Initiation Lecture

San Francisco, March 10, 1968

Prabhupda: The meaning of this mantra is apavitra pavitro v.
Apavitra means unclean and pavitra means clean. So anyone who may
be unclean or clean, it doesn't matter. Apavitra
pavitro v sarvvasth gato 'pi v. Sarva means all. Avastha means
condition. "In whatever condition one may be, either unclean or
clean," ya, "anyone who,"smaret, "remembers," puarkkam...
Puarkkam means Ka. Ka's another name
is puarkkam. Ya smaret puarkkam, sa:"That
person," bahya, "externally," abhyantaram, "internally," uci,"become
s at once purified." r-viu r-viu rviu. Puarkkam,Ka or Viu. So this is the remembrance. rviu, nama r-viur-viu.
So this initiation means purification. In this material world we are
all impure. Because we are impure, therefore death, disease, old age,
and pangs of birth overcome us. Just like in diseased conditionwe
have experiencedthere are so many painful conditions, similarly, in
this materialistic way of life these symptoms, birth, death, disease, and
old age, they are different kinds of miseries. The rascals, materialists,
they are thinking that they're making advance, but they have no
solution for these things. The solution is by tapasya. Tapasya means
voluntarily accepting some rules and regulations to purify him. That is
called tapasya. Just like in diseased condition, one has to voluntarily
accept the rules and regulations enforced by the physician: "You should
not eat this. You should not do this. You should not go out. You should
take rest. You should not, should not, should not," so many. Similarly,
if we want to purify ourselves, then four principles of purificatory
process, namely illicit sex life and intoxication, meat-eating, and
gambling, these four things must be...
These four things are paraphernalia of your civilization. In the
western... Not only western, eastern, everywhere. The Kali-yuga is
spreading very rapidly, and wherever the Kali-yuga is very prominent,
these four items are very prominent: unrestricted sex life, gambling,
and meat-eating, and intoxication. When people become practiced to
all this nonsense, they think, "Oh, what is wrong there?" But it is the
most abominable part of human civilization. Anyone who are indulging
in these four things, they cannot imagine where is he and how he will

be free from this conditional life. So this is the purificatory process. So

as you are being initiated, initiation means beginning of your
purificatory process. So if we are serious about purification, then we
must follow these four principles, if you want to be cured.
Of course, this chanting of hari-nma 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
ofKa 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, Ka consciousness or
chanting Hare Ka 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. We do
not know when death is coming, especially in these days. We are
moving in the street, we are moving by plane, we are moving... Every
step, there is danger. Pada pada yad vipadm [SB 10.14.58]. It is a
place of danger. So our life... We should consider this human form of
life, especially Ka conscious life, is very important life. We should
not be inattentive. So we should be very careful. Ka will, of course,
protect you, but at the same time, we have got consciousness. We
should also take care that before the next death comes, we must be fully
prepared for being transferred to Kaloka. And it is very simple
thing. If you keep yourself constantly in Ka consciousness, that's the
only thing. Then you are sure to be going, transferred next life. As I was
explaining last night, simply by understanding Ka...
Ka is not like us. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. How
He is Supreme Personality of Godhead? That He proved when, while
He was present. The history is there. Ka's pastimes, Ka's
activities, Ka's wisdom, lecture, Bhagavad-gteverything is there.
They are the proofs. There is a very nice verse by Yamuncrya that
there are authentic literatures, there are authentic personalities, and
they accept Ka as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Authentic
literatures, they give proof that Ka is the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. And by His wonderful activities we can understand that He is
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But still, the atheistic rascal will
not accept. You see? There are sufficient proofs. Just like Arjuna says,

"Ka, You are the parabrahma. It is not because I am Your friend I

am flattering You. You have been accepted by authorities like
Vysadeva, Nrada, in all scriptures, and You are personally explaining
Yourself." So there is no doubt about it, but the demons, in spite of all
thisdog's obstinacythey will not accept. So let them go to hell. So far
we are concerned, Ka is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His
body is eternal, full of bliss, and full of knowledge, end sac-cid-nandavigraha [Bs. 5.1]. If we simply remember that Ka is like that, and as
soon as we chant Hare Ka, we remember Ka, and we understand
that He is the Supreme Personality.
This very consciousness will lead you. It is not very difficult. It is
very easy, always thinking of Ka. And those who have taken already,
they are thinking of Ka, and they are making progress both, I mean
to say... Their health is improving; their mind is becoming very nice. So
you will be also feeling. There is no need of talking. You will yourself
feel, but you must follow. And there are ten kinds of offenses. That also,
you should avoid. And these rules and regulations. Now
chant mantras. (end)