8.6.1.1 The purpose of diksa initiation is formalization of the relationship wherein
the bona fide spiritual master delivers to the initiate the highest
transcendental knowledge, divya-jnana. Through the guru disciple
relationship, one inquires submissively from the spiritual master and renders
service to him, thus becoming freed from all material contamination, divya-
jnanam ksipayati.
8.6.1.2 Divya-jnana that is transmitted to the sincere seeker by a siksa-guru who
repeats perfectly the pure siddhanta as handed down by disciplic succession
is non-different from divya-jnana transmitted by the uttama-adhikari
diksa-guru.
8.6.1.3 Although divya-jnana may be transmitted to the sincere seeker by other via
media such as siksa-guru, Book Bhagavat or Caitya Guru, receiving the
pure siddhanta from the personally manifest (living) bona fide diksa-guru in
disciplic succession is the goal of divya diksanam, which likewise conveys
the requisite authority for one to engage in pancaratra-vidhi.
8.6.1.3.1 Divya diksanam is not non-different from divya-jnana, nor does
the transmission of divya-jnana automatically confer diksa
initiation upon the recipient.
8.6.1.3.2 Although divya-jnana descends through disciplic succession, the
transcendental knowledge is not restricted or in any way
dominated by the most recent uttama-adhikari acarya, nor even
the most recent of the topmost Acaryas in disciplic succession.
Rather, it is freely passed through all qualified spiritual masters in
disciplic succession who deliver the unalloyed, pure siddhanta.
8.6.2.1 "According to the Vedic instructions, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum
evabhigacchet: [MU 1.2.12] to know this science, one must approach a bona
fide guru, a spiritual master who will initiate the disciple with the sacred
thread so that he may understand the Vedic knowledge. Janmana jayate
sudrah samskarad dhi bhaved dvijah. Becoming a brahmana through the
endeavor of a bona fide spiritual master is called samskara. After initiation,
one is engaged in study of the sastra, which teaches the student how to gain
release from materialistic life and return home, back to Godhead." [57]
8.6.2.2 In the conditioned stage, pure reliance on caitya-guru is not possible, thus
the guru conferring diksa initiation is external, and the process of diksa
initiation constitutes physical presence of both disciple and guru.
"Krishna is the first spiritual master, and when we become more interested,
then we have to go to a physical spiritual master." [58]
8.6.2.3 While bhagavat-marga (bhagavat-vidhi) may be conveyed to the initiate by
book bhagavat, the pancaratriki-vidhi element of diksa initiation relies upon
the manifest presence of the bona fide spiritual master.
8.6.2.4 The diksa disciple, by associating with the eternal vibration of the bona fide
diksa-guru, may overcome feelings of separation from the spiritual master's
physical presence when that temporary manifest presence is no longer
available.
8.6.2.5 The bona fide spiritual master is always available to the disciple through his
vani, however vani itself is not the agent, or giver of diksa initiation. The
conditioned jiva accepts vani, like book bhagavat, with the aid of caitya-guru. However, pure reliance on vani is not possible for the conditioned
soul, thus guru conferring diksa initiation is an external, manifest presence.
