Grace Out of Effort

2.

பேற்றைத் தவஞ்சற்று மில்லாத வென்னைப் ப்ரபஞ்ச மென்னும்

சேற்றைக் கழிய வழிவிட்ட வாசெஞ் சடாடவிமேல்

ஆற்றைப் பணியை யிதழியைத் தும்பையை யம்புலியின்

கீற்றைப் புனைந்த பெருமான் குமரன்க்ரு பாகரனே.

The world is as a morass in which we are caught up, and from which there is no escape for us. It has become a part of us, more than a part, it defines what we are. We have done nothing to be rid of it, we have not disciplined ourselves, or denied us anything so that the worldiness could be taken away from us.

But is there ever enough? Even if someone like Arunagirinathar lives hundred percent spiritual life, worshipping and praising God twenty four hours a day all through the week, when does he say I have tried my utmost, now I deserve to get what I wanted?

If by effort we mean the absence of self-consciousness, the relegation of "I-me" to nothing, then there is obviously no time when we can say, I have prayed enough, I have been good, I deserve liberation and so on. As long as the individuality is there, it won't feel right.

So, as Arunagirinathar says, "I do not merit. I have denied myself nothing", it remains for God, or that which is out of the stream of consciousness, to find a way out of the morass of the world and worldly existence.

Somewhere I have read that it is effort that comes back as Grace. We cannot say that this is my effort and I deserve this Grace. The Grace always has to come from outside of the 'I'.

"Vazhi vittavaa"- You who opened the way, sounds exactly right. And the wonder of it, is likely the appropriate feeling.