Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 15.08.2018, Ludasto)

(continues from the previous Friday)

We need to find, to identify the ultimate reason, the meaning of our life. What is the factor that will legitimise our life? Have you ever thought of that? Give me some ideas. What do people usually say is the meaning, the reason of their life?

Answer: Family, children.

Ramvijay: Param–dharma, the highest spiritual duty.

Swami Tirtha: Other times people live for their ambitions, for their goals. ‘I have a goal, therefore I live. I have a job, I live for my job.’ But when the job is finished, they practically die, or half-die. So, if we have a limited concept of the legitimating power of our life, that is not enough. Other times you might think that ‘I am such a powerful debater – this is the reason of my life. This makes me so strong. I have the truth.’ Other times this is the inspiration: ‘Ah, I love this person! She or he is the reason of my life.’ But what happens if that person is removed from your life? What happens if he loves another, not you? Then your life is lost, the meaning of your life is lost. Those who are more intelligent, they’ll say: “I live for inspiration.” For a long time I didn’t understand this. But then slowly, slowly I agreed: inspiration, the source of inspiration – this is something very powerful. If you are even more polished, you will say: “My purpose of life is not the love of a person. My purpose is to appreciate love. I live for love.”

But do you feel the importance of this question? What will legitimise our life? This is why we always want to prove ourselves: “I have achieved this, I have that.” So many times we externalize the meaning of our life. But this is a very weak and very limited, very material concept. If you attach the meaning of your life to something limited, your life will be limited. Remove the object and your life is also removed. Because you were attached to that object.

Therefore we need to search. To search for the source – where we come from. Because if we come from nothing, then we shall return to nothing. Then practically nothing will legitimise our existence. I don’t know if it is satisfying for you, it’s not really satisfying for me. Therefore we can say: if you deny the existence of God, in this way you deny the existence of yourself.

The ultimate fact that will legitimise our life is existence itself. Please try to see the difference between life and existence. Life is a manifestation and existence is a principle. So if you come to a higher and purified state of consciousness, you don’t have to prove yourself, you don’t have to find an external legitimation of your life. Because ultimately the divine origin is the legitimising power of our life, of our existence. On our body there is the stamp of impermanence, of death. But on our soul there is the stamp of eternal life, of eternal connection.

So, after some time you don’t need to prove yourself. Basically I think all the different fights, conflicts, whatever – this type of selfish interests – are due to lack of ultimate identification. You don’t feel yourself legitimate, therefore you want to prove yourself. But what we see from the example of our saints? When the main pujari, which is a very prestigious position, meets Madhavendra Puri, who is a penniless mendicant on the street, he is immediately ready to offer his dandavats.

There was a story in Hungary, in the present day. In the morning some devotees had a small fight. And then what did they have in the afternoon? They had a competition. No doubt, the fight was kind of material type of clash. But what was the competition? One approached the other and said: “Prabhuji, please excuse me. I was mistaken.” Then the other said: “No, no, no. Please, you excuse me, I was very harsh.” And they started a competition of offering dandavats – who will offer a fuller dandavat to the other. You see, this is the only competition that you might have with your brothers and sisters – who will offer a more complete dandavat to the other.

Ultimately what will legitimise our life, what will give the meaning of our life? To the question “Why do we live?” the answer is: due to the eternal source. To the question “For what purpose we live?” the answer is: for achieving perfection. And to the third question “How to live properly?” the answer is: live as a devotee – serve your own spiritual benefit, be useful to others and live for the glory of God.

But now another question comes – sorry for taking your time and attention for so long… “What will legitimise my life?” I am a beggar. All right, sometimes I’m also supplied sweet rice, but I am a beggar. And I have lost my master in his physical form, so the meaning of my life is lost. But I feel very fortunate that Krishna has sent some saviours. And if you give me a chance to serve you, then I feel that there is a meaning to this life, this existence.

Sometimes we experience loses. You can lose a battle, but you shouldn’t lose a war. I hope this is not externalizing the legitimation of my life. But please, also find for yourself this source that will give a meaning to your life. Embrace your principles, embrace your ideals. Then nothing can frustrate you, nothing can spoil you.

Ramvijay: Gurudev, what you are saying is like a window to a different world…