Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 05.05.2018, Rila)

(continues from the previous Monday)

Preaching includes a little know-how. For example, you know Ishvara Prabhu, he is a very committed person. I have been observing him for a long time. Once I asked him, “Prabhuji, how is it that you are very much ready to talk with people about the weather, about football, about anything, but you don’t preach?” And he said, “You know, it’s according to their inquiries.” A very proper answer! Because maybe today I have only an inquiry about the football. But if you become friends with this person, if you become on good terms with this person, tomorrow he will have a different kind of inquiry – about the weather. And slowly, slowly we have to help people build up their inquiries, right?

So this is a very mild approach to preaching. And he is a real mystic. Whenever there is a program, he is always hiding. But this is the way he ignites interest in himself. Everybody is asking, “Where is Ishvara? Where is Ishvara?” Pay attention. He is a master-mind. Of course, when we are alone in the ashram, I also search for Ishvara: ‘There are so many things to do. Where are you, Ishvara?’

And from this something comes to my mind. Why do devotees, why our brothers and sisters get their names after Krishna, or Radha, or the gopis or gopalas? This is the second part of the question – the remembrance. Because, for example, if there is a very careless driver, and he takes the next curve with too much speed, then all the devotees will shout, “Hey, Krishnadas Prabhu! Why do you speed so much?” And if this is your last moment, then you cannot finish your sentence. You would say only, “Hey, Krishnadas Prabhu!” and then you would die with the name of God on your lips.

So, there are unlimited ways to perceive this mystery. And we can be sure, a hundred percent sure, that Krishna has devised methods how to save us. Because if you are in trouble, you know how to pray. If everything is going smoothly in your life, you easily forget. But if you are really in trouble, you know what to do. Therefore, until the devotees come with their problems, I am very happy and I don’t pay any attention. Because they are not in trouble. If they are in trouble, they know what to do. If you don’t know what to do, that means you are not in trouble. So improve your situation, go deeper into your trouble. Then you will come to your limits and you say, “Wait a minute, I am wasting my time. So I’d better chant, I’d better do some service, I’d better be connected.” So swamis have a self-defense system. They don’t pay too much attention to your buzzing. Because if you are really in trouble, you know what to do. You take your japa, right? So why don’t you take your japa when you are in small trouble? It’s so simple.

Sanatana: It really is!

Swami Tirtha: Thank you!

Question from Manjari: You said that Krishna is pulling rather than pushing. But this method you just explained, isn’t it more like pushing?

Swami Tirtha: Somebody has to push as well. But you know, if Krishna, God, is pulling and the sadhu is pushing, something will happen. It’s hard job to move you. God cannot do that alone. Somebody needs to kick your ass. Let the easy part of the job be God’s – He is playing the flute. And somebody has to take the difficult part – to chastise you. It’s a sacrifice.

(to be continued)