Sharanagati

Question of Radha Kunda: Even when we reach the goal, should we again have to go meandering in these emotions – positive and negative? Is there an end of these emotions?

Tirtha Mahraj: Yes – Brahman. No emotions. Peace. You can have that.

Radha Kunda: In the morning we were discussing that bhakti is a transcendental, spiritual process and even if you are not pure enough, you can practice.

Tirtha Maharaj: Yes.

Radha Kunda: Now again we are talking that there must be a lot of efforts, a lot of work to reach divine blessings. Isn’t this again these waves up and down?

Tirtha Maharaj: No. Why am I talking about the efforts and the difficulties? In order not to make a cheap propaganda. So that people who want to commit themselves to spiritual practices should be ready, they should know what is expected. Because if you enter a game without knowing all the rules, maybe at the second chapter you will be frustrated. Right, because your expectations and the rules of the game are different.

But my duty for the last few years is to frighten away people from bhakti-yoga. Yet you see, I am very weak in this service. I cannot do this correctly, properly.

Radha Kunda: We are very grateful for this!

Tirtha Maharaj: But, to be a little more serious: once a very sweet, very prosperous devotee complained to me. He said: “Well, the lectures are so attractive and this sannyasi with his preaching is so charming and attractive, but when I go and try to get a personal darshan, then he smashes me all the time.” And I said: “Ha! I have a different mood. I like to give smashing lectures, but little more care and attention when somebody comes personally.”

Because what is the use of making a big invitation, let’s say: “We give you the nectar!” and if somebody comes: “All right! You give me the nectar!”, then we give him poison. Better we make propaganda: “Here I can give you a very difficult process: instead of limited material suffering, you will be introduced into unlimited spiritual suffering! I can give you the poison!” And if somebody is ready to come and say: “All right, give me my share of poison. I am ready to die.” Then we are ready to fill up the cup with amrita, the nectar of immortality. But sometimes it’s so difficult to fill up the cup!

Shrila Shridhara Maharaj says: “Krishna’s path is full of miracles.” So, be ready for miracles. Miracles act for those, who are ready to jump.