Aug. 25, 2024
Consciousness, Its Powers and the Drive to Discover Our True Self
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Introduction, pg. ix
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/08/20/consciousness-its-powers-and-the-drive-to-discover-our-true-self/
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
00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:04,240
When we try to define
consciousness, we tend to do it
2
00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:08,440
from an individual standpoint,
our own state of awareness.
3
00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,600
From a broader perspective,
however, we can see that
4
00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:17,160
consciousness exceeds both in
scope and power, that of the
5
00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:21,400
individual status.
Western science is moving toward
6
00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,880
a view that will eventually
agree with the insights of the
7
00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:30,200
ancient grishes and sages, as it
has definitively determined that
8
00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:35,280
matter is a form of energy and
in fact maintains immense energy
9
00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,600
potential locked up in the
concentrated form that we call
10
00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,640
matter.
The definition set forth by
11
00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:47,600
Einstein, E equals MC squared,
describes the amount of energy
12
00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:52,280
in matter as being the mass of
the matter times the speed of
13
00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,520
light squared, an enormous
number.
14
00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,080
Now scientists on the cutting
edge of theoretical science are
15
00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:04,519
beginning to recognize that
energy itself is a form of
16
00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:07,880
consciousness.
They have not yet developed a
17
00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,480
formula for the conversion of
energy into pure consciousness,
18
00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:18,160
but maybe we can start with C
equals EC squared as a first
19
00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:22,480
step, recognizing that the
inherent level of consciousness
20
00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:27,960
contained within any quantum of
energy is an immense number.
21
00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:33,240
It is of course not possible to
contain consciousness within a
22
00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,400
specific formula of this type,
but we need to at least
23
00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,680
recognize that it encompasses
the creation of energy and
24
00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,200
matter without itself being
limited.
25
00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,760
Turning then to the implications
of this approach for any
26
00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,680
individual life, it is clear
that enormous powers of
27
00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:58,760
consciousness lie contained,
latent, embedded within our
28
00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,040
physical body and our vital
energetic being.
29
00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:06,080
Liberation of even a small
amount of this latent
30
00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,440
consciousness can have a
transformative effect, just as
31
00:02:10,759 --> 00:02:15,360
the liberation of energy from
matter represents a powerful
32
00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:20,760
force in its own right.
Doctor de Lal writes quote.
33
00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,840
The term power is often used to
mean force of influence,
34
00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:31,440
political, financial or social.
Such external power is to be
35
00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,520
distinguished from the powers
within spoken of in this book,
36
00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:41,160
consisting of abilities,
capacities or faculties which
37
00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,800
are inherent in the human
constitution, though more or
38
00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:50,240
less dormant or undeveloped.
According to the Vedantic view,
39
00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,800
the fundamental reality
constituting the human being as
40
00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,480
well as the universe is Chit or
consciousness.
41
00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:04,440
All energy, dynamism or power
comes from consciousness.
42
00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:11,040
For as Sri Aurobindo states
quote, absolute consciousness is
43
00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:16,600
in its nature absolute power.
The nature of chit is Shakti
44
00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:21,440
force.
End Quote, Doctor Delal
45
00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,880
continues.
Therefore chit is called also
46
00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,560
chit Shakti, consciousness,
force.
47
00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:33,600
Thus the different forms of
consciousness, physical, vital,
48
00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:40,360
mental, subliminal, subconscious
and superconscious are different
49
00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:43,120
formulations of powers of
consciousness.
50
00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,960
In our ordinary state of
consciousness we identify
51
00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,240
ourselves with our separate
individual self, called the ego,
52
00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,720
and seek power for the
aggrandizement of the ego.
53
00:03:55,520 --> 00:04:00,200
But from a deeper point of view,
all the endeavours of the ego
54
00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:05,280
are motivated unconsciously by
the urge to discover one's true
55
00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,800
self and its powers of
consciousness.
56
00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,440
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
57
00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:18,839
Mother Powers within
Introduction page Room Roman 9.
00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:04,240
When we try to define
consciousness, we tend to do it
2
00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:08,440
from an individual standpoint,
our own state of awareness.
3
00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,600
From a broader perspective,
however, we can see that
4
00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:17,160
consciousness exceeds both in
scope and power, that of the
5
00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:21,400
individual status.
Western science is moving toward
6
00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,880
a view that will eventually
agree with the insights of the
7
00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:30,200
ancient grishes and sages, as it
has definitively determined that
8
00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:35,280
matter is a form of energy and
in fact maintains immense energy
9
00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,600
potential locked up in the
concentrated form that we call
10
00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,640
matter.
The definition set forth by
11
00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:47,600
Einstein, E equals MC squared,
describes the amount of energy
12
00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:52,280
in matter as being the mass of
the matter times the speed of
13
00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,520
light squared, an enormous
number.
14
00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,080
Now scientists on the cutting
edge of theoretical science are
15
00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:04,519
beginning to recognize that
energy itself is a form of
16
00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:07,880
consciousness.
They have not yet developed a
17
00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,480
formula for the conversion of
energy into pure consciousness,
18
00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:18,160
but maybe we can start with C
equals EC squared as a first
19
00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:22,480
step, recognizing that the
inherent level of consciousness
20
00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:27,960
contained within any quantum of
energy is an immense number.
21
00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:33,240
It is of course not possible to
contain consciousness within a
22
00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,400
specific formula of this type,
but we need to at least
23
00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,680
recognize that it encompasses
the creation of energy and
24
00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,200
matter without itself being
limited.
25
00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,760
Turning then to the implications
of this approach for any
26
00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,680
individual life, it is clear
that enormous powers of
27
00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:58,760
consciousness lie contained,
latent, embedded within our
28
00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,040
physical body and our vital
energetic being.
29
00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:06,080
Liberation of even a small
amount of this latent
30
00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,440
consciousness can have a
transformative effect, just as
31
00:02:10,759 --> 00:02:15,360
the liberation of energy from
matter represents a powerful
32
00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:20,760
force in its own right.
Doctor de Lal writes quote.
33
00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,840
The term power is often used to
mean force of influence,
34
00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:31,440
political, financial or social.
Such external power is to be
35
00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,520
distinguished from the powers
within spoken of in this book,
36
00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:41,160
consisting of abilities,
capacities or faculties which
37
00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,800
are inherent in the human
constitution, though more or
38
00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:50,240
less dormant or undeveloped.
According to the Vedantic view,
39
00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,800
the fundamental reality
constituting the human being as
40
00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,480
well as the universe is Chit or
consciousness.
41
00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:04,440
All energy, dynamism or power
comes from consciousness.
42
00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:11,040
For as Sri Aurobindo states
quote, absolute consciousness is
43
00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:16,600
in its nature absolute power.
The nature of chit is Shakti
44
00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:21,440
force.
End Quote, Doctor Delal
45
00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,880
continues.
Therefore chit is called also
46
00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,560
chit Shakti, consciousness,
force.
47
00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:33,600
Thus the different forms of
consciousness, physical, vital,
48
00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:40,360
mental, subliminal, subconscious
and superconscious are different
49
00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:43,120
formulations of powers of
consciousness.
50
00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,960
In our ordinary state of
consciousness we identify
51
00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,240
ourselves with our separate
individual self, called the ego,
52
00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,720
and seek power for the
aggrandizement of the ego.
53
00:03:55,520 --> 00:04:00,200
But from a deeper point of view,
all the endeavours of the ego
54
00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:05,280
are motivated unconsciously by
the urge to discover one's true
55
00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,800
self and its powers of
consciousness.
56
00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,440
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
57
00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:18,839
Mother Powers within
Introduction page Room Roman 9.