Swami tells a story on Surrender

Swami Says a story on Surrender

Soon after entering the forest, Rama tells Lakshmana, “Lakshmana please locate a spot that seems good and suitable to you and build a small hut for all of us to live. You can decide how the hut should be. Have the hut ready before sunset.

After few hours Rama is back and is greeted by Sita. Rama tells her “I asked lakshmana to suit a hut for us, I don’t see him here, he must  be around somewhere. Please go and see how the hut is coming up, sunset is approaching, and the hut must be ready before that”.

Sita goes in search of Lakshmana but soon comes back running and says “Lord, Lakshmana is sitting under a tree and crying bitterly”.

Rama approaches Lakshmana and asks “Lakshmana, what is the problem? Why are you crying? Did I say anything wrong? All I asked you to build a hut”. 

Wiping his tears, Lakshmana says, “My Lord, is that what you said? You asked me to locate a place I liked and build a hut to suit my fancy”. 

Rama asks “But what is wrong in that? After all, I was going somewhere and I could neither make choices nor give you directions”.

Lakshmana replies, “That may be so, but what about me? How can I decide what is a good spot? What is a comfortable hut and so on, when my mind is surrendered to you”? 

Rama turns to Sita and says, “See my beloved brother? That is what true Surrender means. He has no mind of his own, everything is mine and mine alone. For him, there is no such a thing which is good for him or what is pleasing to him. He does not exist apart from ME”.

(Source - Message of the Lord, from chapter on Bhakti or Devotion, p/369)

Love.