Diksa or Siksa Sampradaya.

[Guest guest]

> I do agree with Madhumati Mataji's comment that this bhakta's

> understanding may not be total, but atleast he is respecting the rules of

> the institution. He is better than those who challenge, "how exactly at

> the time of diksa all the knowledge" is transmitted. They don't

> understand, that the *entire knowledge is in the form of a seed*, at the

> time of diksa, and by proper cultivation, the seed develops into a big

> tree and bears fruits in the course of time.

 

You may be correct that this devotee shall get the right understanding in

due course of time; yet, I still have great concern at his not even having a

*basic* correct understanding! Choosing a guru is such an important decision

in life, as was pointed out, something that should be from the heart.

 

There was concern about Iskcon's instutionalisation of guruship, so to

speak, but this bhakta does not even have this understanding. You'll have to

forgive me, because all of my books are packed up and also I don't have

direct quotes memorised that I can give on this issue, but to me, choosing a

guru is something like falling in love. Of course, this sounds deeply

sentimental, and if it is, I know Braja will be the first to chide me.

Perhaps I could more appropriately say that when one finds one's guru, it is

as though everything falls into place. This is the confirmation from

caitya-guru - this "aaah" of understanding: this is my guru. And this "aaah"

cannot come without the understanding which is already imbibed from sadhu

and sastra.

 

Therefore, if one is thinking that taking a guru is simply a formality that

pleases Mahaprabhu and has no real meaning, where will be this "aaah" of

understanding? How can this bhakta take seriously instructions from this

formalised guru? How can this bhakta feel and understand that his guru is

the transparent via medium who will connect him with Srila Prabhupada and

Krsna? One is supposed to worship the guru as good as God - how can this

bhakta do this?

 

Don't you think he'll commit offense after offense due to his most basic

misunderstanding? His path is already off, and to me, it's most likely that

he will likely go off more and more.

 

>

> 3. If he accepts diksa even as a formality to please Lord Caitanya, Lord

> Caitanya may give him a correct understanding over a period of time. Just

> like, a woman who may be married off by her parents to a man, may not

> exactly precisely know how conception takes place, but just on the

> instructions of her parents, serving her husband faithfully, she will bear

> children, even though her understanding may not be there, about the

> intricacies of the conception. Just by pleasing her parents, by following

> their instructions, and by pleasing her husband she gets all the fruits.

 

Aha! You see the problem with your analogy? The daughter is acting with

"faith" in her parents, and serving her husband "faithfully". In the

discussion about this bhakta, although he accepts Srila Prabhupada, he is

not acting in full faith in understanding the importance of accepting a

guru! Lord Chaitanya "may" indeed give full understanding, for He is

patita-pavana. But, prabhuji, I have seen over the years so many devotees

having improper understanding - and where are they now? The daughter may not

have full knowledge about the intricacies of conception, but she has full

faith in her parents and in her husband.

 

So many of us followed Srila Prabhupada without full understanding (we were

like babies), but we had full faith in him. One new devotee said to me that

she could see that all of us who were here when Srila Prabhupada was served

so fully because we knew we had him for such a short time. I corrected her,

and she was quite surprised. I informed her that that is not at all why we

served with such dedication - we really didn't think he'd leave us at all,

not really. It was quite a shock to us when we discovered that he really

would go, and really *did* go.

 

So, lack of full understanding is not an impediment - if one has full faith

in the process. This bhakta sounds like he knows better what the process is

- fully surrender to Srila Prabhupada, and take whoever comes along, as a

formality. I don't think so.

 

> 1. He is atleast better than, those who think, diksa is not necessary, and

> one can go on with siksa alone.

 

Not necessary or only a formality - is there so much difference?

>

> 2. He is better than, those who in the name of siksa sampradaya, break a

> devotee's bond with his/her own diksa guru who is in good standing.

 

And what bond will this devotee have in this "formal" initiation? How can

you say he will not break his bond? So many have broken their bonds, even

having a relationship with their guru; how to maintain a bond without some

strong attachment and faith?

 

Perhaps he's better; perhaps Mahaprabhu will give him good instruction

within his heart. Perhaps. I would be hesitant myself to tread such a

dubious path.

 

Your servant,

Madhumati devi dasi