Sharanagati

I am sure that you feel how much the congregational chanting of God’s names help us to elevate our consciousness. It automatically brings us to a spiritual state of consciousness. Therefore it would be very nice if we could chant the holy names permanently, twenty four hours per day, because then we would be able to maintain this consciousness. I don’t know how it is with you, but with me – I cannot do that. Therefore we should follow the advice of philosophy, trying to maintain that purified state of mind by certain other practices. And it was suggested that by practicing sharanagati, or taking shelter at the Supreme Lord, we can maintain this dedicated mood. These days we examine the different elements or the different steps of this process of dedication, so that we can maintain this divine consciousness permanently. We examined the preliminary stages of surrender: avoid what is unfavorable to your spiritual practices and follow what is favorable. It’s common sense – if you want to achieve some goals, do what is good for these goals and avoid what is not good. This is like the entrance to the process of sharanagati. Then the second two are the requirements for the practitioners – what we should do. These two practices are humility and dedication of the self. From these two today we shall take the humility. With all my humility I will try to repeat what I have learned about this topic.

But first of all, please help me to find some synonyms to humility. Or give me some meanings, how do you feel, what do you think is humility?

Giridhari: The consciousness that we are infinitely small and insignificant and nothing depends on us.

Other comments: Modesty. Peace. Responsibility. Acceptance. Patience. Love towards the fellow human being.

Swami Tirtha: This is some very practical application. So, you have given so many different aspects of humility. In the spiritual practices this is a very important topic. Therefore these days you don’t hear too much about it in the everyday life. Because usually people want to make a success story or career and usually the way to these goals is not through humility. So, if you act in a humble way, you can expect that you will be misused. But don’t worry, those who lose will win. The losers are the winners. Sometimes it looks like if you act humbly, then others will overcome you, but Krishna assures you in the Bhagavad Gita that “Declare it boldly: My devotee is never lost”.[1]

If we want to find or analyze what is humility, then we should know that it can be practiced by service to the devotees. If we serve the devotees then we should know that we practice humility. Humility as a practice is a sacred act. It is very close to our original nature. And actually this humility is somehow beyond material capacities. As you mentioned, acceptance and tolerance, and patience, and respect to fellow human beings and the knowledge of our insignificant nature are necessary for humility.

(to be continued)

[1] Bhagavad Gita, 9.31