Sharanagati

Paramvijayate shri krishna sankirtanam – “Let the congregational chanting of the holy names be victorious all over!”[1] As we discussed, our process originates from divinity, aims at divinity and meanwhile provides a divine practice. If we go back in time, we shall find a unified reality. The different parts and elements of that reality tell us about the same story. There was one God. There was one process. There was one way. There was one mantra. There was only one type of practitioner. And there was only one scripture. If we go forward into the future, into the non-existent future, again we shall find one God, one scripture, one method, one path, one religion, one mantra. And what is our goal now, at the present moment? To reflect back on the past? Or to imagine the future? No, let’s unite that in this special, divine-given moment. 

So that there is one God. Which type of God. God of punishment? God of rule and law? Or God of mercy, God of love? What is your preference? There is only one God. Ultimately His nature is anandamayi – made of divine bliss. From this divine bliss everything comes. 

There is only one scripture. Uh, that’s complicated! Which scripture? There is an ocean of scriptures. Which one to pick? Pick the Gita? Not bad. Pick the Bhagavatam? Ah, better! Choose the Chaitanya Charitamritam? Ah, all the devotees are happy! Or jump into the nectarean ocean of divine mellows or rasas – Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu? No, everybody faints even on the shore of that ocean. But there is only one scripture and that is written in the hearts of pure devotees. So, my humble suggestion is this scripture. 

There is only one process. Self-torture? Or heavy asceticism? Or what else? There are so many methods! But there’s only one method – paramvijayate shri krishna sankirtanam, the congregational chanting of the holy names. 

And there is only one mantra. Only one mantra?! There are seventy million mantras of creation for this universe! Which one to pick from this unlimited number of mantras? 

Yashoda: Radhe-Govinda!

Swami Tirtha: All right, officially let’s choose the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. But if you want to enter with plunge into the ocean of nectarean rasa, then you can find some more. 

And there is only one religion. Many people think that there are many different religions, but there is only one super-religion – that one which will supremely satisfy your heart, and this is that special method by which you can satisfy the Supreme Lord. Therefore we need an uninterrupted and unconditional service mood. So the only condition in spiritual life is that there are no conditions. The only condition is unconditional surrender.