e. What is God’s grace?

Hinduism emphasizes righteous, dharmic actions, performed with the purity of intention.  When we act thus, focusing on the quality and sincerity of the action, rather than worrying about past actions or future results, the action is considered fruitful.  The best actions are those that are surrendered unto the Divine; whatever may be the act, when done with an attitude of surrender and devotion, it gains extra momentum and x-factor; this is what some refer to as “grace”. 

Lord Krishna advises in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 62:

 tam eva śharaṇaṁ gachchha sarva-bhāvena bhārata

 tat-prasādāt parāṁ śhāntiṁ sthānaṁ prāpsyasi śhāśhvatam

Surrender and take refuge exclusively unto Him with your whole being, O Bharata; 

by His grace, you will attain supreme peace and the eternal abode.

Depending on the practitioner, the grace of God will be experienced in different ways; while some may see signs of God’s grace in every daily activity, others may feel it on a deeper level, terming it as inner fulfillment. 

God’s grace is experienced by a devotee as different forms of blessings or favorable circumstances. The great 19th-century saint Sri Ramakrishna said, “The winds of grace are always blowing, but it is you who must raise your sails.”  This is the essence of how Hindu tradition views the concept of grace.  Devotees chant specific prayers, visit famed pilgrimage sites, and engage in austere spiritual practices in order to seek God’s grace.  These are tools that enable the spiritual aspirant to face life with courage and humility, exercising dynamic action as well as accepting Divine will, such that the grace of God freely flows through them.

Other reading material:

Relevant videos: Swami Nikhil Anand Hinduism Q & A: What is God’s Grace

Contributor: Lakshmi Subramanian

Location of this post (1d): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/what-is-gods-grace/