Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 15.08.2018, Ludasto)

(continues from the previous Friday)

“Finishing his daily duties, the priest went to take some rest. In a dream he saw the Gopinatha Deity come to talk to him, and He spoke as follows. “O priest, please get up and open the door of the temple. I have kept one pot of sweet rice for the sannyasi Madhavendra Puri. This pot of sweet rice is just behind My cloth curtain. You did not see it because of My tricks.” Awaking from the dream, the priest immediately rose from bed and thought it wise to take a bath before entering the Deity’s room. He then opened the temple door. According to the Deity’s directions, the priest found the pot of sweet rice behind the cloth curtain. He removed the pot and mopped up the place where it had been kept. He then went out of the temple. Closing the door of the temple, he went to the village with the pot of sweet rice. He called out in every stall in search of Madhavendra Puri. Holding the pot of sweet rice, the priest called, “Will he whose name is Madhavendra Puri please come and take this pot! Gopinatha has stolen this pot of sweet rice for you!” The priest continued, “Would the sannyasi whose name is Madhavendra Puri please come and take this pot of sweet rice and enjoy the prasadam with great happiness! You are the most fortunate person within these three worlds!”[1]

These verses explain the difference between the absolute truth and the relative truth. Here Gopinath clearly shows Himself as a thief – stealing one part of the sweet rice. And this was not kept in secret, but declared boldly: “God is a thief.” Because if He steals, that gives much, much pleasure to everyone. In the material sphere theft is a criminal act, but in the spiritual realm everybody is happy due to this.

Then what to do? We are followers of Krishna, so let’s follow His example – steal the sweet rice? Well, two days ago we had sweet rice. It was so nice that I was thinking of stealing one more pot, definitely. But fortunately, the devotees stopped this criminal activity because they supplied.

Nevertheless, some things you can steal. For example, you can steal your attention from illusion. Or you can steal another person’s heart. This we can do. But not for yourself, only as a heartfelt offering. And that is preaching. You bring the attention of others towards the divine purpose. I think this is a very elevated kind of campaign.

So, the priest had this vision during the night. Then he followed the instruction and then he took the sweet rice and ran to the marketplace to search for Madhavandra Puri.

“Hearing this invitation, Madhavendra Puri came out and identified himself. The priest then delivered the pot of sweet rice and offered his obeisances, falling flat before him. When the story about the pot of sweet rice was explained to him in detail, Shri Madhavendra Puri at once became absorbed in ecstatic love of Krishna. Upon seeing the ecstatic loving symptoms manifest in Madhavendra Puri, the priest was struck with wonder. He could understand why Krishna had become so much obliged to him, and he saw that Krishna’s action was befitting.”[2]

Do you also come to this conclusion sometimes? ‘He was right, again.’ Because it is said: “A devotee can fully control God Krishna. It is impossible to conquer Krishna, but through the devotional service a devotee can control Him. It is said in the Brahma Samhita: vedeshu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau[3]– “Through the Vedas it’s impossible to reach, but through atma–bhaktau, through dedication of the heart, dedication of the soul, it’s very easy to understand. You cannot understand Krishna simply by reading the Vedic literature. If someone doesn’t love Him, he cannot understand Him. Therefore, beyond studying the Vedic scriptures you have to worship the Supreme. These two processes will help each other. Love of Godhead is dormant in everybody’s hearts. And if we simply follow the rules of devotional service, this dormant love awakes.

(to be continued)  

[1] Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 4.126-4.134

[2] Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 4.135-4.137

[3] Brahma Samhitā 5.33