Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 06.01.2018 evening, Sofia)

These days we are discussing relationships. Relationships create a human being, they make up a human being. Without relationship we cannot understand a person. From our relationships we can derive the most intense happiness and the greatest disturbance. That means relationships are something very important in our life.

Relationships extend beyond the human race. We have a relationship to our dog, right?  You see, it’s important, we have to serve a lot in that relationship; but we are ready to serve. Also sometimes we are related to a mosquito. It’s not very pleasant, but it’s also a relationship. Other times we have human beings around. Some acts as friends, others act as enemies, a third type act as mosquitoes. Yet some act as spiritual brothers and sisters. They are God-sent. The Supreme Lord takes care of us by providing the company of saintly people around. That is unique. Again, that is beyond the human race, because they are angels. It’s so nice to have angels as friends, well-wishers.

Who is an angel? A messenger of God, right? So, among all these angelic beings and saintly personalities around us, there is one unique – our archangel. Our saviour, who will change our life. Who will convert us from a lost condition to an elevated position. This archangel, this supreme angel sent to us directly by the merciful God, is our saviour master. Guru is like this, a saviour angel.

Once my Gurudev visited my home when I was young. He entered my room really like an angel. He was thin, all dressed in white and he didn’t show his wings, but I felt them. It was such a transcendental experience! Same room, same life, same me; but somebody extra was coming. And my dear brothers and sisters, this changed my life. Before that I was very much lost. All right, now I am also lost, but at that time I was even more lost.

Because to tell you the truth, I was very much dissatisfied with this life. I had everything to be satisfied, but I didn’t see, didn’t find the reason why we should live here. Why should we go through all this experience that is waiting for us? If we come from oblivion and if we will end up in oblivion, then why spend these 60 years here? It’s useless. But then I understood that angels do exist. There is life eternal, there is a real life beyond this limited experience here. And if we can find our way out of the labyrinth of life, why should we go in this labyrinth? Let’s take the away out.

So, I am eternally indebted to my divine master who walked into my life like an angel, took my hand and gave me everything that I have. It is suggested by our teachers that we should follow the angels. What happens if you let yourself be taken by the hand by an angel? And if you start to follow an angel? Most probably you will also become an angel. Maybe you still hide your wings, but the first feathers are already growing.

All right, this was a very romantic introduction. But we desperately need something real and beautiful. I want to live with angels. So please, become more and more like angels, so that we can always stay together.

(to be continued)