ISKCON UK Guide to Initiation - Bhaktivedanta Manor

ISKCON Founder Acarya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor’s

Initiation Procedures & Standards Policy

ISKCONUK

GuidetoInitiation

(UpdatedMarch2019)

ISKCONUKGuidetoInitiation

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ContentsIntroduction 3

InitiationProcedures 5

StageOne-ASpiritualCareSystem 5

Friends 5

Group 6

Mentor 6

MenteeGroup 7

StageTwo–TheISKCONDiscipleCourse(IDC) 9

StageThree–AspiringDiscipleandTheTestingPeriod 10

StageFour–ActingintheRelationship(OfficiallyAspiring) 133

StageFive–Recommendation 14

StageSix–InitiationandLifelongSupport 15

Initiation 155

LifelongSupport 166

StandardsforHarinama(First)Initiation 177


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StandardsforBrahminDiksha(Second)Initiation 190

GuidelinesforchoosingaDikshaGuru 212

OverseasDevotees 223

FrequentlyAskedQuestions 234

Pre-InitiationExam 277

GBCStatementonthePositionofSrilaPrabhupada 29

HarmonizingISKCON’sLinesofAuthority 322


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IntroductionThisisaguideforbecominginitiatedwithinISKCONintheUK.Itcontainsallthedetailsyouneedtoknow,andexplainsthestagesyou’llgothroughonyourwaytoinitiation.

Pleasereadthisguidewithanopenmindandknowthatanychangesyoumaynoticehavebeenmadesolelywiththeinterestsofyou,yourfellowdevotees,yourprospectiveguruandISKCONinmind.

We’veproducedthisguideafterlongconsultationwithtemplecouncils,withleadersfromothertemples,andwithothermentorsandspiritualleaders.We’verevisedthestandardsandseparatedthemintotwocategories;essentialanddesirable,makingthemmorerealisticallyachievable.

“Disciplemeansdiscipline,”SrilaPrabhupadasaid,sowehopeyou’llunderstandwhywe’vemaintainedtheneedforamentorforeveryaspiringdisciple,aswellasothermeansofmeasuringyourspiritualprogress.Amentorwillhelpyouwithadvicealongtheway.AmentorisaspiritualcompaniononyourjourneyinKrishnaconsciousness;someoneyoucanconfideinanddiscussthingswith.

Ultimately,thisguideallowsyoutocreate,inyourownlife,theashramatmospherethatexistedwhenSrilaPrabhupadahimselfwasexaminingacandidate’sreadinessforinitiation.Heexpectedallhisdisciplestobestrictfollowers,andthatexpectationremainsjustasessentialtoday.Sowhetheryouliveinornearatemplecommunity,orwhetheryoulivemanymilesaway,there’snowonesystemforeveryone.Wethinkit’sfairandwillserveasaprotectionforbothaspiringdiscipleandprospectiveguru.


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Ultimately,thebenefitsofhavingthisnewprocedureistoensurethatonthedayofyourinitiation,whenyousittomakeyourvowstoyourguru,you’vebeenofferedasmuchtraining,supportandhelpfulguidanceasneeded.Yourguruwillbeconvincedthatheisgivinginitiationtoafullyqualifieddisciple,andyouwillbehappythatyou’vebeenfullytrainedandpreparedforyournewlife.Yourgurucanalsorestassuredthatevenafterinitiationhisdiscipleswillbecaredforandgivensufficientguidance.Thisisacrucialneedand,asmostgurusnowadayscannotprovidethispersonallythemselves,theserviceofofferingyouthishighlevelofsupportbothbeforeandafterinitiationiskindlyofferedbyamentorofyourchoice.

Wepraythatthispolicywillhelptocreateinitiateddiscipleswhocanwithstandtheinevitablefutureturbulenceintheirlivesandremainstrongintheirvowstotheirgurusfortherestoftheirlives.TheSpiritualCareSystemshasbeendesignednotonlytotraindevoteesinVaishnavaetiquetteandmore,buttoensurethatdevoteesareshelteredandsupportedinallaspectsofthedisciple’spath-rightthroughoutlife.

Asthisspiritualcaresystemdevelopsweanticipateadayinthenearfuturewherealldevoteeswillbesurroundedbyastrongnetworkoffriends;friendswhowillgivethempracticalhelpintimesofillnessandsorrow,whetherit’sbringingthemprasadamorhelpingthemtakecareoftheirchildren.Wewanttoprovidewhateversupportwecansothateachandeverydevoteecanpractisespirituallifecomfortably,chanttheirroundswithoutanxietyandremaininISKCONfortherestoftheirlife.

Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutthecontentsofthisguide,pleasediscussthemwithyourmentororlocalTemplePresident.


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InitiationProcedures

StageOne-ASpiritualCareSystemIfyouhavegraduallymadeprogressuptochantingsixteenroundseachday,studyingSrilaPrabhupada’sbooksregularly,andyou’vesuccessfullygivenupyourunwantedhabits,there’sagoodchancethatyoumanagedtodoitwithhelpfromotherdevotees.Whoeverhelpedyouthisfarinyourspirituallifeisgoingtobeevenmoreimportanttoyouafteryoureceiveinitiation.Initiationisastageonyourjourneyofspirituallife.Althoughitisatimeofchangeforyou,thechangeshouldnotincludemovingawayfromthosewhohavehelpedyouandsupportedyousofar.Goodfriendsandguides,especiallyspirituallystrongones,shouldnotberelegatedtoyourpast.Atthetimeofinitiationyouwillbemakinglifetimevowsthatyouwillbeexpectedtokeep.You’llalsobecommittingtocontinuetomakespiritualadvancementjustasseriouslyasyou’vebeendoingupuntilnow.Inordertobesuccessful,youwillneedvarioustypesofhelp.

Friends

Firstly,youwillneedsolid,supportivefriendshipswithotherdevoteeswhocanofferyoumoralandsometimespracticalhelp.Theyshouldbesympathetictoyoureffortsinspirituallife,andreadytodiscussthephilosophyandhowitappliestotheirownlife.Preferablytheyshouldbeopenandhonestandreadytoofferyouconstructivecriticismiftheyfeelyouneedtohearit.Initiationisatimefordeepeningexistingfriendshipsaswellasmakingnewones,becausethosegoodfriendswillbeanimportantpartofyourfutureaswell.


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Group

IntheearlydaysoftheHareKrishnamovement,devoteeswouldalllivetogetheratthetemple.Itwouldbetheirplaceofworship,theirplaceofwork,andtheirhome.Nowtimeshavechanged,andthesuccessofKrishnaconsciousnessisthattherearemanysmallgroupswheredevoteescometogethertosing,studyandhonourprasadam.Sanga,BhaktiVrikshaandNamaHattagroupsarethusthebasicbuildingblocksoftheHareKrishnamovementtoday.Devoteesareencouragedtoparticipateinthesegroupswhicharegenerallyopentoallregardlessoftheirstageinspirituallife.

Mentor

Itisessentialtohaveonefriendwhoisseniortoyouwhocanactasaspiritualguide;wehavetermedthisspecialfriendamentor.Heorshewillbeabletoprovideyouwithregularinstructionandguidanceonceyouregisterwithinanauthorisedsystem.Thesystemsmayvaryaccordingtoyourlocation.

Priortoinitiation,yourmentorwillassistyouinlearningaboutKrishnaconsciousness–thephilosophy,theology,thevaluesandthehistory–byreadingthelegacyofwordslefttousbySrilaPrabhupada.Hewrotehisbooksnotsimplyforhisdisciplesofyesterday,butforthedisciplesoftoday.HeisnotonlythefounderoftheHareKrishnamovement,buttheacarya,thespiritualmasteruponwhomallotherteachersbasetheirlifeandteaching.

RegardingSrilaPrabhupadaasthe preeminent shiksa guru for all members of ISKCON,andcarefullystudyinghisbooks,youcandiscussanyquestionsthatmayarisewithyourmentor.Byunderstandingthestandardcharacteristicsofaninitiatingspiritualmasterfromthescripturesandourfounder-acarya’scommentaries,youwillknowwhatqualitiestolookforinyourownprospectiveguru.


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Althoughyouwillhearfrommanyseniorandadvanceddevotees,itisnotrecommendedforyoutoregardanyoneinparticularasyourfuturedikshaguruuntilyouhavemaintainedthestandardofsixteenroundsandfourregulativeprinciplesforaminimumofoneyearanduntilyouhaveattendedtheIDCcoursementionedinStage2.

OneadditionalaidtoyourongoingspiritualpractiseistheProgressTracker/SadhanaChart.Thisisyourpersonalwrittenrecordofyourdailyachievementsinthevariousaspectsofadevotee’sspiritualendeavour.Itisaself-assessmentcharttohelpyouseetheflowofyourpractises.Overtheperiodofamonthortwo,itwillbeeasyforyoutoseewhereyouareprogressingandwhereyoumayhavesomeobstacles.Youcanthendiscusswithyourmentorstrategiesfordevelopingmorestrengthincertainareas.

MenteeGroup

Dependingonyourlocationitisimportanttobepartofanauthorisedsystemforcarewhichwillincludegroupmeetings.Bymeetingtogetherasagroupoffriendsyouwillgainstrengthandinspiration;bydiscussingcommonchallengesorquestionsyouwillmaintainasenseofrealisticperspectiveinyourlifeasyoubalanceyourspiritualpracticewithyourstudy,workandfamilycommitments.Thesegroupsaremeanttoprovidethefoundationforsustainablespiritualpractise.

Thesesmallgroupsareanimportantinvestmentinourexistingdevotees,allofwhom-initiateddisciplesincluded-needasupportsystem;wehavenamedthissupportsystemtheSpiritualCareSystem.Thewavesofthematerialoceancansometimesbeviolentandthusassociationandsupportisnecessarytoremainencouraged,enthusedandmaintainasenseofbelonging.

GiventhecentralimportanceoftheSpiritualCareSysteminsupportingone'sspirituallife,whetheroneisaspiringforfirstorsecondinitiation,it


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ismandatorythatyouregisterwiththeSpiritualCareSystemandattendmenteegroupmeetingsregularly.

Sotosummarise:UnderstandingthebasicsoftheVaishnavalifefromSrilaPrabhupada’swritings;havingacircleofsupportivefriends;notregardinganyoneasyourfuturedikshaguruuntilyouhavemaintainedthestandardofsixteenroundsandfourregulativeprinciplesforaminimumofoneyearanduntilyouhaveattendedtheIDCcoursementionedinStage2,registeringintotheSpiritualCareSystemandselectingamentor;participatinginregularmeetings;andsubmittingmonthlyProgressTrackers/SadhanaChartscomprisesStageOne.


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StageTwo–TheISKCONDiscipleCourse(IDC)Inordertoensurethatyougetcomprehensiveinformationonthemanydifferentaspectsofinitiation,youwillneedtoattendtheISKCONDiscipleCourse.ThisisacoursesetbytheISKCONMinistryofEducationandisnowruninternationally.Itcanbeaccessedonlinefromseveralsourcesandisdeliveredatmanytemples.Atleast14hoursarerequiredforthiscourse.Onlythosewhohavebeentrainedmayteachtheofficialversionofthiscourse.Youwilllearnmoreaboutthequalificationsofaguru,thesignificanceofinitiation,howtoassociatewithyourguru,thecharacteristicsofagooddisciple,andwhatacceptanceofagurupracticallymeansinamoderncontextwithinaninternationalsocietysuchasISKCON.Thecoursealsotouchesonwhatmaygowrongintheguru-disciplerelationshipandthereforewhatpitfallstoavoid.

Thecourseisusuallywelladvertisedbeforehand.Itmustbesuccessfullycompletedandinitiationmusttakeplacewithinfiveyears,otherwiseyouwillneedtoattenditagain.

Eitherbeforeorafterthecourse,youwillbegivenaPre-InitiationExampaperwhichhasbeenpreparedbytheGBC.SomeofthequestionsareonesthatSrilaPrabhupadahimselfwantedinitiationcandidatesto

answer.Youareallowedtoanswerthequestionsathome,inyourowntime.Thengiventoyourmentorforchecking.Foryourconveniencethe

exampaperisincludedinthisbooklet.

Sotosummarise:TheISKCONDiscipleCourse(IDC);thePre-InitiationExam;andcomprisesStageTwo.


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StageThree–BecominganAspiringDiscipleandTheTestingPeriodYourmentorwillcontinuetoencourageyoutolistenregularlytoSrilaPrabhupada’srecordedlectures,carefullyreadhisbooks,andingeneraldiscoverforyourselftheteachingsofKrishnaconsciousnessdirectlyastaughtbythefounder-acarya.ThisaspectofhearingfromSrilaPrabhupadaiscrucial,sinceheisourperfectexampleofaguru,bothinwordsandlivingexample.InitiationmeanstobeinitiatedbysomeonewhoisafollowerofSrilaPrabhupadainhisteachingsandbehaviour,sostudyofSrilaPrabhupadawillenableyoutounderstandwhatexemplaryteachingandbehaviouris.YouwillbeabletomakeacomparisonofanyotherVaishnavawiththeperfectexampleofSrilaPrabhupada.

BythistimeyouwillprobablyknowsomeseniorVaishnavasinwhosecompanyyoufeelparticularlyinspiredandencouraged.Youwillhavelistenedtothemcarefully,studiedtheirlives,andfeltupliftedbytheirwordsandexample.AlthoughyouwillcontinuetoreceivetheblessingsofsuchteachingsandinspirationfromtheseandmanyotherVaishnavas,forthepurposesofinitiation,youwillberequiredtochooseonlyoneasyourinitiatingguru.

Whenyoufeelthetimeisrightforyoutocultivatearelationshipwithsomeoneyouwishtoregardasyourguru,anduponyoursatisfactorycompletionoftheabovestages(includingattendingtheISKCONDisciplecourse,andchantingsixteenroundsandobservingthefourregulativeprinciplesforaminimumofoneyear),andinconsultationwithyourmentor,youcanbeapproved/registeredasanAspiringDisciple.Youcannotbeapproved/registeredasanaspiringdisciplewithoutconsultingwithyourmentor.Youshouldnowwritetotheseniordevoteeaskingifyoucanbeginongoingcorrespondencewithaviewtodevelopingarelationshipofteacher-studentandpossiblyguru-disciple.


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Sincethisisastagewhenmanyrealisationsdevelopwithinyou,previousconceptionsarechallenged,andsometimesadherencetobasicpractisesincreaseordecreaseitwillrequireaminimumsixmonthperiod.

YourfirstdutyistocarefullyscrutinisetheinstructionsandpersonalbehaviouroftheseniorVaishnavainordertoascertainhowfaithfullyherepresentsSrilaPrabhupadainwordanddeed.Youarelookingforthemanydevotionalqualitiesyou’velearnedaboutuptothispointaswellascommitmenttoSrilaPrabhupada’smissionandcareforothers.InadditiontoyourownobservationanddiscussionswiththeVaishnava’sseniordisciples,youwillalsoneedtotalktootherseniordevotees.Scripturesrecommendthisperiodofexamination;itshouldnotbedispensedwithforanyreason.Onlywhenyouhaveadequatelytestedyourprospectiveguru,andhehastestedyou,oraskedotherstotestyou,willtherelationshipbecomestrong.

EventhoughaguruisapprovedbytheGBC,thisdoesNOTrelieveyouoftheresponsibilityoftestinghimforaminimumofsixmonth.

Testingquestionstoputtoyourownprospectivegurushouldalsoincludeenquiriesonhowoftenheregularlycorrespondswithhisdisciples,andoffersthemrelevantandhelpfulinstruction.Youneedtoascertainhowoftenhevisitsyourcountry(oryourpartofthecountry)andhowhetendstodealwithprincipallifequestionssuchasmarriage,studies,employment,familylife,child-rearingandsoon.Youshouldsatisfyyourselfthatyourprospectiveguruhasfactuallybeensuccessfulinhelpinghisotherdisciplesmoveforwardinspirituallifeandthathewillhaveadequatetimeandinclinationtoteachandassistyouifyoubecomehisdisciple.Somehowhemustmakesomekindofregularassessmentofhisdisciples’progresswithinanexistingsystemsuchasthementorshipstructure.

Youshouldalsolooktoseewhetherhehasformedhealthyrelationshipswithhisownpeers,andthatheisresponsivetotheGBC.Youshouldalsochecktoseewhetherhehastriedhardtopushforwardthesankirtan


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movement.Youshouldberegularlyhearingyourprospectiveguru’slecturesinadditiontothoseofSrilaPrabhupada.

Duringthisperiodhewillalsotestyouinordertounderstandyoursuitabilityfordiscipleship.Thismaybedonethroughcorrespondence,personalintervieworreferringtoothers.

Afteranindefiniteperiodoftime,yourfaithmayhavedevelopedtothepointwhereyoudecidethatyouwouldliketoformaliseyourrelationshipandtakeinitiationasadiscipleofthepersonyounowfullyregardasyourguru.Thisstagecanlastaslongasrequired,buttheminimumofsixmonths.

Sotosummarise:selectingonlyoneseniorVaishnavawithadesiretodevelopingaguru-disciplerelationship;understandingtheneedforaminimumsixmonthperiod;formallyregisteringasanaspiringdisciplebyobtainingpermissionfromone’smentor;writingtotheVaishnavaforpermissionandreceivingpermission;testinghimcarefully,andbeingtestedbyhim,throughoutthisoneyearperiod;regularlyhearingyourprospectiveguru’slecturesinadditiontothoseofSrilaPrabhupada–allthesecompriseStageThree.


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StageFour–ActingintheRelationship(OfficiallyAspiring)Therenowbeginsaperiodofactingintherelationshipofaspiringdiscipleandprospectiveguru.Inconsultationwithyourmentor,youmaybeginchantingyourprospectiveguru’spranammantrainadditiontoSrilaPrabhupada’spranammantra,offeringflowersorincensetohispictureinyourhome,(somewhereseparatefromthemainaltaronwhichyouofferyourfood),andassistinghimwithvariousservicesasandwhenpossible.Thisperiodshouldlastaminimumofsixmonths.Pleasenotethattheofferingoffoodtotheguru’spictureshouldproperlybeginonlyafterformalinitiationhastakenplace.

Atanystagepriortothedayofinitiationyoumaychangeyourmindaboutacceptingaguruorchoiceofguru;howeverthismustbedonewithgreatmaturityandinconsultationwithyourmentor.Pleasenotethatthetestingperiodandtheactingintherelationshipperiod(officiallyaspiring)willbothhavetoberepeatedifyouchangeyourchoiceofguru.Recitingyourprospectiveguru’spranammantraandkeepinganopenmindcompriseStageFour.


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StageFive–RecommendationYourmentorwillnaturallychecktoseeifyou’vetakenallrelevantissuesintoconsiderationandassessyoursuitabilityforinitiation.Yourmentor,whensatisfied,willaskyourserviceauthorityforawrittenassessmentofyourself.OncethishasbeenreceivedyourmentorwillsendaLetterofRequesttothelocaltemplepresident,templeboard,congregational

preachingdirectororinitiationcommittee–whicheverisrelevantlocally-toconsideryoursuitabilityforinitiation.

Devoteesshouldunderstandthatthisisanimportantstageoftheproceduresforinitiationandtakestimetocomplete.Templeauthoritiesshouldnotbepressurisedintoreachingdecisionsquickly.Devoteesarehighlydiscouragedfromtravellingoverseasforinitiationbeforetheyhavereceivedaletterofrecommendation.TempleauthoritieswillnotrushthroughtheseproceduresanditmaytakeuptothreemonthsbeforeadecisionisreachedbythelocaltemplepresidentortheTempleBoard.Ontheotherhand,yourrequestmaybedecideduponquickly,sopatienceisneededatthistime,asalways.

IMPORTANT:LetterofRecommendationisgivenonthefaiththatyousincerelyagreetocontinuetoattendmenteemeetingsafterinitiationforongoingspiritualtrainingandinspiration.

Sotosummarise:AssessmentsbyTempleBoard,(takingintoaccountinterviewoutcomesandfeedbackfromallmentors,MenteeMeetingRegisterrecords,ProgressTrackersandfulfilmentofUKInitiationProceduresandStandardsPolicy);andaletterofrecommendationmakeupStageFive.


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StageSix–InitiationandLifelongSupport

Initiation

OnthedayofinitiationyouwillbepromisingtofollowthefourregulativeprinciplesandtochantsixteenroundsoftheHareKrishnaMahaMantraeveryday.

YourguruwillgiveatalkeitheronthesignificanceofinitiationoronthetenoffencestotheHolyName.Threestrandsoftulasibeadswillbeplacedaroundyourneck;youwillbeexpectedtocontinuewearingtulasineckbeadsunlessexceptionalcircumstancespreventyoufromdoingso.Youwillbeaskedtoperformacaman,apurificationofsippingwater.YouwillthenbecalledforwardtoofferyourobeisancestoSrilaPrabhupada;totheDeities,andtoyourguru.Thenyouwillbeaskedtoreciteyourvows,handedyourchantingbeads,andbegivenanameendingindasaordasi,indicatingthatyouarenowinitiated.

Afiresacrificefollowsduringwhichyou’lljoininthechantingofprayerstothemembersoftheVaishnavaparamparaandtheDeities.Duringthefiresacrificeyouwillbeofferinggrainsintotheflames.Itistraditionalforthenewdiscipletobegforsomealmstogivetothespiritualmasterimmediatelyafterthefiresacrifice.

Somemonthsbeforetheinitiationtakesplace,youcanaskyourmentortoshowyouhowtoperformacamanandtocheckyourpronunciationoftheprayerstotheparampara.Onthedayofinitiation,menshouldhavecleanlyshavenfaces.Menshouldweardhotisandchadars,ladiessaris.

Yourlocaltemplewillgiveyoumoreguidanceregardingproceduresforthedayofinitiationnearertothetimeofinitiation.


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LifelongSupport

Whateverstandardsyoumeetbeforeinitiationwillneedtobemaintainedafterwardstoo;thereforesomeofthesixstagesabovewillbepractisedsidebyside,andsomeshouldcontinuebeyondinitiationfortherestoflife.InthedistanthistoryofISKCONalldevotees,bothbeforeandafterinitiation,wouldbelivinginatemple-ashramcommunityandtheirspiritualstandardswouldbecarefullysupervisedandsupported.Inthepast,everydevoteehadadirectseniorwhokepttrackoftheirattendanceofthetemplemorningprogramme,theirreadingandpracticalservice.Thatisnotthecasetoday.Nowthegreaterproportionofdevoteeshaveneverlivedinthatsituation.

Sometimesafterinitiationadevoteegraduallyslipsfrompreviouslygoodpractiseintobadhabits.Itisthenaturaldesireoftheguruandlocalseniormemberstoofferrelevantsupportsothatthiscanbeavoided;thereforeitisvitalthatdevoteescontinuetoreceivethestructuredsupportofamentor,bothbeforeandafterinitiation.PartofthissupportiveguidancewillbetoclarifyandreiteratetheessentialsofpersonalspiritualmaintenanceandservicetoSrilaPrabhupada’smission.

Sotosummarise:Performingacaman;puttingontulasineckbeads;makingyourvowstoyourguru;beinggivenyourspiritualnameandjapabeads;prayerstotheparampara;andstructuredsupportafterinitiation-allthesemakeupStageSix.


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StandardsforHarinama

(First)InitiationAlthoughupontakinginitiationyouwillberequiredtopromisepubliclytochantsixteenroundsandfollowthefourregulativeprinciples,youwillnotbeaskedtopromisetoriseearlyinthemorningortogoforpreachingservice,ortoraisefundsforthemission.However,itemsliketheseareallcorollaryfunctionsthatserveyourmainpromises.TheyarehelpfulforstrongspirituallifeandwerecertainlyimportantenoughforSrilaPrabhupadatoaskdevoteestodothem.Infact,therewasnoquestionofnotdoingthesethingsinSrilaPrabhupada’stime.Itwasunheardofforaninitiateddevoteetoriseaftersixinthemorning,ortonotattemptpreaching,or,iftheywereworkinghouseholders,tofailtomakeafinancialcontribution.

Inordertoputthoseessentialthingsbackinplace,toprotectthespirituallifeofallinitiates,andtoensureourstrongandcontinuedgrowthasamovement,aspiringdevoteesmustmeettheessentialstandardsbelowinordertoreceiverecommendationforinitiation.Thesearestandardsthatallaspiringdevoteesmustmeet:

● ChantingaminimumofsixteenroundsoftheHareKrishnamahamantradailyforatleasttwenty-fourmonthsbeforethementor/seniordevoteerecommendsthecandidateforinitiation.

● Followingthefourregulativeprinciples(refertoyourmentor/seniordevoteeforfurtherguidanceonwhatisexpectedregardingtheseprinciples).

● Twoyearsparticipatinginanauthorisedsystemofcareandguidance.SubmittingsatisfactorilycompletedmonthlySadhanaCharts/ProgressTrackersoveratleastoneyear.


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● Receivingarecommendationfromamentor/seniordevoteeandserviceauthority.

● Co-operatingwithTempleauthoritiesandacceptingtheGBCastheultimatemanagingauthority.

● AttendingtheISKCONDiscipleCourse(thismustbeattendedwithinfiveyearsofinitiation,otherwisewillneedtobeattendedagain)andsatisfactorilyansweringthePre-InitiationExamsetbyGBCofISKCON,alsoknownasthe16Questions(formerlythe13Questions).

● StudyingSrilaPrabhupada’sbooksdaily.

● PerformingsomeregularweeklyserviceforISKCONeitherpreachingormenialservice.

Inadditiontotheessentialstandards,thefollowingaredesirablestandardsthatwillalsobetakenintoconsiderationbyyourmentorandlocalauthorities.Thelistislong,butweunderstandthatsomedevoteeswillexcelinoneareaandothersinanotherarea,sothewholepicturewillbetakenintoaccount.

● Risingearlybefore6.30am

● Havingsomeformofamorningprogrammeoratleastperformingsimplearatiatone’shomealtar.

● Onlyofferingfooditemswhicharesuitableforoffering,andonlyeatingfooditemswhichareoffered.

● ParticipationinfullmorningprogrammeatyourlocalISKCONtempleatleastonceamonth.

● DressCode-Dressingmodestly(preferablyindevotionalclothing)atleastwhilstattheTempleandoutsideasmuchaspractical.


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● Cultivatingcooperativerelationshipswithdevoteesandnothavingaseparatistmentality.

● Havingahumbleserviceattitude.

● Attendingwheneverpossibletemplefestivals,kirtansandclasses.

● HavingasoundbasicunderstandingofSrilaPrabhupada’sbooks.

● Receivingpermissionfromyourhusband/wife,orifunmarriedfromyourparents,dependinguponyourage/whetheryouarelivingathomeetc.Thispermissionmustbeintheformofasignedletter.Thespouseoftheaspiringdevoteewillalsoneedtoacknowledgeinthisletterthattheyareawareofthefullmeaningoftheregulativeprinciples;yourmentor/seniordevoteeshouldgivethemfurtherguidanceinthisregard.

● Yourpersonalsituation,forexampledevoteesundergoinganymajorchangesintheirlifesuchasmarriage,death,divorce,childbirth,etcmaybeaskedtoallowsufficienttimeforadjustmenttotheirnewcircumstances.


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StandardsforBrahminDiksha(Second)Initiation

Brahmanainitiationisgiventoenhancespiritualdevelopment,anditisincumbentupontheinitiatetobehaveinaccordancewiththestandardsoflivinganddevotionalactivitiesexpectedofbrahmanas.InkeepingwiththeinstructionsofSrilaPrabhupada,thereisexpectationthatabrahmanawillbeateacherofthescripturesandwillengageinservicetothetempleDeity.

Followingarestandardsthatwillbetakenintoconsiderationbyyourmentorandlocalauthoritiesbeforerecommendingdevoteesforbrahmanainitiation:

● Foratleastoneyearafterfirstinitiation,continuesfulfillingallrequirementsforfirstinitiation.Standardsrequiredforfirstinitiationwillbeaccordingtothelatestinitiationpolicy.

● Continuallydevelopsgoodrelationshipswithotherdevotees.

● Demonstratesthequalitiesofabrahmana(Bg18.42)andatendencytocontinuallyimproveinthosequalities.

● Practicesthethreefoldausterityofthemodeofgoodness,asdescribedinBg17.14-16.

● Fitsinto,andrepresents,ISKCON’sorganisationalstructure;i.e.GBCtoRegionalGoverningBodies(andsimilarlocalcouncils),templepresidentsetc.

● Hasreadsignificantportionsof,andisconversantwiththecontentsof,thefollowingbooksbySrilaPrabhupada:Bhagavad-gitaAsItIs,


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SrimadBhagavatam,CaitanyaCaritamrta,NectarofDevotion,NectarofInstructionandSriIsopanisad.Exceptionsmaybemadeongroundssuchaslanguageandage.

● Haspassed/fullyattendedBhaktiShastricourse.Exceptionsmaybemadeongroundssuchaslanguageandage.

● Whereverlocallypossible,oneshouldbeassistinginservicesforthelocaltempledeitiesonaregularbasisforatleastoneyearpriortoreceivingrecommendationforbrahmanainitiation.

● MustbepreparedtoactivelytakeupaweeklybrahmanserviceforthedeitydepartmentafterBrahminInitiation.


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GuidelinesforchoosingaDikshaGuru

● RegardSrilaPrabhupadaasyourpre-eminentsikshaguruinthefirstinstance.

● StudySrilaPrabhupada’sbooks,hearhislecturesanddiscussquestionsthatarisewithyourmentorandotherexperienceddevotees.

● Learnaboutthequalitiesofabonafideguru.

● Learnhowtosubmissivelyhearandproperlyinquirefromaguru,accordingtoVaishnavaetiquette.

● Attendclassesandlistentolecturesbyvariousgurusanddiscusswithyourmentorandotherseniordevoteestheirfeelingsandthoughtsaboutthedifferentgurus.

● Learnwhatattractiontoaguruisduetosentimentandwhatitisduetointelligentdiscrimination.Overtimeoneguruislikelytohaveamoreprominentinfluenceonyourspirituallife.

● AttendtheISKCONDiscipleCourse.


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OverseasDevoteesDevoteesfromoverseaswhoaregoingtoberesidingintheUKafterinitiation:

YoucangetinitiatedifyouhavebeenresidingintheUKforatleastsixmonthsandyoujointhelocalAuthorisedSystemandparticipateinfortnightlymenteemeetings(seeStage1oftheproceduresabove).Youwillneedtosupplyaphotoofyourself.PleasereadthispolicytofamiliariseyourselfwiththeexpectationsofinitiateddisciplesresidingintheUK.Youmustalsosupplyaletterofrecommendationfromthetemplepresidentofthecountrythatyouhadbeenpreviouslybeenresidingin.

Devoteesfromoverseaswhoaregoingtobereturningtotheirowncountryafterinitiation:

Youcangetinitiatedwithouthavingtosatisfythelocalinitiationproceduresandstandards,butyouwillhavetobefollowingISKCON’sinternationalstandardsforinitiation.Youwillneedtofollowrequirementsforthedayofinitiation.YoumustalsosupplyaletterofrecommendationfromyourlocalTemplePresident.


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FrequentlyAskedQuestionsWillthechangestotheinitiationpolicybenefitme?

Initiationisaone-timeevent,whileremainingcommittedtothevowsyou’llmakeatinitiationisalifetimeundertaking.Thechangesinpolicyaretohelpyoubethebestdiscipleyoucanbeforaslongaspossible–andtoofferyourgurusomemuchneededassistance.We’reallinthistogether.PleaserefertotheIntroductionsectioninthisbookletalso.

Iamestablishingarelationshipwithmyguru,soisitreallynecessaryforanyoneelselocallytobeinvolved?

SrilaPrabhupadahadjustunder5,000disciples,yethealsocreatedanetworkofcommunitiessothatthosedisciplescouldlivetogetherandhaveeachotherforsupportandinspiration.Theyhaddailyclassesandofferedhelpandguidancetooneanother.Theyalsoworkedtogetherinpracticaldevotionalactivities.SrilaPrabhupadaknewwhatittooktocareforadisciple,sohecreatedthenecessarystructuretomakeithappen.

Inthosedays,onSrilaPrabhupada’sinstructions,everyonepractisedtheirdevotionallifeundertheguidanceofsomeonemoreexperienced.AndSrilaPrabhupadaalsodependedonthelocaltemplepresidenttotellhimifsomeonewasreadyforinitiation.Soourso-called‘newsystem’isreallyjusttheonethatwasalwaysthere,theoneourfounder-acaryacreated.

Ialreadykeepintouchwithseniordevotees,soisthatsufficient?

You’llalwaysneedasmanyseniordevoteesaspossible,sowhoeverishelpingyouatthemoment–pleasekeepintouchwiththemall.However,you’llfinditveryhelpfulifyoumeetregularlywithjustoneseniordevotee,knownasamentor,aspartofyoursystematicspiritualdevelopment.Thatdevoteewillbetrainedtoprepareyouforinitiation


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andtohelpyouafterwards.Notallseniordevoteesarebeingtrainedasmentors,andyouwillneedtoselectonethatislocallyapprovedandknowntothelocaltemplepresident.Withoutamentoryoucannotberecommendedforinitiation.

ActuallyIamverysteadyinmyspirituallife,havingbeeninISKCONformanyyears,sodoyoustillthinkIneedamentor?

Yes,becausesomeonewhoisfactuallysteadyintheirspirituallifewillhaveenthusiasmtohaveafriendshipwithamentor;andsomeonewhowishestoremainsteadythroughoutlife,particularlywhentheinevitablechallengescomealong,willdefinitelyneedamentor.

Ihaveabusylife-howwillIgettimetofillinaProgressTracker?

Lifeisdifficultenoughalreadywithsomuchpaperworktodo,isn’tit?Andnowyou’rebeingaskedtodoevenmore!Butdon’tworry,justafewticksandnumbersisallthat’srequired,anditwillreallyhelpyoutolookatyourweek,ormonth,andseewhereyourstrengthsandchallengeslie.YourProgressTrackercanbecompletedinaround20secondseachday–thatstillleavesyoualotoftime!

IfeelembarrassedtofillintheSadhanaChart/ProgressTracker,doothersfeelthesame?

There’snoneedtofeelembarrassed.TheSadhanaChart/ProgressTrackerissimplyarecordofyourdailypractiseandwillhelpyouunderstandwhatyourstrengthsare,andwhereyoumayneedtobemoreattentive.It’smainlyaself-assessmenttoolwhich,onoccasion,yousharewithyourmentor.Besides,embarrassmentisoneoftheemotionsgiventousbyLordKrishna,andit’smeanttohelpusmakepositivechoices.Weallhavestrengths,andthosehelptomoveusforward;butweusuallyhaveafewthingsthatholdusback,too.Revealingyourmindinconfidencetosomeonewhocanhelpyourisetoyourchallengeswillmakeyoustrong.


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Ithinkalldevoteesshouldgetattention,andnotjusttheprominentdevoteesorthosewhohavesomehowgainedthefavouroftheguru.

Yes,that’strue,andthatispreciselythereasoningbehindthesystemforinitiation.Thiswaythereisonefairsystemforeveryone,andeverysingledevoteegetsthesamelevelofcareandattentionontheirwaytobecomingadiscipleandthroughtherestoftheirlife.


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Pre-InitiationExamThefollowingseriesofquestionsformsashortexamforallcandidatesforinitiation.ThequestionshavebeensetbyISKCON’sGBCandwereupdatedinFebruary,2013withthreeadditionalquestions(14-16).Answerstoquestions1-13canallbefoundinthebooksofSrilaPrabhupadaandyoucanrefertoopenbooksasyoucompletethisexampaper.

Onceyouhavecompletedtheexam,youshouldhanditinoremailittoyourmentor.Pleasekeepacopyforyourself.Youwillbeinformedwithinfourweeksifyouhavepassed/notpassedtheexam.Youmustcontactyourmentorifyouhavenotheardfromthemwithinthistime.

1.Whatarethequalificationsofabonafidespiritualmaster?

2.Whyareyouconvincedtofollowtheordersofthespiritualmasterinthislife,andevenlifeafterlife?

3.WhydoesoneworshipthespiritualmasterlikeGod?

4.DoyoubelievethespiritualmasterspeakstheAbsoluteTruth?Ifso,why?

5.Underwhatcircumstancesshouldthespiritualmasterberejected?

6.Whatarethequalificationsandresponsibilitiesofadisciple?

7.WhatistheuniquepositionofSrilaPrabhupadainISKCON?

8.WhydoyouacceptLordKrishnaastheSupremePersonalityofGodhead?


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9.Whydowefollowthefourregulativeprinciples?

10.WhydowechantHareKrishna?

11.WhatisthepositionoftheGBCBody?

12.Explainthedifferencebetweenthebodyandtheself.

13.WhatisISKCON,andwhyshouldoneremaininISKCON?

14.Haveyoureadthe‘GBCStatementonthePositionofSrilaPrabhupada’?(seebelow)

15.Haveyoureadthepaper‘HarmonizingISKCON'sLinesofAuthority’?(usethelinkonpage33)

16.Whathaveyouunderstoodasthemostimportantpointsofthe‘HarmonizingISKCON'sLinesofAuthority’paper?


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GBCStatementonthePositionofSrilaPrabhupada(Resolution303,adoptedFebruary,2013)

AstheFounder-AcaryaoftheInternationalSocietyforKrishnaConsciousness(ISKCON)andthepreeminentteacherandultimateauthoritywithinoursociety,SrilaPrabhupadahasauniquerelationshipwitheveryISKCONdevotee.

LordKrishna,theSupremePersonalityofGodhead,istheoriginalguruwhoseDivineGracedescendsthroughthemediumoftheguruparampara.Assuch,adevoteeisultimatelydeliveredbySriKrishnaactingthroughacombinationofvariousmanifestationsofHismercy.Theseinclude,butarenotlimitedto,thecaityaguru,SrilaPrabhupada,theguruparampara,one'sdiksaguru,othersiksagurus,theHolyName,sastra,andthenineprocessesofdevotionalservice.

Withinthesecooperativeelements,SrilaPrabhupada,astheFounder-AcaryaoftheInternationalSocietyforKrishnaConsciousness,isthepreeminentguruforallmembersofISKCON.AllmembersofISKCON,forallgenerations,areencouragedtoseekshelterofSrilaPrabhupada.AllmembersofISKCONareentitledandencouragedtohaveapersonalrelationshipwithSrilaPrabhupadathroughhisbooks,teachings,service,andhisISKCONsociety.

AllmembersacceptingleadershiproleswithinISKCON,includingdiksagurusandsiksagurus,havethedutyofservingtogetherunderISKCON'sGoverningBodyCommission(GBC)tofulfillSrilaPrabhupada'sinstructionsashehasgiveninhisbooks,lectures,andpersonalcommunications.[1]


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Overall,theprimarydutyofalldiksagurus,siksagurus,andothersinleadershippositions,istoassistSrilaPrabhupadainhisservicetohisGuruMaharajaSrilaBhaktisiddhantaSarasvatiThakur,andourBrahmaMadhvaGaudiyaSampradaya.

ThosewhoaccepttheserviceofdiksaguruorsiksaguruinISKCONarerequiredtobeexemplaryinrepresentingSrilaPrabhupada'steachingintheirwordsandpersonalbehavior.ThesiksagurugivesspiritualinstructionandinspirationonbehalfofSrilaPrabhupadaandourguruparampara.Thediksagurugivesspiritualinstruction,inspiration,formalinitiation,aspiritualname,andlaterimpartsthesacredGayatrimantrastoaqualifieddiscipleasaservicetoSrilaPrabhupadaandourguruparampara.

SrilaPrabhupadahasclearlyexplainedthatdevoteeswhoarestrictlyfollowingtheKrsnaconsciousprinciplesareactingontheliberatedplatform,and,assuch,arepuredevotees,eventhoughtheymayactuallynotyetbeliberated.[2](Suchunalloyeddevotionalserviceisnotnecessarilydeterminedbyone'sroleorpositionofservice,butbyone'srealization.)

ThosewhoaccepttheserviceofdiksaorsiksaguruwithinISKCONaremandatedtobestrictfollowersoftheinstructionsofSrilaPrabhupada,and,aslongastheyfollow,theyareactingontheliberatedplatform.Thustheymayserve,asSrilaPrabhupadaordered,asbonafiderepresentativesoftheLordandtheguruparamparaandbeaviamediaoftheirmercy.Yetitshouldbeclearlyunderstoodthatifsuchdiksaorsiksagurusdeviatefromstrictlyfollowing,theymayfalldownfromtheirposition.

Thus,toactasadiksaguruinISKCONmeanstoserveundertheGBCandincooperationwithotherISKCONauthoritiesbyfunctioningasa"regularguru"asSrilaPrabhupadahasdirected.

Thisstatement,whileconclusive,isnotexhaustiveinitsdiscussionoftheseprinciples.TheGBCmayauthorizeadditionalstatementsand


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papersinthefuturetofurtherexplainthepreeminentpositionofourFounder-AcaryaSrilaPrabhupada,theroleandresponsibilitiesofthosewhoserveasgurusinoursociety,andtherelateddutiesofISKCONmembersandinitiates.AllGBCmembersmustdistributethisresolutiontoallISKCONtemples,communitiesandcongregationsviaappropriatemeansofcommunicationfortheeducationofallISKCONmembers.ThisstatementshallalsobestudiedinISKCONcoursesincludingintroductorycourses,theISKCONDiscipleCourse,theSpiritualLeadershipSeminar:BeingaGuruinISKCON,andotherrelevantvenues.Readingthisstatement,andaffirmingithasbeenreadpriortoinitiation,shallbepartofthetestforallprospectiveinitiates.

1.MoredetailsonthesespiritualrelationshipsanddutiesmaybefoundintheofficialHarmonizingISKCON'sLinesofAuthorityPaperapprovedbytheGBCin2012.2."ThisKrishnaconsciousnessmovementdirectlyreceivesinstructionsfromtheSupremePersonalityofGodheadviapersonswhoarestrictlyfollowingHisinstructions.Althoughafollowermaynotbealiberatedperson,ifhefollowsthesupreme,liberatedPersonalityofGodhead,hisactionsarenaturallyliberatedfromthecontaminationofthematerialnature.LordCaitanyathereforesays:'ByMyorderyoumaybecomeaspiritualmaster.'OnecanimmediatelybecomeaspiritualmasterbyhavingfullfaithinthetranscendentalwordsoftheSupremePersonalityofGodheadandbyfollowingHisinstructions."SB4.18.5,purportAnd:

Apersonwhoisliberatedacharyaandgurucannotcommitanymistake,buttherearepersonswhoarelessqualifiedornotliberated,butstillcanactasguruandacharyabystrictlyfollowingthedisciplicsuccession."LettertoJanardana,26April,1968.


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And:

"Wemaynotbecentpercentperfect,butasfaraspossible,ifwefollowtheinstructionasitis,thatmuchperfect.Inthiswayonewillgetperfection.Soonehastofollow.Thesameexample,trytounderstand,thataperfect,experttechnologistortechnicianormechanicisworking,andsomebodyisworkingunderhisinstruction.Sothissomebody,becauseheisstrictlyworkingundertheinstructionoftheexpert,he'salsoexpert.Hemaynotbecentpercentexpert,buthisworkisexpert.Isthatclear?Becauseheisworkingundertheexpert.Doyoufollow?Soifyoufollowpuredevotee,thenyouarealsopuredevotee.Itmaynotbeoneiscentpercentpure.Becausewearetryingtoraiseourselffromtheconditionallife.Butifwestrictlyfollowthepuredevotee,thenwearealsopuredevotee.Sofarwedo,thatispure.Sopuredevoteedoesnotmeanonehastobecomeimmediatelycentpercentpure.Butifhestickstotheprinciplethat"We'llfollowapuredevotee,"thenhisactionsare...Heisasgoodasapuredevotee.ItisnotIamexplaininginmyownway.ItistheexplanationofBhagavata.Mahajanoyenagatahsapanthah[Cc.Madhya17.186]."Ref.VedaBase=>Bhagavad-gita2.1-10andTalk--LosAngeles,November25,1968

HarmonizingISKCON’sLinesofAuthorityThisGBCpaper,adoptedFebruary,2013,formsessentialreadingforallcandidatesforinitiation.Inordertoanswerquestions15&16youwillneedtoreaditall.ThepapercanbefoundbyvisitingtheofficialISKCONGoverningBodyCommissionwebsite(www.gbc.iskcon.org)andclickingon‘Resources’then‘Resolutions2013’orsimplybyusingthisURL:

http://gbc.iskcon.org/gbc_res/Harmonizing_ISKCON%27s_Lines.pdf

ISKCON UK Guide to Initiation - Bhaktivedanta Manor

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Transcript of ISKCON UK Guide to Initiation - Bhaktivedanta Manor