“How beautiful can you be in the memory of another person if your very touch, your presence, or a few words can miraculously take care of that person? Will they ever forget you?” - Yogi Bhajan
Sat Nam! Greetings and Welcome back to week five of our seven week study of the Seven Steps to Happiness, written by Haribhajan S. Khalsa, based on the teachings of Yogi Bhajan, PhD.
GRACE is one of my personal all time favorite words and experiences - it has such a beautiful resonance and vibration when spoken! A state of Grace is so sacred and Infinite that I find it difficult to define it in finite words. However, even though it is a Divine state, I believe that we can reside in this state on a daily basis. As I am writing this, I am sitting on a train on my way to visit my beloved friends and family in Texas. I am looking out of the window and watching a crimson sunrise over the blissfully quiet ocean - palm trees majestically gracing the landscape, and cotton candy clouds decorating the sky. All of nature is blissfullly in harmony, and Life is gently waking up to greet the new day. My favorite quote comes to mind, "In the Infinity of Life where I am, All is perfect, whole and complete". This profound feeling of Infinite gratitude and reverence for the beauty of nature, and the blessing of my ability to travel to see loved ones is how I am experiencing Grace in this moment - being absolutely Present Moment and fully absorbed in all that surrounds me. How do you experience Grace? Let's see what Yogi Bhajan and Haribhajan Khalsa teach us about Grace.
Sat Nam! Greetings and Welcome back to week five of our seven week study of the Seven Steps to Happiness, written by Haribhajan S. Khalsa, based on the teachings of Yogi Bhajan, PhD.
GRACE is one of my personal all time favorite words and experiences - it has such a beautiful resonance and vibration when spoken! A state of Grace is so sacred and Infinite that I find it difficult to define it in finite words. However, even though it is a Divine state, I believe that we can reside in this state on a daily basis. As I am writing this, I am sitting on a train on my way to visit my beloved friends and family in Texas. I am looking out of the window and watching a crimson sunrise over the blissfully quiet ocean - palm trees majestically gracing the landscape, and cotton candy clouds decorating the sky. All of nature is blissfullly in harmony, and Life is gently waking up to greet the new day. My favorite quote comes to mind, "In the Infinity of Life where I am, All is perfect, whole and complete". This profound feeling of Infinite gratitude and reverence for the beauty of nature, and the blessing of my ability to travel to see loved ones is how I am experiencing Grace in this moment - being absolutely Present Moment and fully absorbed in all that surrounds me. How do you experience Grace? Let's see what Yogi Bhajan and Haribhajan Khalsa teach us about Grace.
When there is Grace, there is no separateness between two people, and no hidden agenda. Grace is when you have developed a presence that works in harmony with the whole of Life. You know that you are in a state of Grace because life feels good. It feels as though you are not doing anything – your actions are not your own, and yet, something is moving through you. (pretty much what I just described as I am sitting on the train...an invisible flow of sacred energy is just resonating through me)
Practice complete Surrender to the gift of Grace and experience what a huge relief it is to realize that you are not in charge of everything in your life. Give yourself permission to let go of the fears, anxieties and worries you have been carrying. See how much mental energy this frees up that can now be directed toward fulfilling your dreams. Experience and feel in your body the sense of freedom and peace this brings.
Practice complete Surrender to the gift of Grace and experience what a huge relief it is to realize that you are not in charge of everything in your life. Give yourself permission to let go of the fears, anxieties and worries you have been carrying. See how much mental energy this frees up that can now be directed toward fulfilling your dreams. Experience and feel in your body the sense of freedom and peace this brings.
Spiritual Beauty
When you are graceful, you are in touch with your subtlety. Your subtlety reaches all - like the fragrance that wafts from a flower. Filled with grace, people trust you on first sight and know that you have no hidden agendas and ulterior motives. In your presence, they relax and feel they too have been touched by grace and they never forget you.
When you are graceful, you are in touch with your subtlety. Your subtlety reaches all - like the fragrance that wafts from a flower. Filled with grace, people trust you on first sight and know that you have no hidden agendas and ulterior motives. In your presence, they relax and feel they too have been touched by grace and they never forget you.
Keep Your Grace
Your vibrational frequency has become high and refined through your commitment to your spiritual practice and people feel it – the good and the bad! With grace, you know that you are connected to an infinite power source and with this power comes a great responsibility.
Have you ever watched someone of a high vibration walk into a room and they are not grounded – not in their body but in the mind? People will drop things, electrical devices may go on the fritz and there will be a palpable agitation within the room. Everyone around this person is getting zapped by their uncontained energy. To be graceful is to have energy manners and to extend energetic courtesy to others. Ensure you are grounded before entering a room by taking a few deep breaths, feeling your feet on the ground and containing your energy - everyone will thank you
Your vibrational frequency has become high and refined through your commitment to your spiritual practice and people feel it – the good and the bad! With grace, you know that you are connected to an infinite power source and with this power comes a great responsibility.
Have you ever watched someone of a high vibration walk into a room and they are not grounded – not in their body but in the mind? People will drop things, electrical devices may go on the fritz and there will be a palpable agitation within the room. Everyone around this person is getting zapped by their uncontained energy. To be graceful is to have energy manners and to extend energetic courtesy to others. Ensure you are grounded before entering a room by taking a few deep breaths, feeling your feet on the ground and containing your energy - everyone will thank you
Shield Of Protection
When Grace enters your life, you see the infinite blessings of everything and everyone around you. Grace gives you a deep understanding of the expression - there but for the grace of G.O.D. go I. You know how easily you might have ended up playing the role of the beggar, the multi-millionaire, the saint or the criminal. You feel the blessing of being conscious in this lifetime. Grace is the invisible energy of the Divine that comes over you like a shield of protection. We have all heard stories about a raging fire that burns all the houses down in a neighbor-hood except one. Or, the person who, for no logical reason, chose not to go to work at the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001. The ego, in order to feel in control, will try to rationalize away the miracle of grace. But, when we feel the power of Grace, we stop and feel immense appreciation for what we have in our life, even if it is only for our breath.
When Grace enters your life, you see the infinite blessings of everything and everyone around you. Grace gives you a deep understanding of the expression - there but for the grace of G.O.D. go I. You know how easily you might have ended up playing the role of the beggar, the multi-millionaire, the saint or the criminal. You feel the blessing of being conscious in this lifetime. Grace is the invisible energy of the Divine that comes over you like a shield of protection. We have all heard stories about a raging fire that burns all the houses down in a neighbor-hood except one. Or, the person who, for no logical reason, chose not to go to work at the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001. The ego, in order to feel in control, will try to rationalize away the miracle of grace. But, when we feel the power of Grace, we stop and feel immense appreciation for what we have in our life, even if it is only for our breath.
Humility
When you are graceful, you embody a deep sense of humility. Humility is a state of deep surrender to your own divinity. In our modern culture, we do not understand the power of surrender. We confuse it with submission and humiliation – which is to give our will over to another person’s ego. To truly surrender takes great strength. To surrender is to courageously move beyond the incessant needs of the ego and lower chakras. Surrender is necessary for a deep and intimate relationship with the Divine. This personal relationship becomes the most important relationship in your life.
When you are graceful, you embody a deep sense of humility. Humility is a state of deep surrender to your own divinity. In our modern culture, we do not understand the power of surrender. We confuse it with submission and humiliation – which is to give our will over to another person’s ego. To truly surrender takes great strength. To surrender is to courageously move beyond the incessant needs of the ego and lower chakras. Surrender is necessary for a deep and intimate relationship with the Divine. This personal relationship becomes the most important relationship in your life.
In a State of Grace
“Life is a flow of love; only your participation is required” - Yogi Bhajan
To surrender into the flow of life is to be - what the ancients called - in a state of grace. There is a perfect flow to life – an energy that is present in every moment and in all things. This is the creative flow of the Universe that guides us to our full potential.
What might it look like to not be in a state of grace? Have you ever tried to do something that just wasn’t working? For example – your taxes. The more you try to force it to completion - the more frustrated, angry and stressed out you become. The experience works you into a lather until you can’t think straight. You start to make mistakes and everything seems to get worse. Hours pass and you have accomplished nothing. Your shoulders feel like boulders. Your breathing is shallow and your mind is a non-stop chatter machine feeding your stress level.
In this example, the mind and ego are leading you around by the nose and trying to control the flow of life by recruiting the support of your 3rd Chakra. This literally drains you of energy. In this state, you are disconnected from the infinite, creative source of energy. You are like a drop of water separated from the ocean – destined to dry up. You have no power – no grace.
Yes, there is even a flow of energy for doing taxes. To know where the flow of energy is in each moment, requires that you open up your self-sensory system and tune in to or intuit the energy to feel and know where the flow is. It requires letting go of the illusion of control. Perhaps the flow of energy at that time was to go outside for a walk, get some fresh air, phone someone, or focus for a while on some other task. When you are in the flow, it is energy giving, not energy draining. Paradoxically, being willing to not do something, often means you are given more energy to complete it later.
To be in a state of grace is to truly experience miracles daily. The Universe is benevolent and supportive to your destiny. How do you know when you are in a state of grace? It feels good. It feels as though you are not doing anything – your actions are not your own, and yet, something is moving through you. You become a channel for grace. When you are in a state of grace, you will have inspired thoughts, creativity will flow, and you will be exactly at the right place at the right time. There are no random events - only subtle patterns. Challenges are still there, but, the way you respond to them is different. Life is lived with ease.
“Life is a flow of love; only your participation is required” - Yogi Bhajan
To surrender into the flow of life is to be - what the ancients called - in a state of grace. There is a perfect flow to life – an energy that is present in every moment and in all things. This is the creative flow of the Universe that guides us to our full potential.
What might it look like to not be in a state of grace? Have you ever tried to do something that just wasn’t working? For example – your taxes. The more you try to force it to completion - the more frustrated, angry and stressed out you become. The experience works you into a lather until you can’t think straight. You start to make mistakes and everything seems to get worse. Hours pass and you have accomplished nothing. Your shoulders feel like boulders. Your breathing is shallow and your mind is a non-stop chatter machine feeding your stress level.
In this example, the mind and ego are leading you around by the nose and trying to control the flow of life by recruiting the support of your 3rd Chakra. This literally drains you of energy. In this state, you are disconnected from the infinite, creative source of energy. You are like a drop of water separated from the ocean – destined to dry up. You have no power – no grace.
Yes, there is even a flow of energy for doing taxes. To know where the flow of energy is in each moment, requires that you open up your self-sensory system and tune in to or intuit the energy to feel and know where the flow is. It requires letting go of the illusion of control. Perhaps the flow of energy at that time was to go outside for a walk, get some fresh air, phone someone, or focus for a while on some other task. When you are in the flow, it is energy giving, not energy draining. Paradoxically, being willing to not do something, often means you are given more energy to complete it later.
To be in a state of grace is to truly experience miracles daily. The Universe is benevolent and supportive to your destiny. How do you know when you are in a state of grace? It feels good. It feels as though you are not doing anything – your actions are not your own, and yet, something is moving through you. You become a channel for grace. When you are in a state of grace, you will have inspired thoughts, creativity will flow, and you will be exactly at the right place at the right time. There are no random events - only subtle patterns. Challenges are still there, but, the way you respond to them is different. Life is lived with ease.
Grace Meditation
Tune in first with the Adi Mantra three times
Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo
MUDRA: Press the thumb over the bent little finger and ring finger. Index finger and middle fingers point up. Elbows are by the sides and hands are by the shoulders. Bring forearms and hands forward to an angle of 30 degrees from the vertical. Press shoulders and elbows back firmly but comfortably.
EYES: Closed and focused at the 3rd Eye ( point between the brows )
BREATH: Create a slow, long and deep breath
MANTRA: Mentally pulse Saa Taa Naa Maa at your 3rd Eye. Keep your concentration at your 3rd Eye
END: INHALE - EXHALE, open and close the fists several times and RELAX.
TIME: 11 minutes
COMMENTS: Christ and Buddha have both practiced this meditation. It gives you the experience of happiness and compassion in a state of grace
Tune in first with the Adi Mantra three times
Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo
MUDRA: Press the thumb over the bent little finger and ring finger. Index finger and middle fingers point up. Elbows are by the sides and hands are by the shoulders. Bring forearms and hands forward to an angle of 30 degrees from the vertical. Press shoulders and elbows back firmly but comfortably.
EYES: Closed and focused at the 3rd Eye ( point between the brows )
BREATH: Create a slow, long and deep breath
MANTRA: Mentally pulse Saa Taa Naa Maa at your 3rd Eye. Keep your concentration at your 3rd Eye
END: INHALE - EXHALE, open and close the fists several times and RELAX.
TIME: 11 minutes
COMMENTS: Christ and Buddha have both practiced this meditation. It gives you the experience of happiness and compassion in a state of grace
Grace leads to Sacrifice - the sixth step to Happiness. See you next week! Remember, I will be with you every step of the way, and practicing along with you – so please contact me via email should you need any assistance in the journey to happiness. See you next week with the teachings of Sacrifice!
BLESSINGS!
Vikki
BLESSINGS!
Vikki
