Surrender, in fact, all other aspects of sadhana such as aspiration, meditation, purification, are to be done when one is in ignorance. When one has the true knowledge and is identified with the Lord, then surrender has fulfilled itself. A central surrender, meaning thereby accepting in principle the goal and the path shown by the Divine Master, submission to the Guidance and the Will of the Divine Master, is the beginning of surrender.
The second stage is when the surrender begins to become detailed, as we put pressure on and compel the different parts of our being, different movements of nature, to submit and obey the teachings and the guidance. Its sign is an absence of revolt in any part and a peace that comes through a genuine submission to the Divine Will.
Finally, the complete culmination of the surrender is when, in all the details and aspects of our life, we are happy with what we receive from the Divine, or to let go of what is taken away by the Divine. We simply say in all sincerity that “Let Thy Will be done.”
This surrender is not only a thing outward, but mainly inward, not only a surrender of what we have but also surrender of what we do and are, the willingness to change and be what the Divine wants us to be.
It is this progressive surrender, the willingness to accept and live according to the Divine Guidance rather than wanting the Divine to do things according to our will, that takes us out of the ignorance and fulfils the goal of the Yoga. When surrender is sincere and complete, then and then only no further sadhana is needed because the Divine takes up the sadhana and fulfils it in us.
Inability or unwillingness to surrender simply implies a lack of sincerity and not of ignorance. Surrender is done, in fact, to come out of the ignorance.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
