Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 6.09.2015 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Friday) 

The next question says: “Where should a living being reside?”[1] Where to live?

Answer: Vrindavana.

Another: Ludashto.

Swami Tirtha: Ah, Ludashto is not bad. Just recently we had a tournament of shooting arrows. There was a big pandal with different destinations – Hawaii, Paris, Brahman, the spiritual sky, Goloka Vrindavana, Vaikuntha Planets, and also Ludashto. Then one of our friends shot the arrow – Ludashto. And on the next step he had to get some wisdom. And the wisdom coming to him was: “If you reach your goal, never turn back”. So, Ludashto is not a bad option. Because this is like Gupta Vrindavana, a hidden Vrindavana.

The answer tells here: “One should live in Vrindavana, where the transcendental pastimes of rasa-lila perpetually are performed.” So, these two are inseparable: in Vrindavana rasa-lila is always going on; and where rasa-lila is, there is always Vrindavana. This is the most essential pastime of our beloved Divine Couple. And this is the essence of Vrindavana.

The next question goes: “What should the living entity hear about, leaving aside all other topics”.

Answer: The pastimes.

Swami Tirtha: All right, next time you will give the lecture. Yes, what we should listen to? What topic we should pay attention to? “The reciprocal loving pastimes of Radha and Krishna are the only subject matter for oral reception by the living entity”. This is the best news that we can get. This is the best topic to listen to. Because such a message will change our life. Through this hearing capacity we can be connected to the higher reality.

And if we have all this knowledge accumulated so far in the conversation, then the next question comes: “What is the most worshipable object among all those to be worshiped?” Any suggestions?

Comment: I would suggest that maybe the lotus feet of the spiritual master?

Swami Tirtha: Close to. “The topmost worshipable object is the combined names of Radha and Krishna”. It is suggested if we don’t understand something, we have a special approach – worship. Then it will reveal to you. What do we understand about the combined names of Radha and Krishna? Personally myself not so much; therefore I worship. Why? Because ultimately this is not a topic to understand. Understanding means that you push something down, you take it into your fist. You put yourself above that topic. But it is said: pujala ragapata gaurava bhange[2] – Everything that is superior we should worship and take it on our heads. So, the combined names of Radha and Krishna are not for understanding, they are for being worshiped. We all know what the best worship is.

So, did you learn something about the ultimate goal of life? Maybe you can complain that there were too many questions. ‘I am lost in the jungle of questions.’ But don’t forget, all the answers came to the same topic. No matter what was the question, the answer was always the same. Love of Godhead is the best! Worship of the combined names of Radha and Govinda is the best. The best meditation is the lotus feet of God. The best song… Let’s sing the best song.

[1] In Search of the Ultimate Goal of Life, by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

[2] Shrila B. R. Shridhara Maharaja often recited the verse written by his spiritual master Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura