Siksa as most important guru

[Guest guest]

On 19 May 1999, Janesvara Dasa wrote:

 

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> "Diksa actually means initiating a disciple with transcendental knowledge by

which he becomes freed from all material contamination." CC Madya 4:11

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> This would seem to imply that the bonafide pure devotee siksa guru's

> instructions can be the diksa for the disciple as well.

>

 

 

How about one being initiated into the line of the recognized pure devotee?

That also offers the possibility of being intiated with trascendental

knowleges by which one becomes freed from all material contamination.

 

 

 

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> The point, again, is if we have a fully qualified uttama-adhikari siksa

guru, available to all those seeking spiritual instruction (which IS diksa

according to the above quote from CC Madhya 4.11), in Srila Prabhupada, why

try to manufacture or rubber-stamp unqualified individuals as gurus, diksa or

otherwise, prematurely? We had only one guru when Srila Prabhupada was

"present" and everyone was receiving spiritual instruction/diksa from him even

if they never had a chance to see him or serve him directly/personally.

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>

 

 

First, as has been noted, one does not need to be rubber stamp an 'uttama' in

order to offer diksa. Yet at the same time that is the standard we all pursue,

either as ordinary 'little' devotees in our everday lives, or as one offering

shelter in some recognized capacity.

 

Second, current institutional policy does not endorse anyone as a pure

infallible devotee. Still, even in the days when Srila Prabhupada offered

direct diksa, disciples would more often than not also face extreme devotional

challenges and sometimes apparently failing.

 

In my mind there seems to be much more to the guru/disciple relationship then

getting an endorsed acarya to offer diksa. Neither am I suggesting the other

extreme that anyone holding a bead bag can offer complete shelter.

 

The spiritual master also makes advancement in KC. Even pure devotional

service is understood to be never stagnent, what to speak of our experience in

our current situation. So the disciplic succession can also be taken as

something meant for everyone's purification.

 

ys,

 

Sthita