How to receive tantric initiation

Tantra is a career path that has as its object very definite success. It is not a path of accumulating temporary material riches that are easily lost. It is a path of accumulating permanent spiritual merit that makes you rich with virtue and poor in karma. Accepting tantric initiation is a prerequisite to such a successful career.

The deepest significance of initiation is that through it a teacher introduces the Spirit to the disciple. To receive tantric initiation means to step under Supreme Shelter. To put it in another way, through initiation a guru once and for all awakens the disciple to his or her sleeping divinity and puts a permanent check on his or her negative tendencies, making it impossible to quit the Path. On a more practical level (if we may take the chance of insulting the Spirit in such a way), initiation bestows on the disciple a definitive directedness (the light of knowledge) that will help him or her to walk the path. The two practical teachings that a disciple receives through the initiation are moral direction and a meditation system. Both will guide him or her along the path to the very end.

After you have received tantric initiation, you will no longer need to pray to the Most High to lead you to the right path, for you will have been shown the right path through initiation—now you have to travel it and steer doubt away from your mind. Tantric initiation is a gift from the One who has heard your conscious or unconscious prayers.

When is one ready for initiation? The time for further instructions is when the teacher, disciple and God are ready, which is demonstrated by the confluence of ripe personal circumstances of both the student and the teacher. You are ready for initiation when you clearly understand that nothing of this world can possibly bring you lasting peace of mind and happiness. This is not to say that you will have rid yourself of all attachments to this world or its many object before initiation. It is the sole purpose of initiation to loosen these attachments and bring you closer to God, make you one with God.

Before you request initiation you must pave the road and prepare the building site. You must begin getting yourself ready by engaging in three fundamental practices: basic insight meditation, basic asana practice and yoga ethical principles. Yoga ethics should be learned by heart and followed faithfully in everyday life. You must also begin developing a service-oriented relationship with your prospective teacher and his organization. A good period for preparation is six months to a year.

While you are engaged in preparatory practices, it is a very good idea to ask yourself several important questions. These questions should be carefully considered, but not necessarily fully understood and resolved, before requesting and accepting initiation. First, you should ask the question, Why from among a multitude of traditions am I choosing this one? Do I know what being loyal to my teacher and his teaching means? Can I study with other teachers and still be loyal to my teacher?

You should be comfortable with the teacher and his or her teaching system. Although some doubt is natural and may persist for some time, you should not have any major doubts about your choice. You must take such a step very seriously because the forces set in motion by initiation and the effects of initiation are irreversible. You cannot undo tantric initiation.

It is not advisable to accept initiation if you have serious unresolved emotional problems. The feeling of dissatisfaction with the world, typical before initiation has been received, has to be genuine and not an escape from life. Such advice is especially directed at those taking psychotropic medication of a certain potent kind, particularly those drugs that repress emotional symptoms. Medications that correct a chemical or hormonal imbalance are usually well tolerated and are permissible. Initiation usually makes emotional problems worse by aggressively bringing them to the surface.

Do not be too impatient to be initiated. It is better to wait several months, years or even lifetimes than damage your body, mind and emotions with the powerful forces released by premature initiation. Again, it is a very good idea to practice preliminary requirements (basic insight meditation, basic asana practice and yoga ethical principles) for a sufficient time before requesting initiation.

Initiation puts fire to your karmic situation—the sam'ska'ras you are currently expressing and working on. It is normal that your life will become a bit interesting (both in the positive and negative sense) for about six to twelve months after initiation, as your system adjusts to a more intense pace of purification. Thus it is advantageous to take initiation when you are experiencing good times, as the acceptance of initiation tend to magnify whatever "issues" you are working on at the moment. If you take initiation during bad times, your life will take a temporary turn for the worse.

As a general guideline for your visit, please confirm that you indeed will be eligible for initiation. Plan to stay at least 2 or 3 days (a week is better) as the meditation techniques learned through initiation tend to be a bit complex and thus difficult to remember. You may develop doubts and concerns that need to be addressed. Also, plan to be alone, as it is common to become withdrawn for about 10 days after initiation. Rent a hotel room just for yourself, or bring a tent for nature camping, etc. It is not a good idea to be with relatives or friends who will not appreciate, and may interfere with, your sensitive, withdrawn state immediately after initiation.

Although meditation techniques are kept secret and cannot be discussed by telephone, email or letter, general concerns can be clarified by these methods. Thus, it is a good idea to make regular contact with the teacher after initiation, both for further meditation lessons (additional techniques) and as a way to stay connected with the teacher's energy.

Accept initiation with reverence and utter gratitude because it is a gift of Grace from God. Treasure the mantra with its accompanying technique in your mind and in your heart by practicing it faithfully and diligently.