Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 17.08.2018, Ludasto)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Question of Kriphadham: I have a longstanding question that I wanted to ask and it was somehow provoked again. Of course, it’s a bit more philosophical than my level. But I would like to hear your comment on this topic, where in the scriptures can we read about it and also who is the master who has realized this. The question concerns vipralambha and sambhoga. I have heard from some devotees that vipralambha is a part of the sadhana-deha of a disciple and to some extent is manifested in Gokula. While in siddha-deha there is only sambhoga. Is there such a thing that prema, while descending in this material world, separates into sambhoga and vipralambha and we perceive it like this, while in the spiritual realm it is one thing – only sambhoga? Or something different that we don’t understand. Is there vipralambha in the spiritual realm?

Ramvijay: Maybe these terms are unknown to some of the people here.

Swami Tirtha: Well, I hope they are known. Vipralambha is the feeling of separation and sambhoga is the feeling of unity. Well, ontologically everything belongs to Krishna. So, if we can trace everything back to the ultimate source, then everything comes from there and everything is related there, everything belongs there. But it is said that in the spiritual sky, this feeling that ‘I belong to somebody else than Krishna’ is almost missing. Of course, now you can substitute whether Krishna or Radha; you know what I mean – the belonging to the centre, this is the predominant feeling. Yet here in the material sphere we live an alienated life, we are separated from the divine, from divinity in general.

Rama is considered Maryada Purushottam – the faithful and dharmic lord and husband. Krishna is Lila Purushottam – He comes for His own games, own plays and satisfaction. He is beyond rules and moral limitations. Therefore, in order to show His full glory in this respect, He needs boundaries – in order to cross them. Ramachandra is Maryada Purushottam. For example, you will never see Ramachandra give the advice to break the leg of the opposing enemy, right? Krishna gives this advice to Bhima: “Smash the thigh of Duryodhana in the mace fight.” He sometimes gives very strange advice, behaves in a very strange way – beyond moral boundaries and limitations. He steals the butter from mother Yashoda. Although He is supplied with enough butter, nevertheless He comes and steals that what is preserved for other purposes. So, His behavior is beyond dharma conceptions. Therefore He provides the dharma – in order to cross it.

In the same way, Krishna’s devotees, they have this very special mix of feelings, especially the gopis. Although they are the married wives of others, they feel they belong to Krishna. This is quite a conflict. The official and the emotional side is in conflict.

And some say that over there, in Goloka Vrindavan, this feeling of belonging to someone else is missing in one way. And some say that when Krishna wants to perceive these very intense feelings, He comes and perceives them here.

Also you asked for some reference – please check Swarup Damodar Goswami’s diary. You will find at least one verse readily available where he describes the relationship between Radha-Govindaji and Mahaprabhu. That although They are eternally united, eternally one, so to say, sometimes due to ecstasy They separate and when They start to search for each other, Their search is so intensive that They unite – and that is Mahaprabhu.

(to be continued)