Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 12.05.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday)

Question of Baladev: We were discussing time and the advice was that no matter in which time period we are in our life, it is very important to make a plan for the rest of our life. And because we are discussing the development of our intelligence, it is not sure that we can make an intelligent plan. My question, or rather request to you, is to give us some practical directions what is good to include in this plan. 

Swami Tirtha: Sorry for the example, this is coming from the material world, but nevertheless, it offers some advice: there was a group of 100 students and the trainer asked them if they have a plan for their life. 20 of them said “Yes, we have”. Then he asked the next question, “Did you put your plan into writing?” 3 of the 100 had this written list of what they wanted to achieve. A few years later, the salary or the material achievement of these 3 people were higher than the achievements of the rest 97. 

So, plans can make you more effective. Of course, if we want to progress spiritually, then how to measure the achievements? It’s not the amount of money that you make! Not even the number of books that you sell. There are no physical dimensions for spiritual success. Because one is an apple and the other is a pear – you cannot compare the two, it’s totally different. 

Nevertheless, I think it’s useful to make a to-do list, because that will help you become more organized. As long as we are in the active period of our life, I think a kind of proper time-management is good. I have a friend who made such a to-do list for himself. On the list was to organize a major preaching event every month. After a few years he had another point in his to-do list: how to avoid major events. Because the goal was accomplished; now let’s move to the next level.

Once I was also full of plans. I said “Finally, I have my plans: to do this, to achieve that, to move like this… Finally, I feel so organized!” And you know, on my to-do list was to read something from Shrila Shridhara Maharaj every day. So that day I opened the book of Shrila Shridhar Maharaj and there was a question. “Maharaj, what about our plans?” And then Shridhar Maharaj says “Plans, oh, that is very bad! To have plans is so dangerous in spiritual life. It’s got nothing to do with realizations, etc., etc.” Why? Because, he said, if you have plans, that means you want to govern the situation and you feel independent from Krishna’s will. Then I was a little perplexed. Because I had my plan to read every day from Shridhara Maharaj and he says “You shouldn’t have any plans.” So then I tried to find my excuse. Because I think we fully agree that if we have this false concept that we can dominate a situation, or we can decide a situation independently from Krishna’s control – that’s a mistake. But if we make a plan that “My plan is His plan”, then I wouldn’t think Shridhara Maharaj would oppose. So, my plan is to totally harmonize with the divine plan. 

At the same time, on the practical platform, we need to be well organized. If you have such a to-do list, such a plan, you can check your activities – how far you have reached, how much you have accomplished concerning your spiritual services, etc. But in one sense, we can also say that this is like a sadhana principle – to have organized plans. And the ultimate goal is not to have a very fixed sadhana, but to float on the waves of divine ecstasy. ‘Lalite, why did you bring me to this ocean of Krishna’s nectar? Life wants me to be organized on the shore, but I want to swim in the waves. Why did you bring me here? It’s so painful that I cannot swim in the waves.’ So, the goal is to swim in the waves of the nectar ocean. If this is the goal of our plan, then I agree. What is on your to-do list? ‘First, to over-chant myself. Second, to drown myself in the nectarean ocean of devotional life. And to over-eat myself with prasadam.’ These nectarean plans we encourage. Yes, go ahead! ‘I want to dance in ecstasy this night.’ These are good plans. We need to be very organized to reach such spontaneous plans. Use all your intelligence to reach your goals. We have to be very smart, because everything is working against us. Illusion doesn’t want to let you free so easily, so quickly. She also has some plans with you. And if you want to escape, she will do her best to stop you. But fortunately, divine attractive power is much stronger than human resistance. This is our hope. 

(to be continued)