"The very first step in understanding what this is all about is giving up the concept of an active, volitional 'I' as a separate entity and accepting the passive role of perceiving and functioning as a process." - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Guru's Grace

From Sri Annamalai Swami's Diary Extracts

On another occasion Bhagavan (Ramana Maharshi) explained the importance and the greatness of satsang by quoting from the Suta Samhita.
Those who are seen by the eyes of jivanmuktas are freed from many kinds of sins and become themselves jivanmuktas. The family of the jivanmukta is purified. His mother herself is a person who has done what needs to be done. The whole earth is purified by him.
After saying that there were many other passages in the Suta Samhita which glorified jnanis, B went on to say, 'When a jnani is born in this world, the devotees, the disciples, those who are indifferent to God and even sinners are all benefited. The life histories of many people exemplify this.'

Since B was so frequently extolling the greatness of satsang and grace I once asked him, 'It is said that moksha is attained easily only with the grace of the Guru. How is that so?'

B replied, 'The house of moksha is not anywhere outside. It is within everyone. Whoever has a strong desire to attain moksha is being pulled by the Guru who is within. The Guru who is on the outside raises his hands and pushes him inwards. This is how the Guru's grace operates.'

B quoted two of his favorite verses from Kaivalya Navaneetam in which the disciple thanks the Guru for giving the grace which enabled him to realise the Self.
'Lord, you are the reality remaining as my inmost Self, ruling me during all my countless incarnations! Glory to you who have put on an external form in order to instruct me! I do not see how I can repay your grace for having liberated me. Glory! Glory to your holy feet!
'The Master beamed on him as he spoke, drew him near and said very lovingly: 'To stay fixed in the Self, without the three kinds of obstacles (ignorance, doubt and knowledge derived from false premises) obstructing your experience, is the highest return you can render me.'

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सर्वभूताधिवासं यद्भूतेषु च वसत्यपि।
सर्वानुग्राहकत्वेन तद्स्म्यहं वासुदेवः॥

That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings,
who is the giver of grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being:
I AM THAT. -- Amritabindu Upanishad