Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 09.05.2018, Sofia)

Anartha is something that blocks you from reaching your goal. Because artha is not only ‘something valuable’, but artha is also ‘a goal, a purpose’. So an-artha will block you from reaching your goals, reaching your ideals. To put it very simply, this is called ‘unwanted features of character’. I think we all know a lot of them, we have a good long-standing friendship with these bad features. And the busy part of spiritual life is when we have to get rid of all these anarthas, all these bad features. This is the hard work of spiritual life – you have to follow the rules and the suggestions, avoid all other types of activities motivated by different factors. Many times it is mentioned that this is ‘the period of taming the wild animal’. But how to accomplish that in the best manner? The best manner, they say, is not through a negative or rejecting process, but rather by positive cultivation. So the best way to get rid of our anarthas, or non-valuable characteristic features, is to practice arthas. Artha is something valuable, a merit. This is a structure of values. This is what we try to establish in our life – to have some values and to want to live accordingly.

This topic of artha and anartha is included in one very important verse concerning spiritual progress, coming from the Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu[1], and it describes fully the whole scope of spiritual progress.

Adau shraddha – this is the beginning, “first is the faith”. Faith, or more precisely an initial desire for spiritual accomplishment or desire for self-realization. You see, faith is not some belief system. No, this is a very precise targeting of your spiritual endeavors – a desire, an initial desire for spiritual self-realization.

Tatah sadhu-sanga – the next one is “associating with saintly personalities”. Sat-sanga or sadhu-sanga, this is an association with the truth. Sat-sanga – to associate with the truth. And it is glorified that if you are connected to saintly personalities, then you can improve your life very much. Lava-matra sadhu-sanghe sarva siddhi hoy[2] – even if you spend a little time in the association with saints, you can achieve full perfection. And a special type of sadhu-sanga is when we commit ourselves to follow a saintly personality. So, sadhu-sanga properly means that you are an initiated disciple of a spiritual master – this is a very profound form of sadhu-sanga. All right, sometimes it happens, other times it doesn’t happen. But actually, your family life is also a sadhu-sanga. Krishna has sent some sadhus, some souls to you to associate with in a spiritual manner – that is sat-sanga, sadhu-sanga. Everything depends on our vision. If we see everyone as a devotee, then whoever comes in contact with us, we are in sat-sanga. But in general we can say that sadhu-sanga is focused on spiritual progress.

Adau shraddha, tatah sadhu-sanga, tha bhajana-kriya – then you start your bhajan. And bhajan is not only singing some spiritual songs, but bhajan is your way of worship. Whatever practice you do, it should be a bhajan – for the worship of the Supreme. So it’s a very nice sequence. First we give some credit, some faith, then we try to find good company for that, and then we start our practice.

(to be continued)

[1] Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu 1.4.15-16

[2] Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 22.54