Can one enter nikunj without diksha?

It is natural for every sadhak advancing on the spiritual path to have this question arise in their heart: can that ultimate goal 'nikunj' be attained through shelter alone or private self-study alone? Is formal diksha and a sad-guru necessarily required for this?

Guest versus Family Member

A guest is kept limited to the outer rooms of the house; they are not given the keys to the house's safe or the most private secrets. This is the situation of a 'diksha-less' sadhak in the spiritual world. Until you become a 'member' of that divine family through diksha, you are only a guest. The right to enter 'nikunj' belongs only to one's own. Diksha is that relationship which transforms you from an 'outsider' into an 'insider'. Without this relationship, the door to divine mysteries will always remain closed to you.

The Journey from 'Believing' to 'Becoming'

The spiritual journey begins with "acceptance." When we fully accept with complete faith that "I belong to Guru Ji, and Guru Ji is mine," then gradually ego melts away. The nature of our mind itself is 'lawlessness.' This restless mind finds a thousand excuses to lead us astray. To control it is not something a solitary sadhak can manage. This is where the 'sad-guru principle' becomes necessary. The words of the sad-guru are like those brilliant rays of the sun that pierce through the clouds of lawlessness and ignorance within us.

The Power of Surrender

When a disciple is formally surrendered at the feet of the guru, the entire responsibility for their spiritual uplift becomes the guru's. On the path of sadhana, when the sadhak becomes weary and sits down due to human limitations, the guru gives them a 'push' to activate them again. If the disciple attempts to stray from the path due to their restlessness, the guru 'pulls' them back by the rope of his grace and brings them back to the right direction. This 'push' and 'pull' is the guarantee that takes us to our destination. The guru never lets their devoted disciple fall, even if the disciple loses control over themselves.

The Unbreakable Bond Between Mother and Child

Diksha is the same kind of relationship as that between a mother and her child. A child, no matter how stubborn or 'lawless' they may be, is never abandoned by the mother. She corrects them, punishes them, but always keeps them covered in her lap, considering them her own. The guru is also like that compassionate mother. Once the guru places their hand on the disciple's head through diksha, the soul becomes protected from the blows of the world. Now the responsibility for wellbeing does not rest on the sadhak's weak efforts, but depends on the guru's infallible grace. This is that 'relationship' which ensures entry into nikunj.

Conclusion

Without relationship, we are only 'guests,' and guests can never enter the intimate chambers of the house. By taking shelter at the guru's feet, entry into nikunj becomes accessible.

Original article: bhajanmarg.com