Grace And The Burden Of Salvation Options

[wheatbean]

A teacher of mine has some interesting ideas (some of which resonate to me as having something valuable, but some I have some qualms with), but I hope I convey some of them properly. What do you think of this: the idea of Grace-- that there is absolutely nothing one can do to save onesself, that life and salvation are both entirely a gift. That all are given Grace-- regardless if they are sinners or not, because all are sinners. Also, that the burden of salvation, the idea that one has to save onesself, would drive a person mad. (Of course, this seems to indicate an obsession-ego approach, rather than a relaxed consciousness-- which would have no need to be obsessed with salvation in the first place?).

These ideas seems to contradict (and somewhat coincide, in some aspects) with Gnosis-- that one can do something about one's condition. I was curious, though-- is this a matter of Grace in itself, to be able to do the work? Or is this all a gift, too? Is "our part" (the practices) in actuality a Grace, devoid of any semi-pelagian qualities?

It perturbs me that if only some, and very few, actually achieve self-realization, than what happens to all of the others, those who don't make it, those who fall, those who've never tried to change? I guess you can see my influences from the "everybody goes to heaven" train still reside somewhere within me, but it still... at least, if thats the case, I can understand a little bit why there are Bodhistattvas.