Abandoning our name and form means surrendering our ego and possessiveness in all respects -- in words and deeds -- and in earnest. This immediately brings everlasting peace and undaunted fearlessness. This is the true and lasting happiness and joy we all look for in the external world but truly resides within us. Once the river (soul) merges in its Mother’s bosom, the ocean (God), there is no need for “flowing” or any other activity except the joy of being in the Mother’s bosom.

Abandonment means merging into the Love and Will of God. Then only we realize that God is acting on us and through us, even if we are weak or frail. All will be well in the end if we simply watch, learn and accept everything good or adverse and consider it a gift from above, unquestionably for the good of our jiva, or soul.

We need to utilize our knowledge to remove our ego, pride, vanity and possessiveness and transform them through humility into Love. This is the only path to enjoyment of the beauty of life. Reach for the ultimate goal where there is no other goal, path, ritual, belief, tradition, good or evil. If we sincerely strive, the ultimate goal lies within us. Love should be our ultimate goal and is bequeathed on us unconditionally. No one is ever void of it. Even Pingala showed us that the ultimate good can come through the lessons learned while clinging to ignorance. No one is permanently condemned. Fresh opportunities always arise if we only choose to take advantage of them through abandonment of self-love for Self-Love.

--Swami Radhanandaji