Nov. 21, 2024
Aspiration and the Witness Consciousness
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter IX Aspiration and Prayer pp. 90-91
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/11/19/aspiration-and-the-witness-consciousness/
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
00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:05,440
When spiritual seekers attempt
to implement the technique of
2
00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:09,600
the separation of Purusha and
Prakriti, they generally go
3
00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:14,040
through a stage where they try
to utilize the mind to observe.
4
00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:19,000
The mind, however, is not the
instrument for the actual shift
5
00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:20,800
to the standpoint of the
Purusha.
6
00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:25,520
In fact, the mind is one of the
elements that is to be observed
7
00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:29,760
by the Purusha.
The Shweta Ashwatara Upanishad
8
00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:34,880
provides a clue.
Quote 2 Winged birds cling about
9
00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,400
a common tree.
Comrades, yoke fellows.
10
00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:44,080
One eats the sweet fruit of the
tree, the other eats not, but
11
00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,920
watches.
The soul upon a common tree is
12
00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:53,720
absorbed, and because he is not
Lord, grieves and is bewildered,
13
00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,800
but when he sees and cleaves to
that other who is the Lord, he
14
00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:03,280
knows that all is his greatness
and his sorrow passes away from
15
00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:05,640
him.
End Quote.
16
00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:11,040
The Upanishads translated by Sri
Aurobindo Shweta Ashwatara
17
00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,680
Upanishad, chapter 4, verses six
to seven.
18
00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:21,760
The external being, which
includes body, life and mind,
19
00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,360
need to be focused and
concentrated on their effort to
20
00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:27,520
succeed at their actions in the
world.
21
00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,240
They constitute the active
instruments of the ego
22
00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:36,720
personality and is It is this
ego personality that takes pride
23
00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,360
in the accomplishments and
achievements it has to its
24
00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:44,520
credit in the world.
The shift of awareness to a more
25
00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,160
inward state of observation may
begin with the mind attempting
26
00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:52,120
to do this, but the mind is
focused on classifying,
27
00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:58,080
analyzing, and judging, and thus
it becomes a partisan in the
28
00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:02,280
activities with pride and shame
as two of the reactions it
29
00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,360
develops.
This is clearly not the
30
00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,560
separation that Trioro Bindo
describes when he speaks about
31
00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:13,760
the Purusha standpoint and its
pure observation of the external
32
00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:18,120
nature without judgment and
without taking any emotional
33
00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:22,040
stance in regard to the actions
of that external nature.
34
00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:27,160
The stance of the Purusha is
that of the true spiritual being
35
00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,760
who is embodied in the external
nature.
36
00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:36,720
The psychic being, the true soul
and the individual, is the
37
00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:40,400
connecting link to this
spiritual standpoint and it is
38
00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,960
the aspiration of the psychic
being that needs to be fully and
39
00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:49,040
completely concentrated in its
complete and undeviating focus.
40
00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,160
The external being attempts to
take the credit for the results
41
00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,800
achieved by the psychic being
and the mind and vital latch on
42
00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,640
to the progress and can become
proud or vain.
43
00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,480
The more intense and pure the
aspiration, the more it can
44
00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,880
actually breakthrough the
obstacles and resistances of the
45
00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:14,240
outer nature and achieve oneness
with the true spiritual being
46
00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:17,640
who manifests through the
individual and his ego
47
00:03:17,640 --> 00:03:21,560
personality.
The status that results is the
48
00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:26,160
unity or oneness of the soul,
the spirit and the act of
49
00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:30,720
aspiration so that there is no
separation or distinction that
50
00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:36,720
can occur.
A disciple asks, quote, Mother,
51
00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,600
when we make an effort, there's
something in us which becomes
52
00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:44,520
very self satisfied and boastful
and contented with this effort
53
00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:49,120
and that spoils everything.
Then how can we get rid of this?
54
00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,720
End Quote.
The mother answers.
55
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:58,120
Quote Ah, that's what looks on
at what it is doing.
56
00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,560
There's always someone who
observes when one is doing
57
00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:05,600
something.
Now sometimes he becomes proud.
58
00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,240
Obviously this takes away much
strength from the effort.
59
00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,360
I think it is that it is the
habit of looking at oneself,
60
00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:15,880
acting, looking at oneself,
living.
61
00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,040
It is necessary to observe
oneself.
62
00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,040
But I think it is still more
necessary to try to be
63
00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,760
absolutely sincere and
spontaneous, very spontaneous in
64
00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:32,520
what 1 does not always go on
observing oneself, looking at
65
00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:37,000
one, what one is doing, judging
oneself, sometimes severely.
66
00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:41,280
In fact, it is almost as bad as
patting oneself with
67
00:04:41,280 --> 00:04:43,720
satisfaction.
The two are equally bad.
68
00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:48,680
One should be so sincere in his
aspiration that he does doesn't
69
00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:53,920
even know he is aspiring that he
becomes aspiration itself.
70
00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,240
When this indeed can be
realized, one truly attains to
71
00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:04,800
an extraordinary power.
One minute, one minute of this
72
00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,680
and you can prepare years of
realization.
73
00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:14,000
When one is no longer a self,
regarding being an ego, looking
74
00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:19,000
at itself, acting, when one
becomes the action itself, above
75
00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,680
all in the aspiration, this
truly is good.
76
00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:27,240
When there is no longer a person
who is aspiring, when it is an
77
00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:31,760
aspiration which leaps up with a
fully concentrated impulsion,
78
00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:38,040
then truly it goes very far.
Otherwise there is always mixed
79
00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:43,080
up in a little vanity, a little
self complacency, a little self
80
00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:47,040
pity, also all kinds of little
things which come and spoil
81
00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,840
everything, but it is difficult.
End Quote.
82
00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:57,400
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother Powers within Chapter 9,
83
00:05:57,840 --> 00:06:01,720
Aspiration and Prayer, pages 90
to 91.
00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:05,440
When spiritual seekers attempt
to implement the technique of
2
00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:09,600
the separation of Purusha and
Prakriti, they generally go
3
00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:14,040
through a stage where they try
to utilize the mind to observe.
4
00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:19,000
The mind, however, is not the
instrument for the actual shift
5
00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:20,800
to the standpoint of the
Purusha.
6
00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:25,520
In fact, the mind is one of the
elements that is to be observed
7
00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:29,760
by the Purusha.
The Shweta Ashwatara Upanishad
8
00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:34,880
provides a clue.
Quote 2 Winged birds cling about
9
00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,400
a common tree.
Comrades, yoke fellows.
10
00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:44,080
One eats the sweet fruit of the
tree, the other eats not, but
11
00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,920
watches.
The soul upon a common tree is
12
00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:53,720
absorbed, and because he is not
Lord, grieves and is bewildered,
13
00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,800
but when he sees and cleaves to
that other who is the Lord, he
14
00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:03,280
knows that all is his greatness
and his sorrow passes away from
15
00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:05,640
him.
End Quote.
16
00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:11,040
The Upanishads translated by Sri
Aurobindo Shweta Ashwatara
17
00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,680
Upanishad, chapter 4, verses six
to seven.
18
00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:21,760
The external being, which
includes body, life and mind,
19
00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,360
need to be focused and
concentrated on their effort to
20
00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:27,520
succeed at their actions in the
world.
21
00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,240
They constitute the active
instruments of the ego
22
00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:36,720
personality and is It is this
ego personality that takes pride
23
00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,360
in the accomplishments and
achievements it has to its
24
00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:44,520
credit in the world.
The shift of awareness to a more
25
00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,160
inward state of observation may
begin with the mind attempting
26
00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:52,120
to do this, but the mind is
focused on classifying,
27
00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:58,080
analyzing, and judging, and thus
it becomes a partisan in the
28
00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:02,280
activities with pride and shame
as two of the reactions it
29
00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,360
develops.
This is clearly not the
30
00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,560
separation that Trioro Bindo
describes when he speaks about
31
00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:13,760
the Purusha standpoint and its
pure observation of the external
32
00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:18,120
nature without judgment and
without taking any emotional
33
00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:22,040
stance in regard to the actions
of that external nature.
34
00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:27,160
The stance of the Purusha is
that of the true spiritual being
35
00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,760
who is embodied in the external
nature.
36
00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:36,720
The psychic being, the true soul
and the individual, is the
37
00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:40,400
connecting link to this
spiritual standpoint and it is
38
00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,960
the aspiration of the psychic
being that needs to be fully and
39
00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:49,040
completely concentrated in its
complete and undeviating focus.
40
00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,160
The external being attempts to
take the credit for the results
41
00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,800
achieved by the psychic being
and the mind and vital latch on
42
00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,640
to the progress and can become
proud or vain.
43
00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,480
The more intense and pure the
aspiration, the more it can
44
00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,880
actually breakthrough the
obstacles and resistances of the
45
00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:14,240
outer nature and achieve oneness
with the true spiritual being
46
00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:17,640
who manifests through the
individual and his ego
47
00:03:17,640 --> 00:03:21,560
personality.
The status that results is the
48
00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:26,160
unity or oneness of the soul,
the spirit and the act of
49
00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:30,720
aspiration so that there is no
separation or distinction that
50
00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:36,720
can occur.
A disciple asks, quote, Mother,
51
00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,600
when we make an effort, there's
something in us which becomes
52
00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:44,520
very self satisfied and boastful
and contented with this effort
53
00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:49,120
and that spoils everything.
Then how can we get rid of this?
54
00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,720
End Quote.
The mother answers.
55
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:58,120
Quote Ah, that's what looks on
at what it is doing.
56
00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,560
There's always someone who
observes when one is doing
57
00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:05,600
something.
Now sometimes he becomes proud.
58
00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,240
Obviously this takes away much
strength from the effort.
59
00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,360
I think it is that it is the
habit of looking at oneself,
60
00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:15,880
acting, looking at oneself,
living.
61
00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,040
It is necessary to observe
oneself.
62
00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,040
But I think it is still more
necessary to try to be
63
00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,760
absolutely sincere and
spontaneous, very spontaneous in
64
00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:32,520
what 1 does not always go on
observing oneself, looking at
65
00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:37,000
one, what one is doing, judging
oneself, sometimes severely.
66
00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:41,280
In fact, it is almost as bad as
patting oneself with
67
00:04:41,280 --> 00:04:43,720
satisfaction.
The two are equally bad.
68
00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:48,680
One should be so sincere in his
aspiration that he does doesn't
69
00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:53,920
even know he is aspiring that he
becomes aspiration itself.
70
00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,240
When this indeed can be
realized, one truly attains to
71
00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:04,800
an extraordinary power.
One minute, one minute of this
72
00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,680
and you can prepare years of
realization.
73
00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:14,000
When one is no longer a self,
regarding being an ego, looking
74
00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:19,000
at itself, acting, when one
becomes the action itself, above
75
00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,680
all in the aspiration, this
truly is good.
76
00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:27,240
When there is no longer a person
who is aspiring, when it is an
77
00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:31,760
aspiration which leaps up with a
fully concentrated impulsion,
78
00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:38,040
then truly it goes very far.
Otherwise there is always mixed
79
00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:43,080
up in a little vanity, a little
self complacency, a little self
80
00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:47,040
pity, also all kinds of little
things which come and spoil
81
00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,840
everything, but it is difficult.
End Quote.
82
00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:57,400
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother Powers within Chapter 9,
83
00:05:57,840 --> 00:06:01,720
Aspiration and Prayer, pages 90
to 91.