Question: Let us assume hypothetically that someone accepts the Bhagavad Gita of Srila Prabhupada, and decides to follow and accept that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then he realizes his inability to choose a guru who is a pure devotee. If he then resorts to simply following Prabhupada, but accepting that he is not a diksha disciple of Prabhupada but a siksha disciple, can he go back to Godhead by following the instructions of Prabhupada and chanting? Didn’t some acharyas simply take siksha initiation seriously and not the diksha initiation?
Answer by Romapada Swami: If we want to follow the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, one of his often repeated and clear instructions is the necessity for everyone of us to accept a bona fide spiritual master and serve such a spiritual master with surrender and submission. Those who faithfully accept this instruction of Prabhupada will be empowered to find and take shelter of a pure spiritual master and follower of Srila Prabhupada, since within the instruction of the guru is the ability to carry it out. Srila Prabhupada would not have given this unequivocal direction if this was not possible.
Taking diksa or spiritual initiation formally establishes one’s relationship with the disciplic succession and Krishna. This is not dispensible, rather the scriptures state it as mandatory. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet [Mundaka Upanishad 1.2.12]. The word ‘abhigacchet’ is used in the sense of ‘compulsory’ or ‘imperative’. There are few rare exceptional cases such as that of Sukadeva Gosvami, who was liberated from birth and did not have to undergo any purificatory ceremonies. But for those of us who are not of the caliber of Sukadeva Gosvami, initiation is necessary for purification from our past samskaras and sinful reactions, to help us advance on the spiritual path without obstacles.
As recommended in Bhagavad Gita 4.34, surrender and service are to be offered to a personal spiritual master who is purely and transparently representing the disciplic succession and from whom we can hear and inquire of the practical applications of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings specific to our lives. Through this personal relationship we are able to factually access the teachings of previous acharyas most effectively. If this were not a necessary principle, one might as well insist that we can override Prabhupada and accept Vyasadeva or Narada as the siksa guru and directly access their teachings!
There are examples in our disciplic succession of acharyas having very special relationship and deriving immense inspiration from a siksha guru or a previous acharya, but not circumventing or neglecting the diksha relationship. Rather, it is under the approval and direction of the diksha guru that one takes instructions from a particular siksha guru, as demonstrated in those examples in our disciplic succession.
The qualifications and duties of a bona fide spiritual master are adequately described by Srila Prabhupada in his books, and it is the duty of a sincere devotee to assimilate them and search out such a bona fide spiritual master. For such a sincere seeker, Krishna always sends His bona fide representative. By Krishna’s plan & desire, pure devotee spiritual masters are always present in this material world at any point in time; if not, it would defeat one of the main purposes of Krishna creating this material world, which is to give us a chance for rectification and reestablish our connection with the Lord through the association of His pure devotees.
