The best way is of course to put in one’s best effort yet knowing that even the best of our efforts is only a limited best. Besides, one should remember that whatever effort one is able to put today is itself Her Grace. This little effort then becomes part of our worship and an active collaboration with the Mother’s Grace. On the other hand by not putting any effort and wanting the Mother to do everything, one is actually resisting Her action by our passive inertia. It is a tacit unwillingness to collaborate or co-operate with the Divine Will just as those who say yes but don’t do anything except remaining passive.
Secondly effort actually gives joy so by not putting in our effort we deprive ourselves of that joy. As to ego, the old fellow can get puffed up by anything including its inertia. The ego can always say that see I do nothing. It is the Mother who does everything yet the underlying thought may be of being so special that the Divine Mother herself does it all for me, that I am Her special child etc until an event knocks the fellow out of our head. One can never be vigilant against the ego.
A simple practice that one can follow is what is advised in the Gita that let us do our best inwardly and outwardly but leave the result entirely in the Divine Mother’s Hands surrendering the results completely to Her Will and accepting gladly whatever She decides for us.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
