Thereupon Muktãnand Swãmi asked a question: "Personal endeavour is mentioned in the scriptures, but how much is actually achieved by personal endeavour, and how much is achieved by God's grace?"

Shriji Mahãrãj explained, "One who, by the words of the Sadguru and the scriptures, has attained firm vairãgya, has firm shraddhã, strictly observes the eight aspects of brahmacharya, has affinity towards non-violence and absolutely firmly realises oneself to be the ãtmã is relieved of the burden of births and deaths which hangs over one's head. Then, just like a grain of rice that has had its outer chaff removed does not grow, a mukta who has the virtues just mentioned is freed from eternal ignorance in the form of mãyã. He is thereby freed from the cycle of births and deaths and attains the state of ãtmã-realisation. This much can be achieved by personal endeavour."
 

[Sãrangpur-11]