GRACE OF THE GOD/ਗੁਰੁ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦ/ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ  

ABSTRACT

Grace is an expression of Divine benevolence and is a cardinal doctrine in Sikhism. It manifests itself and occurs as Karam (ਕਰਮ), Nader (ਨਦਰ), variously called Mehr (ਮੇਹਰ), Bakhshish (ਬਖਸ਼ੀਸ਼), Parsad (ਪਰਸਾਦ), Daya (ਦੀਆ), or Kirpa (ਕਿਰਪਾ). It is sought through prayer and devotion. Its descent is the ultimate Divine mystery.  No amount of austerities, no amount of intellectual search or performance or ritual or yogic praxis or Akhand Paths or any such devices can force it out of God’s hand.  Grace is a pre-requisite for any spiritual growth in Sikhism.

ਜੇ ਜੁਗ ਚਾਰੇ ਆਰਜਾ ਹੋਰ ਦਸੂਣੀ ਹੋਇ ॥

ਨਵਾ ਖੰਡਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਨਾਲਿ ਚਲੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥

ਚੰਗਾ ਨਾਉ ਰਖਾਇ ਕੈ ਜਸੁ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਜਗਿ ਲੇਇ ॥

ਜੇ ਤਿਸੁ ਨਦਰਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਤ ਵਾਤ ਨ ਪੁਛੈ ਕੇ ॥

Je jug cẖāre ārjā hor ḏasūṇī ho▫e.Navā kẖanda vicẖ jāṇī▫ai nāl cẖalai sabẖ ko▫e.Cẖanga nā▫o rakẖā▫e kai jas kīraṯ jag le▫e. Je ṯis naḏar na āvī ṯa vāṯ na pucẖẖai ke.

 Even if you could live throughout the four ages, or even ten times more, and even if you were known throughout the nine continents and followed by all, with a good name and reputation, with praise and fame throughout the world- If  God does not bless one with Its Grace, then who cares?                                                                                                   -----Guru Nanak, Japji, AGGS, Page, 2-15

ਜੇਵਡੁ ਆਪਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਆਪਿ ਆਪਿ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਨਦਰੀ ਕਰਮੀ ਦਾਤਿ ॥

Jevad āp jāṇai āp āp. Nanak Nadree Karmee Daat.

Only God Itself is that Great and Itself knows Itself. O Nanak; Devotion to God is a blessing, which comes through Its Grace.                                                    -----Guru Nanak, Japji, AGGS, Page, 5-11

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Salvation, while earned through devotion and good deeds, comes ultimately through Divine Grace. The fullness of God’s liberating Grace is beyond human appreciation.  Its power of emancipation is beyond comprehension.  No human can have full knowledge about Grace. The riches of his goodness cannot be expressed in words by a mortal’s tongue. We can admire the beauty of Divine Grace but cannot really explore its depths. The depth of the riches of Its wisdom and knowledge are unreachable.  Grace is governed by the Universal, eternal laws of nature, which do not show any partiality. It is needed to control mind, so one can perform selfless service (ਸੇਵਾ) to progress in spirituality. 

ਜਿਥੈ ਮਿਲਹਿ ਵਡਿਆਈਆ ਸਦ ਖੁਸੀਆ ਸਦ ਚਾਉ ॥

ਤਿਨ ਮੁਖਿ ਟਿਕੇ ਨਿਕਲਹਿ ਜਿਨ ਮਨਿ ਸਚਾ ਨਾਉ ॥

ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਾ ਪਾਈਐ ਨਾਹੀ ਗਲੀ ਵਾਉ ਦੁਆਉ ॥
Jithai milėh vaḏi▫ā▫ī▫ā saḏ kẖusī▫ā saḏ cẖā▫o.Ŧin mukẖ tike niklahi jin man sacẖā nā▫o. Karam Milai Taa Paa-ee-ai Naahee Galee Vaa-o Du-aa-o.

There, where greatness, eternal peace and everlasting joy are bestowed, the faces of those whose minds are attuned to the True Name are anointed with the Mark of Grace. If one receives God's Grace, then such honors are not  received  by mere words.                                                                                                                                                           -----Guru Nanak, Siri Raag, AGGS, Page, 16-8

Guru Nanak describes in Japji that even if you could live throughout the four ages, or even ten times more, and even if you were known throughout the nine continents and followed by all, with a good name and reputation, with praise and fame throughout the world. In spite of all this, no one would care for such a person, if he is not blessed by the Grace of God.

         

ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਗਲੀਈ ਢੂਢੀਐ ਕਥਨਾ ਕਰੜਾ ਸਾਰੁ ॥

ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਾ ਪਾਈਐ ਹੋਰ ਹਿਕਮਤਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥

Gi▫ān na galī▫ī dẖūdẖī▫ai kathnā karṛā sār.Karam Milai Ta Payai Hoar Hikmat Hukam Khuaar.

Divine Wisdom cannot be found through mere words. To explain it is as hard as iron. When the God bestows Its Grace, then alone it is received; other tricks and orders are useless.                                                                                                                         -----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 465-1

ਇਆਣੀ ਬਾਲੀ ਕਿਆ ਕਰੇ ਜਾ ਧਨ ਕੰਤ ਨ ਭਾਵੈ ॥

ਕਰਣ ਪਲਾਹ ਕਰੇ ਬਹੁਤੇਰੇ ਸਾ ਧਨ ਮਹਲੁ ਨ ਪਾਵੈ  ॥

ਵਿਣੁ ਕਰਮਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਨਾਹੀ ਜੇ ਬਹੁਤੇਰਾ ਧਾਵੈ ॥

ਲਬ ਲੋਭ ਅਹੰਕਾਰ ਕੀ ਮਾਤੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਣੀ ॥

ਇਨੀ ਬਾਤੀ  ਸਹੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਨਾਹੀ ਭਈ ਕਾਮਣਿ ਇਆਣੀ  ॥੨॥

I▫āṇī bālī ki▫ā kare jā ḏẖan kanṯ na bẖāvai.Karaṇ palāh kare bahuṯere sā ḏẖan mahal na pāvai. Vin Karma Kich Paaee-aa Naahee Jay Bahutayra Dhavai. Lab lobẖ ahaʼnkār kī māṯī mā▫i▫ā māhi samāṇī.Inī bāṯī saho pā▫ī▫ai nāhī bẖa▫ī kāmaṇ i▫āṇī.

What can the silly young bride (Soul) do, if she is not pleasing to her Husband God? She may plead and implore so many times, but still, such a bride shall not obtain the Mansion of the God's Presence. Without God’s Grace, nothing is obtained, although one may run around frantically. She (Soul) is intoxicated with greed, pride and egotism, and engrossed in Maya. She cannot obtain her Husband God in these ways; the young bride (soul) is so foolish!                                                                                                                                                                  -----Guru Nanak, Raag Tilang, AGGS, Page 7                                         

•      Grace of the God can do for us what we could not do ourselves. 

•      God, in Its Mercy, destroys the impurities and limitations of the human ego and bestows upon him the true knowledge and everlasting existence. When freed from the gravitational pull of the world of corruption one becomes weightless and purified with Truth, that is, the Word.

ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਜੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਤਾ ਨਦਰੀ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥

ਏਹੁ ਜੀਉ ਬਹੁਤੇ ਜਨਮ  ਭਰੰਮਿਆ ਤਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਸੁਣਾਇਆ ॥

Nader Kareh Jay Aapni Ta Nadri Satgur Payeaa. Ėhu jī▫o bahuṯe janam bẖarammi▫ā ṯā saṯgur sabaḏ suṇā▫i▫ā.

If the Merciful God shows Its Mercy, then the True Guru is found. This soul wandered through countless incarnations, until the True Guru instructed it in the Word of the Sabd.                                                                                                                    -----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 465-2

• Before we ask him humbly, we have to let go the ego. 
• If ego is stilled then the God’s grace is seen. Ego is a chronic disease but it does have a remedy – honest contemplation of Naam with a true heart.

ਹਉਮੈ ਦੀਰਘ ਰੋਗੁ ਹੈ ਦਾਰੂ ਭੀ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਹਿ ॥

ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰੇ ਜੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਤਾ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥

ਨਾਨਕੁ ਕਹੈ ਸੁਣਹੁ ਜਨਹੁ ਇਤੁ ਸੰਜਮਿ ਦੁਖ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੨॥

Haumai Deeragh Roug Hai, Daru Bhi Iss Mahe. Kirpā kare je āpṇī ṯā gur kā sabaḏ kamāhi.Nānak kahai suṇhu janhu iṯ sanjam ḏukẖ jāhi.

Ego is a chronic disease, but it also has a curing medicine. If the God grants Its Grace, one acts according to the Teachings of the Guru's Sabd. Nanak says, listen people: in this way, troubles depart.                                                                               ----Guru Angad, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 466-18

                                                             

ਬਿਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਸਾਤਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਦੂਜੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਜੇ ਬਹੁਤੇਰਾ ਲੋਚੀਐ ਵਿਣੁ ਕਰਮੈ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਾਇ ॥

Bin saṯgur seve sāṯ na āvī ḏūjī nāhī jā▫e. Jay Bauhtera Loacheyai Vin Karmai Na Paeyaa Jaey.

No matter how much one may wish, without the God's Grace, It is not found. Without serving the True Guru, peace is not obtained, and the sense of duality does not depart.-                                                                                                                ----Guru Amar Das, Gujri Ki Vaar, AGGS, Page, 516-2                                                        

Grace is bestowed on to those who humble themselves in submission to God’s Will, with development of higher instincts or virtues. When Truth and rigorous honesty have reached their highest levels in a person, he may become a candidate for it:

• As one progresses in spirituality, Grace is lovingly bestowed.  

•  One must be a good steward of whatever gift of Grace, he has received and should remain steadfast in his devotion to God, lest he falls from grace.
• No matter how far we have progressed, our desires may lead us in a direction away from the Grace of God. 
• It seems plain that the Grace of God will not enter until and unless one recognizes and admit fearlessly the flaws in one’s character.
• One can then humbly ask God to remove the falsehood in his character and imbue the virtue of truth. 
• Grace of God will not be bestowed upon until one has cleared the baggage of the ego (ਹਉਮੈ).

The process of gaining Grace by Divine mercy is to engage in devotion.

ਹੇ ਰਸਨਾ ਜਪਿ ਗੋਬਿੰਦੋ ਮੇਰੀ ਜਿੰਦੁੜੀਏ ਜਪਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਜਾਏ ਰਾਮ ॥

ਜਿਸੁ ਦਇਆ ਕਰੇ ਮੇਰਾ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਮੇਰੀ ਜਿੰਦੁੜੀਏ ਤਿਸੁ ਮਨਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਸਾਏ ਰਾਮ ॥

He rasnā jap gobinḏo merī jinḏuṛī▫e jap har har ṯarisnā jā▫e rām. Jis Daya Karay Mera Par-Braham Meri Jindariyie, Tisu Man Wasa-ay Ram.

O tongue, chant the Name of God; O my soul, chanting the Name of the God Waheguru, your desires shall be extinguished. On whomsoever the Supreme God showers mercy, in his self It lodges the holy Name.                                                           -----Guru Ram Das, Raag Bihagara, AGGS, Page, 541-12

In accordance with affirmations in the Sabd, without proper prayer, humility, wakefulness in the way of God, grace may not come. The path to attain is hard, long, and yet the result is in God’s hand. It does not come by man’s own efforts and by the calculation of good and bad deeds.  As borne out in the following affirmation, even the balance of good deeds does not help:

ਲੇਖੈ ਕਤਹਿ ਨ ਛੂਟੀਐ ਖਿਨੁ ਖਿਨੁ ਭੂਲਨਹਾਰ ॥

ਬਖਸਨਹਾਰ ਬਖਸਿ ਲੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਪਾਰਿ ਉਤਾਰ ॥

Lekha Kateh Na Chhuttiyai Khinu Khinu Bhoolan Har,Bakhshanhar Bakhash Lai Nanak Par Utaar.

We cannot get away from reaping the fruits of our actions in this world, as we can make mistakes at every step. O, Nanak if God the benefactor is pleased and pardons, then only one may be liberated.                                                                         -----Guru Arjun, Gauri Bawan Akhari, AGGS, Page, 261-1

Conclusion:

Naam and selfless service are the paths to gain God’s grace. To rely on God’s shelter in humility inspires the inducement to prayer that opens the gateway to grace. Thus, it may seem that the law of Karma, operating under the Command of Divine Will is supreme.  However, through loving devotion this law may be transcended

ਸੇ ਭਗਤ ਸੇ ਸੇਵਕਾ ਜਿਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਿਆਰਾ ॥

ਤਿਨ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਤੇ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਸਿਰਿ ਨਿੰਦਕ ਕੈ ਪਵੈ ਛਾਰਾ ॥

Say Bhagat Say Sayvkaa Jinaa Har Naam Pi-aaraa. Tin Kee Sayvaa Tay Har Paa-ee-ai Sir Nindak Kai Pavai Chhaaraa.

They alone are devotees, and they alone are selfless servants, who love God's Name. By their selfless service, they find the It, while ashes fall on the heads of the slanderers.                                                                                                                               -----Guru Ram Das, Raag Suhi, AGGS, Page, 733-17