Blog Posts

There must be Purushartha also. Only when you do Purushartha, the grace will come. A
professor will not answer the questions for you and make you pass. The Gita says, “Uddharet
Atmanatmanam”. One should raise oneself. Grace only helps one to raise oneself. Everybody
should work out his own salvation. You may ask, “What is grace then?”. If an aspirant gets
letters from his preceptor, clearing his doubts, that is grace. If an aspirant comes here, takes
Ganges bath and hears the lectures here, that is grace. Many people are thirsting, even
croropathis (those who possess crores of rupees) are thirsting to come and bathe in the Ganges,
but all do not get a chance of coming and having their wish fulfilled. If good books are available
for Svadhyaya (study), it is grace. If one enjoys good health for doing Sadhana, that is grace. If
God so wishes, He can give Mukti to the whole world in an instant; but He does not do so.
Grace descends only when there is Purushartha.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda