


Sharanagati
Collected words from talks of Swami Tirtha
Aug
2
(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 06.01.2018 morning, Sofia)
We cannot understand a human being without his or her relationships. ‘I am the daughter of my father’ – this is a relationship; or ‘I am the boss of many people’ – this is another relationship; or ‘I am a servant of none’ – this is also a relationship. Or ‘I am a worshipper of the sun.’ We are always related to something, to somebody. Our life is determined by relationships. And what is the reason for this fact? It’s not the illusion, it’s not the material nature. The reason is that originally we are related to the Supreme source of all existence.
All alone you cannot understand a person. This bond of relationship originates from the spiritual sky. Therefore we have to properly understand all these different relationships that Krishna can have with the jivas or the jivas can develop with Kirshna.
Usually people here, in this material world, dream of an ideal relationship. But this is called illusion. Because what kind of ideal relationship do you want here on this planet Earth? First of all, you are not ideal. So you expect the other person to be ideal, ha? Come on! First look at yourself, then you will understand your shortcomings and you will be more compassionate to others – not to push your company on them too much.
If we dream of an ideal relationship, we should search for this on the spiritual platform. And I don’t want to tease you – of course we all need ideal solutions. But don’t be surprised that on this planet Earth some disturbance, some disharmony will happen – it’s natural. Therefore we have to find the ideal relationship on the spiritual platform.
So far we discussed the ideal neutral relationship, the ideal servitude and the ideal friendship. What else is there? What was the scale that we covered so far? Neutrality was a simple consciousness of accepting that God exists. Then we were a little bit more active, but in a subordinate manner. Then the friends started to act and behave on an equal platform. And if we go a little closer, then we see that some of the friends are younger, some of the friends are elder, but this is the scale – from a very far away connection to subordinate, to equal.
And now comes something different – when the devotees feel themselves superior. This is called parenthood.
“When ecstatic love develops into the relationship of parenthood and becomes steadily established, the relationship is called vatsalya-rasa. The exhibition of this vatsalya-rasa standard of devotional service can be found in the dealings of Krishna with His devotees who represent themselves as superior personalities like father, mother and teacher.”[1]
What does it mean, superior?
Paramananda: Somebody who is instructing us.
Krishna Priya: Who takes care of the younger.
Vedavid: Who is responsible.
Swami Tirtha: Yes; or simply we can say: who loves us. Of course, all others love their partners, but the superiors, their love is very close to unconditional. How about your mother? Whatever you do, all nonsense – she will love you. Very close to unconditional. So here we have to learn something from these examples. Because usually our love is conditional. ‘I love you, if…’ ‘Yes, but…’ And, now, I don’t propagate this so to say ‘unconditional love’, because I don’t believe it exists. Nevertheless, selflessness must be included. Until we are completely pure of all material contaminations and all false concepts, I doubt that we can speak about selfless love, because we are conditioned. Nevertheless, here in the love of a mother, in the service responsibility of a father we can see a very selfless attitude. And there is a big question: Whose love is greater – the love of the father or the love of the son? What is your opinion?
(to be continued)
[1] The Nectar of devotion Ch. 43
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