Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 09.05.2017 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday)

“Shukadeva Gosvami said: “O Maharaja Parikshit, when King Rahugana chastised the exalted devotee Jada Bharata with harsh words, that peaceful, saintly person tolerated it all and replied properly. Nescience is due to the bodily conception, and Jada Bharata was not affected by this false conception. Out of his natural humility, he never considered himself a great devotee, and he agreed to suffer the results of his past karma. Like an ordinary man, he thought that by carrying the palanquin he was destroying the reactions of his past misdeeds. Thinking in this way, he began to carry the palanquin as before.

“O best of the Pandu dynasty [Maharaja Parikshit], the King of the Sindhu and Sauvira states [Maharaja Rahugana] had great faith in discussions of the Absolute Truth. Being thus qualified, he heard from Jada Bharata that philosophical presentation which is approved by all scriptures on the mystic yoga process and which slackens the knot in the heart. His material conception of himself as a king was thus destroyed. He immediately descended from his palanquin and fell flat on the ground with his head at the lotus feet of Jada Bharata in such a way that he might be excused for his insulting words against the great brahmana. He then prayed as follows.”[1]

And here we stop now – in the most interesting and most exciting moment. What the king will say? This is dramaturgy. Just to keep the attention alive. But I think here we get a very good example. Whenever a good teaching is coming – take it, accept it. You have to be smart. It is also suggested, if you see a piece of gold on a pile of garbage, you have to take the gold. Don’t mind the garbage, take the gold. In the same way, sometimes we are so to say in a position, and something comes unexpected as good teachings. Be ready to accept it. Here the king was very much ready to give up his position and although at first he wanted to chastise the servant due to his disobedience, as soon as he understood that ‘wait a minute, this is not a dull person carrying the load, but this is a self realized brahmana’, he immediately became very humble. So, due to some circumstances, due to some influences, due to the gunas, due to past karma we might commit mistakes. We don’t understand the position – our position, the other person’s position. But as soon as we realize that ‘I had done something wrong’, let’s correct that. And it is suggested that correction should come on the same platform as the mistake has happened. If you offended or criticized somebody mentally, in your thoughts, just correct that by good thoughts. If you offended somebody by words, please excuse yourself by words, state your humility and ask for forgiveness. And if you had committed some wrong action against somebody, try to correct that on the action platform. I think it’s very practical.

But how many sinful and improper deeds did we have during this lifetime?! What to speak of the harsh words and the uncontrolled thoughts! My dear ones, is it possible to compensate for all this stupidity? Hardly ever. What to speak of previous lifetimes? So, it’s a never-ending list. Then what can we do? We forget, but karma never forgets. How to compensate for the mistakes and the sins? If one by one, or ‘eye for an eye and teeth for teeth’ – we cannot accomplish that. Gandhi said that if this rule applies, then very soon we shall end up in a society of blind and toothless people. Then what is the method of compensation for all the mistakes and all the stupidity that we have committed? This is the humble surrender to God Supreme. Because He is not searching where you come from, what is your background, how much stupidity you have committed. He is interested in what is your direction. ‘How you want to come to Me? I will give you the eyes.’ He says to Arjuna: “I will give you the eyes. You will see Me.”[2] He is the ability in men, right. So, this is the way to correct all the possible mistakes that we have committed. From now on, my dear Lord, I’m Yours.

It is said that to compensate for the sins there are many different prayaschitta, different processes. But faithfully serving the spiritual master, who is very dear to Krishna – this is the best process of any purification, of any spiritual elevation, etc. And meanwhile we have to keep up the consciousness: ‘I am Brahman. Aham brahmasmi. I am a spirit soul.’ If you always stay on that platform, how can you commit any mistakes? If you are firmly established on that platform of consciousness, immediately you will become sinless, you don’t create any more new karmas, or sins, etc.

(to be continued)

[1] Shrimad Bhagavatam 5.10.14-15

[2] Bhagavad Gita 11.8