Feb. 25, 2025
Does Everything That Happens, Happen for the Best?
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 1, Looking at Life and Circumstances, pg. 3This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/02/23/does-everything-that-happens-happen-for-the-best/
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 SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:04,520
Many people believe that once
they become adherents of a
2
00:00:04,520 --> 00:00:09,000
particular religion or spiritual
tradition, they need no longer
3
00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,480
make an effort.
The idea that someone else is
4
00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,239
taking charge and taking on the
burden of one's life is
5
00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:18,480
particularly enticing for
people.
6
00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:23,440
They frequently then accept that
whatever happens is for the best
7
00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,880
and nothing they do or could
have done would change that.
8
00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,759
The mother takes up this
question and makes it clear that
9
00:00:32,759 --> 00:00:36,840
the individual is not simply a
victim of circumstances, but
10
00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,600
actually has an influence on
results by virtue of the
11
00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:45,160
attitude of consciousness and
standpoint the person is able to
12
00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:49,840
take in each circumstance.
Scientists in the field of
13
00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:54,080
quantum mechanics indicate that
the observer influences the
14
00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:57,480
results at the atomic level of
quantum physics.
15
00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:01,920
The same principle holds true in
our human existence.
16
00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,680
The participant observer,
however we may choose to frame
17
00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:11,000
the role of the individual, has
the ability to influence the
18
00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:16,080
eventual result.
As in quantum mechanics, 1
19
00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,800
cannot know which possible
status actually becomes fixed as
20
00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:25,040
the event, but once it is
concluded we can identify the
21
00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:29,680
result.
So also with human events we are
22
00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:34,360
able to define after the fact
what actually took place.
23
00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:39,000
But up to the moment of action,
the role of the observer,
24
00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:43,640
participant and the force that
is active remain fluid and
25
00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:47,080
subject to any number of a range
of results.
26
00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:52,720
The mother observes quote.
Is it really the best that
27
00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,400
always happens?
It is clear that all that has
28
00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:01,520
happened had to happen.
It could not be otherwise by the
29
00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,240
universal determinism, it had to
happen.
30
00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,440
But we can say so only after it
has happened, not before.
31
00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:14,320
For the problem of the very best
that can happen is an individual
32
00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:18,960
problem, whether the individual
be a nation or a single human
33
00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:23,040
being, and all depends upon the
personal attitude.
34
00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,560
If in the presence of
circumstances that are about to
35
00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:32,040
take place, you can take the
highest possible attitude.
36
00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,680
That is, if you put your
consciousness in contact with
37
00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:41,080
the highest consciousness within
reach, you can be absolutely
38
00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:45,280
sure that in that case it is the
best that can happen to you.
39
00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,800
But as soon as you fall from
this consciousness into a lower
40
00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:55,600
state, then it is evidently not
the best that can happen, for
41
00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,080
the simple reason that you are
not in your very best
42
00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:02,320
consciousness.
I even go so far as to affirm
43
00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:06,640
that in the zone of immediate
influence of each one, the right
44
00:03:06,640 --> 00:03:10,360
attitude not only has the power
to turn every circumstance to
45
00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:14,720
advantage, but can change the
very circumstance itself.
46
00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:20,200
For instance, when a man comes
to kill you, if you remain in
47
00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,520
the ordinary consciousness and
get frightened out of your wits,
48
00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:27,400
he will most probably succeed in
doing what he came for.
49
00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:32,480
If you rise a little higher and,
though full of fear, call for
50
00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:36,960
the Divine help, he may just
miss you, doing you a slight
51
00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:41,080
injury.
If, however, you have the right
52
00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,360
attitude and the full
consciousness of the Divine
53
00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:49,000
Presence everywhere around you,
He will not be able to lift even
54
00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,040
a finger against you.
End Quote.
55
00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,960
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
Mother, Looking from Within,
56
00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,680
Chapter 1.
Looking at Life and
57
00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:02,160
Circumstances, Page 3.
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:04,520
Many people believe that once
they become adherents of a
2
00:00:04,520 --> 00:00:09,000
particular religion or spiritual
tradition, they need no longer
3
00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,480
make an effort.
The idea that someone else is
4
00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,239
taking charge and taking on the
burden of one's life is
5
00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:18,480
particularly enticing for
people.
6
00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:23,440
They frequently then accept that
whatever happens is for the best
7
00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,880
and nothing they do or could
have done would change that.
8
00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,759
The mother takes up this
question and makes it clear that
9
00:00:32,759 --> 00:00:36,840
the individual is not simply a
victim of circumstances, but
10
00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,600
actually has an influence on
results by virtue of the
11
00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:45,160
attitude of consciousness and
standpoint the person is able to
12
00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:49,840
take in each circumstance.
Scientists in the field of
13
00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:54,080
quantum mechanics indicate that
the observer influences the
14
00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:57,480
results at the atomic level of
quantum physics.
15
00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:01,920
The same principle holds true in
our human existence.
16
00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,680
The participant observer,
however we may choose to frame
17
00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:11,000
the role of the individual, has
the ability to influence the
18
00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:16,080
eventual result.
As in quantum mechanics, 1
19
00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,800
cannot know which possible
status actually becomes fixed as
20
00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:25,040
the event, but once it is
concluded we can identify the
21
00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:29,680
result.
So also with human events we are
22
00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:34,360
able to define after the fact
what actually took place.
23
00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:39,000
But up to the moment of action,
the role of the observer,
24
00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:43,640
participant and the force that
is active remain fluid and
25
00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:47,080
subject to any number of a range
of results.
26
00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:52,720
The mother observes quote.
Is it really the best that
27
00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,400
always happens?
It is clear that all that has
28
00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:01,520
happened had to happen.
It could not be otherwise by the
29
00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,240
universal determinism, it had to
happen.
30
00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,440
But we can say so only after it
has happened, not before.
31
00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:14,320
For the problem of the very best
that can happen is an individual
32
00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:18,960
problem, whether the individual
be a nation or a single human
33
00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:23,040
being, and all depends upon the
personal attitude.
34
00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,560
If in the presence of
circumstances that are about to
35
00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:32,040
take place, you can take the
highest possible attitude.
36
00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,680
That is, if you put your
consciousness in contact with
37
00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:41,080
the highest consciousness within
reach, you can be absolutely
38
00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:45,280
sure that in that case it is the
best that can happen to you.
39
00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,800
But as soon as you fall from
this consciousness into a lower
40
00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:55,600
state, then it is evidently not
the best that can happen, for
41
00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,080
the simple reason that you are
not in your very best
42
00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:02,320
consciousness.
I even go so far as to affirm
43
00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:06,640
that in the zone of immediate
influence of each one, the right
44
00:03:06,640 --> 00:03:10,360
attitude not only has the power
to turn every circumstance to
45
00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:14,720
advantage, but can change the
very circumstance itself.
46
00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:20,200
For instance, when a man comes
to kill you, if you remain in
47
00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,520
the ordinary consciousness and
get frightened out of your wits,
48
00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:27,400
he will most probably succeed in
doing what he came for.
49
00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:32,480
If you rise a little higher and,
though full of fear, call for
50
00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:36,960
the Divine help, he may just
miss you, doing you a slight
51
00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:41,080
injury.
If, however, you have the right
52
00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,360
attitude and the full
consciousness of the Divine
53
00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:49,000
Presence everywhere around you,
He will not be able to lift even
54
00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,040
a finger against you.
End Quote.
55
00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,960
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
Mother, Looking from Within,
56
00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,680
Chapter 1.
Looking at Life and
57
00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:02,160
Circumstances, Page 3.