Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 04.01.2017, morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday) 

So, shravanam – this is the first practice in shanta-rasa.

The second is very beautiful. The second is hope in mercy. I think this is our path – we hope that some day the divine mercy will shine upon us. Nevertheless we have to tolerate the consequences from previous activities. This is the shadow that we discussed before. Try to tolerate your karma, try to tolerate your shadow. But don’t forget, a selfless action in devotion doesn’t bring new karma. And if you suffer a little bit, then you burn up some of your karma. Then tolerating all the difficulties we gain an entrance to a more purified platform of life. Therefore we have this hope in divine mercy. It will come! If we are committed in our spiritual practices, if we continue to cultivate, then ultimately the divine mercy will also come. So I think this is a very beautiful approach to the Supreme – this hope. Don’t forget about that.

The third one is remembrance. Think of your connection to the Supreme while you live and at the moment of your departure. We need a little training to fix this remembrance.

Yet the memories and reflection – this is more like an intellectual or cognitive practice, but the fourth one is meditation. And meditation is non-intellectual. This is spiritual, when you open up to the spiritual truth. And it will have great effect on our consciousness.

There is a lot to say. But just to give you a little understanding about the results of this passive, neutral way. Spiritual stability is one good result – when you are very much committed to this divine connection. When we took the shelter and we feel that we are there, we are under this protection. Try to find this shelter, meditate on His presence in your heart. And also when you see the divine beauty, admire the grandeur. First we need to appreciate this grandeur; then we can go into more details. Therefore Gurudev said: First you put the crown on the head of Krishna. To understand who is the Supreme. And then later on you can enter into a more intimate relationship – like stealing laddus from His plate. Even on that platform liberation is possible.

So what are the consequences, what are the features of such a great saint whose consciousness is always fixed in his connection with the Supreme? By the way, who is a saintly person? Who is a saint?

Krishna Priya: Who has renounced his self gratification and who is totally dedicated to God and to the service of others.

Swami Tirtha: Yes, the one who is ready to dedicate himself or herself to something higher than his or her private life. Or on whom the divine blessings have dawned.

Some features of such a person: they are always intent in their meditation. They fix their eyes on the tip of the nose. They always behave like an avadhuta – very difficult to understand. But please, if your spiritual master will tell you: “Can you please help me with this service?” don’t fix your gaze on your nose and don’t behave like an avadhuta, because he will not be happy. Avadhuta you know sometimes behaves a little unexpected. He is beyond all the social limitations.

It is said, these great saints in shanti are always very considerate in their speech. They have no material ambitions. They are not mistaken in their self-consciousness and their spiritual identity. They are always serene and think of the Supreme.

So even if you simply try to fulfill the requirements of this neutral approach, you can achieve your stability, you can become a very serious bhakta. In the Bhagavatam it is said: “That state of mind if somebody is fully convinced of My personal form is called shanta-rasa. Nobody can reach pure devotion without first achieving this level.” It’s very obvious – first we have to fix our consciousness and achieve that stability, that shanti, that pacified mood. And then you can go further.

(to be continued)