Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 09.05.2019, Sofia)
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We have some important days waiting for us. And usually there are two ways of lectures. One is to give a romantic invitation of the perfect spiritual world. And the other is to frighten people with the brutal realities of life and death. So, which one do you like?
Answer: The second one.
Another: First.
Swami Tirtha: You see, there is a diversity of opinions. Somebody wants the romantic version, others want to face the bitter realities. But, in my understanding, we can only hope for the romantic version of the supreme truth if we are able to face and tolerate the limitations of material existence. Maybe you remember, once a very senior teacher asked: what do you prefer – suffering or happiness? Of course, everybody was voting for happiness. Then he said: Don’t worry, it will pass. And the suffering will come. Even if you don’t ask for it, the suffering will come. But that will also pass. And what is the substitution of suffering? It is happiness. So, whether we face this version or that version, we have to be very smart. Not simply to be cheated by the cheap happiness and also not simply to be disappointed by some limitations. Because both are part of the world of illusion.
Therefore, my humble offer to you is to speak about the bitter realities of life. Whether you like it or not, I will talk about this. But, how to start? Many times we have discussed that human beings are considered intelligent living entities, right? Let’s see what is the definition of intelligence according to the “Gita”. It is included in the 13th chapter, verses 8-12. A long list is given here and it says: “Humility, pridelessness, non-violence, tolerance, simplicity, approaching a bona fide spiritual master, cleanliness, steadiness, self-control, renunciation of the objects of the sense gratification, absence of a false ego, the perception of the evil of birth, death, old age and disease, detachment, freedom from entanglement with children, wife, home and the rest, even-mindedness amid pleasant and unpleasant events, constant and unalloyed devotion to Me; aspiring to live in a solitary place, detachment from the general mass of people, accepting the importance of self-realization and philosophical search for the Absolute Truth – all these I declare to you to be knowledge and besides this whatever there may be is ignorance.”[1]
It’s a long, long list. But don’t forget the first and the last item on this list. Knowledge or intelligence start with humility. In order to learn, to acquire any substantial knowledge, we need to express our humble state of mind. And the last item on this list is the philosophical search for the Absolute Truth. We can say that the first element is a moral quality and the last one is a search. So, one is like a practice that you have to do, something like an activity; and the other is an ideal that you are searching for. Because it is possible to live without ideals, but what is the use of that?
Maybe you have some questions concerning the items on this list? Some delicate, sensitive points?
Comment: I heard of ‘family’ mentioned there.
Swami Tirtha: It is not brutal. It is a simple reality – the entanglement. Because, for example, you cannot raise kids without a lot of trouble. Is that true?
Answer: Yes, but they also help for our humility.
Swami Tirtha: That’s for sure! This is our philosophy. Correct. But entanglement in that sense means that you have to dedicate at least two-thirds of your life for that purpose. And how much care and how much love you have to practice in order to raise a kid! Unlimited practically. So, it is a sacrifice. Yet it is a sweet sacrifice, you do it willingly. Nobody enforces you to do like this, but you are ready to jump. You want to do this. So, this is like a training for divine relationships. And in most of the cases, it takes so much of our attention that we might easily forget about the purpose of that kind of engagement. Even in the Gospels it is said: if you have a relationship, then you have to share your attention. If you live alone, you have two options: either you think of God or you think of yourself. If you have a family, you have two chances as well: either you think of God or you think of your family; you cannot think of yourself. It is a spiritual training.
And don’t forget, what is a labyrinth or a maze for a material person, is a way out for a spiritual person. If we have the proper attitude towards the realities of life, then we can take a full spiritual benefit of all the pros and cons of life experience.

(to be continued)

1.  Bhagavad Gita 13.8-12