How to maintain the right amount of confidence in one's own devotion?

[Ms. Lakshmi Thrylokya asked: Should a devotee be confident about his/her devotion? How can a devotee know if he or she is over-confident or under-confident? How to maintain right amount of confidence on one's own devotion?]

Swami Replied:- Devotion is linked with God. Hence, it is always better not to have any confidence on one’s own devotion and leave everything to God through total surrender. This confidence is necessary in the matters of worldly life or Pravrutti. In Spiritual life or Nivrutti, total surrender is the best without diverting the eye towards confidence. If one is confident on his/her devotion and if God gives a negative result, the devotee starts abusing God. Such negative result may be good for the Nivrutti devotee in view of God. Confidence in excess always leads to ego. However, in Pravrutti, correct level of confidence is required because such confidence gives strength in the effort. In Pravrutti, God is treated as partial force only (Daivaṃ caivā'tra pañcamam…- Gītā). In Nivrutti, the devotee shall put efforts completely surrendering to God in every step.

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