Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 06.01.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday)

Hari Lila: You mentioned that we have to realize our level in spiritual topics and to what extent we can go into them, disclose them to people. How can we judge our own level?

Swami Tirtha: If you are sincere, you will feel it. Once a very elevated first-class devotee told me, “I had read such and such book of the gosvamis, but then I put it on my shelf”. She has understood her level. We can read, we can listen; but entering the lilas, coming to that platform is totally different. Nevertheless, we should know the direction, we should know the ideal – therefore we have to study, therefore we have to listen. But don’t rush. And also we shouldn’t forget about the advice of Shrila Prabhupada, ‘Work now, samadhi later’. But it will come. 

At the same time, this inner cultivation, this spiritual culture and realizations are very important, because this provides the fuel for your daily life, what to speak of trying to distribute something for others. To become a math teacher in an elementary school, first you need to accomplish a university degree, right? But if you start to teach math to 7 years old children at a university level, they will not understand. So first you cultivate for yourself and you transfer the appropriate message. Like a pelican. The pelican feeds the small ones by first half-digesting the food. In such a manner you receive first, then you give it to others. 

Some people may think that Shrila Prabhupada always gives very elementary advice: “You are not the body, there is transmigration, etc.” But if he tries to educate people on an elementary platform, it doesn’t mean that he is on an elementary platform. Once he was supposed to give a lecture at a university. And the devotees were curious, ‘What kind of topic will Prabhupada give today? Usually he is speaking about the ABCs of spiritual life, but now this is like a scientific community, so maybe he will come up with some theory, with some philosophy, with some basics.’ And then he started his lecture and he was talking only about the gopis. Totally out of context for a scientific community. So we never know how our saints are inspired. But we should be very caring about our own inspiration. 

But I told you many times how to recognize our level. Bhaktivinoda Thakur writes that once a very demanding practitioner approached a saint, inquiring about the same topic. “Can you tell me what is my level?” This saint said, “Alright, describe your realization. What’s happening to you?” And this young man said, “Well, when I enter the temple, some trembling is going through me. When I look at the deities, sometimes I cannot see them because my eyes are full of tears. And when I start to chant the holy names, sometimes I faint. This is how I feel.” And then the sadhu said, “Alright, then you are on the elementary platform. Go further.” So, where are your tears? Where is your trembling? Work now, samadhi later. 

But at the same time, it is just all around. This blissful divine power is just all around. The natural environment for a devotee is mercy, which you can perceive in a blissful manner. It is just all around. This is it. 

I have noticed a certain transition in you: you have entered a more mature state of your life. Most of you, individually, and also as a group, you have improved. Now you maybe have an invitation from Krishna for a different type of service – to preach more profoundly, to serve the spiritual benefit of people. Because if you preach, it is not a campaign, it is a service. To serve others to come to a higher understanding about their spiritual identity. Somehow I feel that due to your commitment, due to your discipline and also due to some blessings, you came to a more shining period of your lives – that you can represent your masters, your faith, and your God to others. So, go ahead. 

Once, the senior preachers came together at the lotus feet of Shrila Shridhara Maharaj. Stalwarts, heroes of our lives – like Paramadveiti Maharaj, my Gurudev, others from America, from Australia, from Europe, leaders of preaching in certain regions and countries, very important personalities. Shridhara Maharaj told them, “You go on preaching!” They said, “Ah no, no, we don’t have the ability. You have to come, Gurumaharaj, you have to come.” But he said, “No, I’m just sitting here. You know it better. You are working there in these respective places, you know it better.” They said, “But we don’t have the power”. Then Shridhara Maharaj said, “I will stand behind you. I give you the power to do the service”. And then they had no excuse. And actually, due to this empowerment we are sitting here. So, you can come up with some excuses, but your masters will destroy your resistance. And they will stand by you. 

(to be continued)