Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 04.01.2020 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday)

Gita-Govinda: May I ask on behalf of someone else? How would Swami comment on non-duality from the point of view of bhakti?
Swami Tirtha: What is non-duality? And, unfortunately, I have to ask, what is bhakti? I can quote a definition of bhakti – that you approach everything with affection. Do you agree? And in that sense, what is non-duality? It is this focus – when black and white merge, when the opposites meet, when the zero point of the dimensions starts to blossom. Ultimately I can say that non-duality comes from duality. Because, how do you say it? ‘Non-dual’. So, it comes from ‘dual’. It’s the same in Sanskrit. A-dvaita. So, you cannot give a name to this unity. You can only say that it's ‘non-two’. That means ‘two’ is first, and the negation of two is second. You see? This is the proof that duality is first. Just like ‘atheist’. A-theist, non-believer. It's not standing by itself, only like a negation of a believer. So, the positive, supportive statement is there first, and then we try to think about it and question it. But, first is the positive statement.
My favorite concerning this is ajapa-japa. Do you know it? The non-chanted chanting. Well, I've been thinking about it for twenty years. But for such a person who likes ajapa-japa, next time I will offer a non-breakfast breakfast. If he's satisfied, then I will discuss ajapa-japa. If he's not satisfied with that, but wants to share the plate, then I will ask him humbly to give up this concept of ajapa-japa, non-chanted chanting.
Of course, now I’m cutting a little joke. Because theoretically these are very profound concepts. But ultimately you can deduct the question to what is first – zero or one? And the material mathematics will say zero is first. Spiritual mathematics will say one is first, the positive statement is first – not the vacuum.
So, a-dvaita, non-dual, is the meeting of Beauty and Love – this is our non-duality. If you talk about yourself – when you are so affectionately united with God Supreme and the Divine Couple, that in this inseparable loving connection, you are always together, non-separable. Just like a real disciple. It is said in the Shrimad Bhagavatam[1], “How can I ever leave his service?!” – the service of the spiritual master. They are inseparable, right? A good disciple and a good master are united. But nevertheless, they preserve their individuality, their identity.
And we also have learned from the diary of Mahaprabhu's secretary that Radha and Govinda search for each other in a very desperate mood. So, Beauty and Love are searching for each other. And when this search becomes the most intensive, then They come so close to each other, that They manifest in one form and this is Mahaprabhu. Non-dual, we can say. Mahaprabhu is Radha and Govinda united in one form.

So, we can say that ‘non-dual’ is a word; but what is the meaning of that word for you? For us this non-dual essence is the united duality of Beauty and Love.

1.  Shrimad Bhagavatam 7.9.28