Only the strong can Surrender. The strength of faith and knowledge that after a good days work, lived honestly and having given our best, we need not worry about the result. Surrendering the anxiety of the outcome.
It’s easy to Surrender in distress – sitting outside an operation theatre or in financial ruin. But that could also be reaching the limit of our emotional capacity and letting go, allowing life to take care.
True test of Surrender is in prosperity. When we don’t get egoistic and arrogate our success and fortune to our limited being but Surrender results to the Higher with grace, gratitude and humility. And accept that the outcome of course has an element of our efforts, but several others and circumstances have played their role as well.
Does this mean we shouldn’t be ambitious ? Of course we should. Setting the highest goals, aiming to innovate and create the best, striving for achieving and setting standards in society is absolutely essential. We need to inspire ourselves to give our best. Neither are we to Surrender our ambitions nor Surrender giving our best and living out our full potential. It is the anxiety and insistence of the outcome we must Surrender. And it is our ego we must Surrender.
There are several arrows shot forth from us. Like the best bow we need to be strong and balanced, stretching ourselves to the maximum to set forth the arrows of excellence in action in all our endeavours. And yet, every bow knows that once the arrow leaves, the bow is no longer in control. It watches the arrow reach its mark whatever it be. The bow watches with the serenity of Surrender, neither arrogant nor depressed but ready to load the next arrow.
Putting down our bow is running away. That’s not Surrender. Not having a target is irrational, that’s not Surrender. Letting go the moment the arrow leaves and watching it’s flight with faith and acceptance is true Surrender.
I like the analogy of the arrow and the bow explains it well . 👍🏼
And to remember we are only the bow, not the Archer. I still remember your analogy of the flute you shared with me in Cologne !
Not just good, but excellent! Reminiscent of Khalil Gibran, & that, believe you me, is high praise.
Very generous of you to say that Navroze…
Good thoughts and always be yourself🙏
very enlightening Vivek !
Super.Very well explained ❤
Hi Chikki, sorry not to have looped you in earlier. There are 6-7 earlier reflections on the site you can see as well.
Wow. So well articulated.
Thank you Anilji….as has been your articulation on several issues
Beautifully expressed Vivek! Surrender is a tough one for humans…it goes against the nature of the human mind that wants to control everything. I learned early in life that ‘ you are not the doer’…but to accept that is the challenge. Your article reminded me of one of my favourite quotes ‘success is born out of arrogance, greatness is born out of humility’. Thank you for sharing your thoughts…look forward to reading them.
A Superb boast in these times truely the strong can surrender which makes them stronger
Bravo!
Exceptional, like it. No surrender Vivek, no way..
I am not a person with words.
Till today been fighting and keep it on. Loved the way you explained yourself !
Agreed… and there’s a difference between surrender ( with fear ) and Surrender ( with Faith and Knowledge )
Beautifully penned your thoughts
Very well put Vivek. Interesting read .
the only thing is to do the work and not even look at the result
Fully agreed Bhaijan…
Really nice and enlightening. Liked the analogy. Please keep sharing
Thanks Abhijit…one of my closest and oldest friends…
In a sense, today’s COVID-19 forces us to surrender certain aspects of our life. But you have taken us to the need for internal surrender. And when internal and external are aligned our surrender is consistent.
Beautifully put Lorne….
Lots to reflect upon….bow and arrow analogy hits the nail on the head…
A new perspective to the word Surrender.Totally new meanings,and doable ideas.
What a powerful opening statement!
Brilliantly expressed, Vivek.
Thanks for sharing this…..so much to reflect on.
The bow and arrow analogy and the reminder that we are not the archer but the bow is thought provoking. The difference between surrender with fear and surrender with faith and knowledge inspire reflection. One of the comments helped me realize that the desire for control comes in the way of surrender. Thanks for sharing.
True Anjali…control comes in the way of our surrender. Thanks for sharing it so beautifully…
Well placed truth.
I need surrender just to be a bow rather than trying to be the archer!
So true Mike…just last night I was telling Rashida that the further thought was that the bow must have the humility to know its not the Archer and must have faith to Trust the hands that hold the bow.
खूपच सुंदर. धनुष्य आणि बाणाची उपमा तुमची विचारातील प्रगल्भता दर्शवून गेली.
मनापासून धन्यवाद. 👌👌
खूपच सुंदर.
धनुष्य व बाणाची उपमा तुमच्या विचारातील प्रगल्भता दर्शवून गेली.
मनापासून अभिनंदन व धन्यवाद.👌👌
Agree.
Lovely piece Vivek. Congrats. This is the first one I have read of yours. I was reminded of the name we call Lord Krishna – “Ranchhod”, or the person who escaped from the battlefield. This was a strategic retreat, which people need to learn from.
To view our thoughts in words is very comforting. Have a very happy and joyful feeling having read reality.
Bless you!
Surrender is the highest form of Grace bestowed by God on us humans if we are really able to accomplish it from deep within the heart
Great idea to ponder on.
My take on surrender is to accept the ‘flow’ without question. We keep doing things without any sense of achievement, or trying to prove anything. Thoughts on what to do, keep coming as we surrender. They lead to an amazing level, even beyond what we comprehend, most times. Ambition is met without MY effort.