Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 24.08.2016 morning, Ludasto)

(continues from the previous Friday)

“One day, after finishing their morning duties by burning a sacrificial fire and offering a seat of esteem to Shrila Suta Gosvami, the great sages made inquiries with great respect about the following matters”.[1]

Now let’s focus our attention on the sages, on their lifestyle, because we want to learn how to do it. Sacrificial fire – this was the center of their morning activities. Actually we all have a sacrificial fire in our own bodies. That is a chemical fire burning inside – the fire of digestion, which is the energy quota helping to sustain our individual existence. If we don’t use this energy for a sacred purpose, this is a simple fire. If we dedicate our life to divine service, then it’s a sacrificial fire – it’s a different quality.

How to feed a sacrificial fire? We throw grains and pour ghee into the fire. But how to make spiritual use of the sacrificial fire in one individual? Have you ever thought of that? If somebody has a sacrificial fire inside his individual body, how can he make use of that? It’s very simple: feed the Brahmins – pour ghee and rice into their mouth, into their digestive fire. As they have sacrificed their life for divine purpose, their individual fire is burning for God. And if we satisfy the brahmins, vaishnavas and sages in such a way, then we make a sacrifice.

All right, maybe you don’t ignite a sacrificial fire every morning in your home – that’s possible. But feed your husband every morning, feed your children every morning – then this is the sacrificial fire, offering your grains, offering your ghee into their fire. In this way you do the same. Please, wives, remember this. But I have to remind also my dear brothers that in order to receive your breakfast in the morning you have to dedicate your life to God. Because then this is a sacrificial fire.

Why do I mention this? Because yesterday we agreed we have to cross the limitations of time. Maybe we cannot sit every morning in Naimisharanya to make the sacrificial fire and to listen to the Bhagavatam – that’s possible. But nevertheless whenever you have a chance, with the same mood, with the same commitment and in the same spirit you can practice. Then we can raise the level of consciousness in the most insignificant everyday duties.

And the sages offered a seat of esteem to Shrila Suta Goswami.  Suta is ‘a chariot driver’ as a function and at the same time ‘a bard, a minstrel’ – telling the ancient stories, declaring the truth, this is his other function. Therefore the leader, the professor, so to say, of this meeting is Suta Goswami. A seat of esteem – this is asana. Asana means ‘a posture’, asana means ‘a pillow’, and asana means ‘the seat of Vyasa’ – this is vyasa-asana. Vyasa is the ideal spiritual master. So, whenever you give a lecture in the ashram, you have to become a representative of Vyasa. Therefore we pay respect to the person who gives the lecture. Because at that moment he or she is not himself or herself, but a representative. Therefore giving a lecture is not a prestigious position, it’s a prestigious service position. Then I can become really like a transparent medium.

Can you connect to Vysadev? Maybe to somebody closer, there we can connect. This is parampara system. Parampara system is not a theory. Through this very subtle and very devotional connection and identification it is possible that whenever you speak, your master speaks. If you eat, he is nourished. And if some respect comes to you, it concerns him. This is parampara system.

(to be continued)

[1] Shrimad Bhagavatam 1.1.5