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Doctor Our Master

Mr. Janakiraman

a disciple of satguru Dr. A. Nithiyanandam was initiated by our master into the system of Vasi Yoga in the year 1993. He is closely associated with our Guru and the instituation Anand Jothi. The wealth of experience he received by the grace of our master in the years of his association is more than information and he is sharing them with all in the form of articles. The articles are listed below with short intorduction and a link to navigate to the full articles.

Total Surrender - The Surest Way to Realize The Divine

What is true surrender?

Doctor our MasterMany of us may know the meaning of Surrender (Saranaghathi) in abstract terms, but very few surrender themselves absolutely at the holy feet of God, their Master.

True surrender is total. One unconditionally and unhesitatingly gives up to God, his Master, everything that he has - his mind, body, soul, family ties and all his worldly possessions. This is done with the realization that whatever he has originally comes from the Divine source and hence he is only ‘renouncing’ what was not his to begin with.Once this realization arrives out of love for the divine, he cannot look back at whatever he has given unto God as his. Having left everything to divine dispensation one does not worry about anything nor entertain doubts about whether God, the Master of the universe, would really take care of his needs. “To surrender does not mean abandonment of action” says the Gita. Lord Krishna advocates action and admonishes inaction - effort performed without craving for results. This attitude of performing ones action and leaving the results to Him is known as AAHUTHI. The great paradox is that one is truly free to create only after one has surrendered with love to the creator. Thus true surrender is active and not passive.

Stories of surrender

There was once a great spiritual master, who used to tell his disciples to always depend on god’s will and to have unswerving faith in Him. One night, at the time of retiring to bed, he saw a snake near his bed. He was not perturbed and thought, “If I call my disciples they will kill you. If I do nothing, you may kill me. Yet, I do not want you to be killed. The best alternative should be to leave the matter in god’s hands. If am destined to die, you will naturally kill me. If God wants me to live, you will naturally spare me”. He then went to sleep peacefully. The next day came. When one of the master’s disciples came in to see him, he was shocked to see a snake near him. The master told him that the snake was with him all through the night. When asked why the master did not call anyone for help, the master asked “shall I depend on you weaklings or on the Almighty? I placed myself in hands of the divine and at His Will I am alive today.” The disciple asked his master why the snake still remained there. He replied,” The snake remains here to show human beings that when one has faith in god, He takes care of that person. I had absolute faith in god’s dispensation whatever it may be and the snake did not harm me. It is through the snake that god is giving you people a lesson. Have perfect faith in the master. Have total faith in god. Then, no ignorance (Maya) can touch you. On the one hand, the snake symbolizes Ignorance (Maya). On the other, it is carrying the message of the Supreme. It is about surrender. If one has faith in the Will of the supreme, one knows that whatever happens is for good.”

In another instance, there was once a sage who visited a kingdom while on a pilgrimage. The ruler was a noble king who had great respect for saints and holy men. The sage was naturally greeted with due respect by the king and as a mark of honour a grand public meeting was arranged. The sage elaborated on the efficacy of saranaghathi (surrender) and the king was so moved that he requested the saint to accept him as a disciple .The sage readily responded to his request and initiated him into his fold. Then the king declared that he had completely surrendered himself to his Satguru from that moment. When the meeting was about to conclude, news came that a fire was fast spreading in the entire region and people started running to their homes in panic. The king however remained unperturbed and cool, while at the same time giving instructions to his ministers. The sage wondered how the former was least disturbed and asked the king how he was able to remain least worried when his entire kingdom was facing a disaster. The king replied that once he had surrendered himself and the country at the feet of his master, there is no meaning of the act of surrender if he started worrying. The sage was elated at the reply from his disciple-king and explained to his coterie that the king had set himself an example of true surrender, demonstrating the true meaning of “surrender” through action that is necessary, and at the same time, leaving the results to his master.

Yet another true story about Chatrapathi Shivaji. At one time, Shivaji was very frustrated and found running the Maratha kingdom a big burden. So he went up to his guru, Samartha Ramdas and told him he was fed up and wanted to renounce everything.

His guru heard him out and gave him permission to do so. Shivaji was happy at the very thought and immediately relaxed. Then Satguru Ramdas says to him, “I have accepted everything. Now I am the king and you are my subject. Will you do whatever I ask you to do?”

Shivaji said he would do anything for him. So Ramdasji says “Very good. Will you run this government for me?” And Shivaji replies, “Yes, it is an honor to run the country for you”.Total renunciation had rekindled the emperor’s zeal and enthusiasm. Henceforth Shivaji ruled his kingdom in peace, happiness and total surrender!

Why is Surrender necessary

In surrender, a devotee gives himself over to God, his Master. By doing so, he shifts the responsibility of taking care of him to his master. Again, by doing so, he allows his master to act freely, which is only for his(disciple’s) good! Here, faith is the only matter left to the disciples choice as God only wants the willing and ready. The teachings of Jesus show that faith is the ultimate and it is seen total surrender. Faith occurs when total surrender happens. A true disciple gives himself to Him (the preceptor-Guru). That is Faith. He doesn’t exist for himself. He is All His. Such a truly surrendered disciple tells God-his Master, “Look, do whatever you want to do with me. But, I am yours; I have to get back to you. So, use me and take me back.”. That is Faith and that is Surrender. What qualities make a disciple a perfect instrument of his Master? Only one quality-‘Surrender’-surrender to the Master. Total Surrender. A disciple is His instrument. Once he surrenders himself, he will be certainly used by the Master. May be, even without his knowledge!

Thus spake

why suffering is the precursor to surrender

There is no short-cut to God. You have to traverse the whole distance. The gap, the yawning chasm that separates you from God has to be fully covered. It takes time. Often it is painful. Sometimes it is so painful that one begins to doubt if all that suffering is worth the while. This is particularly so when God tests the spiritual seeker for his worth. It is like Christ being crucified. Every seeker has to bear the cross. Only it is a different kind of cross with different seekers.

You cannot realize God-who is Perfection, while possessing the slightest imperfection. That is why Mother Sarada, the Worshipful partner of Ramakrishna, prayed the way she did. On a full moon night she said, “Bless me God that I may become spotless like the moon.” Then hesitated and said, “No. Even the full moon has flaws. Make me flawless, immaculate, pure, perfect, radiant”.

Remember that you will be tested by God precisely in that virtue in which you are wanting. Are you impatient? You will be tested for patience again and again. If you are not strong, you succumb at the slightest temptation. But, if you are morally strong-but not yet perfect, then you will succumb only to the most powerful temptation. Then only your spiritual safety becomes foolproof. When the spiritual seeker is thus repeatedly tested, sorely tried, he feels miserable. Every spiritual seeker has to pass through this stage. It is the process of purification and sometimes called the dark night of the soul. You will be like the ore in the furnace. It is not always a pleasant experience and sometimes very painful indeed. The seeker begins to ruminate. He feels;-“The worldly life was better. Is this the choice open to me? What kind of God is He? To delight in my misery?” The part tragic, part comic aspect of the whole situation is that even when the seeker curses his creator, the Master, he is aware of his total helplessness, of his own impotence and God’s omnipotence. Ultimately he breaks down and prays to God. This is surrender – TOTAL AND UNQUALIFIED SURRENDER. In that moment of Surrender, God’s Grace rushes into him, consoles him and comforts him. And PEACE ensues in the troubled heart. Thus, Suffering is the precursor to Surrender. Realization is obtained only the hard way. The sooner you wake up to this bitter truth, the better for you.

Thus Realization of GOD is Only After--Total Surrender


M A K E M E T H I N E


(The following beautiful prayer is on the eve of the Christmas—circulated by the Sivananda Ashram)

Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord to Thee:

Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and make it sweet

Thy blessed Names to ever repeat.

Take my lips and let them be

Fill ed with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold

Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect and use

Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my Will and make it Thine:

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart –it is Thine own,

It shall be Thy Royal Throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet –its treasure store.

Take myself and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee. !
By Jani
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