Self-Surrender – Sri Paul Twitchell

 

   Dear Friends:

 

   The Illuminated Way Letters will be a new monthly service to students and friends who are interested in the path of the ancient science of Eckankar. It will add to your knowledge of comparative paths to the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

   The first subject that is to be taken up and discussed is the very controversial one called self-surrender. Very few people know what this phrase means.

 

   Generally, the attitude towards self-surrender can be divided into three parts – those who have a blurred idea of it, those who have a mental concept of it, and those who have a feeling of it. But none of these are actually self-surrender.

 

   Self-surrender is the real key to spiritual success in the out-of-the-body state. If one is looking for success on any plane in the invisible worlds, this is the way; for only by self-surrender do we gain illumination and knowledge of true spirituality and, of course, entrance into the Kingdom of God.

 

   The question then arises in the mind, to whom does one surrender? The surrender is to the Inner Master, of course, not to the physical form that is seen with the outer eyes, but to Him who comes to you in the radiant form. This is the true Master.

 

   Surrender to the Inner Master is one of the most paradoxical principles which faces everyone who is trying to enter the higher realms of the Deity. Almost every true devotee to God becomes frantic and desperately strives to reach the ultimate goal, or get some light on his problem without surrendering. This serves only to increase his frustration.

 

   There is only one way that is practical universally among the mystics and God-intoxicated. This way is simple but so much of a primary source that we are apt to overlook it. It is the way of the daring, the patient, the enterprising and ambitious. The Inner Master is usually found by sitting in silence, looking into the spiritual eye, not striving or pushing but by gentle patience. Eventually, the Light will come around the watcher like a curtain and the inner ear opens for the Sound Current. Often there is a slow rocking of the body as if it were in a rocking chair.

 

   After this the Inner Master, or what we know as the Spiritual Traveler, steps into the area of the spiritual eye and takes the watcher out of the physical consciousness into the invisible planes. This is simple so far, but it is not yet self-surrender to the radiant form of the Spiritual Traveler (Inner Master).

 

   One can have the Spiritual Travelers in his life but not yet surrender to them. This is the paradoxical nature of God, and it runs through our lives like a thread from the physical situation to the higher experiences. One may have God in his life, but not have Him. One may have the Inner Master, or the Spiritual Traveler in his life, but again perhaps the Inner Master may not have you. If we study this paradox it will easily resolve itself. It is basically placing the attention on the inner self, for this Inner Master is actually Spirit and the form is that whom we know in the outer, teaching us the path to Heaven. 

 

   The release of all tensions and conflict is the first step to self-surrender. Turning all difficulties and problems over to this Inner Master and, of course, turning your inner life over to him, also. It is when anyone can come to this stage that he knows Spirit (Inner Master) has taken over and controls and guides him on the path to God. It takes care of all problems within the material worlds and takes care of any possible situation which might arise on the inner planes. This is a knowing beyond the ken of the senses, a conception beyond the sense world. One can never explain or tell what it is but must lean upon the intuitive knowledge that  "I am Spirit and Spirit is ME!"

 

   It is actually this simple, and by becoming the instrument through which Spirit flows so readily, one is able to accomplish deeds beyond his expectations, find self-healing and the ability to help others in all fields. He will find himself able to ride the Spiritual Currents across the Heavens into the very realm of God, and return to the physical form that was left below on the lower material plane.

 

   Giving up to the Inner Master, Spiritual Traveler, or Spirit, whichever you wish to call IT, is not letting go of free will but making use of it for the Divine Cause. The attention is put on the inner form of the teacher and, therefore, one plans according to the instructions and wisdom received from the inner planes.

 

   This is where the creative faculty and free will are put to use. Like all other faculties of man, these have comparable faculties on the inner planes and the power flows through these to the objective faculty in the physical mind. If one sits in silence waiting for the Spiritual Traveler to come and take him into the cosmic worlds he will likely meet with disappointment. Therefore, he must put his free will to use in determining where he would like to go under the gentle guidance of the Traveler and what might be expected.

 

   If it is right for you to take the journey to the plane of your desires, your will can be fulfilled; but it takes the use of the creative faculty of Spirit to plan and measure out what might be before you in the cosmic worlds. The law is that everything is in accordance to your experience and your belief in these higher worlds.

 

   Man is the master of his life, and only when we harmonize free will with Divine Spirit can our will follow the directings of Soul.

 

   I am always with you.

                                                                                                           Affectionately,

 

                                                                                                               Paul Twitchell