Amazing Grace (VIDEO)

"Gracefulness has been defined as the outward expression of the inward harmony of the soul," wrote British essayist William Hazlitt. If gracefulness is the outer expression, then perhaps grace itself is the source of the inner light.

I have been reflecting recently on the notion of Grace. Nearly every religion has a concept or definition of grace: Grace is the "freely given, unmerited favor and love of God." It is the "spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or to strengthen them." And it is "Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people."

Each of these definitions hints in some way at the mercy of the Divine to shower us with blessings freely, without any pre-condition.

In my post last week, I shared the inspiring and transcendent experience of astronaut Edgar Mitchell during his return trip toward earth in Apollo 14. I also shared my own transformational experience in India when, in a glorious instant, my consciousness exploded into radiant and ecstatic Oneness. All sense of separateness and individual identity vaporized and, for several (timeless) days, "I" was pure Being, imbued with supreme power and intelligence. That was grace.

I did nothing to deserve that experience. The day started out much like any other day. I had no forewarning that my body would soon erupt into brilliant, self-effulgent light, nor any reason to suspect my life was about to take a drastically different course. Yet when the illusion of separation was shattered, my fundamental understanding of reality was radically re-configured. Even this briefest glimpse of the inherent interconnectedness of all things changed "me" forever. That was grace.

It was nearly a year later when I thought to ask my spiritual teacher whether the experience had a name. "Of course," he said, "you experienced the light body."

This answer was profound coming from a sage whose lineage are masters of light and transcendence. His deeply mystical tradition teaches that ultimate enlightenment is not simply liberation of the mind (as if that weren't hard enough), but also liberation of the body. The yogis discovered that we have many layers of existence - from the gross physical body, to subtle energy bodies, to the radiant body of light. As we expand our capacity to hold greater light by awakening various energy centers in the body, we can ultimately transform the dense matter of the physical form into the spiritual body of light. Well-known eastern saints such as Babaji and Swami Ramalingam are documented as having achieved this liberation, the immortal "light body", similar to the resurrection of Jesus, the assumption of Mother Mary, or the ascension process in other faiths.

I share this whole story for a particular reason. Independent of your ability to perceive it, or your sense of merit or worthiness, everyone is infused with grace light. Grace light is the incredibly radiant light of the Divine within every soul -- compassionate, intelligent and almighty. It is not a physical light -- it is an explosive inner light, more brilliant and powerful than the sun. It is the burning bush for Moses, the light of Jesus that blinded Paul on his way to Damascus, the power of Allah, Buddha and the enlightened ones of all faiths throughout the ages.

Recognizing this universal truth, the Tamil Siddha lineage is acknowledging an emerging phenomenon - the awakening of grace light in the hearts and minds of more and more people around the globe. According to them, humanity is undergoing a major evolutionary transformation and the great masters of many traditions are here to help steward the process. This lineage believes that grace light will awaken both individual and collective consciousness, affecting a global shift into a new level of human evolution.

Every individual will play an important role in this shift, as the primary conduit for expression of light is the human body. Once various energy centers are opened, (a process the Siddhas call "opening the 9-Gates") you become a vehicle for transmitting light to others. It is an opportunity for everyone to contribute to a shift of consciousness on a global scale.

The beginning of this shift will correspond with a significant astronomical event on the eastern calendar. The "Full Moon of the Guru" or Guru Purnima (July 17th) is an ancient tradition in India when heavenly teachers offer powerful blessings to the human race. It is a time of opportunity for divine energy to enter the collective heart of humanity, bringing new levels of compassion, joy, peace, and divine intelligence to the world.

I encourage you to 'tune in' to the sacred energies during this time. Open into a state of receptivity and faith. Take time for prayer or meditation, let go of fear, and simply let the blessings wash over you. That is grace.

For more about grace light, watch this:

For information about grace light gatherings across the U.S., Europe & Asia, click here.

Comments

[graceisnow]

Grace is here now, no need to do anything to "get" it. It's what we are.

Thanks for sharing the post.

[joebiz]

I'm glad there are people experiencing internal bliss through external stimuli. Keep will and grace alive.

However, the opiate of the masses comes to mind as I think about some of the external and "internal" journeys men/women seek on the this nasty, brutish, and hostile spec of molten lava we call Earth. While I believe humans can transform themselves and even, after many years of meditation and physical training, transend their mental states beyond waking states of consciousness, it's dubious to think that there's a thing called "grace light." Sensory experience can be described in many ways. Some cultures achieve it though peyote, others through chanting, meditation, yoga, penitence, advanced martial arts, physical "destruction" through pain, and a myriad of other techniques.

One sure way to achive an enlightenment is to meditate and slowly remove all traces of ego, moving beyond the self. It's done through brutal acceptance of reality. This one of the best ways to achieve this inner "grace." Seeing things for what they are and not for what we want reality to be is the easiest and best way to transend one's "reality."

[Felicty]

All my life I struggled with the question, "Who Am I?" , and one day I figured this out. All I had to do was find out who everyone else was, and I would be the one left over.

[michaelescher]

No to be a total bastard cynic, but who wants to lay down ten bucks that this ain't gonna happen? I wanna believe it, but how many times have I (or for that matter, has humanity) hear this rap before?

The problem is how are you going to prove or disprove it, but let's say if we don't get a hint of all this lovely mumbo-jumbo in a month, I win, if, for example we get peace in the middle east, you win.

Anyone want to lay down a couple of bucks?

[THEhillbilly]

One bit of primitive superstition is as good as another, I suppose, but...

A few years ago (okay, maybe it was a couple of decades ago), when "Eastern Culture" was faddish in the U.S., an Indian woman, speaking at a local university, said, "What it amounts to is that American youth, tired of being winners, want to dress funny and be losers like us." Of course, she was referring to stuff like Hindus feeding rats (their ancestors "reincarnated," don't you know) while the populace starved. The weenies who wore pujabi suits and sat around pretending to like sitars were just exercising a new way to plead for attention, but her comment was still funny.

[totaldisbelief]

Does this trump the Mayan calendar running out of days on 12/21/2012 ???
I plan to take that day off.

And the light has entered me..it's everyone else that worrys me.

[brooklyncitizen]

Well this video is worth reposting:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html

The fear of religion is understandable yet unless someone is asking you to "follow them" then there is no danger in looking at the Mystery that governs our lives and the universe.We have so many faiths because we are different in our expression but the same at our core.

Rumi:

Today, like every other day, we wake up empty
and frightened. Don't open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.

Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

More Rumi:

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don't go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don't go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don't go back to sleep.

[JohnFromCensornati]

Fear of religion?
Hardly.
Afraid of the religious is more like it.
Using any religion to explain the other is also absurd as they all tend to denounce each other.

[arkgrfx61]

I don't think religions denounce each other...I think at the root of all of them you will find many of the same ideals and beliefs...however, what HAS happened is over the years they have been misinterpreted and misconstrued ....much like that childhood game "telephone" where you sit in a circle and whisper something in the person's ear and by the time it gets back to you the original message was completely changed.

[Riverwolf]

Nice to get a different definition of "grace," since for me the word has heavy Christian significance. But if I think of grace as that unexplained moment of when wonderful things occur--regardless of their source--then I can say that my life is truly full of grace.

[arkgrfx61]

Beautiful!

While I have had some pretty deep lows in my life...I have always managed a way to come back stronger than ever.
I believe that things happen for a reason...and it's nice to think that a greater power (whether that is grace, god, or what have you) is leading us on the right path. We have choices...and it's how we make those choices that lead us down the path we call life. Do I wish I had made different choices...of course....but then I wouldn't be who and where I am today.
I feel that inner light and it's good.

[mandalaina]

Ok. Right. If money isn't involved, I could care less what they say, as long as their message isn't one of hate like some. I have a friend who's really into this type of stuff, and I tolerated it until one of the spiritual people he was hanging with (and paying for "lessons") started talking about the "Galactic Federation." She wasn't kidding. She made money off it. You know, my credulity was stretched just too thin, and ever since my attitude is "as long as it hurts no one, and doesn't require a dime to listen to, I'm not complaining. Cross the money line, however, and now we've got problems."

[LeanLeftAmerica]

why all the negative comments?

Perhaps God will do nothing on July 17th. Maybe he does something everyday. But can you imagine if people had been more receptive to Jesus' teachings of Love and Compassion when he was talking way back when... very much like this Guru is talking now?

Negativity begets negativity... hope begets hope.

[hannabanana]

Incorrect. Negating all that you think to be true is the only way into grace.

[LeanLeftAmerica]

Negating what you consider to be true would mean that I am actually correct.

You may now consider yourself enlightened :-)

[gallonjug]

I think the DSM-V also has a name for this experienc. mania.

not to make light of it. it's a common and serious condition. often very successfully treated.

[Felicty]

Look here, Mister ----

Who you JIVING with that cosmic debris?

[RickO]

You can make more money as a butcher, so you you waste your time on me.

[ubetchaiam]

Namaste Stacy.

[GrainOSand]

Yes, I second that, there is much appreciation and acknowledgement of the beauty and power in Stacy that resulted in her posting this timely treatment of spirituality. It spoke directly to me and therefore I am convinced it spoke to others. In the spirit of not seeing oneself as separate, for the body is a limiting factor, it is base and it is gross.

For the sprit of all to move Stacy to post when she did as she did is water to parched lips and a dry throat. For every evil, there is a counter. Stacy’s posting countered much evil today. I read the article and did not watch the video yet. I must meditate on the article first. The man’s face suggests he has something to say perhaps worthy of hearing. I will avail myself of that part of the message of Stacy’s posting later. I am full on the thought that her written message initiated and thus my limitations only allow me to contemplate that for right now.

[jubo]

And money how much you give of to turbaned yahoo?
And I thought I smoked too much pot...

With all due respect, be circumspect; this is Pat Robertson with a zither....

No?

[marc1antony]

can we be sure that Cheney, Bush and all other war mongerers through out the world receive the light. LOL!

[edva]

Yes yes yes, humanity is slowly evolving to a higher consciousness, despite the protestations and feeble criticisms of those who "will not see". Change is the only constant, and we can and must choose a positive direction for ourselves, and our society. Doubters, wake up!