Question: Can somebody act like a guru without actually initiating somebody. In the sense I accept somebody as my guru and follow his instructions. And when I am able to fully follow all his instructions take initiation?
Answer by Romapada Swami: This is called siksa guru, and it is most certainly a very real consideration in making spiritual advancement. Most likely there are persons who are guiding you at present, and those persons are a type of spiritual guide or leader in your life. To accept someone in the role of guru, however, means that their guidance is accepted in an absolute manner by you. That is to say, even if your present practices are not yet so mature that you are eligible for diksa, you can still take shelter of someone whose instructions you accept in an absolute manner. This is of course a very `heavy’ kind of submission to present unto another person, and therefore should not be taken in any light manner by you. But to answer your question directly, most certainly one can fully follow the instructions of someone, prior to being an initiated devotee.
