Question : How can I surrender to the Holy Name?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
The Holy Name is non-different from the Person, Krishna; realization of this fact is very important in order to improve our chanting. Thus, surrendering to Krishna is surrendering to the Holy Name, and visa versa. We can progressively surrender to the Holy Name by placing complete faith in the Holy Name as our only shelter and cultivating the habit of chanting diligently, attentively and in a mood of dependence upon the Lord. Mahaprabhu teaches that one should cultivate humility like that of a blade of grass, become more tolerant than a tree, always offer all respects to others, without expecting any honor in return. (Cf. Sikshashtaka 3)
Our acharyas have identified the six-fold process of surrender as follows: (1) becoming completely humble; (2) dedication of one’s self, body, mind and words and all one possesses to the Lord’s service; (3) accepting whatever is favorable & (4) rejecting unfavorable to please the Lord; (5) having complete confidence that Krishna will protect me and (6) seeing Krishna as one’s sole maintainer.
We can conscientiously endeavor to cultivate these qualities in relation to chanting the Holy Name, such as seeing ourselves as tiny and helpless without the shelter of the Holy Name, accepting only that which enhances our attraction for the Holy Name, avoiding unfavorable habits and offenses, developing faith in the protection of the Holy Name, dedicating our body, mind and words and so on. In short, surrender is an ongoing process, not an event that happens in a moment, and it takes continuous cultivation and practice in the mood of surrender.
