Aug. 17, 2024
Becoming Conscious of Oneself
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch.8 Life — A Mass of Vibrations, pp. 183-184 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/08/12/becoming-conscious-of-oneself/
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
00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:05,400
A devotee residing at tree or a
window ashram some years ago
2
00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:10,240
tried an experiment which he
reported for a specific time
3
00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,040
period.
He determined not to speak.
4
00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,120
He did not do this in an
indiscriminate way, however.
5
00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,600
He implemented this experiment
by avoiding all social speech
6
00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:26,800
whatsoever, but agreed to speak
as necessary for the work role
7
00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:30,880
he had been assigned.
He carried a pad of paper and
8
00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,760
pen with him to let those who
addressed him know about the
9
00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:38,280
discipline he was undertaking.
During that time, he reported
10
00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:43,120
that he was able to observe the
impulse to speech and that it
11
00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:47,360
arose spontaneously without any
serious thought process or
12
00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:52,840
planning involved, seemingly as
a responsive vibration to the
13
00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,640
vibrations he was receiving.
Additionally, he noted that he
14
00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,760
was able to remain inwardly
concentrated for longer periods
15
00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:06,520
and his attention did not get
dispersed as easily as when he
16
00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,280
engaged in everyday random
social interactions.
17
00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:16,320
There is a rationale, based in
experience, as to why yogis,
18
00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,520
religious aspirants and
spiritual seekers have
19
00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,640
traditionally resorted to
spending periods of time,
20
00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:29,520
sometimes extended periods of
time, alone or in very small
21
00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:33,600
groups in the forest, the
mountains or the deserts.
22
00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,600
While mental and vital
vibrations travel all over the
23
00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:41,840
world, the intensity and the
confused garble of those
24
00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:46,120
vibrations in a dense urban
environment is considerably
25
00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:51,160
higher than in less populated
and remote regions, thus
26
00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,800
allowing the seeker to focus
more easily and observe the
27
00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,040
thoughts and feelings more
clearly.
28
00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:04,040
While this is not a panacea for
spiritual realization, it is
29
00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:08,919
clear that at times it has been
a useful process, particularly
30
00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:11,200
early in the development
process.
31
00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:15,640
While the power of inward
concentration and observation is
32
00:02:15,640 --> 00:02:21,080
still in its infancy, sensitive
individuals frequently note a
33
00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:25,120
sense of discomfort when they
are in crowded circumstances,
34
00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,800
specifically because the
thoughts and feelings pile in
35
00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:32,880
upon them with an immediacy and
power that they find hard to
36
00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,840
manage.
While it is not essential to
37
00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:40,720
isolate oneself entirely from
social interaction in order to
38
00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:45,760
progress spiritually, there is
no doubt that for many there can
39
00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:50,480
be an advantage for some period
of time if the isolation is
40
00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:54,600
utilized as an opportunity to
follow this internalizing
41
00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,640
process and is not turned into
an avoidance of the larger issue
42
00:02:59,640 --> 00:03:04,960
of how to maintain the poise in
the midst of all the calls of
43
00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,880
life.
The mother notes quote.
44
00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:13,800
To be individualized in a
collectivity, one must be
45
00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:19,840
absolutely conscious of oneself
and of which self, the self
46
00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,960
which is above all intermixture.
That is what I call the truth of
47
00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,800
your being.
And as long as you are not
48
00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:32,440
conscious of the truth of your
being, you are moved by all
49
00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:36,240
kinds of things without taking
any note of it at all.
50
00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:41,040
Collective thought, collective
suggestions are a formidable
51
00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:45,280
influence which act constantly
on individual thought.
52
00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,680
And what is extraordinary is
that one does not notice it.
53
00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,440
One believes that one thinks
like that, but in truth it is
54
00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,880
the collectivity which thinks
like that.
55
00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,600
The mass is always inferior to
the individual.
56
00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:05,960
Take individuals with similar
qualities of similar categories.
57
00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:11,040
Well, when they are alone, these
individuals are at least 2°
58
00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,800
better than people of the same
category.
59
00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:18,800
In a crowd there is a mixture of
obscurities, a mixture of
60
00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:22,880
unconsciousness, and inevitably
you slip into this
61
00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,800
unconsciousness.
To escape this, there is but one
62
00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:32,000
means to become conscious of
oneself, more and more conscious
63
00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:37,800
and more and more attentive.
Try this little exercise at the
64
00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,200
beginning of the day.
Say I won't speak without
65
00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,960
thinking of what I say.
You believe, don't you, that you
66
00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,800
think all that you say It is not
at all true.
67
00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:52,320
You will see that so many times
the word you do not want to say
68
00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,960
is ready to come out, and that
you are compelled to make a
69
00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,240
conscious effort to stop it from
coming out.
70
00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,520
I have known people who were
very scrupulous about not
71
00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:08,240
telling lies, but all of a
sudden went together in a group.
72
00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:13,080
Instead of speaking the truth,
they would spontaneously tell a
73
00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,160
lie.
They did not have the intention
74
00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,920
of doing so.
They did not think of it a
75
00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,840
minute before doing it, but it
came like that.
76
00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,320
Why?
Because they were in the company
77
00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,760
of liars.
There was an atmosphere of
78
00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:32,680
falsehood, and they had quite
simply caught the malady.
79
00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:40,000
It is thus that gradually,
slowly, with perseverance, first
80
00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,800
of all with great care and much
attention, one becomes
81
00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:49,320
conscious, learns to know
oneself, and then to become
82
00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:54,200
master of oneself.
End Quote Reference.
83
00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:58,240
Shrioro Bindu and the Mother.
The Hidden Forces of Life,
84
00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:05,080
Chapter Eight Life A Mass of
Vibrations, pages 183 to 184.
00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:05,400
A devotee residing at tree or a
window ashram some years ago
2
00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:10,240
tried an experiment which he
reported for a specific time
3
00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,040
period.
He determined not to speak.
4
00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,120
He did not do this in an
indiscriminate way, however.
5
00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,600
He implemented this experiment
by avoiding all social speech
6
00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:26,800
whatsoever, but agreed to speak
as necessary for the work role
7
00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:30,880
he had been assigned.
He carried a pad of paper and
8
00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,760
pen with him to let those who
addressed him know about the
9
00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:38,280
discipline he was undertaking.
During that time, he reported
10
00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:43,120
that he was able to observe the
impulse to speech and that it
11
00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:47,360
arose spontaneously without any
serious thought process or
12
00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:52,840
planning involved, seemingly as
a responsive vibration to the
13
00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,640
vibrations he was receiving.
Additionally, he noted that he
14
00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,760
was able to remain inwardly
concentrated for longer periods
15
00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:06,520
and his attention did not get
dispersed as easily as when he
16
00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,280
engaged in everyday random
social interactions.
17
00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:16,320
There is a rationale, based in
experience, as to why yogis,
18
00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,520
religious aspirants and
spiritual seekers have
19
00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,640
traditionally resorted to
spending periods of time,
20
00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:29,520
sometimes extended periods of
time, alone or in very small
21
00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:33,600
groups in the forest, the
mountains or the deserts.
22
00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,600
While mental and vital
vibrations travel all over the
23
00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:41,840
world, the intensity and the
confused garble of those
24
00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:46,120
vibrations in a dense urban
environment is considerably
25
00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:51,160
higher than in less populated
and remote regions, thus
26
00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,800
allowing the seeker to focus
more easily and observe the
27
00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,040
thoughts and feelings more
clearly.
28
00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:04,040
While this is not a panacea for
spiritual realization, it is
29
00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:08,919
clear that at times it has been
a useful process, particularly
30
00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:11,200
early in the development
process.
31
00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:15,640
While the power of inward
concentration and observation is
32
00:02:15,640 --> 00:02:21,080
still in its infancy, sensitive
individuals frequently note a
33
00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:25,120
sense of discomfort when they
are in crowded circumstances,
34
00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,800
specifically because the
thoughts and feelings pile in
35
00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:32,880
upon them with an immediacy and
power that they find hard to
36
00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,840
manage.
While it is not essential to
37
00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:40,720
isolate oneself entirely from
social interaction in order to
38
00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:45,760
progress spiritually, there is
no doubt that for many there can
39
00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:50,480
be an advantage for some period
of time if the isolation is
40
00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:54,600
utilized as an opportunity to
follow this internalizing
41
00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,640
process and is not turned into
an avoidance of the larger issue
42
00:02:59,640 --> 00:03:04,960
of how to maintain the poise in
the midst of all the calls of
43
00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,880
life.
The mother notes quote.
44
00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:13,800
To be individualized in a
collectivity, one must be
45
00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:19,840
absolutely conscious of oneself
and of which self, the self
46
00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,960
which is above all intermixture.
That is what I call the truth of
47
00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,800
your being.
And as long as you are not
48
00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:32,440
conscious of the truth of your
being, you are moved by all
49
00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:36,240
kinds of things without taking
any note of it at all.
50
00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:41,040
Collective thought, collective
suggestions are a formidable
51
00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:45,280
influence which act constantly
on individual thought.
52
00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,680
And what is extraordinary is
that one does not notice it.
53
00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,440
One believes that one thinks
like that, but in truth it is
54
00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,880
the collectivity which thinks
like that.
55
00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,600
The mass is always inferior to
the individual.
56
00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:05,960
Take individuals with similar
qualities of similar categories.
57
00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:11,040
Well, when they are alone, these
individuals are at least 2°
58
00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,800
better than people of the same
category.
59
00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:18,800
In a crowd there is a mixture of
obscurities, a mixture of
60
00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:22,880
unconsciousness, and inevitably
you slip into this
61
00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,800
unconsciousness.
To escape this, there is but one
62
00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:32,000
means to become conscious of
oneself, more and more conscious
63
00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:37,800
and more and more attentive.
Try this little exercise at the
64
00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,200
beginning of the day.
Say I won't speak without
65
00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,960
thinking of what I say.
You believe, don't you, that you
66
00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,800
think all that you say It is not
at all true.
67
00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:52,320
You will see that so many times
the word you do not want to say
68
00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,960
is ready to come out, and that
you are compelled to make a
69
00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,240
conscious effort to stop it from
coming out.
70
00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,520
I have known people who were
very scrupulous about not
71
00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:08,240
telling lies, but all of a
sudden went together in a group.
72
00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:13,080
Instead of speaking the truth,
they would spontaneously tell a
73
00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,160
lie.
They did not have the intention
74
00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,920
of doing so.
They did not think of it a
75
00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,840
minute before doing it, but it
came like that.
76
00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,320
Why?
Because they were in the company
77
00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,760
of liars.
There was an atmosphere of
78
00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:32,680
falsehood, and they had quite
simply caught the malady.
79
00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:40,000
It is thus that gradually,
slowly, with perseverance, first
80
00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,800
of all with great care and much
attention, one becomes
81
00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:49,320
conscious, learns to know
oneself, and then to become
82
00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:54,200
master of oneself.
End Quote Reference.
83
00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:58,240
Shrioro Bindu and the Mother.
The Hidden Forces of Life,
84
00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:05,080
Chapter Eight Life A Mass of
Vibrations, pages 183 to 184.