Sharanagati

(continues from the previous Friday)

The fifth point is “Consider gain and loss as equal”. It’s very difficult because by nature we want to gain and we don’t want to lose. But just imagine, is that possible that in this world everybody gains and nobody loses? I don’t think it’s possible. Just like all human beings – I mean not all, but all those who have a driving license feel: ‘All right, I drive a little better than the average’. Of course everybody feels like: ‘I am a little better than the average ‘, but then who is under the average to come to the average? Come on! By nature human beings are a little overestimating themselves: ‘I am a little better than the average!’ Or, all parents feel that ‘Yes, my child is very intelligent! It’s more intelligent than the average.’ So, we have this second nature coming from our material condition – we overestimate what we have. Therefore it is very difficult to lose something. But we want to gain, we want to be better, we want to be the first. So, be independent. It is called vairagya in Sanskrit. Raga means attachment and vi means without – without attachment. Vairagya[1] means independence, independent of gain or loss. This is the balance of the yoga.

Question: In connection with what you said that we must be the first, the best – I don’t know if we are educated like this – as I understood this is part of our false ego…

Swami Tirtha:  Material nature.

Comment: When you find your real identity, is there some desire to be estimated, noticed by Krishna, or you do it just like selfless?

Swami Tirtha: I am not on that platform, so I cannot tell you. The selfless activity is very difficult. Because we need the feedback. It’s not a mistake. It’s a nature of the soul. The soul also wants to reciprocate. We need the exchange, when there is no exchange we just die. The spiritual suicide is that you don’t have an exchange.

There was one story, the story of Gopa Kumar. When Krishna was enjoying His pastimes with the gopals and the cows, the calves were grazing, so the gopals had some little time to associate freely. They were sharing their breakfasts provided by their mothers, running up and down and so playing in a very jolly mood. And all of a sudden a new face appeared on the scene. Some stranger came, a new kid in town. And Krishna started to pay extra attention, giving up the jolly company of the others and rushing to this newcomer. Everybody was surprised: “Krishna gives up our friendship in order to meet this newcomer?” And not only paying some attention, but directly Krishna was going and embracing this newcomer. Not only embracing, but using some very sweet words: “Oh, my dear, I am so happy that you came! You have been missing for such a long time! And I know how much troubles you have taken. You were searching for Me in such a desperate mood! I am so happy that you came!” So, this story of Gopa Kumar shows that Krishna is ready to give special attention to special devotees. And it is also said that Krishna has this nature – He likes the newcomers. The old guys and old girls who are around, they are already here. But the newcomers, they bring some more taste and they invoke, invite some more attention from Krishna. So therefore we should think twice whether we want to be a senior devotee, or not. Other questions?

Question: Usually we start to serve with big willingness, but during the service our mind is going here and there and the meditation is gone. So, what is the way to make our service more focused and selfless?

Swami Tirtha: You should add something to your service and this is divine love, this is your attention. Love means service. Love is not a theoretical idea, this is very practical – service. A mother doesn’t think twice if there is any need of the child, right. It needs a little training, no doubt. But once you have really dedicated yourself, you cannot change it. One very simple answer to this problem – try to do the same service tomorrow also, and next day also – in a little better manner. So, either you add your heart and soul, or you try step by step to make your service more reliable.

(to be continued)

[1] Vi-raga means without attachment (adjective) and vairagya is the noun form.