Surrendering to a Guru-2
The truth is, it is not in your hands per se. What chance does frozen butter have in front of fire? If the fire is real, the butter will melt automatically. The right guru, with the fire of truth in his heart, with the warmth of compassion in his being, with the heat of tapas, penance, and his direct knowledge will melt you in no time. He will leave you with no option. Let alone just surrender, you will find yourself willing to do anything for him. He can inspire you to give up your life for a cause, with his mere presence he can empty you so you may be filled, he can soften you so you may be moulded, he can transform you, with his one glance, he can wash ashore all your bottled up negativity, anguish and pain.
Why do scriptures require showing due respect to a guru? Why are you expected to bow in front of him? Imagine two glasses, one is full of water and the other one is empty. If you have to transfer water from the one that is full to the empty one, the empty one must come a step below, the full glass needs to be higher so that the contents may be transferred. While living in the Himalayas, sometimes villagers would pass by carrying heavy bundles of wood on their head. They wanted to greet in the appropriate manner, befitting our culture, but because of the weight on their head, they were unable to bend down. Similarly, lot of people carry an enormous weight on their heads, weight of labels, of ego, of attainments, of bookish knowledge, of titles. Such burden makes it hard for them to bend, it stops them from surrendering. The right guru will decimate your ego without preaching you. So should you surrender or not is an empty question, a futile one. The question is: are you ready to transform yourself? If you are happy with yourself, why bother with all this master-disciple stuff! If you feel you need to work on yourself and you do not know how to go about it, well then you need to do whatever it takes to learn from the one you look up to.
Imagine a deep wound. If someone has to clean and dress it, it is going to hurt a little. It will become a little itchy as it heals, thereafter it may leave a light scar for some time before disappearing completely. Provided, of course, the person dressing it is a bonafide medical professional. Similarly, when you allow someone, the right guru, to work on your ego, your shortcomings, it is going to hurt a little but eventually it will result in healing.
Surrender requires putting aside one's ego, it requires strength. Do not try to exercise surrender artificially, let it come from within. If you feel you should be surrendering but you are unable to, that is perfectly fine. Give yourself time. If the one in front of you deserves your submission, you will find yourself doing it automatically. As long as you are not disrespectful, you are good. Be free, be fearless.
Om Namah Shivay
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