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 petty “self” which is generally at war with

our 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 Guru’s grace; right?

Teacher: Yes. Guru is always there; showering His

bounties!