== PRAN'IPA'TA ==
Namaskar,
We all know that spiritual sadhana is the special practice where, by His
grace, we can attain Him. And one key ingredient for successful sadhana is
generating the feeling of self-surrender. Indeed Baba Himself guides us
that this feeling of surrender is the starting point and highly significant
feature for moving along the path of spirituality.
Baba says, "The moment sa'dhakas start spiritual practice they must
surrender...This surrender is the most important aspect of spiritual
practice." (SS-7)
By this way anyone can see that surrender plays a huge role in spiritual
life. Here following are more of Baba's special teachings on surrender--
also known as pran'ipa'ta.
MUST SURRENDER EVERYTHING
In His below guideline Baba reveals what exactly we are to surrender.
Specifically Baba directs us that we are to surrender our entire
'I-feeling' unto Him. That is what surrender means in the field of
spirituality. And by this way by His grace we can realise that state of
Supreme bliss.
Baba says, "If you want to attain the bliss of Brahma, you must offer your
own self. If you want to have the Great 'I', you must give away your own
little 'I'. You have to give the full sixteen a'nna's, (the full rupee).
Giving fifteen a'nna's and holding back one a'nna' will not do. You must
completely surrender. To attain that Infinite One you have to surrender
yourselves...That is why I say that you will have to dedicate yourselves to
His feet wholly and unreservedly. You will earn godliness in proportion to
the extent that you surrender yourselves, and finally, after merging that
acquired godliness of yours in His Entity, you will attain eternal bliss."
(SS-3)
So surrendering partially will not do; rather our entire existential
'I-feeling' is to be offered at the alter of the Supreme.
SURRENDER IS THE BEST WAY TO GET HIM
Here following Baba explicate tells us that surrender is the most effective
way to become one with Parama Purusa.
Baba says, "And what is the best method of making the mind move towards
Parama Purus'a? Complete surrender to Him is the best method. Hence
surrender yourself completely with all your faculties and propensities
before the Supreme Being; offer your entire self to Him. This is
pran'ipa'ta." (AV-20)
As Baba highlights above, surrendering to God is pran'ipa'ta and that is
the best way to advance in the spiritual realm.
ONE SPECIAL WAY TO SURRENDER
Here again Baba reveals one of the special practices of pran'ipa'ta or
surrender.
Baba says, "Pran'ipa'ta means surrendering oneself before one's Goal
[Baba]. The attitude of self-surrender is represented by
sa's't'aunga-pran'a'ma, which means to lie flat in a straight line like a
rod." (SS-18)
So when we do our sastaunga pranam mudra then by His grace that invariably
propels us towards Parama Purusa. Because this mudra helps us cultivate
that special feeling of surrender. So by sincerely doing sastaunga pranam
then by Baba's grace we feel that strong desire to surrender everything at
His lotus feet.
SASTAUNGA PRANAM:
DONE BEFORE & AFTER MEDITATION
Thus when surrender itself is such an important component of our spiritual
life and when sastaunga pranam is the act of surrendering, then we should
be sure to do sastaunga pranama before and after our meditation. Because
lying in full prostration to Baba helps develop the desire to serve and
please Him in all the realms of life. And in particular it helps generate a
good devotional flow for meditation. So this is one good approach:
Sastaunga pranam should be done before and after meditation. And certainly
most in our Marga follow this system.
NOT DONE HASTILY
To be an effective tool or medium of spiritual life, sastaunga pranam must
be practiced with sincerity and heart-felt feeling. That is essential and
is one boon for our spiritual existence. Unfortunately sometimes we that
that people are just in a rush to conclude their puja etc, and by this way
they just end up doing sastaunga pranam in a quick, superficial manner.
They just mechanically lie down for a few seconds and then get up without
feeling any sense of bhava or inner feeling. So that is not good.
When doing sastaunga pranam we should feel some longing or inner devotional
pull. We should get the distinct desire to dedicate everything at His feet.
And so long as this devotional feeling of surrender does not come, then one
should remain in that position of surrender and ask Baba to grace them.
So the sincere practice of sastaunga pranam is very helpful. Because
surrender is the first step and surrender is that last. And, by His grace,
when one surrenders fully then that devotee becomes one with Parama Purusa.
NOT KNOWN IN THE WEST
Unfortunately in the western philosophy the devotional concept of
pran'ipa'ta does not exist. So for lack of a better term the word
'surrender' has been selected-- adopted. But that is just an adaptation.
Because the real meaning of surrender in the materialistic west is when one
thief and gets caught by the authorities. In that desperate moment he
"surrenders". So this crude use of the 'surrender' devotional term is not
at all understood by the general western society.
In true devotional, very deep relation then surrender comes out of very
deep love. When there is extreme love and trust, then surrender comes-- not
with fear. That is true surrender.
SURRENDER MEANS DEVOTION
&
DEVOTION MEANS SURRENDER
Baba says, "Pra -- ni -- pat + ghain = pran'ipa'ta. Pran'ipa'ta means to
offer oneself at the divine feet of Parama Purus'a. Pran'ipa'ta is also
known as bhakti." (DKG)
Baba says, "Devotion means unconditional self-surrender. The measure of
devotion is the amount of this self-surrender. One who has more of it, is a
greater devotee than one who has less of it." (AV-31)
Namaskar,
Parashram
Note 1: WHAT IS OFTEN DONE IN OUR MARGA
Often we hear stories from wts or margiis where they recount how they were
traveling and got into so much trouble or difficulty at the border etc. Or
they might describe another time when they lost all their luggage &
baggage. Or various types of circumstances where it looked like the
situation was totally miserable. Then in that circumstance-- when there was
no other recourse-- then they call out to Baba to come and save them. In
this way they surrendered themselves unto Him. And by His grace when
normalcy returns they they just return to their old habits etc. So this is
alright, but higher level devotees do not just surrender then in that
difficult period when the odds are against them. That is not the only time
they surrender to Baba. Sincere devotees also surrender unto Him out of
sincere love and devotion for Him. In that loving feeling the flow of
surrender also comes in their lives. So one of the characteristics of
extreme love for Parama Purusa is the feeling of surrender. In that deeply
devotional state they want to give and do everything for their Lord, Shrii
Shrii A'nandamurtiji. Those who realise and experience this are really
fortunate.
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