April 26, 2025
Action According to One's Own Svabhava and Svadharma
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 3, Action and Work, pg. 62This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/04/24/action-according-to-ones-own-svabhava-and-svadharma/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable 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 SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:04,560
People who take up spiritual
life frequently believe that
2
00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:08,240
they should change their line of
work and focus in the external
3
00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:11,480
world.
In some cases, this is a
4
00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:15,800
recognition of the inner being's
guidance as the individual
5
00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:20,760
awakens to his true calling.
In other cases, however, this is
6
00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:25,400
a mistaken belief that certain
lines of work or action are more
7
00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,920
spiritual, and thus one should
abandoned what was a natural
8
00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:34,120
calling for one that the mind
has determined is the more
9
00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:39,280
spiritual activity.
In the Bhagwad Gita, Sri Krishna
10
00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:43,560
advises Arjuna that it is better
to follow one's own law of
11
00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:48,600
living, even if it appears to be
faulty in some way, than to try
12
00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,760
to follow some other law of
action, no matter how lofty or
13
00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:57,160
beneficial it appears.
In chapter 3, verse 35, Sri
14
00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:01,920
Krishna states quote better is
1's own law of works.
15
00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:07,000
Swadharma, though in itself
faulty, than an alien law well
16
00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,960
wrought out.
Death in one's own law of being
17
00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:15,000
is better.
Perilous is it to follow an
18
00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,080
alien law.
End Quote.
19
00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,320
And it continues in chapter 18,
verse 47.
20
00:01:21,960 --> 00:01:27,600
Quote better is 1's own law of
works, though in itself faulty,
21
00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,160
then an alien law well wrought
out.
22
00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,160
One does not incur sin when one
acts in agreement with the law
23
00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,760
of 1's own nature.
End Quote.
24
00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,600
Citations here.
Translated by Sri Aurobindo from
25
00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:49,000
Bhagwad Gita and its message.
Arjuna asks in Chapter 2, verse
26
00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:53,320
454.
Quote What is the sign of the
27
00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:57,400
man in Samati whose intelligence
is firmly fixed in wisdom?
28
00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:02,520
How does the sage of settled
understanding speak, how sit,
29
00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:05,840
how walk?
End Quote.
30
00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:12,640
Sri Krishna responds not with
outer signs or actions, but with
31
00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:16,600
the inner standpoint and
subjective basis that drives the
32
00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,520
action forward.
There are legends from the
33
00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,840
traditions of ancient India that
speak of individuals who act
34
00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:28,880
from true humility, caring for
their elders, working at jobs
35
00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:33,480
that are considered mean or low,
but who have the inward attitude
36
00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:38,400
of consecrated action.
They are accorded respect in the
37
00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:43,200
teachings versus those who put
on a show of knowledge and who
38
00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,520
then look down on those with
lesser outward signs of
39
00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:51,600
attainment of spiritual
realization, Sri Aurobindo
40
00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,440
observes quote.
There is no need for you to
41
00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:59,760
change the line of life and work
you have chosen, so long as you
42
00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:01,960
feel that to be the way of your
nature.
43
00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:07,360
Swabhava, or dictated to you by
your inner being, or for some
44
00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,760
reason it is seen to be your
proper Dharma.
45
00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,720
These are the three tests and
apart from that I do not know if
46
00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:19,160
there's any fixed line of
conduct or way of work or life
47
00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,200
that can be laid down for the
yoga of the Gita.
48
00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:26,480
It is the spirit or
consciousness in which the work
49
00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:31,920
is done that matters most.
The outer form can vary greatly
50
00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:34,280
for different natures.
End Quote.
51
00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,240
Reference.
Sri Auro Bindu and the Mother.
52
00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,120
Looking from within.
Chapter 3.
53
00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:44,400
Action and Work, page 62.
00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:04,560
People who take up spiritual
life frequently believe that
2
00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:08,240
they should change their line of
work and focus in the external
3
00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:11,480
world.
In some cases, this is a
4
00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:15,800
recognition of the inner being's
guidance as the individual
5
00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:20,760
awakens to his true calling.
In other cases, however, this is
6
00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:25,400
a mistaken belief that certain
lines of work or action are more
7
00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,920
spiritual, and thus one should
abandoned what was a natural
8
00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:34,120
calling for one that the mind
has determined is the more
9
00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:39,280
spiritual activity.
In the Bhagwad Gita, Sri Krishna
10
00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:43,560
advises Arjuna that it is better
to follow one's own law of
11
00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:48,600
living, even if it appears to be
faulty in some way, than to try
12
00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,760
to follow some other law of
action, no matter how lofty or
13
00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:57,160
beneficial it appears.
In chapter 3, verse 35, Sri
14
00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:01,920
Krishna states quote better is
1's own law of works.
15
00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:07,000
Swadharma, though in itself
faulty, than an alien law well
16
00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,960
wrought out.
Death in one's own law of being
17
00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:15,000
is better.
Perilous is it to follow an
18
00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,080
alien law.
End Quote.
19
00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,320
And it continues in chapter 18,
verse 47.
20
00:01:21,960 --> 00:01:27,600
Quote better is 1's own law of
works, though in itself faulty,
21
00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,160
then an alien law well wrought
out.
22
00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,160
One does not incur sin when one
acts in agreement with the law
23
00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,760
of 1's own nature.
End Quote.
24
00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,600
Citations here.
Translated by Sri Aurobindo from
25
00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:49,000
Bhagwad Gita and its message.
Arjuna asks in Chapter 2, verse
26
00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:53,320
454.
Quote What is the sign of the
27
00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:57,400
man in Samati whose intelligence
is firmly fixed in wisdom?
28
00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:02,520
How does the sage of settled
understanding speak, how sit,
29
00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:05,840
how walk?
End Quote.
30
00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:12,640
Sri Krishna responds not with
outer signs or actions, but with
31
00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:16,600
the inner standpoint and
subjective basis that drives the
32
00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,520
action forward.
There are legends from the
33
00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,840
traditions of ancient India that
speak of individuals who act
34
00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:28,880
from true humility, caring for
their elders, working at jobs
35
00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:33,480
that are considered mean or low,
but who have the inward attitude
36
00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:38,400
of consecrated action.
They are accorded respect in the
37
00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:43,200
teachings versus those who put
on a show of knowledge and who
38
00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,520
then look down on those with
lesser outward signs of
39
00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:51,600
attainment of spiritual
realization, Sri Aurobindo
40
00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,440
observes quote.
There is no need for you to
41
00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:59,760
change the line of life and work
you have chosen, so long as you
42
00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:01,960
feel that to be the way of your
nature.
43
00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:07,360
Swabhava, or dictated to you by
your inner being, or for some
44
00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,760
reason it is seen to be your
proper Dharma.
45
00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,720
These are the three tests and
apart from that I do not know if
46
00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:19,160
there's any fixed line of
conduct or way of work or life
47
00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,200
that can be laid down for the
yoga of the Gita.
48
00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:26,480
It is the spirit or
consciousness in which the work
49
00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:31,920
is done that matters most.
The outer form can vary greatly
50
00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:34,280
for different natures.
End Quote.
51
00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,240
Reference.
Sri Auro Bindu and the Mother.
52
00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,120
Looking from within.
Chapter 3.
53
00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:44,400
Action and Work, page 62.