Sharanagati

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

(continues from the previous Monday)

Question of Gita Govinda: In the Fifth Canto of Bhagavatam there is this verse that “One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod.”[1] One can ask your spiritual master for guidance sometimes in your life situations, but how to get this confidence to even ask?
Swami Tirtha: Just ask.
Gita Govinda: Okay, but I’m not confident that I can manage to care for myself even. How can I care for somebody else?
Swami Tirtha: Therefore don’t take that position. Don’t become a guru.
Gita Govinda: “Father, mother, teacher or demigod”.
Swami Tirtha: Alright, don’t become a demigod. I see now you have the confidence to ask. But I don’t agree in one sense. Because until we think that ‘I will deliver this person. I am doing, I achieve…’ All right, I don’t question the authority of the Bhagavatam, but you know, we can misunderstand some things. As we said, the false concepts are with us for a very long time. Gurudev for example was very sensitive to the wording. If somebody started to tell him that “Well, since I became a devotee…”, immediately he interrupted: “What? You think you have become a devotee?” So, he was very sharp on that topic. Don’t think! Or another way of wording: “I made two devotees in this preaching campaign.” He was cutting that. Why? Because you cannot make a devotee. A devotee is there, waiting for the chance, but you cannot make them. So, in the same manner, we cannot liberate another person, not even ourselves. But fortunately we have saviours. Fortunately we have superiors, who will help us achieve liberation.
In the same manner, if we have really dedicated our life… If you have said: “My dear Lord, from today on I’m Yours!” and then He starts to put you in certain conditions and positions, would you say: “No, no, no, according to the shastra I cannot do that”? And you start to quote philosophy to Krishna, trying to convince Him that He is wrong. “No, no, it will not happen.”
For example, if you have to become a king, although you feel totally unqualified, then you have to become a king. If this is expected from you as a divine service, you have to do it. If you escape, that is false ego. Then you say “I am the most insignificant.” If you simply say “Yes, I will take this job; You want me to be a king, I will take it” – that is surrender. ‘Whatever You like, I will do. Make me dance, make me dance, make me dance as You like.’ In the beginning stage we want to dance as we like. We want mercy according to our understanding.
Baladev: And according to our needs.
Swami Tirtha: So, what is the key of success? The key of success is a surrendered devotee and an omnipotent God. Then total success is guaranteed.

1.  Shrimad Bhagavatam 5.5.18