HE WHO STEALS OTHERS' SINS IS CALLED HARI 

official source: A'nanda Vacana'mrtam Part 8

cross-references: none

this version: is the printed A'nanda Vacana'mrtam Part 8, 1st edition, version 
	(spelling mistakes only may have been corrected). I.e., this is the most 
	up-to-date version as of the present Electronic Edition.

	What does the term 'diks'a' mean ? During the DMC discourse in Madras, I said that the Sam'skrta word 'diks'a' and the English word 'initiation', do not have quite the same meaning. But as there is no exact English equivalent for diks'a, the word 'initiation' is generally, used. According to the scriptural meaning, diks'a is derived from 'dii' and 'ksla'. Dii is the first letter of the word 'diipajinana' (light of knowledge) and ks'a is the first letter of 'ks'ayam' (exhaustion of sam'skaras).

	'Diipajina'nam' yato dadya't kurha't pa'paks'ayam' tatah
	Tasma't diiks'eti sa' prokta' savatantrasya samnata.'

	Diks'a is the process which leads to the attainment of the light of knowledge and the exhaustion of accumulated sam'skaras. There is no difference of opinion amongst the different schools of Tantra on this point. Suppose you have to travel to a certain place in the dark along a path strewn with sharp stones and boulders. If you attempt to take even one step forward you might fall down and injure yourself. So, you should take a lamp with you. This is called 'diipajina'nam'. When people are given diks'a they gain momentum to move along the spiritual path through mantra caetanya (conceptual understanding of the psychic meaning of mantra) and mantraghat (striking by incantation). All human beings possess a set of sam'skaras. When they receive diks'a according to their sam'skaras, mantraghat occurs. That is, the incantation strikes at the sleeping divinity (kula kundalini or coiled serpentine) and arouses it. This results in the aspirant's spiritual progress. People cannot make any spiritual progress prior to initiation due to a lack of diipajina'nam. 'Dii' is the first letter of diipajinanam, and 'Pa' the first letter of pa'paks'ayam. Pa'pa means 'sam'skaras' and ks'ayam means 'exhaustion'.

	What do we mean by the exhaustion of sam'skaras ? According to natural law, each action has an equal and opposite reaction provided the three fundamental factors of time, place and person remain unchanged. However, there is almost always a change in these relative factors. Hence, an action does not always have an equal and opposite reaction. Suppose you have borrowed a thousand rupees from someone. If you return the money after a few months or even after a few years, you will have to pay some interest. If you return the loan immediately, however, there is no change in time, place and person and you will only have to return the original amount. If an action's reaction is immediate, it will be equal and opposite. But if the reaction occurs after a change in time, place or person, its magnitude will increase. Some people suffer the reaction immediately, some after two years, some after one hundred years, and some after twenty lifetimes. The more the delay, the greater the reaction. That is, some 'interest' will have to be added to the reaction of the original action. This is the natural law.

	'Na'bhuktam' ks'iiyate karma kalpakot'i sha'taerapi
	Avashyameva bhoktavyam' krtam' karma shubha' shubham'.
	'Ya'vanna ks'iiyate karma shubham' ca' shubhamaeva ca
	Ta'vanna jaya'yate mok' sa nrn'a'm' kalpa shataerapi'.
	'Yatha' laohamayaepa'shaeh pa'shaeh svarn'amayaerapi
	Tatha' bhavejiivo karma' bhishca' shubhaer shubhaeh'.

	But when this is the law, how does initiation lead to the exhaustion of one's accumulated sam'skaras ? Everyone has to carry the load of his or her sam'skaras. Now, if the reactions of one's actions occur quickly, one will not have to carry the load for a long period - the mind will not be burdened for long. People will experience mental peace and will advance happily along the path of life. After learning sa'dhana, even if there is a change in the relative factors of time, place and person, the payment of extra 'interest' will not be necessary. That is, the reactions will be equal and opposite to the original actions. What is the reason for this ? Another of Parama Purus'a's names is Hari. What is the meaning of Hari ? 'Harati pa'pa'ni ityarthe'. One who steals ones pa'pa (here pa'pa means 'sam'skaras' is called Hari. But why should Parama Purus'a steal anything ? He already has everything. He does not need anything from anyone. Yet Parama Purus'a steals from His devotees - not directly but indirectly. This is a sorrowful matter as it goes against the principle of asteya, which tells us to refrain from theft. Parama Purus'a Himself steals. How shameful ! How deplorable ! Actually, He is compelled to steal. Why ? He steals because He dearly loves His devotees.

	In this world it is almost impossible to find people who have never committed sins in their lives. Whether one is a confirmed thief or a petty thief, whether one is a pa'taki, an atapa'taki or a mahapa'taki, one should not worry, as all are equal in the eyes of Parama Purus'a. All belong to Him, all are sitting on His lap. No one is different from Him. Even the worst sinners on whom society spits are not an object of hatred for Parama Purus'a. They, too, are His dear children. He cannot hate anyone. He desires the spiritual progress of all. Society may declare that women are not entitled to do certain things and should not enjoy certain rights, but should remain confined within four walls. In this way society lays down different injunctions for different individuals. But Parama Purus'a does not discriminate in this way : His daughters are as worthy of love as His sons. When a father plays with his children he does not differentiate between his son and daughter. He takes both on his lap. Both are treated equally. But today's society is a villain which continues to exploit women.

	In the eyes of Parama Purus'a all are equal. One who has become an ardent spiritual devotee of Parama Purus'a today may have been a wicked person in the past. Parama Purus'a will think how His devotees may get final liberation from the burden of their accumulated sam'skaras. He is bound to think in this way. After all, it is the duty of a father to think about the future of his children. So Parama Purus'a says to His devotees, 'Just see how difficult it is for you to carry such a heavy load of sam'skaras. You are small children. The load weighs more than you. How long will you be able to carry such a burden? You have accumulated so many sam'skaras that you will have to carry the load for many lives, for thousands of years. One life will certainly be insufficient. So I have a proposition. Give me the entire load of your accumulated sam'skaras. I will carry it for you'.

	The devotees reply, 'How can we possibly give our heavy burden to You ? No, we must carry the load ourselves. We will sing songs and dance for you, but We will never give you such a heavy load of sins'.

	But Parama Purus'a knows that His dear devotees cannot carry such a heavy load of sins. If they do not give away the load it will be a constant strain for them. So what does Parama Purus'a do in such circumstances ? He takes their sins without their permission. If someone takes things from others without their permission, what is it called ? It is called theft. Thus, as Parama Purus'a takes the load of sins from the devotees without their permission, He is certainly a thief 'Harati pa' pa ya sah Harih'. One who steals others sins is called Hari. So, one of His names is Hari.

To receive diks'a means to come into the shelter of Parama Purus'a, the Supreme Father. It is the mandatory duty of the Supreme Father to steal the sam'skaras of His favourite children. Hence it is said, 'Kurya't Pa'paks'ayam' tatah'. That is, after receiving diks'a one's load of accumulated sam'skaras gets exhausted. So diks'a is a must for everyone. This is why the scriptures place so much importance on diks'a.

22 February 1979 morning, Bhopal