29/05/2024
"Do you need to have 'grace,' or have you abused 'grace'?
Recently, I have been pondering over what 'grace' really means, especially for many people nowadays. Have you abused 'grace,' or has 'grace' abused you? To many people with religious backgrounds, grace means such things as an 'unmerited favour of God' and a 'sustaining power.' In the secular context, it is often associated with 'kindness,' 'elegance,' or 'the ability to forgive.' While the secular meaning takes us closer to what it means spiritually, does the meaning assigned to it by the religious arena better match? Is grace something given at the will of someone or power greater than ourselves? Or is it just part of who we are or should be in order to maximize our potentials and unique experience in this vast universe?
In order to explain this concept of grace, let us engage in a conversation between a 'teacher' and a 'learner' of spirituality.
"I would like to understand what it means by 'grace' as it has occurred to me that its meaning is not what we often take it to be nowadays," said the learner.
The teacher replied, "I can guide you through your experiences. Tell me some of the things you own or have."
"I own a car. I have money. I own a house. I have children. I have my name. I have a career. I belong to groups. I have things that I believe would make my life relatively easier," said the learner.
"Reflect on yourself now. Scan your memories. Have there been moments in your life when you felt that your life becomes useless or meaningless, or even to the point of wanting to die when you lost any of those things? Can you envision any other life possible when you lose those things that you deem valuable to your life?" asked the teacher.
The learner replied, "Yes. This was what led me to my new path of reality. Growing up, at a point, I could not see any other meaningful life outside my possessions. For example, when someone called me by my real name without an appropriate title, I would become angry and hate the person for 'disrespecting' me. When I lost my family in a tragic accident, I felt I should end my life. I could not see life worth living again until I found my new path. But now, take all those things away; I know with my appropriate actions I can regain them. Even if I do not, I have boundless joy, enriching inner peace, and the drive to keep moving and exploring life."
The teacher corroborated, "The answer lies in your journeys. Grace is, for example, embodying the spirituality of not being attached to anything. Being attached to something means that when whatever one is attached to is destroyed; it will lead to the destruction of the person. But it also doesn't mean that, for example, those things that you own, yes, you can enjoy them, you can appreciate whatever comes into your life, but you should not get to the level where you feel that when such a thing is destroyed or dead, then that is the end of your life, even if it's money or material possessions. So, grace is that kind of state of consciousness, or ability to maintain that kind of state of consciousness where you can still enjoy those material things, but then also not be attached to them so that when they are gone, or when something suddenly happens and they are gone, you will not take it as the end of your life, and for that matter, you will not terminate your life. Does it make sense now?"
Grace is about appreciating what you have without letting it define your sense of self or well-being. It is about the importance of non-attachment and inner peace. By not being overly attached to material things, you cultivate a state of grace where you can remain balanced and composed, regardless of external circumstances. Do you have 'grace'? Does it have to be granted by someone? What an amazing life you have. Make it count for yourself and others by exploring and living it to the fullness of you.