REQUIREMENTS TO GET SUPPORT AND HELP FROM GRACE

There has to be some expression of certain qualities and conduct in the life of the one who has taken the support and help of the grace. In this path we have to utilize our intelligence in a constructive way. Even in this society we do the stuff and act to please the person whose help and support we need. There is this self interest that comes first towards the entity from whom we want something. When this self interest becomes strong the soul automatically understands the proper behavior. It is true that it is sadhak's duty to ask for the grace, at the same time he cannot stay just on the support of grace. He is always being swept in the currents of tendencies, thoughts and feelings in the mind. At such times any soul who understands the need for the fight and actually fights these tendencies, understands and is aware that such fights will increase his courage, never gives up to lower tendencies of the mind at any cost is considered to have appropriate support and help from the grace.

It is an illusion when the soul with the grace start believing that he does not need to make any effort and if he needs one grace will make him do the one. This kind of understanding is not proper or helpful in the path of developing the life. As a matter of fact this kind of help and support of grace is not possible in the initial sadhak. There is a need for intense bhavna with love, devotion, wisdom and heartfelt prayers towards the entity from who the grace is asked for. There is a need for engagement of our mind, prana, wisdom and heart with love and devotion towards whom the grace is asked for. For the soul that has surrendered his mind, wisdom, prana, ego and chitta into grace it is a concrete experience that grace will do whatever is needed. Till that is accomplished the soul needs to be engaged in the constant efforts with heartfelt prayers and invite the grace.There is no danger of ego in the soul that makes an effort  with the support of the grace. There is nothing like independent and separate grace or effort. They are intertwined. There is grace in the effort and effort in the grace.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Sopan
Edition 3; excerpts pages 283 - 284.

GRACE AND EFFORT

The soul that trusts grace depends on it completely. Grace is not achieved without doing anything. There has to be some definite expression in the life of the soul that gives importance to the grace. This soul (Pujya Shree Mota) has taken considerable shelter of the grace in his sadhana. All he was asking was the grace. He was hanging on in his sadhana with the strength of the grace of his guru. There was strength of the grace in his efforts. His heart was always engaged in making sure that his guru was satisfied with his efforts in the sadhana. One who takes the shelter of the grace always has bright and courageous life. Mahatma Gandhiji always depended on the grace of God. He also wrote, whatever happens is due to His grace. Grace is always first but it does not mean there is no effort involved in the life of the soul that believes in grace. He continually takes the support of the grace in all his efforts. There is nothing by itself. Effort is not alone and grace is also not by itself. It still possible to have grace present by itself but efforts by itself may not bear any fruits. When the soul takes the support of the grace it always encourages him to make efforts. The souls that sincerely believe in grace will never live like little worms passing their lives without any purpose. He will never be like the bullock refusing to get up in spite of being whipped and pricked with sharp cane. He will definitely get up and not get engrossed in the inappropriate actions in his life and especially not swept away in his mental attitude and be stressed by it. The soul that takes the support of the grace with heartfelt sincerity will always ask for the grace at every instance and be aware of its presence. The soul that has taken the support of the grace should be like the mother whose heart and attention is always in her little child effortless and with ease. The belief of the soul that he takes the support of the grace in sadhana is false if he believes that nothing needs to be done or he does not need to be fit for the grace or he does not need to keep wish, intent and mental attitude of the entity that he is seeking grace from alive and expressive in his sadhana.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Sopan
Edition 3; pages 281 - 282.

ONE PROFITS WHEN ONE REMEMBERS SAT-GURU

One needs to enliven sat-guru at every instant in relationships and behavior while working in day to day life. While working one always gets the help if one acts and follows with devotion and knowledge and at the same time always thinks of the ways to please the sat-guru in ones actions and follow up. One definitely gets the needed help when one invites and prays to receive grace of God, at the same time one continuous to work very hard and makes an effort with heartfelt sincerity to be free from extraneous distractions and stays steadfast in the effort. Always believe that sat-guru definitely gets unhappy when one acts according to inborn tendencies (prakruti). One's wishes do not carry much weight and do not get results when one is not aware of the aim to uplift the life in daily workings and keeps on rolling like a stone on a slope, having no idea of the living sat-guru and not remembering him at all.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Sopan
Edition 3; Page 280.

SIGNS OF REDUCTION OF THE EGO

When expectations, desires, wishes etc, sprout up in the mind but there is no progression and action,  know that grand daddy ego has weakened. Also know, understand and believe that there is definite presence of continuity of the aspiration (Bhavna, ભાવના) when there is automatic and easy giving up of all kinds of desires in all the fields with complete sincerity and understanding. There is no place for expectations, desires, wishes and covetousness when there is continuity of aspiration for its sacrifice through out the life (જીવનયજ્ઞ).

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan Pokar
Edition 4; page 123.