The Significance of
Initiation
by M. Govindan
In Babaji's Kriya Yoga the significance of
initiation is often overlooked. Initiation is a sacred act
in which an individual is given their initial experience of
a means to realizing some truth. That means is a kriya or "practical
yogic technique," and the truth is a portal to the eternal
and infinite One. Because this truth is beyond name and form,
it cannot be communicated through words or symbols. It can
be experienced however, and for this one needs a teacher who
can share his or her own living experience of the truth. The
technique becomes a vehicle by which the teacher shares with
the practioner the means to realize the truth in oneself.
During the initiation there is always a transmission
of energy and consciousness by the initiator and the recipient,
even if the recipient is not aware of it. The transmission
may not be effective if the student is full of questions, doubts
or distractions. So, the initiator attempts to prepare the
recipient beforehand and to control the environment so that
these potential disturbances are minimized. The initiator takes
into himself or herself, in effect, the consciousness of the
recipient, and begins to expand it beyond its habitual mental
and vital boundaries. There is a kind of melting of ordinary
mental and vital boundaries, between the initiator and the
recipient, and this greatly facilitates movement of consciousness
to a higher plane. By so doing, he opens the recipient up to
the existence of his own soul, or higher Self, which until
then, remains veiled in the case of most individuals. By so
raising the consciousness of the recipient, the latter has
their initial glimpses at least of their potential consciousness
and power. This is what is meant by the raising of the kundalini
of the disciple. It is most often not done in a dramatic way
in an initial session, but rather gradually over a period,
depending upon the diligence of the student in putting into
practice what he or she has learned.
For the initiation to be effective two things
are essential: the preparation of the student or recipient,
and the presence of an initiator who has realized his or her
Self. While most spiritual seekers emphasize the latter, and
seek a perfect guru, few concern themselves with their own
preparation. It is perhaps a fault of human nature, to seek
someone who will "do it for us." That is, give us
Self-realization or God-realization. While the guru or teacher
may point you in the right direction, the seeker must himself
commit himself to following those directions. While the seeker
may be intellectually committed to following these, all to
often, human nature causes one to waver in distraction, doubt
or desire. So, even if one finds the perfect teacher, if one
has not cultivated the qualities like faith, perseverance,
sincerity and patience, the initiation may become as futile
as sowing seeds on a concrete sidewalk.
Traditionally, for this reason, initiation
was restricted to only those who had prepared themselves, sometimes
for years in advance. While the first initiations may be made
available to a larger number of aspirants, only those who had
cultivated the qualities of a disciple were given the higher
initiations. As Jesus said, "many are called, but few
are chosen," only a few meet the demanding requirements
of discipleship.
A devotee is one who is seeking a path or
a teacher, and this may be for a very long time, until one
is ready to make a commitment to one teacher or discipline.
One may hop from one teacher to another, listening, watching,
experimenting a little, like a comparison shopper. At the end
of that stage, one becomes a disciple, and becomes committed
to the practice of the teacher's prescribed spiritual discipline.
As the spiritual discipline requires persistent effort for
an extended time for its results to be proven, one needs to
have faith in the efficacy of the practice, perseverance, the
support of a teacher, and divine grace. If the teacher is authentic,
he or she will always be ready to respond to the students request
or to find someone who can. Divine grace is always available
if one knows how to open to it. So, what is problematic are
the faith and perseverance of the student. The teacher or guru
can instigate the process through initiation and provide inspiration
and encouragement, but the student must apply themselves with
confidence and persistency.
If one were to learn the kriyas or techniques
without initiation would they be effective? Understanding what
has been discussed above, the answer is emphatically no! This
is why trying to learn techniques from books or from teachers
who are not authentic, who have not themselves experienced
the truth of which they speak leaves the student uninspired.
This is so even if they are well prepared and filled with the
important qualities of a sincere student. There is an essential
sacred transmission of consciousness and energy which occurs
between the initiator and the recipient which empowers the
techniques. That is why initiatory traditions have managed
to pass the direct experience of truth from one generation
to the next so effectively. Their strength lies in the power
and the consciousness of those who have done the practices
intensely and so realized their truth. We honor our highest
Self when we honor our initiation by putting into diligent
and regular practice what we have learned and received in them.
December 2002
Copyright Marshall Govindan. All rights reserved.
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