Back of the Book There are many hypotheses on achieving Grace. Man has been struggling for it for thousands of years. There are many theories and presumptions but Grace remains ever elusive. In the Descent of Grace, the author analyses the phenomenon of Grace in an in-depth study of the subject and clearly clinches the issue in accordance with the Sikh point of view.
Author of five books on various perspectives of Religion, scanning the WHAT, WHY, WHEN and HOW of Sikhism, Gajindar Singh delves into the mystery of Grace in his latest volume, Descent of Grace.
Introduction It has baffled me for long whether the title of this book. Descent of Grace, is appropriate. Why not Ascent to Grace, instead? Ascent in any form means achievement When a person undergoes strict regime of shedding evil and becoming virtuous, the scriptures say, he transforms into a saintly being, from his earlier beastly self. Those who put their faith in man's efforts will no doubt want it that way. Ascent also signifies man's high thinking and belief in the supremacy of virtues. Gurbani extols the riddance of vices in the course of a person's life to be virtuous and become eligible for God's Grace. All religions preach virtuous conduct as the primary and essential step- ladder to attain Grace, a passage to Heaven, corresponding to a better deal and status in transmigration of the soul in the Eastern philosophy and postulation. It is thus admitted by the spiritual philosophers and thinkers that it is by one's supreme efforts that a person qualifies for Divine Grace. In other words, one labours hard to develop good traits, necessary to reach the stage of Grace. It is precisely here that the enigma confronts the virtuous.
Firstly, the honest and righteous person in his efforts to develop virtues would also remain conscious of his separate entity away from God. That is the primary stage of abem.
Secondly, he would feel exhalation in counting his achievements on the road to Grace. That is the point of pride, where the impasse is likely to beset, turning one into a granite statue, as the fairy tales used to state, awaiting a messiah to bring him back to a state of flesh and blood. After all, annihilation of self is the primary prerequisite of all high religions.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
