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154. Self-Surrender

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They think self surrender means to say, "I have no mind. I have no heart. I only believe and follow, for I am nothing."

This is not self-surrender — this is denial of the truth. For it is saying there is a place where G–dliness cannot be —namely your mind and your heart.

G–d did not give you a brain that you should abandon it, or a personality that you should ignore it. These are the building materials from which you may forge a sanctuary for Him, to bring Divine Presence into the physical realm.

Don't run from the self with which G–d has entrusted you. Connect your entire being to its Essential Source. Permeate every cell with the light of self-surrender.

Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson
From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.
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Discussion (3)
December 20, 2010
Surrendering the
yes, i really appreciated this, because like a surgeon you have located the bleeding edges of nihilism; and sewed them back together with Godly kindness;

The needle of truth is given unto a tapestry again.

"Forge a sanctuary" ...
"to be ... the divining fork for that Divine Light, the Shabbos Bride, to enter in ..."

Yes, the 'forging' passion is not ALL; ...
but it is that which, after a surrender has occured; learns and yearns to desire connection, again.

Thank you.
Very meaningful.
Fiona Nyquille
Yellowknife, NWT
December 20, 2010
Bringing Earth Heaven
The idea of surrender is central also to 12 Step recovery, where we often hear, "surrender to win." Modeled perhaps on Jewish belief, it does not mean the surrender of a physical self to another more powerful physical being. It means acceptance, total recognition ("with complete abandon") of our spiritual origin: G-d, in our belief, a "Higher Power," in 12 Step lexicon. At the point of surrender (complete by nature), the physical realm: desire, fear, ego, lust, envy, etc., ceases to have power over us, as that part of "us" has has been relinquished; there is nothing left for physical powers to dominate. Our "golden calf" has been shattered and we recognize the Oneness of our creator. Now we are free to use properly our abilities in the material world.
Richard Wolfson
Portsmouth, OH
December 20, 2010
Great!
Wow, what a fresh way to state self-surrender! Thank you Rabbi Tzvi Freeman.
Anonymous
Australia
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