LectureSince Srila Prabhupada was staying in the converted brahmacari quarters upstairs, the single men had been relocated temporarily to a householder's residence on Auckland's North Shore. Each morning they drove across the harbour bridge to attend the morning program, beginning with mangala arati. The enthusiastic young men and women of Auckland temple greeted Prabhupada as he returned from his morning walk, and then sat before him to hear class.Prabhupada continued to speak from the Sixth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Chapter 1, verse 16. The great sage Sukadeva Gosvami was explaining the efficacy of devotional service to his disciple Maharaja Pariksit.The sage compared the discharge of devotional service to the potent rays of the sun which could immediately dissipate fog. Prabhupada gave an example. Only a few weeks before, on a car trip from Calcutta to Mayapur, the fog had been so thick that no one could see beyond two metres. As a result, there had been many accidents on the road. He also recalled his trip on the Jaladuta in 1965. "I have got experience, when I was coming from India to New York. When there was fog in the sea, then immediately the ship would stop and horn -- onh, onh, onh -- because nobody can see where is another ship. There may be collision there."Any travel executed under such extreme conditions, he said, meant calamity and danger. Whenever the sun rose, however, everything would become clear. Fog, Prabhupada explained, could be compared to the accumulation of a person's sinful acts. The sun was compared to Krsna. Since the fog only covered a very thin layer of earth, then the sun need not do more than merely manifest its first rays for the fog to disappear. Similarly, Prabhupada concluded, if one took up even the beginning stages of devotional life, all the fog of his sinful life would become vanquished.In question time, a young devotee inquired about the importance of accepting formal initiation. Such initiation, Prabhupada explained, meant to officially agree to abide by the orders of Krsna and His representative."Officially accept: 'Yes, sir, I shall accept. I shall do whatever you say.' This is initiation, official acceptance of the job. That's all. Now you formally accept and if you do not do the duties, then where is the question of another function? There is no question. Initiation means this is the beginning of accepting the orders of Krsna and His representative. This is the beginning. This is initiation. Just like if you enter an office establishment, so you accept the terms of service. That is initiation. Then you go on serving. You become promoted. You get salary increase. You become recognised. You become officer. You become big officer, like that. That very word initiation suggests 'This is the beginning'."Another young devotee, Barrie, raised a doubt about the sacred tulasi plant regularly worshipped in the Auckland temple: How was it possible that a pure devotee of Krsna could take the form of a plant?Prabhupada advised Barrie that he could not expect to understand this in his impure state. "You just become pure, and you will understand." Prabhupada compared this situation to that of two physicians. Whereas one physician could understand the medical business of another, a layman would not be able to understand unless and until he became a medical man himself.Similarly, although at present one would have to simply accept from authority that tulasi was the greatest devotee of Krsna, "How she is so great a devotee, that you'll understand when you become a devotee. You come to the platform, then you will understand. Not before."- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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