Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 05.01.2017 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday)

 “The sages went on with their practices for a very long time – from the appearance of Rama to the appearance of Krishna – for thousands and thousands of yugas. Do not think that in a moment you have pure bhakti. You cannot say: “Ah Gurumaharaj, you gave me the mantra, but still I have not realized that I’m in Goloka Vrindavana. I want to be in Vrindavana now! Valmiki Rishi took initiation from Narada, engaged in (заел се с) very severe austerities for sixty thousand years and then he became self-realized.”[1]

I think now we are all inspired, right? We have a program.

“But you don’t want to follow all these things like chanting your mantras. Shrila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad gave some of you initiation into Gayatri mantras. For one day, for two days, for one month, for some years you practiced. But after that you became weak. Especially after the departure of such a master you lose your strength.”

We have to be careful about that. Therefore it is suggested that we should find our own sadhana – our own spiritual practice that depends on us, on our choice, on our commitment.

“But we have the good fortune that in this Kali-yuga Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to sprinkle His mercy. We can therefore chant with some hope that very soon we can become realized souls. So don’t worry, go on practicing like the rishis. And then when Krishna descended these rishis also took birth from the wombs of the gopis around. Later they worshipped demigoddess Katyayani in order to get Krishna as their husband. Krishna then came and their desires were fulfilled. It was yet another reason why He descended.”

So, if we are in the same way committed in our bhajan, one-pointed in our bhajan, sooner or later the blessings will touch us and then definitely the spiritual success will come. You see, there are so many different reasons why Krishna comes to this planet Earth. But mainly He comes to fulfill the earning, the desire of His devotees.

If we discuss service we have to understand that service has a goal. In service – like cherishing your meditation, following your spiritual practice, trying to fix your consciousness that ‘I’m a spirit soul belonging to the Supreme’, raising the level of your consciousness – if we are very focused in our practices, ultimately we shall reach our goal. And what is this goal? You will meet Krishna. Because service means you enjoy the close vicinity of the Supreme. Maybe you have some questions or remarks?

Question of Manjari: What happened with the sages? Did they reach the spiritual sky or just gained this opportunity to associate with Krishna?

Swami Tirtha: Well, after the disappearance of Krishna most of His associates went with Him. Some remained here, just to maintain the message, so to say. But most of them left. Why? Because the came on purpose. They came to help and enhance the lilas of Krishna. And when that mission was fulfilled, they also left.

(to be continued)

[1] Readings from a book of Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaj