Spiritual Initiation or Mantra-Diksha
In the Ramakrishna Order, in India, Only the Revered President Swamiji and the Vice-President Swamijis, initiate devotees into Spiritual Life. However, there are other Senior monks abroad who initiate.
We recommend all interested spiritual aspirants to read a small booklet titled ‘Initiation’ (this book has been translated into various languages), by Swami Bhuteshanandaji Maharaj, the 12th President of the Ramakrishna Order. This book is available in almost all the centres of Ramakrishna Order. We also recommend reading the book ‘Spiritual Practice’ (titled ‘Spiritual Life’ and is available free for the general public in our website itself), by Swami Ashokanandaji Maharaj, a disciple of Swami Vivekananda and one of the eminent monks of Ramakrishna Order who headed the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco, for more than three decades, to acquire a general understanding of various concepts of Spiritual Life.
Those who are interested to be initiated by a Guru of Ramakrishna Order are directed to meet Swami Jnanadananda ji Maharaj, Adhyaksha, Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad, personally.
“One must get instruction from a guru. Once a man was looking for a stone image of Siva. Someone said to him: ‘Go to a certain river. There you will find a tree. Near it is a whirlpool. Dive into the water there, and you will find the image of Siva.’ So I say that one must get instruction from a teacher.”
“It is Satchidananda that comes to us in the form of the guru. If a man is initiated by a human guru, he will not achieve anything if he regards his guru as a mere man. The guru should be regarded as the direct manifestation of God. Only then can the disciple have faith in the mantra given by the guru. Once a man has faith he, achieves all. The sudra Ekalavya learned archery in the forest before a clay image of Drona; He worshipped the image as the living Drona; that by itself enabled him to attain Mastery in archery.”
“Faith in the guru’s words. You should depend on his instruction. Do your duties in the world, holding fast to his words, like a person whirling round and holding fast to a pillar. One must not look on one’s guru as a mere human being: it is Satchidananda Himself who appears as the guru. When the disciple has the vision of the Ishta, through the guru’s grace, he finds the guru merging in Him.” – Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
Interested Devotees who are willing to obtain Mantra Diksha will have to complete reading the following books before filling the application:
- Sri Ramakrishna – Life and Teachings
- Sri Sarada Devi – Life and Teachings
- Swami Vivekananda – His Life and Legacy
- The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna (minimum one volume is to be read)
To know the upcoming dates for Mantra Diskha and other formalities, please contact MATH OFFICE, beside the main bookstall, Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad, Ph: 040-27633937 & 040-27633936 email: mathoffice@rkmath.org