Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 10.05.2018, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday)
Pure bhakti is free of contamination. And this is a favorable cultivation of spiritual practices. Therefore we try to follow all the instructions. Like sanctifying your food; because that’s an energy input. If you put disturbed energy in your body, it will disturb your mind – it’s very simple. But it’s not only the physical foodstuff that you put into your body, it’s the mental foodstuff that you acquire in your mind. There you also have to be selective. Avoid conflicts, avoid bad news, don’t bring the bad news. To serve this inner mental purity, one main advice is: don’t bring the bad news. We can basically conclude that this whole information revolution is based on bad news. Everybody is spreading the bad news, the conflicts, the scandals. Why should we be part of that general way things happen?
So, be selective in your mental input. Then you can be selective on your mental output – it’s also important. But then we can say you have to be very selective on your spiritual energy input as well. Take the best, not the second class. And the Master Beinsa Duno had a very good piece of advice. Well, it’s a little difficult for the fellow brothers who are here, but it’s very charming for the ladies who are present. Because he said that if your husband wants to buy you a diamond ring, don’t be satisfied with some secondary grade diamond ring, you must desire the best one. So, what did you learn in today’s lecture? Give me a first-class diamond, right? I’m sure you will remember this. Poor brothers, sorry to tell such an advice. But if we take the message here: whatever you do, don’t be satisfied with the second class, with the second grade – activity, ambition, goal, whatever. Always take the best. Because if you take the best, you will be able to give the best. Pure teaching from a pure source towards a pure devotee – that’s the best combination.
Favorable service means this – you give your best, pure, essential. And what is the best part of a human being? This is a question.
Answers: The heart. The soul.
Swami Tirtha: You know, actually we have only two possessions in this lifetime. Prana and prema – our life and our love. This is the best what we have. And actually, this is what we have to dedicate to the Divine Couple. Don’t preserve it for yourself. It is said, what you don’t give is what you will lose. Sooner or later we shall lose it; so it’s better if we give it. Favorable service, free of any contamination – this is called the topmost love of Godhead, the topmost bhakti.
And one more very important point is a verse quoted by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, our Savior: atah shri-krishna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah[1]  – “The transcendental name, form and qualities of Krishna is impossible to be understood by the limited sense organs. But if we can develop a kind of service mood, sevonmukhe, it’s possible.” This will invite Krishna to reveal Himself. Why? Because He is satisfied with these services. So here you see the key to success in spiritual life. It’s not simply your endeavor – it’s included, it’s a must; but mercy will make it functional. And by this service mood we can overcome the limitations of our senses, of our understanding, of the diabolic disorientation. And then we shall be able to go according to the proper order. To pet the cat from the head to the tail. With all my humility I ask you, whenever next time you pet a cat, remember that there is a proper order of divine service.
Mahaprabhu says, kirtaniyah sada harih[2]  – “All the time glorify the Supreme”. How to do that permanently? Well, for that we need a total kind of purification. So that not only the physical mouth will chant the holy names in a fixed practice, but it is possible that even our biological functions and the rhythms of our body are in tune with the supreme reality. The heartbeat of a devotee tells a different story than another person’s heartbeat. Ra-dha, Ra-dha, Ra-dha, Krish-na, Krish-na – this is the heartbeat, this is the pulse of a devotee. Give a chance to Krishna to enter your life and He will do the rest.
Atah shri-krishna-namadi – by the senses you cannot capture Him. Vedeshu durlabham[3]  – it’s very difficult to reach Him in the Vedic theory. But atma-bhaktau – by dedication of the self, it’s easy to come in contact with the Supreme.

(to be continued)

1. Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya, 17.136
2. Shikshashtaka 3
3. Brahma Samhita 5.33