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!