Initiation Ceremony – July 1, 1974, Melbourne

It is just for the matter of pleasing the Absolute Personality of Godhead

Prabhupada: ...pundarikaksam sa bahyabhyantarah sucih [Garuda Purana]: "I offer my respectful obeisances whose name, holy name, by remembering, by chanting, one becomes purified in either condition, purified or impurified," apavitrah, pavitrah; sarvavastham gato 'pi va, "in all circumstances."

So, so long we are in this material encagement we are supposed to be impurified. Because we are not purified, therefore we have to accept birth, death, old age and disease. Just like diseased condition is impurified. It requires to be purified by medical treatment to get out of the disease. So we living entities, we are part and parcel of God. Our original position is purified, but at the present moment we are contaminated. So by chanting the holy name of the Lord we become purified. The holy name of the Lord and the Lord, identical. By association with the Supreme Lord directly, by chanting the holy name, we become purified. Om apavitrah pavitro va sarvavastham gato 'pi va, yah smaret pundarikaksam [Garuda Purana]. Krsna, His name is Pundarikaksam. Pundarika means lotus flower; aksam means eyes-whose eyes are just like the lotus flower. Lord Visnu, or Krsna, is identified with lotus flower in so many places. His navel is like lotus flower, His eyes are like lotus flower, His feet, lotus feet. So lotus is the comparison of the beauty of different limbs or parts of the body, transcendental body of Krsna.

So those who are going to be initiated, they should understand that chanting of the holy name means directly associating with the Supreme Lord. So as I have given several times the example of the iron rod and the fire-if you touch the iron rod with the fire, it becomes warmer, warmer and then red hot-similarly, when you chant offenselessly the holy name of the Lord, gradually you become purified, and when we chant holy name without any offense, then we immediately live at the shelter of Lord Krsna. When we are almost free from contamination, then we become liberated, and when we chant purely the holy name, we are situated on the lotus feet of the Lord. And the more we go on chanting, we enjoy loving exchange affair between the Lord and ourself.

So we will explain the ten kinds of offenses, and the initiated members should avoid the ten kinds of offenses. [aside:] You have got the ten kinds of offenses? So first offense is to blaspheme great personalities who are engaged in glorifying the Lord within this material world. And, sruti-sastra-nindanam, and to decry the Vedic literature. And third, to interpret the holy name in different way according to our own whims. This is also offense. And the most dangerous offense is namnah balad yasya hi papa-buddhir [Padma Purana, Brahma Khanda 25.15-18]. Anyone who thinks that "I am chanting Hare Krsna mantra, so I am becoming free from contamination of sinful life; therefore let me commit sinful life and counteract it by chanting Hare Krsna," this is the greatest offense. We should not commit offenses on the strength of chanting Hare Krsna mantra. And then considering the different names of the demigods, they are independent-no. The Hare Krsna, Krsna's name, Visnu's name, is supreme; it cannot be equalized with other names. And, in spite of chanting the holy name, if one is attached to material enjoyment, that is also offense. And to instruct about the glories of the name to a person who is out of the jurisdiction of devotional service... Of course, sometimes we have to do this, but that is for preaching sake. But generally we should not do that. I think these ten kinds of offenses are there. Anything more?

Satsvarupa: To take the chanting as auspicious material ritual.

Prabhupada: Yes. Subha-karma. Just like to..., there are many auspicious activities to counteract inauspicious activities. So this chanting of holy name should not be taken as that. It is just for the matter of pleasing the Absolute Personality of Godhead. So, you chant mantra. Hmm.

Madhudvisa: Bhakta Johnny, your name now is Ramai dasa.

Prabhupada: You know what are the prohibitive rules? Prohibitive rules?

Ramai dasa: [indistinct]

Madhudvisa: The four rules.

Prabhupada: Huh?

Ramai dasa: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: What is that?

Ramai dasa: No illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, no intoxication.

Prabhupada: So your spiritual name... How many rounds do you chant?

Ramai dasa: Sixteen rounds.

Prabhupada: Hmm.

Devotees: Jaya! Haribol! [break]

Prabhupada: It is not properly done. It should be stuck up. So, what are the prohibitive rules?

Bhakta: No meat-eating, no illicit sex, no gambling, no intoxication.

Prabhupada: Mmm, and you will chant?

Bhakta: Sixteen rounds.

Prabhupada: Yes. So what is his name?

Madhudvisa: His spiritual name is Purnacandra dasa.

Devotees: Haribol!

Prabhupada: The neck beads must be tight.

Madhudvisa: Next, next initiate is Bhakta Kenny..., Bhaktin Penny. [break]

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Devotee: Big books.

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Devotee: Distributes big books.

Prabhupada: Accha. So you are serving very nice. I am very glad. So what are the prohibitive rules?

Bhaktin Penny: No illicit sex, no gambling, no meat-eating, no intoxication.

Prabhupada: Thank you very much. How many rounds you will chant?

Bhaktin Penny: Sixteen rounds a day.

Prabhupada: Very good. What is her name?

Madhudvisa: Bhaktin Penny's name is Subha-laksmi dasi.

Devotees: Haribol! [laughter]

Prabhupada: Bring money more. [laughter] Laksmi means money, [laughter] and subha means auspicious. So long you bring money, you are auspicious. [laughter]

Madhudvisa: The next initiate is Bhaktin Carol. [break]

Prabhupada: That's nice. So your name is Raja-laksmi.

Madhudvisa: Raja-laksmi. [laughter]

Prabhupada: Royal. Raja means royal. So what are the rules and regulation?

Raja-laksmi: No illicit sex. No meat-eating or eating anything that's not prasadam. No intoxication. No gambling or speculation.

Prabhupada: Thank you. How many rounds will you chant?

Raja-laksmi: Sixteen.

Prabhupada: Huh?

Raja-laksmi: Sixteen.

Prabhupada: Thank you. Minimum. [laughter]

Devotees: Haribol!

Prabhupada: Hmm.

Madhudvisa: The next initiate is Bhaktin Eleanor. [break]

Bhaktin Eleanor: No intoxication, no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling or speculation.

Prabhupada: Thank you. What is the name?

Madhudvisa: Bhaktin Eleanor's name is Mohini-sakti dasi.

Devotees: Haribol!

Prabhupada: Very nice name. It is Krsna's incarnation. She allured the demons. Krsna in the form of a beautiful woman allured the demons. The demons become allured by Krsna's mohini-sakti. And devotees, they are inclined to serve Krsna being blessed by Radharani. Hare Krsna. Come on.

Devotees: Haribol!

Madhudvisa: The next initiate is Bhaktin..., Bhaktin Sue.

Prabhupada: What are the rules?

Bhaktin Sue: No illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling and no intoxication.

Prabhupada: How many rounds you will chant?

Bhaktin Sue: Minimum sixteen.

Prabhupada: Thank you. What is her name?

Madhudvisa: Bhaktin Sue's name is Gunavati dasi.

Devotees: Haribol!

Prabhupada: "Full of good qualities." Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah [SB 5.18.12]. Anyone who is pure devotee of the Lord, all good qualities...

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