Surrender: A Story of Two Twigs and the River

After heavy rains, two twigs fell into a river flowing toward the ocean.

The first twig resisted.

It thought to itself, "I will not allow the river to flow  and will remain in control". Day after day it struggled, growing tired, frustrated, and bitter.

The second twig took a different approach.

It floated effortlessly with the current. But as it drifted downstream, a subtle pride arose within it.

"Look how well I am helping the river reach the ocean," it thought.

The river remained silent, carrying both twigs alike.

Weeks later, the river widened. The scent of salt filled the air. The ocean was near.

The first twig felt defeated.

The second twig felt victorious.

Soon, both entered the vast sea.

In that moment, a realization dawned upon them.

The first twig understood:

"I never had the power to stop the river."

The second twig understood:

"I never had the power to help the river."

The river had been flowing toward the ocean long before either twig had fallen into it and would continue long after they were gone.

One twig exhausted itself through resistance.

The other exhausted itself through pride.

One carried the burden of "I must stop this."

The other carried the burden of "I am making this happen."

Both burdens arose from the same illusion:

The illusion of doership.

The Essence of Surrender

True surrender is neither resisting the flow nor claiming credit for it.

Life is already moving through a greater intelligence.

When we drop the burden of "I am the doer," peace naturally arises.

That is Surrender!!!