Gems From Bhagavan: 'Surrender'

[Guest guest]

Devotee: Surrender is impossible.

 

Bhagavan: Yes, complete surrender is impossible. Partial surrender is

certainly possible for all. In course of time that will lead to complete

surrender. Well, if surrender is impossible, what can be done? There is no

peace of mind. You are helpless to bring it about. It can be done only by

surrender.

 

Devotee: Partial surrender - well can it undo destiny?

 

Bhagavan: Oh yes, it can.

 

Devotee: Is not destiny to do with past Karma?

 

Bhagavan: If one has surrendered to God, God will look after it.

 

Devotee: That being God's dispensation, how does God undo it?

 

Bhagavan: All are in Him only.

 

(Gems from Bhagavan, selected by A. Devaraja Mudaliar)

[Guest guest]

Talk 398

M.:...We think that the world can be conquered by our efforts. When

frustrated externally and driven internally, we feel "Oh! oh! There is

a power higher than man." The existence of the higher power must be

admitted and recognised. The ego is a very powerful elephant and

cannot be brought under control by anyone less than a lion, who is no

other than the Guru in this instance; whose very look makes the

elephant tremble and die. We will know in due course that our glory

lies where we cease to exist. In order to gain that state, one should

surrender oneself saying

"LORD! Thou art my Refuge!" The master then sees "This man is in a fit

state to receive guidance," and so guides him.

D.: What is Self-surrender?

M.: It is the same as self-control; control is effected by removal of

samskaras which imply the functioning of the ego. The ego submits only

when it recognises the Higher Power. Such recognition is surrender or

submission, or self-control. Otherwise the ego remains stuck up like

the image carved on a tower, making a pretence by its strained look

and posture that it is supporting the tower on its

shoulders. The ego cannot exist without the Power but thinks that it

acts of its own accord.

D.: How can the rebellious mind be brought under control?

M.: Either seek its source so that it may disappear or surrender that

it may be struck down.

D.: But the mind slips away from our control.

M.: Be it so. Do not think of it. When you recollect yourself bring it

back and turn it inward. That is enough.

No one succeeds without effort. Mind control is not one's birthright.

The successful few owe their success to their perseverance. A

passenger in a train keeps his load on the head by his own folly. Let

him put it down: he will find the load reaches the destination all the

same. Similarly, let us not pose as the doers, but resign

ourselves to the guiding Power.