Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 11.05.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday)

Question of Shyama Tulasi: My question concerns the speed of chanting. Because it happens very slowly with me. I think that this is due to being not focused maybe? I don’t know if I should force myself to do it quicker? So, how to do it, what to do?

Swami Tirtha: As I told you, the best use of our speech is to glorify God, and the best glorification is when we cannot say a word. Don’t be surprised that it will take some time, not being able to speak.

In the early times devotees were coming together and chanting together in the morning and usually they covered their rounds in one, one and a half hours. But there was one person – it took twice as much time for him. Everybody was a little perplexed: “What’s happening? He’s chanting with the same speed, but still it takes twice as much time for him.” So, after some time they started to inquire “Prabhu, how is it that your chanting takes so much time for you? Can you tell us the secret?” And then he told “You know, I start my chanting from this side and I go here, and then I return, and this is one round.” So nice! He was invited to chant double rounds. 

There was another devotee who didn’t chant speedily, but was singing the mantra in a melodious tone. Of course, again it took unlimitedly more time. So, better we try to develop a taste in our chanting. Try to find your own speed. Try to find your own intonation. Try to find your own intensity. But basically we can say, if we follow the example of Haridasa Thakura, who is the nama-acharya: one part of his chanting he chanted mentally, the same part in a soft voice, and the third part of his chanting was aloud. The first was for his own inner peace of mind, peace of heart; the second part was for his own enlightenment or liberation; and the third part was for the benefit of the other living beings. So, if we embrace this conception – for my soul, for my future and for the benefit of others – I think this is a very nice way as a general expression of our chanting. And practically we should glorify the Supreme with every breath, every word and every action. So, we need to come to a different quality of our life. Spiritual progress is not a question of quantity. We need to enter a different level of our consciousness, of our existence, of our dedication. 

In the beginning you need signs. If you are more elevated, you don’t need signs. And if you are still more elevated, even if the signs are opposite, you will go ahead. That is called commitment. 

Devotional service has a cosmic dimension as well. As Shrila Bhakti Pramod Puri Goswami Maharaj says, a devotee must be fully convicted that his or her devotional service is for the benefit of the whole universe. So, the fate of the universe depends on your contribution of devotional service. Such a great responsibility! I wouldn’t say that it should crush you, but we should understand that however little we contribute, it’s for the benefit of the whole universe. Also, it is said that if only one person achieves full perfection in devotion, they will rewrite the history of the universe. So, it’s such a remarkable event that it will change the current of the world. I think it’s beautiful. Such an invitation! Do you have a taste for that? Maybe other questions?

Question of Krishna Priya: My question again concerns the chanting. Until now, I knew only two options. One is: you want to do it and you do it eagerly. And the other is: you don’t want to do it and you don’t do it. 

Swami Tirtha: Where did you learn this second option?! I’m surprised. 

Krishna Priya: But now the third option appears. You want to do it, but you cannot.

Swami Tirtha: The only third option is that you don’t want and you do it. This is the only third option. The only second option. 

Krishna Priya: There is such a situation that the mantra is going through the mind, but the hand is not moving. 

Swami Tirtha: Oh, that’s a sign of spiritual ecstasy. Good, go ahead! Well, sometimes we chant officially, other times we chant for real. Officially means the routine. It’s ‘I made a vow, I know that this is for my benefit, this is good, so I do it’. But just imagine if you are in a sudden emergency – what is your first reflection? “Oh my God, oh, my dear Krishna!” That’s a real chanting. It’s not official. It’s not a routine. It’s something real.

If you were God, I think you would be very satisfied with the official performance. But when somebody cries sincerely, intensely enough, then you smile. Then immediately you pay attention. So, we need to train ourselves in this real, intense type of chanting. We have learned that if even only once we pronounce the holy names, it’s enough for liberation. But then what should we do? Skip the routine because once is enough? Or better we try to perform, because we believe that from performance fulfilment will also come. 

And I agree, it’s better to have the desire to chant but not the ability, than the other way around – you have all the chances for chanting, but you don’t have the desire for that. 

(to be continued)