Initiation Lecture [Partially Recorded]

Prabhupāda: ...in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, while teaching Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said,

ei rūpe brahmāṅḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva guru-kṛṣṅa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja [Cc Madhya 19.151]

[According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṅa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṅa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.]

The living entities, they are transmigrating from one form of life to another and wandering from one planet to another, sometimes low-grade life, sometimes high-grade life. This is going on. This is called saṁsāra-cakra-vartmani. Last night we were explaining, mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani [Bg 9.3].

[Those who are not faithful in this devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of enemies. Therefore they return to the path of birth and death in this material world.]

This very word is used, mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani. Very difficult ways of life, to die. Everyone is afraid of dying, because after death nobody knows what is going to happen. Those who are foolish, they are animals. Just like animals are being slaughtered, the other animal is thinking that "I am safe." So any person with little intelligence will never like to die and accept another body. And we do not know what kind of body we are going to get.

So this initiation by the grace of guru and Kṛṣṅa, do not take it very leniently. Take it very seriously. It is a great opportunity. Bīja means seed, seed of bhakti. So whatever you have promised before the Lord, before your spiritual master, before fire, before Vaiṣṅavas, never deviate from this promise. Then you will keep fixed up in your spiritual life: no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling, no intoxication—these four no's—and chanting Hare Kṛṣṅa—one yes. Four no's and one yes. That will make your life successful. It is very easy. It is not difficult. But māyā is very strong, sometimes deviates us. So when there is endeavor by the māyā to deviate us, just pray to Kṛṣṅa, "Please save me. I am surrendered, fully surrendered, and kindly give me protection," and Kṛṣṅa will give you protection. But don't miss this opportunity. That is my request. I have all my good wishes and blessings upon you. So let us take the opportunity of bhakti, bhakti-latā-bīja. Mālī hañā sei bīja kare āropaṅa [Cc Madhya 19.152].

[When a person receives the seed of devotional service, he should take care of it by becoming a gardener and sowing the seed in his heart. If he waters the seed gradually by the process of śravaṅa and kīrtana [hearing and chanting], the seed will begin to sprout.]

So when you get a nice seed, we have to sow it within the earth. The example is, just like if you get very nice seed of first-class rose flower, so you sow it on the ground and just offer little, little water, it will grow. So this seed can be grown by watering. What is that watering? Śravaṅa kīrtana jale karaye secana [Cc Madhya 19.152]. This watering of the seed, bhakti-latā, is śravaṅa-kīrtana, hearing and chanting. So you will hear from the sannyāsīs and the Vaiṣṅavas more and more about it. But do not miss this opportunity. That is my request.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya Prabhupāda! [end]