Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 11.05.2019 morning, Sofia)

(continues from the previous Monday)

Question of Harilila: In yesterday’s lecture you were speaking about the qualities – negative and, so to say, positive – that are impediments in the spiritual practise, these tushti. And there the fifth fault was that we love ourselves so much – this is the propaganda of the modern mentors. At the same time, you mentioned that we should not be the most fallen because this is also false ego. What is the state of consciousness that we must have towards ourselves? I suppose we also should love ourselves, but not falsely. How can we recognize which is the true love and which is false?
Swami Tirtha: If we neglect our spiritual prospect, that is a false love. In classical philosophy it is said that sin is an improper love. If we apply self-esteem or self-affection improperly, then we don’t consider our eternal benefit. And this we can consider a sin, a grave mistake.
Harilila: So, when our practices lead only to material purposes? But anyway, we have material practices, so maybe there must be some balance?
Swami Tirtha: Of course. Especially for those spiritual practitioners who are the active part of the society – like grihastas. They have to find a balance between the material, daily activities and the spiritual prospects. Imagine if the vaishya community starts to meditate only, then everybody will die of hunger, because nobody will work, nobody will bring the chapatis. But if the sannyasis start to earn money, it is again very bad, because they should be beggars. So everybody should perform nicely their relative duty in society and push the whole thing ahead so that all members of a society achieve their spiritual prospects. Therefore those who take the active part in a society – like the middle-aged people with responsible positions – their spiritual activity is different than that of a student or an ascetic. But through their spiritual engagement, they can achieve the same results.
Harilila: Because this is service.
Swami Tirtha: Correct. It is dedicated to God. It is His business, His service, His achievement. So, everything depends on the consciousness.
But we turned a little aside from your original question. Personal self-esteem or self-appreciation is mentioned also in our tradition: jive-doya – so, be merciful to the living entities, including yourself. But our conception about this merciful approach to ourselves is primarily focusing on the spiritual achievements. Because if we miss something in the material achievements, it is not a big loss. It is said, if you have lost your money, you didn’t lose anything; if you have lost your health, you have lost something; but if you have lost your morals, then you have lost everything. In the same manner, if we lose our spiritual prospects, then it is a total loss, a total failure for this life.
As I said before that in violence we have to be very polished, very smart, in self-esteem and self-affection we also need to be very smart. Love yourself in a spiritual sense. Because usually, we love the body, right? More we love the mind, mental identity, but we forget about the soul. So, focus on the spiritual identity, because all else we shall lose. When we go, we shall lose all concepts and all that we have collected in this lifetime; except very few things. Still we pay full attention on the impermanent and practically zero attention on the eternal. So, if somebody is a reasonable person, he or she should consider the eternal benefit. And this is the point of personal judgment: whatever you encounter in your life, ask yourself whether it helps your spiritual growth or not. If yes – do it; if not – better avoid it.
All right, but then your next question comes: ‘What about, for example, a job or a business engagement? Does it help my spiritual growth or not?’ For example, if you fail in business, that helps a lot. Because then you learn how to be non-attached. If you don’t fail, that also helps a lot. Because in this way you can bring the chapatis to the temple. So, whether you are successful or fail, it might help your spiritual growth. It might give you more insight into the way how things happen.
Still, this is only a reflection of the original reality. Because how to spiritualize our business success or failures, totally, fully? Bring the results to Krishna. ‘Oh, my Lord, today I could bring only my failure to You’. Or, the next day you come, ‘Today this achievement is for You. I’m satisfied. Whether you give or don’t give, I’m satisfied. I’m Your unconditionally servant’. When they started to open dozens of temples, centres of preaching and everything was improving, then Bhaktisiddhanta said: “Yes! We have the best manager – Krishna.” As Mahaprabhu said “I’m not a brahmin, I’m not a vipra, I’m not a shudra, I’m not this, I’m not that. I’m a servant of the servant of the servants of the Supreme”[1] – this is our identity. So, if you identify yourselves like this, then you can have a very prosperous life. Why? Because the servant of the king also lives in the palace. This whole world is His palace.

(to be continued)

1.  Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya-Lila, 13.80