Zoom: "Surrender The Ego-Doer" Readings, Self-Enquiry, Meditation

A 10-minute Silence for Self-enquiry or meditation will precede short readings from Sri Muruganar's "The Garland of Guru's Sayings" -- poetic verses that poignantly capture the teachings of Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi.

Surrender The Ego-Doer

471
Absorption in yoga and tapas
Austere in order to become
An instrument of Siva, even this
Is a blemish in the highest state
Of self-surrender in spontaneous service.
[cf. verses 29 and 30 of Upadesa Saram. The ego is no entity
and is not even an instrument.]

Sadhu Om: Since even the thought ‘I am an instrument in the
Lord’s hand’ is a means by which the ego retains its individuality, it
is directly opposed to the spirit of complete self-surrender, the
‘I’-lessness. Are there not many good-natured people who engage
themselves in prayers, worship, yoga and such virtuous acts with
the aim of achieving power form God and doing good to the world
as one divinely commissioned? It is exposed here that even such
endeavours are egotistical and hence contrary to self-surrender.

472
One should not even let the thought
Arise that one is but a servant.
Only in such egoless, silent
Stillness, in this mere abidance
As pure Being, shines the radiance
Of true Awareness.

473
As heart within the heart abiding,
The Lord alone makes all things happen
As ordained. Hence if we stand
Unswerving and inhering firmly
In the Self, then all things will proceed
Unerring and unhampered.

474
“Who plants a tree will water it.”
Those with this faith will have no care.
If He but sees the tree dry up,
Even this pathetic sight is His
Concern alone.
Michael James: Devotees with great faith in God never feel con
cern for the needs of their life, because they are so sure that God
will never abandon them. Even when it happens that they are not
provided with their needs, they do not feel that they are afflicted;
they simply endure with it patiently, feeling that it is only God who
has to suffer by seeing them troubled. Hence on all occasions they
are happy. This verse thus assures that for such devotees there is
no misery at all in life.

475
Since the Lord alone abides, the source
Of all, whatever is surrendered
To the Lord, the root of the whole
Big banyan tree, serves all the worlds
And all living beings.
Sadhu Om: Submitting oneself to God is like watering a banyan
tree at its root. If, rejecting this self-surrender, which is nothing but
the state of true knowledge, one engages oneself in the world
thinking that one is doing service to the world, it is just like spraying
water on the leaves and branches of the banyan tree. On the other
hand, if one surrenders oneself to God, truly that alone is the real
service to the whole world and all the souls.

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This meetup will include bhajans, chanting, spiritual reading, 15 minutes of self-enquiry/silent meditation, a brief discussion of the readings and prayer. Feel free to participate in any or all aspects or simply listen.

Although rooted in teachings from the Vedantic tradition, this meetup is open to all people who recognize that spiritual principles are inherent to and transcend all religions. You do not have to belong to any religion to attend. Bring yourself. Be yourself!
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