The Fiery Bird of Grace
Supermundane 851
Urusvati knows the true meaning of grace. Primary energy, grace, psychic energy, fiery energy, prana—there have been many names over the centuries, but the meaning is one. Life-giver, channel of the creative force, impeller to knowledge—thus can people understand grace. But people are far from understanding the foundations of the universe, and will ask, “If the primary energy fills space, why does it not act equally on all of humanity?”
Those who question do not know that there are no two people alike, or that the energy must be acknowledged, invoked, and accepted. An ignorant person is like a patient who demands immediate effect from a remedy. After the first dose he is ready to deny. Thus acts the one who does not acknowledge the primary energy. Likewise, an ignorant person does not understand that one must know how to invoke the energy. The pure will must be tensed so that the fiery magnet is activated. The magnet cannot come to life without the cultivation of the will.
It is also difficult for man to accept grace in earthly life. Like a bird of paradise, grace will beat its wings against its cage, losing its best feathers. He who accepts grace must keep the wonderful bird free, but how to treat it so that it does not become a pitiful prisoner? People have invented many different ways to adapt their everyday lives to the grandeur of the beautiful energy, but often without giving a thought to the meaning of the word grace.
The Thinker rejoiced when he sensed the presence of grace. He said, “I was touched by the fiery bird, the messenger of the Supermundane World.”
Commentary
The fiery bird of Grace is a treasure that we accumulate in our Chalice, life after life. It is a gift earned through our sacrificial service to others. It is our good karma. It is just one aspect of glorious psychic energy.
I’m now at an age that when I look back over my life I can see how Grace has touched my life. In my youthful ignorance I let it pass by without notice but through life experiences and now as a student of the Teachings I can see how it has touched my life, as well as the lives of my family and friends, and even our countries and nations.
It arrives with perfect timing when it is needed and, of course, earned. For example, many years ago I became stranded and stuck in the mud out on the Colorado prairies with two elderly parents with night approaching and severe winter temperatures dropping. This could have been a disaster for us as we were 30 miles from anyone or anywhere. Then out of nowhere a rancher appeared and was able to pull us out of our situation. My step-father throughout his life always stopped to help. Grace was there when we needed it.
Grace is an accumulation of wisdom, love, sacrifice and heroic actions. It is living the virtues. It is a fiery bird aspiring to the Real Self.