Initiation (?)

[Guest guest]

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

 

> I also asked a question a while ago but never got an answer: Arjuna is the

> beginning of our parampara. When did he take diksa and who are his diksa

> disciples?

 

Arjuna:

"Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of

miserly weakness. in this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain

what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto

You. Please instruct me.

Purport

By nature's own way the complete system of material activities is a source

of perplexity for everyone. In every step there is perplexity, and therefore

it behooves one to approach a bona fide spiritual master who can give one

proper guidance for executing the purpose of life. All Vedic literatures

advise us to approach a bona fide spiritual master to get free from the

perplexities of life, which happen without our desire.....

Being intelligent, Arjuna could understand that his affection for family

members and his wish to protect them from death were the causes of his

perplexities. Although he could understand that his duty to fight was

awaiting him, still, on account of miserly weakness, he could not discharge

the duties. He is therefore asking Lord Krishna, the supreme spiritual

master, to make a definite solution. He offers himself to Krsna as a

disciple. He wants to stop friendly talks. Talks between the master and the

disciple are serious, and now Arjuna wants to talk very seriously before the

recognized spiritual master. Krsna is therefor the original spiritual master

of the science of Bhagavad Gita, and Arjuna is the first disciple for

understanding the Gita."

( Bh.G. 2.7.)

 

Lord Sri Krishna:

" Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall

deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.

 

Purport:

Now in summarizing Bhagavad Gita, the Lord says that Arjuna should give up

all the processes that have been explained to him; he should simply

surrender to Krsna. That surrender will save him from all kinds of sinful

reactions. for the Lord personally promises to protect him."

(Bh.G. 18.66.)

 

This I would think to be the diksa of Arjuna, the Bhagavad Gita complete,

first a lot of siksa and then the Lord gives His promise.

Disciples of Arjuna I dont know but the following took place simultaniously

as you know. It seems to be a confirmation that spiritual knowledge does not

have to be recieved directly,physically but also that to recieve it we have

to be connected to the parampara.

 

Sanjaya:

"By the mercy of Vyasa, I have heard these most confidential talks directly

from the master of all mysticism, Krsna, who was speaking personally to

Arjuna.

Purport.

Vyasa was the spiritual master of Sanjaya, and Sanjaya admits that it was by

Vyasas mercy that he could understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

This means that one has to understand Krishna not directly but through the

medium of the spiritual master. The spiritual master is the transparent

medium, although it is true that the experience is still direct. This is the

mystery of the disciplic succession."

 

 

What is your definition of diksa?

And if you find formal diksa unnessecary then what is the need of

ritvikpriests?

Thank you for encouraging me to get a deeper understanding of Srila

Prabhupada's books.

With all respect

Your servant Gunamani d.d.

[Guest guest]

> And to become acarya is not very difficult. First of all, to become very

> faithful servant of your acarya, follow strictly what he says. Try to

> please him and spread Krsna consciousness. That's all. It is not at all

> difficult. Try to follow the instruction of your Guru Maharaja and spread

> Krsna consciousness. That is the order of Lord Caitanya.

 

 

There may be different applications of word "acarya":

 

1. The infallible maha-bhagavata Vaisnava, a nittya-siddha descending

to this world to save the fallen world (like Prabhupada).

2. Guru who teaches by example (like "ISCKON good-standing gurus")

3. Any serious devotee who, by practicing what told by guru, is

representing Prabhupada and his movement to the world (like Madhava

Gosh prabhu).

 

 

> Prabhupada: So there will be no scarcity of acarya, and people will

> understand Krsna consciousness very easily. So make that organization.

> Don't be falsely puffed up. Follow the acarya's instruction and try to

> make yourself perfect, mature. Then it will be very easy to fight out

> maya. Yes. Acaryas, they declare war against maya's activities, that maya

> instructing that "Here is wine. Here is cigarette. Here is that..."

 

 

 

ys mnd