1. On watching thoughts versus justifying them:
Lots of thoughts and emotional reactions arise within me throughout the day. Is the correct approach to simply stand back as a witness and watch them pass without trying to justify, or should I offer each and every thought to the Divine Mother?
Be a witness. Stand behind the thoughts and observe.
Later, see which ones are aligned with your aspiration and which ones are not.
Finally, reject the ones not aligned or keep offering them to the Mother with prayer that the mind may be purified.
(Follow-up Question:)
2. On how to ask for help during surrender:
What actually should we surrender and how do we do it? When I am struggling, should I actively express my feelings and ask the Divine to help me fix the problem? Or is it better not to “ask” for anything, and instead just say, “I am feeling like this, and my small consciousness is telling me these things.” What exactly are we supposed to offer to the Mother—the problem itself, our effort to solve it, or the final result? Or ask her to take it wherever she likes. Also, should I be trying to offer every single minor thought that comes into my head all day long?
It will depend upon the sincerity of your aspiration at that moment. If you feel like asking something, you can ask Her. If you have the urge to come out of the smallness, then pray for that, asking for wideness and freedom. It will depend upon the true aspiration of the moment.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
