inspiration and initiation

[theist 1]

I've been wondering about the relationship between inspiration and intiation. On an internal level is there really a difference?

 

Random House Dictionary offers this as one meaning of inspiration:

 

5-Theological. a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul of man.

 

thoughts?

[Guest guest]

Lord Caitanya -- Krsna in the mood of Radha -- can only be fully understood through raganuga bhakti, not vaidhi. Naturally, a devotee sees all difficulties encountered as Krsna's mercy. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written that when one is ready for raganuga, vaidhi will reject him/her. The tremendous internal desire which is the prime prerequirement on the raganuga path must be motivated somehow or other within the individual concientously practicing vaidhi.

 

It's not that someone suddenly feels qualified to reject or transcend what was previously considered necessary. That internal urge must become strong enough that it cannot be denied, in spite of so many risks. Bhaktivinoda has also written that vaidhi and raganuga are two entirely different varieties of faith -- one in the instructions of His Divine Grace, the other feeling a desperate need to connect directly with His Divine Grace more personally.

 

Gurudeva represents both Radha and Krsna. She remains pure raganuga while He establishes religious principles that eventually must be transcended. Radha is always victorious in the end, as love conquers all. Neither can we continue to identify ourselves as the doers, but rely solely on His Divine Grace, admitting our ABSOLUTE lack of qualifications.

 

Formal initiation should not be seen as an automatic passport back home, nor does a genuine disciple wish to burden or obligate their guru in any way whatsoever. The means and end are always devotional service, but personal motivation changes as the real self emerges. The pure devotee of course has no desire for liberation or other "selfish" interests. Faith is inspired through association, including books. Sri Guru is always encouraging us to take that next step...

[theist 1]

That was one of the best statements I have read on the relationship between vaidhi and raganuga bhakti. I wasn't thinking of that though when I brought up the question. Nor was I considering formal vs. informal initiation though that may be there as a side issue.

 

5-Theological. a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul of man.

 

Would the above definition also describe what we call initiation?

 

[Guest guest]

That was a very nice post!

[krsna 3]

5-Theological. a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul of man.

 

Would the above definition also describe what we call initiation?

 

--------------

Divine influence directed at the essence of our being

making a mark as indelible as samskara

The molding of creation of a new consciousneess

required for pure devotion to sprout

 

In the Beginning the divine self awakens to spiritual reality by the divine grace of Sri Guru

who injects a spiritual bhakti-seed in the heart

growing creeper of bhakti-lata

fructifying into a tasty krsna-prema fruit.

[theist 1]

The planting of the seed initiates or begins the growing of the creeper. Like that?

[theist 1]

So when that seed of the bhakti plant is placed in fertile soil, would the aspirant then experience that as inspiration?

[krsna 3]

By the combined causeless mercy of Guru and Krsna, any living entity can receive the bhakti-lata-bija. In this verse, "guru krsna" has two meanings: It means "by the combined mercy of Sri Guru and Sri Krsna," and it means that Guru is a manifestation of Krsna.

 

Guru and Krsna are non-different, and this is confirmed in the Caitanya-caritamrta:

 

guru krsna-rupa hana sastrera pramane

guru-rupe krsna krpa karena bhakta-gane)

 

According to the revealed opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is non-different from Krsna. Lord Krsna, in the form of the spiritual master, delivers His devotees." Cc Adi 1.45

 

By the causeless mercy of asraya-bhagavan (the spiritual master), the living entity can receive the bhakti-lata-bija. This bhakti-lata-bija is the desire to serve Krsna.

How will this desire to serve Krsna manifest in the heart?

It manifests by hearing hari-katha from the bona fide Guru and bona fide Vaisnavas. If we try to hear Krsna's pastimes with faith from the spiritual master, and also from pure Vaisnavas, the desire to serve will appear in the heart.

[krsna 3]

Mr. George Harrison, the famous English musician,

who is my uninitiated devotee.

 

In London, however, we get some income by sales of "Hare Krishna Mantra" record and similarly in the U.S.A. we get some income by selling "Govinda" records and other similar records. From London the "Hare Krishna Mantra" record has worldwide sales. This is managed by Mr. George Harrison, the famous English musician, who is my uninitiated devotee. This boy has paid me recently $19,000 for publishing my Krishna book. The whole amount will be required for publishing the book in Japan.

[s.P. Letter to: Hanuman Prasad Poddar, Los Angeles, 5 February, 1970]

 

 

 

I think George does not require to become my formal

disciple because he is already more than my disciple.

 

Is it not possible to have a small temple in George's house so you can engage in temple worship? That is necessary. If there is a small temple there, then you and your wife and others can be nicely engaged. I think George does not require to become my formal disciple because he is already more than my disciple. He has sympathy for my movement and I have all blessings for him. He can easily spare that chapel for developing it into a nice Krishna Consciousness temple. We do not want any proprietorship right, but we want simply to utilize the nice place into a nice temple.

[s.P. Letter to: Syamasundara, Los Angeles, 12 April, 1970]

 

 

 

Sriman George Harrison has certainly done an unique service

by contributing $19,000 for publishing my Krsna book.

When I was in London, he saw me four times and

he was very submissive and devout and he was not

at all proud of his very well-to-do material position.

 

Sriman George Harrison has certainly done an unique service by contributing $19,000 for publishing my Krsna book. When I was in London, he saw me four times and he was very submissive and devout and he was not at all proud of his very well-to-do material position. He has a reputation as a first class musician and he is considered to be rich or as they say one of the richest men in the world. Still he was not at all puffed up, but was humble, meek, polite, and devout. So all these qualities and his service to Krishna will certainly help him in his advancement of Krishna Consciousness. Thus I see that although he is not an initiated disciple, still he has been trying to help us in so many ways. [s.P. Letter to: Bhagavan, Los Angeles, 8 February, 1970]

 

 

He is a good soul and I am praying for him to Krishna,

so surely he will make advancement.

 

I am so glad to learn that Sriman George is making good advancement in Krishna consciousness. He is a good soul and I am praying for him to Krishna, so surely he will make advancement. His book, Krishna, is already ready for being sent to the press. [s.P. Letter to: Syamasundara, Los Angeles, 6 January, 1970]

 

 

 

I am marking that George has the serving spirit,

and that is making him advance gradually.

 

Please offer my blessings to Sriman George and all the other Prabhus there. I am marking that George has the serving spirit, and that is making him advance gradually. [s.P. Letter to: Syamasundara, Los Angeles, 4 May, 1970]

 

 

 

This good boy George Harrison, we must give him all glories.

 

Prabhupada: ...given the facility of assembling in this nice house, this good boy George Harrison, we must give him all glories. We must be thankful to him that he has given us the facility, and Krsna will bless him more and more.

[Arrival Address, London, July 7, 1973]