Arshdeep 88 ji
...my mind was running around in circles like the elephant or camel of Gurbani shabads.
Fighting battles of the mind is what exhausts us and saps our strength. There has not been for me "any point" where I "give up my strength." Giving it up as if I could decide to give it up is beside the point. I already did give it up and never noticed. After running in circles my strength is already gone, zapped, squandered. That is what Guru Nanak is telling us, but I tend to forget. The act of surrender comes in admitting to stupidity and taking a dip in ShabadGuru, getting re-focused, understanding what is important, and that most battles are self-defeating. I will try to find a shabad that makes this point; there are dozens.
So we don't give up our strength. We find our strength by admitting failure and seeking the source of victory in a different place.
OK.. here is one by Guru Ram Das on Ang 234. Imagine a camel roving, snorting, spitting, becoming agitated, wandering from one oasis to the next, kind of like an addict looking for the perfect fix, and getting nowhere. This is a long shabad, and I am posting only part of it. Here the mind is repeatedly cast in the role of the wandering camel who is enchanted with his own thoughts, fixated on his own thoughts which are covered by the veil of illusion which is Maya.
ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
ਕਰਹਲੇ ਮਨ ਪਰਦੇਸੀਆ ਕਿਉ ਮਿਲੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਮਾਇ ॥
Karhale man parḏesī▫ā ki▫o milī▫ai har mā▫e.
O my wandering mind, you are like a camel - how will you meet the Lord, your Mother?
ਗੁਰੁ ਭਾਗਿ ਪੂਰੈ ਪਾਇਆ ਗਲਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਆਇ ॥੧॥
Gur bẖāg pūrai pā▫i▫ā gal mili▫ā pi▫ārā ā▫e. ||1||
When I found the Guru, by the destiny of perfect good fortune, my Beloved came and embraced me. ||1||
ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਧਿਆਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Man karhalā saṯgur purakẖ ḏẖi▫ā▫e. ||1|| rahā▫o.
O camel-like mind, meditate on the True Guru, the Primal Being. ||1||Pause||
ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਵੀਚਾਰੀਆ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਧਿਆਇ ॥
Man karhalā vīcẖārī▫ā har rām nām ḏẖi▫ā▫e.
O camel-like mind, contemplate the Lord, and meditate on the Lord's Name.
ਜਿਥੈ ਲੇਖਾ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਲਏ ਛਡਾਇ ॥੨॥
Jithai lekẖā mangī▫ai har āpe la▫e cẖẖadā▫e. ||2||
When you are called to answer for your account, the Lord Himself shall release you. ||2||
ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਅਤਿ ਨਿਰਮਲਾ ਮਲੁ ਲਾਗੀ ਹਉਮੈ ਆਇ ॥
Man karhalā aṯ nirmalā mal lāgī ha▫umai ā▫e.
O camel-like mind, you were once very pure; the filth of egotism has now attached itself to you.
ਪਰਤਖਿ ਪਿਰੁ ਘਰਿ ਨਾਲਿ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਵਿਛੁੜਿ ਚੋਟਾ ਖਾਇ ॥੩॥
Parṯakẖ pir gẖar nāl pi▫ārā vicẖẖuṛ cẖotā kẖā▫e. ||3||
Your Beloved Husband is now manifest before you in your own home, but you are separated from Him, and you suffer such pain! ||3||
ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮਾ ਹਰਿ ਰਿਦੈ ਭਾਲਿ ਭਾਲਾਇ ॥
Man karhalā mere parīṯamā har riḏai bẖāl bẖālā▫e.
O my beloved camel-like mind, search for the Lord within your own heart.
ਉਪਾਇ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਲਭਈ ਗੁਰੁ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਹਰਿ ਦੇਖਾਇ ॥੪॥
Upā▫e kiṯai na labẖ▫ī gur hirḏai har ḏekẖā▫e. ||4||
He cannot be found by any device; the Guru will show you the Lord within your heart. ||4||
ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮਾ ਦਿਨੁ ਰੈਣਿ ਹਰਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ॥
Man karhalā mere parīṯamā ḏin raiṇ har liv lā▫e.
O my beloved camel-like mind, day and night, lovingly attune yourself to the Lord.
ਘਰੁ ਜਾਇ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਰੰਗ ਮਹਲੀ ਗੁਰੁ ਮੇਲੇ ਹਰਿ ਮੇਲਾਇ ॥੫॥
Gẖar jā▫e pāvahi rang mahlī gur mele har melā▫e. ||5||
Return to your own home, and find the palace of love; meet the Guru, and meet the Lord. ||5||
ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਤੂੰ ਮੀਤੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਪਾਖੰਡੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਤਜਾਇ ॥
Man karhalā ṯūʼn mīṯ merā pakẖand lobẖ ṯajā▫e.
O camel-like mind, you are my friend; abandon hypocrisy and greed.
ਪਾਖੰਡਿ ਲੋਭੀ ਮਾਰੀਐ ਜਮ ਡੰਡੁ ਦੇਇ ਸਜਾਇ ॥੬॥
Pakẖand lobẖī mārī▫ai jam dand ḏe▫e sajā▫e. ||6||
The hypocritical and the greedy are struck down; the Messenger of Death punishes them with his club. ||6||
ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ਤੂੰ ਮੈਲੁ ਪਾਖੰਡੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਵਾਇ ॥
Man karhalā mere parān ṯūʼn mail pakẖand bẖaram gavā▫e.
O camel-like mind, you are my breath of life; rid yourself of the pollution of hypocrisy and doubt.
ਹਰਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਸਰੁ ਗੁਰਿ ਪੂਰਿਆ ਮਿਲਿ ਸੰਗਤੀ ਮਲੁ ਲਹਿ ਜਾਇ ॥੭॥
Har amriṯ sar gur pūri▫ā mil sangṯī mal lėh jā▫e. ||7||
The Perfect Guru is the Ambrosial Pool of the Lord's Nectar; join the Holy Congregation, and wash away this pollution. ||7||
ਮਨ ਕਰਹਲਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰਿਆ ਇਕ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸਿਖ ਸੁਣਾਇ ॥
Man karhalā mere pi▫āri▫ā ik gur kī sikẖ suṇā▫e.
O my dear beloved camel-like mind, listen only to the Teachings of the Guru.
Munn, mind, gets a very bad rap on Sikh forums. We read we are supposed to kill it, destroy it, detach from it, forsake it, burn it and so on. But see how in the shabad Guru Ram Das speaks lovingly of the mind, even inviting it to meet is bridegroom, to be joined with ma-e, mother, the primal source. Guru calls the mind my beloved camel-like mind that was once pure, and is the "breath of life." So the problem is the camel is spending a lot of energy and is still missing the oasis. Nothing is achieved by giving up mind, because absent mind, what will be there to meet the Guru. Surrender comes into the picture when the mind listens to the "Teachings of the Guru."
A quick reply. Forgive any omissions or carelessness.