।। हरिः शरणम् !।।

 Tuesday, 14 April 2026

(Vaisakha Krishna Dwadashi)

(Further from the previous blog)

CHAPTER 8: GOD IS BEYOND HUMAN EFFORT

Thinking about or remembering the beloved is not considered an action or karma; it happens spontaneously and without any sense of doership. Similar is the distinction between chanting and remembering. Chanting is performed with the intention of seeking love, accompanied by a sense of doership. In contrast, when we remember or think of our beloved, it happens automatically in times of separation.

 

Focusing on God while reflecting on His virtues, name, or deeds— through any form, shape, or feeling—helps to purify the inner chitta and strengthen one’s faith in God’s love. Therefore, such practice, though a form of karma, is still a part of devotion. However, since there is a sense of doership in such bhakti (devotion), interruptions will occur, seeker does not experience a continuous and constant connection with the divine.

 

The remembrance or contemplation that occurs in a state of desperation to meet the beloved is uninterrupted because there is no sense of being a doer or an enjoyer; only love remains. In those moments, the seeker loses awareness of the body, so it’s not driven by effort or action. When something is done with a sense of being the doer, the results are not immediate; they take time to manifest. However, God and His love are available in the present moment, so there is no need to wait for ages. This shows that love cannot be attained through effort.

 

When seekers fully surrender and become dependent on God, their sense of being a doer disappears entirely. The desire to act ceases, and aspirations are naturally fulfilled through the unconditional grace of God. The heart is filled with love, and there is no longer any attachment to what was previously gained through personal efforts. The chitta is purified, due to the faith God. Thus, the significance of love towards God surpasses even God Himself. Therefore, believers should always safeguard their love and faith in God.

 

- (Rest in the next blog) 

From the book “The Grace of a Great Sage”

(Page No. 18-19)