Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 10.08.2018, Ludasto)

You are part of a mystic process. One thing is for sure – God lives in everybody’s hearts. But we are not satisfied with simply believing this. We want to perceive it, we want to make it a reality. Therefore I said you are part of a mystic process, because to find the inner presence of the Supreme – it’s a mystic union.

All right, this is our common agreement. But then what to do about it? Shall we become yogis in the Himalayas? Shall we take all the tapas that we have to take? Or maybe this is too extreme? It’s better if I don’t change anything in my life, if I don’t do anything and receive all the benefits?

Well, I think the proper solution is half-way in between. You become a yogi inside and you remain the same stupid old guy externally. I think it’s much better than to be a yogi externally and be the same old guy internally. Therefore Shrila Prabhupada said it’s much better to be an honest sweeper than a fake yogi.

Nevertheless, we want to do something about this mystic experience. But what? I think we should do what is missing most from our life in general. What is missing? The simple basic spiritual practices. Like meditate more, associate more with the devotees, do some nice service as a heartfelt offering. Listen; because usually, all the time we speak. Now take your vacation – listen. More bhajan, more prasadam. This is my humble suggestion. Why do we come together? To do these very simple spiritual practices. And make it more or make it better. Two sides we can always invite in the service mood: one is the quantity and the other one is the quality. Chanting is quantity, the depth of the chanting is the quality.

It is accepted in all spiritual circles that the best way to establish the living and loving connection between our soul and the Supreme is through the mantra meditation. This helps the mystic union. Therefore I humbly ask everyone to participate in that mood, in that spirit.   Externally we might be the same as before, but internally we have to change, we have to improve. And don’t do it the other way round – you change externally, but you remain the same as before. Many times I meet people and they say, “Ah, you are still the same!” I say, “Unfortunately, it is true.”

We all pray for the ultimate mercy of our superiors so that we overcome the external and internal difficulties and come closer to the original identity of the soul, which is the loving service of the Lord.

(to be continued)