He who has once been initiated by a competent Master is assured, once and for all, his liberation from the bondage of mind and matter; it is but a question of time.
The seed of spirituality sown in him is bound to sprout and fructify. The spirituality when awakened and the spiritual experience gained must be developed, and the Masterpower cannot rest contented until the child owned is reared and taken home to the house of the Father.

Sant Kirpal Singh

What does Initiation mean?

Initiation is no ceremony, no rite, no ritual, no offering. It is just like a school, in which a lesson is given; and for that lesson, first the inner theory is explained, and then an inner experience is given.

We are all children of God. God is light, and we are also light, being of the same essence as that of God. But our light is enveloped by different coverings – physical, astral causal and supercausal. It is just like a lamp that has two, three or four coverings over it; it appears as if there is no light there. But when you shake off one covering, you have some light; when you shake off another one, more light; and as you shake off all the coverings, you see it is all light.

Similarly, we are light, children of light, but we are enveloped by so many coverings. Initiation means to raise up our soul and shake off the coverings: first, the one of the physical body, which is the iron curtain, I would say: to raise the soul above the body-consciousness – physical consciousness – and open the inner eye to have an experience of light, and also to open the inner ear to hear the voice of God, or the music of the spheres. This is what is actually meant by the word ‘initiation’; to be initiated into the beyond.                          Sant Kirpal Singh

Why does one need initiation?

For to treat on the inner spiritual way, one needs the firsthand experience of the God into action power, as well as guidance and protection for the soul.

Why one should not meditate without initiation?

At the time of Initiation the inner eye and the inner ear is opened and the soul gets a firsthand experience of the inner light and sound. The irony door of Karmas blocking the way gets destroyed and the soul is led upwards on the way in the middle. Without initiation from a competent one, no true meditation is possible and one gets captured in the lower chacras or the astral and causal plane.

The three worlds, one has to cross on the way back to home eternal, are full of dangers and pitfalls and very easy our attention can be dragged in the wrong direction. For this one needs the charged words to differentiate if an inner experience it positive or only a negative illusion. And one needs the guidance of the inner Master or Gurudev for to go the direct and straight way home.

Sant Kirpal Singh was asked:” If the key words are had from somebody else and one starts meditation on his own, will it not be possible to have inner progress?”

He answered: you mean to say that if one comes by the key words from somebody other than an adept or picks them up from somewhere and then starts meditation on his own, will it bring forth any fruit? Certainly not, for he will then be repeating parrot-like, a mere bunch of words without knowing their significance and without any potency in them. It is the thought transference or personal life impulse from a perfect Master that charges the words and makes them key-words wherewith to open mansions of the Lord.

Why is it important from whom one gets the initiation?

A blind cannot lead a blind. If the teacher or Master has not got the direct contact with the God into action power himself, he cannot give it to others. A Master can only lead and protect the soul up to that plane he has reached himself. If he has not reached union with God, he is the doer and acting according to his own ego and cannot lead the soul to the eternal home.

Why no physical Master is needed now?

In the Golden Age, the power of Kirpal is the highest. When this Almighty Power is working, no physical Master is needed. For fulfilling the outer work, and giving guidance He commissioned Dr. Harbhajan Singh and his wife Biji Surinder Kaur. Sant Kirpal Singh told them that He is still doing His work. He guides and protects the soul within and without. (link zu Kompetenz).

Who can give the initiation?

At His lifetime Sant Kirpal Singh usually gave the initiation Himself, but as some aspirants lived abroad far away from Him,Sant Kirpal Singh said, “For instance, when I get applications for Initiation, I write back and say, "All right, give him a sitting." It is the Word Power that communicates the contact. Never be deceived that the person who conveys the instructions is the giver. He is only the receptacle through whom the instructions are given. You can have initiation even from thousands of miles without going through anybody if you become receptive. But generally, people do not understand, that is why some people are authorized to convey the instructions of initiation. The initiation is actually done the very moment that it is authorized. That comes from the Word within you or from the human pole where the Word is fully manifested.”   

Why Unity of Man is using a tape?

On 4 of April 1974, Sant Kirpal Singh gave Dr. Harbhajan Singh a file with the initiation-instructions with His signature on it and told him everything how His Mission will work in future.

On 20 August 1974, Sant Kirpal Singh told to Dr. Harbhajan Singh, that He had to initiate three persons. He told him that He had the tape of initiation recorded and said, “When they come and require for initiation, you can give the initiation by using this tape.” Since then Unity of Man uses this tape for giving the Simran. Nevertheless it must be clear, that the charging is done by the Godpower within.

One time when Sant Kirpal Singh had gone for a Satsang programme in Kalka, near Chandighar; the tape with His talk was being played. Master said, “You are very fortunate that you are hearing the tape of your Master. If I ever had with me the words of my Master on tape, I would never have given initiation from my tongue. The charged names (or Simran, which one gets at the time of initiation as passwords and protection) differ, though the Naam is only one; as it comes through the five planes, it differs and is spoken five-worded. But the voice of the Master does not change in all the planes.” Master said, “It was the first time that the charged names of a competent Master were recorded.”

Who is now responsible for the soul, to wind up the Karma and to guide within after initiation?

Unity of Man is giving the initiation in Sant Kirpal Singh’s Name alone and He is responsible to wind up the Karma and to guide and bring back the soul to the home eternal.

Where can I get initiation?

Wherever the work of Unity of Man is going on, it is possible to get the initiation. At the moment Initiation is mostly given in our Main Centre in Kirpal Sagar and in our centre for the Western world in St. Gilgen.

Requirements for getting initiation

- To understand the theoretical aspect: If someone wants to get initiation, at first he should clearly understand the subject spirituality in all its various aspects. Studying Sant Kirpal Sing's and Dr Harbhajan Singh's books and lectures, and if possible to attend the Satsang, form the basis for it.

- Competence: It is of crucial importance to know about the competence of that power, which gives the initiation and moreover to understand how the Almighty Power in the form of Kirpal is now acting and helping.

- Decision: Before initiation a clear decision is to be made for a spiritual life which forms the basis of inner and outer development. One should be ready to lead a conscious life with higher values. Keeping a spiritual diary is of much help for to work on one's own development. Moreover it is required to stick to a strict vegetarian diet (also see vegetarian diet), abstaining from alcohol, drugs and smoking. (For further reading please refer to the brochures "Seven paths to perfection" and "Self-Introspection Diary")

- Selfless service: Sant Kirpal Singh said: "So long as you want first and foremost to be blessed yourselves, and you expect others minister to you, you will remain strangers to the way of spirituality." This means a spiritual man starts to live for others and leads a selfless life in service of the highest Godpower.