Lakṣmī Tantra Chapter 13—The True Nature of the Jīva
Channel: Consciousness Research Centre
Date: 2020-12-02

This series is classified Vivartha-vāda | Rāja-yoga | Suśupti | Viśuddhi-cakra
Śrī: “O Śakra, now hear My explanation of My fifth śakti, the functional capacity known as anugraha: granting blessings, mercy, or Divine Grace. The anugraha-śakti is traditionally known as My fifth śakti. My son, I am now going to describe Her true nature to you. These jīvas are deluded by avidyā, subjected to the illusion of asmitā and overwhelmed by My śakti called tirodhāna. In general they fall from a higher to a lower position; but they also show a tendency to ascend from lower to higher positions. Such jīvas are subjected to three types of bondage and move through the three states or regions. Broiling in their own deeds, they are in the very center of the hot coal representing mundane life; they inveterately seek happiness but instead, owing to ignorance, get crushed by misery.” [13.1–4]
“The movable and immovable beings continuously pass through an endless chain of births. Inextricably enmeshed in the miseries of body, senses, mind and intelligence, through the results caused by their deeds, the jīvas are ever subjected to recurrent birth and death, and undergo affliction through systematic effort or its absence—attempts to avoid misery or to pursue happiness, as the case may be. These considerations engender in Me endless compassion for these jīvas. I obliterate their sins and I, Śrī, ensure that such jīvas escape beyond the clutches of misery. This act of compassion is called anugraha, which is also referred to as the descent of the supreme Śakti.” [13.5–8]
“Having received My grace, they are absolved from their karman. The jīvas infused with My grace possess only apaścima (non-phenomenal) bodies. Thus they are released from the consequences of their actions. The precise moment of the descent of this anugraha-śakti is known only to Me. It cannot be brought about by human effort, or by any other means. Solely through the arbitrary exercise of My own discretion do I sometimes look upon a certain individual with favor. Thenceforward that individual becomes pure and his antaḥkarana (internal organ) becomes cleansed. And he, having reached the state of karmaśamya (pacification of karman), then confines himself to performing good deeds, to attaining knowledge of the  , to following the course of contemplation and meditation laid down in the Saṅkhya and Yoga scriptures, and through a correct understanding of Sāttvata philosophy, becomes imbued with pure devotion for Viṣṇu.” [13.9–12]
“Then gradually after a lapse of time the yogin (meditating adept), who has shaken off all accumulated kleśas (afflictions) by freeing himself from every shackle, glows brightly, liberated from all attachment, and ultimately becomes one with the Supreme Brahman represented by Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa. This is My fifth Śakti known as anugraha. The reason for My engaging in activities such as tirobhava etc. (the kleśas) is purely a matter of My own choice. Thus, O Śakra, understand My fivefold divine functions, about which I have nothing further to add.” [13.13–16]

==========
Dharmasār Video Series Index:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EZFqp9G893-LMYSm-ucUt3CylMTbfLV2/view?usp=drivesdk

Four States of Consciousness Diagram: 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13OWr_2V857yq7AjS59yhF4ub2q9k8Kl9/view?usp=sharing

Dharmasār Complete Archive Library:
https://archive.org/details/dharmasar-essence-of-dharma