Aug. 16, 2025
Detachment, Liberation and Mastery
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 151
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/08/14/detachment-liberation-and-mastery/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable 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 SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,920
The question of detachment.
Renunciation is frequently
2
00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:08,560
interpreted as one of avoidance
and a rejection of the external
3
00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,280
life in the world.
It most often turns to
4
00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,600
austerity.
If one follows this line of
5
00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:20,280
approach to its logical
conclusion, the only solution is
6
00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:25,640
to renounce all action, renounce
all desires, and live an
7
00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,960
isolated life focused solely in
realization, liberation, and
8
00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,640
eventually the opportunity to
merge the consciousness into the
9
00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:38,800
Divine Source.
Such an approach necessarily
10
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,800
gives very little, if any, value
to the development and
11
00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:47,520
perfection of the outer life,
the powers of the body, the life
12
00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:51,520
energy and the mind, or the
enhancement of the external
13
00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,680
social life or environment
within which we live.
14
00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:01,880
All the sciences, all the social
developments, all the arts, and
15
00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,080
all the developments of
technology, from this viewpoint
16
00:01:05,519 --> 00:01:07,680
are treated as virtually
worthless.
17
00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:12,920
This brings about generally an
attempt to reject activity to
18
00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:18,560
the greatest extent possible.
The Bhagwad Gita in particular
19
00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:20,960
takes a totally different view
of the matter.
20
00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:26,440
It does not counsel asceticism
or austerity as the path of
21
00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:30,440
liberation.
Rather, it looks upon the inner
22
00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,880
relation the individual has to
the actions he undertakes and
23
00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,680
the motivations that drive his
actions as the key to
24
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:43,280
liberation.
Shrioro Bindo translates chapter
25
00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:50,000
2, verse 47 as an illustration
of the Gita's approach quote.
26
00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:55,800
Thou hast a right to action, but
only to action, never to its
27
00:01:55,800 --> 00:02:00,080
fruits.
Let not the fruits of Thy works
28
00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:04,760
be thy motive, neither let there
be in thee any attachment to
29
00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:07,360
inactivity.
End Quote.
30
00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,720
Sri Robindo comments on the
Gita's position as follows in
31
00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,920
Bhagwa Gita and its Message.
Quote.
32
00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,920
Once we are possessed of the
Self, we are in possession of
33
00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:24,200
all things.
And yet He does not cease from
34
00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,720
work and action.
There is the originality and
35
00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,800
power of the Gita that, having
affirmed this static condition,
36
00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:36,600
this superiority to nature, this
emptiness, even of all that
37
00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,800
constitutes ordinarily the
action of nature for the
38
00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:45,840
liberated soul, it is still able
to vindicate for it, to enjoin
39
00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:51,000
on it even the continuance of
works, and thus avoid the great
40
00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:56,040
defect of the merely quietistic
and ascetic philosophies, the
41
00:02:56,040 --> 00:03:00,480
defract from which we find them
today attempting to escape.
42
00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:05,360
End Quote.
This provides the foundation for
43
00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,520
a spiritual practice that
reconciles liberation with
44
00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:13,440
development and transformation
and thus presents the seeker
45
00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:18,600
with the opportunity and indeed
the need to both free oneself
46
00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,600
from the bondage of the ego,
personality and the lure of the
47
00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:27,200
desire soul, while working on
uplifting and transforming the
48
00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,680
action and development of the
external world that we are
49
00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:36,200
participants in.
In this context, detachment does
50
00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:41,360
not lead to aesthetic avoidance,
but rather from an inner freeing
51
00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,440
of oneself from desire.
This derives from the Gita's
52
00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:50,400
exhortation to act, but not be
attached to the results, the
53
00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,920
fruits of the action.
The issue punishite also
54
00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,840
provides insight in this regard.
Quote.
55
00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,520
All this is for habitation by
the Lord.
56
00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:06,560
Whatsoever is individual
universe of movement in the
57
00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:11,680
universal motion, by that
renounced thou shouldst enjoy,
58
00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,040
lest not after any man's
possession.
59
00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:19,160
End Quote.
The reality is omnipresent.
60
00:04:19,959 --> 00:04:25,320
The divine pervades, permeates,
develops and controls the
61
00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:30,080
manifestation of the universe.
The individual is an element of
62
00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:34,520
this manifestation and once he
identifies with that universal
63
00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:40,320
consciousness, he can attain
mastery, not just renunciation.
64
00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,560
The lack of reaction is by the
ego personality as it widens
65
00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:49,280
into the universal
consciousness, where all things
66
00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:54,400
have their place, their role and
their significance, and the
67
00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,560
individual's action is
determined by that wider
68
00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:02,960
infinite immeasurable reality
and its purposes.
69
00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:09,880
In the creation Shrioro Bindu
observes quote, detachment is
70
00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,840
the beginning of mastery, but
for complete mastery there
71
00:05:13,840 --> 00:05:18,120
should be no reactions at all.
When there is something within,
72
00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:22,560
undisturbed by the reactions,
that means the inner being is
73
00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:27,360
free and master of itself, but
it is not yet master of the
74
00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:31,720
whole nature.
When it is master, it allows no
75
00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:36,280
wrong reactions.
If any comes, they are at once
76
00:05:36,280 --> 00:05:40,960
repelled and shaken off, and
finally none come at all.
77
00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:46,240
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
78
00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:50,440
Mother Looking from Within,
Chapter 5, Attitudes on the
79
00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:52,920
Path, page 151.
00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,920
The question of detachment.
Renunciation is frequently
2
00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:08,560
interpreted as one of avoidance
and a rejection of the external
3
00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,280
life in the world.
It most often turns to
4
00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,600
austerity.
If one follows this line of
5
00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:20,280
approach to its logical
conclusion, the only solution is
6
00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:25,640
to renounce all action, renounce
all desires, and live an
7
00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,960
isolated life focused solely in
realization, liberation, and
8
00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,640
eventually the opportunity to
merge the consciousness into the
9
00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:38,800
Divine Source.
Such an approach necessarily
10
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,800
gives very little, if any, value
to the development and
11
00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:47,520
perfection of the outer life,
the powers of the body, the life
12
00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:51,520
energy and the mind, or the
enhancement of the external
13
00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,680
social life or environment
within which we live.
14
00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:01,880
All the sciences, all the social
developments, all the arts, and
15
00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,080
all the developments of
technology, from this viewpoint
16
00:01:05,519 --> 00:01:07,680
are treated as virtually
worthless.
17
00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:12,920
This brings about generally an
attempt to reject activity to
18
00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:18,560
the greatest extent possible.
The Bhagwad Gita in particular
19
00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:20,960
takes a totally different view
of the matter.
20
00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:26,440
It does not counsel asceticism
or austerity as the path of
21
00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:30,440
liberation.
Rather, it looks upon the inner
22
00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,880
relation the individual has to
the actions he undertakes and
23
00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,680
the motivations that drive his
actions as the key to
24
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:43,280
liberation.
Shrioro Bindo translates chapter
25
00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:50,000
2, verse 47 as an illustration
of the Gita's approach quote.
26
00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:55,800
Thou hast a right to action, but
only to action, never to its
27
00:01:55,800 --> 00:02:00,080
fruits.
Let not the fruits of Thy works
28
00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:04,760
be thy motive, neither let there
be in thee any attachment to
29
00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:07,360
inactivity.
End Quote.
30
00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,720
Sri Robindo comments on the
Gita's position as follows in
31
00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,920
Bhagwa Gita and its Message.
Quote.
32
00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,920
Once we are possessed of the
Self, we are in possession of
33
00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:24,200
all things.
And yet He does not cease from
34
00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,720
work and action.
There is the originality and
35
00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,800
power of the Gita that, having
affirmed this static condition,
36
00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:36,600
this superiority to nature, this
emptiness, even of all that
37
00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,800
constitutes ordinarily the
action of nature for the
38
00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:45,840
liberated soul, it is still able
to vindicate for it, to enjoin
39
00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:51,000
on it even the continuance of
works, and thus avoid the great
40
00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:56,040
defect of the merely quietistic
and ascetic philosophies, the
41
00:02:56,040 --> 00:03:00,480
defract from which we find them
today attempting to escape.
42
00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:05,360
End Quote.
This provides the foundation for
43
00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,520
a spiritual practice that
reconciles liberation with
44
00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:13,440
development and transformation
and thus presents the seeker
45
00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:18,600
with the opportunity and indeed
the need to both free oneself
46
00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,600
from the bondage of the ego,
personality and the lure of the
47
00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:27,200
desire soul, while working on
uplifting and transforming the
48
00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,680
action and development of the
external world that we are
49
00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:36,200
participants in.
In this context, detachment does
50
00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:41,360
not lead to aesthetic avoidance,
but rather from an inner freeing
51
00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,440
of oneself from desire.
This derives from the Gita's
52
00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:50,400
exhortation to act, but not be
attached to the results, the
53
00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,920
fruits of the action.
The issue punishite also
54
00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,840
provides insight in this regard.
Quote.
55
00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,520
All this is for habitation by
the Lord.
56
00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:06,560
Whatsoever is individual
universe of movement in the
57
00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:11,680
universal motion, by that
renounced thou shouldst enjoy,
58
00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,040
lest not after any man's
possession.
59
00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:19,160
End Quote.
The reality is omnipresent.
60
00:04:19,959 --> 00:04:25,320
The divine pervades, permeates,
develops and controls the
61
00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:30,080
manifestation of the universe.
The individual is an element of
62
00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:34,520
this manifestation and once he
identifies with that universal
63
00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:40,320
consciousness, he can attain
mastery, not just renunciation.
64
00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,560
The lack of reaction is by the
ego personality as it widens
65
00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:49,280
into the universal
consciousness, where all things
66
00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:54,400
have their place, their role and
their significance, and the
67
00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,560
individual's action is
determined by that wider
68
00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:02,960
infinite immeasurable reality
and its purposes.
69
00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:09,880
In the creation Shrioro Bindu
observes quote, detachment is
70
00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,840
the beginning of mastery, but
for complete mastery there
71
00:05:13,840 --> 00:05:18,120
should be no reactions at all.
When there is something within,
72
00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:22,560
undisturbed by the reactions,
that means the inner being is
73
00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:27,360
free and master of itself, but
it is not yet master of the
74
00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:31,720
whole nature.
When it is master, it allows no
75
00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:36,280
wrong reactions.
If any comes, they are at once
76
00:05:36,280 --> 00:05:40,960
repelled and shaken off, and
finally none come at all.
77
00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:46,240
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
78
00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:50,440
Mother Looking from Within,
Chapter 5, Attitudes on the
79
00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:52,920
Path, page 151.