Sharanagati
Collected words from talks of Swami Tirtha
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Mar
26
(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, May 2013, Sofia)
(continues from the previous Friday)
“Going back to Godhead means going back to our own soil, our real home. What is night to us now – that we will make our day! Where there is presently darkness to us – we are to find light there; and what is apparently so plain and expressively clear – that must be neglected. In our earnest calculation the entire world of exploitation and self-interest should be kicked into the darkness, and we should withdraw wholesale from that ‘knowledge’. And what is dark to us now we should try to make it light by always giving our attention, thoughtful consideration, and adherence to achieving residence in the higher soil, the land of wonders where everything is wonderful.”[1]
So, this is a transition from one stage to another. And it is a very glorious path because this shift is judged according to the fruits. It will bring eternal, good fruits, therefore this is a very glorious path.
The next chapter says: “Shadow, Substance, and Sound”.
“The spiritual plane is substantial. And why are things as they are here? This is the reflection of that plane, a perverted reflection. So that nature is also to be found here, but the substance is there. Everything here, all this is like a shadow. The shadow is unsubstantial, without real existence, the substance is itself real existence. The difference is great”.[2]
A shadow has no reality. Do you still have a shadow? Well, if we stand in the sunshine we shall see our shadow. That means reflection is there only when there is something original, something that gives the power to reflect. The light is always ahead of us and the shadows are always to our back. Of course sometime you might turn your back to the sun, but this is not the case, it’s symbolic. We are searching for the light and nevertheless we have a shadow. And if you want to run away from your shadow, it will come with you. The faster you run, the faster it will follow you. How to get rid of our shadows? Actually there is a way. Because it is said that demigods don’t have a shadow. So, if you want to identify a demigod, just check the shadow. If somebody has no shadow, it’s a demigod. Until somebody has a shadow, it’s a future demigod.
How the shadow is produced? Actually, there is a blockage of light. So, if there is a thick object that blocks the flow of light, then that is the shadow. If the object is transparent, there is no shadow. So, why do the demigods have no shadow? Because they don’t block the light. Actually one definition in Krishna book about the demigod is that they live only for the satisfaction of Krishna – tat priyartham. Those who live only for the satisfaction of God, they are like angels, they are like demigods. Actually deva comes from div, from light. They are bright persons, they don’t block the light. No separate interest, no false ego. This will block the light. So, if we want to get rid of our shadow, we should purify our heart existence.
(to be continued)
1. The Golden staircase, Ch. 1 Withdraw from knowledge, by Shrila Shridhar Maharaj
2. The Golden staircase, Ch. 1 Shadow, Substance, and Sound, by Shrila Shridhar Maharaj
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