[Advaita-l] Jagadguru Speaks: Surrender to Guru

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Around the beginning of the month, a nugget of Wisdom from the Jagadguru may be posted
on the Chaturamnaya list : http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/chaturamnaya )
 
 
https://www.tattvaloka.com/uploads/jagadguruSpeech/pdf/1412447362Pages%20from%20TEASER%20--%20TATTVALOKA%20MARCH%202023.pdf
 
 
The All-Pervading Isvara's glory and powers are endless. He
is the Supreme magician who is the creator of the world.
Nonetheless, he is not affected by the world. In fact, He is
the Truth behind this shadowy world.
 
A devotee's mind is purified by total surrender to Him
alone. By whole-hearted surrender, his union with Isvara
takes place and there will be the end of all his sufferings. For
this merger with the Lord to happen, the devotee's mind
should be purified by constantly meditating on Him, through
love, bhajan, nishkama karma or Vedantic enquiry.
 
But in the process, there may be certain obstacles needed to
be removed such as attachment to objects, lack of sharpness
of intellect, wrong reasoning and futile obstinacy.
 
  pratibandho vartamAno viShayAsaktilakShaNaH .
  praj~nAmAndya.n kutarkashcha viparyayadurAgrahaH ..
{Panchadashi}
 
As no one can underestimate the power of the senses to
lead even a diligent aspirant astray, by digressing to false
justification and unnecessary compromise, it is always
proper to seek the upadesa of a realised Guru.
 
Fire burns well after removal of the counteracting elements
in the firewood. Likewise, only after the obstacles are
dispelled from the mind of a seeker, meditation becomes
fruitful.
 
  puruShAparAdhavigame tu punaH pratibandhakavyudasanAt saphalA .
  maNimantrayorapagame tu yathA sati pAvakAdbhavati dhUmalatA ..
{advaitamakaranda}
 
Once the defects are removed by total surrender to the
Guru, the devotee's mind becomes pure and clear. He will
remain contented and unconcerned by all external entities
and actions.
 
This opens the window for Isvara's Grace to descend. Such
grace paves way for the aspirant to remain in Truth.
Thus the door of moksha will be within reach.
 
We bless every aspirant to understand this and lead
a fruitful life.