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)