Ram….. Ram….. Ram, Ram….. Ram….. Ram, Ram….. Ram Ram……
Surrender is the main teaching in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Lord Krishna and Arjuna lived together for a long time, but the Lord did not preach the Gita to Arjuna. Only when Arjuna surrendered to God by saying, ‘Shādhi māṁ tvām prapannam’ (Gita 2.7), did the Lord give him the teachings of the Gita. At the end of the Gita, the Lord emphasized only one thing: ‘Surrender yourself to Me alone’ — ‘Mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja’ (Gita 18.66).
For example, a girl first belongs to her parents, but when she marries, she no longer belongs to her parents; she becomes her husband’s. In the same way, when you surrender yourself to God, you accept from within: ‘I am no longer of the world — I have become God’s.’ Just as when someone becomes a monk, he inwardly accepts that he has renounced and now belongs to the monastic path, in the same way you must change your inner feeling: ‘I now belong to God.’
When this surrender happens, the means of spiritual practice will naturally become effortless for you; you will not have to struggle. Just as when a girl marries, she naturally begins to live and act in harmony with her husband, without needing to force herself to think how she should speak or behave — in the same way, when you surrender yourself at the Lord’s feet, divine tendencies will naturally arise within you.
God says — ‘Sarvaguhyatam bhūyaḥ śṛṇu me paramaṁ vacaḥ’ (Gita 18.64) — “Then hear from Me the most secret words.” This word ‘Sarvaguhyatam’ appears only once in the entire Gita. And what is that most secret word of God? —
‘Sarvadharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja. Ahaṁ tvāṁ sarvapāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucah ॥’
(Gita 18.66)
“Abandoning all shelters of religion, take refuge in Me alone. I will free you from all sins; do not grieve.”
Just as when someone becomes a disciple, he belongs to that Guru, or when someone is adopted, he belongs to the parents who adopted him — in the same way, if we change our inner feeling that now we have become God’s, then we will gain great benefit. On taking refuge, we do not have to remove our sins; God Himself frees us from all sins. Therefore, on taking refuge, the devotee becomes free of worries, free of fears, free of doubts, and free of sorrow — that is, no worry, no fear, no doubt, no grief.
“Whoever takes refuge in Me, I Myself see to his protection.”
A fish swims against the current, but an elephant is swept away. Even a small fish moves against the flow of water! If a stream of water falls from above, it rises above the flow — because it is sheltered by the water itself. But an elephant, despite its great strength, is swept away by floodwaters — because its shelter is the forest. If the water were to abandon the fish and drive it away, where could it go?
In the same way, after taking refuge in the feet of God, the devotee becomes free and independent. He no longer worries about how he will survive, or what will happen after death — God Himself takes care of all his worries. He becomes carefree and fearless.
“Chintā dīn dayāl ko, mo man sadā ānand,
Jayosi pratipālsi, Rāmdās Govind.”
There is no one like God. Arjuna says — ‘Na tvat-samo ’sty abhyadhikaḥ kuto ’nyo’ (Gita 11.43) — “There is no one like You in all the three worlds, then how can there be anyone greater than You!” When you have surrendered to such a God, then what remains? This is your supreme welfare, at no cost!
The only obstacle is ego, this pride — the pride of “I am something, I can do something.” That is the obstacle. If one surrenders without pride, then just as sleep comes naturally without effort, in the same way freedom from worry and fear comes naturally. Nothing more needs to be done.
Such a great, supreme spiritual means is surrender to God! Then what is left to worry about? Let God do the worrying! Just as children keep playing, unconcerned whether their father incurs loss or gains profit — similarly, the one who has surrendered becomes carefree and fearless.
Surrender has been described as the most important thing in the Gita. Just change yourself. Just like a virgin girl changes herself after marriage. Then she remains a married woman forever. Similarly, the one who surrenders becomes worry-free forever, for many births. In surrender, God has told four things – ‘Manmana Bhava Madbhakto Madyaaji Maam Namaskuru’ (Gita 9.34; 18.65) ‘Become my devotee, be devoted to me, worship me and bow down to me’.
‘Manmana Bhava‘ surrender your mind to God. When you consider the mind and the body as your own, then they become spoilt. If you surrender them to God, you will be free from worries. Therefore, surrender your mind to God. Think of God in your mind and love God. God should appear sweet, nice, lovable. Just as you like your brothers, relatives, parents, similarly God should seem good. This world is not ours. We have come here and have to go. But neither do we have to come nor go to God. He is there forever. Therefore, taking refuge in God is a very good means.
‘Maa Namaskuru’ – Salute God. The meaning of salutation is that whether He sends happiness or sorrow, remain happy in it. For example, a good doctor may give bitter or sweet medicine, it is to cure the disease. When we go to a shop to buy goods, we taste it first, but we do not taste the medicine at the doctor’s place. Whatever he gives is fine. Similarly, when you surrender to God, whether you face happiness or sadness, whatever situation you face, you should feel only joy. If you have fever, you feel joy, if your health improves, you feel joy, if you gain wealth, you feel joy, if your family members die, you feel joy, if you are born, you feel joy!! Just like whatever the doctor gives is right, similarly whatever God gives is right.
Just like a washerman beats clothes on a rock to clean them, boils them in water, similarly God sends sorrows to clean us, to remove all our sins. The devotee who has surrendered finds joy even in that sorrow! ‘Maa Namaskaru’ – the meaning of salutation is that whether you punish or reward, it is your wish. I accept everything. When such a thing happens, there is a lot of joy, a lot of happiness, an exceptional feeling!
In reality, the devotees of God live in harmony with God. They become like God’s family members. A labourer gets paid for doing work, that is his pay is based on how much work he has completed, and if he has not done any work, he will not get paid. But if a family member whether he works, or does not work, he will still get food and allowance! Because he is a family member. If he falls ill and there are medical expenses, then too there is no obligation. A labourer has a duty to do, but a family member is not bound by duty even though he may work day and night. Similarly, a devotee who has surrendered himself sings the praises of God day and night. Goswami Tulsidasji Maharaj says-
Bigadi janam anek ki sudhare ab hi aaj;
Hoye Ram ko Naam japo, Tulasi taja kusamaju. (Dohavali 22)
The culmination of a lifetime of vices, over many births can be rectified today and right now. How? By becoming only God’s and chanting His name. By becoming only God’s, there is always joy and happiness – ‘Saints always have Diwali, there is happiness round the clock. Let God give us sorrow, pain and worry! We have given ourselves to God. Now we will not worry. We can surrender ourselves and also worry, why? What will be our condition, whether we will attain salvation or misery, what does it matter to us? ‘Live as per the way God wants, say Sitaram Sitaram Sitaram. Add Merge your will into God’s will.
A satsang was going on in Rishikesh, Swargashram. The founder, director, patron, founder of Gita Press, Shri Jaydayalji Goyandka was a very good saint. He was in the householder stage. When the discussion went on in the satsang, people started saying that things do not happen as we wish. Goyandkaji said that things always happen as per his wishes! I said how is this so! People say that things do not happen as they wish and you say that things always happen as per your wish! How have you conclude so? What is the secret? Sethji said that I have merged my will with the will of God.
Ram keen chaahe soyi hoyi, kare anyatha as nahin koyi ! (Manas, Bal 128.1)
Whatever God wills, that is our will. We do not have any separate desire of our own. If we have surrendered to God, then we do not have any separate desire. That is why, whatever I will always happens said Sethji. Whatever happens, we are happy with that. This should happen, this should not happen – this is a problem! People say that there is no peace within us, so I say that you have caught hold of these two things that this should happen, this should not happen. Now there will be only unrest! Now peace will not be found. Therefore, whatever God wants, that should happen. If you leave your will to God, then all worries and concerns will disappear, there will be joy!
Mirabai said – ‘For me, there is only Girdhar Gopal, no one else’. No one else is mine except God. Now where can I go except God! God’s house is our house. We live in God’s house and we have to live there only. Then there will be no sorrow, no jealousy, no anguish, no unrest. There will always be peace.
There is no saint like the one who surrenders to God. It is a unique thing that God descends in the one who surrenders completely to God! God’s incarnation takes place in him! Because he gave away everything he had. Like, a woman becomes her husband’s and the husband becomes hers. If the husband is an teacher (master), then she inspite of being educated gets the title of a master’s wife. A doctor’s wife inspite of knowing nothing about the medicine is recognized as a doctor’s wife.
If the husband is a Pandit, then even if he is not educated, she is called Panditani. Even if the wife of a doctor does not know anything, she is called doctorani. In that, doctor and Pandit came in. The husband and wife have different bodies, but the devotee and God are not different. How interesting!
When Bharata reached Shringaverpur while going to Chitrakoot, on seeing Nishadraj Guha in front of him, the mothers realized that he was Lakhanlal. The people of Ayodhya also saw Lakhanlal in him.
Jaani Lakhan sam dehi aseesa, Jiahu sukhi saya lakh barisa
Nirakhi Nishadu nagar; bhaye sukhi janu lakhanu nihari.
(Manas, Ayodhya 196.3)
‘The queens considered Nishad to be like Lakshman and blessed him that he may live happily for a hundred lakh years. The men and women of the city became happy on seeing Nishad, as if they were seeing Lakshmanji.’
What was the reason? At night Lakshmanji recited Geeta (Lakshman Geeta) to Nishadraj. Nishadraj took refuge in Lakshmanji. That is why Lakshmanji is remembered on seeing Nishadraj. Why do we remember ‘Jai Ramji ki’ on seeing a saint? Because there is such a thing in this disguise. If you put a flag on a tree, no one cuts it.
More mana as Prabhu bisvasa; Ram te adhik Ram kar dasa
Ram sindhu ghan sajjan dheera; chandan taru Hari Sant samira.
(Manas, Uttar 120. 8-9)
‘O Lord! I believe in my mind that the servant of Lord Shri Ram is greater than Ram. If Shri Ramji is the ocean, then the patient saint is the cloud. If Shri Ramji is the sandalwood tree, then the saint is the wind.’
God is the ocean and God’s devotees are the clouds. If the ocean comes, there is a deluge and if the clouds rain, all the rivers become happy! The ocean has salty water and the rain has sweet water. When God’s devotees express the feelings of God (in the Gita), there is a lot of sweetness in it! Anyone can come to God’s refuge, it is open to all. There is no restriction for anyone. Whether it is a woman, a man, an educated, an illiterate, a wicked person, a sinner, if one takes refuge in God, all sins and sufferings end! He becomes pure, holy, clean! All impurities are removed! This means is very easy. But it is difficult for the arrogant!
If it is our own clothes, we can keep them anywhere, on the head, on the feet, anywhere. In the same way, the one who becomes God’s own, God can keep him anywhere. God becomes free of hesitation and he becomes fearless! There is no favour on God! Hence this sadhana is very easy, simple and it leads to immediate success. But the ego has to be changed. Just like a girl is not called a virgin, similarly he is not called a bachelor, he becomes God’s. Hence becoming God’s is the best, simple, easy and supreme sadhana.
Narayana! Narayan!! Narayan!!!
[Lecture given by Shradhey Swamiji Shri Ramsukhdasji Maharaj on Ashadh Shukla Panchami Vikram Samvat 2052, dated 4.7.1995 at 5 am in Modinagar]
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