Grace
The central tenant of Pushti Marg is "Grace".
Taking his queue from Brahmans, Upnishads and the Vedas, HH Shri Vallabhacharyaji
concluded that Brahman can only be reached by His grace. Even in the Bhagwad Geeta,
the Lord says that "the only way to reach Me is by My grace. No amount of
learning, penance, or action can merit "seeing" (knowing) the Brahman as Brahman
is."
Hence Grace formed a central theme in Pushti Marg. Having established that the
entire universe is the Brahman and nothing but the Brahman (central theme of
Shudhavaita),
Shri MahaPrabhuji stated that to "know" the Brahman, one had to only open
himself to the eternal truth and rely on the grace of the infinite to reveal
itself.
But, in his opinion, there is nothing to "reveal", as the truth is
self evident and as plain
as the day ! In our ignorance, we can't believe the simplicity of the
"truth" and we look for complicated answers. We are part of Brahman and
Brahman is part of us, just as salt is an inescapable part of the ocean and the ocean is
an essential component of the salt. Just as Gold and the jewelry made from gold is
in essence gold, no matter what shape we give it, Brahman is Brahman ! no matter what name
and shape we give it !! Gold fashioned in a circle is a called a "ring",
only because we call that shape "ring". Similarly, Brahman, shaped in a
particular form is called a "tree" or a "mountain" or a
"man", but in essence, it is Brahman.
Though this is easy enough to understand in theory, it is hard to experience, as we
have been brought up, since infancy, to recognize things as different from
ourselves. Babies see no difference between them and the universe. To them it
is a seamless reality. Over the years, we tell them, "No ! This is you
and this is mum / dad / brother / toy / house / grass etc. We give them the concept
of "me / mine - you / yours". Over the years, we reinforce this in several
ways and soon, we begin to see "ourselves" as a separate individual from the
universe around us. To return to that infant innocence and rejoice in it requires "grace".
We need to return to this state not out of ignorance, but out of active
intelligence,
The joys of gopas and gopies of Vrindavan, during the Sarasvat Kalpa, were full of
this innocence. The gopas often found out the greatness of their Gopal, but still
loved Him as one of them, and never ceased to care for Him as their own. Eg when the
Lord defeated so many demons in his infancy and youth, they recognised His uncommon
strength and intelligence. When the Indra was defeated during Govardhan lilas, they
knew this child was no ordinary gopa. When Nandaraj himself related the things he
saw and heard in Vraun loka, they knew there was something very special about their Neel
Gopal. Knowing all this, they still cared for Him as if He was their darling child
who was the apple of their eyes. It is this, the love that endures, despite
knowledge of the person's greatness that made Vrajvasies so special to Krushna.
Knowing He can capable of everything, they asked for nothing, and only ever gave
LOVE. This is what endeared them to the Lord. This the state we want to
reach. This is what Shri MahaPrabhuji wants us to emulate and eventually become,
givers of un-selfish love.
This can be achieved only with Divine Grace !
© Bhagwat
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