Grace By Stephanie Lopez

Moving into autumn we may be called to inquire and come into alignment with our heart’s deepest calling. As we’re drawn to what we truly love the source of this calling is Grace.

How do I speak about Grace? I think of it as an undefinable essence, an abiding Presence and Mystery awakening us to deeper truth. How does Grace move? How does it reveal itself? How can we learn to recognize Grace?

Grace flows as everything. It abides in every movement and non-movement, both in confusion and clarity. In Kashmir Shaivism, even concealment of our essential nature is full of grace. As everything has potential to point back to the truth of our essential nature anything can be a messenger. The non-dual practices sensitize you to recognize it. Pranayama, Bodysensing, and iRest support you in evolving from the belief of separation to your inherent wholeness and interconnection with all of life.

Approaching life from a sense of separation creates struggle and misunderstanding. You think you have to control life or make it happen a certain way. When life doesn’t conform to your agenda Grace may feel like the surge of a rushing waterfall, fierce and powerful. As you struggle wanting life to be other than it is Grace brings you to the edge of experience. At that precipice one step opens you into the unknown. By abiding here, a deeper truth may be revealed.

At other times you may engage in an effortless flow. Without an agenda you meet life as it is, with a sense of openness and curiosity. In the vast simplicity of the moment Grace shines forth as spontaneous and creative expression. Have you ever had a moment where you’ve somehow gotten out of your own way and a clear response emerged? It is the embodiment or pure expression of life through you. Yet it is also impersonal and you may have no idea where it’s coming from. Here you engage life with a perfect response born right from the moment itself.

The recognition of Grace is a matter of learning to listen to the call of life. Through inquiry you recognize the need to stop, question, and feel into a particular belief, emotion, or action. Whether fierce or gentle, Grace aligns us with life; not my will but they will be done. The heart’s calling is now both personal as our unique expression in the world, and impersonal as the harmonious flow of life itself.

Awakening is a matter of life or the immensity of the Absolute becoming aware of itself through you. Lean into life. A moment may come when you are so undefended that all effort ceases. No practice or teaching is needed here. There is nothing to be done. Abiding as openness Grace may reveal your essential nature.

I look forward to the upcoming retreat at Bergamo Center in Beavercreek, Ohio where we’ll engage experiential practices (including Bodysensing, Breathsensing, iRest and silent meditation) which will quiet the mind, open the heart, and perhaps, open you to Grace. I’ll be offering daily satsang to share the teachings of core yogic philosophies (Samkhya, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Advaita Vedanta, and Kashmir Shaivism) that support non-dual understanding. We’ll explore the aspects of essential nature – our ground of Being and Awareness itself – along with enlightened living in our day to day life. If you would like to join me for this life-affirming retreat, please click here.

With love and grace,
Stephanie