SURRENDER AND NAMASMARAN: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Student: Sir, it is often said that we have to surrender to our Guru or God.

Teacher: It is true that surrender is held in very high esteem!

Student: But how to surrender? Every time I think of surrendering; I feel that I am being submissive to something imaginary. I feel that I am becoming paranoid.

Teacher: This is because; we are completely amalgamated in our body, instincts, feelings and our thoughts; we are unable to “sense” our innate core, our true self, which is beyond our consciousness! Hence we don’t realize that surrender to Guru or God; is actually; surrender to our own innate core; our true self! If and when this becomes clear the feeling of being paranoid would not emerge!

Student: OK! This makes sense theoretically; but; how to actually surrender?
Even if I say or feel that I have surrendered, how can I vouch for actually having surrendered from the depths of my unconscious and subconscious mind? Moreover; honestly speaking; I cannot deny the fact that most of the time I behave according to my urges, impulses, passions, feelings and ideas! How can I then assume that I have surrendered?

Teacher: This is a very honest admission. Most of us routinely endorse the value of surrender. But we actually don’t understand much about it. When we say that we surrender; it actually means that we wish to or would like to endorse the sovereignty of our true self; our Guru!

Student: Can you please explain further?

Teacher: Yes. Surrender is a subconscious process of victory over the “self” which is generally at war with the true self! This process begins with the acceptance and practice of NAMASMARAN; as advocated by our Guru!
Later; the protracted practice of NAMASMARAN is associated with conquest over the stifling urges, desires, aims, opinions, prejudices, whims, fancies, convictions, plans and dreams, which we cherish as “ours” and which are at war with the divine plan of our true self! This is associated increasing acceptance and decreasing resistance to everything we go through at every moment!

Student: Is this not the same as coming to terms with life? Is this not defeatism?

Teacher: Defeatism is acceptance of a condition; out of our inability and weakness; and out of frustration. Surrender, which we are referring to; is actually associated with realization of what is truly ours and hence discarding of what is not truly ours. This happens! This is not done in a planned manner and is associated with the process of NAMASMARAN and is certainly the grace of our hitherto inaccessible true self, our Guru!

Student: In simple words; I should intensify the practice of NAMASMARAN; let the promotion be its byproduct; and accept everything as his grace; right?

Teacher: Yes. Guru is always there; showering His bounties!