Oct. 5, 2024
Concentration Aids Speed and Accuracy in Action
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter IV Concentration, pp. 41-42 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/10/02/concentration-aids-speed-and-accuracy-in-action/
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
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:06,120
The human propensity to set up
either or scenarios leads us to
2
00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:11,560
believe that we either have to
focus on perfection or speed in
3
00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,480
the things we do.
This is actually a false choice
4
00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,480
because it leaves out the factor
of concentration, which can
5
00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,920
accomplish actions with speed
while not sacrificing accuracy.
6
00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,480
If we review carefully our
normal action, we find that even
7
00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:32,439
when we are generally focused on
something, we have distractions,
8
00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:37,120
stray thoughts, etcetera.
We may experience some physical
9
00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:41,280
sensations such as hunger.
We may be thinking about what we
10
00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:43,720
are going to do after we finish
the project.
11
00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:48,160
We may be speculating on career,
personal relationships,
12
00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:51,720
etcetera.
Many people carry their personal
13
00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:55,560
concerns with them into whatever
they are doing, and this tends
14
00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:59,600
to create both distraction and a
certain amount of friction,
15
00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:05,519
which leads to either errors or
delays, Or we act under time
16
00:01:05,519 --> 00:01:09,400
pressure and push things along
without concern about possible
17
00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:13,480
errors or missteps.
When we focus instead on
18
00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,680
perfection in the action, we
tend to slow down and move to a
19
00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,480
laborious review process.
This method is actually
20
00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:25,240
recommended in certain spiritual
paths to train the individual in
21
00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:29,720
the ability to observe his own
inner process and exercise due
22
00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:34,120
care in all he does.
As a training exercise, it can
23
00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:38,840
be very valuable, but in the
world of action, it too has its
24
00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,480
drawbacks.
If it causes substantial delays,
25
00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:48,040
the power of concentration, to
the extent we can harness it,
26
00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:52,440
allows us to block out these
distracting thoughts, feelings,
27
00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:58,360
emotions, and speculations, and
thus reduces the friction speeds
28
00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:02,200
the result without sacrificing
the quality of the work.
29
00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,280
This can help us achieve a
balance between speed and
30
00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:12,400
accuracy.
A disciple asks when one works
31
00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,640
and wants to do 1's best.
One needs much time, but
32
00:02:15,640 --> 00:02:18,520
generally we don't have much
time, we are in a hurry.
33
00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:23,960
How to do 1's best when 1 is in
a hurry, The mother writes
34
00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,200
quote.
It is a very interesting subject
35
00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,240
and I wanted to speak to you
about it in detail one day.
36
00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,880
Generally, when men are in a
hurry, they do not do completely
37
00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:39,520
what they have to do, or they do
it badly what they do well.
38
00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:42,720
There is a third way.
It is to intensify 1's
39
00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:46,480
concentration.
If you do that, you can gain
40
00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,600
half the time even from a very
short time.
41
00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,760
Take a very ordinary example, to
have your bath and to dress.
42
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,120
The time needed varies with
people, doesn't it?
43
00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,320
But let us say half an hour is
required for doing everything
44
00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,520
without losing time and without
hurrying.
45
00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:08,440
Then if you are in a hurry, one
of two things happens.
46
00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,240
You don't wash so well or you
dress badly.
47
00:03:12,920 --> 00:03:16,800
But there's another way to
concentrate 1's attention and
48
00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,080
one's energy.
Think only of what one is doing
49
00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:24,760
and not of anything else, not to
make a movement too much, to
50
00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,960
make the exact movement in the
most exact way.
51
00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:32,680
And it is an experience lived.
I can speak of it with
52
00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,400
certitude.
You can do in 15 minutes what
53
00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:40,960
you were formerly doing in half
an hour and do it as well, at
54
00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:45,000
times even better, without
forgetting anything, with the,
55
00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:49,360
without leaving out anything,
simply by the intensity of the
56
00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:53,520
concentration.
And this is the best answer to
57
00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:57,160
all those who say, oh, if one
wants to do things well, one
58
00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:01,800
must have time.
This is not true for all that
59
00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:08,160
you do, study, play, work.
There is only one solution to
60
00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,520
increase one's power of
concentration.
61
00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:15,480
And when you acquire this
concentration, it is no longer
62
00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,920
tiring.
Naturally, in the beginning it
63
00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,960
creates a tension, but when you
have grown used to it, the
64
00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:27,920
tension diminishes and a moment
comes when what fatigues you is
65
00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:31,520
to be not those concentrated, to
disperse yourself.
66
00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:36,360
Allow yourself to be swallowed
by all kinds of things and not
67
00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:41,600
to concentrate on what you do. 1
can succeed in doing things even
68
00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:47,040
better and more quickly by the
power of concentration, and in
69
00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,680
this way you can make use of
work as a means of growth.
70
00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:57,600
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother Powers
71
00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:03,120
within, Chapter 4 Concentration,
pages 41 to 42.
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:06,120
The human propensity to set up
either or scenarios leads us to
2
00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:11,560
believe that we either have to
focus on perfection or speed in
3
00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,480
the things we do.
This is actually a false choice
4
00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,480
because it leaves out the factor
of concentration, which can
5
00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,920
accomplish actions with speed
while not sacrificing accuracy.
6
00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,480
If we review carefully our
normal action, we find that even
7
00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:32,439
when we are generally focused on
something, we have distractions,
8
00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:37,120
stray thoughts, etcetera.
We may experience some physical
9
00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:41,280
sensations such as hunger.
We may be thinking about what we
10
00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:43,720
are going to do after we finish
the project.
11
00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:48,160
We may be speculating on career,
personal relationships,
12
00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:51,720
etcetera.
Many people carry their personal
13
00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:55,560
concerns with them into whatever
they are doing, and this tends
14
00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:59,600
to create both distraction and a
certain amount of friction,
15
00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:05,519
which leads to either errors or
delays, Or we act under time
16
00:01:05,519 --> 00:01:09,400
pressure and push things along
without concern about possible
17
00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:13,480
errors or missteps.
When we focus instead on
18
00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,680
perfection in the action, we
tend to slow down and move to a
19
00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,480
laborious review process.
This method is actually
20
00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:25,240
recommended in certain spiritual
paths to train the individual in
21
00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:29,720
the ability to observe his own
inner process and exercise due
22
00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:34,120
care in all he does.
As a training exercise, it can
23
00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:38,840
be very valuable, but in the
world of action, it too has its
24
00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,480
drawbacks.
If it causes substantial delays,
25
00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:48,040
the power of concentration, to
the extent we can harness it,
26
00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:52,440
allows us to block out these
distracting thoughts, feelings,
27
00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:58,360
emotions, and speculations, and
thus reduces the friction speeds
28
00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:02,200
the result without sacrificing
the quality of the work.
29
00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,280
This can help us achieve a
balance between speed and
30
00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:12,400
accuracy.
A disciple asks when one works
31
00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,640
and wants to do 1's best.
One needs much time, but
32
00:02:15,640 --> 00:02:18,520
generally we don't have much
time, we are in a hurry.
33
00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:23,960
How to do 1's best when 1 is in
a hurry, The mother writes
34
00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,200
quote.
It is a very interesting subject
35
00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,240
and I wanted to speak to you
about it in detail one day.
36
00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,880
Generally, when men are in a
hurry, they do not do completely
37
00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:39,520
what they have to do, or they do
it badly what they do well.
38
00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:42,720
There is a third way.
It is to intensify 1's
39
00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:46,480
concentration.
If you do that, you can gain
40
00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,600
half the time even from a very
short time.
41
00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,760
Take a very ordinary example, to
have your bath and to dress.
42
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,120
The time needed varies with
people, doesn't it?
43
00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,320
But let us say half an hour is
required for doing everything
44
00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,520
without losing time and without
hurrying.
45
00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:08,440
Then if you are in a hurry, one
of two things happens.
46
00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,240
You don't wash so well or you
dress badly.
47
00:03:12,920 --> 00:03:16,800
But there's another way to
concentrate 1's attention and
48
00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,080
one's energy.
Think only of what one is doing
49
00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:24,760
and not of anything else, not to
make a movement too much, to
50
00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,960
make the exact movement in the
most exact way.
51
00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:32,680
And it is an experience lived.
I can speak of it with
52
00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,400
certitude.
You can do in 15 minutes what
53
00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:40,960
you were formerly doing in half
an hour and do it as well, at
54
00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:45,000
times even better, without
forgetting anything, with the,
55
00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:49,360
without leaving out anything,
simply by the intensity of the
56
00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:53,520
concentration.
And this is the best answer to
57
00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:57,160
all those who say, oh, if one
wants to do things well, one
58
00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:01,800
must have time.
This is not true for all that
59
00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:08,160
you do, study, play, work.
There is only one solution to
60
00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,520
increase one's power of
concentration.
61
00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:15,480
And when you acquire this
concentration, it is no longer
62
00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,920
tiring.
Naturally, in the beginning it
63
00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,960
creates a tension, but when you
have grown used to it, the
64
00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:27,920
tension diminishes and a moment
comes when what fatigues you is
65
00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:31,520
to be not those concentrated, to
disperse yourself.
66
00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:36,360
Allow yourself to be swallowed
by all kinds of things and not
67
00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:41,600
to concentrate on what you do. 1
can succeed in doing things even
68
00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:47,040
better and more quickly by the
power of concentration, and in
69
00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,680
this way you can make use of
work as a means of growth.
70
00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:57,600
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother Powers
71
00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:03,120
within, Chapter 4 Concentration,
pages 41 to 42.