The Path of Surrender from Sadguru Sookti Sangraha book

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Sharanagati (The Path of Surrender)

Among the four paths for self-perfection and release from the worldly bondage

viz. jnana yoga, bhakti yoga, karma yoga and prapatti yoga shown by the

Geetaachaarya, prapatti or sharanagati i.e. the yoga of surrender is most suited

for the present-day man.

 

The path of surrender does not require an extremely sharp intellect which is

needed for pursuing the path of knowledge (jnana yoga). It also does not

require the supreme love for God which is the essence of the path of devotion

(bhakti yoga). It also does not involve any action to be converted into yoga of

action, as propounded in the scriptures. Yet, the path of surrender (prapatti)

possesses the main characteristics of all the three.

 

Extreme discrimination is necessary to decide as to whom to surrender and how

to surrender. Surrender becomes lifeless if there is diluted love for the

Supreme. Therefore, the element of love is also present in the path of prapatti.

A sharanaagata or prapanna i.e., the one he who has surrendered, is not a log

of wood. He discharges all his duties – social, moral and religious, as an

instrument of the Divine.

 

Surrendering totally one’s body, mind and intellect at the feet of the lord

is a true surrender. In the life of a sharanaagata, there has to be no element

of ego whatsoever. It has been rightly said, ‘to approach and enter the door

of Divine, one must become naked’ i.e. stripped of the ego. "Sarva dharma

paritajya, maamekam saranam vrajah.â€

 

 

 

- Sri Swamiji

Jai Guru Datta!

 

The title Pada Renu given to e.g. Bala Swami, Swami Manasa Datta and others

refers to this total surrender, i.e. being dust on the feet of the Lord.JGD