Dear Mukundaji,
>
> I have been asked twice this fall to give a mantra. I have done it, but I
> would like to be able to do it officially if there is such a thing. I have
> been initiated into a mantra and teacherhood through the Sivananda lineage
> and I have been initiated by you, so I do have lineage that I honor.
>
> What make one able to give or initiate another into a mantra?
A: Mantra diksha - initiation comes from two elements. persistence in what is given by your spiritual teacher. and the feeling of a naturally arising energy when asked for diksha. It is that arising energy of the guru force which gives the true mantra diksha. Otherwise it is merely a technique and nothing much can come from that other than relaxation and to some degree an method for mental sadhana. blessings.