An initiation contract is an agreement between Bhagavān (God) and us (devotees) based on mutual cooperation and faith. The contract is inspired by this verse from the Bhagavad Gītā:18.66
sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
We sign under the line that says
sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja,
which means “abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me”, and
Kṛṣṇa signs under the line that says
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ,
which means “I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions”.
As long as we follow the instructions of Bhagavān, Bhagavān protects us; otherwise, we violate the contract. Kṛṣṇa appreciates those who honor the terms of the contract. In this contract, our paraṁpara (disciplic succession) acts as a mediator or facilitator and helps us establish and execute the contract without breaking it. Bhaktidevī Śrīmatī Rādhārānī is the witness andvalidates the contract. Bhagavān does His part, and we have to do ours.
Our and Bhagavān’s Responsibilities in the Contract
Our Duties
-Following the instructions of Bhagavān.
-Controlling our senses.
-Finding a practical way to follow the rules and control the senses. Praying for Bhagavān’s mercy alone is not enough. We should constantly strive to follow the rules and control our senses.
-Preaching is also our duty. Bhagavān will not come again to preach.
Bhagavān’s Duties
-Bhagavān gives us taste or rasa in bhakti (devotion). We cannot develop taste in bhakti by ourselves. Giving taste in bhakti is Bhagavān’s duty. Bhagavān will not give us the taste if we do not follow the contract terms.
-Bhagavān gives guidance from within the heart. This duty is not exclusive because the paraṁpara also guides us.
-Bhagavān gives realizations.
-Bhagavān gives vivek (discrimination power).
-Bhagavān reveals our svarūpa (spiritual)
Other duties, such as sādhu-saṅga (association of saintly persons), protection from māyā(illusion), etc., are shared duties of Bhagavān and us.
What Happens if We Don’t Cooperate with Bhagavān Without Breaking the Contract?
-Not following the instructions of Bhagavān is a clear sign of non-cooperation and breach of contract.
-Not trying to progress continuously means non-cooperation. One will decline if the efforts are the same every day, let alone if one does not make any effort. Liberation is not a trivial matter.
-Cheating, i.e., doing bhakti with some selfish motive, means non-cooperation with Bhagavān.
-Not trying to uplift oneself also counts as non-cooperation with Bhagavān. One cannot remain idle and depressed if one falls down. One should keep moving on the path of bhakti.
-Always praying for mercy but doing nothing to advance in bhakti means non-cooperation.
Result of Not Cooperating with Bhagavān.
-Bhagavān will be upset or annoyed and may temporarily abandon or reject us in His mind so that the contract is not broken, thinking that these jīvātmās (living entities) are hopeless. Bhagavān never breaks the contract, but we do.
-Our willpower (saṅkalpa śakti) becomes weak. It becomes difficult to uplift oneself.
-One falls down and offends Vaiṣṇavas (devotees of Kṛṣṇa). One stops associating with Vaiṣṇavas, the worst thing that can happen to anyone.
Bhagavān is more responsible than us. He does His duties with more force than us. He is more eager to complete the contract than us. We should do our best and leave the rest to Kṛṣṇa.
Conclusion
The initiation contract is a sacred agreement between Bhagavān and us, based on mutual surrender and faith. Our duties in the contract are to follow the instructions of Bhagavān, control our senses, find a practical way to do so, and preach His message. Bhagavān’s duties are to give us taste, guidance, realizations, discrimination power, and revelation of our spiritual identity. Some duties, such as association and protection, are shared by both parties. If we do not cooperate with Bhagavān, we risk breaking the contract and losing His mercy. We may also weaken our willpower, fall down, and offend Vaiṣṇavas. Therefore, we should do our best and leave the rest to Kṛṣṇa, who is more eager and responsible than us to complete the contract. By doing so, we can attain the ultimate goal of life: pure love of God.