To gain liberation what is the relationship between grace and effort.

Student: To gain liberation what is the relationship between grace and effort.

R: Grace and effort? A little of both. (SK: Both?) 
In the beginning you use effort. 
As you practice self-inquiry, practice surrendering when you've gone far enough, grace takes over.

 Grace is another term for the Self. 
The Self is grace and grace pulls you in. 

But grace comes when you make effort. It's sort of a contradiction. 

The whole of spirituality is contradictions. You have to make the effort and then you have to give up the effort.

This is why in Advaita it is really for people who have had spiritual experiences from practicing sadhanas for many years in former lives. 

 They're in the last stage then grace comes. 

But if you're still quarreling with the world, still quarreling with yourself, still have personal problems, you still think your body is important, your affairs are important or this is important or that's important, it's virtually impossible to have grace, because you're too engrossed in the ego.

 If you are still worrying what is going to happen to me tomorrow or I'm not happy once I do this or do that, then grace cannot come.
 It only comes when you give up everything. 

When you have sort of a care free attitude. 
 Not my will but thine. 

You give up your personal will, personal power.
But that's not a weakness, there's a strength in this. 

Do not think that you'll become weak or passive, no you don't. You become very strong. For the world can no longer hurt you. 

There is no fear any longer. You realize who you are and what you are. And you're at peace with yourself and everybody else. So grace and the Self are one.
Robert Adams - 4/12/93