A Sadhaks Learning
The preparation towards the day of Diksha and post Diksha signifies the cleansing of the temple of mind, body and soul.
It is a very serious process, leading to the preparedness for allowing the Divine Energies to work for you. Let not initiation be looked upon as a status symbol or as a means to attain a status either.
Let us not forget that it is a means of God-realization only. It is necessary to prepare the ground of one’s mind before initiation. It is no use sowing seeds without preparing the soil. The soil must be properly tilled, and manure must be spread beforehand.
If the seed is sown after that, it grows well.
But if we sow the seeds without tilling the soil and without adding manure, will there be a good crop? No. Similarly, careful preparation is required before receiving Diksha.
This preparedness is conducive to success. This must be kept in mind always. The mind has to be prepared through the practice of good conduct, humility, shraddha, and true yearning.
If there is a genuine urge in the mind for taking the name of God, the result of initiation will be highly rewarding.
The importance of Diksha is best explained through the pearl of an Oyster – The oyster eagerly waits with its mouth open for eternity. “If a drop of rain falling during the ascendancy of the Swati constellation enters, the oyster closes its mouth, goes to the bottom of the ocean and turns it into a pearl.”
Before having initiation, one must keep one’s heart open to receive that Truth with great yearning like an oyster. Only then will the Diksha be effective in life.
We always say, even at the time of initiation, that without devotion and faith it does not become fruitful. Hence we must have faith. Only then the Diksha, like a seed, will sprout and flourish into a full grown tree, bearing flowers and fruits.
The reason is, this Moment is an invaluable one, when the Energy of God is presented to us.
Receiving this in our heart with faith and devotion and concentrating our mind on it, we can dive deep into our being, like the oyster, and remain engrossed in it; then the most valuable gem will take shape within us.
This is never to be spoken to one who is devoid of austerities or devotion, nor to one who does not render service, or to one who cavils at Him.
In short one has to be humble, inclined to serve and must keep one’s life as pure and stainless as possible.
Many people have a wrong notion, thinking that their body and mind will be purified after Diksha, this is a wrong concept, because first our hearts have to be purified to receive the initiation.
Before installing the deity, the temple and its surroundings must be well cleaned. Then only can we think of the installation ceremony.
The Essentials for Diksha
- Pure Food – Pure food implies sattvika food, nourishing food. The food that is beneficial both for the body and the mind and for building them up are to be consumed as much as the body needs it, i.e., one must not eat to satisfy one’s greed. We must partake of the food with the idea that it will nourish our body and mind, and we shall use the nourished body and mind for contemplation of God. We have to be particular about food, not merely that `I shall not take this, I won’t take that’ and so on; these are not the criteria of consumption of pure food. It implies consuming food in appropriate quantity that ensures sound body and mind.
- Bath – on the day of Diksha take bath, wears clean cloth and sit comfortably with closed eyes.
- Mentally pray to Lord, Guru, parents, relatives for receiving the divine power.
- Have the image of Guru in front of you concentrate on him (if taking from distant) otherwise close the eyes and visualize Guru.
- Sit with all humility and the energy gets transferred.
- Upon completion of the Diksha open the eyes touch the feet of Satgurudev and place the Dakshina on his lotus feet.
Remember – Maitreya works very hard in the preparation for your Diksha – He spends money on the purchase of Diksha samagri (Items for the preparation) like Mala, Sindoor, Fruits, and Sweets etc. Over a period of 15 to 30 days He does Japa for you accounting to over 20000 japs.
Maitreya works continuously only catching sleep for 1 hr at times, maximum up to 3 hours. A normal human being cannot work like this year on year for years together!
Thus the Diksha you are getting remember the sacrifices, count your blessings and May you spread His Light across the Universe!
Rudrabhyo Namah
- Srichaitanya
