leave the reins in His hands
ਸੋਰਠਿ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ ( ਅੰਗ 626)
ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ਤੇਰੇ ਧਾਰੇ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਡੋਰੀ ਹਾਥਿ ਤੁਮਾਰੇ ॥
When we undertake spiritual practices, we set out to accumulate. We accumulate in the world and be bring the same perspective to religion (See Man is A Shakti-Worshipper). It is this I (see the meaning of haumai) which wants powers and wants to be “enlightened.” But it is this very I which can never have this. You have to lose this I to have it.
ਤਿਲੰਗ ਮਃ ੧ ॥ ( ਅੰਗ 722)
ਆਪੁ ਗਵਾਈਐ ਤਾ ਸਹੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਅਉਰੁ ਕੈਸੀ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ॥
So, when doing practice, we should instead focus on showing up and being focused. In doing so, we leave the reigns to His hands; He shall do as he pleases.
[The mind resists things being simple. So we invent this complexity, and by virtue of this complexity, assert a semblance of control over our journey. But, the more we travel, the more we realize that Gurbani Maharaj speaks the absolute truth: ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥. ਨਦਰੀ ਕਰਮਿ ਪਵੈ ਨੀਸਾਣੁ ॥. It is my divine blessing or mercy that we will have it.]
The whole point of practice is to, as G.K. Chesterton says, provide “room for good things to run wild.” The practice is the superstructure that provides the base and platform for bliss and love.
[Update (a few days later): I believe that there very soon comes a time when only Spirit or God can bring you forward. You can listen to people or read experiences to get started, but the vast majority of the journey (>95% of it), is done with inner guidance. That’s the way it’s always been. And you have to let yourself go into that.]
G.K. Chesterton - Orthodoxy
“And the more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.”
This note is inspired by musings from 2026-08-11.
For an exploration of what to do while practicing, see call upon the vision of divinity.