Whatever we do, why do we do it? Ask honestly, and only one answer comes: for happiness. And before every action there is a thought. Thinking is number one, practice is number two – first contemplation, then action. When in material life or in spiritual life, the method is the same.

Whether we walk towards God or towards the world, the mind cannot stay silent for even a fraction of a second. It is a machine that runs without a break, working for one reason only – how to attain true happiness. Our methods may differ, but the aim is one: whether one is a spiritual seeker or an atheist, everyone wants the greatest bliss, one that cannot be ever snatched away.

Causeless grace of God-realised saints

Consider those who have already attained bliss, like Tulsidas, Surdas, Meera, Kabir, Shankaracharya, Dhruv, Prahlad. They have attained the ultimate happiness and there are no actions left for them to do. Yet they walk, eat, drink, laugh, weep, etc. They write books like Shankaracharya and Vallabhacharya and they even fight and at times kill when required, like Arjun and Hanuman.

They perform actions to give bliss, not to attain it. That is selfless service. Only one who has already attained supreme bliss can serve without a trace of self-interest. Having nothing left to gain, such souls act for others.

God and the God-realised saints are the only two personalities who bestow causeless grace. An ordinary person cannot comprehend the mystery of their grace. When Shri Krishna drove away the serpent Kaliya, Kaliya’s wives said, ‘Krodho’pi te’nugraha eva sammataḥ’– even Your anger is grace. What did God do when He was furious with Ravan, Kumbhakarn, Shishupal, Kans? He killed them, and unknown to most, whoever God kills goes to Golok, His divine abode. Whether it is His anger or any other act, God can only shower grace.

Then why must we do sadhana?

Now we know that God and saints shower causeless grace; they have no selfish motive. God said to Arjun, 

“Nānavāptamavāptavyaṁ…”O Arjun, there is nothing unattained by Me that I need to attain; I am complete. Yet I still act for the sake of others, not for Myself.” 

Then why does God make us do sadhana (spiritual practice)? Why does He say, “Engage in devotional practice, then I will shower grace”? 

“Mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te” (“Only those who surrender to Me cross this Maya”). “Ananyāś cintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate…” “Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja”.

Everywhere in the scriptures, God places a condition: first surrender to Him, do bhakti (devotion), then grace will be bestowed. So where is the causeless grace? 

The grace He bestows is indeed causeless. How? His divine love, which is invaluable, is given for free. What price could we pay for a divine gift? Everything we own is material. Senses, mind, intellect- all are material; in fact the entire universe is material. Even if we donated the universe, God would say, “All this is already Mine, and it is material. In return, you want divine bliss, divine vision, divine knowledge, divine love, every divine treasure. How can you pay for that?”

So He bestows divine love purely out of grace. However, we need to purify our mind and intellect (which is material in nature and not divine) to receive that love. Purifying our mind is our main duty. How can we purify our mind? Through sadhana alone the mind can be purified. However, even sadhana performed for millions of kalpas (aeons) uses the mind and senses, which are material and a material entity can never pay the price of divine happiness. We cannot even buy items from another country using our own currency, how can we then expect to obtain divine treasure with sadhana done with our material senses?

This is the one thing we have failed to do from time immemorial until now: to purify the mind and intellect through devotion, and to establish Shri Krishna alone is ours. We have never done it one hundred percent. Some manage 10%, some 50%, but full grace cannot be  showered with only 10% or 50% purification of the mind. 

 “Mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja” – Surrender unto Me alone, 

“Yāhi sarvātma-bhāvena”, “Sarva-bhāvena bhārata” – complete surrender must be made. 

“Yadā hy evaiṣa etasminnudaram antaraṁ kurute, atha tasya bhayaṁ bhavati” – there must not be the slightest separation or gap.

Therefore, as a spiritual seeker, our primary duty is to completely purify our mind through devotion and then out of causeless grace the Guru or God will grant us divine bliss. 

Based on the teachings of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj