Gopāl Kṛṣṇa Goswāmī explains why diksha (initiation) matters in Krishna consciousness, drawing on Nārada Muni's teaching about three births. He warns against chanting offenses like blaspheming devotees or committing sins while relying on the Holy Name, then conducts an initiation ceremony where participants receive spiritual names like Keśa Gauranga Dāsa and Bhakti Priya Devi Dāsī.
Chapters
4th Canto, Nārada Muni explains to the prachetas, explains that a civilized human being— he is a jōnakara. Nārada Muni explains that a civilized human being has 3 births. How many? 3. First birth is from the womb of the mother. This birth is common to human beings and to animals. This is called svitajanma. Svitajanma means birth realized as a result of sāmbhava-kalpaśrāda. This birth is common to the animals and the human beings. The second birth is realized when one gets initiated by a bona fide spiritual master. This birth is called savitā-jana. And the third birth is realized when one gets initiated by a bona fide spiritual master. This is called yogic ajñāṇa. There are three births: śokajñāṇa, svetajñāṇa, and yogic ajñāṇa. So in this ceremony today, most of you already are realizing the second birth and third birth. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, initiation is considered to be very important. Therefore, initiation is only granted after one has chanted the Holy Name for a period of time and one has agreed. Thank you, Śrīla Prasāda RAVALAD. Ye ajo sekāraḥ sunaḥ derāya pīcchā. Pīcchā sunaḥ derāya. So, the first birth is realized, the womb of the mother, as a result of seminary college charge. The second birth is realized when one gets initiated, born by spiritual teacher. The third birth is realized when one gets initiated through the Kriyayoga Yajna. Vājke is kārikarmen. It's beneficial in all situations, but in order to get real benefit, you should chant the Holy Name, or in the Ten of Ansars, every day in the morning. Now let's go in temples, recite the Ten of Ansars. So, The offences briefly are: one, blaspheming towards devotees who have dedicated their lives preaching the mission of the Lord; criticizing those devotees who are preaching, I mean, they are serving the mission of the Lord, and criticizing them, more details will be here. Then second is, you consider the name of demigod to be equal to the name of Lord Viṣṇu. In the scriptures it is explained, Īśvā-kārya-kṛṣṇa, ādya-nāna-vigraha, ādya-adhikovinā, ur-kāṇa-kāma. The many controllers, Kṛṣṇa is the supreme controller. And in the scriptures it is said, Krishna is the source of all the demigods, all the gods. So if we think that all gods are one, that is also very important. Kīsāṇāma prārādhaya guru-va-geṇaḥ. Pramāṇik-guru-ki-kiyā-guru-guruṇaḥ ca vekām anasa-kṛṣṇa-vegāṇaḥ, yuga-vegām ujāra-paṣṭa-vegāṇaḥ. So, the spiritual master desires, is that the candidate is attached to the Holy Name and increases his desire to serve the Lord. And the spiritual master, he just gives the instructions that have been given by the previous Acharya. So, to think that the spiritual master must just put, "Okay, everything I want to do," is not the right understanding. And it is not the spiritual master's aim to make you any day should make spiritual department. So, I mean, Guruji's That is pure, unmotivated, emancipatory spirituality. Aṁ vītāpada-kṛṣṇa. I am the seed-giving father for living entity. So, ye sośakī, Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra mein, idhi tākat nahi hai. Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra ke saath, use manaṁ tophikuchāra vikṛnta. You be a Prasada. Am I right? We should not give our own interpretation. We should just accept the Holy Name is the principal weapon for developing love of God. And we should chant the Holy Name attentively to get full knowledge. Guru Bhagavan Swami explains in the Upanishad, "The Holy Name of the Lord is sweet like sugar candy." But due to avidya, you can't realize the sweetness of the Holy Name. When we chant, then the heart becomes cleansed, you will gradually be able to realize spirit more and more. We should not give our own interpretation to the chanting of the Holy Name, and we should not think that the glories of the Holy Name are exaggerated. You may think, "Yes, the Holy Name is powerful, but not so powerful." That is wrong. Then we commit sins on the strength of chanting. Prabhupāda used to say this is the most serious of all offenses, committing sins on the strength of chanting. We think that, "Now I'm initiated. I got initiated in Vṛndāvana-dhāma, and now I'm also chanting, so if I commit some sinful activity," The Lord will definitely help. This is very serious offense. One should avoid that. Our philosophy should be no more sinning. So then, the chanting of the Holy Name is not some karma-kanda activity. This chanting of the Holy Name is a prayer that we may please be engaged in devotion. Preach the message everywhere. The deep meaning of the Holy Name may be revealed after one has developed amendment of faith. And to maintain material attachments even after chanting the Holy Name, also enough. We come to spiritual life recognizing that these are experiment And therefore we should not maintain attachment. That will not help us spiritually. The Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Accept what is favorable for spiritual advancement, reject what is unfavorable." So, Jyotirbhatta, enām nixāderaye, anepātāvallacchaye, ye āina pura-lava-kumeregā. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna.
No, it's safety, but these are the important skills.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna.
Hare Krishna.
Okay, sounds better. Or, hey, log, in English also say, hey, we are keeping Brahmin mantra, hey, janam say, for shastra melekh hai, chaturvana maya system, guna karma prabhyanava. Guru ke dharpal, initiate ke yatha hai, kona Brahmin, kona Shatriya, kona Vaishya, kona Shudra. So, I am big shot. Or Or If we chant the Holy Name, we are praying to the Lord, "O Lord, Please engage me in devotional service. Is that clear? Okay, so I'm going to call by name. Govind, Lapi Jani, Kumud Mishra, Minin. You also go forward, Srila Prabhupāda.
All respects, Srila Prabhupāda. Yeah.
No dogging. Next is Govind. So when Vishwanath's son, he's only 14 years old, I was hesitant in initiating him, but his father said, please do it. So, he'll be able to follow all the standard? Sure. You'll be around every day.
Yes, Prasad.
And follow the four principles, you can follow everything?
Yes.
So, since you were named Govinda at birth, your spiritual name will be Govinda Śāmdāsa. He will manage. You don't have to— he can understand. How many rounds is a day to do? He understands English anyway. So, your spiritual rabbi, Jāni, lives in Kenya and has been serving in ISKCON for a long time. Your spiritual name is Keśa Gauranga Dāsa.
Keśa Gauranga Dāsa. Keśa Gauranga Dāsa.
You got to sleep.
Ah, yes, I gave up.
Good, good, good. Mata Men. His Persian name is Madureisha Haidat. We got to call out some more names. My lecture was too short. Next time I will show that. And 5 names are left. Sudarshan, Sneel Mishra, Vrinda Kaushal, Abhavi Lainmay, Anurag Bhow. Promote.
Promote. Promote. Change this.
Change this to more, more, more, more. Mohan.
Mohan.
Now we call the ladies. Anita Gupta. That's okay. Suprasad RAVAL. Suprasad RAVAL.
Aye, da.
So, and I will do the ladies. Bhakti Priya Devi Dasi.
Ati priya devi mataji.
Ati priya devi mataji. Okay, next.
What is this?
Sachi Agarwal. His name is not there.
Inam.
How come he's not here? Sanjeev. Sanjeev is mixed up. Chai, sugar, chuprao. Your spiritual name is Chandrika Keshavi Devi Das. She's getting initiated along with her parents. So, spiritual name is Bhakti Nishta Devī Dāsī. He was a strong faith in the process of devotional service.
Lakshmi.
Okay, next. Julie. Julie. That's all the other names? Nalini Jhali, Magnenita, Shri Lakshmi Parekh, Martin Victoria—
Okay, so your special name is Nalini Bhakti Devi Das. With me, pure and kind-hearted devotion to Prasad RAVAL. Okay, so now let's start with the yagya. Hello, boys. I'm Chau.
Bible.
One name was missing. One name was missing.
Hare Krishna.
Thank you.
Passport, download passport. Hello, passport. Oh, what a lovely car, Mr. PRASAD RAVALADRA. Namaste, namaste. Krishna, Krishna, he, he.
Hare Rama, Hare Rama. Rama, Rama, he, he. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna.
Om namo brahman deva hey. Om namo brahman deva hey. Om namo brahman deva hey. Jagadhitaye Krishna hey. Jagadhitaye Krishna hey. Om vindaye namuna maha. Om vindaye namuna maha. Om shri Krishna. Sabi bakti jo hai, aaram se dhuriye dhiriye pehle aage wale dala hai. Agni ke upar nain daala hai, agni ke chaap ko daala hai. Agni bhujai hai.
Yeah. Ciao, ciao, portuguesa, Hare Krishna, amiga minha!
