In the spiritual journey, there are broadly two paths: the path of analysis and the path of surrender. For most, logic, reason, and structured thinking serve as the foundation for inner inquiry. But for a rare few, who are courageous surrender becomes the gateway to Realisation.
Surrender is difficult because it demands dropping of the ego. That very ego wants benefits, security, and guarantees. And yet, surrender means the complete dissolution of this ego. The capacity to bow down. To surrender is to accept someone as an authority without condition. This is where the ego resists most. It questions: "Is this person worthy of my surrender? In doing so, it holds entrance exams for potential teachers. Even if someone clears them, the ego still continues testing—daily. Thus, the relationship of surrender never truly begins.
Ego is built on personal likes and dislikes, and a rigid framework of what is “right” and “wrong.” These two, preferences and conditioning, are the pillars of ego. To let go of the ego, means to let go of both. But the paradox is: you cannot drop the ego on your own—because the very tool you are trying to use is the problem. That is why surrender becomes essential. It is not about finding the perfect person to surrender to. It is about cultivating the inner attitude of surrender—where you stop insisting that everything must align with your terms.
It’s easy to garland a photo, to worship an image, to say “I surrender” to a silent idol. Because it doesn’t challenge you. It doesn’t speak back. Surrender becomes difficult when the object of surrender is alive and present, because a living person who may not always conform to your ideals.
The ego is always seeking validation through carrying a burden, in the name of duties and responsibilities. We often feel only when we carry burdens, our existence has meaning. Swami Rama Tirtha gives an analogy - a man sits in a train with his luggage on his head!. Similar is our life too. Most offload one burden only to pick up another.
Surrender is not blind submission. It is a conscious act of trust—a trust that whatever happens is ultimately for the good. The attitude of surrender asks, “Can I let go of control?”— and that is the beginning of growth. To walk the path of surrender is not weakness. It is spiritual bravery of the highest kind.