Our this Vedic principle is to follow the ācārya. And if we have taken shelter of a bona fide ācārya, and if we are sincere to follow the instruction of ācārya, then our life is successful. This is the process, ācārya upasanam.
So this initiation means the beginning of ācārya upasanam. Just like Arjuna submitted to Kṛṣṇa when he was puzzled whether he would fight or not. Then he took shelter of Kṛṣṇa as guru. Kṛṣṇa was with him, but He was like friend. So friendly talks sometime does not become very serious. But talks between the spiritual master and disciple is serious. A friend can deny to accept the instruction of the other friend, but a disciple cannot deny. That will be guror avajñā (Padma Purāṇa). Therefore Arjuna submitted himself, that "Now I become Your disciple. You guide me." Śiṣyas te 'haṁśādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam (BG 2.7): "I become Your disciple; kindly instruct me. I am fully surrendered to You." So this is, initiation means . . . meaning . . . regular meaning is also, initiation, "something to begin." This is beginning of spiritual life. Without initiation, there is no beginning of spiritual life. You can talk . . . just like Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa was talking. That is another thing. But when Arjuna submitted and Kṛṣṇa instructed him, that is serious.
So this initiation means to submit, fully accepting the spiritual master, and to follow his instruction. And spiritual master's instruction means Kṛṣṇa's instruction. But you should come through the spiritual master. The electric powerhouse is Kṛṣṇa, but the current comes through some channel. So spiritual master personally hasn’t got to give you any instruction. His business is to carry the instruction of Kṛṣṇa and deliver it to the disciple. This is spiritual master.