Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 03.01.2019 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Question of Paramananda: Shrila Shridhara Maharaj loves to use this quotation that “Fools rush in where angels fear to enter.” On our spiritual path there are many doors that look very attractive. And they are open. But we don’t have an invitation every time. And not all the time we have the instruction to enter these doors. I’m wondering if there are such moments when we should trespass some threshold?

Swami Tirtha: Yes. Other questions? A long and elaborate question, simple answer. Sorry, I’m a simple guy, you know. I cannot give such elaborate answers. But you mentioned one important thing – that is the invitation. I’d like to mention another important thing – the mood. If you have the mood to enter and you have the invitation, then you can go. Because there is an objective and there is a subjective responsibility here. The objective is the invitation and the subjective is that we agree. So when you have the mood for that, then you can go.

There was one very famous philosopher in India, he is called Charvaka Muni. He knew how to live. He had a very special philosophy, he said, “No, no, no, there is no karma. Forget about the eternity of the soul, no. What to speak of reincarnation? That is nothing… Enjoyment – this is the point. Forget about all else. Enjoy!” You see how modern a philosopher he was? Very topical in the 21st century, right? Enjoy! And he said, “The best food is ghee. Try to acquire as much ghee as you can. Forget about sinful activities. Forget about instructions of future life. There is no karma. Ghee! Go for the ghee. Beg, borrow or steal as much as you can and take it! Now! There is no future. No tomorrow. Take it today!”.

And 99% we can agree with him. Ghee is good. Who knows whether there is tomorrow or not? And also, we should never miss any little opportunity for real enjoyment. Don’t miss a moment. Well, on other points it’s a little more difficult for me to agree with him. But on this principle: beg, borrow of steal – yes, I do agree. Because it is also supported by our teachers – wherever you find a real spiritual inspiration, go there. Beg, borrow or steal – just try to acquire it. 

This inner hankering, this inner desire, brings the success. So, if we have the invitation, plus we have this inclination, then we can enter freely. I agree, the majority of the doors are open in spiritual life. But in most of the cases we are not ready to enter. If we are realistic we have to agree on this point. But, if we maintain our commitment in our spiritual practice and if we try to detach ourselves from false attractions, then most probably we shall come closer to our final goal. Or it can happen in one moment. 

We have different means to achieve these final goals. Sadhana is there as a spiritual practice. And what is the result of sadhana – that you will become a sadhu, a person committed to the truth. This is the actual fruit of sadhana. Or – a drop of mercy comes to us from such a person who has acquired it. And then you don’t need to do anything further. I mean, you can, of course, but this merciful invitation is such an overwhelming result that it’s very easy to go by that. 

There are three ways to achieve the perfection. Perfection is called siddha in Sanskrit. So, either you are nitya-siddha, or eternally perfect. Or, your second chance is you are sadhana-siddha, or you achieve perfection through spiritual practice. Or, you have another chance of kripa-siddha – to achieve perfection through mercy. I don’t know what are the chances for you, but if I examine myself, for sure I’m not a nitya-siddha, I’m not an eternally perfect soul. Sadhana, spiritual practice… they say that in Kali Yuga there is only one tapas, renunciation, that we can do. What do you think, what is that? 

Answer: To chant the Holy Name.

Swami Tirtha: But, this is not tapas! This is the nectar section. 

Answer: To speak the truth.

Swami Tirtha: That would be nice. This is in Satya Yuga.

Answer: Not to eat meat.

Swami Tirtha: That’s a prerequisite of the human state of being. May I help you? To tolerate the others – this is the only tapas that we do. It’s so difficult, ah, my God! So difficult! So, only this one little tapas you make and you can achieve a kind of perfection. But, if I examine myself, I definitely enroll for the Mercy Department.