This article is a translated excerpt from my ebook. For a more comprehensive exploration into this topic, check out my full ebook.
To remain under the will of God doesn't mean living any kind of passive life. The doer is God, it is the ignorance of the living being to consider itself the doer of the work. Accept the fruits of His work - be it happiness or sorrow - like Prasad received in return of worship.
In the Adi Granth, Guru Ji has repeatedly requested God to 'keep us under His will'. Guru Ji's request to remain under the will of God is not because of his insistence on living any kind of passive life.
There are four aspects to life under the will of God.
First, the living being should not be indolent because this world belongs to the Lord and whatever duties have been decided for us in it have been decided by God.
Second, these actions should not be performed with the sense of doership. The doer is God, it is the ignorance of the living being to consider itself the doer of the work, which leads to bondage.
Third, if God is the doer of the work then He is also the enjoyer of the fruits of the work. Victory in victory is His, defeat in defeat is also His. It is expected for the living being to rise above the dichotomy of victory-defeat, praise-criticism etc.
Fourth, the living being should perform his work with a feeling of worship towards God and should accept the fruits of his work - be it happiness or sorrow - like Prasad received in return of that worship, with a feeling of gratitude towards God. Quote from ‘Nirbhay, Nirvair, Akalmurti’ 14.
Here are some questions this text can help answer:
About life and purpose:
How can we live a life aligned with a higher purpose?
What is the true meaning of surrender, and how is it different from passivity?
How can we find peace and acceptance in the face of life's ups and downs?
How can we cultivate deeper devotion and meaning in our daily activities?
About action and outcomes:
Who is truly the doer of our actions, and how does this understanding affect our lives?
How can we let go of attachment to outcomes and find peace regardless of results?
How can we cultivate gratitude for both positive and negative experiences?
How can we approach our work and daily tasks with mindfulness and purpose?
About ego and the divine:
How can we break free from the limitations of ego and connect with something greater?
What role does faith and surrender play in finding inner peace and fulfillment?
How can we cultivate a sense of interconnectedness with the divine and all beings?
What does it mean to offer our work and its fruits as a form of worship?
By tackling these questions, the text offers valuable insights and guidance for those seeking to deepen their understanding of their place in the world and cultivate a more meaningful and peaceful life.
Key Highlights:
Surrender, not passivity: Guru Ji's call to follow God's will doesn't promote laziness, but active participation aligned with divine purpose.
Beyond doership: Actions are performed, but ownership is surrendered, recognizing God as the true doer to break free from the illusion of ego and its bondage.
Fruits belong to God: Whether victory or defeat, praise or criticism, results are offered back to God, transcending the duality of outcomes.
Work as worship: Every action becomes an act of devotion, offering all outcomes - happiness or sorrow - with gratitude as divine blessings.
What the Text Tells and How it Helps:
Redefines surrender: Offers a dynamic perspective on aligning with God's will, encouraging active engagement with a non-egoistic and grateful attitude.
Promotes peace and acceptance: By detaching from outcomes and recognizing God's role, the text encourages inner peace and acceptance in the face of life's ups and downs.
Cultivates humility and devotion: Surrendering doership and accepting fruits as blessings fosters humility and deepens devotion towards the divine.
Provides a framework for mindful action: Offers a practical framework for approaching daily activities with mindfulness, purpose, and detachment, leading to a more fulfilling life.
By challenging the conventional understanding of surrender and offering a practical framework for living aligned with a higher purpose, the text empowers readers to cultivate inner peace, acceptance, and deeper devotion in their daily lives.
This is really interesting!
beautiful.