Remembering the Graces of God

What does Divine Grace Mean?

Put very simply, grace is a power or shakti of God. From time to time, God showers gifts or blessings upon souls out of compassion for their pitiable state even when they do not deserve it.

God graces souls in two ways. The first is the universal grace that he bestows on all souls, for example, providing living beings with things they need for sustenance during their lifetime. This includes air, water, sunlight, the earth upon which we tread, sources of food, senses of perception that each species needs for protection from predators, and for us specifically, the most valuable human form. These forms of universal graces are causelessly showered upon us even when we do not meet all the criteria for eligibility. 

The second constitutes special graces that are based on an individual soul’s eligibility. These special graces are on a spectrum ranging from what novice spiritual aspirants need to make progress on the spiritual path, all the way to what fully surrendered souls need to break the cycle of life and death. These graces include bestowing divine knowledge, faith, devotion, and divine love for God. While the ultimate divine grace can only be described by those who have received it, a general explanation can be presented based on the experiences described by God-realized saints. 

When a soul’s heart is filled with total helplessness about the lack of success in achieving yog (or union) with God despite repeated efforts, when one is at the end of the tether where the yearning for God surpasses the level of endurance, and when there is no other option but complete reliance only upon God, then He takes charge of the soul’s welfare. Purely out of compassion and love, God showers his grace upon the soul by bestowing divine senses of perception, divine knowledge, and divine love, ending infinite lifetimes of the darkness of ignorance. This in essence is divine grace. 

 

When we intensify our sadhana and devotion relative to our previous state, God reciprocates by showering his grace in proportion to the extent of our intellectual surrender (BG 4.11). If grace is proportional to intellectual surrender, then why do saints say, “You take one step toward God and He takes sixty steps toward you?” 

Why should we Develop Consciousness about God’s Graces?

In the material or spiritual realm, any achievement is possible only due to God’s grace. If it were not for divine grace, we would not have connected with a true Guru to guide us on this incredible journey, nor would we have aligned with a Satsang center or like-minded devotees. All of these are essential for spiritual growth. If we develop consciousness regarding how God’s graces work, we will find ourselves feeling increasingly more grateful for the universal and special graces of God and Guru. 

We need to be constantly aware and conscious of the three remarkable graces of God including a human form, hunger for God-realization, and guidance of a Guru to enable us to reach our ultimate destination. If we value the human form, we will not waste it on frivolous activities because it is unknown when we will receive this form again. Of the 8.4 million species that exist, the human form is the only one endowed with the capacity for purusharth – the option to engage in fruit-bearing karma. Even the celestial gods yearn for a human form because having been born in the bhog yoni, they are unequipped to perform purusharth. If we are consciously aware of this fact, we will utilize this golden opportunity to master the divine knowledge that will transport with the soul upon transmigration to the next life. 

If we are conscious that it is only through the grace of God/Guru that we hunger for divine knowledge, we will intensify our sadhana, make the effort to purify the vessel of the heart and make the commitment to practice the knowledge with diligence. When we realize the tremendous grace of God in connecting us with a Guru who imparts the true knowledge of the Vedas, we will be inspired to make further progress under his guidance. Our hearts will be more receptive to learning and serving the Guru with humility. In the words of Lord Krishna to Arjun:

तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया |
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिन: || 34||

tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśhnena sevayā
upadekṣhyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśhinaḥ

Learn the Truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him with reverence and render service unto him. Such an enlightened Saint can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the Truth. [BG 4.34]

In his commentary on this verse, Swamiji states, “One of the most magnanimous graces of God is when he brings the soul in contact with a true Guru. But the process of transfer of spiritual knowledge from the teacher to the student is very different from that of material knowledge. Secular education does not require deep respect for the teacher. The transmission of knowledge can be purchased simply by paying the teacher’s fees. However, spiritual edification is not imparted to the student by a mechanical teaching process, nor is it purchased for a price. It is revealed in the heart of the disciple by the Guru’s grace when the disciple develops humility, and the Guru is pleased with the service attitude of the disciple.”

When we realize that the Guru’s causeless grace is reflected in his willingness to mentor us until we attain the ultimate goal, our hearts will fill with gratitude. It is the constant experience of gratitude that enables us to fulfill the fourth condition of intellectual surrender needed to receive God’s special divine grace (i.e., to keep an attitude of gratitude toward God). 

How Can We Recognize the Graces of God?

People who expect tangible things from God in response to their appeals for relief from worldly miseries, may not recognize graces if bestowed in unexpected ways. Graces are invisible making them difficult to recognize, especially if we do not have any visual images of what they constitute. Faith in the graces of God/Guru makes it easier to recognize them especially if we know the nature and form of these graces. 

While the Law of Karma binds souls that are not attached to God/Guru, the truly aspiring devotees are bound by the Law of Grace, where God and Guru forgive or overlook minor transgressions and bestow divine droplets of causeless grace from time to time to inspire souls. God’s graces are bestowed in several ways to enable us to attach the mind to God and Guru – our eternal relatives. A few of those are noted below:

• Entry into the Spiritual Realm. The yearning to meet and find a true Guru is a grace of God indeed. There are millions of residents in any given metropolitan city but only a selected number of people are fortunate to be under the wing of a Brahmanishta and Shrotriya Guru at the start of their spiritual journey. The opportunity to participate at a Satsang center and associate with like-minded devotees cannot occur without divine inspiration. Additionally, it is with divine grace that people begin to develop faith in scriptural knowledge and use their freedom to make choices that lead them toward God. God and Guru also shower immense grace by forgiving souls for repeated sins that are committed stemming from attachment to material desires and ignorance of true knowledge. 

 

• Protection of Spiritual Assets. After embarking on the spiritual journey, it is crucial to establish an internal connection with the Guru to profit from his guidance and grace. There are endless ways in which God and Guru protect the spiritual assets of surrendered souls but only a few obvious ones are noted. Devotees are enabled to understand the complex knowledge of Vedic scriptures, develop the deep faith needed to commit to the path, be inspired to offer selfless service to the Guru, cultivate deep devotional and loving sentiments toward God/Guru, and feel motivated to surrender to them to eventually attain God. Through divine grace, such devotees become benefactors and receive protection from harm that could halt spiritual progress. As Shree Krishna told Arjun:

  अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जना: पर्युपासते |
  तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् || 22||

  ananyāśh chintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate
  teṣhāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣhemaṁ vahāmyaham

  There are those who always think of Me and engage in exclusive devotion to Me. To them, whose minds are always absorbed in Me, I provide what they lack and preserve what they already possess. [BG 9.22] 

  A beautiful illustration of this is how Shree Krishna protected the Pandavas from the wrath of Sage Durvasa. The Pandavas gained an enormous reputation for their hospitality to the saints and sages when they were in exile. Owing to the gift of the Akshaya Patra from Surya Dev, the Pandavas were able to feed their guests as long as they arrived before Draupadi – the last one to have her meal – had eaten. Out of jealousy, Duryodhan inspired Sage Durvasa to surprise the Pandavas and provide them with the opportunity for seva to him and his hundred disciples. Knowing full well that the Akshaya Patra would not produce any food after Draupadi had eaten, he convinced the sage to visit at a time when Draupadi would be done with her meal.

  

   

  When the sage arrived with his disciples, Yudhishthir welcomed them and invited them for a meal. They agreed but went to the river to bathe before the meal. However, Draupadi was very worried about how she would feed all of them. She beseeched Shree Krishna for help from Durvasa’s wrath. The Lord appeared before her and asked her to bring the Akshaya Patra. When Draupadi did as asked, the Lord scraped a tiny morsel stuck in the vessel, put it in his mouth, and avowed that all the souls in the universe would feel satiated with the morsel that He ate. This way he protected the spiritual assets of the pious Pandavas who had surrendered to him.

• Conferring Virtuous Qualities. Virtues like compassion, humility, empathy, inspiration, tolerance, patience, perseverance, and detachment from worldly things are divine qualities. While these virtues exist in humans in varying degrees, when they intensify to enhance spiritual practice, know it to be the result of divine grace.

• Reversals and Challenges in Life. The suffering that we experience in life is meant to convince us that the material world is filled with misery due to the absence of permanent sources of happiness. Miseries are designed to teach us to detach from the material world. After being beaten and totally helpless, when we finally surrender to God, He showers his divine grace upon us to permanently release us from the bondage of Maya. Thus, we should perceive miseries as the grace of God. 

  Besides, God, who is seated in our hearts, remains with us throughout our suffering, empathizes with us, and carries us along the path. He gives us the strength and courage needed to withstand the challenges. This is the reason that Kunti Devi asked Shree Krishna for misery when he gave her a boon. In a profound statement, Shree Krishna explained to Arjun:

मच्चित्त: सर्वदुर्गाणि मत्प्रसादात्तरिष्यसि |
अथ चेत्वमहङ्कारान्न श्रोष्यसि विनङ्क्ष्यसि || 58||

mach-chittaḥ sarva-durgāṇi mat-prasādāt tariṣhyasi
atha chet tvam ahankārān na śhroṣhyasi vinaṅkṣhyasi

If you always remember Me, by My grace you shall overcome all obstacles and difficulties. But if, due to pride, you do not listen to My advice, you will perish. [BG 18.58]

Swamiji explains that we souls are not independent of God. If our mind is attached to God 100% of the time and we have intellectually surrendered to God, then by his grace all obstacles and difficulties will be resolved. But if we disregard the eternal wisdom of God and the scriptures under the false belief that our wisdom is superior, then we will not attain God-realization and continue to suffer in this endless cycle of life and death.

How can We Remember the Graces of God at all Times?

Remembering God and his graces go hand in hand. As our devotional practice intensifies and God and Guru pervade the mind, remembering them will become easier due to repeated practice. Here are a few strategies to enable us to remember God/Guru.

• Daily Devotional Practice. We must intensify our daily sadhana or devotional practice to purify the vessel of the heart while acknowledging throughout the practice that it is the result of divine grace that we are at this point in our spiritual practice. We can remember God through systematically established routines like My Daily Sadhana or throughout the day by practicing karmyog (see the September 2022 issue of Samarpan for strategies and resources).
• An Attitude of Gratitude. Make gratitude an integral part of daily sadhana to attract further grace from God/Guru. Gratitude is the second-highest emotion after selfless love that increases our humility. We must consistently express our gratitude to God/Guru for all the universal and special graces we have already received. Using self-talk to drill the same message into the intellect will strengthen our conviction.
• Practice Humility. We must acknowledge the mind’s weaknesses with humility and the extent to which we rely solely on God/Guru for our spiritual growth. Even Arjun had acknowledged that his inner transformation was not a result of listening to Shree Krishna’s extensive sermon before the start of the Mahabharat war, but due to His divine grace. The message is that when we achieve a short-term goal or complete a task that requires unique skills, we must remember that God seated within us inspires us to act in ways to help us to accomplish the task. We must remember that we are the conduits for the manifestation of his wishes. Similarly, if we are unsuccessful, we must accept this too as God's will. Such humility and letting go of doership will attract divine grace (see the August 2021 issue of Samarpan to know more about Practicing Humility). 
• Feel the presence of God. Swamiji says that to practice the presence of God means to love Him intensely to the point that every action is an offering to God. The moment we forget God, the heart compels us to remember Him and the mind slowly diverts to real devotion. When we bring God into our divine consciousness not just during prayer, but also when engaged in any task, we will start to intuitively feel His presence if we believe that He is everywhere and a witness to our thoughts and actions. Several strategies to practice the presence of God are described in the October 2021 issue of Samarpan.