Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 10.05.2019 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday)

Question of Haribhakti: You mentioned the devotee’s disease, this weakness of the heart. How to develop our steadiness, because chanting and service do not always show our real state of steadiness. 

Swami Tirtha: Then express in some other way. We must find some way to show our steadiness. Because Shrila Prabhupada said that Bhakti Yoga is not a passive type of meditation, but it’s an active service. So, if you want, you will find thousands of different ways to express your readiness. Sometimes our knowledge or our attachment to the rules might also create some obstacle. 

Once Gurudev came very late. We had started to take rest and he came later, so we were awaken. And he said “I’m so hungry, can you give me some food?” And, you know, we have learned all the rules and regulations of the guidelines of devotional practice properly, so that dear god-sister of mine, who was supposed to feed Gurudev, ran into the bathroom to take a bath. Because, you know, before cooking you have to purify your body-mind complex with all the mantras and all the rituals, and brushing your body a hundred times, etc., etc. So, she started to do that and Gurudev was surprised, he said “Where are you rushing?” And she said “I’m going to take a bath.” Then Gurudev said “I told you to give me some food, I didn’t tell you to take a bath.” 

Of course, following all the required rules, like taking a shower before you enter the kitchen, is a way to express your readiness. But what is the purpose to follow all the rules and regulations while your spiritual master dies of hunger? So, we have to be practical in showing our readiness. We have to be ready to jump. Don’t wait to finish the character; jump!

Of course, it’s very difficult with these sadhus. Because I’m sure, under general conditions if you would try to enter the kitchen without taking a shower, he would chastise you like anything. So it’s very difficult to satisfy even a sadhu. But anything that comes from above is for our benefit.

Question of Baladev: In the morning we discussed the elements of knowledge. The third was the non-violence. You said that the most important part of non-violence is the spiritual non-violence. Could you please give some examples of spiritual violence? What is it? 

Swami Tirtha: We discussed a little bit the power of the prayers. So, for example if you pray in such a manner that “Please, my Lord, make this person like this and that” – I consider that a kind of spiritual violence, intrusion. Because then this is my decision, my desire over that person and I ask God to help, so that my opinion overpowers that person. So, this story starts and ends with you. It’s about your opinion, your decision, your willpower. The proper way to pray for others, this is like to offer them into the attention of the Supreme. “Please, my Lord, pay some attention on this person and help him or her to perceive and to receive what is the best for them.” In this way we don’t intrude into their life path. This is a delicate topic. And we have to be intelligent enough to pray properly and to avoid spiritual violence. 

But the definition of ahimsa in general is not only to avoid violence – because this is a negative kind of definition – but also the positive meaning is to help and to serve the spiritual progress of others. This is the real ahimsa. 

(to be continued)