CALLING ON DIVINE GRACE AS A COVER FOR WEAKNESS
Self-dependence is independence. To all the time speak of divine grace as determining every little endeavour that calls for a bit of self-sacrifice may be theoretically sound from the standpoint of dualism but is patently insincere and indicative of a crookedness of heart that cleverly avoids the spiritual act of giving by way of charity under the garb of inability to act in the absence of receiving divine grace for the purpose. These so-called devotees who constantly hide under such cover are prompt enough, though, in pursuing self-interest in the material world where they do not at all wait to receive divine grace when they are to profit in terms of material gains.
Swami Vivekananda had abhorrence for such devotees and ever exhorted manliness among his followers to be up and doing for the common weal in the spirit of service and sacrifice. Inspired by his teachings and through personal contact with him, a whole generation of virile souls rose in rebellion against the British Raj to overthrow colonial occupation in India.
And must we weep in a corner and say, "O Thakur, O Ma, how can we give you anything without first receiving your grace to do so? We are yours but are powerless to give you or your destitute children anything and feel that it will be the height of pride to ever venture to do so for, after all, everything is yours. So, we will keep on receiving as beggar children of yours, all the while thanking you profusely for such magnanimity but we will only give you our cost-free words of praise, false humility and equally fake exclamations such as 'Everything is your grace, your kripa' while your forlorn children by the hundreds of millions suffer daily death in their despicable earthly existence. Are we not good devotees, Thakur, are we not Ma?"
Written by Sugata Bose
Self-dependence is independence. To all the time speak of divine grace as determining every little endeavour that calls for a bit of self-sacrifice may be theoretically sound from the standpoint of dualism but is patently insincere and indicative of a crookedness of heart that cleverly avoids the spiritual act of giving by way of charity under the garb of inability to act in the absence of receiving divine grace for the purpose. These so-called devotees who constantly hide under such cover are prompt enough, though, in pursuing self-interest in the material world where they do not at all wait to receive divine grace when they are to profit in terms of material gains.
Swami Vivekananda had abhorrence for such devotees and ever exhorted manliness among his followers to be up and doing for the common weal in the spirit of service and sacrifice. Inspired by his teachings and through personal contact with him, a whole generation of virile souls rose in rebellion against the British Raj to overthrow colonial occupation in India.
And must we weep in a corner and say, "O Thakur, O Ma, how can we give you anything without first receiving your grace to do so? We are yours but are powerless to give you or your destitute children anything and feel that it will be the height of pride to ever venture to do so for, after all, everything is yours. So, we will keep on receiving as beggar children of yours, all the while thanking you profusely for such magnanimity but we will only give you our cost-free words of praise, false humility and equally fake exclamations such as 'Everything is your grace, your kripa' while your forlorn children by the hundreds of millions suffer daily death in their despicable earthly existence. Are we not good devotees, Thakur, are we not Ma?"
Written by Sugata Bose
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