A Conversation with Aasaan M. Senthamizhan
Introduction
In this thought-provoking conversation, Aasaan M. Senthamizhan explores the profound relationship between innocence and surrender. While many spiritual traditions and modern teachings speak about surrender as a goal to be achieved through practice, discipline, or techniques, Aasaan presents a radically simple perspective: surrender is not something to be practiced—it is something that naturally arises when one becomes truly innocent.
The discussion challenges conventional views on knowledge, education, spirituality, and self-development, inviting listeners to rediscover the wisdom that emerges when we let go of the illusion of control and return to a childlike openness before life and the Creator, Ammai Appar.
Key Insights from the Conversation
1. Surrender Is Not a Practice
One of the central ideas presented is that surrender cannot be achieved through techniques, rituals, or structured practices.
Aasaan compares surrender to sleep:
The harder one tries to sleep, the more difficult it becomes.
Similarly, trying to "practice surrender" is itself a contradiction because surrender begins only when effort and control are relinquished.
2. The Foundation of Surrender Is Innocence
According to Aasaan, innocence is not ignorance or lack of knowledge.
Innocence is the willingness to admit:
- "I do not know."
- "I am not in control."
- "I am willing to learn."
This openness becomes the doorway to surrender.
When a person accepts their limitations with humility, life becomes a process of discovery rather than control.
3. Knowledge Should Serve, Not Rule
Aasaan makes an important distinction between wisdom and accumulated knowledge.
He argues that:
- Knowledge is useful.
- Knowledge can assist us.
- Knowledge should never dominate us.
Instead of leading our lives through borrowed ideas and accumulated information, we should allow knowledge to serve our understanding while remaining rooted in direct experience and self-awareness.
"Knowledge cannot be your boss. You are the boss of your knowledge."
4. Modern Systems Often Suppress Innocence
The conversation offers a strong critique of modern educational, social, and institutional systems.
According to Aasaan:
- People are trained to obey systems of knowledge.
- Questioning is discouraged.
- External authorities often replace inner wisdom.
As a result, many people gradually lose their innocence and become dependent on structures that dictate how they should think, act, and live.
5. The Sea and Swimming Metaphor
One of the most memorable teachings in the conversation is the analogy of learning to swim.
A person can:
- Read books about swimming.
- Learn technical explanations.
- Study the movement of arms and legs.
Yet none of this truly teaches swimming.
To learn swimming, one must enter the water.
Likewise, surrender cannot be understood intellectually. It must be experienced directly through life itself.
6. Innocence Teaches More Than Success
Aasaan explains that a purely goal-oriented mindset often creates anxiety and dissatisfaction.
In contrast, innocence allows a person to:
- Learn from every step.
- Appreciate the journey.
- Grow through experience.
The value of life lies not merely in reaching goals but in the wisdom gained along the way.
7. The Divine Already Guides Us
A powerful reminder throughout the discussion is that human beings were nurtured before they possessed knowledge.
Aasaan points to life in the womb as an example:
- We did not grow ourselves.
- We did not consciously direct our development.
- Life itself carried us forward.
This becomes a metaphor for spiritual surrender:
Just as we were sustained before birth, we continue to be sustained by a greater intelligence throughout life.
8. No External Authority Is Required for Surrender
Aasaan repeatedly emphasizes that no organization, institution, preacher, or intermediary is necessary for surrender.
The path is direct:
- Be alone.
- Observe yourself honestly.
- Acknowledge your mistakes.
- Accept who you are.
- Stand inwardly naked before the Divine.
This self-honesty becomes the gateway to surrender.
9. Darkness Is the Mother of Light
Perhaps the most profound teaching in the conversation is the redefinition of darkness.
Rather than seeing darkness as something negative, Aasaan describes it as:
- The source of light.
- The womb of wisdom.
- The ground from which understanding emerges.
He encourages listeners not to run away from their fears, flaws, mistakes, and inner darkness.
Only by facing them completely can genuine light arise within.
"Darkness is the mother of light."
10. Surrender Is Radical Self-Acceptance
At its deepest level, surrender is neither passivity nor defeat.
It is:
- Accepting oneself completely.
- Releasing the burden of control.
- Letting go of guilt and pretence.
- Trusting Ammai Appar wholeheartedly.
From this state, wisdom emerges naturally.
Memorable Quotes
"The idea of surrender is accepting the truth that we are nothing."
"Knowledge cannot be your boss. You are the boss of your knowledge."
"You cannot practice surrender."
"If you want to swim in the sea, you must first accept that you know nothing about the sea."
"The innocence of a fetus feeds it, strengthens it, and brings it forth as a complete human being."
"Darkness is the mother of light."
"Only you and God. Nothing intervenes between you."
Conclusion
The conversation presents innocence not as childishness, but as a profound spiritual strength. It is the courage to admit that we do not know, the humility to stop controlling life, and the willingness to trust the wisdom that already resides within us.
In a world that constantly demands certainty, achievement, and expertise, Aasaan invites us to rediscover the forgotten power of innocence. Through that innocence, surrender arises naturally—not as a practice, but as a state of being.
Ultimately, the message is simple yet transformative:
Become innocent, accept yourself completely, and surrender to Ammai Appar. In that surrender, wisdom, peace, and clarity unfold on their own.
Full Transcript
Lavanya
Vanakkam. Today we are going to talk about a very subtle and profound topic: Innocence, the Elixir of Surrender.
Vanakkam, Aasan.
In our previous short session on anxiety and resistance, we briefly talked about surrender. Today I would like to explore this a bit more deeply with your guidance.
What I understand is that surrender to Ammai Appar, the Supreme, is the simplest and most natural thing to do. But for many people, it feels difficult, even distant. They find it very difficult to grasp it.
Some people even feel that surrender requires a lot of practice, plenty of time, and discipline. There are also people who do not even know that such a thing called surrender exists.
What they do is keep searching everywhere for answers to their questions and struggles. Even when they are trying to understand themselves, they go to people, practice meditation, and reach out to organizations or professionals for support, often without understanding what they really need.
So today I would like to ask:
- What is surrender?
- What does it really mean?
- Why do we feel the need to surrender?
- What is really needed to surrender?
- Why is innocence essential to surrender?
Aasaan M. Senthamizhan
Lavanya, that's fine. It is good to have a conversation with you again.
It always surprises me when I hear people talk about practicing surrender.
What an irony.
If somebody is trying to sleep, he will not sleep. Actually, sleep is the best way to surrender.
In our Tamil marapu, in our tradition, death and sleep are almost equal. Both insist that we do nothing. Both instruct us that we have got nothing to do.
To sleep and to be alive forever are impossible. One cannot be alive forever. One cannot be without sleep forever. These are similar things.
These ideas have been taught in our tradition. Thirukkural has stated this idea clearly.
Let me come to the core of the question: why innocence is an essential part of surrender.
The idea of surrender is accepting the truth that we are nothing.
It is the very basic thing—to accept that we are nothing.
Innocence compels us to accept that we are nothing.
Surrender is neither a philosophy nor a theology, because it is the truth.
Let me state one thing clearly: truth is not a philosophy. It is a simple thing. Actually, it is the simplest thing.
When you are trying to do something with knowledge, a job or venture may be successful. Sometimes it may fail.
When you succeed, you think your knowledge helped you and guided you.
When you fail, you think you did not learn well enough.
Do you see the difference?
In both circumstances, you place knowledge before your own inner self and your own capability of knowing.
That is a bad thing.
Knowledge cannot lead you everywhere you wish to go. Knowledge can assist you by walking behind you.
As a person, as a human being, you must lead the way yourself.
You may gain knowledge. You may learn many things. Those ideas, lessons, and guidance should follow you by assisting you.
Knowledge cannot be your boss.
You are the boss of your knowledge.
If something does not help you, misguides you, or is unfit for the context you are leading, you should shed it and continue.
Everything I have explained so far comes from innocence.
When you are innocent, you keep learning.
When you accept that you are innocent, you become eager to learn.
An innocent person eventually leads life according to his own ideas and wishes, with the grace of God.
Lavanya
