Om! Self-surrender ¬ Atman Nityananda

Self-surrender 

 Surrender to God's will is the most powerful means to accept life just as it happens (what life brings us to experience), to live in peace, love and plenitude, to dissolve the ego (all egoic tendencies) and to attain God-realization, i.e., to establish ourselves in conscious union with the Absolute Consciousness or God.

 Surrendering to God (self-surrender) means offering our body, mind, intellect, heart and ego to God and taking everything as God's will. It is keeping our mind and heart steadily focused on Him through repetition of His name or otherwise. When we take life experiences as God's will for our benefit (I am not referring to our ego benefit but our spiritual growth and the realization of Oneness with God and life), it becomes easier to accept the challenges, difficulties and adversities. By accepting moment by moment what happens, we do not give space to the ego to react and make us identify with its mental and emotional reactions and be under their dominance. As a result, egoic tendencies are weakened little by little and we enjoy the silent peace within us.

 Of course, complete self-surrender from the very beginning of our journey is not possible since the rajasotamasic ego is very strong and we identify with it. Self-surrender is gradually developed through purity of mind, the increase of sattvic quality in the mind, the development of sattvic virtues and skills, and the development of devotion, love and faith in God. In the measure that purity, sattvic virtues, love and faith in God develop, our surrender becomes deeper and firmer.

Have perfect trust in God. Do total surrender unto Him. Place yourself in His loving care. Do this with your whole heart and mind, with perfect confidence and faith. Worry not about your future, about money, about your health. He will take care of you. You will have plenty, immense strength and wonderful health.

Egoism and desire are obstacles to self-surrender. Slay these two enemies of self-surrender ruthlessly.

    ~ Swami Sivananda

 

258. The self-surrender is truly made by him who always has the feeling, ‘Let all things happen according to your will. In all respects, I am bound to you.’

262. The ripe devotee must pass his time, patiently enduring whatever happens to him, whether pleasant or unpleasant or otherwise, without yielding to sorrow or joy, with his heart absorbed in Him.

263. When the ego dies, having been swallowed by divine grace, the devotee’s self-surrender becomes true and complete.

~ Excerpt from the book ‘Sri Ramana Paravidyopanishad’ -The Supreme Science of the Self, taught by Sri Ramana’

 

The Three Governing Factors of Sadhana (spiritual practice) by Swami Sivananda

The Three Governing Factors of Sadhana (spiritual practice)

by Swami Sivananda

Many people even after studying classic works on religion and philosophy, do not know what they should do in practice to attain the goal of life, viz., God-realization, and they seek enlightenment on this. The three things essential for God-realization are:

1) constant remembrance of God,

2) cultivation of virtues and

3) spiritualization of all activities.

 1. Constant remembrance of God:

There may be breaks in the beginning, but by repeated practice, gradually you can have constant remembrance. Constant mental repetition of God's Name (Namasmarana), alone is possible for the vast majority of people. Awakening of Kundalini and raising of Brahmakara Vritti are very, very difficult, but when the mind is purified, they would come automatically.

2. Cultivation of virtues:

Of all virtues Ahimsa (non-injury), Satya (truthfulness) and Brahmacharya (celibacy) are the most important. If one is established in one virtue, all other virtues will cling to him. Watch the Vrittis (thoughts, mental and emotional modifications). Introspect. Develop purity in thought, word and deed. In the beginning, practise at least physical purity. Then mental purity will come by itself.

3. Spiritualisation of all activities:

Feel you are an instrument in the Lord's hands and that all the Indriyas (senses) belong to Him. Repeat the formula: "I am Thine; all is Thine; Thy Will be done." It is a beautiful formula for self-surrender. You may forget this formula and egoism may assert itself. But introspect again and again and find out your weakness. Try to be established in the feeling, "I am an instrument in the hands of the Lord." Remember the Gita verse:

SELF-SURRENDER & INSTRUMENTALITY

Whatever you do, or eat, or offer in sacrifice, or give, or practice as austerity, do it as an offering unto Me.   - Bhagavad Gita IX-27

Abandoning all duties, take refuge in Me (the Lord) alone; I will liberate thee from all sins, grieve not.   - Bhagavad Gita XVIII-66

These are Saranagati formulas (formulas of Self-surrender)

After the day's work, offer whatever you have done to God. Do not identify yourself with actions. Feel that you are doing your duty as a detached instrument of the Lord's benevolence.

Kayena vacha manasendriyairva
buddhyatmana va prakritessvabhavat,
Karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai
Narayanayeti samarpayami.

Offer all actions and their fruits to God. Then you will not be bound. In this way you should spiritualise all your activities. Feel that the whole world is a manifestation of the Lord and you are serving the Lord in all names and forms, and whatever you do-your actions and the results thereof consecrate to the Lord. Then your heart will be purified and will be ready to receive the divine light and grace.

SUREST METHOD

Therefore, practice the three requisites: constant remembrance of God, spiritualising your activities and cultivating virtues.

These three are very important. Practise them. This is the easiest, the quickest and the surest method for attaining God-realization.

This Atman is hidden in all beings, but it is seen only by subtle seers through their sharp and subtle intellect. - Katha Upanishad

The intellect should be razor-sharp if you wish to understand the Brahma Sutras properly. All are not meant for it. Even then practical experience is essential. 

Therefore, to the vast majority, constant remembrance of the Lord, spiritualization of all activities and cultivation of virtues.  Ahimsa (Non-violence), Satya (Thruhfullness), Brahmacharya (Celibacy), form the most important part of Sadhana. These also constitute the noble eightfold path of Lord Buddha. These also correspond to the "Sermon on the Mount" of Lord Jesus. These are the essentials in all religions. So, kindly practice these, and attain God-realization. Love all. Be good and do good. 

May Lord bless you all.

Self-surrender to God ~ Swami Sivananda

Self-surrender to God

Self-surrender is a safe and sure means of God-realization

Surrender yourself, and all your belongings to the feet of the supreme. Live a life of godliness.

Think that nothing is yours, and that everything belongs to God - this is surrender to God.

Give the power of attorney to God; let him do whatever he wants. You will have no worry and no anxiety, you will be peaceful.

Surrender contains intense love and faith. It must be complete, the entire being must be surrendered to the Lord (mind, intellect, chitta and egoism).

 Desire and egoism are the two great obstacles to self-surrender.

After surrendering to the Lord, you should not grumble and fret when any trouble comes. You should not complain to the Lord: 'O Lord, you have no eyes. you have no compassion.' If you complain, then there is no meaning in your surrender.

Through surrender the devotee immerses himself into the eternal essence. You can endear yourself to the Lord only by self-surrender. The more the surrender, the more the grace.

In difficulties and struggles, god will give you the strength and inner peace to bear them - this is his grace.

Constant remembrance of the Lord, constant recitation of his name, will fill your heart with sattva (purity) and immense strength and peace to face the most trying conditions with perfect calmness and serenity.

Have perfect trust in God. Surrender to him. Place yourself in his loving care. Do this with your whole heart and mind, with perfect confidence and faith.

Worry not about your future, about money, about your health. He will take care of you. You will have plenty, you will have immense strength and wonderful health.

Self-surrender ~ Swami Sivananda

Self-surrender

Self-surrender is a safe and sure means of God-realization.

Surrender yourself, and all your belongings to the feet of the supreme. Live a life of godliness. Think that nothing is yours, and that everything belongs to God - this is surrender to God.

Give the power of attorney to God; let him do whatever he wants. You will have no worry and no anxiety, you will be peaceful.

Surrender contains intense love and faith. It must be complete, the entire being must be surrendered to the Lord (mind, intellect, chitta and egoism).

 Desire and egoism are the two great obstacles to self-surrender.

If the mind says, 'i am thine, o lord', if the ego says, 'i must become a court judge', if the intellect says, 'i am a great devotee', if the citta says, 'i must attain siddhis (psychic powers), this will not constitute perfect, unreserved surrender. This is only cheating the lord, the inner ruler and witness.

After surrendering to the Lord, you should not grumble and fret when any trouble comes. You should not complain to the Lord: 'O Lord, you have no eyes. you have no compassion.' If you complain, then there is no meaning in your surrender.

Through surrender the devotee immerses himself into the eternal essence. You can endear yourself to the Lord only by self-surrender. The more the surrender, the more the grace.

In difficulties and struggles, god will give you the strength and inner peace to bear them - this is his grace.

Constant remembrance of the Lord, constant recitation of his name, will fill your heart with sattva (purity) and immense strength and peace to face the most trying conditions with perfect calmness and serenity.

Have perfect trust in God. Surrender to him. Place yourself in his loving care. Do this with your whole heart and mind, with perfect confidence and faith.

Worry not about your future, about money, about your health. He will take care of you. You will have plenty, you will have immense strength and wonderful health.