Sharanagati

(continues from the previous issue)

We have seen in the beginning that certain siddhis you can experience in your daily practices like chanting and bhajan and this and that – you can feel like smaller or greater or pervading, more expanding. But what about the siddhis like “my desire is never obstructed, I can enjoy life in a celestial way or I can influence others” – should we develop such powers or it is there, or it is missing? What is the situation with these?

Krishna Priya: I don’t think that we should develop such power.

Tirtha Maharaj: Then what should we develop?

Krishna Priya: Love and devotion.

Tirtha Maharaj: Sounds better option. Because for some – siddhis are a desired goal, like the end, the topmost achievement. For others – siddhis are like secondary results. They don’t go for the siddhis, they go for some higher ideals, and the siddhis are achieved meanwhile automatically. Of course we should not think: “Ah, I possess all the siddhis because I am a good devotee.” (44.20 not heard) But definitely it is very logical and at the same time very transcendental that if we are under the protection of a higher authority then the lower authorities cannot touch you. Or if you are committed on the highest platform then you will automatically achieve all the good things, all the benefits of the lower platforms. Right, if you attend the university, you must know, you already possess the knowledge of ABC. In this way if we cultivate the topmost achievement – we are not dogmatic, but divine love is the topmost achievement, there is nothing more fulfilling than divine love, than prema-bhakti – then all the other previous steps are included there. In this way somehow devotees might possess and might use such mystic powers, in case it is necessary for the service, for the mission or whatever.

And sometimes we are praying for such mystic powers: “Ah my God, there is so much service today! Please, give me four hands to accomplish all!” Or: “Couldn’t you provide me another form to sell the books?” So sometimes we are praying for these types of blessings.

Then it says: “The minor siddhis are: to know things related to past, present and future; to remain unaffected in the pairs of opposites, like heat and cold, joy and sorrow, likes and dislikes. Then: to read others’ minds; and to neutralize power of fire, sun, water and poison; and to suffer no defeat at the hands of anyone whatsoever.”[1] I think these minor siddhis are very useful. To read the mind of others – well, it is not always very pleasant, but it might be useful. Why? Because in this way you can understand the other person better. So, it is good that everything is arranged; that usually you don’t read the minds of others, right? I think it makes the world very peaceful. But if you have that ability that you are so much compassionate, so much loving, so much open that you can feel what is the need, what is the necessity of another person I think it improves the world. It does not make the world only peaceful, but it makes the world more affectionate, more resolving problems and helping others. This I like, this is very useful – to read on the basis of compassion. If we can read the minds, the feelings, the problems of others – this is the first stage of resolving problems, of stress management: we have to understand the other person. This is point number one: listen, understand and love. These are the three basic steps of the spiritual commitment.

 (to be continued)