Swāmī Krishnānanda's Discipleship Criteria

Swāmī Krishnānanda Giri’s Eligibility Criteria for Discipleship

Three things are considered by Swāmī-ji for KY discipleship:

1. Eligibility
2. Qualification and Credentials
3. Competence

This write-up only covers the first item — Eligibility.

The second item comes into play after eligibility is established. Competence is the consideration of physical ability alone in conjunction with a probationary period, a trial period.

Criteria for Eligibility

These are five in number. The aspirant would be eligible if he or she finds that they can meet them in a short timeframe.

1. Age Limit. The aspirant must be out of their teens and less than forty-eight years of age. This criteria is inviolable because, as the saying goes, one cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Swāmī-ji might make an exception and relax the upper age limit by a few years if he has known the aspirant a very long time.
2. Marital Status. Single and married persons would be considered with the following caveat: as a married couple, both must satisfy all the other criteria. If otherwise eligible, both must undertake not to receive initiation from any other gurus. In other words, one spouse cannot become a disciple of and receive initiation from some other guru as this creates spousal disharmony and conflict. A household with discord is no place for practicing KY. Aspirants who are single should keep in mind that they could get married at a later date; hence would have to undertake the same pledge whether or not they are contemplating a future marriage.
3. Personal Lifestyle and Diet. Consumption of alcohol and other intoxicating substances, use of tobacco products including pān and smoking are taboo. Should one have these habits, they would have to immediately cease and desist from the use of the products. Persons dependent on such substances cannot succeed in KY. One must be an established Vaishnava vegetarian — no onions or garlic as these are considered ‘tāmasic” in nature. Swāmī-ji would permit the limited consumption of tea and coffee — maybe three to four cups, each no more than 200 ml, per day. Apart from that there are no exceptions.
4. Spousal Differences. Swāmī-ji has found that one spouse among a married couple may balk at the lifestyle and diet requirement and not wish to change. This severely restricts the sincere aspirant spouse. In order to accommodate that individual, Swāmī-ji would be willing to waive the lifestyle and diet requirement for the balking spouse so long as the balking spouse agrees to be initiated into KY along with the other spouse when the time is appropriate for the initiation. That spouse would receive initiation but would not be taught the KY techniques.
5. Apprenticeship. There is an apprenticeship period. Traditionally, it is twelve years long — in case you’re wondering, twelve years has a very significant meaning in the Vedic culture. Out of compassion and a paucity of time at hand, the master usually shortens it to half that or even a quarter of that if the aspirant presents strong qualifications and credentials and rapid progress towards the milestones. The aspirant should be prepared to perform menial tasks. This is a probationary period, a trial period. During this training or studentship, the eligible aspirant for self-realization through KY would serve an apprenticeship to the master and follow his bidding unquestioningly and meet the milestones before being eligible for initiation into KY. The aspirant would be asked to play the role of a personal assistant to the master, in effect a gofer — an assistant whose duties include menial tasks such as running errands. Milestones to measure progress would be set and would need to be met in a timely fashion.

If you think you meet these eligibility criteria, or can do so in a very short period of time, then feel free to contact Swāmī-ji to discuss your aspirations.

Swāmī-ji can be reached by e-mail: k.swami.ji@gmail.com.