Initiation Talk [partially recorded] – April 4, 1976, Vṛndāvana

The sannyasi has to be very strict in following the principles

Prabhupada: ...that we [indistinct] accepted devotees from any part of the world. Kirata-hūnandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanaḥ khasadayaḥ [SB 2.4.18]. Just immediately we initiated a devotee, Bhrgu Muni dasa. He is from Iran. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is this, that

Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted that in every village and every town on the surface of the globe should at least hear Hare Krsna maha-mantra. So what is your country?

Devotee (1): The United States.

Prabhupada: The United States. United States, of course, it is going on. In Brazil, other countries, now they are spreading. So do it very nicely. What is that Parama-karuna?

Pusta Krsna: Parama-karuna.

Prabhupada: Parama-karuna dasa. Come on.

Devotees: Jaya. Haribol.

Prabhupada: [break]

[Transl. Tell me what are the rules and regulations?] Huh?

Devotee: [Transl. No meat eating...

Prabhupada: Huh?

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: What's the name? [break] Those who are initiated this evening, I have several times explained what is the meaning of initiation. Initiation means beginning of receiving transcendental knowledge. In the Vedas it is enjoined that in order to understand the transcendental science, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet [Munḍaka Upanisad 1.2.12]. The human form of life is meant for understanding transcendental knowledge. In the Vedanta-sūtra it is said, athato brahma-jijnasa. This human form of life is meant for inquiring about the Absolute Truth. So everyone should be interested to understand the Absolute Truth. But this is Kali-yuga. Practically nobody is interested. The symptoms of Kali-yuga is mandaḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutaḥ . They are very slow or all bad, mandaḥ. And even if one is little anxious, he is victimized by some false way. Mandaḥ sumanda-matayo. And manda-bhagya. Therefore preaching is required to awaken them to spiritual consciousness.

So this Krsna consciousness movement means to awaken the victimized soul to Krsna consciousness. Krsna personally comes to awaken this consciousness, Krsna consciousness. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg 18.66]. Similarly, Krsna's servants, they also try to do the same business on behalf of Krsna. Therefore Krsna recognizes such preachers as very, very dear to Him. Na ca tasman manusyesu kascid me priya-krttamaḥ [Bg 18.69]. So the whole world is suffering for want of Krsna consciousness. So those who are initiated, they should decide that "In this life we shall simply serve Krsna." That should be the... Drḍha-vrataḥ. Bhajanti mam drḍha-vrataḥ [Bg 7.28].So this is the... Initiation means beginning. Now, if you follow the rules and regulation-no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, no intoxication up to the drinking of tea and smoking and chewing pan. So these are considered as the four pillars of sinful life. So nobody can approach Krsna with sinful activities. That is not possible.

So if you are actually serious, approaching Krsna-He is param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam-you have to cleanse yourself from all sinful activities [Bg 10.12]. So therefore we request everyone to give up these habits: illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling. Then he becomes gradually purified. And if he chants Hare Krsna mantra... Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc Antya 20.12]. One side, he should personally endeavor, and other side, he should chant, ceto-darpana, the method of cleansing the heart.

So we have got many sastric evidences how one can become completely sinless simply by chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra and observing very strictly the four prohibitive rules and regulations. I hope those who are initiated today, you have promised before Krsna-Balarama Deity, before Vaisnava and before the fire to give up these habits and do not take to... Even if you are practiced now, you do not take it again. This is the process of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's initiation. Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared to deliver all the sinful men. Papi tapi yata chilo, hariname uddharilo, tara saksi jagai and madhai. Narottama dasa Thakura said that "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu so merciful that He delivered all kinds of sinful men," papi tapi, "all types of suffering from material disease." And what is the medicine? Papi tapi yata chila, hariname uddharila. And evidence? Tara saksi jagai and madhai. You see Jagai-Madhai. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited one example, to deliver Jagai-Madhai. Jagai-Madhai means they were born in a very aristocratic brahmana family, but by bad association they became illicit sex, woman-hunter, drunkards and meat-eaters and gamblers. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu, through the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, delivered them. And the only promise was that "You promise no more this sinful life. Then I accept you." So if we give up our sinful activity, immediately Caitanya Mahaprabhu takes you. There is no condition, because in this age everyone is addicted to sinful life, but he simply promises that "Henceforward I shall not act anything sinfully," these four principles. Then you go back to home, back to Godhead.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Where is the hat[?] Give some. What you have? Just now? Vaisnava. Yes, give him five rupees. You have got?

Indian: [Transl. Something for breakfast?]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Yes, he will give you five rupees.] Hare Krsna.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada. [kirtana]

Jaya Prabhupada Prabhupada... [kirtan] [end]