Complete Surrender to God
(Sharanagati)
(continued…)
I seek refuge in God alone, just as a girl after being married knows that I am married. She now rests in the relationship with the one only, and for the rest of her life. She accepts this relationship to hold firm and permanent, whether her husband lives or dies, respects her or insults her, leaves her, dies, or becomes a hermit. Such is the character of our indian women that whoever she accepts, then she accepts once and for all.
The same principle has been mentioned by saints in the following words: —
Pativrataa rahe patike paasa | yun saahibake dhig rahe daasaa ||
"As a faithful wife always lives with her husband, in the same way a devotee always lives with his Lord." She has one owner; and her thoughts remain with that one only. She is gratified in his gratification - to serve him.
A devotee is always pleased in serving and pleasing his Lord. In the Raamacharitamaanasa it has been mentioned in the following words:—
Ekai dharm ek brat nemaa |
Kaayan bachan man pati pad premaa ||
(3/4/6)
"For a faithful wife there is only one duty, one promise, one principle and that is to have affection and devotion at the feet of her husband with body, words and mind."
In the same way surrender yourself to God. Only one vow, one acceptance, that I am God's. God's duty, God's command, God's will. whatever is favorable to God - that alone is duty. "I am exclusively God's and I belong to no one else". "I belong to no one else", what does this mean? To take nothing whatsoever from anyone at all. To have no desire or longing for anything whatsoever from anyone. As a faithful wife serves all the members of the husband's family (mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law's wife etc) and is hospitable to guests, gives alms to hermits and does every kind of duty but her relationship is exclusively with her husband, and no one else. All other relationship (with brother-in-law, sister-in-law etc) are due to her relationship with her husband. She has no independent relationship with anyone at all. Similarly take a vow, that my relationship is only with God, and I have no relationship with anyone else, whatsoever.
Only one observance, to be in remembrance and worship of God and to seek refuge in Him, and let no dependence remain of anyone else.
It is not a sin to serve others, to do their work, to give them comfort and pleasure as per the dictates of the scriptures. It is a sin to want anything for ourselves. After surrendering ourselves to God, let there never be any want for anything, from anyone.
In the Ramacharitmaanas it is mentioned: —
Mor daas kahaai nar aasaa |
Karai tau kahahu kahaa biswaasaa ||
(7/45/2)
"If any person being called a devotee of Mine expects anything from others, should he be trusted?"
How can anyone who expects anything from others be a devotee of mine? He is a slave of the thing he wants. He is not a devotee of God. One who desires to get wealth and property etc., from God is not a devotee to God but a slave of wealth and property because He is only a means for him to achieve an end. Therefore a devotee without wanting anything from anyone, neither hope, nor trust, nor power, nor does he have a relationship with anyone whatsoever. In this manner, he seeks exclusive refuge in me alone and after taking refuge, he becomes free of all worries, anxiety and cares.
(to be continued…)
From "Jivanopayogi Pravachan" in Hindi and "Art of Living" in English by Swami Ramsukhdasji
Ram Ram
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If in doubt regarding the translation, please read the original Hindi message by Swamiji.
FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT Date : 17th May, 2012 "Sharanagati"
****************************************If in doubt regarding the translation, please read the original Hindi message by Swamiji.
FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT Date : 17th May, 2012 "Sharanagati"