Dikshya or Dikhya is one of those Sanskrit words, which has no equivalent non-Sanskrit term or word. When we write the word Dikshya, we mean the same word used in all Indian Languages derived from Sanskrit. Diksha has the combined meaning of introduction, admission, initiation, orientation or motivation and blessings that too voluntarily with faith.
Dikshya
For Dikshya, youthful and sometimes middle-aged people, desirous of higher spiritual learning used to approach worthy Gurus or teachers with fruits, flowers, donations, Samidha and join the Gurus camp and live there. The Guru taught by setting examples of conduct, lifestyle, regular discourses, and seminars. Emphasis was on action or Sadhana leading to direct experience of Spiritual Truths i.e. knowledge and special knowledge. Often, after living with the Gurus family for few years, students learn the method and then go to a secluded place with Guru’s permission, practice for many years the spiritual techniques and lifestyle, till they get perfection. In
- Visual power
- Touch power
- Telepathic power
- Verbal power
By these techniques, the Guru or God Realized Master infuses his spiritual energy into the qualified disciple thereby giving them spiritual experience and enhancing their spirituality and accelerating their progress. Usually, Mantra or Vedic Mahavakya or spiritually charged short prayer or mental assertion is also passed on to the student. This is also an essential part of Sadhana.
Necessity of Dikshya
Dikshya is a must to advanced spiritual practice. Dikshya or Dikhya means Dik + Darshan to God i.e the Guru gives proper & correct direction and guidance to the student to obtain success in soul awareness.
dikdarshanam dadati iti dikhya
In fact, the student derives benefits from the Gurus experience, his blessing and motivation. So the Gurus are highly revered. minimizing obtain a rapport, the student serves the Guru and his family according to their capacity.
Non-spiritual vs. Spiritual Diskshya
In non-spiritual secular learning, admission to an institution is a must. For admission, a selection is made. The candidate has to sign a bond to respect, obey, and observe the rules and regulations of the particular institution. These are much more strict and binding legally than those in Spiritual Dikshya. In spiritual Dikshya, the moral values and disciplines are advised at a moral level, with love and harmony & understanding. Keeping in view the spiritual advancement of the student. So willing, sincere cooperation is required.
Procedure of Dikshya
In Dikshya, the procedures include purification of the body, the mind, ego, and intellect (perception of the soul is introduced). The details of the method are variable. This depends on the tradition of the sect or school of spiritual practice. In all cases, certain traditional rituals are involved. Again the details vary. Emphasis is more on a code of conduct, obedience, how to practice the technique, keeping the confidentiality of the spiritual techniques learned from the teacher. The teacher or the chief teacher is known as the Guru God is the Supreme Guru or Sat Guru.
Basic requirements
- The Guru must test the student to find exactly, his needs, strong points & weak points and guide accordingly.
- The student should test the Guru if they can live & learn in harmony and understanding.
- The student must treat the Guru with respect and honor and serve him
with obedience, discipline and proper polite questioning, and listening and learning. - The student must not show disrespect or rudeness or arrogance to the Guru or his family. The student should consider the Guru as his father and the Guru’s wife as his mother. He must treat the Guru’s children as his brothers & sisters.
- The Guru should consider the student as his son practically, and teach, guide with compassion, love, sincerity, and without an ulterior motive.
- The students & their parents compensate fully to the Guru by donations generously.
What Dikshya can give to the student ?
Diksha helps the student by accelerating his progress & minimizing the time to succeed and overcome any obstacles. It gives the basic tools to achieve success and perfection. That is humbleness, hard work, discipline, positive approach, fearlessness, sense of control, sharing, forgiveness, faith, divinity, patience, etc. Without Dikshya these are very difficult to obtain and hence success is doubtful, in spiritual practice. The Guru’s prayers, love, and best wishes for the student are of great protection. It helps the student to overcome many obstacles and failures.
May this holy tradition of Dikshya be free from impurities, adulteration and lead people to spiritual truths and realization and Universal Oneness. This will make the world a better place to live and let live.
Certain basic consideration
By accepting Dikhya, the student does not become a moral, mental, or physical slave of the Guru or his Cult. To acquire more knowledge, the student is free to go to other gurus without giving up the first guru.
- By accepting Dikhya the student becomes like a son or daughter to the Guru and not a servant or a
slave . - It is not a Karmic rule that this relationship is carried forward to other births. It may or may not. It depends on their strong desire.
- Human Guru is not God. But God is the Supreme Guru. The human Guru shows the direction to reach or realize God. None is greater than God.
- The Guru should not consider the disciple as a potential rival and should not cut him down to exploitation levels. The Guru should be free from jealousy and fear from the disciples.
- The student should sincerely try to implement the conditions of Dikhya and should not misuse the trust and technique imparted by the Guru.
May all practice Kriya Yoga and enjoy peace, joy, harmony, and love for God and His Creation and for oneself.
With Love and Best Wishes,
Paramahansa Atmananda Ji