A question from a fallen soul

[Guest guest]

Home Base: Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, Navadwip Dhama, Nadia, WB, INDIA

Current Camp: ISKCON Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir, Bangalore, India

 

My Dear Vikas Arora,

 

Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Thankyou for your letter cited below with my comments. I have noted the

contents carefully.

 

> > Hare Krishna Maharaj

> > Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to

> > Srila Prabhupada.

> > I've had the opportunity of meeting you and listening to you in Dallas

> > during your recent visit. I have a couple of questions, that I would

> > like to present before you. i hope they won't take a whole lot of your

> > time.

> >

> > 1. If an aspiring disciple asks a particular Guru for diksa, and later

> > changes his mind and goes to some other Guru for diksa, Is there any

> > offense committed?

>

> Please forgive me if I was out of line in asking these questions.

> >

> > Humbly yours

> >

> > Vikas Arora

 

Prior to initiation is a testing period. It is time for the disciple to test

his faith in the Spiritual Master and whether this is the right Guru for him

to serve Lord Sri Krishna through. Therefore there isn't an offense for the

Disciple to change Spiritual Masters if he feels more faith in another bona

fide Spiritual Master. However, the etiquette is to ask the blessings and

inform the Spiritual Master one is under the shelter of. This is if one has

taken formal shelter. If one was simply aspiring for a Guru, but never

asked the guru for shelter or informed that he is aspiring to the Spiritual

Master then it doesn't require permission either. One might keep the

previously aspired Spiritual Master as a siksa guru if one wants to continue

to get guidance and maintain a relationship.

 

Some time ago I posted 15 points for a new devotee to choose a Spiritual

Master. You probably saw that?

 

I hope this helps your devotional service.

 

I hope that this finds you in good health.

 

Your well wisher,

 

Jayapataka Swami