Sharanagati

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

(continues from the previous Monday)

Question of Pavitra: My question concerns the mood of readiness – about the disciple who was always ready to jump. What is the nature of this readiness? How can we gain more of this, what is the proper attitude? 

Swami Tirtha: It’s a brave act. You know, in the old times Gurudev told one of his disciples, “Come! Escape from the country and come live with me.” He was a family man, with a wife and a child. With no passport. And when he got this instruction: “Come, escape from the country and live with me,” I had seen on his face that for years he had been preparing for that. And he had a very good friend – they were serving together, living together. Their friendship was so intense, that one time this person had a nightmare and when he awoke – they were sleeping next to each other – immediately he was calling the name of his devotee friend and catching his hand. Their friendship was so intense. And one main problem for him was not how to obtain a passport or how to manage his family. One main problem was: “Maybe I will never see my friend in this life again.” 

But then he started his many maneuvers – shifting his registered habitation, obtaining a new passport there. And finally preparing for the escape together with his wife, while the second child was in her womb. On the last night he came to the ashram. He was always like a super excellent hero for me – the perfect example of devotion, the example of faith. And when he finally went away with the last bus, I observed from the window as that great soul was leaving and I decided that ‘Tomorrow in the morning I will go to the train they were supposed to depart with’. Because I had a special Indian cup from Gurudev. Even his name was inscribed on it. And I thought, “What can I give to my dear friend? I cannot give him anything… But maybe this cup, it is coming from Gurudev – this will be a good present for him.” But when I arrived at the train station, his train had already departed… But they succeeded. They escaped from the country with two suitcases; and you know, when the system changed, they returned with two trucks. So, what was the partial reading, the local reading of this story? ‘I will never see him anymore.’ And what was the universal plan behind it? “Oh, you will see him. I will take care of him today. And I will send him back whenever you need.”

But you inquired about the nature of this readiness. Here is an example. To give up the country, your nation, to risk your family, to give up everything that you had before – friends, devotional service, home, everything – and to jump into the darkness. It is a super excellent example for this. And think for yourself – could you do that? No. That is very difficult to do. 

So, the good examples are not only in the faraway past, in some legendary times. No, the legends are living among us. Because we live in the best times. This is the best moment of your life. It is not in the past, it is not in the future – it is now. These are the best times. Don’t forget this. If you are not happy now, then when will you be happy? If we are not satisfied with our services, with our chances, with everything that is provided, then when? So, we live in legendary times, my dear ones. And after 1500 years, when they find the Golden Book of Devotion in Bulgaria, they will read: “Oh, at the very beginning of this millennium there were some super excellent devotees living there. Their devotion to Lord Chaitanya was excellent. And their prasadam was super excellent. And their kirtans were absolutely super excellent. They were the legendary heroes of our past! Today, we are very insignificant searchers for the absolute truth, but they gave their everything!” So, please, treat yourself like this: you are the great heroes. You smile now, but I really mean it. Because we all are first generation in the Western vaishnava world. It’s like pioneer work. Every step is a step for hundreds of years. It’s beautiful! Mystical and practical and divine! And I think it is true. It’s not only the distorted vision of the next generations. It is real. 

So, how to improve our readiness? Follow these examples. You can achieve anything – if you are ready to sacrifice everything.

(to be continued)