Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 10.01.2019 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

All Krishna’s beautiful pastimes are so sweet. Usually devotees like the childhood pastimes of Krishna very much. Because at that time He shows some very special talents. Although young, He acts as a hero. Although the mother Yashoda thinks, ‘He is a small boy’, the girls will have a different opinion in Vrindavan. They say, ‘Ah, He is our hero’. So around Krishna some miracles always happen. And whenever He was going out to perform His daily activities, He was passing by the streets and the houses in Vrindavan. And all the girls were too charmed to see Him. But officially they were not allowed. You cannot just go out on the street and greet a young man. But the girls invented methods to see Him. One method was to climb on top of the houses. Because then they were practically unseen, yet they could have the full show of Krishna passing by – they could observe everything. They were the fortunate ones. The other method was… you remember what type of doors they have in India. Like the two sides of the door come together, but they don’t really cover or close. So there is a little distance between the two sides of the door. It looks closed, but in reality, it is 10% open. Actually, these type of gopis who were hiding behind these, so to say, closed doors, they were the mystic ones. Because they couldn’t observe the whole procession of Krishna and the gopals and the calves, but they could have only a very short glimpse of reality. So beware, if you want to be a mystic, then you will have only glimpses of reality. If you join the party of the fortunate ones, then you can see the full procession. 

And the mothers of the gopis, they were very tender and caring mothers – protecting the dignity of their daughters and also trying to protect them from any danger. The mothers in Vrindavan wanted to take care nicely of their daughters. And when they heard that there is a danger in Vrindavan, some snakes had appeared, they were trying to take full care of their daughters. If you go out, if you sneak out in a snaky environment, you might be bitten. I think, 70% of the different types of snakes on this planet Earth are living in India. So it’s a place for snakes. But from among all these many types of snakes, the black snakes are the most dangerous. They are very poisonous. So, when the mothers heard, “Ah very dangerous black snakes appeared in Vrindavan”, they were frightened. 

You know, in India, the snake charmers make money by playing the flute and the snake dances. In this way, the snake charmer charms the snake. But what happens if in the place of the snake charmer, there is a mouse? Then the snake will charm the mouse, right? Then the mouse cannot protect itself. It will be mesmerized. The snake can charm the small little victim. So, when the mothers understood, “Ah, here are the very poisonous and very dangerous black snakes in Vrindavan”, then they wanted to shut all the doors. “No way out, my dear daughters. You cannot go out.” 

But the mothers heard half of the news – they heard “black snakes” and that was enough for them, they didn’t inquire any further. But all those who know the spiritual zoology of Vrindavan, they know the full story. Black snakes? Krishna’s arms are compared to black snakes. The mothers were frightened, “Ah, black snakes!” Belonging to whom? It’s Krishna’s arms – they didn’t listen. But the young gopis, they were the real students of spiritual zoology. They knew the full story: “Oh, these charming, beautiful snakes belong to our beloved Gopal.” And immediately, they started to feel like mesmerized mice – unable to defend themselves, frozen by the news that the black snakes appeared. And when in special moments the snake appeared, then they wanted to run, to be bitten by this black snake. Because the embrace of this black snake of Vrindavan is a mortal danger. Once the poison touches you, you cannot escape. There is no antidote for them. 

So, again, I can say, if you want to be a mystic, beware, you will have only a glimpse of reality. If somebody will tell you, “Don’t be a victim of service”, remember these mesmerized as mice gopis who were ready to become victims of the poison of divine love.

So, how to find our place? If Krishna’s charming pastimes touch you, then it’s very dangerous. You cannot escape. But we don’t want to escape. We are ready to sit here for the next 45 years of our life, because this will nourish our hearts. 

(to be continued)