The Pathless PathHis teaching

All chapters8 of 19
  1. The Pathless Path
  2. The Goal of Human Life
  3. Turn to Reality
  4. The Change Must Be Within
  5. Religion is a Matter of Experience
  6. The Touch of Saints and Guru’s Grace
  7. The Divine Name as the Ladder
  8. Faith and Surrender
  9. Hints on Sadhana
  10. Meditation
  11. Samadhi
  12. After Reaching the Height
  13. The Attributes of Man Endowed with Cosmic Vision
  14. Inner Voice
  15. Jivanmukta
  16. Recapitulation
  17. The Path of God-Realisation
  18. One Universal God
  19. Conclusion of “Gita-Sandesh”

Faith and Surrender

What is faith? Unquestioning surrender to God’s will is faith. Whatever happens is attributed to the workings of God. God is taken as great, good and kind. He is the sole dispenser of all things. Since all events, changes and movements proceed from a heart ever filled with goodness, love and mercy, there is nothing to grumble at, nothing to find fault with, nothing to grieve over, nothing to be anxious about, and nothing to be afraid of – all, all is His doing. He works always for harmony and joy. So in the heart of all things and happenings, it is He who exists and is at work. When this faith is ours, God becomes our never-failing companion, guide and friend, and we do all actions by His will, i.e., by His promptings. He is in us and everywhere about us. All doubts and fears now vanish away and we attain a state of freedom which is itself absolute Peace and Bliss.

Behold, Ram’s will alone is supreme. Bend and bow to that will Come what may – it is Ram who does all, And He does all for good. For Ram is kind – Ram is Love – Ram means always well.

To maintain equilibrium of mind, the sovereign remedy is to submit calmly to the will and workings of God who guides and controls the destiny of the universe.

Never lose your equilibrium under any stress of external circumstances. They come and go – like the clouds in the breeze. Stand firm on the rock of your unchanging and immortal existence.

When the mind is in tune with God, external conditions, however unfavourable, do not affect us. Difficult situations, disappointments and clashes come to all alike – in a greater or lesser degree. Great is he or she who remains calm and serene in all circumstances. This attainment is possible only when the mind is made to dwell in the Divine and all actions are dedicated to Him.

Just as an unshaped stone can be fashioned into a beautiful image worthy of adoration and worship only after it has received many a stroke of the chisel, so also a distorted and inharmonious life has to pass through many a trial, suffering and tribulation, before a great change could come over it, before the life of ignorance could be transmuted into a life of immortal splendour and joy, fit to be revered and adored.

Don’t ruminate over the past. All that happened in the past has been for good. So no thought need be taken of it. Have no thought or anxiety about the future. What is to happen does come to pass in spite of yourself. Be prepared to stay in any and every condition calmly and coolly. No worry or anxiety can change the course of things as ordained. And for the present, think only of Ram and perform all actions as offering to Him.

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