# Qualifications for Initiation *The qualifications and requirements for receiving spiritual initiation.* ← Back to [[wiki/compile/spiritual-master-disciple|The Spiritual Master and the Disciple]] --- ## Basic Qualifications for Initiation ### The qualifications for initiation—giving up the four pillars of sinful life > **Reporter:** If I wanted to be initiated into your Society, what would I have to do? > > **Śrīla Prabhupāda:** First of all, you'd have to give up illicit sex life. > > **Reporter:** Does that include all sex life? What is illicit sex life? > > **Śrīla Prabhupāda:** Illicit sex is sex outside of marriage. Animals have sex with no restrictions, but in human society there are restrictions. In every country and in every religion, there is some system of restricting sex life. You would also have to give up all intoxicants, including tea, cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana—anything that intoxicates. > > **Reporter:** Anything else? > > **Śrīla Prabhupāda:** You'd also have to give up eating meat, eggs, and fish. And you'd have to give up gambling as well. Unless you gave up these four sinful activities, you could not be initiated. —The Science of Self-Realization --- ### Vaiṣṇavas do not accept disciples who do not follow the regulative principles > Materialistic persons who are not inclined to give up their sinful activities like illicit sex, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating sometimes want to become our disciples, but, unlike professional spiritual masters who accept disciples regardless of their condition, Vaiṣṇavas do not accept such cheap disciples. One must at least agree to abide by the rules and regulations for a disciple before a Vaiṣṇava *ācārya* can accept him. —Cc. [[cc/adi/12/50|Ādi 12.50]] Purport --- ### At the time of initiation, one must give up all sinful activities > This is the specific kindness of Lord Caitanya. In this age no one can say that he is free from sin. It is impossible for anyone to say this. But Lord Caitanya accepts all kinds of sinful persons on the one condition that they promise not to indulge in sinful habits after being spiritually initiated by the bona fide spiritual master... in this Kali-yuga practically all people are of the quality of Jagāi and Mādhāi. If they want to be relieved from the reactions of their misdeeds, they must take shelter of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and after spiritual initiation thus refrain from those things which are prohibited in the *śāstras.* —*Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* Introduction --- ### At the time of initiation, the disciple agrees to give up sinful activity and to execute the order of the spiritual master > "The hunter then said, 'My dear sir, whatever you say I shall do.' Nārada immediately ordered him, 'First of all, break your bow. Then I shall tell you what is to be done.'" > > PURPORT: This is the process of initiation. The disciple must admit that he will no longer commit sinful activity—namely illicit sex, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. He promises to execute the order of the spiritual master. Then the spiritual master takes care of him and elevates him to spiritual emancipation. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/24/256|Madhya 24.256]] Purport --- ## The Requirements of Initiation in ISKCON ### The requirements of initiation > We do not immediately initiate disciples in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. For six months, a candidate for initiation must first attend *ārati* and classes in the *śāstras*, practice the regulative principles and associate with other devotees. When one is actually advanced in the *puraścaryā-vidhi,* he is recommended by the local temple president for initiation. It is not that anyone can be suddenly initiated without meeting the requirements. When one is further advanced by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra* sixteen rounds daily, following the regulative principles and attending classes, he receives the sacred thread (brahminical recognition) after the second six months. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/15/108|Madhya 15.108]] Purport --- ### The qualifications for first and second initiations > "In your book there should be the characteristics of the bona fide *guru* and the bona fide disciple. Then, before accepting a spiritual master, one can be assured of the spiritual master's position. Similarly, the spiritual master can also be assured of the disciple's position..." > > PURPORT: A disciple's qualifications must be observed by the spiritual master before he is accepted as a disciple. In our Kṛsṇa consciousness movement, the requirement is that one must be prepared to give up the four pillars of sinful life—illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling. In Western countries especially, we first observe whether a potential disciple is prepared to follow the regulative principles. Then he is given the name of a Vaiṣṇava servant and initiated to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra* at least sixteen rounds daily. In this way the disciple renders devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master or his representative for at least six months to a year. He is then recommended for a second initiation, during which a sacred thread is offered and the disciple is accepted as a bona fide *brāhmaṇa.* —Cc. [[cc/madhya/24/330|Madhya 24.330]] Purport --- ### The requirements for first, second and sannyāsa initiation > All the students of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement have undergone the regular process of initiation. As enjoined in the *Hari-bhakti-vilāsa* by Sanātana Gosvāmī, *tathā dīkṣā-vidhānena dvijatvaṁ jāyate nṛṇām:* by the regular process of initiation, any man can become a *brāhmaṇa.* Thus in the beginning the students of our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement agree to live with devotees, and gradually, having given up four prohibited activities—illicit sex, gambling, meat-eating and intoxication—they become advanced in the activities of spiritual life. When one is found to be regularly following these principles, he is given the first initiation (*hari-nāma*), and he regularly chants at least sixteen rounds a day. Then, after six months or a year, he is initiated for the second time and given the sacred thread with the regular sacrifice and rituals. After some time, when he advances still further and is willing to give up this material world, he is given the *sannyāsa* order. At that time he receives the title *svāmī* or *gosvāmī,* both of which mean "master of the senses." —Cc. [[cc/adi/17/265|Ādi 17.265]] Purport --- ## Spiritual Qualifications for Initiation ### The qualifications for initiation—disinterest in material enjoyment and interest in the Absolute Truth > By *dīkṣā* one gradually becomes disinterested in material enjoyment and gradually becomes interested in spiritual life. > > We have seen many practical examples of this, especially in Europe and America. Many students who come to us from rich and respectable families quickly lose all interest in material enjoyment and become very eager to enter into spiritual life. Although they come from very wealthy families, many of them accept living conditions that are not very comfortable. Indeed, for Kṛsna's sake they are prepared to accept any living condition as long as they can live in the temple and associate with the Vaiṣṇavas. When one becomes so disinterested in material enjoyment, he becomes fit for initiation by the spiritual master. —Nectar of Instruction, Text 5, Purport --- ### One should approach a spiritual master only if he is actually eager for enlightenment ![[sb/6/15/16#purport|One who is inquisitive to understand the highest goal and benefit of life must approach a bona fide spiritual master and surrender unto him...The guru should not be approached for material benefits. One should not approach a guru just to cure some disease or receive some miraculous benefit]] —SB [[sb/6/15/16|6.15.16]] Purport --- ### The spiritual master must not initiate an unworthy person ![[sb/3/32/42#purport|The spiritual master must not accept a disciple who is not qualified; he should not be professional and should not accept disciples for monetary gains. The bona fide spiritual master must see the bona fide qualities of a person whom he is going to initiate. An unworthy person should not be initiated]] —SB [[sb/3/32/42|3.32.42]] Purport --- ## Initiation Is Open to All ### Anyone can join ISKCON and become twice-born ![[sb/4/12/48#purport|Anyone can join the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and be initiated to become twice-born. As recommended by Sanātana Gosvāmī, by the process of initiation and authorized training, any man can become twice-born]] —SB [[sb/4/12/48|4.12.48]] Purport --- ### Any sincere person is qualified for initiation according to the pāñcarātrika process > The following injunction is given in the *Hari-bhakti-vilāsa* (1.194): > > *tāntrikeṣu ca mantreṣu* > *dīkṣāyāṁ yoṣitām api* > *sādhvīnām adhikāro 'sti* > *śūdrādīnāṁ ca sad-dhiyām* > > "*Śūdras* and women who are chaste and sincerely interested in understanding the Absolute Truth are qualified to be initiated with the *pāñcarātrika-mantras*." > > ... If one actually wants to serve Kṛṣṇa, it doesn't matter whether one is a *śūdra, vaiśya,* or even a woman. If one is sincerely eager to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra* or *dīkṣā-mantra,* he is qualified to be initiated according to the *pāñcarātrika* process. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/24/331|Madhya 24.331]] Purport --- ### Through bona fide initiation, anyone can become a Vaiṣṇava ![[sb/4/8/54#purport|There should be propaganda to bring everyone to the Vaiṣṇava cult. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is meant for this purpose. There is no bar to propagating the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement even among people who are born in caṇḍāla, mleccha or yavana families...by the bona fide dīkṣā, or initiation method, anyone can become a Vaiṣṇava]] —SB [[sb/4/8/54|4.8.54]] Purport