Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 14.08.2018, Ludasto)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Question: What does it mean when it is said if we really have reached some spiritual realization, then everything else that we have perceived or achieved before will have a different shape, different understanding?

Swami Tirtha: Well, one key practice here is gratitude. To eliminate your willingness to complain, gratitude is a very strong method. Many times we forget this, because we are somehow conditioned, trained to complain: “This is not good, that is missing, etc”. But if we start our prayers with gratitude for whatever we have received in this lifetime, then slowly, slowly our bad conditioning will change. I think theoretically we all feel fortunate that we have got a chance for spiritual perfection, right? That means all the troubles and all the suffering that you have had in your lifetime are a necessary ingredient of your being here now. If you had taken a different birth and if you were much safer or whatever, you wouldn’t sit here. If the end is good, all is good.

So this is one very simple method. We have to be grateful for everything that has been given, provided for us. Because if you believe in a merciful God, He will act mercifully upon you. If you believe in a just God, He will exercise justice over you. It is said in the shastras that if you deny God, then you deny your own existence as well. If you accept His existence, it gives meaning to your existence as well.

Gratitude. Practice gratitude. Then even if you lose, you will be trained to practice gratitude. Just like Madhavendra Puri – even as he had foodstuff, he didn’t eat, because he was conditioned due to the previous practice. How to get rid of a bad practice? By establishing a good practice. Perspectives are high. The path is long, but perspectives are high. Actually, don’t believe everything that I say, the path is not so long. Because they say the path from maya to guru is longer than from guru to Krishna.

Karunamayi: I would like to express my gratitude that all happening in our lives is worth for. And today’s example – there was no water here this morning. Most people think that’s a big problem and inconvenience, yet when there is a problem, we learn to be grateful for what we have and don’t care about the problem. And to be grateful that there were devotees who were ready to rush to the other farm to fetch what is necessary and get things fixed.

Swami Tirtha: This we accept as a real spiritual practice. You have a trouble, then you react in a peaceful manner and all of a sudden Ishvara appears and says: “Let there be water!” and the water comes. Divine realization!

Karunamayi: Yes, our spiritual brothers and sisters are those divine forces that act for us.