The Nature of Grace

[Guest guest]

There was some discussion of Grace on a and what it means. It

is possible that the term "Grace" the way it is used in certain eastern

traditions has a somewhat different meaning than it is given in

Christianity. The great Jnani Sage of Arunachala, Ramana Maharshi, often

said that Grace is never absent. Like the Sun shine equally on all, Grace is

there for everyone. Grace is the power of Self. Grace is Shakti. Shaktipat

and spiritual practices to become aware and awaken the Shakti, of course,

may be important. Many fascinating, bizarre, and even frightening

experiences can occur in meditation, sleep, and dream states for people with

the awakening of the inner energy. Similarly, Kundalini experiences as the

Shakti rises up can lead to pleasant and blissful visionary experiences,

astral travels, and access to celestial realms. But whatever the nature of

one's experiences, good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, the appearance of

deities or monsters, one should remember that Grace is always there. That

context of surrender and faith is important. Even if the Kundalini awakening

is abnormal and one has to go through various sufferings, anxiety, fear, and

agitation, one may consider it a natural part of the process. Although

spiritual practices and efforts are helpful, it is not possible to know the

highest state through one's efforts alone. It is because the one making the

effort has too many burdens. So trusting in Grace means surrendering one's

burdens to the Lord, the Shakti, the Goddess. Not my will but thine O' Lord

is what the Christian mystics say. So Grace is the bridge that links the one

who makes the effort to the effortless state of one's own nature. Grace is

the Mother, the Shakti, the great power of the Self. She manifests as the

mind and the supermind and as Shakti in motion. She is the bridge that links

the individual soul to the Universal Being, and reveals that She Herself has

manifested as individual consciousness which in essence is identical to

Universal Consciousness.

 

I will be offline for 8-9 days due to Thanksgivings vacation in the U.S. and

will catch up with the mail after that. Sorry if the responses are delayed.

Wishing you all well and the company of good and kind and generous people in

your lives.

 

Love to all

Harsha