Divine Grace

Sri Sarada Devi

Q: When will the grace of God descend on me?

A: There is no such rule that grace of  God will fall on one simply because one is practising austerities. In olden days, the Rishis practised austerities for thousands of years with their feet up and heads down and a lighted fire burning under them. Even then only some of them received the grace of God.

Q: Mother, I have practised austerities and Japa so much, but I have not achieved anything.

A: God is not like fish or vegetables that you can buy Him for a price.

Q: Mother, I am coming to you so frequently and I hope I have received your grace, but I do not feel anything.

A: My child, suppose you are asleep on a bed, and someone removes you with the bed to another place. In that case, will you know immediately on waking that you have now come to a new place? Not at all. Only after your drowsiness clears away completely, you will know that you have come to a new place.

Q: How does one get the vision of God?

A: It is only through His grace. But one must practise meditation and Japa. That removes impurities from the mind. One must practise spiritual disciplines such as worship and so forth. As one gets the fragrance of a flower by handling it, or as one gets the smell of sandalwood by rubbing it against a stone, in the same way one gets spiritual awakening  by constantly thinking of God.