Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, summer 2024, Poland)

(continues from the previous Monday)

Acharyavan purusho veda[1], says the shastra – such a person who has an acharya, knows. Acharya is a master, a teacher who teaches by example; not only telling, but doing. As we have heard many times, actions speak louder than words. To speak – everybody can; to act – that is more precious as an offering. Acharya-van means to have, to possess; if you possess acharya, van – such a person knows. Acharyavan purusho veda. So what does it mean? ‘I have a master, I know everything’? What do you think – is this the proper reading of this quote from the shastras? Probably not, right.
You remember the story of a young boy; his father sent him to a master to study the Bhagavatam. So after one year of studies the boy returned, father asks: “My dear son, have you learned the Bhagavatam?” and the boy says: “Yes father, I have learned everything about the Bhagavatam.” “Go back to your teacher, you haven’t learned anything.” Another year passes, the boy returns again, father asks: “My dear son, have you learned the Shrimad Bhagavatam?” The boy says: “Father, last year I didn’t know, but this year I know.” Father says: “Go back!” Boy returns after one year and father asked: “My dear son, have you learned the Bhagavatam?” The boy says: “Father, the first year I thought I know everything, the second year I thought I know something, but now after the third year, I don’t know anything.” And the father was very satisfied, he said: “Good, my dear son, now go back only for one more year and then you can learn everything.”
It’s not only knowing, it’s not the information, it’s the transformation that we need. So acharyavan purusho veda surely doesn’t mean that you receive your initiation, like a stamp on your forehead, and then you are accomplished. ‘I have my master, nobody should teach me, because I know everything’. At least your master should teach you and instruct you.
But if we take the context of this verse, that gives more illumination on the topic. Because the background of this advice is that if somebody is kidnapped, blindfolded, taken to an unknown place and then with the blindfolded eyes he is let free, he doesn’t know where to go. But as soon as someone comes, removes the blindfold from the eyes and shows the proper direction, acaharyavan – somebody comes and unfolds, opens up your eyes – such a person knows that he will reach home. By using all his intelligence, inquiring from village to village, he will find his way back home, back to Godhead.
This is the proper meaning of this verse acharyavan purusho veda – such a person who has an acharya, who removes the darkness from our eyes; such a person, using his intelligence –  and intelligence is not your brain capacity, it’s something else, it’s your spiritual intelligence, it’s your emotional intelligence – and inquiries, then from village to village, following the proper direction and the proper guidance, he will reach home. Isn’t that beautiful?

(to be continued)

1.   Chandogya Upanishad 6.14.2