What Sparks Divine Grace?

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this beautiful post. It reminds me of some words Sri

Amritananda spoke back in 2003, which I've posted here before but

which may be appreciated by newcomers:

 

Speaking of his role as Guru, he said:

 

" I love you. I will give you peace. That is a promise.

 

" I cannot make you see Her. I will do my best, but that is something

that you have to earn. "

 

To further elucidate the process, he explained the Guru-shishya

relationship in terms of modern technology:

 

" When I switch on a computer and its monitor, the programs come alive

and I can interact and work with them. The computer and the power

switch enable my experience of the programs. The guru is like that. It

is just an enabling device. Without it, there is no experience of the

program. And even with it, experience is not guaranteed.

 

" However, the essential conditions are: (1) your having the computer,

the electricity and program, and (2) your willingness to sit in front

of it and work.

 

" Given these two, results are still not guaranteed, but the conditions

have been met for them to occur. Finally, you are the architect of

your realization. "

 

What can I add to that? Probably nothing; and I certainly don't want

to hold myself out as any kind of definitive interpreter of Guruji's

words.

 

What I *can* do, however, is share my personal understanding.

 

I believe that what Guruji is saying here with his " no guarantee "

caveats is that -- in addition to the software (mantra, upasana,

sadhana in general), the hardware (the self, yantra, murthi, etc) and

the electricity (guru and diksha), there is a final, more intangible

element that success in sadhana requires -- which is Divine Grace;

Devi's blessing; and " magic " that happens when we pass beyond the more

objective and scientific elements of sadhana, and cross into the truly

mystical realms that lay beyond everyday, rational speech, expression

and logic.

 

What sparks grace? As Guruji says, there are no guarantees -- no

surefire methods. But I suspect that BHAKTI (utter, unconditional

devotion) and SURRENDER (abandoning our own desires for material

riches and " powers " to use to our own advantage in the mundane world,

abandoning our prayers for particular results, however selfless; and

simply praying that Her will be done through us, whatever that will

may be, and whether or not it suits or own personal hopes and

ambitions. If we can bring ourselves to that point -- and of course it

is not at all easy to do so, but still -- if we can, I suspect that

Devi's Grace becomes all the more likely to descend upon us.

 

At that point, the siddhis are there, but the desire to use them for

whatever personal ends -- wealth, power, control and influence,

revenge, whatever -- have dispersed, and their place taken by a higher

wisdom -- Her wisdom.

 

aim mAtangyai namaH

 

 

, " NMadasamy " <nmadasamy wrote:

>

> ....Everything boils down to your intention, sincerity and most

> important of all BELIEVE/FAITH. You dont have complete faith, no

> matter how many thousand times you recite, nothing will come your

> way.

>

> But the question is : What are you going to do with all these so

> call powers when you get them? For the good of the humanity or to

> use it to hurt another or to show it off around for others to see.

> Yes! indeed you get the blessing of the Guru. Its part of the

> tradition. Whatever you do you seek the blessings and the permission

> of your guru first because they are the one who will be there to

> hold and support you should you fall. Eventually its your effort.

> When you recite all these what are your purposes? Your intentions?

> When you want to do something good for another because you want

> something in return from them or out of love?

>

> When you do get the such so called powers, its not suppose to be

> brag around and compare with others. hey! look this is what I got.

> let see what you have etc. This is not a competition for you to

> compare and contrast. Its for you to keep it within yourself and use

> it appropriately. Do you go around telling people how many times you

> have sex with your wife? You dont? Do you take pics and show around

> to others how you have sex with your wife? No you dont. So if you do

> not do such why is that when DEVI is concern you do not follow such?

>

> I don't know, this is what I believe. Doing upasana for DEVI is not

> an entertainment show. It is very sacred and personal. How many

> times you recite the LS or the SL should be between you and DEVI,

> just as your lovemaking with your wife, is sacred and should be

> confine in the 'bedroom'. Its the bond that bind the wife and

> husband.

>

>

> , " yraghuveer " <yraghuveer@>

> wrote: