Contentment is what this Step highlights. In anything in life, the spiritual aspirant is expected to remain contented with what comes of its own accord to meet one’s needs.
This is a great lesson in life, and is an attitude that can be consciously cultivated.
Contentment is the very essence of Tapas. One practices Tapas by choice because through it we develop the virtue of contentment.
By undergoing self-denial deliberately, we train our minds to be contented with whatever comes to us. Tapas is the best training ground for contentment.
Armed with contentment we can face the pinpricks of life with Titiksha; and at the same time ensure that Tapas practices are not used to inflate the Ego.
What appears to be self-denial when seen negatively, is actually contentment from the positive angle. If we can learn to view Tapas in this way, it will make the whole exercise more attractive and fill us with more enthusiasm to practice it. We will have no need to twist the rules and have our own sweet ways.
Surrender to the Lord
In addition to Contentment, this Step fosters the attitude of surrender that the spiritual seeker should have in all matters in life, not just food. The feeling that God is providing exactly what we need should always be present.
Isha Upanishad commends acceptance of everything in world with a sense of detachment and renunciation, without coveting what is ordained for others.
Swami Dayananda Saraswati said: “Prasada, the cheerful acceptance of the situation as it comes to me, enables me to neutralize my ragas and dveshas.
A man’s life is like a see-saw because of likes and dislikes. There is a problem when what I like does not happen. It is also common that what I do not want keeps happening. That is because our likes and dislikes are countless while our knowledge and power are limited.
There is no way of fulfilling all the likes and dislikes with the knowledge and power we have at hand. And therefore, when we accept the situation happily, likes and dislikes no more govern our responses. I am happy if they are fulfilled, I am happy even if they are not fulfilled.”
Problem arises when we want things to either happen or not happen in a particular way. If we have this desire, then, it is impossible at the end to accept whatever comes to us as Prasad, “as ordained by him”.
Every man in this creation must evolve spiritually to a level where, like it was explained in “Kaye na vaacha” talk by the author, surrender his inner and outer instruments, all those instruments which make him even think, to the lord each moment, each second which goes to make 60 seconds x 60 minutes x 24 hours a day.
It is only when one lives in such state, never turning away from one’s duties however, that he rises even beyond the thought of “accepting everything as Prasad given by Lord”, because, he has never kept Lord away from him in such state, for the lord to give anything as Prasad and for him to accept the fruits of all action as Prasad given by the lord. Even the fruits of actions just come and go and he stays tuned with the lord.
So many times we would have just read the prayer of Surrender gifted to us by Swami but it worthwhile to go through the same once sincerely.
PRAYER OF SURRENDER
I am waiting for nothing else than your surrender to Me, and then you do not have to worry any more about anything. Say farewell to all fears and discouragement.
You demonstrate that you do not trust Me. On the contrary, you must rely blindly on Me.
To surrender means: To turn your thoughts away from troubles, to turn them away from difficulties that you encounter and from all your problems.
Leave everything in My hands saying, "Lord, Thy will be done. Thou think of it." That is to say, "Lord, I thank you, for you have taken everything into your hands, and you will resolve this for my highest good."
Remember that thinking of the consequences of a thing is contrary to surrender.
That is to say, when you worry that a situation has not had the desired outcome, you demonstrate that you do not believe in My love for you —you prove that you do not consider your life to be under My control and that nothing escapes Me.
Never think: How is this to end?... What is going to happen? If you give into this temptation, you demonstrate that you do not trust Me.
Do you want Me to deal with it — yes or no? Then you must stop being anxious about it! I shall guide you only if you completely surrender to Me.
And when I must lead you on a different path than the one that you expect, I carry you in My arms.
What seriously upsets you is your reasoning, your worrying, your obsession, and your will to provide for yourself at any price.
I can do so many things when the being, in his material necessities as in his spiritual ones, turns to Me saying, "You think of it", and then closes his eyes and rests quietly.
You will receive a lot, but only when your prayer relies fully upon Me.
You pray to Me when in pain so that I intervene, but in the way you desire it. You do not rely on Me, but you want Me to adjust to your requests.
Don't behave like sick ones who ask for a treatment from the doctor, all the time suggesting it to him.
Do not do that, but rather, even in sad circumstances, say, "Lord I praise and thank You for this problem, for this necessity.
I pray You to arrange things as You please for this terrestrial, temporal life. You know very well what is best for me."
Sometimes, you feel that disasters increase instead of diminish. Do not get agitated. Close your eyes and tell me with faith, "Thy will be done.
You think of it." And when you speak thus, I accomplish a miracle when necessary.
I think of it only when you trust me totally. I always think of you, but I can help you completely only when you rely fully on Me.
(Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)
Love.
