March 15, 2025
Does the Universal Manifestation and Our Lives Have Any Meaning?
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 1, Looking at Life and Circumstances, pp. 23-24This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/03/13/does-the-universal-manifestation-and-our-lives-have-any-meaning/
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
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:04,840
Rainy Descartes famously
proclaimed the fact that he
2
00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:09,360
existed by stating I think,
therefore I am.
3
00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:14,480
In today's world, however, that
method of proving existence is
4
00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:18,080
under pressure as we grapple
with more subtle possible
5
00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:23,240
answers to how we exist, why we
exist, and what this entire
6
00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:26,760
existence means.
If anything, there are
7
00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,840
scientists who hold that all
life has come about purely
8
00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:33,240
through various chemical
interactions, and that these
9
00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:37,320
combinations of elements are
simply through the magnitude of
10
00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:42,040
time and chances to create our
universe and all of our
11
00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:46,400
developments of awareness.
We are thus, in their view,
12
00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,720
simply the product of random
chance playing out on a
13
00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:53,880
universal scale.
There are others who look at the
14
00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:55,960
existence as some kind of
machinery.
15
00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,680
Some hold that this machinery is
governed by a conscious
16
00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:03,760
intelligence, or at least was
set up by a conscious
17
00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,200
intelligence which may have in
the meantime moved on or even
18
00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,920
died.
More modern theories hold that
19
00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,720
the world we live and act in is
actually something of a hologram
20
00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:20,160
or computer simulation, and it
is so realistic that while we
21
00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:24,000
are immersed in it, we believe
it is real and our true
22
00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,560
existence.
In this instance we may be
23
00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,120
active players who have an
existence outside the
24
00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:34,920
simulation, or else we may be
purely figments of the
25
00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,680
imagination of whoever the
creator and player in this
26
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:44,360
simulation happens to be.
Obviously, if we accept any of
27
00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,200
these theories, we do away with
any real and ultimate
28
00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,960
significance to our lives and
our increasing level of
29
00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:57,080
self-awareness.
And yet there's another side to
30
00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:01,280
this debate about the nature and
meaning of existence, founded in
31
00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:05,080
the very fact of our
self-awareness and increases of
32
00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,759
consciousness which we
experience, as well as in the
33
00:02:08,759 --> 00:02:12,080
numerous deep and moving
experiences that countless
34
00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,480
individuals have had that become
self-evident truths of their
35
00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:21,440
existence and of the existence
of an overarching consciousness
36
00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:27,840
which creates, directs, guides,
and supports the manifestation
37
00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:32,440
within which we exist.
Those who hold this view of
38
00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,040
reality fall essentially into
two camps.
39
00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,520
The first group looks at the
universe as the creation of a
40
00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:43,080
Creator, a God who is
omniscient, omnipotent,
41
00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:48,240
infinite, and eternal.
These people tend to treat God
42
00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:52,200
as some being external to the
universe, but who manages and
43
00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:56,280
cares for it.
The second group tends to see a
44
00:02:56,280 --> 00:03:00,920
universal consciousness, but
recognizes that any being who
45
00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:05,760
has the qualities of Infinity,
omniscience, omnipotence, and
46
00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:10,960
eternity must by definition
include all of us and the
47
00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:16,200
environment within which we live
and act within its being, and
48
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:21,320
thus we are one with that pure
existence, consciousness.
49
00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:25,040
Bliss.
Satchit Ananda, of which the
50
00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:30,000
universe is constituted, all the
names and forms are part and
51
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,240
parcel of that aware
self-conscious and all conscious
52
00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:38,480
being, and the separations
between beings and forms are for
53
00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:42,320
the purpose of the
manifestation, but nevertheless
54
00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:47,000
remain one in their essence and
inherent consciousness.
55
00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,640
Srioro Bindu observes.
Quote.
56
00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,240
It is quite obvious that this
world is full of suffering and
57
00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,800
afflicted with transients to a
degree that seems to justify the
58
00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:04,160
Gita's description of it as this
unhappy and transient world a
59
00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:08,320
nitya asukam.
The question is whether it is a
60
00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:12,760
mere creation of chance or
governed by a mechanical
61
00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:17,959
inconsiant law, or whether there
is a meaning in it and something
62
00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:20,920
beyond its present appearance
towards which we move.
63
00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,920
If there is a meaning, and if
there is something towards which
64
00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,560
things are evolving, then
inevitably there must be a
65
00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:33,440
guidance, and that means a
supporting consciousness and
66
00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:37,320
will is there with which we can
come into inner contact.
67
00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:42,600
If there is such a consciousness
and will, it is not likely that
68
00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,720
it would stultify itself by
annulling the world's meaning or
69
00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,160
turning it into a perpetual or
eventual failure.
70
00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:55,400
End Quote.
Reference Sri Orovindo and the
71
00:04:55,400 --> 00:05:00,320
Mother, Looking from Within,
Chapter 1, Looking at Life and
72
00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:04,080
Circumstances, pages 23 to 24.
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:04,840
Rainy Descartes famously
proclaimed the fact that he
2
00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:09,360
existed by stating I think,
therefore I am.
3
00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:14,480
In today's world, however, that
method of proving existence is
4
00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:18,080
under pressure as we grapple
with more subtle possible
5
00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:23,240
answers to how we exist, why we
exist, and what this entire
6
00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:26,760
existence means.
If anything, there are
7
00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,840
scientists who hold that all
life has come about purely
8
00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:33,240
through various chemical
interactions, and that these
9
00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:37,320
combinations of elements are
simply through the magnitude of
10
00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:42,040
time and chances to create our
universe and all of our
11
00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:46,400
developments of awareness.
We are thus, in their view,
12
00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,720
simply the product of random
chance playing out on a
13
00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:53,880
universal scale.
There are others who look at the
14
00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:55,960
existence as some kind of
machinery.
15
00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,680
Some hold that this machinery is
governed by a conscious
16
00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:03,760
intelligence, or at least was
set up by a conscious
17
00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,200
intelligence which may have in
the meantime moved on or even
18
00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,920
died.
More modern theories hold that
19
00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,720
the world we live and act in is
actually something of a hologram
20
00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:20,160
or computer simulation, and it
is so realistic that while we
21
00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:24,000
are immersed in it, we believe
it is real and our true
22
00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,560
existence.
In this instance we may be
23
00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,120
active players who have an
existence outside the
24
00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:34,920
simulation, or else we may be
purely figments of the
25
00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,680
imagination of whoever the
creator and player in this
26
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:44,360
simulation happens to be.
Obviously, if we accept any of
27
00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,200
these theories, we do away with
any real and ultimate
28
00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,960
significance to our lives and
our increasing level of
29
00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:57,080
self-awareness.
And yet there's another side to
30
00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:01,280
this debate about the nature and
meaning of existence, founded in
31
00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:05,080
the very fact of our
self-awareness and increases of
32
00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,759
consciousness which we
experience, as well as in the
33
00:02:08,759 --> 00:02:12,080
numerous deep and moving
experiences that countless
34
00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,480
individuals have had that become
self-evident truths of their
35
00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:21,440
existence and of the existence
of an overarching consciousness
36
00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:27,840
which creates, directs, guides,
and supports the manifestation
37
00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:32,440
within which we exist.
Those who hold this view of
38
00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,040
reality fall essentially into
two camps.
39
00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,520
The first group looks at the
universe as the creation of a
40
00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:43,080
Creator, a God who is
omniscient, omnipotent,
41
00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:48,240
infinite, and eternal.
These people tend to treat God
42
00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:52,200
as some being external to the
universe, but who manages and
43
00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:56,280
cares for it.
The second group tends to see a
44
00:02:56,280 --> 00:03:00,920
universal consciousness, but
recognizes that any being who
45
00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:05,760
has the qualities of Infinity,
omniscience, omnipotence, and
46
00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:10,960
eternity must by definition
include all of us and the
47
00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:16,200
environment within which we live
and act within its being, and
48
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:21,320
thus we are one with that pure
existence, consciousness.
49
00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:25,040
Bliss.
Satchit Ananda, of which the
50
00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:30,000
universe is constituted, all the
names and forms are part and
51
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,240
parcel of that aware
self-conscious and all conscious
52
00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:38,480
being, and the separations
between beings and forms are for
53
00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:42,320
the purpose of the
manifestation, but nevertheless
54
00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:47,000
remain one in their essence and
inherent consciousness.
55
00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,640
Srioro Bindu observes.
Quote.
56
00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,240
It is quite obvious that this
world is full of suffering and
57
00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,800
afflicted with transients to a
degree that seems to justify the
58
00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:04,160
Gita's description of it as this
unhappy and transient world a
59
00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:08,320
nitya asukam.
The question is whether it is a
60
00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:12,760
mere creation of chance or
governed by a mechanical
61
00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:17,959
inconsiant law, or whether there
is a meaning in it and something
62
00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:20,920
beyond its present appearance
towards which we move.
63
00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,920
If there is a meaning, and if
there is something towards which
64
00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,560
things are evolving, then
inevitably there must be a
65
00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:33,440
guidance, and that means a
supporting consciousness and
66
00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:37,320
will is there with which we can
come into inner contact.
67
00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:42,600
If there is such a consciousness
and will, it is not likely that
68
00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,720
it would stultify itself by
annulling the world's meaning or
69
00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,160
turning it into a perpetual or
eventual failure.
70
00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:55,400
End Quote.
Reference Sri Orovindo and the
71
00:04:55,400 --> 00:05:00,320
Mother, Looking from Within,
Chapter 1, Looking at Life and
72
00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:04,080
Circumstances, pages 23 to 24.