Accepting garland

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Room Conversation – June 15, 1975, Honolulu 750615R4-HONOLULU [53:36 Minutes] Conv_750615R4-HONOLULU Prabhupāda: [indistinct—kīrtana in background throughout] …policy to make him surrender. There is no question of canvassing. Then he will automatically take [indistinct]. But if you say that only required, then [indistinct].

Siddha-svarūpa: There is a difference between saying that you don’t require initiation and saying that they should chant and become prepared, they should prepare themselves first in their understanding before you request initiation. Because I see so many people, they push people to… Prabhupāda: No, they should be advised to chant. At least at this time they should be advised to become qualified so that they can be initiated. Just like we see Arjuna.

Arjuna was talking to Kṛṣṇa just like friend, but when the puzzling was not solved, then he said, "I don’t find anyone who can solve my problem; therefore I accept You as my spiritual master," śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam [Bg. 2.7]. So to get knowledge, that would be first. Kṛṣṇa was not talking with him very seriously. He was talking, "No, it is your duty to kill.

Even this fighting in the battlefield, you should not be weak. Come on." But when he surrendered to Him, śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam, then He seriously spoke what is Bhagavad-gītā. So that is required—to be serious in accepting spiritual master, śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam. Siddha-svarūpa: Yes.

But if that seriousness is not there, then it makes a mockery of initiation.

Prabhupada: No, there is no question of mockery. Siddha-svarūpa: No, but if the seriousness is not there...

Prabhupāda: That means your preaching is not good, because you are not preaching seriously. That means your preaching is failure, you see? But you should go on, but you should know also that "These men are not becoming serious. Then what is the use of initiation?" You cannot give it up.

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