Sharanagati

It is mentioned that three basic elements are very much necessary in our spiritual practice. First is sincerity. Sincerity also means simple-minded. When we are to much complicated in the mind, it’s very difficult to find the way. But when you are simple-minded, then you can depend on divine instructions.

To decide any question there are two ways. One is the intellectual way: you think, you study, you penetrate – and then after long time you come to some conclusion. The other way was practiced by Francesco di Assisi. Whenever he came to a cross-road and he did not knew which way to go, he was just turning around for a while and when he stopped, the direction he was facing, that road he was taking , depending on the divine inspiration. Not intellectual: “may be this, may be that…”, no! Sincerely depending on divine will. So, sincerity means we are simple-minded. We are ready to depend on the divine mercy and direction. This is intuition, we can also say.

Of course we have to be very pure in order to listen to our intuition, to this divine inspiration. Therefore the second element of Bhakti is very much necessary and that is serious efforts. So we have to be very serious about our process. That means we are ready to do a sacrifice. We are ready to take all the trouble that is necessary in order to be purified.

Sincerity also means – no second or hidden motive. As Shrila Prabhupad said: “SIMPLY try to love Krishna!” Don’t over-explain everything – simply try to love God. So that simple-minded feeling must be there.

But if you are serious and sincere about this process, still this is not enough – you need a third element and that is – you have to be brave. You have to be brave enough. Jump! Whenever Krishna’s flute is resounding in your ears, you should run! Don’t calculate: “O, this is not the time, I cannot…” Be brave, do it!

So sincerity, serious efforts and bravery are necessary in spiritual life. This is the conclusion of Shrila Shridhara Maharaj as he is quoting from the “Chaitanya Charitamrita”.