Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 06.01.2019 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Question of Yadunath: Gurudev, when a normal person is asking us, “How are you, what’s up with you?” we usually answer in a normal way – a little skeptically: that we are kind of well and we add some success we have achieved. But when the spiritual master asks us, “How are you? What is the news about you?”, then what is the substantial achievement that is worth sharing with him? And what are the anxieties that are worth sharing with him without wasting his time? So what is a true success and what is a true failure before a spiritual master? 

Swami Tirtha: Well, when my spiritual master asked me, “How are you?” Usually I said, “Still in illusion”. “I know – he said, – but I want to know what you have accomplished?” So, you know, sometimes our masters have tricky questions. But in general, we can say that for being able to give a proper answer, we need to qualify ourselves. It is said, when God wants to build the temple of the souls, the humans start to run and bring bricks and sand. We are on a different level of consciousness, different depth of understanding. What I feel is a success for me, my master will start crying: “This is your failure, my dear!” And what I don’t dare to share, because I am ashamed of not achieving, he is very happy about it. Because we are exposed to a test, and by the failure we can move forward. Failure is the pillar of success. Here we have a nice pillar. Without that pillar, this hall wouldn’t exist. And in South India they have a temple with a very famous part – this is called ‘The thousand pillars hall’. But please, my dear brothers and sisters, don’t build your own thousand-pillared-halls, as failure is the pillar of success. 

So, to provide a proper answer, we need to enter the mood of the master. We need to come to a similar level of understanding. Material achievements don’t mean too much in the spiritual sense. And we don’t need to prove ourselves by numbers. There is a subtle quality that is important in spiritual matters, but those who see, they will perceive this fine quality. 

Once Shrila Shridhara Maharaj asked his students: “What is intelligence? How can you understand who is intelligent or not?” The students couldn’t come up with a proper answer. But then the master said, “If you are intelligent, immediately you will understand who is intelligent.” If you have this fine spiritual quality of real success, immediately you will understand who is successful or what is success. 

But also it is recommended that in front of our spiritual master we should feel like a fool number one, yet it is said, don’t act like a fool number one. Be reasonable. Because then your master might be disappointed with you, he might be angry at you. Although usually we expect from a sadhu to be very peaceful all the time, but in case he is angry, in the Vedas there is some advice of protection for the disciples – you should run out of the reach of sound. And stay far. 

You see, spiritual life is not a theory. It is something alive. And if you expect from your sadhus not to show any feedback, then better you associate with a piece of stone. Guru is a person who will dispel our darkness. With any means that he has got. Just like Krishna. Krishna has two instruments at hand. He is famous for his flute and the flute has a very charming sound. And our Krishna has many different flutes. One is made of bamboo; the other is made of gold; and a very special one is made of marble; one is bedecked with precious stones. So all these different flutes of Krishna have got different names and different shades and different sounds, but all charm you. This is the charming instrument of Krishna. He is tending the cows with its beautiful sound. And also the gayatri-mantra is the sound of Krishna’s flute. So whenever you chant your gayatris, you can remember that ‘Oh, this is an invitation from the Supreme’. And the cows are ready to run after Krishna’s flutes. 

But Krishna has another instrument as well, and it is a stick. Because I am sure most of you have visited India and you know the cow is a holy cow in India, but all the shopkeepers at the market have a stick as well. Because when the cows come to taste their fruits and vegetables, they will use the stick. In the same way, God, Krishna has a flute to charm you and a stick to chastise you. He will use both instruments to instruct us – but only for our spiritual benefit. 

(to be continued)

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 06.01.2019 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Asato ma sat gamaya! Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya! Mrityor ma amritam gamaya! This text comes from the Upanishads. Upanishad means ‘a secret teaching’, but also it means the method how to acquire knowledge. Upanishad also means ‘to sit close to the source, to sit close to the master’. We need to find the proper source of information in order to be properly informed. 

Because, as the first line says, asat – “From asat, from unreal, lead me to reality, to sat.” So, we know sat, sat-chit-ananda. Sat is ‘real’, sat is ‘existential’, sat is ‘positive’ – something that does not diminish, something that is real. And how to identify what is real? Sometimes the unreal helps us to realize what is real. Once I met a very strange master, а teacher. He was a very wise man – a sufi practitioner, very well informed in yoga and other traditions as well. He said, “If there is a fake darwish, be attentive – that means there is a real one as well”. And he added, “Have you ever seen a fake $75 bill?” I said “No, I didn’t see a fake $75 bill”. “Why, he asked, because there is no real $75 bill, right? But have you ever seen a fake $100 bill? You might, because there is an original one.” So in the same way, if we see the fake, if we see the asat, be attentive – that means there is a real version, there is sat as well. Therefore we pray, asato ma – from the unreal – sat gamaya – help me to reach sat, the reality. “From the unreal, lead me to reality.” Beautiful! 

The second line says, tamaso ma… tamas is ‘darkness’. “From darkness, lead me to light.” It’s very obvious. Darkness is usually a very practical symbol of ignorance. Because we are all searching for enlightenment, right? But with blind eyes how will you reach enlightenment? So from the darkness we need to go to the light. Which is stronger – the light or the darkness? It’s obvious, the light is stronger. Because actually the darkness has no positive reality. Darkness is asat. And we can understand darkness only in the absence of light. In the presence of light you cannot understand what darkness is. It’s impossible. But the absence of light can immediately invite darkness. So darkness depends on the light, but light doesn’t depend on the darkness. It doesn’t matter how much darkness you want to bring into this room, if there is even one little candle, you will never win. So “From the darkness, lead me to the light”. 

And finally, “From death, lead me to eternity”. I think that is, again, very obvious. As darkness doesn’t have any positive reality, we can say that death, or limitation by time, doesn’t have any positive reality. Death is asat – it doesn’t exist, it’s not real. While eternity is sat, it has got a positive reality. Again we can say that in the light of eternity, we can understand this limitation called death. 

And it is also said in the Upanishads that by knowledge you can overcome death and by wisdom you can achieve eternal life. Sounds like the same, isn’t it? Why it is repeated? Because it’s different. With knowledge you can overcome the limitation of time, you can overcome death; but this is only the negation of this limitation. While the positive meaning of eternity we can only achieve by wisdom, realized knowledge. Therefore, it is different; knowledge and wisdom bring different results. 

And then, the secret teachings analyze these verses and they say: when the text says, “From the unreal lead me to reality”, actually it means that “From death lead me to eternity”. And when the text says, “From the darkness lead me to the light”, actually it means, “From death lead me to eternity”. And when the text says, “From death lead me to eternity”, it means, “From death lead me to eternity”. Right? So, this is wisdom: not so much is expected from us, but to understand this small message. By liberating your consciousness, by freeing your mind, you can achieve your spiritual goals and ambitions. 

(to be continued)

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 06.01.2019 evening, Sofia)

Welcome everybody! Although I am a guest, I would like to greet all of you. And first of all I have to excuse myself, because although I have been visiting your country for quite some time, I don’t really speak your language. But beware, I understand a lot. I have learned something, which will sound familiar to you: ‘Крушата не пада по-далече от дървото’. Maybe my pronunciation is very funny. But you know, proverbs have a deep meaning. Because we are all spiritual practitioners, right? And we are like fallen pears in this world. We are somehow separated from our real origin, from our real home. But fortunately, we are not very far from the original tree. We can say that perfection is much closer than what we would expect. 

And actually in Hungary, because I come from Hungary, we have the same proverb, but in a little different version: ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’. And usually, when a baby is born, in the old times they planted a tree. For a boy they planted an apple tree and for a girl they planted a pear tree. And in that sense you are more advanced, because actually the soul is female. It’s a pear. But there was a third option as well – if the parents wanted to bring up their child as a monk, then they planted a walnut tree. 

Тhis is, you know, like a folk tradition. Nevertheless, for us, it can tell a story. Because I consider a person spiritual if he can understand, explain and relate everything to the Spirit. And spiritual success in my opinion is a question of consciousness, not of any other external conditions. Therefore, we need to develop our consciousness. And in that sense, we all need our walnut trees. Because if you crack this hard walnut, inside you find a replica of the brain. So again, that will tell us: develop your consciousness. 

That much about my fluent Bulgarian. And I feel very honored to be here with you. And I’m sure that for many years this place will serve the real satisfaction of the heart and soul, santosha. 

In this beautiful Indian tradition, if in a philosophical debate you have to prove something, you have to refer to three authorities. One is the evidence of the revealed scriptures, to the Upanishads, the secret teachings. This is called the shruti-prasthana. Shruti is ‘the revealed scriptures’, prasthana is ‘the reference’.

The second authority that you have to refer to is the Bhagavad Gita. This is practically the most important and most well-known scripture from India – let’s say, the Bible of the Hindus; everything that is necessary for our spiritual development is included there. And as it is a part of the Mahabharata, therefore it is called the smriti-prasthana, or ‘the reference of the sacred tradition’. 

And also, there is another, a third reference, because if you are in a philosophical conversation or a debate, you must apply your logic. So, the third one is a logical reference, a reference of logic. And this third source of information is the Vedanta Sutra. One is more important than the other. The reference from the revealed scriptures, the reference from the sacred tradition and the reference from logical analysis – all should support your point, and then you win the debate. 

(to be continued)

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 06.01.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Question of Krishna Shakti: When one is starting on the spiritual path, but the family is not favorable, what is the proper manner of associating with parents?

Swami Tirtha: Respectful. With respect. This relationship will never change. The control of the body is given in the Gita: deva-dvija-guru-pragya-pujanam shaucam arjavam/ brahmacaryam ahimsa cha shariram tapa ucyate – “The control of the body means you worship God, you respect the brahmins, the guru and the elders, like father and mother.” So, it’s included in the control of the body. It’s a principle. It’s not only an individual relationship, but this is a principle. Father is a principle. Guru is a principle. Unfortunately, many times our parents do not fully represent a spiritual authority. That blessing we can get at other places. But the respect to superiors, like parents, should always be there. Still, respect to elders doesn’t mean that you follow all they say. So, authority and spiritual authority. Respect and spiritual respect. We need to give both. Therefore, we are fully indebted to the holy name, because as a prime spiritual practice, it will change our life. Already it has changed it, but future changes are expected. 

Question of Paramananda: The breakfast of Nanda Baba was very spicy. But nevertheless, Krishna continued taking it. This is because He was very hungry or on some other reason? 

Swami Tirtha: He is always hungry. But He’s got a very special food. This is devotion. But not devotion as a baby food – with no spices and no taste, and no nothing there, only generic devotion, like a kachamak. He wants a special taste – and this is when devotion is surcharged with higher components. In general, we can say that real spiritual practice will start when your consciousness is surcharged with devotion. But the even higher platform is when your devotion is surcharged with rasa. And we can say, an even higher grade of rasa is ruchi. So, the spice that we have to add to general devotion is this specific taste in relationship with the Divine Couple. 

So, Krishna is hungry, He is not satisfied. He needs more and more. And therefore He invites more and more souls to ease the hunger. I am sure I mentioned this milk miracle. Do you remember that? When, first in Delhi, in one temple, Ganesh started to accept milk. They offered the milk and it disappeared. You know, in India very soon the news spread. And then hundreds of people were coming to this specific temple and everybody brought milk. ‘If Ganesh is taking the milk, I bring the milk – to satisfy him.’ And one of our devotees, who at that time was living in Delhi said in half a day Delhi stopped to function. Because very soon Ganesh started to accept milk in other temples also. So people were thronging around the temples and waiting in long queues, to see the private miracle: ‘Ganeshji will take my milk’ – and people were bringing the milk in gallons. But very soon the miracle spread to other continents as well. In London, Ganesh started to accept milk as well. The television was there and they were filming. And you could see: they give Ganesh, either with a spoon or with some little cup – and the milk is disappearing. It was really astonishing! Then the scientific community also came to give an opinion about the miracle. And they said, “The stone that Ganesh is carved off is porous. So it absorbs the milk.” But wait a minute, what about the metal deities? Come on, the metal is not porous. The metal Ganesh was also accepting the milk. And then they made some interviews with the people in the queues. There was an Indian gentleman, I think that was in London, and he said, “You know, I work as an accountant and I’m an agnostic, but in case there is a miracle, I also brought my milk”. Yet the most touching was one interview with a devotee, I’m sure she was a very elevated devotee, because she said, “The gods are hungry. They give us a message. They need our service”. So beautiful! 

So, what will happen in the evening? When you offer your milk to Ganesh, or your Gopal, or whatever deity you worship – will you force them to drink the milk? Will you drown them in a cup of milk? Will you want to prove the miracle for yourself? Please don’t do that, most probably you will fail. Because it’s not the physical substance what they want to accept. It is the finer quality that Krishna needs. And this finer quality, this pure dedication they will always accept. So don’t be satisfied with bringing only the milk. Bring also this very special preparation – your purehearted devotion.

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 06.01.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday)

Hari Lila: You mentioned that we have to realize our level in spiritual topics and to what extent we can go into them, disclose them to people. How can we judge our own level?

Swami Tirtha: If you are sincere, you will feel it. Once a very elevated first-class devotee told me, “I had read such and such book of the gosvamis, but then I put it on my shelf”. She has understood her level. We can read, we can listen; but entering the lilas, coming to that platform is totally different. Nevertheless, we should know the direction, we should know the ideal – therefore we have to study, therefore we have to listen. But don’t rush. And also we shouldn’t forget about the advice of Shrila Prabhupada, ‘Work now, samadhi later’. But it will come. 

At the same time, this inner cultivation, this spiritual culture and realizations are very important, because this provides the fuel for your daily life, what to speak of trying to distribute something for others. To become a math teacher in an elementary school, first you need to accomplish a university degree, right? But if you start to teach math to 7 years old children at a university level, they will not understand. So first you cultivate for yourself and you transfer the appropriate message. Like a pelican. The pelican feeds the small ones by first half-digesting the food. In such a manner you receive first, then you give it to others. 

Some people may think that Shrila Prabhupada always gives very elementary advice: “You are not the body, there is transmigration, etc.” But if he tries to educate people on an elementary platform, it doesn’t mean that he is on an elementary platform. Once he was supposed to give a lecture at a university. And the devotees were curious, ‘What kind of topic will Prabhupada give today? Usually he is speaking about the ABCs of spiritual life, but now this is like a scientific community, so maybe he will come up with some theory, with some philosophy, with some basics.’ And then he started his lecture and he was talking only about the gopis. Totally out of context for a scientific community. So we never know how our saints are inspired. But we should be very caring about our own inspiration. 

But I told you many times how to recognize our level. Bhaktivinoda Thakur writes that once a very demanding practitioner approached a saint, inquiring about the same topic. “Can you tell me what is my level?” This saint said, “Alright, describe your realization. What’s happening to you?” And this young man said, “Well, when I enter the temple, some trembling is going through me. When I look at the deities, sometimes I cannot see them because my eyes are full of tears. And when I start to chant the holy names, sometimes I faint. This is how I feel.” And then the sadhu said, “Alright, then you are on the elementary platform. Go further.” So, where are your tears? Where is your trembling? Work now, samadhi later. 

But at the same time, it is just all around. This blissful divine power is just all around. The natural environment for a devotee is mercy, which you can perceive in a blissful manner. It is just all around. This is it. 

I have noticed a certain transition in you: you have entered a more mature state of your life. Most of you, individually, and also as a group, you have improved. Now you maybe have an invitation from Krishna for a different type of service – to preach more profoundly, to serve the spiritual benefit of people. Because if you preach, it is not a campaign, it is a service. To serve others to come to a higher understanding about their spiritual identity. Somehow I feel that due to your commitment, due to your discipline and also due to some blessings, you came to a more shining period of your lives – that you can represent your masters, your faith, and your God to others. So, go ahead. 

Once, the senior preachers came together at the lotus feet of Shrila Shridhara Maharaj. Stalwarts, heroes of our lives – like Paramadveiti Maharaj, my Gurudev, others from America, from Australia, from Europe, leaders of preaching in certain regions and countries, very important personalities. Shridhara Maharaj told them, “You go on preaching!” They said, “Ah no, no, we don’t have the ability. You have to come, Gurumaharaj, you have to come.” But he said, “No, I’m just sitting here. You know it better. You are working there in these respective places, you know it better.” They said, “But we don’t have the power”. Then Shridhara Maharaj said, “I will stand behind you. I give you the power to do the service”. And then they had no excuse. And actually, due to this empowerment we are sitting here. So, you can come up with some excuses, but your masters will destroy your resistance. And they will stand by you. 

(to be continued)

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 06.01.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

It is said, to sit alone and meditate is good. If you have a partner for that, that’s better. And if we can glorify the holy name in a harmonious company, that is best. Together, right? And bhajan is not only a singing. Bhajan is your worship. I feel that you like the bhajan so much, you sing together, glorifying the Holy Name. But what is the upgrade of bhajan? This is kirtan. 

So, we have an instrument of inner control. Try to apply that. First, this is like control –  chanting the holy names – you wait for your peace of mind, you wait for your liberation. But if you keep on chanting the Holy Names, more subtle tastes will also appear. The inner purification of the heart, the heart intelligence will happen. And what was a big problem for you yesterday, today you will see it’s insignificant, it doesn’t hurt you anymore. Sometimes we want to see a great leap in our spiritual progress, although small little steps are maybe more precious. And slowly-slowly what is so important for you today, as a suffering or as a hope – because you cherish your sufferings – loses its importance. And other things start to be more important for you. You are not intent on discovering America anymore. Rather, you want to explore the spiritual sky – a much more interesting and inviting challenge. 

So please, try to apply this very subtle method to yourself. And if you become more compassionate due to this inner purification, then you will find a way to people’s heart. Sometimes our knowledge or our spiritual achievements help in that respect. Other times our failures help to approach, to understand others. Because if you don’t fail, you think that you will never fail. And you don’t understand how people fail. How is it that they cannot stop the wind? You think that you can stop it, although you never tried. Try! Fail! Be ready to take the trouble as well. But never lose the spirit. You can lose, but your mission should never lose. Your God will never lose. Your faith should never lose. „Declare it boldly: “My devotee is never lost“. You can lose a battle, but you should win the war. 

And why do we want to approach people? Once Gurudev asked us, “Why do we preach?” You know, these very simple questions are very challenging. ‘Because usually we do it like this, it’s a habit.’ ‘Well, because you are preaching, Gurudev, and we try to imitate you and we are also trying to preach.’ No. What kind of answer can you give to such a question? Difficult, simple questions are very difficult to answer. What is the meaning of your life? Who are you? What is your goal? Simple questions. Close to impossible to answer. So we tried our best to find the proper answer, but then Gurudev said, “Because Mahaprabhu told us to”. Therefore we want to find a way to reach people, to meet them, to associate with them, to help them come closer to their spiritual identity. You cannot be so cruel to let people around you die in bodily consciousness! Why don’t you tell them that they are spirit souls? Preaching is not that complicated. You don’t need to give a dry and boring philosophical discussion. No! Give a message. Because the more people take their share in the spiritual inheritance, the better it is.

(to be continued)

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 06.01.2019 morning, Sofia)

We bring our materially conditioned mind. We might project our material experience over the divine truths. It’s a mistake. Many times, Gurudev was teaching us about that as well – not through words, but through action. Many times when there was a discussion, we came up with some suggestions or solutions. And in most of the cases, he rejected them and came up with his version, which was a totally mind-blowing resolution, sometimes 108% against the topmost of our understanding. It seemed so illogical and useless, that most of the times we wanted to start to protest, but we knew that it’s no use. And then it turned out that he was correct. From that I understood: our level of understanding is a little bit different.
So we need fine-tuning, we need polishing of our understanding – and this is not only an intellectual understanding. Devotional life is not an intellectual enigma, it’s rather an emotional secret. We need a deeper, different kind of understanding, and this is the intelligence of the heart. If you love Krishna, you will understand more. Therefore, Shrila Prabhupada said, “Simply try to love Krishna”. It’s not necessary to over-complicate the whole situation. Because if you love someone, naturally he is part of your life. Or, if we are more fortunate, we become part of His life.
What about the condition of our mind? I don’t like to talk about this topic, because it’s very easy to trigger people with this. But what is usually the condition of our mind? It’s full of garbage. We have accumulated and collected so much stuff there, the vast majority of which is useless. And it’s not only the information that we have collected, but the emotional residue that we keep. When you make coffee and this residue remains, you throw it out, right? You don’t drink that part. Our mind is full of such residue. Previous impressions, our sufferings, our bad conditionings; you failed, you won, you’re full of fear, your hopes and dreams, unfulfilled mostly… This is what I call a totally corrupted condition of our mind, full of this emotional residue. Plus the problems that you have. ‘What about tomorrow? If my dream will come true? Money is coming and going, but in my case it’s more like going.’ Our mind is full of trouble, right? Where is your peace of mind? Only residue. And if you stir a little bit – all the mud will come to the surface, my dear! Fighting spirit and so much garbage is there. Then what to do?
I was living in Nandafalva. One day it was a beautiful hot summer day. And you know, sometimes on hot summer days storms appear. So this happened. I was in the garden, cultivating a little bit. Then all of a sudden I just looked up and I saw an incredibly great cloud was coming – huge like an ocean liner. Really, that was the feeling. I didn’t see the top of it and it was just coming towards me. I said, ‘Ah, very nice. Let’s try this. A nice experience, you know – to face the storm. Because we are devotees, right? With the spiritual power we shall overcome the forces of nature.’ It was approaching, approaching…. you know, my stamina was agitated and at the same time a little questioned. As it was a hot day, I didn’t have my shirt on, so I was waiting for the experience. Then first the wind came. It was so strong that it almost knocked me off my legs. All right, I had the fence behind my back, so I was still standing. But then the rain came. And it was just like whips. It was so strong and so smashing that I actually had to hide behind this fence, I couldn’t protect myself otherwise. Well, then I had to reconsider my stamina. And although I still believe in the power of the spirit, I try to appreciate the forces of nature more. Because before the wind came, a verse from Gita came to me, where Arjuna said, “Oh, it’s easier to stop the wind than to pacify the mind”[1]. All right, peace of mind is achieved; now let’s stop the wind. Well, I failed. Did you achieve this control of the mind?
But there must be a means to control our mind, to reject the garbage. To throw out the residue. To purify. I think we have a very convincing experience when we chant the holy names. If you can dedicate yourselves to this practice, you feel that the garbage is removed. Then something else will fill your mind up to the brim. All the troubles that you have, all the past miseries, all the future fears just disappear, melt in the waves of this divine vibration. It is suggested that we should have this feeling when chanting our japa individually. Sometimes you feel it, many times you don’t. But when we come together, then you can feel it very profoundly.

(to be continued)

1.  Bhagavad Gita 6.34

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 05.01.2019 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Radhe Radhe Govinda! Who is Govinda? We started from some theories, mantra, to liberate the consciousness… and finally we have arrived to Govinda. And Radha, you know Her very well. All right, you can ask, Radha we know, but who is this Govinda? Radha is the most beautiful girl in the village, right? But who is this Govinda? You know, in our tradition Radharani is the most charming person in this whole creation. So much so, that there is only one person who is able to appreciate Her and this is God. Only God can understand or appreciate Her beauty, Her charm, Her love, etc. 

From God we expect to be omniscient, right? And we all admire the Supreme. But just imagine, there is someone whom He admires. It is just mind-blowing! We started from liberating the consciousness and now we end up with breaking our head. God is running after someone?! That is incredible. But this is Radha; and who is running after Her? Govinda. Because Krishna-Govinda is so beautiful, that His beauty is marvelous even for Himself. Yes, once when He was on this planet Earth, He entered a palace. And one column was made of polished precious stone. It was reflective like a mirror. Krishna came and when He encountered His reflection in this mirror column, He was amazed. He said, ‘What is this beauty? Who is this incredibly handsome person? Who is this? I cannot imagine’. So, the beauty of God is so great, that it is charming for even Himself. He cannot understand Himself. 

I think sometimes we also share this feature. Sometimes we don’t understand ourselves. I am not sure if it means that we are also gods. But you see, we humans are very similar to Him. Or we can say, He comes in a very similar manner to us. 

Just imagine, the beauty of God Supreme is so super excellent, that it is incomprehensible for Himself. But there is one person, Radha, who can fully appreciate the beauty of Govinda. To be able to appreciate the greatness and the beauty of God, a real partner is necessary. So we can say that the ultimate Beauty and the ultimate Love, Govinda and Radha, their union is the essence of the whole creation. And we can say that this is the liberation of the consciousness. If we are able to think and meditate over the meeting and the divine union of Beauty and Love, then we are relieved of all the possible contaminations of the mind. This is a beautiful invitation  for all of you to join this very aesthetic ecstasy. 

So Radha and Govinda represent this beautiful supreme union, divine meeting. Radha and Govinda. The name of the Supreme is very important. To call somebody by their name is important. What is your good name? 

Answer: Martin.  

Swami Tirtha: If I enter this hall and I say, ‘Hey you!’, most probably you will not pay attention. But if I say, ‘Hey, Martin!’, immediately you will pay attention, right? ‘Somebody is calling me’. Hey Govinda! He will pay attention, ‘Somebody is calling me’. Hey Govinda! Therefore, the ultimate liberation of our consciousness is to become a surrendered servant, a surrendered practitioner in this divine union. An omnipotent God and a surrendered servant – they are an invincible partnership. 

To qualify ourselves, we need to pray – so that the blessings come to us, so that the mercy embraces us. Because the best way is to approach this merciful aspect of God.

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 05.01.2019 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Around a saintly person the dimensions will change. When we were living together with Gurudev in the same ashram, even from the bus stop I could feel whether he is at home or not. And when you arrive there, full of doubts and questions, when you enter his room, all the questions are gone, all the doubts are gone. And you simply enjoy being around him. You feel this ultimate shelter that we are all searching for. No need for words, no need for explanations. It’s not a question of philosophy. It’s a question of heart-to-heart, deeper understanding. 

Then the moment of separation came. It’s a bitter moment. But actually this is an entrance into eternity. Just imagine yourself: there is not anymore a chance in this lifetime that you will meet the most important person in your life. It’s not an easy moment. But we have an escape. If we cannot associate with the bodily presence of our master, we can always associate with his spiritual presence. When I heard the news of his disappearance, two days later I had to give a lecture – about the eternity of the soul, about the use of spiritual practice. I think that was one of the most difficult lectures in my life ever. When approaching the place, I was crying on the street. But when I arrived, I had to compose myself and give a proper lecture. Because I am sure that he wouldn’t be satisfied with some easy emotional tears. He said, ‘Even if you are in the most degraded state of consciousness, you have to give a proper lecture’.  

May I share one more story with you? You know, a student is supposed to be humble, right? Once Gurudev took me, we were driving in his car and he told me, “Go to such and such city and give a lecture”. And you know, I tried my best to be humble, so I told him, “Ah, Gurudev, I don’t like to go on stage”. He kept silent for a moment and then I felt: maybe something is wrong. He was driving and then he was staring at me while driving, so I understood: oh, big mistake. You know, he was a remarkable person, so when he kept silent, that was the most difficult moment. And then he said, “I didn’t tell you to go on stage, I told you to give a lecture”. So he never ever missed any moment, any chance for instructing you. To break the false humility and to show you what real service mood is – forget about yourself. It’s not you who is important, but the service – that is important. 

I won’t share other stories. But ever since, this is the most important person in my life. His ideals started to be important for me as well. And I hope that his ideals will be important for you also. 

(to be continued)

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 05.01.2019 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

We human beings are made of relationships. Humans are social beings. We depend very much on our connections, on our relationships. They say, it doesn’t matter what you know, but it does matter whom you know. And all those who have been living in the communist system understand this very well. It didn’t matter what you know and what you don’t know, but it did matter whom you know, what connections you have. And actually, this is true in the spiritual sense as well. I don’t say that this is spiritual communism, but anyway, our consciousness and our knowledge is limited, right? We cannot know everything. It’s impossible! You are not the brightest intellect in this Universe. But, if you know the proper person, you are not excluded from salvation. If you are connected to Shri Guru, then you are saved. Not simply to Guru, but to Shri Guru. Shri Guru is the divine aspect. 

Actually, the spiritual master is a direct messenger of the Supreme. And how is a messenger called in Christianity? Angel, right? Angel. So, our master is just like an angel for us. And I just recall the first occasion when my spiritual master visited my home. At that time I was living with my parents. You know, this was a risky time, so we had to apply certain conspiracy principles. Because he was a VIP person for us and therefore we had to make all the possible safety rules and precautions for him. There were two weeks of arrangements: when and how and under what conditions he would come to my home. The parents were trained, ‘you stay in your room’. And then the moment came, the bell rang… And he entered. Fully in white clothes. All white! All white! And I had an impression: one angel is coming to me. This picture is still with me, after some years. 

And what do you expect from an angel? Some blessings, right? But this angel came with some questions. At that time my service was to translate some sacred scriptures from English into Hungarian. And then my angel asked, “How is the translation going?” I said, “Well, this is the maximum that I can accomplish”. And he said, “No, it’s not enough”. Then I understood that this is a demanding angel. 

So, meeting an exceptional person has a great influence on your life. As I told you, we, human beings, we are made up of relationships. For example, all of us are the sons or the daughters of our fathers. This relationship will never change. Even the ascetics are born from a mother. This will never change. Friendships, they will change. Lovers, they will change. It is said, men are easy to forget about their lovers, but they never forget about their friends. And ladies are easy to forget about their friends, but they never forget about their lovers. You see, we are made up of relationships. Some will last for one lifetime. Some for a few moments. But the spiritual relationship to our divine messenger, to our divine master, will last forever. 

And who has the most important and most substantial influence in our live? This is our divine master. Because this connection doesn’t concern only the body or the bodily genetics. It’s not only an emotional relationship, like a friendship or a love affair. This is not a theoretical agreement of certain points. No, this is a soul-to-soul, a heart-to-heart, a spirit-to-spirit connection. Something that will never change. Everything changes around us, right? Sometimes we can say ‘unfortunately’, other times we can say ‘fortunately’. Nevertheless, we need fixed points in our life. And if our commitment to our spiritual leaders, teachers, masters, if this is the fixed point in our life, then we are fortunate. 

(to be continued)