Oct. 6, 2024
Concentration Helps the Individual Successfully Accomplish More Tasks in Less Time
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter IV Concentration, pg. 42
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/10/03/concentration-helps-the-individual-successfully-accomplish-more-tasks-in-less-time/
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
00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:04,120
It is frequently noted that
certain individuals seem to
2
00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:09,200
accomplish more, and despite
enormous commitments, they seem
3
00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,840
ready to take on more and do
even more than they are doing.
4
00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,760
On the other hand, there are
individuals who seem to have a
5
00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:21,040
low threshold of action and they
seem to never have the time to
6
00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,840
take on anything else.
The difference is found in the
7
00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:29,640
ability to concentrate, focus
one's time and attention, and
8
00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,600
organize the action to use time
optimally.
9
00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,800
Planning is the first step in
taking on more projects.
10
00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,800
Many things can actually be
interwoven together without
11
00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,400
breaking the concentration.
There is no reason why an
12
00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,800
individual cannot actually
manage multiple activities
13
00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,080
concurrently through the use of
concentration.
14
00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:55,840
For example, certain things need
input from others, such as
15
00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,040
additional information or
context.
16
00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,560
Those who have learned how to
concentrate can immediately spot
17
00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,880
the deficiencies in the factual
background needed and set things
18
00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,880
in motion to acquire that
information, while they turn
19
00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,720
their immediate attention to the
next task at hand.
20
00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:18,520
After giving full and complete
concentrated focus on that task,
21
00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:23,080
they find that the next task is
ready to be undertaken as the
22
00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,040
needed facts or materials have
been assembled.
23
00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:31,240
So much time and energy gets
wasted in the distractions that
24
00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,400
it sets back the speed and
accuracy of all work that is
25
00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:38,320
undertaken.
Concentration amplifies the
26
00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:42,880
signal while reducing the noise
in the focus of the energy,
27
00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:47,880
thereby ensuring that projects
are accomplished correctly and
28
00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:52,240
in a timely manner.
In today's world, concentration
29
00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,560
is difficult to achieve with the
constant interruptions due to
30
00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:59,960
telephone, social media,
Internet, and personal
31
00:01:59,960 --> 00:02:02,720
interactions that do not
acknowledge boundaries.
32
00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,840
Generally, the individual who
has learned how to concentrate
33
00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:11,720
also creates the necessary
framework and boundaries to
34
00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:16,200
minimize disruptions.
Concentration involves both a
35
00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:21,040
negative and a positive aspect.
The negative aspect is one that
36
00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:24,720
excludes the distractions and
interruptions.
37
00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:29,240
The positive aspect is one that
focuses the attention, like a
38
00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,360
laser beam on what needs to be
accomplished.
39
00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,760
The mother observes.
Quote When you work, if you are
40
00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:41,960
able to concentrate, you can do
absolutely in 10 minutes what
41
00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:43,840
would otherwise take you one
hour.
42
00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,680
If you want to gain time, learn
to concentrate.
43
00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,680
It is through attention that one
can do things quickly and one
44
00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:56,320
does them much better.
If you have a task that should
45
00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,080
take you half an hour, I don't
say if you have to write for
46
00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:04,760
half an hour, of course, But if
you have to think and your mind
47
00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:08,080
is floating about.
If you are thinking not only of
48
00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,520
what you are doing, but also of
what you have done and of what
49
00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:16,200
you will have to do, and of your
other subjects, all that makes
50
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:20,720
you lose thrice as much time as
you need to do your task when
51
00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,320
you have too much to do.
You must learn how to
52
00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:27,680
concentrate exclusively on what
you are doing with an intensity
53
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,800
in your attention, and you can
do in 10 minutes what would
54
00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:37,280
otherwise take you one hour.
End Quote reference Sri
55
00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:42,520
Aurobindo and the Mother Powers
within, Chapter 4 Concentration
56
00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:44,240
page 42.
00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:04,120
It is frequently noted that
certain individuals seem to
2
00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:09,200
accomplish more, and despite
enormous commitments, they seem
3
00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,840
ready to take on more and do
even more than they are doing.
4
00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,760
On the other hand, there are
individuals who seem to have a
5
00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:21,040
low threshold of action and they
seem to never have the time to
6
00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,840
take on anything else.
The difference is found in the
7
00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:29,640
ability to concentrate, focus
one's time and attention, and
8
00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,600
organize the action to use time
optimally.
9
00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,800
Planning is the first step in
taking on more projects.
10
00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,800
Many things can actually be
interwoven together without
11
00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,400
breaking the concentration.
There is no reason why an
12
00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,800
individual cannot actually
manage multiple activities
13
00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,080
concurrently through the use of
concentration.
14
00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:55,840
For example, certain things need
input from others, such as
15
00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,040
additional information or
context.
16
00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,560
Those who have learned how to
concentrate can immediately spot
17
00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,880
the deficiencies in the factual
background needed and set things
18
00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,880
in motion to acquire that
information, while they turn
19
00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,720
their immediate attention to the
next task at hand.
20
00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:18,520
After giving full and complete
concentrated focus on that task,
21
00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:23,080
they find that the next task is
ready to be undertaken as the
22
00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,040
needed facts or materials have
been assembled.
23
00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:31,240
So much time and energy gets
wasted in the distractions that
24
00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,400
it sets back the speed and
accuracy of all work that is
25
00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:38,320
undertaken.
Concentration amplifies the
26
00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:42,880
signal while reducing the noise
in the focus of the energy,
27
00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:47,880
thereby ensuring that projects
are accomplished correctly and
28
00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:52,240
in a timely manner.
In today's world, concentration
29
00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,560
is difficult to achieve with the
constant interruptions due to
30
00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:59,960
telephone, social media,
Internet, and personal
31
00:01:59,960 --> 00:02:02,720
interactions that do not
acknowledge boundaries.
32
00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,840
Generally, the individual who
has learned how to concentrate
33
00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:11,720
also creates the necessary
framework and boundaries to
34
00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:16,200
minimize disruptions.
Concentration involves both a
35
00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:21,040
negative and a positive aspect.
The negative aspect is one that
36
00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:24,720
excludes the distractions and
interruptions.
37
00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:29,240
The positive aspect is one that
focuses the attention, like a
38
00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,360
laser beam on what needs to be
accomplished.
39
00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,760
The mother observes.
Quote When you work, if you are
40
00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:41,960
able to concentrate, you can do
absolutely in 10 minutes what
41
00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:43,840
would otherwise take you one
hour.
42
00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,680
If you want to gain time, learn
to concentrate.
43
00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,680
It is through attention that one
can do things quickly and one
44
00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:56,320
does them much better.
If you have a task that should
45
00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,080
take you half an hour, I don't
say if you have to write for
46
00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:04,760
half an hour, of course, But if
you have to think and your mind
47
00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:08,080
is floating about.
If you are thinking not only of
48
00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,520
what you are doing, but also of
what you have done and of what
49
00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:16,200
you will have to do, and of your
other subjects, all that makes
50
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:20,720
you lose thrice as much time as
you need to do your task when
51
00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,320
you have too much to do.
You must learn how to
52
00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:27,680
concentrate exclusively on what
you are doing with an intensity
53
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,800
in your attention, and you can
do in 10 minutes what would
54
00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:37,280
otherwise take you one hour.
End Quote reference Sri
55
00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:42,520
Aurobindo and the Mother Powers
within, Chapter 4 Concentration
56
00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:44,240
page 42.