Saranagati

[Guest guest]

Question: [Given to Sri Ramana in the form of a written note].

 

They say that one can obtain everything if one takes refuge in God

wholly and solely, and without thought of anything else. Does it mean

sitting still in one place and contemplating God entirely at all

times, discarding all thoughts, including even thoughts about food,

which is essential for the sustenance of the body? Does it mean that

when one gets ill, one should not think of medicine and treatment,

but entrust one's health or sickness exclusively to providence?

 

In the Bhagavad Gita it says: `The man who shed all longing and moves

without concern, free from the sense of "I" and "mine", he attains

peace' (2:71). It means the discarding of all desires. Therefore

should we devote ourselves exclusively to the contemplation of God,

and accept food and water only if they are available by God's grace,

without asking for them? Or does it mean that we should make a little

effort? Bhagavan, please explain the secret of this Saranagati

(surrender).

 

Sri Ramana Maharshi: [After reading the note Sri Ramana Maharshi

addressed everyone in the room].

 

Ananya Saranagati (complete surrender) means to be without any

attachment to thoughts, no doubt, but does it mean to discard even

thoughts of food and water, which are essential for the sustenance of

the physical body? He asks, `Should I eat only if I get anything by

God's direction, without my asking for it? Or should I make a little

effort?' All right. Let us take it that what we have to eat comes of

its own accord, but even then, who is to eat? Suppose somebody puts

it in our mouth, should we not swallow it at least? Is that not an

effort?

 

He asks, `If I become sick, should I take medicine or should I keep

quiet leaving my health and sickness in the hands of God?' In the

book Sadhana Panchakam written by Sankara, it is stated that for

treatment of the disease called hunger one should eat food received

as alms. But then one must at least go out and beg for it. If all

people close their eyes and sit still saying that if the food comes

we eat, how is the world to get on? Hence one must take things as

they come in accordance with one's traditions, but one must be free

from the feeling that one is doing them oneself. The feeling that I

am doing it is the bondage. It is therefore necessary to consider and

find out the method whereby such a feeling can be overcome, instead

of doubting as to whether medicine should be administered if one is

sick or whether food should be taken if one is hungry. Such doubts

will continue to come up and will never end. Even such doubts as `May

I groan if there is pain? May I inhale air after exhaling?' also

occur. Call it Iswara (God) or call it Karma (destiny). Some Karta

(higher power) will carry on everything in this world according to

the development of the mind of each individual. If the responsibility

is thrown on the higher power things will go on of their own accord.

 

We walk on this ground. While doing so, do we consider at every step

whether we should raise one leg after the other or stop at some

stage? Isn't the walking done automatically? The same is the case

with inhaling and exhaling. No special effort is made to inhale or

exhale. The same is the case with this life also. Can we give up

anything if we want to, or do anything as we please? Quite a number

of things are done automatically without our being conscious of it.

Complete surrender to God means giving up all thoughts and

concentrating the mind on Him. If we can concentrate on Him, other

thoughts disappear. If the actions of the mind, speech and body are

merged with God, all the burdens of our life will be on Him.

 

Hari Aum !!!