Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 08.05.2018, Rila)

(continues from the previous Monday)

Question: I have a question about the holy name and the general platform that we discussed – as you said, what is common between the different traditions is so much more than the differences. That only the pessimists can see the differences. From another point of view the Holy Name itself becomes a demarcation line. Because the Christians, for example, say that the prayers that glorify God are most important and that only through Jesus you can achieve salvation. What is the way to not be proud that we know the correct name? Now we know that the name of Krishna is three times stronger than the name of Rama and the name of Rama is a thousand times stronger than the name of Vishnu. We are proud that we are so intelligent that we know this and the others don’t know it. What is the way not to be proud?

Swami Tirtha: I hope the devotees are not proud. Fortunately, Mahaprabhu has given advice concerning that: trinad api sunichena – “Be humbler than a blade of grass”. But generally I can say that the Holy Name is the yuga-dharma. Irrespective of the little differences, primary or secondary name, it doesn’t really matter – yuga-dharma is the Holy Name. And on that principle we must be able to find brothers and we must be able to agree with other practitioners. Bhaktivinoda Thakur says: “Whenever there is time for your own worship, but you don’t have a vaishnava temple around, you just enter any temple, because our Lord is worshiped there.” Maybe in different forms, maybe under different conditions – but He is our Lord. And so to say, if you are proud of your knowledge, then you don’t know. To know more means that you are humbler. I think this is a proper measurement of real knowledge or real wisdom.

And of course we can represent our faith in a challenging mood and we can represent our faith in a charming mood. My preference goes with the charming one. For example, when I meet very simple people, let’s say from the countryside, sometimes they ask, ‘What is your religion?’ I say, ‘I am a Hindu.’ “What’s that?” And then I say, ‘But God is one, right?’ And they say, ‘Yes.’ “And the most important is to glorify Him, isn’t it?” They say: ‘Yes, all right”. This they can accept. Maybe they cannot immediately accept your robes, your hairstyle, your formalities, this and that. But if you give them something that they can accept, they will accept it. I think it’s quite difficult for example for a true believer, a true follower of Lord Jesus, if He comes again, let’s say in Bengal, not with this beautiful hair, but shaven, not in these white robes, but in orange, not carrying a small sheep on his shoulders, but chasing after some cows – I think it would be really hard for a true follower of Jesus to recognize Him in this different package, so to say. Even if bringing the same message. That “My kingdom is not from here”. Can we explain this? No, we cannot explain it. We agree with it.

In the same way, if our Krishna comes in a different way – will you recognize Him? So, part of our conviction, part of our faith is culturally determined. It’s not only about faith, but about practice. But we need to develop a more penetrating vision. And actually, this should be our real goal in this life – to develop such an eye, such a vision, that Krishna can never hide from us. This happened to Mahaprabhu. I think many times I mentioned, sorry to repeat, but this tells the point. There is a small village close to Jagannath Puri, it’s called Alalanath. There is a huge slab of stone with some melted footprints on it. Mahaprabhu was walking there and after His steps the stone melted and preserved the footsteps. And this village is famous for a Vishnu temple. Alalanath is one name of Vishnu with four arms. When Mahaprabhu went there, He paid respects to this deity, but He was very sad. He started to pray desperately to this Vishnu deity, ‘Why do You want to hide from Me? Why do You take these four arms? Where is Your flute? You cannot do this to Me. Don’t hide behind this form of Vishnu. Give me Yourself, I want to see You.” This is what we should develop – that desire, that vision – so that Krishna can never hide from us.

So vaishnava means humble. Humble in a positive and constructive way. Agreement, or to come to a common platform with others, also depends on us, on our approach. You cannot say  ‘The others don’t understand me”. Don’t try to explain. Don’t try to prove. Don’t try to understand. Simply admire, love and follow.