Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 30.09.2017 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday)

“Some sort of danger may come on our way, but if we are sincere it will be as a test to us and when we will overcome that it will be an addition to our glory. The temptations will be rejected and disarmed, but they will plead for us again. So sincerity, sincere hankering after the truth is needed if we are to go further. And that is made of sukrity[1] by the grace of the divine agents, who by their nature are wandering through this cursed land to help others, who may not even know that they are being helped.”[2]

You see! This is so nice, if we meet such a wandering saint, that can change our life. We have a very long-standing friend in Hungary; when he was a student, he was hitch-hiking. And who took him in the car? It was Gurudev. He is still around. So a half-an-hour’s drive changed his life forever. So beautiful!

Another example here from Sofia: another friend, he was so confused and so frustrated by life experiences that he wanted to finish it. At that time he received one book of Shrila Prabhupad and it saved his life. So this is the power of such a meeting. It can change you, it can save you – for this lifetime and for eternity. Because hopefully in the ultimate calculation it’s not the stupidity that is on our list, but the small little things that we do properly.

And here it was mentioned that the temptations will be rejected. You know, there are so many things that we have to resist if we want to follow a spiritual path. Once a person said: “Actually there is only one thing that I cannot resist.” “What? – the others inquired – “What is that specific thing?” He said: “Temptation.”

But “temptations will be rejected”. When you have something better than the offer of temptations, then with a smiling face you will walk along. Of course we have to be humble in that respect also; don’t challenge fate! But if somehow we follow the footsteps of the great ones and we catch on the dhoti of our master, then hopefully we are safe.

Maybe you have some questions concerning what we covered so far – this holy trinity of ours? Guru, shastra, sadhu – they all work for us, they help us. And actually we should never forget this – we have much more well-wishers than what we expect. I’m absolutely sure of that.

Harilila: I have one question. What is the difference between guru and sadhu?

Swami Tirtha: Actually the function is very similar, the quality is also very similar. Because who is a sadhu? What is the definition of sadhu?

Answer: Someone who sticks to the truth.

Swami Tirtha: Correct, who lives according to the truth, committed to the truth. That is a sadhu. And he follows sadhana – the path leading to the truth. So if you also follow sadhana, you might become a sadhu. Guru must also live according to the truth. What is the analysis of the word ‘guru’?

Hayagriva: The one who leads from darkness to light.

Swami Tirtha: Correct, who will dispel the darkness. Such a light that will dispel the darkness. So we can say that the qualities and the functions are very similar, but actually it’s the relationship that will turn a sadhu into a guru. Because sadhu is sadhu; we expect him to travel – visit and go. Once somebody gave a very good definition of sadhu: sadhu is such a person who gives a lecture, takes some food and goes. This is the way to satisfy him and get rid of the trouble. But the guru will stay. So, the general sadhu will leave, but the specific sadhu will stay with us. Or maybe we shall stay with him. A special, chosen sadhu starts to become a guru for us, to dispel our darkness.

But this is very nice, what you mention, because: guru, shastra and sadhu – what is in the middle? In the center is shastra. This is what will make a person a guru and this is what will make a person a sadhu. If you follow the shastra then you might become a sadhu, then you might become a guru. So this is the reference, this is the trademark.

(to be continued)

[1] Spiritual merits

[2] By Shrila Shridhara Maharaj, Centenary Anthology