The Hindu Article - Descent of divine grace

[Guest guest]

Date:17/07/2003 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2003/07/17/stories/2003071700280800.htm

 

Miscellaneous - Religion

 

Descent of divine grace

 

 

CHENNAI JULY 17. A pilgrim on the spiritual path undergoes a wide

range of experiences as a result of his practices during the course

of his evolution towards realising God. It is imperative for him to

know that the goal he is seeking is enlightenment, which will

liberate him from rebirths. He should also be clear about the means

to realise this objective and adopt a method suitable to him and

pursue the end relentlessly. But there are exceptions to every rule.

The works of saints describing their mystical experiences often

express their humility— that they did not deserve divine grace. This

gives insight into the truth that it is God's grace, which ultimately

bridges the chasm between man and God. There is a saying in spiritual

lore that if an aspirant takes one step towards God, He reciprocates

by taking a hundred steps to embrace His devotee.

 

The life of Mannikavasagar testifies to this truth. As the prime

minister of the ruling Pandya king even though he was well versed in

the scriptures and the arts his life was one of active engagement in

the world. The turning point came when he went on a mission to buy

horses for the king and instead happened to be drawn to his spiritual

preceptor at Tiruperundurai hearing him chant the Divine name. His

transformation was instantaneous and he immediately grasped the

distinction between the shallowness of the life he was leading and

the opportunity God had given to him for self-introspection to attain

enlightenment. He felt the power of divine grace drawing him into the

light of consciousness. It was the moment of reckoning in his life,

which opened his inner eye to behold the truth of his spiritual

nature.

 

In his discourse, Sri T.V.Venkataraman said the saint's composition,

the Tiruvachakam, revealed that initially the spiritual

transformation happened unconsciously in his life but that it became

conscious knowledge after meeting his Guru and experiencing the

descent of grace. Manikkavasagar literally died to his senses. All

his faculties ceased to beguile him towards the world and he became

totally alive to God. The saint's description of his mystical

experience gives insight to spiritual aspirants that the first step

is to acknowledge that there is ignorance in the mind. Only when a

person is aware of darkness then he will seek light; otherwise he

tends to compromise with darkness. In spiritual life only when one is

aware of one's ignorance then there will be receptivity to the

operation of divine grace.

 

© Copyright 2000 - 2002 The Hindu