Realization of the Self comes about through both effort and grace

Annamalai Swami

from ("Living by the Words of Bhagavan"):

Question: You talk a lot about effort but rarely speak about grace. Don't you attach much importance to grace?

Annamalai Swami: Grace is important; in fact it is essential. It is even more important than effort. Realization of the Self comes about through both effort and grace. When one makes a steady effort to abide in the Self one receives the Guru's grace in abundance. The grace comes not only through the form of one's Guru. When you meditate earnestly all the jivanmuktas of the past and present respond to your efforts by sending you blessings of light.