Extra English Issues issues
(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 02.05.2018, Rila)
(continues from the previous Monday)
Did I promise anything else beyond the bitter drops of theology and philosophy?
You know, the holy name is a practice to be cultivated. And we need a mood for that. A mood where we can enter this vibration, we can enter this circle. Just like Mahaprabhu is surrounded by the holy name – so beautiful! He is dancing! And for me now in this mood this is like a midnight dance. So, if you agree to sing for a little bit the holy name in a special mood, like a midnight mood. But for that we need less light, a little less. Do we have some more candles?
What can you include in your prayers and mantras? You can include your loss. Because we have left this divine reality. We are lost souls. So all your weeping you can add to this prayer: ‘I have committed a grave mistake! It feels like an almost eternal loss. I have lost You.” This is like a feeling of mourning. All the pain, all the bitterness of this separation you can include.
This is a way of reality. This is a diagnosis. But this is not our goal. The bitter feeling of separation is not our goal. So you can also include your hopes: ‘Hare Krishna – I have lost You. Hare Rama – but I will find my way back home, back to You.’ So you can include your hopes, your spiritual prospective.
What more? We have given our feeling of being lost; we have added our hopes of return; what else can we include here? The night is coming, your daily activities are finished. Radha-Govinda’s daily activities are also finished. But the night is approaching. So, you can include, you can enhance Radhika’s dream. What is Her dream? ‘Ah, the night has come, it’s darkness all around – it reminds me of somebody, of His darkness.’ Hare Krishna – this is the dream of somebody; Krishna Krishna – it’s the dream of Radhika.
So if you want to include the service mood of the soul, of your soul being integrated into this divine beauty, to serve that divine mood of meeting and union of divine Beauty and divine Love, please, you can include that as well.
This is very slow, very quiet. Because in the night even a small candle is like an eternal flame, even a small noise is like a thunderbolt. So this cultivation is very soft, very intimate. The drum comes as the beat of your heart. The karatal comes as the music of the spheres, and the strings come like the gentle breeze in the midnight leaves. And you are invited to whisper in bhajan.
(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 02.05.2018, Rila)
(continues from the previous Monday)
The problem is whether in our present condition we can touch divinity or not. In order to achieve that, we have to push our limits! Who is satisfied with half-solutions? ‘All right, twenty percent is enough for me.’ No! And you are not satisfied even with a hundred percent. Because we have learned that a hundred and eight is our number, so we want a hundred and eight percent devotion. Not only full, but overfull.
But back to the present-day realities. On the open level of our consciousness there are certain dirty things that we have to remove and certain positive things that we have to cultivate. But what is there in the subconsciousness? What is there suppressed in the subconscious regions? All the dirt, all the demons, all the troubles, all the traumas that you have had in this lifetime and in the previous lifetimes. A lot of garbage! Therefore people are afraid to let this subconscious platform free, to open up the secret Pandora’s box.
But this is only one side of the story. Have you ever thought of what is hidden in your superior consciousness? If all the demons are down there, then all the angels are up there. So, open the box of your spiritual consciousness. It will help you a lot. Don’t be obsessed with the dirt and the garbage. Anartha is not our focus. Open your superior consciousness. Then all the beauty and all the divine vibration will come. It is also hidden there. Which box do you open?
And we have this deep hope that the holy name will open the spiritual box, the superconscious box.
(to be continued)
May
27
(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 02.05.2018, Rila)
(continues from the previous Monday)
Question of Tejasvini: Gurudev, it’s like an old topic coming again and again during the long-long years. With you we are discussing from time to time that sometimes we have some experiences and sometimes we feel that something is happening, that there is some arrangement, but mostly we cannot decide if this is really divine or our senses make us believe so. Could you please give us some advice, so that we will not be misled.
Swami Tirtha: All right, you can use either philosophy or theology to decide what is what. Through this you can get two pieces of the cake – sat and chit.
But really this is very important, because you know, life for most of the human beings is very difficult, like they are burdened with their lives. People want to find some escape or some good advice or some relaxation. Therefore they are hunting, chasing after some enjoyment, some experience, some way to forget about the difficulties, about the realities of life. They have all been going through that for millions of lifetimes so far; they were chasing after this and that daydream and have failed. ‘Before I though I was clever although I was not, but now I’m clever! Because now I started my spiritual practice. And now I’m hunting for my spiritual experience.’ So, the same deception is there. You are suffering so much that you want a feedback, you want to perceive something.
But sorry, it will not happen this way. You shouldn’t chase after spiritual experience, but you should be so pure that the spiritual experience is chasing after you. And fortunately we belong to a school, a tradition where our masters are not chasing after spiritual experience, but they are doing their service, they are committed to their service.
Let’s take Shrila Shridhara Maharaj. I don’t know how you see him, but I see him as one in a century. So exceptional! And although he was in full capacity of his realization in all possible ways and platforms, Gurudev told us that only once he heard him say something truly exceptional. Usually he was giving his lectures and discourses on the veranda of his temple. And one time he finished and started to enter his room; then he turned back a little bit towards the devotees and said: “If you knew where I will enter now…” It’s enough for a qualified audience. Only once, half a sentence. But it was very obvious that he was not entering his room, he is entering a different level of consciousness. So, from this one sentence you can understand the person. The quality of his approach.
We don’t chase after spiritual experience. But if some lightning strikes us while we are chanting, what can we do? Some little electricity. And somehow I’m sure that if we are sincere with ourselves, we shall not cheat ourselves.
(to be continued)
May
19
(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 02.05.2018, Rila)
(continues from the previous Monday)
The debate – whether you perceive the supreme reality like a constant energy flow or you see the personal beauty of that superior reality – it depends on your taste, on your approach. And this taste is very important here. Spiritual practice in general is just like an invitation for supper. Because the supper is ready.
Devotees… well, they live in eternity, therefore their time management is a little flexible. So all the yogis, all the gyanis, all the other spiritualists and everybody is invited; devotees are also invited for this supper. The time frame is set – the supper will be served – although this is a self-service, but – the supper will be served on the table at six o’clock.
The gyanis, who are very punctual and very well-educated, come on time. And which part of the cake will they take? They will take sat – divine existence. ‘Yes! This is what we are searching for! Eternal life – this is for us! We overcame death, we are satisfied.’
The next group is the yogis, coming a little late, because they were engaged in their meditations. And you know, if you are absorbed in your meditation, sometimes it’s difficult to break it, to regain your consciousness to join the daily activities. So they are coming and they take another piece of the cake. They were searching for enlightenment – to see the divine presence in their hearts, to perceive Paramatma in their heart. ‘The top level of enlightened consciousness – chit – this is for us!’
So, gyanis returned satisfied: ‘We have sat, this was our ambition.’ Yogis return with another piece of cake – chit: ‘Yes, this was our goal, we have reached it!’ And finally, after seven o’clock, the devotees also arrive. Because ‘I had to chant my rounds and I had to clean the temple and make the garland and also I had to discuss something very important with the others…’ So they are late. Which piece of the cake is left on the table? Sat is taken – eternal life is gone. Chit is gone – enlightenment is already taken. What is left? Only some remnants of this Last supper – anandam. ‘All right, let’s take this. Let them be happy with eternal life. Let others be happy with this full and enlightened consciousness. We are satisfied with the last morsels of this supper – anandam.’ And this is the nectar!
Therefore Krishna tricks the yogis and the gyanis with some insignificant things in order to satisfy His late devotees. Eternal life – come on, what is that compared to anandam?! Nothing! So, even if you come late, you will not miss anything. Because if you are a real devotee in your lifetime, God is with you, Krishna is with you. And if you die, you are with Him. So what is lost? Nothing. But for that we need to qualify to be a real one.
So, philosophy is our vedanta, theology is our siddhanta and our piece of the cake is anandam.
(to be continued)
May
12
(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 02.05.2018, Rila)
(continues from the previous Monday)
Now we can go to our next topic – theology. With philosophy we tried to figure it out: what it is, how it is…? Theology should tell us: who is this? So, the main question of theology is whether this superior reality is personal or impersonal. Because theoretically we can agree even with a disbeliever that ‘there is something behind’. But can you specify it? Then it starts to be more interesting.
One main opinion says that you cannot specify the divine. Because this is beyond all your conceptions, beyond your understanding, etc. etc. Not this, not that, you cannot understand it, you cannot see it, you cannot name it, you cannot catch it, you cannot talk to it, you cannot approach it, you cannot do anything about it. So, we can conclude that divine truth is impersonal.
All right, we can agree on this point. Truth is truth. But as we discussed before, this is only the second grade of experience. The first is that there is something beyond – this is the first step. The second is that this is the truth, like consciousness – so there is some superior consciousness there. But this is not the ultimate word in spirituality, because bliss, anandam, is beyond. Ecstasy is beyond the truth. Therefore we can say that all right, if truth is impersonal, then love is necessarily personal. Without personality what kind of love is there? It’s a mere theory! Once somebody told me: “When I reach enlightenment, I will become love.’ And I said: “And then? What’s next? What you are going to do?” This very strong philosophy was valid only until a beautiful young lady appeared. Then our young friend immediately understood that the story is a little different.
For love – even on the human platform, what to speak of the divine, spiritual platform – you need partners. This superior truth, this superior level of existence – how can you name it? There’s no way, because this is beyond experience, beyond our human imagination, all right. But how can you not name a compassionate loving God?! There is no other way to approach Him, only by – well, I don’t say ‘giving Him a name’, but by finding His identity; the name is an identity. So, the name presupposes divine love and divine love presupposes the name.
This is our philosophy – the holy name. This is our theology – the holy name. You can say: this is our vedanta. Vedanta – the end, the crown of our knowledge – is that something exists. And our siddhanta is that it’s Him. So, philosophy will tell us that there is something and theology will teach us who that is.
What is important here? That the Supreme is not limited in any way to show Himself, irrespective of the limitations of human beings. And the debate whether you perceive the supreme reality like a constant energy flow or you see the personal beauty of that superior reality – it depends on your taste, on your approach.
(to be continued)
(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 02.05.2018, Rila)
(continues from the previous Monday)
If we accept that there is something beyond the daily experience, with all due rights and respect we can call it ‘divine’ or ‘God’. But there is a little distance between the humans and the divine. Just a little. It’s a huge gap for us, it’s only one step for Him.
Then the next question of philosophy is whether this superior, higher existence – if we don’t specify it as a loving and compassionate God – if this superior reality can show itself to the limited human experience or not? Because if we are left alone only with our experience, only with our brain, I’m not sure that these are the best instruments to inquire about something higher. Shrila Shridhara Maharaj explains that the human consciousness is like a torchlight. If you are in a forest and you use your torch very closely to show the path in front of your steps, then you can see clearly. If you use your torch straight ahead in front of you, you see something, but not very far. And if you use it upwards, you see nothing. So this is the human consciousness as an instrument of inquiries. If you have something that you can observe – all right, you can understand something; if you want to find your immediate future, maybe you can guess it; but if you want to understand something higher, it’s just impossible, you don’t see it.
So, beyond human capacities, beyond human instruments – like perception or consciousness – we need something extraordinary, we need something superhuman. This is what we discussed before – your scope, your radius, how far you can reach. It’s very simple: with a small radius you don’t go too far; the bigger your radius is, the further you reach.
Fortunately, our teachers tell us that although the human is limited, the divine is not limited. There is no obstacle for Him to show Himself – even to the blind.
(to be continued)
Apr
28
(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 02.05.2018, Rila)
(continues from the previous Monday)
We came here together in the name of God. But here two major problems arise. One is philosophical and the other is theological. Which one should we discuss first? All right, later some nectar will also come, but first let us take the bitter pills. So, theology or philosophy first? All right, philosophy, because we have to start from a distance, right? And philosophy is very theoretical.
One major problem of philosophy is whether human beings can touch transcendence or not. Is there anything beyond us, beyond our conception, beyond our perception? Do you see the grandeur, the depth of this problem? The starting point of philosophy is that we have to analyze, we have to try to understand: what is this that we perceive? Is there anything beyond what I see with my eyes? And if there is something beyond, how can I touch it, how can I come close to it?
Basically, there are two explanations for this problem. Because this means we have to find the starting point. The spring – where everything comes from, the source of everything that exists. It’s very important to find this. This is the first and this is the last – the first source and the ultimate goal.
What happens if you swim against the current? You get tired, right, it’s more difficult. But ultimately you will find the source. So don’t always go with the current. If you go with the current, you will end up in the drain. Go the opposite direction, where you will find the source.
So, there are two main explanations about the source. One is that in the beginning there was nothing. The other explanation: there was something in the beginning. Do you see the difference? Only а few words, but it’s a huge difference, my dears! Because if everything comes from nothing, then everything will return to nothing. That’s a disaster! Then why did we start all this game – in order to return to nothing?! There’s no brain behind this! I prefer the source as something.
Therefore we can put it very simply that existence exists. It’s very important! There is something at the beginning. And what do we perceive now in ourselves like a self-reflection? Existence, life – this is what you experience. Then this very simple sentence ‘Life comes from life’ has got a meaning. If we perceive life now, it’s got a beginning – life was there and from life everything started. What is our instrument to experience life? This is our consciousness. Then the second sentence will also have a deep meaning: ‘Consciousness comes from consciousness’. Individual consciousness comes from divine consciousness. Simple existence is not enough, right? The stones exist. The cucumber exists. It’s not very high; tasty, but not very high. So, existence needs consciousness. Without consciousness there is no self-reflection; existence cannot understand itself, cannot reflect on itself, there is a necessity for consciousness. So we can say that the top experience, the peak experience of existence is consciousness. And what is the peak experience of consciousness? This is what we are searching for – the inner satisfaction, the happiness, bliss. And if there is a positive beginning, then the next sentence: ‘Love comes from love’ has a deep meaning.
Life comes from life, consciousness comes from consciousness, love comes from love.
(to be continued)
Apr
21
(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 02.05.2018, Rila)
First of all, I have to express my gratitude to the organizers of this Mela. It is you, you all. Because we work on the individual and on the society platform as well. Without the one, the other part doesn’t happen. We are all individuals, taking part in a very important practice and this is sadhu-sanga. To meditate at home alone – it’s good; to chant the holy name alone at home is good. The upgrade of the individual meditation is joint meditation; if we chant the holy names together – it’s better. The more people come together in the name of God, in the service of the Supreme, the better it is. But to chant aloud is even better. This is called bhajan. And what is the upgrade of bhajan? Kirtan. In this way we reach some very high platform of intensity, when we can forget about ourselves. It’s so difficult otherwise.
Theoretically we all agree on this point. But to really perceive that, to really expose ourselves to that experience – when finally you forget about your identity, ambitions, whatever… and you simply go with the flow of divine happiness – this is а very rare, blessed moment.
Therefore I have to express my gratitude to all of you who made this meeting possible. And not only those who are sitting here around, but to all the great saints and small saints from the previous times. Because we’re always remembering the great saints, but nobody discusses the small saints. Yet without the small saints, the great saints cannot function. Without the thousands of practitioners, the great ones cannot spread their own wings. We need very exceptional, unique, great stalwarts, and we need the very simple practitioners – both. The one and the many.
So, I express my gratitude, and I think our gratitude, to all the predecessors, who were practicing, who were teaching, who were receiving the teachings, etc., etc. On the external platform we can say that they are not with us anymore. But the holy name unites. So they are definitely sitting here with us. And I have to express our gratitude to the future practitioners, the future saints; we might say that they are not with us yet. Yet I feel that in their seed form they are here with us. In their potential they are here with us. So it is not only 30-50 people sitting here in this room. Dozens and hundreds and thousands and unlimited numbers are associating with us and with the holy name right now.
How many times do you read in the Chaitanya Charitamrita that when Mahaprabhu was walking, thousands were following Him. And they were taking the dust of the feet of Mahaprabhu so much, that they excavated the soil of the road and big holes manifested. Who knows how it happened?! Maybe for the physical eye there were only a few people around. But for the spiritual eye there were the majority of the souls in this universe – thousands and millions of followers.
So, it’s only a question of your vision how many souls you perceive in this room – a few or a lot. But anyway, we have to express our gratitude to all of them. We are the sons and daughters of our spiritual fathers and mothers, in order to become the spiritual fathers and mothers of our following sons and daughters. Please, try to take it to your heart! The only reason why we are here is because we are followers of someone; and we have to be here so intensely and so purely that others can take your example as well. In this way we don’t live only in the present moment, but we live in eternity. This is one way to overcome death – this fearful, frightening enemy. If you remember the predecessors and if you pray for the future generations, you are safe. Then you are part of a grand procession, where everybody comes together in the name of God and for the glorification of the Supreme.
(to be continued)
(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 03.05.2018, arrival)
(continues from the previous Monday)
Question of Paramananda: When we are in the company of persons who have a big radius, we start to see part of their perspective. And when we are not in their company, we are back to our small sonar. How to cope with this problem?
Swami Tirtha: Don’t go home. What can I say? Are we so stupid to put the load back on our shoulders again, and again, and again through lifetimes? This is what happens, right? Therefore spiritual life is a very challenging process. Because we know that with a half-solution we shall be never satisfied. We all know that. Nevertheless, at the end of the lecture we go home. Better after prasadam.
But then what to do? We cannot provide a place for a hundred people here in this room. So either you stay in the temple, or you create your own temple. Therefore I say, this is very challenging. You have to find your own source of radiation. That means realization. We cannot always live on the back of others. You have to find your own resources. We know that everything is descending – it’s not that I have to accumulate. But don’t waste. This is our duty – don’t waste. Whatever you have been given, try to preserve that and make it grow. Don’t forget to push your limits. That means we have to become very qualified. So that even if this glorious star of the eastern horizon leaves us, we always stay with this star. And I think that this is possible.
Yes, because it’s not only us who have a radius. They, the great ones – they also have a radius. And if they make one step towards you, then you start to be inside their scope. Krishna also has got a radius. I think it’s unlimited. But even if Krishna’s radius is limited, there is someone whose radius is not. So it doesn’t concern only us, that we have to expand our radius; they have already extended their radius towards us.
To put it short: chant the holy names. Always stay in the light.
Comment of Dinabandhu Prabhu: It is said that if you make one step towards God, the Providence will also make her steps. The last time Paramananda Prabhu suggested to me to make more cheese, so I took it to heart. I was working two days, day and night, to produce the cheese. And then when we started the journey, Gurudev said: “Hey, wait a minute, if at the borders they will not allow your cheese, then what happens?” So I had the chance to chant the holy name very intensely at the borders. And finally the cheese arrived.
Swami Tirtha: You see, miracles do happen.
Apr
7
(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 03.05.2018, arrival)
(continues from the previous Monday)
What is the ultimate end of our radius? It is the lotus feet of Shri Shri Radha-Govindaji. So, push your limits. But for that we really need to give up our small scale of thinking.
You remember that story of the old lady collecting the firewood. We hardly see such practice now, but it’s good to remember that sometimes people collect small or bigger twigs in order to supply their home with fire, with warmth. So, this lady was also carrying a large pile of firewood over her shoulders and it started to be very heavy. She put the load down to rest for a while and said: “Ah, my God!” But this prayer was so deep and so realized, because it was a really heavy burden, that immediately Narayana came to the place: “You called for Me, I’m here. Tell Me what is your desire, I will fulfill it.” And the lady immediately, without a second thought, said: “Can You help put this load back on my shoulder?” “All right, you get the load back” – God disappears.
Push your limits. Don’t be attached to your twigs. They give a very insignificant heat. You can come in the embrace of God Himself instead! And to help your faith grow, whenever you visit the ashram, He will raise the energy level and you will feel more heat. Just to be ready to throw away your twigs.
Radius – maybe today unknown, but tomorrow this will be your daily bread. Radius means not only circumference, central point, not only scope, but it also means radiation – the light will come to you. Krishna will embrace you. Radius means radiation – this divine vibration that will connect you. We need to have the long waves of vibration – to connect to eternity. And what is the best vibration, the best sound vibration – I think you all know. As we started: if you want to speak the language of your heart and soul, the eternal language, somehow call out for God. Our Mahaprabhu brought the holy name, the maha-mantra. And if we respond to that invitation, then our radiance will also glitter. Jay! Maybe you have something to add or to say?
Question of Krishna Priya: In this story with the old lady and Narayan, He proposed to fulfill her wish and then went away. Why is He not engaged in explaining to her that there is something higher?
Swami Tirtha: Because God sends gurus to teach the people how to throw away the twigs. So, if you listen to the lectures and then you meet God, don’t ask for the load back on your shoulder. He’s got multiple ways to explain things to us. Sometimes by very gentle words, showering His mercy; other times sending us some message or some messenger; sometimes by achievements, other times by failures. We cannot expect that we are always successful. You should expect that you should fail. And then the miracle will happen – somehow you don’t fail. If you expect that you will always win, that’s a very bitter experience – you will lose many times. So it’s better if we expect: ‘Most probably I will fail.’ But then you will see the miracle: mercy is extended to us, you don’t lose the moment. Therefore we need the training, therefore we need the proper information – what to do if we are in such a moment, if we have such a choice.
(to be continued)