Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 09.05.2018, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday) 

When you struggle with your doubts – it’s another phase of weakness of the heart. Or when some other ambitions overpower you. You started in one direction and then you return back to the old ways. You feel depressed or you feel like you have lost the courage to go on. So, this weakness of the heart is basically this type of very subtle manifestation. When we lose the impetus, when we lose the willingness to go for our spiritual ideals.

And actually, Arjuna had this. When he shared with Krishna that, “I don’t know what to do. I feel like my heart is burning and I don’t know what is good for me. But I don’t want to fight. I don’t want to perform my duty’. Sometimes you feel like that. You feel challenged in your practices. Sometimes you fail, you are in a dilemma. Because Arjuna always represents the human being – he represents us. And when Krishna starts to instruct him, He says: “It doesn’t befit you to have this weakness of the heart. Because the kshatriyas should be enthusiastic and happy if they have such a chance to perform their duty”. So, if we take this advice – alright, we are not kshatriyas, we try to be devotees – but let’s try to apply the same principle: if any challenge comes to you, this is the best way to improve. And I don’t want to repeat some cheap New Age stuff like “challenges are good”, or “difficulties are the best”, no. But see, this comes from the Gita, when Krishna says: “You should be happy if you have a chance to show yourself. And this weakness of the heart does not befit you”.

Let me quote some other verse from Shrila Rupa Goswami abou what is the proper attitude to devotional service. Utsahan nishcayad dhairyat/ tat-tat-karma-pravartanat/ sanga-tyagat sato vritteh/ shadbhir bhaktih prasidhyati[1]. “Utsaha – this is a full enthusiasm, coming from your heart. Then committed practice, perseverance, proper following of the rules and regulations, associating with saints, with holy personalities, and to follow the path of the previous acharyas – these six practices will help the success of your spiritual endeavor.” So, utsaha, this heartfelt enthusiasm is the opposite of this weakness of the heart. If we apply this enthusiastic and committed practice, then we can overcome this one anartha, this weakness of the heart.

We can trace this weakness of the heart back to only one main reason, because that is a question of faith. If our faith is weak, then we might develop this weakness of the heart. But fortunately, we have a very profound understanding of faith, which is the ever-increasing spiritual bliss, which you can derive from the more and more glorification of the meeting of the Divine Couple – this is faith. Is there any place for weakness of the heart here? No. Therefore, to overcome the anarthas, anartha-nivritti, let’s do a positive practice, let’s practice our set of values. This utsaha, this heartfelt enthusiasm, is very important. In the beginning, we feel that ‘Yes, I have utsaha, I have commitment as well. And I also have knowledge. I know everything’. But usually that means you don’t have any of these. Later on, you might feel that ‘Oh, I have lost my enthusiasm’ – this is a very good sign. Maybe now you can qualify to be an enthusiast. And then, when after years of committed practice you will be able to ignite your fire again and again, to maintain your commitment, to maintain your enthusiasm – then this is what we can call not the weakness of the heart, but the strength of the heart.

(to be continued)

[1] Upadeshamrita, The nectar of Instructions, 3