Following the Initiation Vows – Tips by Srila Prabhupada!
Every disciple should follow the vows taken when they took initiation to go back to the Godhead without fail. This is a serious commitment, not a casual one.
Let us read what Srila Prabhupada said about following the Initiation Vows:
(1) Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.35 Lecture — Hawaii, January 28, 1974:
It is not very difficult to follow the four regulative principles…These things should be stopped if you’ll want to be serious; otherwise make a farce and do whatever you like. I cannot give you protection. That is not possible. So you must have to follow these rules and regulation if you are serious. Then take initiation. Otherwise don’t make farce, don’t make farce. That is my request.
(2) Letter to: Raja Laksmi — Mayapur 17 February, 1976:
My advice is always chant 16 rounds minimum and follow the four regulative principles. All of my disciples must agree on this point otherwise they are not my disciples…My disciples must follow these principles living either in heaven or hell.
(3) Letter to: Sankarasana — Bombay 31 December, 1972:
Tapasya for forcing you to make very rapid advancement in Krsna conscious If still you are unable to fulfill that promise to your spiritual master, then what is the use of calling yourself devotee and disciple? That is simply pretending. So you should think like this, that I have promised my spiritual master this, now I must obey him without any exception, otherwise I have no business calling myself his disciple. That will be your austerity or tapasya for forcing you to make very rapid advancement in Krsna conscious understanding. Without tapasya there is no question of making advancement. So if still the material nature is so much attractive to you that you are unable to sacrifice things in this way, then better you give up the whole thing and do as you like outside. But if you want to call yourself devotee and serve Krsna in that capacity, then you must avoid these four basic principle restrictions under all circumstances, without any exceptions. Of course once, twice, Krsna may excuse, that is not very difficult, but more than that it will become very difficult for Krsna to excuse you and there is great risk that everything will be lost despite all of your time and effort spent.
(4) Letter to: Jayapataka — Los Angeles 11 July, 1969:
You have asked if it is true that the Spiritual Master remains in the material universe until all of His disciples are transferred to the Spiritual Sky. The answer is yes, this is the rule. Therefore, every student should be very much careful not to commit any offense which will be detrimental to this promotion to the Spiritual Kingdom, and thereby the Spiritual Master has to incarnate again to deliver him. This sort of mentality will be a kind of offense to the Spiritual Master. Out of the ten kinds of offenses, the number one offense is to disobey the orders of the Spiritual Master. The instructions given to the disciple by the Spiritual Master at the time of initiation should be strictly followed. That will make one advance to the spiritual path. But if one deliberately defies such instructions, then his advancement is hampered from the very beginning. This defying means to disconnect the relationship with the Spiritual Master. And anyone who defies and therefore disconnects the relationship with the Spiritual Master can hardly expect the assistance of the Spiritual Master life after life. I hope this will clear up this question sufficiently for you.
(5) Initiation lecture, San Francisco, 10th Mar, 1968:
Of course, this chanting of hari-nama will make you purified. That’s nice. But just like this fire I am going to ignite. This is dry firewood. But if I help it, to keep it dry, then the fire will be very nice, blazing fire. But if I pour water on it, then it will be difficult to ignite. Similarly, the fire of Krisna consciousness will keep you always progressing, but at the same time, if we also voluntarily do not pour water on that fire, then it will be nice. Similarly, Krisna consciousness or chanting Hare Krsna will keep you progressive. At the same time, voluntarily, if you do not commit all these nonsenses, then it will be very nice. And if you continue this water pouring, then… Just like a man is taking medicine at the same time doing all nonsense. Then his disease will not be cured, or may take very, very long time. So we should not be irresponsible in that way because life is very short.
(6) Introduction to Srimad-Bhägavatam:
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 Jagai and Madhai. If they want to be relieved from the reactions of their misdeeds, they must take shelter of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu and after spiritual initiation thus refrain from those things which are prohibited in the sastras.
Thus, following the initiation vows is very important for disciples.
(Who can accept disciples? Qualifications of a bonafide Guru! READ HERE!)