Qualifications for First Initiation

7.2.1.1.1      One Year Preparatory Period

In order to receive first initiation one must have been engaged favorably in devotional service, strictly following the four regulative principles and chanting sixteen rounds a day, for at least one year without interruption.

7.2.1.1.2      First Six-month Period

During the first six months of following the four regulative principles and chanting sixteen rounds daily, a new devotee who is aspiring for initiation should not commit himself to a particular initiating guru. Rather, he should chant Srila Prabhupada's pranama-mantra and worship him as Founder-Acarya of ISKCON and as his siksa-guru.

7.2.1.1.3      Second Six-month Period

After successfully completing the first six-month preparatory period, and after passing the required examination, the candidate may choose his future diksa-guru. Receiving permission from that guru, and notifying the local Temple President, the candidate should take shelter and begin to worship that guru as his own spiritual master and chant his pranama-mantra. Actual initiation may take place only after a minimum six-month period from the date shelter was taken and the local Temple President notified.

7.2.1.1.4      Devotees Residing Within Temple Communities

In addition to satisfying the above requirements, devotees residing in temple communities must, during the one-year preparatory period, regularly attend the full morning program.

7.2.1.1.5      Devotees Residing Outside of Temple Communities

Devotees who do not live in a temple community and who cannot come daily to the temple programs may be initiated provided they have regular morning programs at home or attend regular morning programs at the nama-hatta center.

7.2.1.1.6      Pass Examination

Before a devotee can be permitted to formally take shelter of a particular ISKCON spiritual master and be subsequently recommended for initiation, he or she must demonstrate a basic understanding of Srila Prabhupada's teachings by answering an oral or written test administered by the Temple President or other recommending authority. The questions to be answered are:

1. What are the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master?

2. Why are you convinced to follow the orders of the spiritual master in this life, and even life after life?

3. Why does one worship the spiritual master like God?

4. Do you believe the spiritual master speaks the Absolute Truth? If so, why?

5. Under what circumstances should the spiritual master be rejected?

6. What are the qualifications and responsibilities of a disciple?

7. What is the unique position of Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON?

8. Why do you accept Lord Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

9. Why do we follow the four regulative principles?

10. Why do we chant Hare Krsna?

11. What is the position of the GBC Body?

12. Explain the difference between the body and the self.

13. What is ISKCON, and why should one remain in ISKCON?

14. Have you read the paper “Harmonizing ISKCON’s Lines of Authority”?

15. What have you understood as the most important points of the “Harmonizing ISKCON’s Lines of Authority” paper?

16. Have you read GBC Resolution 303/2013: GBC Statement on the Position of Srila Prabhupada?

 

Change of Prospective Guru

Sometimes a candidate for initiation who had formally accepted shelter from one spiritual master as a prospective initiating guru may subsequently decide to change to another. Such a candidate must communicate this change to the former prospective spiritual master, new prospective spiritual master, and local Temple President. The candidate must also remain fixed under the shelter of the newly proposed initiating guru for six continuous months prior to receiving initiation, starting from the time of newly accepting formal shelter.

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