Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 11.01.2019 evening, Sofia)

Today we need to discuss a very important topic: how to improve our human standards. To go beyond the human standards. So, what is a human being? Last time we discussed – part animal, part angel. You are a composite being: а little bit part of this, a little bit part of that, and then a new substance comes – it’s called a human being. In the Bible our origin is described as created from dust – it’s not a very high origin. But if we are created from the foot-dust of pure devotees, then we are very fortunate. 

So, what are the basic human qualities? We are driven by some forces: instincts, desires, attachments, fears. If you live according to these instincts or basic motivations, then you are a real human being. If you are very cruel, very bad, you will have very few companions, because very few people are truly bad, right? If you are too good, again you will have very few companions, because very few people are truly good. Isn’t it so? It’s true. So, we humans, we are in between. Isn’t that so? You are not very tamasic, because very tamasic means a demon. And you don’t feel like a demon, right? And you are not. Yet you are not too sattvic, because that’s called a demigod. Do you feel like a demigod? Not yet. So, we are halfway in between a person of the darkness and a person of the light. If you are too sattvic, if you speak too much of a sattvic language, usually people don’t understand that. Because we, human beings, we are mostly influenced by rajas, passion. If you speak a rajasic language, you will be very popular, you will have a vast audience. Because people will understand this message. 

You know the joke: there was an agnostic person on his deathbed. Two people wanted to convert him; one of them said: “No, it’s impossible to convert him, he is faithless, he doesn’t believe in anything, it’s just impossible.” Then the other said: “Ah, don’t worry, just leave it up to me, I will manage.” So, he entered the room where this man was lying, waiting to meet this favorite demigod, Death. And after five minutes of discussion, the friend opened the door and said: “Now invite the priest, he wants to be baptized and receive all the possible blessings from the priest.” The other guy was astonished: “How is it possible? Did you describe to him heaven so nicely?” “No, I described to him hell, therefore he came to his senses.” 

So, if you speak that language – suffering, pain, attachment, love – all people will understand: ‘Yes, he belongs to us, he speaks the same language’. If you are too sattvic, nobody will pay attention. If you are ready to discuss with people only the most complicated parts of Vedanta philosophy, who will be your partner? If you don’t share the taste of people around, who will be your partner? For example, if you are not a fan of yoghurt, who will understand you in Bulgaria? You have to relate to people. 

But if you share only the basic instinct that all the creatures have, then what is the difference between you and a cucumber, or between you and a pigeon? Eating, sleeping, defending, mating – all created beings can perform these duties. What is the difference? Then why do you have this kind of form? If we have this chance to have a human body, then we need to fulfill its prospects, all the opportunities that it provides to us. 

 (to be continued)

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 11.01.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Question: Can the mandala structure be likened to the Jagannath Puri temple? 

Swami Tirtha: Yes! That temple is also huge. It has four gates to the cardinal directions. And also there are some special exits. It’s very important. Shall I tell you why? The walls of this temple are tall. The main entrance is signified by a column – this is the Garuda column. In all the main temples of Vishnu you will always find Garuda in the front. Just like, in the case of Shiva temples, you will always find Nandi, his bull. Who is Garuda? 

Devotee: The carrier of Vishnu.

Swami Tirtha: Of course, because if Vishnu wants to go somewhere, Garuda must be there, right? ‘My lord, if you want to go, I can take you’. In a prestigious family, the driver and the car will always wait in the front – in case the lord wants to go somewhere, we are ready. Garuda is there to show us this readiness to serve. In one beautiful temple Garuda is with one leg on one knee, facing the temple. Beautiful! If you approach, immediately you will remember: I have to serve, I have to be ready. 

So, at the main entrance in Jagannath Puri the Garuda column signifies this direction. There is another main gate where the mahaprasadam is transferred out of the temple. Because you know that the Jagannath temple is very famous for its prasadam. In this temple they have more than 200 cooks, 54 offerings per day, one and a half tons of rice is offered per day. So, Jagannath Puri is swimming in mahaprasadam. What is the concept behind this? There they worship Krishna as Jagannath, the Lord of the universe. And they consider that the Lord, the source of the whole universe, should enjoy all the facilities of the universe – all belongs to Him. Therefore they say, ‘Jagannath likes prasadam, He likes to eat’, and they want to serve Him so much, that it is said that His fingers are always wet. Such a beautiful concept! To serve God permanently with whatever He has given to us, to offer it back to Him. Beautiful! Even from this one thing you can understand the whole philosophy. 

But if you cook, there is some waste, garbage. So, there is a special exit from this temple complex, from which all the peelings and garbage and this and that is just hurled outside in one spot. 

So, yes, we can say that sometimes temple complexes also represent a kind of mandala structure. You can observe this especially in Shri Rangam – a very, very famous sacred city in South India. The tallest gopuram, entrance tower, in the whole of Asia is there. And it is really like a city itself. Mahaprabhu also visited this place – so when you approach the temple, in front there is a small chapel commemorating His visit. And when you enter the first gate, this first circle is very similar to the external world – you will find shops, eating, clothes, different merchants, almost the same as outside. When you enter the next gate, there is no foodstuff anymore. When you enter the next gate, there are no saris anymore. And the closer you come to the essence, only spiritual objects are sold – like flower garlands and incense, something that you can bring to Vishnu, since it’s a Vishnu temple. And when you enter the main inner yard, there are only brahmins chanting their hymns. It’s a beautiful representation – that we come from the external world, conditioned with so many needs and desires: ‘I’m hungry, I want to find something nice for myself’ – this is where we come from. When you take one step – no food. When you take another step – no fancy items. In this way we are trained to leave all material concepts behind. Finally, we will meet divinity. 

Actually, in this temple, the very special deity of Ramanuja Acharya is worshiped, his samadhi shrine is there. And there was a gatekeeper. We could enter this whole temple complex, but this gatekeeper said, “No way, here you cannot come”. At that time we were incognito, in trousers. So “no entry in trousers.” But fortunately there was another devotee, who was traveling in dhoti. Then the resistance of the gatekeeper melted and he said: ‘All right.’ That means, on the external periphery of the mandalas you will meet the gatekeepers as well. But if you have a good friend, a good guide traveling with you, you will have no problems with the gatekeepers. 

So please, cultivate your inner, your external and your divine mandalas. Whenever you chant, in this beautiful rosary you can also see a mandala – a symbol of the circular dance of Radha and Govinda. And when, by the invitation of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, you are invited into this chanting, you can dance around the lotus flower and the diamond pillar. 

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 11.01.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Question of Krishna Shakti: I need some more clarification about the mandala of six leaves. You said that there is a diamond pillar that is self-reflection – maybe this is the place of the soul?

Swami Tirtha: Well, the diamond pillar, this is Krishna. These are two different explanations. If we explain the heart lotus as a flower symbol, then on the petals there are the positive and questionable qualities and in the center is the self-reflection. So, this is like the beginning – when we start our spiritual journey and we don’t really know how to improve, the first step you can take is to try to analyze yourself, try to reflect upon yourself: ‘Who am I?’ From this point of view we can say that the observer is performing this self-reflection – and this is you, the soul. From this central point, we can observe our positive and negative qualities, our merits and our shortcomings. 

And when we start our spiritual journey, then we jump from our own small little heart mandala and enter into the big mandala. Imagine it like this: you approach a temple and it’s a huge temple complex, like a district in a city. The external wall is there to isolate the city and the sacred space. Then there is one main gate, main entrance; you come in and then there is a next wall, and a next wall, and you go through inner and inner circles of this huge complex. And finally in the center of that complex there is this diamond pillar – God. When this symbolic external mandala and your personal mandala meet there, this diamond pillar can be transplanted into your heart as well. Then you will find the source of your own existence. And then your heart mandala is purified enough to invite God to reside there: “Please, I prepared this place for You.” 

So these two lotuses, two different mandalas are to explain different levels of reality. One is like a personal, individual reality, and the other is more like a symbol of the spiritual path that we have to accomplish in order to reach our goal. Plus there is this divine mandala, where Goloka Vrindavan is described like the lotus petals with the mahamantra on them. So all the time the similar picture is mentioned, but in different shades. One is your individual heart mandala; second is the path as a mandala; third is divine reality as a mandala. And sometimes we come together in a disciplic mandala – like today, sitting here, we also form a structure, such a form that generates more spiritual energy.

 I don’t know if it helped you clear the situation in your head. So, there are parallels, there are similarities between the different representations, because they use the same symbol – mandala – but in a different understanding. 

(to be continued)

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 11.01.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Swami Tirtha: What is the difference between the two mandalas – the Krishna mandala and the Gauranga mandala? Who is there in Krishna’s innermost lotus mandala? 

Answer: The youngest manjaris.

Swami Tirtha: Yes, and in the middle circle? 

Answer: The gopis of the same age.

Swami Tirtha: And in external circle? 

Answer: The messengers.

Swami Tirtha: Only ladies, right? And in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s circles? 

Answer: Only men.

Swami Tirtha: Well, not only. Because it is especially mentioned that in the Navadvipa mandala there is one lady and she is Jahnava Devi, Nityananda Prabhu’s wife, who was a very remarkable personality in the sampradaya after the time of Mahaprabhu. 

We can understand that Krishna comes as a direct avatar, because the nature of God, in our understanding, is the enjoyer. He is the center of all the creation, the cause of all causes and everything that is created, everything that emanates from this source, serves the purpose. This is what I mean by enjoyer – that He accepts the service of all others. 

Mahaprabhu came in a hidden form as gupta avatar. He didn’t come in His full divine splendor. He didn’t come as a recipient of all the services of the created and manifested energies. But He came as a devotee, He came as a servant of God. And He identified Himself like, I am not an accomplished Brahmin, I am not this, I am not that. But I am a servant of the servant of the servants of the Supreme[1]. So, He practiced the life of an ascetic. And what can you expect from an ascetic? To dance with young ladies under the moonlight? Better avoid such an ascetic. Nevertheless, His most intimate servants, the goswamis, originally they have this gopi mood. Although the goswamis were also ascetics, nevertheless in their original form, they represent the innocent mood of service of the gopis. 

Therefore we can say that the Radha-Govinda mandala and the Gauranga mandala, they are yoga-pithas – to focus the attention. Just like the yantra-mandala structures in general help our attention to concentrate, because from the external world you come closer and closer to the essence, to the breakthrough. But here, in these divine mandalas, we know who is in the center and we know who is in the different layers of this structure. 

So please enter, you have an invitation. Come closer to this dancing couple in the center. Then your life will be sublime. 

(to be continued)

1. Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya Lila, 13.80

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 11.01.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

So, we were describing the Krishna mandala. But what about Gauranga? Mahaprabhu also has His mandala. And in His mandala, His associates occupy the specified spaces.
Who is in the center of the Chaitanya mandala? The center of the Chaitanya mandala is Himself – Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His direct associates. Because in the Krishna mandala, Radha-Govinda was standing in the center, and in the Chaitanya mandala, Mahaprabhu represents Radha and Govinda united, plus He’s got His primary expansions like the pancha-tattva.
Who are in the inner circle? In the inner circle of the Krishna mandala there were the younger gopis, the manjari. So, in Mahaprabhu’s mandala, the goswami occupies this place. On the external circle, the external petals of the Gauranga mandala, there are the intimate servants. From this we can understand that even those who belong to the external petals of this whorl, they are very intimate servants. And finally, those who belong to the middle section, they are the most intimate servants. So, intimate, most intimate and goswamis.
But, one verse is very important concerning the identity of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu:
radha krishna-pranaya-vikritir hladini shaktir asmad
ekatmanav api bhuvi pura deha-bhedam gatau tau
chaitanyakhyam prakatam adhuna tad-dvayam chaikyam aptam
radha-bhava-dyuti-suvalitam naumi krishna-svarupam[1]
Meaning “I worship Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is non-different from Krishna, encircled in the splendor and emotions of Radharani. As the predominant and predominated halves, Radha and Krishna, in Their individual identity, are always united. And now, in the form of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, again They are united. And this inconceivable transformation of the Divine Couple originates from the loving affairs of Radha and Krishna.”
This is a quotation from the personal secretary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Svarupa Damodara. And this quotation is very important for us, because it describes Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s philosophy – this inconceivable unity and diversity. Divinity, in our understanding, has these two sides of the coin – Govinda and Radha, Radha and Govinda, always together. And They belong to each other so strongly that when They perceive Their separate identities – like Krishna alone and Radha alone – They need each other so much that They are attracted to each other, They search for each other. And when this search is intense enough, then They embrace so deeply, so profoundly, that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu comes. Then the dark hue of Krishna is hidden under the silver splendor of Radhika.
So, please remember this verse, because it guides us in our spiritual endeavors. And according to this, we can easily understand the parallels between Krishna lila and Gauranga lila. All those who have the eye, they can identify the participants and the associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and identify their position in Krishna lila.

(to be continued)

1.  Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi Lila, 1.5

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 11.01.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

When Krishna had His pastimes on this planet Earth, the most intimate servants and partners in His happy and innocent games were the gopals and the gopis. And Rupa Goswami has classified the gopis into three categories. It is said, the first group are those gopis who are the same age as Krishna. The second group are the younger ones, younger than Krishna. And the third one – who carry messages. The first category is called samaja, born together, of the same age. The second, these younger servants, are called mandala, belonging to the mandala, belonging to the inner circle of Krishna. And the messengers are called the entourage of Krishna, ghana – they are His people. You see, many times we think gopis – this is one group. No, they are three groups. Of course, there are many, many sub-groups and many other descriptions, but let’s start from this. Of the same age, younger and messengers. 

The same-age gopis are also divided into two groups: those who belong to the external circle and those who belong to the inner circle. As the messengers need to carry the news, they are very well acquainted with the environment, but they are engaged in the most external services, because they go out and they come back. Then what about the third category – the younger ones? The younger ones are considered to be the most intimate servants, because they can enter where others cannot enter. You are parents, mostly. Sometimes you think, ‘Ah, I can speak freely because my kid will not understand”. Wrong. They will understand everything – of course, according to their level, but immediately they will feel when you are agitated or morose, or when you have a problem, or when you are jolly. But the young ones, they can come anytime. You don’t mind if your small child crawls into your bed, right? But if the neighbor, who usually brings all the news of the village, wants to crawl into your bed, you don’t accept, right? Some relationships you accept, other relationships you don’t accept – it’s forbidden, no way! So, it is said that the youngest gopis are allowed to enter where others are forbidden. And this supreme purity, this childlike innocence is considered to be practically the topmost achievement of spiritual life. 

And who is in the center of all these classes of serving gopis, who is in the focus of their attention? This is the Divine Couple. So, we can say that the gopis are dancing, buzzing around Radha-Govinda. If we use a symbolic language, we can say that when the male and female principle are combined, the creation will start – but this is so boring, so theoretical! Yet if we say Radha and Govinda are dancing and everything is revolving around Them, then we can understand this secret of creation in a very poetic manner. In this way we can understand that practically everything that is created, everything that emanates from this divine source, serves the purpose of the center. It’s not against it, rather everything is favorable towards the center. And this is what we also need to realize in our life – that if our beloved Krishna is in the center, everything that we have should serve Their purpose in a harmonious way. Then we can say that our life is arranged in a mandala structure. And the mandala is for generating power – this is a power structure. If you find your proper place in a power structure, you will be empowered. Do you agree on this point? 

For example, you join the devotees. That means you enter the disciplic mandala of the sadhu-sangha. You don’t have the ability to cook nice, but you are supposed to be the main cook of the ashram. And if you try to dedicate yourself fully, slowly-slowly some powers will be delegated to you. Maybe on the first day devotees will cry over your soup. But after one month they will cry in a different manner: it will be so nice, so sweet, so satisfying that they will be fully satisfied. Or sometimes you are supposed to be the main leader of the bhajan. And maybe on the first day devotees will cry over your bhajan. But if you slowly-slowly qualify yourself, then next time they will cry different tears. I mean the powers will be delegated to you if you accept your role in the disciplic mandala. It’s very important! Qualities will appear. 

(to be continued)

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 11.01.2019 morning, Sofia)

The bright sunshine has come. Now we can really appreciate it after so many days of darkness, fog and cold. Unfortunately, we human beings are like this – we can appreciate the blessed, divine things only in their absence. Krishna surya sama, Krishna’s sun is always shining, but unfortunately due to the clouds of ignorance sometimes we forget about it. Therefore we need to overcome this human nature – slow to learn and easy to forget – and we had better work under the opposite principle, so that we grab the essence quickly and we never forget about this essence.

But now let us continue our studies concerning the divine lotus flower. As we discussed, there are different layers of understanding this very beautiful symbol. We were discussing the lotus of the heart, the lotus as a cosmic symbol, the lotus as a spiritual symbol for us, like the essence of creation. Then based on the understanding that we have reached from the Brahma Samhita, describing the lotus, the shatkona, the surrounding areas, all the different partners and representatives around this whorl of divine unity, if we specify this structure more we shall come to the dearest associates of Krishna. We can say that the servants and the beloved devotees of Krishna are also arranged in a similar lotus-like manner. This is another living lotus mandala. As we discussed, if we put the Divine Couple in the center of our life, then everything else will be arranged accordingly. Therefore, this lotus mandala of the dearest devotees is also centered around the Divine Couple. And this is called yoga-pitha, which is like a symbolic structure of the arrangement of the different devotees. This yoga-pitha is the foundation of our faith. And upon this foundation we should establish the object of our worship – Radha-Govinda are in the center.

So, all the mandalas share some common features, like a square shape on the periphery. There are always some gates to the cardinal directions and when we enter this sacred space, we will find some harmony inside expressed through the circle. The square always symbolizes the material sphere and this sacred space is isolated from the material sphere. Yet the gates mean that it is not totally isolated, that it is possible to enter this sacred space. We can say that this is our hope – even this symbolic representation means that there is a way to approach divinity. And in the absolute center of all mandalas you will find a center point. Usually, that is the point of breakthrough. Because for a long time, when you approach your mandala, you come from the external world, from the material life. And you try to approach your mandala in a horizontal direction; then you reach a gate. You enter and you come closer and closer to the essence. And there, at this meeting point with divinity, it is just like a temple complex – you come from the external world and through the different yards, gates and entrances you come closer to the holy of the holiest – to the murti, who is residing in this temple complex. And then where you meet God – this is the point of breakthrough. Then your horizontal movement will change into a vertical connection. So, for a long time in our spiritual path we move on the same platform, though trying to come closer to the essential understanding. But when you are there, in this special point of concentrated spiritual power, then you can elevate your consciousness. And this is like a spiritual quantum leap.

(to be continued)

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 10.01.2019 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Question of Yadunath: Who can represent the spiritual masters? 

Swami Tirtha: In general we can say that every disciple represents the spiritual master. Because from the fruit you can understand the tree. All the disciples are fruits of the tree, so they represent the tree. Nevertheless, there are some nice fruits and there are some… smaller ones. Some have a biological system inside. Others have fallen on the ground. There are different fruits on the same tree. Some are ripe, tasty, juicy; other are a little sour. But in general we can say that each and every disciple has the right to represent their spiritual master. And the opposite is also true, according to you people will understand your master – they will judge your master, your faith, your God. If you behave stupidly, they will say: “Ah, you have a stupid religion, therefore you are stupid.” So we have to be very careful about this representation. Because we are not on our own. 

At the same time, we usually think: to represent the spiritual masters is like to be a successor – if I am correct? Usually as long as the master is still alive, this representation can happen only according to delegation – when the master will delegate the position to a chosen disciple: “You are my representative.” This is called the ritvik system – when one or more disciples represent the spiritual master in certain different functions. And when the master has withdrawn from this planet Earth, then the chance for this general representation of the spiritual master comes in the life of all the disciples. They are entitled to represent their masters, to represent the mission, the line to others. And sometimes you represent our tradition in a very simple manner – that you are a nice person and people appreciate your faith and your belonging to a spiritual tradition. Or some will go forward officially, share the message what they have learned from their master and invite others to join. This is a special type of representation – when we try to carry on the mission of our masters. Most probably few devotees will do this kind of service. One, two or few successors will carry on the mission officially, as spiritual authorities. 

But actually, what is most important is the unseen mission of the master. This inner representation is more important than any external activities. How can we serve or represent the spiritual master properly? I think you all know the answer – if you follow the teachings nicely. But to whom will the spiritual power be delegated to carry on the majority of missionary activities – that depends on Krishna’s grace. It’s not a human decision. Sometimes we have seen masters who have decided: “He will be my successor”. In some cases it worked nicely. In other cases we have seen it didn’t work out. Somehow the spiritual power was delegated to another person, not to the officially chosen one. So it depends on Krishna’s grace. It is also described very nicely in the Krishna Book how it happens. Masters, or teachers, or saints, they enjoy a special power from the Supreme. When they die, when they disappear from this planet Earth, there is a vacuum. But the power is there. And that spiritual power needs a person who will carry it on. Therefore I can say that this divine arrangement will find a person who will elevate and improve himself or herself to be a proper representative – even if in the beginning he is not. So it is said that this divine power will descend upon somebody and then starts to function again. Sometimes this is according to the chosen and delegated official positions and sometimes it’s not. 

But all the qualified disciples have the right to represent their masters. The unqualified, they don’t have the right, but nevertheless they will also represent their masters. 

But which real disciple will feel that ‘I can represent my master’? I think it’s impossible, right? You cannot replace the Sun if it is setting. You cannot replace the Sun. Gurudev was called the Bright Star of the Orient by his brothers. How can you substitute a bright star? It’s impossible! When it’s gone, it’s gone. Of course, it should always be there on the horizon of your inner heart. And a surrendered soul would feel: ‘It’s not my life. My God, my beloved deity, my master is living through me.’ Then They will represent themselves. It’s only a question of surrender. 

And it happened in Mahaprabhu’s case. Once He met a brahmin and this brahmin was very delicate in understanding the positions. Immediately when he saw Mahaprabhu, he could sense His aura, he could sense the blessings of Mahaprabhu’s spiritual master. So he approached Mahaprabhu and said, “Dandavat pranam! Are you not a disciple of Shripad Ishvara Puri?” And Mahaprabhu said, “Yes, I am”. So if you have the eye, you will see the master in the disciple, the power of that spiritual authority over the person. And if you are sensitive enough, you will understand who is who. 

Just like the senior elder devotees said, that when Shrila Prabhupada was still present on this planet Earth, people could perceive his presence in his representatives. A special power was delegated to these preachers. And when Prabhupada disappeared, it changed. So it’s a very mystic experience, how these spiritual powers are delegated to people, how it happens. You cannot really understand; and it’s not necessary to analyze. This is the beauty of mystic experience – that somehow it happens. It’s there, you can perceive it! Therefore we agree, that the aura of divine light should embrace our activities, it should signify our activities. Not the passions, not the ambitions, not the results, but this divine dedication – this should embrace our activities. 

The representation is with you. Go ahead! Show others what you have collected, what you have understood. Share your treasures.

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 10.01.2019 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Question of Yashoda: Could you please say more about the spiritual laziness that you mentioned, and about going deeper inside.

Swami Tirtha: Oh, the spiritual laziness! This topic I know very well; and about the other one – getting deeper – I don’t know anything. You know, my topic is maya, illusion, brahman – this is something I can share. But dedication, divine love, inner introspection… 

But apart from jokes, spiritual laziness – in this age, in this Kali Yuga, people are lazy in spiritual matters. Usually inspiration comes from very brutal, very elementary platforms for us in general. Higher inspiration – we don’t really understand. And spiritual matters are very high, so therefore we can say in general that people are usually lazy concerning spiritual matters. They are much too obsessed with material ambitions. The other day we discussed karma, vikarma, akarma – action, sinful activities and non-fruitful actions. But there is one special category of karma – when you miss a chance for spiritual service. That is called negligence. So this we can also call spiritual laziness – you didn’t act at the proper moment and that moment is just lost. Somebody else has accomplished that service. Therefore we need to very properly apply our ability to act. But it is not enough simply to be busy, busy making progress. Because if we remain on the external platform, that doesn’t really help us. 

Also, you mentioned spiritual laziness, right? And on different platforms of spiritual emotions we shall find laziness as well. As a kind of anubhava, or special consequence of certain types of overwhelming emotional feelings. This we can really call a positive spiritual laziness – when you are unable to act. Just remember when Shrimati Radharani felt neglected by Krishna, She was so sad that She couldn’t move. She was just sitting on the earth and with Her finger was writing in the sand. And waiting for the moment of meeting again. 

So sometimes we don’t see action, but on the inside a lot of things happen. Other times we see too much action on the external platform, but nothing happens on the inside – no change. So going deeper – I think this means more things start to happen inside. 

(to be continued)

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 10.01.2019 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Question of Krishnapriya: You mentioned the lost years without devotional service and also you mentioned that we can hang around with devotees without doing anything, so how can one understand that this is actually advancing and not staying in one place?

Swami Tirtha: For that we need the proper eye to judge, to understand. Shrila Shridhara Maharaj says something very important concerning this question. He said, when you take your food – do you ask somebody whether you are satisfied or not? We don’t ask, we feel it. Like today – we had this very special opportunity to visit the best cook on this planet Earth. And of course you feel satisfied. Even looking at him, how he is stirring the soup, you just simply feel satisfied. What to speak of tasting the nectar that is coming from him?! So after taking his prasadam, I didn’t ask him whether I was satisfied or not. But I told him, “Ah baba, this was great. I feel very satisfied.” You just feel. 

Therefore Shrila Shridhara Maharaj says, from the symptoms you can judge your situation, your position. What will happen if we eat? Your hunger diminishes, you receive energy and your satisfaction is raised. So from these symptoms you can understand whether you are satisfied or not. If we apply this principle to our spiritual progress, some requirements should be the same, others should be different. For example, if you feel, ‘Ah my spiritual thirst has diminished’, I am not sure that this is the very best symptom. Rather it should increase: ‘Give me more! I want more, I want to go deeper!’ So we can agree that the spiritual hunger or thirst should grow, right, instead of diminishing. Alright, from this one example we understood that the reversed order works better – this is the real symptom of growth. So if we apply this reversed order to the second principle, this is not good. Your energy should grow. And finally, your inner satisfaction should grow. So whether you apply the one direction or the reversed order, definitely our inner contentment should grow. 

This is the science or the art of contentment – if we find some little drops of nectar, we should be very satisfied. So from this analysis, I think we can come to a more proper understanding of our position. Whether my ignorance has diminished? If we can say ‘Yes, it has diminished’, then it’s a good sign. Whether I have more inspiration for divine practices? If we can say ‘Yes, I have more inspiration’, it’s a good sign. Whether I’m more satisfied with my life in general? And if you can say ‘Yes’, that’s a good sign. 

But ultimately, we can add that it is not our individual duty to judge our progress. If others will say, “Ah this person has progressed so much”, that’s the best sign. 

But what is in the center of this heart lotus? Self-analysis, right? Self-reflection. Always try to understand your position better and better. And this is not another egoistic focus on ourselves, but we have to understand what to do and what not to do. Nevertheless, many times if you look back, you might feel, ‘Ah I have wasted so many years, even in my spiritually active life’. If it is not due to spiritual laziness or negligence or whatever individual shortcoming, then we should accept this as a price to pay, as a necessary part of our training. You can say, ‘If it happened in a different manner, I could have achieved more’. But you didn’t achieve more. You are here, your position is this, your service is this. And all that happened before helped you to reach this present state – so that was necessary. 

And here comes something important. We can judge a situation or we can understand a person in two ways. One method is: you can analyze the past and the other method is: you can analyze the future. So, if you analyze the source, the background, the reasons, then you can understand something. Analyzing the past, you can understand the present day. But to have a vision about the future, to have an eye for the goal – from that you can derive the present situation. This is a totally different approach. If you understand a situation from the consequences – I think it’s very wise. It is said, you can judge a tree according to the fruits. This means, by the results you can see what is the origin. In the same way, if we know what is the goal of our life – the charming beauty of Radha-Govinda-lila – from that we can derive the path. So, be very clever! Because, if from here you look up, you might lose your way. But if you understand your present position from your future goal, your future achievement, then you can be very precise about what to do and how to do. I think this is progress – when we are not obsessed with our past, but rather we try to work hard on our future.

(to be continued)