Sharanagati

Question: To what extent the divine plan is our plan?

Swami Tirtha: Well, it depends on your surrender. The divine plan is perfect. There are some tendencies in this life that will happen with our contribution, or without our contribution. In that sense they are objective, independent of us. The human contribution to the divine plan can bring some bad results, no doubts. So whatever mistake, whatever shortcoming, whatever disharmony is there, we can trace it back to the distorted human ambitions. No problem with ambitions, the problem is only with the distorted ambitions.

In the Bhagavad Gita, which is the most important revealed scripture of India, God says: “Everybody traverses My path, everybody follows My path.”[1] What does it mean – that everything is all right? That whatever you do is according to the divine plan? Sorry, on one path you can go into one direction and you can go into the opposite direction. Yet we move on the same path. But the direction is also important. Because the second part of this verse says: “I will respond to you according to your surrender.” So, the more we are ready to say ‘yes’ to the divine plan the more we shall be in harmony with these divine tendencies.

The divine plan is a divine plan – perfect in itself. Our plans are a little limited and a little weak. But if we also embrace the divine plan, our plan will be also perfect.

Question: What is the difference in your opinion between divine plan and karma? And my second question is: what do you mean by the term ‘spiritual practice’ and what is the practice that you are following?

Swami Tirtha: Karma as a rule is also a part of the divine plan. But this is not the ultimate power to enforce the truth. Because karma means action and reaction. This is like a physical law expanded to the moral levels of humans. Those who are blind they believe in chance. Those who are clever – they believe in karma. They know that if there is an action, there will be a reaction. But those who are wise – they believe in divine mercy. And I can say that this is the ultimate plan of the Supreme Lord. Because you know, it is said that if you are in trouble, you need immediate help. And the more trouble you have the more help you need. They say that today the trouble is so big, that practically all the life-saving jackets should be distributed quickly. Because this world is a historically sinking ship. So before drowning we have to learn to swim.

So karma is there, but karma is not an eternal law. If we learn how to act properly, then we can overwrite our karmic pattern. I do believe in divine providence, in divine mercy, which is beyond karma. Karma means only truthfulness, while mercy is beyond, it can bridge the gap. Just imagine if we have to pay our karma for all our stupid activities – it’s a long list first of all and it’s a long time. But if we apply a proper method, the method of dedication, of self-surrender, or agree with the divine plan, say ‘yes’ to God, to say it very simply – then the past is erased. You can start with a blank sheet. Sometimes we are stupid enough to start a long list again… But basically it is possible to come to a higher platform by this divine mercy.

And your question about the spiritual practice… I should refer to the Bhagavad Gita to show you the greatness of tradition. It says there are different ways of spiritual practice. One is to dedicate our activities to a divine goal. To put it very simply – for example, to build a temple. Or we can visit holy places – like the Seven Lakes in the Rila Mountains. Or we can study the scriptures and by this glorify the Lord. Or by donations we can share what we have with others who need it. And also meditation is included in this list of spiritual practices. There is some renunciation, some tapasya[2], some ways to generate spiritual power as well. But we specifically have our private meditation as mantra meditation. Meditation is to be connected, and mantra means ‘to liberate the mind’. It’s such a formula of prayer, of meditation, that will liberate our mind, our consciousness. This is the general practice that we follow.

But if we are committed and intent enough, we can come to that platform where every act that you do is a meditation. Your eating, your cooking, your sleeping, your work, your raising the kids – whatever you do it can be a meditation. If we have the proper vision, if we have the proper consciousness, whatever we do shall help this divine plan to manifest.

Question: Is the capacity given to human mind to destroy this world? Can human willpower really destroy this world?

Swami Tirtha: It might be possible, but it’s not likely. I tell you why. Our tradition has some opinion about the future of the planet, of the planetary systems and also it has an opinion about the maximum capacities of the human beings. So, concerning the time factor of the universe, including planet Earth, you can feel peaceful – it will go on for a long time. Although this era is the shortest of the different yugas, the different epochs. We have four eras: the Golden, the Silver, the Bronze and the Iron Age. I think you can guess in which age we live now; this is not the Golden Age. But nevertheless this last age, this Age of Iron, is also long enough. And if one epoch is finished, then the new age will start. So, don’t worry.

But the other side of your question, about the capacities of the human beings – we do have destructive powers, but we also have constructive powers. And they say, if somebody practices the mystic side of yoga, they can achieve special powers called siddhis. Like walking on the surface of water, penetrating the wall or reading the mind of others, being able to know past, present and future – we can achieve certain qualities. Once I had a friend. He said: “When I do my meditation I can see what is inside cupboard.” I said: “I also see, but I open the door.” So these are special qualities you can achieve.

But one of the highest achievements is the power to create worlds. It’s very mind-blowing! We usually think that to create a world – it’s God’s business. Still, if you think: for example the Internet – it’s a virtual reality, we can say created by humans. Or if we take an ashram, a spiritual community, which is like a spiritual shelter in the material existence – it’s also like creating a new world where harmony is dominating. So we should understand properly this capacity of human beings to create worlds. And if you might have the capacity to create, you can have the capacity to destroy also. But it is not likely.

[1] Bhagavad Gita 4.11

[2] ascetism