Sharanagati

Question of Kripadham: Why is it easier to create bad habits than good ones? Why is it easier to enter a bad consciousness then a good one? Is it karmic conditioning?

Tirtha Maharaj: Also. And do not forget that spiritual life is just like riding a cart in the hills: up and down, up and down. When you have to go up, the horse works very hard and it goes very slow. When you get on the top, you feel: “Ah, we are on the top!” But then you immediately start to go down and it is very easy and very fast. In order to fall down you do not have to make any efforts – it comes by itself.  But to elevate ourselves we have to work hard. Unfortunately this is the nature of this world. But as this is a reflection of the original, we should know, that this is the opposite there. Here people work very hard to learn and it is very easy to forget; there, in the spiritual world people learn very quickly, but they have to work very hard to forget. There the cart is going upwards very easy, but downwards very difficult. They can develop a good consciousness very easy and it is practically impossible to develop a bad consciousness.  But here we have this setup that we have to work hard to come to a higher platform, yet it is very easy to go down. This is the nature of the things. Plus the bad conditionings; they work very hard on the persons.

Still if you see that somebody is a victim of these bad habits but the intention is very good, it does not really matter. Yet if somebody is playing with the fire, then it is very dangerous.

Question of Yashoda: According to this cosmic rule described in the verse 108, where is mercy?

Tirtha Maharaj: The cosmic rule is justice: you will get what you deserve. But the hyper-cosmic rule is mercy. You will get better than what you expect. And it happens like this all the time, but we are so stupid, our conditioning is so bad, that while we have it, we do not recognize the value of it. Immediately when it is removed, you will understand the value. For example you say: “Ah my God! I have enough of my service. My job is so difficult, my boss is so stupid, I just want to escape!” But the next morning when they kick you out and say: “Sorry, we have to optimize the structure,” then you think: “Ah my God, I have lost my job! No money, no income, no engagement.” Or if you say: “This guy I cannot tolerate anymore in my life! I will go back to my mother.” But just imagine if your husband is removed from you, if he dies. Can you appreciate him at that time? Immediately you will appreciate him very much, much more than before. Same happens with artists; until they live and paint like a machine, nobody is buying, immediately when they die everybody is running after them.

We should appreciate until we have it.

Yashoda: I was rather thinking about mercy in the form of help.

Tirtha Maharaj: Suffering helps, because from suffering usually we understand something. We can say that mercy is the higher, hidden principle. Actually we live by mercy, we live for mercy, but sometimes we forget, therefore we do not see. Therefore we say that justice is not enough. To escape from the trap we need extra energy; the extra energy this is divine mercy, unconditional love. But suffering is also a help, failure is also a help. Prabhupad says that failure is the pillar of success. Therefore inSouth India they have in the temples hall with a thousand pillars. But do not build your thousand pillar home – to be very successful. Yet this is said: failure is the pillar of success. If we are intelligent enough and if we commit one mistake, we shall not commit the same mistake again, because we have learned the lesson.Krishna is a gentle teacher; He knows the limits.

So, according to our meditation, the fruits will come. Therefore meditate on prema-bhakti and she will come to you. Because prema-bhakti is merciful. She also likes to be invited.

Question of Damodar: Is there a difference betweenKrishna consciousness and Bhakti-yoga?

Tirtha Maharaj: Yes. Kamsa is the example of perfect Krishna consciousness – always remembering, always meditating, always seeing Him. But no love, no attachment. Only fear, only opposite feelings, hate. He saw in Krishna death personified, although the devotees see life personified in Krishna. Bhakti means worship, service, love ultimately. There is a big difference! Krishna consciousness is not enough; Krishna bhakti is necessary.

Damodar: For me it is difficult to distinguish between the two yet. Therefore many of the things I am just performing: I am chanting, I am taking prasadam… And I am waiting for love to appear. But it seems I have to wait long time.

Tirtha Maharaj: Where is love? Inside? Outside?

Damodar: Inside and outside.

Tirtha Maharaj: Then… it is there! Just reach out your hands… Wait! Wait! Keep it like this!

Many times people ask: “Where is mercy?! How can I achieve mercy?” And the great ones always say: “It is with you, it is always with you, around you, you do not see?!” You say: love inside and outside. It is all around! I thinkKrishna’s attention and His care is with you. Now it is your turn to pay your attention and care to Him. Really to give yourself, not simply perform or repeat some activities – give yourself! Because that is not enough. God spits out the lukewarm. Do not be neutral. Become a fan!