Initiation

Meditationtime Forum Post

Date:  Posted 5 years before Mar 22, 2018

Alfredo 5 years ago

Following on a petition by Swami Hariharananda Guruji, Acharya Michael Beloved provided me with Gayatri and Guru mantras initiation with furnished the proper practice and proper cadence, during a beautiful ceremony that included the awarding, and wearing for life, of a Yajnopavita (Brahmin thread) through Upanayana procedure. Marcia Beloved contributed by chanting the Krishna Maha Mantra during the ceremony.

This took place in a section of a small room in my home that I keep for puja and meditation and that contains a Shiva altar. Part of it is seen in this picture below that was taken while the initiation ceremony was being prepared.

I am very grateful to the Acharya for this honor. Although the initiation is of great value, the important thing, the real value, is in constantly striving for a brahmin life and body...and what is that? To illustrate that the Acharya read the following from his translation of the "Uddhava Gita Explained", page 344, Chapter 12, Verse 12.16:

शमो दमस् तपः शौचं

सन्तोषः क्षान्तिर् आर्जवम्

मद्-भक्तिश् च दया सत्यं

ब्रह्म-प्रक्ऱ्तयस् त्व् इमाः

śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ

santoṣaḥ kṣāntir ārjavam

mad-bhaktiś ca dayā satyaṁ

brahma-prakrtayas tv imāḥ

Translation: Tranquility, self-discipline, austerity, cleanliness, contentment, forbearance, straight-forwardness and devotion to Me as well as mercy, realism or truthfulness; these are the dispositions of the brahmins.

Do I conform to these dispositions? Not a chance. But I want to, and am committed to strive for them.

Neo_Yogi 5 years ago

Congratulations, Alfredo, I'm very happy for you.

Wearing the Yajnopavita thread will remind you this commitment in times of weakness so you'll be safe.

Alfredo 5 years ago

Gracias José!

Indeed, this seems to be, perhaps, the main use of this thread, a reminder.

Jettins 5 years ago

Very nice Alfredo!

Alfredo 5 years ago

Thank you Jettins!

unlimitedsun 5 years ago

Namaste! With folded hands.

I trust other will be blessed in your shadows.