to HH Romapada Swami at iskcondc (AT) prastha (DOT) com with the word "Question" in the subject. *** Spiritual advancement ******************* Q.1) I wish to know when a person is eligible to take diksha (spiritual initiation). I am chanting sixteen rounds and following the four regulative principles. What more conditions are to be followed before taking diksha - initiation. Please specify in detail. Answer: Srila Prabhupada established a bare minimum general condition within ISKCON that if one is chanting sixteen rounds daily and following the regulative principles under the guidance of a spiritual master for six months to a year, they can be considered for initiation. Since that time, ISKCON has established further criteria for receiving diksa. For further details about these regulations, please refer to (Digest 10 Q2), to be found on the Potomac Temple webpage, and write directly to the GBC Secretary <Radha.Krishna.RNS (AT) pamho (DOT) net> requesting a copy of the regulations which are the formal standards within ISKCON for receiving diksa. It is an approved vaishnava principle and is welcome that an aspiring disciple approach a bona-fide spiritual master, take shelter of his lotus feet and request initiation, as recommended by Krishna in Bg 4.34. The process of making submissive inquiries & receiving instructions and the rendering of service lays the foundation for a relationship of strong faith between the spiritual master and the candidate for initiation. During this time the devotee is also encouraged to understand the philosophy through study of Srila Prabhupada's books such as Bhagavad-gita, Nectar of Instruction etc, and develop a deeper understanding of the import of diksa and spiritual master and disciple relationship. There is a book published by BBT, called "The Spiritual Master and The Disciple" which describes in great detail about the qualities and duties of a spiritual master and also that of the disciple. When opportunity arises, you could study this book to gain deeper understanding of the spiritual master and disciple relationship. Q.2) What is the secret of advancing in Krishna Bhakti from the Sadhana Bhakti (regulated devotional service) to the next stages? Answer. Bhakti is independent. In Digest 42, Q-2 we discussed how the appearance of bhakti in one's heart is independent of any material activity, and that bhakti is the cause of bhakti. One gets bhakti through the medium of a devotee, a carrier of bhakti. This holds true not only in the beginning but in the later stages of bhakti also. In other words bhakti grows in our heart by her own sweet will. Caitanya Mahaprabhu compares bhakti to a creeper. The devotee sows the seed in our hearts, and the activities of sadhana, such as hearing and chanting are like watering the bhakti creeper. When we carefully nourish the creeper and protect it from the weeds of our bad habits and offenses, then by the sunshine of Krishna's mercy, she grows. The flowering and fruition of this creeper are compared to the later stages of spontaneous love of God, which is beyond the regulated devotional stage. Our sadhana of watering the creeper is indispensable but nor sufficient. We cannot force bhakti to grow or purchase Krishna through any amount of perfectly executed sadhana. The real secret is the mercy of Krishna, which flows very wonderfully and freely through the medium of His wonderful devotees. Our sadhana is our way of showing Krishna our sincere and intense desire to attain His lotus feet. Upon seeing our devotional efforts in a mood of humility, Krishna, His devotees and Bhakti devi, who are naturally merciful, may shower Their mercy. Krishna then helps the devotee to eradicate from his/her heart all anarthas (unwanted desires and tendencies unfavorable to Krishna bhakti). This stage is called anartha-nivrtti. When this is successfully accomplished, then the creeper of bhakti grows into the stages of steadiness, taste, attachment, and spontaneous attraction respectively and finally produces the wonderful fruits of Krishna prema. (For a detailed explanation please r! efer to Madhurya Kadambini by Visvanatha Cakravarthi Thakur; and Srimad Bhagavatam. 1.2.17-21) ------- x ------------- x ---------- x ----------- x ---------- x ---------- x ---------- x ----------- ----- Festivals over the next week ------ Feb 12 2003, Wednesday Ekadasi Bhaimi (Break fast 07:02-10:36) (Fast) Feb 13 2003, Thursday Appearance Varaha Dvadasi: of Lord Varahadeva (The fast is observed till noon on the Ekadasi.) (Feasting is done today.) Feb 14 2003, Friday Appearance Nityananda Trayodasi: of Sri Nityananda Prabhu (Fast) (Fasting till noon) Feb 16 2003, Sunday Appearance Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura Sri Krsna Madhura utsava *** NOTE: All times are for Washington D.C, USA, EST *** For festival information for your city please go to http://www.iskcondc.org and click on 'Calendar' - --------------------- ** A brief biography of His Holiness Romapada Swami available at :http://www.prastha.com/cgi-bin/uncgi/renderphilo.pl?ndx=2 ** This and all previous digests are available on the internet, sorted by topics and date. ** They can be accessed at: http://www.iskcondc.org -> Philosophy -> Inquiries into the Absolute You can also directly link to our Philosophy website by add the following URL to you website: http://www.prastha.com/cgi-bin/uncgi/renderphilo.pl - ---------------------------- This Email has been sent to you by the ISKCON temple of Washington D.C. Our contacts are: Email : iskcondc (AT) prastha (DOT) com Web Address : http://www.iskcondc.org Postal: 10310 Oaklyn Drive, Potomac, MD 20854 In order to be removed from this mailing list please reply with the word REMOVE in the Subject. - ------------------------- Please note that under Bill 1618 TITLE III passed by the 105th U.S. Congress this letter cannot be considered "SPAM" as long as the posting includes: 1) Contact information 2) A "REMOVE" device. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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