SURRENDER AND GRACE
If you want to drink water at the tap, you will have to bend yourself. Even so, if you want to drink the spiritual nectar of immortality which flows from the holy lips of the Guru, you will have to be an embodiment of humility and meekness.
The lower nature of the mind must be thoroughly regenerated. The aspirant says to his preceptor: "I want to practise Yoga. I want to enter into Nirvikalpa Samadhi. I want to sit at your feet. I have surrendered myself to you". But he does not want to change his lower nature and habits, old character, behaviour, and conduct.
One's individual ego, preconceived notions, pet ideas and prejudices, and selfish interests should be given up. All these stand in the way of carrying out the teachings and instructions of one's Guru.
Lay bare to your Guru the secrets of your heart. The more you do so, the greater the Guru's sympathy, which means an accession of strength to you in the struggle against sin and temptation.
The aspirant, before he desires the grace of the Master, should deserve it. The supply of divine grace comes only when there is a real thirst in the aspirant, and when he is fit to receive it.
The Guru's grace descends upon those who feel utterly humble and faithful to him. Faith is confidence and trust in the Guru. Faith is firm conviction of the truth of what is declared by the preceptor by way either of testimony or authority, without any other evidence or proof. The disciple who has faith in the Guru argues not, thinks not, reasons not, and cogitates not. He simply obeys, obeys, and obeys.
The disciple's self-surrender to the Guru and the Guru's grace are interrelated. Surrender draws down the Guru's grace, and the grace of the Guru makes the surrender complete.
The Guru's grace works in the form of Sadhana in the aspirant. If an aspirant sticks to the path tenaciously, this Is the grace of the Guru. If he resists when temptation assails him, this is the grace of the Guru. If people receive him with love and reverence, this is the grace of the Guru. If he gets all bodily wants, this is the grace of the Guru. If he gets encouragement and strength when he is in despair and despondency, this is the grace of the Guru. If he gets over the body-consciousness and rests in his own Ananda Svarupa (the form of bliss), this is the grace of the Guru. Feel his grace at every step, and be sincere and truthful to him.
Grace manifests inside as prayerfulness, longing. Outwardly grace flows to you as blessings. Grace is not earned through actions. It is a gift from the Divine. Years of different practices cannot bring you the joy that a moment of grace can bestow on you.
SAI!S WAY OF SURRENDER
The most famous of His utterances is "Look to me; and I will look to you”. This pronouncement from Him is greatly simple; but it is simply great in its meaning. Shri Baba has first advised the devotees to look to Him. His words have always been full of endless meaning of shore less sea of knowledge. Looking to Baba implies first and foremost to His first quality i.e. of His absolute faith in His Guru. He Himself had said that He gave up worldly ambitions though He had achieved extra-ordinary success even in these matters (Vide chapter No. 32) to concentrate on His Guru fully. He forgot hunger, thirst, and thus His Guru's form fixed itself, in His eyes. This intense concentration on the Guru snapped His attachments to his relations and His Guru became His all in all and magnetized Baba fully to turn into His likeness.
It is an axiomatic truth that what one thinks of intently so one becomes. In due time i.e. prolonged period of 12 years of patient waiting upon the Guru resulted in His being blessed by the bliss supreme. It is thus clear, that by looking to Baba implies looking to His Sachidananda Swarupa which is unaffected by any outside influences.
