Keep faith in the Lord

Keep the faith in the Lord undiminished. The greatest obstacle on the path of surrender is ahamkaara (egoism) and mamakaara (mineness or possessiveness). It is something that has been inhering to our personality since ages, sending its tentacles deeper and deeper with the experience of every succeeding life. It can be removed only by the twin detergents of discrimination and renunciation. Bhakti is the water to wash away this dirt of ages and the soap of Japam, Dhyanam and Yoga (repetition of God’s name, meditation and communion) will help to remove it quicker and more effectively. The slow and the steady will surely win this race; walking is the safest method of travel though it may be condemned as slow. Quicker means of travel mean disaster; the quicker the means, the greater the risk of disaster. You should eat only as much as you feel hunger, for more will cause disorder. So proceed step by step in Saadhana (spiritual effort); making sure of one step before you take another. Do not slide back two paces when you go one pace forward. But even the first step will be unsteady, if you have no faith. So cultivate faith.

Bhakti (Devotion)

Bhakti (devotion) is the easiest way to win God’s grace and also to realize that He pervades everything; in fact, is everything! Sharanaagathi (total surrender), leaving everything to His Will, is the highest form of Bhakti (devotion). When the Bhakti is just emerging as a sapling, a fence is needed to protect the tender plant; that fence is Sanaathana Dharma (Eternal Religion) and its rules, regulations and restrictions, directions and commands. Bhakti and Shraddha (devotion and faith) are the two oars with which one can take the boat across the sea of sansaara. Bhakti and the attitude of surrender that is its final fruits will give one the great courage to meet any emergency; such courage is what is called Renunciation.