Sharanagati

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

(continues from the previous Friday)

Once I met a babaji, a very senior devotee disciple of Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Thakur in India. You know in our line for the ascetic type of life there are two alternatives: one is the sannyas order and the other is the babaji order. Sannyas means more active way of travelling, preaching, teaching, meeting other people, etc.; and babaji is more like secluded life. And this person was famous for not leaving his place of service for 45 years, not moving out from that village. It is quite a balance! I think hardly any of us could follow that principle – to stay in one place for 45 years. But I have to tell you, when I am at home in Ludashto I have the feeling that I could spend 45 years in Sofia. Then I come and here I have the meditation, ‘Yes I have the feeling that I could spend 45 years in Ludashto’.
You see, we are like this, we are always dreaming about an alternative. Officially we understand that we have to be satisfied with what we have got. Officially we know what is the proper method to find our place; nevertheless we have dreams.
So this is our nature; therefore I say that to stay in one place or to stick to the service that was provided to you is very difficult. Because then you really have to overcome yourself. Just imagine yourself to stay in one place for a considerable time. We are so much obsessed with new things and new experiences, that many times I hear from spiritual practitioners that they want something new. “I’ve been repeating this practice so much. Why don’t you give me something new?” They say, “Life is boring, always the same is repeated. We need something new, some new experience.” But then I say, “And what about your breakfast? Are you ready to give up your breakfast, because you have been repeating that for a considerable time? Every night you go to sleep, right? Is it not boring for you?” We have to come to our senses. This is not an argument – my spiritual practice is the same for the last 25 years. It will remain the same for the next 25 years as well.
Once I met a person who came to visit our devotional program after 6 years of gap. Before he was visiting and after 6 years again he came. And after the program he was very dissatisfied. He said, “These guys still repeat the same message.” Well, I think it was a complaint from his side, but I took it as a compliment. Better not to change the message, otherwise you have to pay the price. And this is something very serious, please pay attention. Spiritual life is not about innovation. Spiritual life is about tradition. Therefore we inquire: what is the proper method, what is the proper place, what is the proper duty for me in this lifetime – in order to accomplish in the present day according to the ancient tradition. If you change some essential points, the consequences are great.
Nevertheless, improvement means that you perceive more profoundly the same practice. For example, if you read the Bhagavad Gita for the first time, this is a revelation for you. But if you read the Gita again and again and again, it will always bring some new insights. Because if we can accept that this is the living word of God, then this message will touch our heart – in the beginning, in the middle and in the end of our life. Progress means you enter deeper, go deeper. Same environment, but nevertheless the perception is much more profound. Just like in this beautiful song[1] of Bhaktivinod Thakur: ye dina grihe bhajana dekhi grihite goloka bhaya – “One day I was observing the worship in my home, and all of a sudden it turned into the spiritual sky, Goloka Vrindavana.”
We are waiting for this moment – when our vision will change. If we enter heaven today, most probably we will remain dissatisfied. Of course, this is a contradiction, because you can remain dissatisfied only with your present state of mind, but with your present state of mind you cannot enter such a great field – so, it doesn’t really happen. But try to understand: we need to develop this inner spiritual taste in order to improve. And if this subtle transformation happens, then we can overcome all the limitations. I think we all like this improvement of our life – to find our proper place, to help the balance of our life. Be smart and don’t try to compensate your shortcomings or your mistakes on a calculation platform (не се опитвайте да компенсирате своите недостатъци и грешки с пресметливост). But try to find… I don’t like the word revolutionary manner, but where you can resolve the problem in one shot.

(to be continued)

1.  Shuddha-bhakata charana-renu by his collection of devotional songs Sharanagati