A seminar transcript (YouTube) discussing second initiation (Dīkṣā) within ISKCON. Speakers discuss institutional standards (minimum waiting periods after first initiation), regional differences (UK, India, Russia/CIS), practical requirements (reading five standard books, chanting rounds, preaching aptitude), and flexibility for illiterate or young devotees. The conversation highlights tensions between uniform institutional standards and local adaptations for education and pastoral care.
Some people wait six years, but sometimes they do. You have to check up, you know what requirements. But generally it's like in the Soviet Union, Russia, cis, they say you have to have a biotee chastity degree before you can get second initiation. In my case I have a 55, 60 question test which you can download off the Internet, study up for and then you should pass your test. But if you have a biotech, you don't have to take the test. I don't know the minimum ISKCON is concerned. The basic ISKCON institutional standard is after getting the first initiation, we have to second initiation after first minimum one year first, six months after. Then of course there's the four principles and the 16. That's guru specific. What does the UK require to get second.
Plus.
Because you're becoming an ordained minister? So the main institutional requirement, because you're allowed to marriages and things. So there will be something about. You really have to have second to go back to God yet. But if you have it, it helps to control your mind, it increases the closeness between you and the spiritual master and it gives you more opportunities for doing services like Yagyas, deity worship, that's the importance. But if you're not very strict and you have second, it's more reactions. So you want to just like you want to drive on the motorway, you're going to be a good driver.
You.
Want to take second, you have to be very, you have to be very careful. What are the UK requirements?
Yeah, UK requirements, they shift, you say large because here in England we have initiated disciples of about 26 different gurus. So it's a constant challenge to come up with a UK national standard. It has its sort of lower level and it has its upper level. We've got Krishna, Kshetra, Prabhu living here and then we've got various other spiritual masters who are these days in constant contact with disciples through email, saying, I will give you a second initiation next week. And another spiritual master says, I will give you second initiation in six years. So when someone asks me, what is the UK national standard? We have various what we consider to be helpful qualifiers, but it's cleanly less punctuality, especially if a person's being considered for second initiation. In order to do deity worship, they have to have a good understanding of the standard books, the five standard books, the promise that everyone should read the basics. They should have demonstrated a certain aptitude for preaching, because if they've done that, then there'll be a strong second initiate. If they haven't risen to the level where they're sharing Ka consciousness with others, then it'll be difficult. It's difficult to be a selfish Brahmin. Preaching means so if you haven't got to the level of preaching, second initiation may be simply something. So even if they want to do deity worship, they really have to show that they have a preaching mood and a good relationship with their peers. Actually no point being a Brahmin if you're going to fight with all your God brothers and God sisters. So we look for that too. We look for personal characteristics.
And then.
That must be the final. Final.
It's actually something that's happening a lot in our temple at the moment. There really is. Some devotees are very determined that we should all study the scriptures which are also agreeing. But people are different. And there may be people who struggle to read Bhagat's books but have been good listeners who are good listeners. Like for example, I never read Prabhupada scripts for 20 years but I always associate a lot with Prabhupada's discipleship. Now I've got more taste. But it took me so many years of maybe purification. But in I think devotees could still come to that standard ever. But I'm definitely not talking about myself now. But who in their attitude have assimilated the essence of Krishna consciousness in humility and love and service attitude. Because we are not all the same. So it's a tough one having to read all the five standard books for some people.
Well, yeah, we have another problem in India where you have people that are not educated. You have a 16 year old lady that's only educated on the fourth grade so they can't really read the books. So for them we have I reduced to like 11 basic questions that they Brahman. Some people are totally illiterate. They still have to initially chanting 16 rounds for years. So you have to have somebody teach them the mantra by repeating in the ear and getting to remember the mantra. They had to know Prabhupada's Prana mantra. They had to know the Guru's Prana mantra. Even if they're illiterate. There's some very basic things that they have to do. I think that's a problem in the uk. That kind of flexibility to deal with the local situation is part of preaching college mantra. Time, place and circumstances. Thank you all very much for your enlightening questions.
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