Diksha (Initiation)
The derivative meaning of the word diksha is - diyate paramam gyanam kshiyate papa karmani -
which bestows the supreme knowledge & frees oneself from all sins.
Diksha can be of two types :
1. Namajapa Diksha - this can be received by anyone easily as the Guru ( not a Sadguru) initiates a person in exchange to some financial or materialistic gains. The number of followers as also the number of Guru of this path is more. Here the Guru is not free from material cravings from his disciples.
2. Asadharan Diksha or Yoga Diksha or Kriya Yoga Diksha - this can only be obtained from a Sadguru who initiates his disciples so that they can also perceive the Supreme, guiding them from unfathomable darkness to the enlightened world. A Sadguru does not aspire after narrow material gains as He has crossed such limits. This relationship between the Sadguru & disciple is an everlasting one. The numbers of such Sadguru as well as number of followers are very very small.
Initiation at Jujersa Yogashram
Jujersa Yogashram maintains the traditional principles of Kriya Yoga in which initiation & practice of Kriya Yoga are kept secret between the Sadguru & disciple. Initiation is given to only a few devotees at a time at the Sri Gurumandir by Swamiji himself. One has to take oath before the Guru not to disclose anything about the spiritual practice or his spiritual experiences except to the Sadguru.
Those willing to have initiation from Swamiji are required to directly meet Guruji personally. Only in exceptional cases Guruji - by his own will - gives permission to give initiation to some persons unable to visit him personally.
There is no fixed date or time in one’s life to start the journey to the Absolute by way of taking diksha. Once the feeling of vairagya develops in one’s mind he can have initiation. Initiation is not the final goal, it is just a beginning of a forward journey. A journey which we need to undertake under the guidance of a Sadguru. Hence it is realisations which matter the most.
Whether one particular person will receive initiation from Swamiji is completely pre-determined by his prarabdha. So we have seen many people being refused by Swamiji to be initiated saying, “I am not your Guru. You better take initiation from some other organisation. Your bhava (sentiments) match better with them, not with a Kriya Yogi.” Again we have seen, at proper time, He himself has initiated someone simply by inviting him from his house.
Sometimes devotees have to wait for months, even years to get initiation. In Swamiji’s language, “I have not got the signal from my Guruji.” Again there are many who have got their date of initiation on the very first visit. Guruji says, “those who are predetermined to have initiation from me, will certainly get it at the proper time.”
Usually He asks devotees to read Srimadbhagavat Geeta (preferably a spiritual commentary like Pranav Geeta) & books written by Him & have His company (Satsanga) for some days before initiation. He says, “you must watch your Guru in the day as also in the night" - taking the clue from Sri Ramakrishna's words. "You should be sure that He does what He says. His words & His acts are same”.
Gurudakshina
There is no concept of any fixed fees etc. for initiation at our Ashram. Guruji, like a true sannyasi, gracefully accepts any amount as Gurudakshina which is given with a sense of dignity & honour. He does not accept even a rupee given out of disrespect. In His wards in Bengali "ami kebal shraddhar daan grahan korbo."
If one is already initiated
To maintain the dignity of Guruparampara, those who have got initiation from other organisations need to inform about it. Further details in this regard will be given through personal emails only.
If you are staying far away from the Ashram
For someone who is willing to take initiation from Swamiji & cannot visit Ashram frequently due to distance, he/she should send an email to info@kriyayogashram.org. One needs to give information about his or her name, address & contact details, time & place of birth, gotra (for Hindus only), occupation, family etc. One should mention how he/she has come to know about Kriya Yoga etc. We request the devotees to send a scanned photo of themselves through email which will be printed & shown to Swamiji. The photo should clearly show the face - the eyes & forehead. We have seen Swamiji meditating on the photo for a short while & then prescribe the best avenue for spiritual progress for the person. However, if one is 'truly unable' to send a photo please mention the same in the email. In case one has any other question regarding spiritual practice etc., he should clearly mention them without hesitation. The Secretary to the Ashram will inform them about Guruji's decision within 10-14 days.
Time for practice
One needs to devote at least one hour in the morning & one hour in the evening to practice Kriya pranayama at the beginning. If one cannot devote one hour, at least half an hour in both the sessions is needed to get optimum result. The practice must be regular & done with a sense of complete surrender to the Guru. Gradually the time for practice will increase. Senior Gurubrothers & sisters practice for five to six hours, even more every day. The sadhaka will be astonished to find how the Gurusakti helps to remove all the obstacles to the sadhana.
Place for practice
One needs to practice sadhana in a closed room in his home. The room should be dark. Then the jyoti or the nada etc. will manifest well. Kriya should never be practiced in public, not even before family members who are non-initiated.
Initiation for family men
It is recommended that both the husband & the wife should take initiation simultaneously & practice together. This is a very common to find both the family members practising together. However sometimes we see, the husband takes initiation at first & after few months the wife also becomes very much interested & takes initiation & start practice. Even the reverse is also true in many cases.
Checking of Kriya from Guruji
It is customary for everyone to get the Kriya verified from the Guru himself at suitable intervals - at least once in two months. Sometimes, Guruji himself asks a disciple to perform Kriya before him & get the mistakes, if any, corrected & get further advanced Kriya. During this process, He touches the Kutastha of the disciple & infuses His spiritual energy within him.
In this context, we remember the case of one of our very close Gurubrother from USA. When he came here for the first time, he informed Guruji that he was practising Kriya for nearly two decades but there was no one to get it checked, no one to verify whether what he was practising was correct. This revelation was an eye opener to all of us. We could feel how fortunate we were to stay so near to the Guru to get our practices corrected so frequently!
That He always keeps an eye to each & every practitioner is apparent when He scolds someone for not practising Kriya regularly. Again, we have also seen that Guruji himself informs a disciple that his practice is progressing properly or needs slight modification. His disciples from distant places very often get His advice over the phone, if He allows it.
Visiting the Guru
As per advise of Sri Lahiribaba, it is mandatory for a disciple to visit his Guru at least for three days in a year, perform Guruseva & receive His advise verbally. This tradition is very much in place in Jujersa Yogashram.
Disciples
More than two thousand souls have received initiation from Swamiji in the path of Kriyayoga. This is a very big family. Members of the family are now present in every state of India and in many countries around the world.
Those disciples who are staying away from the Ashram have themselves developed a nice way of mutual prosperity. They meet at a place at least once every month & discuss about Kriya & spirituality. This discussions are usually conducted by a local senior disciple after necessary permission from Guruji.