Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 09.05.2019, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday)

Question: Gurudev, you said that the two parents should look at the conception as a kind of service. Could you please say something more about this? 

Swami Tirtha: Anybody here who has some debts to some banks? Today everybody is indebted, right? Recently we were discussing with Ishvara. Some devotee says: ‘Oh, I have this much debt’. Another says: ‘I have that much debt’. And then Ishvara said: “I am a beggar, I have nothing, but it looks like I am in a much better position than them. I have zero, but they are in minus”. So, sometimes to have zero is a very high achievement. 

But generally, we are all indebted. Maybe not to the banks, but to some other authorities. First of all, we are indebted to God. This is our topmost… well, I wouldn’t say debt, but invitation – we belong there. Then, we are indebted to the demigods – those who take care of all the universal affairs, they provide the air and the rain. Then, we are indebted to the rishi-munis. Then, we are indebted to human beings. Plus, we are indebted to living beings, in general. 

And if you are indebted, then you have to pay the instalments, right? So, you satisfy the demigods with your swaha offerings into the fire. You satisfy the rishi-munis by chanting hymns and studying the scriptures. You satisfy the living entities, let’s say, animals, by feeding them. And you satisfy human beings in general when you receive them as guests and you feed them, for example. But the specific instruction is that whatever you have got, you pass it on to somebody else. 

We all have got a chance for this life, we all have got this body from our parents. Therefore, becoming a father and a mother means that you pay off your debt to your ancestors. And what you didn’t understand – why your father behaves like that, why your mother doesn’t understand you – as soon as you become a mother and a father, you will immediately understand that. Correct? So, this is what I mean – we are indebted. And we pay our debt, what we have received from our ancestors, by serving our next generation. 

I think it’s very reasonable: somebody had taken the trouble to raise you, now you also take the trouble to raise somebody. It’s nice, beautiful – right? And if we can add some more spiritual values, more spiritual ideals to this transaction, then it might become a real spiritual service. In this way we can have a spiritual family. Therefore mother Yashoda and Nanda Baba’s relationship is our example. Or all the other exemplary devotees, they are good examples for us.

Question of Kripadham: In this respect, how does the order of renunciation repay this debt? 

Swami Tirtha: I didn’t know that challenging questions are also allowed. Well, there are not only biological means of multiplication. Those who are limited in capacity, they can bring a child only by having a sexual intercourse. Those who are stronger, they have other methods as well. The general way is the sexual multiplication. Absolutely no problem with that – it’s designed for that to bring a new soul to life. But if you are strong enough, then even with the help of the sexual intercourse first you can determine what kind of soul you want to invite and then it will happen. Therefore, you shouldn’t lose your high level and concentration of consciousness while you impregnate your wife. Because then it will be a mistake – more problems to the family, more problems to the child. But those who are spiritually powerful, they can have children in other manners. They can create by the power of the mind, by the power of the consciousness, for example. Or you can multiply by preaching as well – it’s also another option. Maybe you don’t have blood children, but you can have spiritual children. It’s practically the same – you have to change the diapers. The job is the same. 

(to be continued)