What is Surrender and its role in my practice?
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Dear Magdi,
I would like to get some clarity on what Surrender really is. Who Surrenders? What is surrendered and to Whom? Is it a path (like devotion or karma yoga)?Thank you
Dear Ganesh,
Yes, what is it that surrenders and to whom, or what is this surrender and for what purpose or aim?
From the non-dual understanding, there is but one reality, with no separate doer and no separate will. So, what is surrender?
Given that the Dharma is pedagogical, surrender is a tool used to invite us to relax our hold. In ignorance, we have a tendency to resist and seek. This resistance and seeking is rooted in the belief that it is necessary to do so in order to safeguard our personhood. Until our understanding about truth ripens, we fail to comprehend that this personal entity is illusory and that consciousness is impersonal and universal.
Surrender is one branch of the path, one tool available, and requires a willingness to let go and trust the universal order. Surrender goes hand in hand with the contemplation of the Dharma, the study of the scriptures, meditation and living our understanding.
Devotion is a form of surrender with an added tool, since devotion uses an object such as a deity or a guru to surrender to. At some point, there is the need to let go of that object since it becomes a hindrance.
Karma yoga often leads to feeling special, which is a subtle form of ego.
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Consciousness knows nothing about surrender or resistance. It IS and knows that it IS as the one and only isness/being/reality.
‘I’ refers to this formless, aware presence.
Thou are that.
Love,
MagdiThank you Magdi. Makes sense. Can we say that Surrender is not a verb, not something that I do, but rather a realization? Meaning, there was a time when I used to make ‘surrendering’ my sadhana. But I struggled with my inability to do so, and the resulting guilt of failure. But over time, as it becomes clear that ‘i’ as a separate entity is not real, and That which is and Knows it is, IS the only reality, the decider-in-chief, Surrender seems to happen. It is like, when I let go, things have a way of working out. Even if they don’t appear to go according to my expectations, there is the understanding that as a limited ‘me’ I don’t have access to the bigger picture, the greater wisdom to judge outcomes.
Dear Ganesh,
Surrender may be something you do until it does you, until it does itself.Love
Magdi
