Thanks for your response swamy. Adiyen dasan. But someof thing you mentioned is very nice 👌 only for those who live in agrahara. But in city space, abroad living people we need to think about balancing between diversty friends and baghavatha circles with 100%trust with baghwan.

Dear Govindan Narayanan swamy, namaskaram. Thank you for your kind reply. Thank you for your question in first place; after replying to you yesterday I have been reflecting upon my own life and others’ life I know of. It has helped me a lot. Thank you for your question again. 

Regarding the applicability of this principle, I agree it is difficult for us. We are so much caught up in our attachments and it is very diffficult for us to give up those attachments. We have come to believe that these attachments (relationships, things) are indispensible. Furthermore, the education system we have gone through and the environment we face in the working place makes us believe that “networking” is important; without proper connections with others we can not make progress, sustain or survive; we are indoctorined and conditioned to believe this!

But the fact is otherwise; for those who are surrendered to Perumal He directly arranges  things in their life; He may use different agents; the agent can be within teh individual’s ‘network’ or complete strangers. For those who are not surrendered to Perumal, things are arranged by their karma! Here karma can use different agents – within the network or complete strangers. If karma is in favor, even a complete stranger will help; if karma is not in favor even an extensive network can not help.

Recently I came across this youtube video, where a famous astrologer is answering questions from his clients.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI99r0nUKP8 (Brothers and Sisters))

In response to a question “can I take financial help from my siblings to start a business” the astrologer answers, “as per your horoscope you are not in a position to receive financial help from your siblings. So just be happy if they are nice siblings to you and don’t be upset if they do not offer financial assistance. It is not because of ‘them’; it is because of your karma. Even if your siblings somehow come forward and give you money, your business will lose all of it because by your karma you can not benefit financially through your siblings”. When I think about my own life and the life of those I know, I see the same principle in many instances!

So, what I am trying to cultivate in my own life is the strong faith that it is not the network / connections that is going to help me. If I am surrendered Perumal is fully in-charge of my life. If I am not surrendered karma is in-charge of my life. If I am keen to deepen my sense of surrender to Perumal, one of the important things I have to do is give up my sense of dependence on my social network / connections. The longer I hold on to this dependence the more it is going to implicate me in deeper karma! And worse, it is going to spoil my faith and dependence on Perumal!

As practising Vaishnavas we are avoiding seeking help even from devatas who are empowered by Perumal. Then what to speak of fellow human beings who are caught up in the karmic web. Depending on them and thinking they are going to help will only get me further caught up in the karma web.

That doesn’t mean that I am going to be a socially aloof person. I will continue to intearct with people around closely… as closely as a lotus leaf interacts with the water around it. I don’t have to do anything extraneous to ‘balance my relationship’ with others. 

In one earlier post, “A diminishing tradition followed in the Northern India” the story of Andhra purna / Vadugu nambi is mentioned. In this story we find him interact with his relatives with utmost courtesy. Yet, he is not attached to them; nor is he dependent on them. His attachment, dependence and faith is only upon acharya krpai (a part of which is the vaishnava association).

Govindan Narayanan swamy, koti koti namaskaram to you. Your question has helped me think deep on this, and has given be the deep desire to cultivate ‘Krsna eka saranam’; as Perumal says “maam ekam saranam vraja” my saranagathi is only to Him, to no one else.

By definition Saranagathi includes 6 elements:

1. Cultivating qualities favorable for rendering kainkaryam to Perumal
2. Giving up qualities not favorable for rendering kainkaryam to Perumal
3. Full faith in Perumal’s protection (only Him, no one else)
4. Full dependence on Perumal for one’s maintenance (only Him, no one else)
5. Surrendering one’s own self
6. utter humility

Thank you so very much.

adiyen dasan.

Swamy arputham to get great explanation about truth! I will follow those Golden words written by you . I pray for you and God bless all of us. Om namo narayana

Govindan Narayanan Swamy,

I am merely the ‘nimiththam’ for typing it out. Thanks acharya anugraham that we both feel inspired to take deeper saranagathi by this discussion. Thank you for your wonderful question.

adiyen dasan.

Adiyen is of the humble opinion that if we believe in Sri Vishnu, they will give you the right things, at the right place, at the right time and by the right people.