How a sincere soul submits themself to the Lord.
By Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Jnana-sunya-bhakti: ignorance is bliss and knowledge makes us proud, beside ourselves. Mahaprabhu asked us to be humble and forbearing. If you want to approach the Absolute, this will be your posing.
trnad api sunichena taror iva sahisnuna
amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta: Adi-lila, 17.31)
“Be humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree, never aspire for respect, position, or prestige, and give honour to all.”
This is the best footing to approach the Absolute. If you want to approach the Absolute, you nature should be such. Then your approach may be fruitful.
“Do not desire any position or prestige for yourself, and always be ready to give it to others,” means, “Try to feel your insignificant character.” If you can do so, you will be able to draw the attention of the higher. If you feel yourself to be poor as anything, to be the poorest of the poor, then you will be able to draw the attention of the Supreme towards you. “I am needy. I am the most needy.” First feel yourself to be this, then put forward a petition. “I am the most in need of Your grace, my Lord.” It is a simple thing. “I am the most needy, the most desolate. Please help me.” It is a simple attitude.
Surrender is real and practical. Otherwise, it is only limited hypocrisy. He is omniscient. He sees everything, even the subtlest things. He can see what is within us. He can see within us what we cannot see. It is not very easy to acquire the qualification necessary to approach the Absolute.
Source
Spoken on 24 September 1985.
