“Ishvara-Prandidhana” means “surrender to the lord” or “to dedicate all of one’s actions to the Lord and to surrender their consequences with total faith.”  In yoga the Lord or God is also referred to as the Self - the changeless transcendental consciousness that governs the cosmos and the individual being.  The Bhagavad-Gita says, “The Lord abides in the heart region of all beings.”   To surrender to the Lord  means to dedicate ones’s every thought, word and deed to the Lord.


“To be released from the unconsciousness that separates you from the true Self, you must surrender the distortions and filters of the self-image to God.”    -Gurudev


When we surrender  to the Lord we must let go of all of our personal agendas with the intention to awaken to Reality, Self or Truth. This faith, trust and devotion to a higher Source is the essence of bhakti yoga - the yoga of devotion or love.


“Love must first arise in on’s heart before he can possibly surrender to the Lord. In order to generate love in one’s heart, the seeker must move close to a saint, a Sadguru or a true scripture. Only a lit lamp can light an unlit lamp.”    -Bapuji


The love of Truth, arising in our hearts,  generates a natural force that leads us in the direction of dedication and service.  Love, dedication and service are clearly illustrated in the devoted care a mother gives her child. In order for us to surrender to the Lord we must devote ourselves to the Lord in the same way that a mother devotes herself to her child. Foremost in our hearts,  minds and actions is our devotion and love of the Truth.


Bapuji says, “If we perform one hundred actions for ourselves everyday, can’t we perform one or two actions for our beloved Lord who is our true relative and well-wisher? After all actions dedicated to ourselves are useless actions and bring only pain; but actions dedicated to the Lord are genuine actions and bring true happiness.”