Nov. 7, 2024
Concentration and Remembrance of the Divine
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter VII Attitude, pp. 75-76 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/11/04/concentration-and-remembrance-of-the-divine/
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 --> 00:00:05,360
In order to be most effective in
its action, the external nature
2
00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:09,000
must have the capacity of
concentration of its efforts,
3
00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,000
whether this is a mental
concentration or a vital or
4
00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,320
physical concentration.
The focus must be total, without
5
00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,280
distraction, or it will yield
less than the optimal result.
6
00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,840
We then come to the question of
remembrance of the Divine in
7
00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:29,160
relation to the need for
external concentration of
8
00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:32,320
effort.
The effective remembrance is not
9
00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:36,880
some form of mental idea or
thought, but an orientation or
10
00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,960
attitude of the being centered
in the soul or psychic being.
11
00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:45,880
If the mind tries to remember,
it necessarily divides its
12
00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:47,920
attention from its focused
action.
13
00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:52,640
Mental remembrance may be a
useful step in the long term
14
00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:57,760
process of bringing the psychic
being forward, but it is at best
15
00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:01,800
a faint echo of the true
remembrance of the psychic
16
00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,840
being.
A disciple asks.
17
00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:09,800
It sometimes happens that when
one is playing, one does not
18
00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,680
remember the divine.
Then suddenly 1 remembers and
19
00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,040
has the feeling that something
breaks and one no longer plays
20
00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:18,200
well.
Why?
21
00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,280
The mother writes quote because
everything is upset.
22
00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,400
That's the problem.
So you think that when you are
23
00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,320
playing and do not remember, you
play?
24
00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:33,720
Well, no, it is not quite that.
It is that you do something with
25
00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:38,400
a certain concentration, work or
play, and you are concentrated.
26
00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:42,480
But you have not developed the
habit of mixing the remembrance
27
00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:45,920
of the Divine with the
concentration, which is not
28
00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,480
difficult.
But anyway you do not have the
29
00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,640
habit, and then suddenly the
remembrance comes.
30
00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,240
Then two things may happen.
Either the concentration is
31
00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,880
broken because you make an
abrupt movement to seize the new
32
00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:04,920
attitude entering the
consciousness, or else you feel
33
00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,360
a little remorse, a regret, a
disquiet.
34
00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,880
Oh, I did not remember.
That suffices.
35
00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,680
It upsets all you have done, for
you change conditions
36
00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,240
completely.
It is not the fact of
37
00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:23,280
remembering which makes you no
longer play well, it is the fact
38
00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,760
of having disturbed your
concentration.
39
00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,720
If you could remember without
disturbing the concentration,
40
00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:34,400
which is not difficult, you
would not only play well but
41
00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:36,280
would play better.
End Quote.
42
00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:42,240
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother Powers within, Chapter 7
43
00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:46,160
Attitude, pages 75 to 76.
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:05,360
In order to be most effective in
its action, the external nature
2
00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:09,000
must have the capacity of
concentration of its efforts,
3
00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,000
whether this is a mental
concentration or a vital or
4
00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,320
physical concentration.
The focus must be total, without
5
00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,280
distraction, or it will yield
less than the optimal result.
6
00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,840
We then come to the question of
remembrance of the Divine in
7
00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:29,160
relation to the need for
external concentration of
8
00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:32,320
effort.
The effective remembrance is not
9
00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:36,880
some form of mental idea or
thought, but an orientation or
10
00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,960
attitude of the being centered
in the soul or psychic being.
11
00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:45,880
If the mind tries to remember,
it necessarily divides its
12
00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:47,920
attention from its focused
action.
13
00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:52,640
Mental remembrance may be a
useful step in the long term
14
00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:57,760
process of bringing the psychic
being forward, but it is at best
15
00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:01,800
a faint echo of the true
remembrance of the psychic
16
00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,840
being.
A disciple asks.
17
00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:09,800
It sometimes happens that when
one is playing, one does not
18
00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,680
remember the divine.
Then suddenly 1 remembers and
19
00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,040
has the feeling that something
breaks and one no longer plays
20
00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:18,200
well.
Why?
21
00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,280
The mother writes quote because
everything is upset.
22
00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,400
That's the problem.
So you think that when you are
23
00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,320
playing and do not remember, you
play?
24
00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:33,720
Well, no, it is not quite that.
It is that you do something with
25
00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:38,400
a certain concentration, work or
play, and you are concentrated.
26
00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:42,480
But you have not developed the
habit of mixing the remembrance
27
00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:45,920
of the Divine with the
concentration, which is not
28
00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,480
difficult.
But anyway you do not have the
29
00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,640
habit, and then suddenly the
remembrance comes.
30
00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,240
Then two things may happen.
Either the concentration is
31
00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,880
broken because you make an
abrupt movement to seize the new
32
00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:04,920
attitude entering the
consciousness, or else you feel
33
00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,360
a little remorse, a regret, a
disquiet.
34
00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,880
Oh, I did not remember.
That suffices.
35
00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,680
It upsets all you have done, for
you change conditions
36
00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,240
completely.
It is not the fact of
37
00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:23,280
remembering which makes you no
longer play well, it is the fact
38
00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,760
of having disturbed your
concentration.
39
00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,720
If you could remember without
disturbing the concentration,
40
00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:34,400
which is not difficult, you
would not only play well but
41
00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:36,280
would play better.
End Quote.
42
00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:42,240
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother Powers within, Chapter 7
43
00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:46,160
Attitude, pages 75 to 76.