DIKSHA
(Initiation)
WHAT:
Diksha or Dikhya is one of those Sanskrit words, which has no equivalent non-Sanskrit term or word. When we write the word Diksha , we mean the same word used in all Indian Languages derived from Sanskrit. Diksha has the combined meaning of introduction, admission, initiation, orientation or motivation and blessings that too voluntarily with faith. In non-spiritual secular learning, admission to an institute is a must. For admission, selection is made. The candidate has to sign a bond to respect, obey and observe the rules and regulation of the particular institution.
These are much more strict and binding legally than that in spiritual Dikhya. In spiritual Dikhya, the moral values and disciplines are advised at moral level, with love and harmony & understanding. Keeping in view the spiritual advancement of the student - willing, sincere cooperation is required. In Diksha, the procedures include purification of the body, the mind, ego and intellect (perception of the soul is introduced). The details of method are variable. This depends on the tradition of the sect or school of spiritual practice. In all cases certain traditional rituals are involved
where again the details vary. Emphasis is more on code of conduct, obedience, how to practice the technique, keeping confidentiality of the spiritual techniques learnt from the teacher. The teacher or the chief teacher is known as the Guru God is the Supreme Guru or Sat Guru.
Type of Diksha & History:
Diksha is of many types with varying methodology. But aim is one i.e. soul awareness.
Thousands of years ago, in ancient India, Children between the age of seven and fourteen years of age came to the house, of the Guru with handful of special fuel wood (Samidha) for fire ceremony. Often they are accompanied by their father or an elder family member. If the Guru accepts the fuel wood for fire ceremony the student is accepted. All the Gurus those days were house holders, married with family of their own. These new corner students are practically adapted to the Gurus family, live with them and learn their lessons. These Gurus were helped by Assistant Gurus or tutors. Often they are the senior most pupils. Such educational organizations were known as Gurukulas. These Gurukulas were maintained by donation from parents, land grants from kings and rulers and also donation of milk cattle from land lords.
In another type of Diksha, youthful and sometimes middle-aged people, desirous of higher spiritual learning used to approach worthy Gurus or teachers with fruits, flowers, donations, Samidha and join the Gurus camp and live there. The Guru taught by setting examples of conduct, lifestyle, regular discourses and seminars. Emphasis was on action or Sadhana leading to direct experience of spiritual Truths i.e. knowledge and special knowledge. Often, after living with the Gurus family for few years, students learn the method and then go to a secluded place with Gurus permission, practice for many years the spiritual techniques and lifestyle, till they get perfection.
In few other types of Diksha, after the student is taught the preliminaries for couple of years and their field becomes ready, the Guru initiates
them by :-
A. Visual Power
B. Touch Power
C. Telepathic Power
D. Verbal Power
By these techniques the Guru or God-realized master infuses his spiritual energy into the qualified disciple there by giving them spiritual experience and enhancing their spirituality and accelerating their progress. Usually mantra or Vedic Mahavakya or spiritually charged short prayer or mental assertion is also passed on to the student. This is also
essential part of Sadhana.
It is necessary, Dikhya:
Dikhya is a must for advance spiritual practice. Dikshya or Dikhya means Dik + darshan to God i.e. the Guru gives proper & correct direction and guidance to the student to obtain success in soul awareness (Dikdarshanam dadati iti Dikhya). In fact the student derives benefits from the Gurus experience, his blessing and motivation. So the Gurus are highly revered and to obtain inner rapport, the student serves the Guru; and
his family according to their capacity.
Basic requirements:
The Guru must test the student to find exactly, his needs, strong points & weak points and guide accordingly.The student should test the Guru, if they can live & learn in harmony and understanding. The student must treat the Guru with respect and honour and serve him by obedience, discipline and proper polite questioning, and listening and learning. The student must not show disrespect or rudeness or arrogance to the Guru or his family. The student should consider the Guru as his father and the Guru’s wife as his mother and the Gurus children as his brothers & sisters.The Guru should consider the student as his son practically, and teach & guide with compassion, love & sincerity and without ulterior motive. The students & their parents compensate fully to the Guru by donations generously.
WHAT DIKHYA CAN GIVE TO THE STUDENT?
Diksha helps the students by accelerating his progress & minimizing the time to succeed & overcome obstacles.
It gives the basic tools to achieve success and perfection i.e. humbleness, hard work, discipline, positive approach, fearlessness, sense control, sharing, forgiveness, faith and divinity, patience etc. without Dikhya these are very difficult to obtain and hence success is doubtful, in spiritual practice. The Gurus prayers and love and best wishes for the student are great protection and help to the student many obstacles and failures can be avoided by this. May all the Gurus or Teachers too practice their own techniques and remain fit and worthy to teach, guide, protect and inspire the students and motivate them to achieve higher than themselves. May the students love, respect the Guru and cooperate fully in acquiring knowledge, and become God realized master themselves.
Certain basic consideration:
By accepting Dikhya, the student does not become a moral, mental or physical slave of the Guru or his cult. To acquire more knowledge, the student is free to go to other gurus without giving up the first guru. By accepting Diskha the student becomes like a son or daughter to the Guru and not a servant or slave. It is not a karmic rule that this relationship is carried forward to other births. It may or may not. It depends on their strong desire.Human Guru is not God. But God is the Supreme Guru. The human Guru shows the direction to reach or realize God. None is greater than God. The Guru should not consider the disciple as a potential rival and should not cut him down to exploitation levels. The Guru should be free from jealousy and fear from the disciples. The student should sincerely try to implement the conditions of Dikhya and should not misuse the trust and technique imparted by the Guru.May this holy tradition of Dikshya be free from impurities and adulterations and lead people to spiritual truths and realization and universal oneness. This will make the world a better place to live and let live.
Om Sahanaawa watu, Sahanau Bhunaktu, Saha Virjyam Karabaawahe, Tejaswinaawa dheeta mastu, maa vidwisa wahe,
om shantih, om shantih om shantih.
Bless us O God that we live harmoniously together, enjoy the fruits of our labour together. May we practice heroic deeds and strength, vitality and knowledge giving acts together May our mind & intellect become effulgent and shine in Gods power. May we not hate each other, may we not be hostile to each other Om May there be peace, harmony and happiness attend us physically, astrally and causally,
Om Tat Sat om.
Mental Company of God is Yoga, Any other thing is Bhoga
(Or material enjoyment)
