Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 04.05.2018, Rila)

Everything in life moves in circles. The circle is the ultimate form, the form of perfection. It is encrypted into our body. It is also a part of life in general and a cosmic symbol as well. And ultimately, we can say that it represents divine perfection.

There are some places where in their meditation room they have a sphere, like a globe in the centre, to meditate over this complete perfection. So, what should we do? Should we put a globe in the centre of our temple? Or should we put a sphere into our heart? Actually, it is already there, so it is not necessary to implement any external form or symbol. If you look around, everything moves in circles. The planetary systems are in a circle form, both in shape and trace. Your skull is a globe. Therefore, it is said that the universe is just like a great human being; and the small human being is just like a cosmos. So, macrocosm exists externally, microcosm exists on the atomic structure of matter; and in between the two there is this mesocosm – this is the human being.

These days we try to explain and understand the duties of human life. Especially in connection with the holy name, with God. I think we have learned a lot so far – about the radius and the radiance; also about the power of the holy name and its nature, why it is so important in this age. Therefore, we have to continue our studies into this science and experience of divine practice.

So, “Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam/ kalua nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha – There is no other way than the holy name to reach perfection in this Kali Yuga.” With this quotation from the sacred scriptures we can develop some respect towards this practice of chanting God’s names. But what is the intrinsic nature of the holy name, of the mahamantra? This is our next topic that we have to inquire into.

First of all, I would like to recall a very special event, when Shrila Prabhupada gave a lecture in the old times. Sometimes he gave a lecture simply by sitting on the scene and one of his disciples was talking. Just imagine yourself, the founder-acharya, His Divine Grace is sitting, and you have to speak. I think you have to collect all your powers and commitment to fulfil that service. So, this devotee was describing the holy names, quoting the philosophy nicely, and then finally he mentioned that “Krishna is in His holy names”. Until that moment Shrila Prabhupada was only listening, listening; but at that moment he said, “Stop! Not correct!” Do you feel yourself in this situation? And he said, “He is not in the holy names, He is the holy name.”

Sometimes we are not precise enough in our wording. Which is a mistake, especially if we discuss divine science, the superior science of God. Bhakti-yoga is called ‘the scientific approach to the Supreme Lord’. Scientific! And for us scientific means that you know what is what. Many times science works with presuppositions, theories… Theory is not the truth. ‘This is the way we think today. Yesterday we were thinking in a different way and tomorrow we shall think in another way.’ Where is the truth? So, science means you know what is what, you are precise about what you are talking about. Therefore, we have to refer to the shastras – what they say about the nature of the holy name.

(to be continued)