December 25, 1996 – Christmas Day
Lake Lucerne, Switzerland
Self-reliance needs enormous courage. When there
is nobody else or you want to depend on yourself for everything, you need a lot of courage.
Surrender needs less courage.
A person who cannot surrender cannot be self – reliant either.
If you don’t have enough courage to surrender, then it is not possible to be self – reliant; you simply fool yourself. If you don’t have a hundred dollars, you cannot have a thousand dollars. Even a little fear is detrimental to self – reliance.
Self – reliance contains surrender. Fifty dollars contains ten dollars.
Often people think that surrender is a way to escape from their responsibilities, then they end up blaming the Divine for all their problems. In fact, true surrender is taking total responsibility for everything.
Susannah: How can we do that?
Gurudev: You take responsibility and you pray for help.
Surrender eventually leads you to self - reliance because there is nothing other than the Big Self.
News Flash:
From Bangalore, 45 devotees traveled with Guruji to Madras, where a Satsang of 3,500 people served as a farewell party on the eve of his departure from India. A choir composed of 70 school girls serenaded the Master with heartfelt bhajans in a gigantic marble hall.
India’s bougainvillaea, coconut palms, and warm December weather have shifted to Switzerland’s mist-shrouded Alpine peaks, snow-laced trees, and the swans on Lake Lucerne. Course participants have gone into silence this morning to celebrate Christmas in a deep and authentic way.
Gurudev’s message for Christmas:
Be a fountain of love
