The Other Face of Surrender
The Other Face of Surrender
What does ‘Surrender’ really mean? How do we live from this place?
Often I’ve heard on the spritual path about the idea of ‘Surrender’, being surrendered to the flow of the Universe. And I had ‘ideas’ about what this meant. It sounds great, to just let go, and allow things to flow. But is this really the true meaning of true surrender?...
When the ray 2 predominates and is distorted.
Surrender is actually not just about Ray2, divine feminine in my understanding. This I found surprising when I began to realise it. Neither does it mean to just ‘give in’, to stronger energies for example. In my view, to surrender into the flow is actually to be open to it, allow it AND to ENGAGE with it. We let go, and grab hold, then let go again!
I can see from my own experience how easy ‘surrender’ and the ray 2 impulse can become distorted into inaction and lack of commitment to engage. If we let go with the ray 2 and wait for an idea, or impulse to arise and then don’t act on it or maybe don’t notice it because its still very subtle or formless for example, then we haven’t really understood what it means to surrender into the flow, in my view. The openness of Ray 2 may be the first part of surrender (or even combined with the ray 1 in making the choice to surrender), and then from the void arises an invitation. To me, being surrendered to the flow, to the Universe, is both opening AND engaging through our ‘Heart’ in each moment.
Appearances and Illusions
It seems to be quite prevalent in spiritual circles to talk of surrender and then create a picture of how that appears. Perhaps a ‘guru’ on a cloud for example! I exaggerate, but there’s some truth in it. I think many of us still have ideas of what ‘spiritual’ looks like, and that includes being ‘surrendered’. But what does it really mean? I think there can be subtle and not so subtle mis-interpretations of Surrender, because it can easily be linked to passivity.
Confusions and Distortions: Easier not to…
I think for a long time I confused surrender with doing nothing, expecting things and just waiting for the universe to do something instead! But bizarrely it seems that maybe the universe was waiting for me!
I’ve experienced periods of time when even when things did arise when I was in that space, because the energy behind them was subtle and I wasn’t engaging them because of that, they dissolved back into formlessness again, and I assumed they weren’t authentic.
Expectations…
There’s an authenticity in the distortion. There IS a natural flow of the Universe. The Universe does naturally unfold, and as we attune to that flow, we unfold and evolve our authentic beingness, we flow with it, we become it. But if we expect the universe to deliver and unfold magically before our feet without engaging in the process then we might be waiting a long time. For years I felt a sense of ‘waiting for the universe’, now I feel the universe was waiting for me!
I think its connected subtly (or not) with the idea of ‘flow’, what is flow? Flow implies naturalness, ease of movement, we might envisage water for example. But it seems to me that the ‘True Flow’ doesn’t always appear to flow at all, for it takes us into all the places that are stopping the smooth flow! in order that it can flow more freely.
SO there might be experienced a very subtle or not so subtle interpretation of the flow: perhaps as aligning to a smooth, harmonious lightfilled pathway, that naturally unfolds, for example. So when darkness arises or energy to engage is required, there may be a subtle voice that says ‘how can that be the flow, when it doesn’t feel harmonious?’ and the voice can be vey subtle! A very subtle feeling of it being ‘easier’ or more flowing not to. The feeling may be barely perceptible perhaps? Yet its there, and so there may be a confusion between this and genuine ‘surrendered openness’ and beingness. Perhaps it comes from fear or conditioning. Yet as the song reminds us…
“easier not to, so much easier not to,
and what goes around never comes around to you…”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4HiK8lw7tQ&feature=player_detailpage
If we don’t engage fully with the universe, can the universe fully engage with us?! Yet it seems we’re here to engage with it!
invitation of surrender
As someone who often leans more towards the ray2 aspect of beingness, I didn’t realise until fairly recently that just because you can hold the space that you will naturally fall into the flow. Sometimes that may be so, yet sometimes the flow means to engage with passion, FROM THAT SPACE, to shout or sing and dance! Sometimes it means to engage intellectually, or to process energy, etc. To me a more fuller picture of being truly surrendered is to be open to and accepting of the Universe in the moment, AND to allow authentic beingness to engage and express in that moment: Formlessness and Form.
Commitment
So it seems true surrender is about commitment. It is about commitment to holding the space, walking the path, commitment to being in and engaging with the flow. True Surrender is like holding a dynamic equilibrium and allowing the universe to flow through that, by expressing a given sense of beingness within it.
And sometimes that given beingness might be to be still and silent, and others it might be to be more dynamic, for example.
So, what’s arising in my view is that True Surrender is to let go even of the idea of surrender, and to get on with real living!
Ben
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The subtle art of surrender
Thanks so much for sharing Ben - I found your article very insightful.
In my book you are so right: that when someone has a more gentle 'ray 2' energy (divinely feminine principle), then it can at times dissolve the flow - as you say, true surrender is not accepting 'anything goes', it's about learning to hold that open internal space for authentic beingness to arise.
For me, the curious paradox is, that even the more passionate ray 1 energy of purpose can frequently begin as a subtle vibration which must also be given open space for it to strengthen.
If there's a subtle fear of what that unleashed passion might do, then an identity can so easily dissolve out the early flashes of the ray 1 light.
In which case, I think it is so important then to completely honour the first impulse we feel - give full commitment to it. Then any identity that's blocking the arising of soul can be confronted and dissolved.
The internal space becomes increasingly open so that the subtle vibrations can strengthen into full expression.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Chris
Surrender
Beautiful Ben!
Yes, it's quite common to see misunderstanding of what surreneder means. In conventional circles it's also often deemed as a weakeness, giving in or failure. And as you say in spiritual circles, often as an excuse to really do nothing at all. These explorations are invaluable on the road to undertanding what surrender is not.
I have often been deemed having a strong Ray 2 energy. It's true, surrender is a defining tenet of my human experience. When challenges come flooding in my first impulse is often to surrender to the moment - to accept 'this is what is'. And then what? Acceptance creates the space for right action and all the other rays to dance through in whatever way appropriate.
If I am working on some karma or blockage then the dance might at times be more like a momentary rave. But hey, as long as I learn what I need to and allow honesty with myself, integrating and learning the lessons of the universe, then all is well.
Trinity
Thankyou
Thankyou Chris and Trinity!
). It feels to me as if surrender is both the space and what's arising within it somehow, as if surrender in the moment holds both the stillness and the 'action'. Hence as you suggest Chris the Ray1 can be quite subtle and 'surrendered' at times, and if its not fully engaged can easily dissolve back into stillness. Thanks!
I find it really interesting as I begin to understand it more deeply. As you both suggest that space holds within it the potential for energy to arise. It feels to me like being truly surrendered is to hold the potential for the other energies to arise within that space and then to engage them as they do, let them "dance" (as you said Trinity
Ben
Dear Trinity, You
Dear Trinity,
You wrote:
”When challenges come flooding in my first impulse is often to surrender to the moment - to accept 'this is what is'. And then what? Acceptance creates the space for right action and all the other rays to dance through in whatever way appropriate”
Do you mean with acceptance creates the space for right action that, after we accept that we have a certain feeling we should listen to our soul what it wants to do next? Or how it wants to express itself?
Thank You! Sandra
Surrender and action
Nice to see you here Sandra
Yes... Whatever is happening has arrived in this very moment in order to reveal something deeper about ourselves.
If we can accept this, then a huge potential to unravel opens up. I find that the 'perfect' action then arises. It may not be what we would have chosen if we were in the head or in fear about it. It might give us the courage to find an exression of beingness that was yearning to come through. And yes with surrender, we tend to feel the pull of the soul much more. Often the Ray One aspect (the energy of will power) will then arise and perhaps even move mountains.
Trinity
x
Surrender
Thanks for sharing Ben! I was very confused by the 'art of surrendering' as the more i try to intellectualize it, it seem that it ultimately equates to doing nothing and await for magic to happen.
I suppose surrendering entails allowing anything to arise, not judge it and immerse oneself fully to seek out the motivation behind, yet not being attached to it. An observer that experiences, and only in that space of acceptance will authentic beingness be able to pour forth.
The irony of it. Being, as a matter of fact is so simple! Yet due to the many years of conditioning being imposed upon us, we are constantly trying to manipulate the event/situation to fit into our 'ideal reality'. The only way I was aware of how to 'operate' was 'to do', there will always be the need to DO something about it. But if we just let ourselves experience it, doing will unfold naturally from authentic beingness.
Well, now i say to each experience.. take me awayyy...
active surrender...
Hi Ben, I just came across your post, thank you - this is a huge focus for me at the moment.
I have had to quickly grasp what it means to 'surrender'. To drop my 'notion' of surrender and to actively demonstrate surrender to be able to open without pain and anxiety to infusing energy. 'Surrender' is the KEY. But how hard to truly surrender yourself! There's nothing about surrender that the ego enjoys.
For me real surrender is not comfortable. I have observed the scrambling around of my ego, doing all that it can to assert the aspects of itself - that no longer serve me. I think in other cultures surrender is a more accepted commitment. In this society we have a lot to get through to even appreciate the space around surrender. I also realise the journey seems to bring forth constant tests on your surrender. How deep can you go? Have you truly surrendered?
I actually have no choice at this point, if I don't fully surrender to the divine - I'm in a lot of pain. It's been a harsh, steep and fierce learning curve but yes I get it these days - surrender my ego, surrender my feelings, surrender my life. Wish it had been on the school curriculum lol! Thanks for a great post.
expression through surrender
Hi Vinnyestar
thankyou for sharing. I'm glad the post resonated. Yes, it does feel to me like something of an 'art'. Its not simply knowing the theory, but also about applying it and 'practicing', and making mistakes, and learning...
and it seems there are different levels of skill, or dexterity to unfold.
I certainly observe I'm still working with it. It feels like there are finer and finer levels. and in some ways I still feel I'm banging on the drum! perhaps a little clumsy!
One thing I notice more is that we are 'given' to engage. And how truly being in the flow involves engaging. So sometimes even acting when we're not sure. Even when the pull may not be that obvious. there's a trusting, and... EXPRESSING BEINGNESS. Expression is probably a more appropriate way to describe it? It's the active 'face' of Surrender.
Its like there IS a place for 'doing' in a sense, even though it flows from 'Being'. that confused me for some time! and sometimes still does!
So sometimes it might be invited to 'summon' energy and motivation to engage when it feels like its not forthcoming.
It may sound paradoxical in terms of surrender, but I think its about 'reading the landscape'. So as honestly as we can contemplate what we're being invited to do or be, and then to follow that, which may involve 'invoking energy' to move forwards.
And at the same time not coming from a mind led decision(!) but more a Heart felt one. That's my perspective. 'Softening' or expansion, discernment and Expression.
So the journey continues!
Ben
breaking free
Hi Katy
Thankyou for your heartfelt sharing. I'm glad you resonate.
you mentioned to 'actively demonstrate surrender' I think that's really the sense of it, that it is both stillness and action. Being and Expression.
and its not made easy for people with conditioning from society, and the 'ego' which is the voice of that in a sense, questioning and trying to persuade. I guess its feeling those controlling aspects and feeling the truth as well, then letting go anyway. how powerful to break free.
Ben