Surrender
Almost everyone experiences some level of stress, and for some, it can be so intense that it threatens their health and daily life. In today’s fast-paced world, this is becoming an even greater concern. Imagine how comforting it would be to have someone we could completely trust and rely on when we feel overwhelmed and helpless under extreme stress!
Unfortunately, this is rarely the case in real life. First, it’s uncommon to find someone we can fully trust and rely on, and second, our own egos often hold us back from letting go. We tend to want control over everything. According to spiritual wisdom, there is indeed someone we can completely trust and surrender to. Yet, because of our own ignorance, we continue to suffer.
Before exploring whom we can fully trust and surrender to, let’s consider whether we actually have control over everything in our lives. Take, for example, our health: we can take numerous precautions to avoid illness, yet we may still fall sick. Similarly, once we’re unwell, we can take steps to aid recovery, but despite all our efforts, the outcome is uncertain. While we can control our actions—like maintaining a healthy lifestyle or following treatment—controlling the results is beyond our reach.
This same logic applies to other areas of life: education, career advancement, relationships, and more. With a reasonable mind, we can acknowledge that we control our actions, but not always the outcomes. When we attempt to control every aspect of our lives according to our own desires, stress inevitably follows.
Naturally, we might wonder: if outcomes aren’t fully within our control, then what actually determines them? Is it fate or destiny? In my previous blog, “Do We Have a Fixed Destiny?” I explored this topic in detail. Essentially, outcomes are governed by the law of karma, which holds us accountable for our current state. Our past actions shape where we are today, and our present actions influence our future. This is governed by Cosmic Intelligence.
The law of karma works on the principle of “as we sow, so shall we reap.” While our actions shape our outcomes, the effects often extend beyond a single lifetime, making it difficult for ordinary intelligence to fully comprehend. Thus, it is wise to place our trust in and surrender to Cosmic Intelligence.
However, our ego often stands in the way, making surrender difficult. It may prompt us to believe that surrendering is a sign of weakness and that we should control everything in our lives. But it’s important to remember that surrendering isn’t about giving up our actions; it’s about releasing control over the outcome.
Once we’ve taken all the necessary steps to achieve a favorable outcome, we can relinquish our worries and leave the result to a higher intelligence. For instance, if we are unwell, we seek the best treatment available but ultimately trust Cosmic Intelligence with our recovery. Similarly, as students, we prepare diligently for exams, but after completing them, we let go of our concerns about the results. We accept whatever outcome comes, reflect on it, and strive to improve in the future.
This is not an act of cowardice, nor are we giving up. Rather, it’s a wise choice to release worries about things that are beyond our control. At the same time, we should remember that Cosmic Intelligence does not work randomly, neither it is our fate or destiny. It is our own past actions that shape our present, and we are responsible for the outcomes we experience.
Cosmic Intelligence represents the intelligence of Cosmic Consciousness, which is the Absolute. “That Thou Art” – we are not separate from Cosmic Consciousness. We can refer to it by any name we choose.
How peaceful it feels to surrender completely to someone we trust when we’re overwhelmed by stress and feeling helpless !!