*How to Seek God**Swami Yatiswarananda*

*How to Seek God*

*Swami Yatiswarananda*

Chapter # 7
BHAKTI YOGA: SELF - SURRENDER
Page: 62

The breeze of divine grace is continuously blowing. Once we unfurl our sails and catch the breeze,  our task is very much lightened. But that is not enough. The helmsman should guide the boat in the right direction; otherwise, there is the risk of losing direction.  Similarly, we should use our discrimination and hold on to the right path. This is quite necessary until we achieve complete self-surrender at His feet. The ego vanishes completely only in samadhi. But we can practice self-surrender in our own way, offering Japa and meditation at His feet and praying: 'O Lord!  guide our understanding. ' That is the best prayer. Without His blessings,  how much perfection can we achieve by our effort alone? But how many are willing to surrender themselves in this manner? We want to use God; we do not want Him for His own sake. We pray to Him to remove our misery. We need Him only for our selfish ends.

' _Smarane na kalah_ ' There is no specific time for remembering the Lord. Sincerity is the only essential requirement. We should ask ourselves,  'Since the Lord dwells in me all the time, why should I not think of Him always? With one part of our mind we want the Lord; with another part of it, we don't want Him. The ego stands as a barrier between us and Him. Here comes the question of self-surrender.  Swami Turiyananda Ji used to tell me that complete self-surrender comes only in the end. Till then we have to act as the Lord advised Arjuna,  '  _Mamanusmarayudhyacha_.  Fight the battle of life and at the same time think of the Divine which is the only Reality behind all names and forms. Strengthen the spiritual thought-currents.