Aug. 6, 2024
A Shift of Consciousness Brings New Understanding of One's Life and Existence in the World
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch.7 Spiritual Forces of Help and Succour, pp. 171-172 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/08/01/a-shift-of-consciousness-brings-new-understanding-of-ones-life-and-existence-in-the-world/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are all available on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,280
We typically live rooted in the
ego consciousness in the
2
00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:08,480
external physical world.
We judge things based on our
3
00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:13,520
perceptions, our physical, vital
and mental processes, and our
4
00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,880
habitual way of understanding
things from the standpoint of
5
00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,360
the ego.
This leads to a very limited and
6
00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:24,160
biased viewpoint that does not
provide a complete view of
7
00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,600
things.
We see a small slice of
8
00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,320
existence and try to judge from
that.
9
00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:35,600
There's a famous story that
illustrates this principle. 5
10
00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,960
blind men are asked to describe
an elephant by feeling it.
11
00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:45,600
One feels the ear, one the leg,
one the tail, one the trunk, and
12
00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,720
one the body.
They each provide a different
13
00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:53,040
and obviously very inaccurate
description of an elephant.
14
00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,720
By shifting our standpoint of
consciousness away from the ego,
15
00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,080
we have a better opportunity to
understand the forces at work in
16
00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,240
the world and the nature of
their action and the trajectory
17
00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,240
they are following toward
whatever may be their intended
18
00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:14,040
resolution or result.
Humanity as a whole has had
19
00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,480
several experiences that arose
out of a radical shift of
20
00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:21,080
viewpoint.
Human beings used to believe the
21
00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:25,520
world was flat, and this
severely limited the opportunity
22
00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,000
for a comprehensive global
understanding.
23
00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,240
The shift of understanding to
one of a spherical world from
24
00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:36,000
that of a flat world was a major
shift of standpoint.
25
00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:40,240
Another shift occurred when
humanity gained the
26
00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:45,040
understanding that our Earth is
not the center of existence, and
27
00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:49,920
that in fact, the Earth revolves
around the Sun, is part of a
28
00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:54,320
solar system which exists as a
small group of planets and moons
29
00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:59,320
grouped around a star which was
moving through a Galaxy along a
30
00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:03,720
relatively minor arm of that
Galaxy within a universe
31
00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,480
consisting of a vast number of
galaxies.
32
00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:12,680
Yet another shift is actually
occurring now as we grasp the
33
00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:16,400
significance of viewing the
Earth from space and we
34
00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:21,080
recognize the fragility of our
planet and its environment and
35
00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:25,800
the unity and symbiotic nature
of all life on the planet.
36
00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,840
This shift is starting to help
us focus on the need for
37
00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,960
cooperation and a balanced
approach to the beings who share
38
00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:38,360
the planet with us and to the
planetary environment itself.
39
00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:44,560
We as yet generally fail to see
the forces at work, the causes
40
00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,040
that create the results we see
in the world.
41
00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:51,400
That understanding can only come
as we shift our consciousness
42
00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:56,360
away from the ego and begin to
see things from another plane, a
43
00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,720
causal plane.
We're intentionality far
44
00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:04,240
different and far beyond that of
human intentions create the
45
00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:10,000
significance, purpose and action
that we experience and respond
46
00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:16,320
to in our lives, the mother
writes quote, if one goes out of
47
00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:20,640
the determinism of the world as
it is at present, this world
48
00:03:20,640 --> 00:03:24,880
which is a mixture of the
physical, vital, mental and of
49
00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:28,240
something of a spiritual
influence or infusion, quite
50
00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:33,760
veiled, everything that happens
is the combination of all this.
51
00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:37,480
If we go out of all that we can
do it.
52
00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:43,240
If we rise above the physical,
material world as it is and
53
00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:47,560
enter another consciousness, we
perceive things totally
54
00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:51,720
differently.
And then we see that behind
55
00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:56,080
these appearances, which seemed
to us absolutely logical and
56
00:03:56,080 --> 00:04:00,640
extremely natural and almost
necessary, there's an action
57
00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,880
which, if perceived in one's
ordinary consciousness, would
58
00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:10,240
seem all the time miraculous.
There is an intervention of
59
00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:15,880
forces, consciousnesses,
movements, influences, which is
60
00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:20,600
invisible or imperceptible for
our ordinary consciousness and
61
00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,080
constantly changes the whole
course of circumstances.
62
00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,440
We need, don't need to go very
far.
63
00:04:27,840 --> 00:04:31,640
It is enough to take just a step
outside the ordinary
64
00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,680
consciousness in order to
realize this.
65
00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,600
I have already said several
times that if one finds the
66
00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:42,880
psychic consciousness within
oneself and identifies oneself
67
00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:47,600
with it, well, immediately one
feels a complete reversal of
68
00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:51,960
circumstances and sees things
almost totally differently from
69
00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:53,920
the way one ordinarily sees
them.
70
00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:58,920
For one perceives the force
which is acting, instead of the
71
00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:03,200
result of this action.
At present you see only the
72
00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,360
result of the action of the
forces, and this seems to you
73
00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:11,600
natural, logical, and it's only
when something a little abnormal
74
00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:16,520
occurs, or it's a little
abnormal for you, that you begin
75
00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:20,360
to feel surprised.
But if you were in another state
76
00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:25,200
of consciousness, what seems
abnormal to you now would no
77
00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:29,120
longer be so.
You would see that it is the
78
00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:34,240
effect of something else, of
another action than the one you
79
00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,840
perceive.
End Quote.
80
00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,360
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
Mother.
81
00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,320
The hidden forces of life,
Chapter 7.
82
00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:49,720
Spiritual Forces of Help and
Succor, pages 171 to 172.
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,280
We typically live rooted in the
ego consciousness in the
2
00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:08,480
external physical world.
We judge things based on our
3
00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:13,520
perceptions, our physical, vital
and mental processes, and our
4
00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,880
habitual way of understanding
things from the standpoint of
5
00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,360
the ego.
This leads to a very limited and
6
00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:24,160
biased viewpoint that does not
provide a complete view of
7
00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,600
things.
We see a small slice of
8
00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,320
existence and try to judge from
that.
9
00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:35,600
There's a famous story that
illustrates this principle. 5
10
00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,960
blind men are asked to describe
an elephant by feeling it.
11
00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:45,600
One feels the ear, one the leg,
one the tail, one the trunk, and
12
00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,720
one the body.
They each provide a different
13
00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:53,040
and obviously very inaccurate
description of an elephant.
14
00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,720
By shifting our standpoint of
consciousness away from the ego,
15
00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,080
we have a better opportunity to
understand the forces at work in
16
00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,240
the world and the nature of
their action and the trajectory
17
00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,240
they are following toward
whatever may be their intended
18
00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:14,040
resolution or result.
Humanity as a whole has had
19
00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,480
several experiences that arose
out of a radical shift of
20
00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:21,080
viewpoint.
Human beings used to believe the
21
00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:25,520
world was flat, and this
severely limited the opportunity
22
00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,000
for a comprehensive global
understanding.
23
00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,240
The shift of understanding to
one of a spherical world from
24
00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:36,000
that of a flat world was a major
shift of standpoint.
25
00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:40,240
Another shift occurred when
humanity gained the
26
00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:45,040
understanding that our Earth is
not the center of existence, and
27
00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:49,920
that in fact, the Earth revolves
around the Sun, is part of a
28
00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:54,320
solar system which exists as a
small group of planets and moons
29
00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:59,320
grouped around a star which was
moving through a Galaxy along a
30
00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:03,720
relatively minor arm of that
Galaxy within a universe
31
00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,480
consisting of a vast number of
galaxies.
32
00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:12,680
Yet another shift is actually
occurring now as we grasp the
33
00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:16,400
significance of viewing the
Earth from space and we
34
00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:21,080
recognize the fragility of our
planet and its environment and
35
00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:25,800
the unity and symbiotic nature
of all life on the planet.
36
00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,840
This shift is starting to help
us focus on the need for
37
00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,960
cooperation and a balanced
approach to the beings who share
38
00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:38,360
the planet with us and to the
planetary environment itself.
39
00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:44,560
We as yet generally fail to see
the forces at work, the causes
40
00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,040
that create the results we see
in the world.
41
00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:51,400
That understanding can only come
as we shift our consciousness
42
00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:56,360
away from the ego and begin to
see things from another plane, a
43
00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,720
causal plane.
We're intentionality far
44
00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:04,240
different and far beyond that of
human intentions create the
45
00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:10,000
significance, purpose and action
that we experience and respond
46
00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:16,320
to in our lives, the mother
writes quote, if one goes out of
47
00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:20,640
the determinism of the world as
it is at present, this world
48
00:03:20,640 --> 00:03:24,880
which is a mixture of the
physical, vital, mental and of
49
00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:28,240
something of a spiritual
influence or infusion, quite
50
00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:33,760
veiled, everything that happens
is the combination of all this.
51
00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:37,480
If we go out of all that we can
do it.
52
00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:43,240
If we rise above the physical,
material world as it is and
53
00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:47,560
enter another consciousness, we
perceive things totally
54
00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:51,720
differently.
And then we see that behind
55
00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:56,080
these appearances, which seemed
to us absolutely logical and
56
00:03:56,080 --> 00:04:00,640
extremely natural and almost
necessary, there's an action
57
00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,880
which, if perceived in one's
ordinary consciousness, would
58
00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:10,240
seem all the time miraculous.
There is an intervention of
59
00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:15,880
forces, consciousnesses,
movements, influences, which is
60
00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:20,600
invisible or imperceptible for
our ordinary consciousness and
61
00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,080
constantly changes the whole
course of circumstances.
62
00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,440
We need, don't need to go very
far.
63
00:04:27,840 --> 00:04:31,640
It is enough to take just a step
outside the ordinary
64
00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,680
consciousness in order to
realize this.
65
00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,600
I have already said several
times that if one finds the
66
00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:42,880
psychic consciousness within
oneself and identifies oneself
67
00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:47,600
with it, well, immediately one
feels a complete reversal of
68
00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:51,960
circumstances and sees things
almost totally differently from
69
00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:53,920
the way one ordinarily sees
them.
70
00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:58,920
For one perceives the force
which is acting, instead of the
71
00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:03,200
result of this action.
At present you see only the
72
00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,360
result of the action of the
forces, and this seems to you
73
00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:11,600
natural, logical, and it's only
when something a little abnormal
74
00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:16,520
occurs, or it's a little
abnormal for you, that you begin
75
00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:20,360
to feel surprised.
But if you were in another state
76
00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:25,200
of consciousness, what seems
abnormal to you now would no
77
00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:29,120
longer be so.
You would see that it is the
78
00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:34,240
effect of something else, of
another action than the one you
79
00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,840
perceive.
End Quote.
80
00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,360
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
Mother.
81
00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,320
The hidden forces of life,
Chapter 7.
82
00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:49,720
Spiritual Forces of Help and
Succor, pages 171 to 172.