Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 05.01.2020 evening, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday)

From the fourth dimension – limited time – somebody has to lead us to the fifth dimension, time-eternity. For that we need a ferryman. We need somebody who will guide us. It’s such a good feeling, it’s an incredible gift in life to have a well-wisher. To have enemies is common sense; to have friends is unique; but to have well-wishers, this is a real gift of God. We all need ideals, right? If we live without ideals, it’s so bitter. It’s like an empty world. We need ideals. And what are the qualities of our ideals? They are innocent. They are beautiful. They are very strong. They are very wealthy. They are very wise. And they are very saintly. These are our ideals. We want to live for such examples. Because they will provide the wings for us to fly, to soar high in the sky. In the Bhagavad Gita it is said that A real great saint will appreciate everyone, and everybody will appreciate him[1]. So, he treats everyone as a friend and everybody treats him in a friendlier mood. I have a friend like this. He treats everybody in a very friendly way, but even him some consider an enemy. So, one side is easier – we can appreciate everyone in a very friendly, affectionate way, this is our business. Whether others will appreciate this or not – this is their business. And the more we develop a spiritual vision, the more we can appreciate the eternal side of a human being. Because all the limitations and all the shortcomings, they don’t concern the soul, they concern only the body-mind complex. The soul is a beautiful spark. It’s a chitkana, it’s a particle of spiritual consciousness. Or we can say, a loving servant, a loving partner of the Supreme. So, this is your identity – you are beautiful. And I don’t want to flatter you, but your soul shines this divine beauty of sat-chit-ananda-vigraha. So, the closer we come to our spiritual identity, the more this original beauty, this original innocence, this original belonging to the spiritual sky will manifest. 

For some time we search for this light outside. While others, they have this light on the inside. They are our superiors, they are our well-wishers. And from my masters I have learned that the well-wishers are unlimited in numbers. Actually, the majority of living entities are in their eternal home. Only the minority is living here. And if somebody is over there, he is waiting for the lost souls to find their way back home, back to Godhead. So naturally, they are well-wishers of all those who are prospective candidates for being embraced in the spiritual realm. This is why we appreciate these saintly persons so much. They guide us. They are the lighthouses to show the proper direction. And even from a bad guru you can learn a lot – about yourself.  In this manner everything is under divine protection. And therefore, we need to follow the proper path. Mahajano yena gataḥ sa panthaḥ[2] – Follow the path that is marked by the footsteps of the great souls. They are the authorities on spiritual matters for us and we are very happy and fortunate to follow such a good example. The rules of proper religion are not invented by humans. They are given by God Himself and put into practice by the surrendered saintly personalities, the pure souls. 

So, whether we are on this side – those who need the help, or on that side – those who are ready to help others, we have to improve. To use our time properly. Because ultimately there is one common goal for all spiritual practitioners – to find a way out of samsara. And that goal we can achieve only by a process that comes from beyond samsara. If something is under the control of samsara, of illusion, you cannot escape. You need a process that comes from above. 

(to be continued)

1. Bhagavad Gita 5.7
2. a verse spoken by Yudhishthira in Mahabharata, Vana-parva  313.117