Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 24.08.2016 morning, Ludasto) 

Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya! This invocation is a prayer for ultimate shelter. The brave and stupid human beings think they don’t need shelter. But those who are really strong and smart know the real source of all power, all knowledge, all pure vision, etc. Those who are strong are ready to accept their weaknesses. Those who have overcome themselves, their false egotism, they are ready to bow their heads to the Supreme. Those who are real masters, they are ready to be servants.

And as this is a prayer for this kind of shelter, what happens if we chant? We take ourselves from under the influence of illusion and submit ourselves under divine protection. Because the way to get rid of one influence is to accept another influence. Instead of a wrong low class of influence we choose a very high class pure influence and there we surrender. This is the personal benefit that you can take by chanting this mantra. And what is the universal benefit of chanting this mantra? That all others whom you invite under this protective shield can take the benefit of divine blessings. Then what is the divine benefit of chanting this mantra? That the Supreme Lord is satisfied. So, it works on three platforms: your individual benefit, the benefit of others and the happiness of the Supreme.

Why do we mention this? Because we have to be smart – to fight our way through the jungle. Because we are searching for some treasure. So through the jungle of all the false concepts, all the traps of illusion and the even bigger traps of false egotism – we cut through all this network and try to connect directly to the pure spiritual essence, divine essence. Nevertheless we should not be depressed by this thick network inside the jungle. Because there are some tracks.

Therefore it is a little symbolic that the sages came together in a jungle, in a forest. As we have read: “Once, in a holy place in the forest of Naimisharanya, great sages headed by the sage Shaunaka assembled to perform a great thousand-year sacrifice for the satisfaction of the Lord and His devotees”[1]. Then today’s verse says:

ta ekada tu munayah

pratar huta-hutagnayah

sat-kritam sutam asinam

papracchur idam adarat

“One day, after finishing their morning duties by burning a sacrificial fire and offering a seat of esteem to Shrila Suta Gosvami, the great sages made inquiries with great respect about the following matters”.[2]

Shrila Prabhupada says: “Morning is the best time for spiritual services”. How do you feel: are you satisfied with one little short morning in a day? No, we have to extend the morning – to have a permanent sunrise every day, so that the sun never sets on the horizon of our hearts and consciousness. Because we don’t have power over the darkness. Therefore stay always in the light. The sages are swimming in the nectar, but they want one gulp more. This is the lifestyle of the sages. What is the lifestyle of general people? When they wake up, it’s too late, they have to run to their jobs. They have the first gulp of strong coffee to boost the system and maybe one cigarette, and then in a very bitter mood they start their day. So, you have to choose which lifestyle you want – a lifestyle of the sages or the people in general. Once you have to decide. It’s possible to live both ways; but you cannot ride two horses with one ass.

(to be continued)

[1] Shrimad Bhagavatam 1.1.4

[2] Shrimad Bhagavatam 1.1.5