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Folks--
--I'm curious: how many of us have undergone Diksha (intitiation) by guru? Do you recommend it for others? What have you gotten out of it?
--Recently, I learned that there can be different "levels" of initiation, and that some forms of Diksha are more like blessings than an actual contract between disciple and guru.
--I'm curious: how many of us have undergone Diksha (intitiation) by guru? Do you recommend it for others? What have you gotten out of it?
--Recently, I learned that there can be different "levels" of initiation, and that some forms of Diksha are more like blessings than an actual contract between disciple and guru.
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Re: Diksha
Mon, June 5, 2006 - 12:34 PMI have taken diksha in the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition. Now one think to note is that one can only take diksha by one who properly taken diksha , by one who properly taken diksha , by one who properly taken diksha , by one who properly taken diksha back to the supreme guru. That is called parampara
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 4.2
evaḿ paramparā-prāptam
imaḿ rājarṣayo viduḥ
sa kāleneha mahatā
yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa
SYNONYMS
evam — thus; paramparā — by disciplic succession; prāptam — received; imam — this science; rāja-ṛṣayaḥ — the saintly kings; viduḥ — understood; saḥ — that knowledge; kālena — in the course of time; iha — in this world; mahatā — great; yogaḥ — the science of one's relationship with the Supreme; naṣṭaḥ — scattered; parantapa — O Arjuna, subduer of the enemies.
TRANSLATION
This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.
to take diksha from a self proclaimed guru who manfactured some mentally concocted practice serves no purpose. The purpose of diksha is to get knowledge and enlightenment straight from the sourse not to get the imperfect opinions of another human. If one wants knowledge of that calibre then then can just go on the net or read the paper. But the process of diksha is a process by which one can get spiritual knowledge unalterated. Haribolo
Yourservant
Nityananda Ram Das -
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Re: Diksha
Wed, June 7, 2006 - 6:48 AMi also like nityananda ram dasa prabhu have taken initiation in the gaudiya vaisnava lineage. we feel that diksha is very important as it situates one in parampara, or disciplic succession (there are 5 major ones that are accepted in "hinduism" or considered bona fide in vedic culture).
both of dikshas (harinama and brahmana) for myself are instrumental in my spiritual growth as it permits me to serve as pujari (priest) and conduct the rites of passage for ones dharma. and most importantly to me is that it permits me to worship the glorious form of the deities on the altar in the temple.
but of course taking diksha is a responsability that one shouldnt take lightly.
your servant
manu dasa
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Re: Diksha
Wed, August 23, 2006 - 3:05 PMThank you, as always, for your scholarly reply!
I'm sure my teacher, Dharmanidhi Sarasvati, would agree with you completely. He is a lineage holder of the Sarasvati/Tantrik tradition
www.trikainstitute.org/lineag...dhi.htm
--I took Samaya Diksha in July, from Dharmanihi. This is the lesser of the two dikshas he offered, one that allows a student to study deeper teachings with the Kula, but which does not bind the student permanently to him as guru. As I understand it, it is really just a turbo-charged blessing, though he did give me a practitioner's name, Ekabhumi.
--He also strongly discourages students from taking 'diksha' from self-proclaimed gurus who are not part of an established lineage.
--But I'm curious: it IS possible to attain enlightenment without a living, embodied guru, yes? What about teachers who claim a deceased guru? And what do you think of the Buddha, who started his own new lineage? -
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Re: Diksha
Wed, August 23, 2006 - 6:35 PMthis is what we call in sanskrit siksa and diksa gurus. diksa is one who initiates into the parampara (disciplic succession) and siksa guru is one who teaches u. it can be anybody u meet, just as it can be the one who conducts this rite of passage.
i agree with ur guru ekabhumi and discourage ppl to take diksa from self-proclaimed gurus who do not come in parampara. but maybe these ppl will learn something from this.
and SA! i would just add that the one who is authentic and reveals and teaches what responds to u just might very well be wearing special clothing, its not a necessity, but its not entirely impossible either ;)
and ekabhumi, in regards to lord buddha, in our tradition, and according to shastra (scripture) buddha did not start his own tradition, but, is an incarnation of krsna / visnu who appears to reestablish order and dharma (yada yada hi dharmasya / glannir bhavati bharata.....etc etc) and appeared as buddha to accomplish this - keshava dhrta / buddha sarire / jaye jagadisha hare.
at any rate, i learn tons from ppl not even in a lineage, everyone can be guru, the divine (as paramatma) works thru all of us i guess....
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Unsu...
Re: Diksha
Sun, August 20, 2006 - 4:45 AMI received recently Mantra Diksha from Sri Karunamayi and am not sure if it means as you say
an actual contract or rather blessing ? how can you tell . and more I wonder if one can receive
lets say a mantra initation also from another teacher . hmmm , good questions.
j. -
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Unsu...
Re: Diksha
Sun, August 20, 2006 - 7:29 AMReceiving initiation from someone who claims to have a supreme line of succession is the ultimate act of faith. You hope that the person you're receiving initiation from isn't full of crap and just adding you to his/her donation pool. You have to watch what they do and how they do it and use your best judgement whether you feel they are bonafide.
If everyone is the face of your teacher, then you're constantly being given initiation each step you take. If you feel no one can initiate you into the higher orders of life then, you're evolution may become stagnant. The most powerful people normally come unarmed and wearing no special clothing or symbols to give you warning they've arrived in your life!
:D
SA -
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Re: Diksha
Wed, August 23, 2006 - 2:44 PMSA--
--Great advice, as always.
--I like what you say, about 'everyone is the face of your teacher'.
--What about the importance of ceremony? Or the momentum given to one's practice by the parampara, mentioned by the other posters? Do you feel diksha is the fruit of one's practice, or a big first step? -
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Unsu...
Re: Diksha
Wed, August 23, 2006 - 5:42 PM"--What about the importance of ceremony? Or the momentum given to one's practice by the parampara, mentioned by the other posters? Do you feel diksha is the fruit of one's practice, or a big first step?"
When does initiation stop? Each step is a crossroads. You're being initiated into deeper aspects of life with each decision. Does having some external ritual have more weight than stepping further in your relationship with the divine?
The Surpreme Being provides us everything we need including rituals. When we are no longer are fed by the experience of rituals, then that most precious being provides other ways for us to access it's continual presence.
:D
SA
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Unsu...
Re: Diksha
Thu, August 24, 2006 - 6:46 AMLineage can be a way of keeping the same old same olds in power. Jesus was enlightened. he was born that way. I think people who follow a succession of someone else and claim that is the only way are just upholding the staus quo. following a lineage doesn't disqualify a person from being enlightened but God/Goddess is able to enter into the heart of anyone who is ready to recieve it. some peo le come here already ripe (pushti)or almost there. I do agree that one has to be wary because alot of people hang out their shingle these days and proclaim themselves realized but I think ther eis a phrase that says something like "by the fruits of their actions you will know them". discernment is necessary. whenever anyone gets on this whole thing about quoting Holy scriptures(usually the scriptures that THEY and THIER religion follows) it is such a turnoff, no better than the rabid right wing christians who use thier scriptures to set themselves above others in their own mind. -
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Unsu...
Re: Diksha
Thu, August 24, 2006 - 6:49 AMOh yeah, I wasn't talking about you Manu. Swearing for real ;) .
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Re: Diksha
Wed, August 23, 2006 - 6:07 PMNamaskar, I have received both Vaedika Diiksa (in India) and Tantrika Diiksa, both by different Bonafied Gurus. It has changed my life, for the better, to say the least. It is a tried and true method for thousands of years, when you are ready the Guru will find you and you won’t need to think twice about it. It is just as important to be a good disciple as it is to find a good Guru. Do the practices ceaselessly and your inner divinity will unfold in ways that you cannot imagine.
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Unsu...
Re: Diksha
Mon, September 4, 2006 - 8:21 PMI got tantric diksha and it works. More I can't say!
