Sharanagati

Just recently with my friends we were discussing about the numerology aspects of “Bhagavad-gita” and somebody was missing the hundred and eighth verse. Let us check.

“While contemplating the objects of the senses a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.”[1] But this verse we cannot understand without analyzing the further two verses, therefore we shall read that also:

„From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool.”

 „But a person free from all attachment and aversion and able to control his senses through regulative principles of freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord”.

If we go step by step in “Gita” then we come to this platform: the cosmic rule. Hundred and eight is the number of the cosmic rule. The cosmic order is that whatever you meditate on, it will happen. It is said that if you contemplate something, it will more and more manifest in your mind. And certain connection will also manifest, whether it is good or bad. In this way we should be very careful with the thoughts that we cultivate; and what to speak of the practices that we cultivate!

The same applies to spiritual practices. They are very strong. So, if we want to stay in the material sphere, we should not start spiritual practices. Therefore Rupa Goswami says: “Do not look at Govinda, because then you will forget maya.” If you want to stay in the lap of Maya Devi, do not start this Govinda process. Because more and more it will manifest in your existence – in your mind, in your heart, in your everyday life.

But the same happens in the opposite case, when we start to contemplate either on the material objects or on some negative thoughts. As you can chant yourself intoKrishnaconsciousness, you can also chant yourself into maya consciousness. If you start doing something as a habit – by telling to yourself, by engaging yourself, by doing it, by repeating it, by conditioning yourself in that practice – you can come to a very good standard, and you can come to very bad habits, which are very difficult to get rid of.

One friend of mine mentioned a story. But this is a sweet story, just to give you the idea. Once they were visiting Radha Kunda. Of course, everybody was surcharged with the atmosphere of the place. But first they had to go to one certain temple; therefore they did not offer respects immediately on the banks and in the water and they could not just submerge themselves in the deep meditation on Radha Kunda. Still one devotee, who was carrying in the bag documents, some books, songbooks and this and that… was so enthused, that he went down to the stairs and tried to just touch the water and bring only few drops of nectar on his head. And all of a sudden… Radha Kunda was just sucking him, because you know, the stairs are so slippery there, so… full in dhoti, with passport and everything he jumped into Radha Kunda. He wanted to start very simply – just a little touch of the water and… he got a full dose.

Another  friend of mine was telling me a story that he wanted to turn on the television for only five minutes, just to see the weather report – what will be the weather tomorrow. And the same was happening! A little touch to the television for five minutes… and it immediately sucked him for one hour. See the miracle! Same things are happening! According to your cultivation results will come.

So, we think: “Only five minutes for maya.” This is not so easy! If you give an invitation to Maya Devi, she will come: “Ah, I am welcome in this heart, in this mind, in this consciousness. I will come, this is my place.”

We should not have a mistake consciousness, we should not have maya consciousness. But do not forget, if you start to practice something as a habit, then it is very difficult to change it! You can see that in the addicts. If somebody is drinking, you can see that this is a horrible habit, absolutely having no positive results, nothing – only chaos and destruction it will bring – still the person cannot give up. He is so much on the hook of alcohol. This is a bad habit. And they are struggling sometimes very hard to get out of this trap, but it is practically impossible. They can do that only if they get an extra energy from outside.

We should not start these bad habits, because then it is more difficult to correct. If you identify a disease in the beginning and you start to cure on time, then it is much easier. And we all have identified the disease – this is the material life – and we want to have the cure. So we should practice that – as a habit: wake up early, chant your rounds, do your service… And then all of a sudden you say: “Ah, I cannot give up this conditioning. I’ve conditioned myself as a humble servant of God, I cannot get rid of that consciousness. I am fighting to cure myself from this contagiousKrishnadisease, but no way out!” It is a hopeless case – to forgetKrishna.

We should beware of our contemplation and then the practices that are coming after. The process described in these verses works in both directions; if we contemplate on wrong objects, ultimately we shall have wrong consciousness and we shall have total forgetfulness of the spiritual things. But if we cultivate spiritual things, we shall also achieve total forgetfulness of illusion. So, it applies in both directions: choose the proper direction!

Krishnasays that by cultivating the regulative principles of freedom, you can achieve the complete mercy of God. Actually this is the goal that we should work for. The goal is not the regulative principles, the goal is pure divine attachment toKrishna. But this is the path, leading to that goal.

So, this was the verse discussing the cosmic rule: according to your meditation and contemplation you will achieve your results. You will reap as you sow. The cosmic verse.