Instead of wandering in the maze of thoughts, give Me the faculty of mind — which is epitomized by, and as, attention (itself.)

Instead of being tossed about by the waves of emotions, give Me the faculty of emotion — which is epitomized by, and as, feeling (itself).

Instead of seeking bodily pleasure and avoiding bodily pain, turn the body toward Me, and (altogether) give Me the body — through full feeling-attention, enacted through constant devotional service to Me.

The faculties of mind (or attention), emotion (or feeling), and body are connected to one another via the breath — and, thus, the gesture of surrender to Me must also be done via the breath.

Therefore, altogether, in the right and true practice of Ruchira Avatara Bhakti Yoga, mind (or attention), emotion (or feeling), and body are given over to Me, and breathed in heart-Communion with Me.

Avatar Adi Da Samraj, Da Love-Ananda Gita

Avatar Adi Da Samraj's emphasis on surrendering the faculties of mind and emotion (respectively, attention and feeling) is very significant. The surrender of the faculty of mind is not a struggle with the contents of the mind: trying to change the thoughts that are arising to something more "positive", trying to "empty the mind", etc. It is a direct turning of the root of mind — attention — to Avatar Adi Da Samraj. Thoughts may continue, but one's attention is on Him. Eventually, the stream of thoughts will subside naturally, because we are not giving them any attention. (But note also that we are not even "watching" them to see whether they have subsided.)

In a similar manner, the surrender of the faculty of emotion is not a struggle with the emotions themselves. It is a direct turning of the root of emotion — feeling — to Avatar Adi Da Samraj. Emotions may continue, but one's feeling is directed to Him. What exactly does that mean? Adi Da Samraj elaborates:

Instead of letting attention wander into all your reactive emotions, give your attention to me emotionally — in other words, relate to Me with feeling, give yourself to Me with feeling, feel Me, do more than just notice Me. . . . The heart must find Me.

Therefore, by always first (responsively, actively, and intentionally) "Locating" the feeling-Place in you that already and presently and effortlessly feels Attracted to My Avatarically-Born bodily (human) Divine Form, and My Avatarically Self-Revealed Spiritual (and Always Blessing) Divine Presence, and My Avatarically Self-Revealed (and Very, and Transcendental, and Perfectly Subjective, and Inherently Spiritual, and Inherently egoless, and Inherently Perfect, and Self-Evidently Divine) State, Yield (responsively, actively, and intentionally) to the feeling of the Inherent "Bright" Attractiveness of My Avatarically-Born bodily (human) Divine Form, and Yield (responsively, actively, and intentionally) to the feeling of the Inherent "Bright" Attractiveness of My Avatarically Self-Revealed Spiritual (and Always Blessing, and progressively by-Me-Avatarically-Self-Revealed) Divine Presence — and, by all of this, responsively, actively, and intentionally Yield (and more and more deeply forget) your ego-"I" (or your own action of separation, separateness, and separativeness) in the "Bright" and Very Space of My (progressively) by-Me-Avatarically-Self-Revealed (and Very, and Transcendental, and Perfectly Subjective, and Inherently Spiritual, and Inherently egoless, and Inherently Perfect, and Self-Evidently Divine) State.

Avatar Adi Da Samraj, Da Love-Ananda Gita

What makes possible the surrender of the faculties (as opposed to struggling with the contents) is the presence of the Divine in the human form of Avatar Adi Da Samraj. Attention is attracted naturally and spontaneously to the tangible Divine. The heart is moved to feel, in response to the tangible form and presence of the Divine. This is a primary difference between the practice of Adidam, and spiritual practices that involve working on oneself — trying to empty the mind, think positive thoughts, etc. — or contemplating oneself — one's breath, one's thoughts, etc. Self-transcendence can only occur when the faculties are no longer self-absorbed but are rather absorbed in God.

This turning of the four faculties can be lived in every circumstance of life. With practice, this devotional "Yoga" becomes real Divine Communion with Avatar Adi Da Samraj. Such Divine Communion is true "ecstasy" ("ex stasis": "to stand outside oneself") because instead of their usual and painful self-meditation (on one's own thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations), the faculties are turned to (and, over time, absorbed in and Filled by) That which is Perfect Bliss.

The surrender of the faculties is all about becoming absorbed in the Divine, to the point of forgetting self (and the suffering of self). Therefore it is essential that that "surrender" not be accompanied by a "measuring" to see if the body-mind now feels better, circumstances are getting better, etc. Such a self-meditation would defeat the purpose of Ruchira Avatara Bhakti Yoga!

It is a matter of this turning of yourself to Me and forgetting yourself, not turning back on yourself to see if anything is changing, taking a quick look to see, "Did it change? Did it move? Am I healed? Do I feel comfortable? Am I relaxed? Give me another dose — do I feel any better yet? Okay, try it again. Is that ache gone? Am I not angry anymore?"

No. It is constant yielding to Me, constant attention to Me, not efforting relative to the contents but forgetting them, disregarding whether they are changing or not. They will inevitably change and pass in any case. Do not give these contents your attention. Give Me your attention, whole bodily, with feeling.

Then, by your not using the contents that are arising, they will fall away. This is how the things that are arising become obsolete. If you use them, if you direct attention to them in any way, they are reinforced. The only way whereby they are released is by your turning from them to Me. . . .

When you experience a moment of attention to God, right away you want to feel better, you want everything to be set right, you want all your karmas to be purified, you want utopia. Therefore, you are always checking yourself out in the midst of your so-called "practice" of devotion to Me, always re-remembering yourself, as if you do not know the purpose of the Way of Adidam and do not know Me.

The purpose of the Way of Adidam is to enter into My Sphere and leave yours!