Oct. 31, 2024
Endurance Is Required for Progress, Growth and Success
Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
Amazon Music 
RSS Feed 
Castro 
RadioPublic 
PocketCasts 
YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter VII Attitude, pp. 66-68
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/10/28/endurance-is-required-for-progress-growth-and-success/
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
00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,520
Each part of the being has its
own form of endurance.
2
00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,680
Endurance is essential for any
true and lasting development.
3
00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:14,280
Change tends to take place
mostly incrementally.
4
00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,600
When it comes more rapidly, it
is usually accompanied by major
5
00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:23,840
disruptions to the status quo.
In either case, one form of
6
00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,520
endurance or another is
required.
7
00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,040
Physical endurance is the
ability to withstand pressure on
8
00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,160
the physical body and continue
on.
9
00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:38,440
This is seen in sports,
exploration activities and
10
00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,640
adventure challenges such as
climbing mountains or
11
00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:45,600
undertaking marathon races or
triathlon.
12
00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,080
Vital endurance includes the
power to remain positive and
13
00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,160
confident in the face of
opposition and apparent
14
00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:56,760
setbacks.
Mental endurance implies that
15
00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:00,280
the mind remains firm and
without doubt about the results
16
00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,000
even when everything looks
bleak.
17
00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,600
Despair, depression, and gloom
are signs of a lack of
18
00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,080
endurance.
We tend not to understand the
19
00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:16,080
way nature develops and evolves
and the time frame needed to
20
00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,880
accomplish these changes.
Endurance implies staying the
21
00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,920
course despite immediate
appearances.
22
00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:30,240
For example, Sri Aurobindo in
his epic poem Savitri, a legend
23
00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,480
and a symbol, has the following
passage.
24
00:01:34,320 --> 00:01:37,840
Quote.
When darkness deepened,
25
00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:42,520
strangling the earth's breast,
And man's corporeal mind is the
26
00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:45,720
only lamp.
As the thief's in the night
27
00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:51,240
shall be the covert tread of one
who steps unseen into his house.
28
00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:58,840
End Quote When all around us is
darkness, defeat, suffering,
29
00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:05,360
death and pain, the need for
utmost endurance is required.
30
00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:11,520
As the proverb says, it is
always darkest before the dawn,
31
00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:17,120
the mother notes.
Quote Let endurance be your
32
00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,240
watchword.
Teach the life force in you,
33
00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:25,120
your vital being, not to
complain, but to put up with all
34
00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,800
the conditions necessary for
great achievement.
35
00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,120
The body is a very enduring
servant.
36
00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,480
It bears the stress of
circumstance tamely, like a
37
00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,640
beast of burden.
It is the vital being that is
38
00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:42,160
always grumbling and uneasy.
The slavery and torture to which
39
00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,520
it subjects the physical is
almost incalculable.
40
00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:50,120
How it twists and deforms the
poor body to its own fads and
41
00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:54,160
fancies, irrationally demanding
that everything should be shaped
42
00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:58,320
according to its whimsicality.
But the very essence of
43
00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,920
endurance is that the vital
should learn to give up its
44
00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:06,400
capricious likes and dislikes
and preserve an equanimity in
45
00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,840
the midst of the most trying
conditions.
46
00:03:09,640 --> 00:03:13,840
When you are treated roughly by
somebody, or you lack something
47
00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,480
which would relieve your
discomfort, you must keep up
48
00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:19,680
cheerfully.
Instead of letting yourself be
49
00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:23,440
disturbed, let nothing ruffle
you the least bit.
50
00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,680
And whenever the vital tends to
air its petty grievances with
51
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:32,560
pompous exaggeration, just stop
to consider how very happy you
52
00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,480
are compared to so many in this
world.
53
00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,520
Reflect for a moment on what the
soldiers who fought in the last
54
00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:43,440
war had to go through.
If you had to bear such
55
00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,800
hardships, you would realize the
utter silliness of your
56
00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,880
dissatisfactions.
And yet, I do not wish you to
57
00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:55,000
court difficulties.
What I want is simply that you
58
00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,320
should learn to endure the
little insignificant troubles of
59
00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:02,120
your life.
Nothing great is ever
60
00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:06,400
accomplished without endurance.
If you study the lives of great
61
00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,680
men, you will see how they set
themselves like Flint against
62
00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:14,480
the weaknesses of the vital.
Even today, the true meaning of
63
00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,600
our civilization is the mastery
of the physical through
64
00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:21,640
endurance in the vital.
The spirit of sport and of
65
00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,600
adventure and the dauntless
facing of odds, which is evident
66
00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:30,200
in all fields of life, are part
of this ideal of endurance.
67
00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,440
In science itself.
Progress depends on the
68
00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,680
countless difficult tests and
trials which precede
69
00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:41,760
achievement.
What you must do is to give your
70
00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:46,840
vital a good beating as soon as
it protests, for when the when
71
00:04:46,840 --> 00:04:51,000
the physical is concerned, there
is reason to be considerate and
72
00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,680
to take precautions.
But with the vital, the only
73
00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:58,360
method is a sound kicking.
Kick your vital the moment it
74
00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,480
complaints, because there's no
other way of getting out of the
75
00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:06,040
petty consciousness which
attaches so much importance to
76
00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:10,280
creature comforts and social
amenities, instead of asking for
77
00:05:10,280 --> 00:05:13,560
the light and the truth.
End Quote.
78
00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:19,520
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
Mother Powers within, Chapter 7
79
00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:23,040
Attitude, pages 66 to 68.
00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,520
Each part of the being has its
own form of endurance.
2
00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,680
Endurance is essential for any
true and lasting development.
3
00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:14,280
Change tends to take place
mostly incrementally.
4
00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,600
When it comes more rapidly, it
is usually accompanied by major
5
00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:23,840
disruptions to the status quo.
In either case, one form of
6
00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,520
endurance or another is
required.
7
00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,040
Physical endurance is the
ability to withstand pressure on
8
00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,160
the physical body and continue
on.
9
00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:38,440
This is seen in sports,
exploration activities and
10
00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,640
adventure challenges such as
climbing mountains or
11
00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:45,600
undertaking marathon races or
triathlon.
12
00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,080
Vital endurance includes the
power to remain positive and
13
00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,160
confident in the face of
opposition and apparent
14
00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:56,760
setbacks.
Mental endurance implies that
15
00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:00,280
the mind remains firm and
without doubt about the results
16
00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,000
even when everything looks
bleak.
17
00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,600
Despair, depression, and gloom
are signs of a lack of
18
00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,080
endurance.
We tend not to understand the
19
00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:16,080
way nature develops and evolves
and the time frame needed to
20
00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,880
accomplish these changes.
Endurance implies staying the
21
00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,920
course despite immediate
appearances.
22
00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:30,240
For example, Sri Aurobindo in
his epic poem Savitri, a legend
23
00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,480
and a symbol, has the following
passage.
24
00:01:34,320 --> 00:01:37,840
Quote.
When darkness deepened,
25
00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:42,520
strangling the earth's breast,
And man's corporeal mind is the
26
00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:45,720
only lamp.
As the thief's in the night
27
00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:51,240
shall be the covert tread of one
who steps unseen into his house.
28
00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:58,840
End Quote When all around us is
darkness, defeat, suffering,
29
00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:05,360
death and pain, the need for
utmost endurance is required.
30
00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:11,520
As the proverb says, it is
always darkest before the dawn,
31
00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:17,120
the mother notes.
Quote Let endurance be your
32
00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,240
watchword.
Teach the life force in you,
33
00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:25,120
your vital being, not to
complain, but to put up with all
34
00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,800
the conditions necessary for
great achievement.
35
00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,120
The body is a very enduring
servant.
36
00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,480
It bears the stress of
circumstance tamely, like a
37
00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,640
beast of burden.
It is the vital being that is
38
00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:42,160
always grumbling and uneasy.
The slavery and torture to which
39
00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,520
it subjects the physical is
almost incalculable.
40
00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:50,120
How it twists and deforms the
poor body to its own fads and
41
00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:54,160
fancies, irrationally demanding
that everything should be shaped
42
00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:58,320
according to its whimsicality.
But the very essence of
43
00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,920
endurance is that the vital
should learn to give up its
44
00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:06,400
capricious likes and dislikes
and preserve an equanimity in
45
00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,840
the midst of the most trying
conditions.
46
00:03:09,640 --> 00:03:13,840
When you are treated roughly by
somebody, or you lack something
47
00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,480
which would relieve your
discomfort, you must keep up
48
00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:19,680
cheerfully.
Instead of letting yourself be
49
00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:23,440
disturbed, let nothing ruffle
you the least bit.
50
00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,680
And whenever the vital tends to
air its petty grievances with
51
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:32,560
pompous exaggeration, just stop
to consider how very happy you
52
00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,480
are compared to so many in this
world.
53
00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,520
Reflect for a moment on what the
soldiers who fought in the last
54
00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:43,440
war had to go through.
If you had to bear such
55
00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,800
hardships, you would realize the
utter silliness of your
56
00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,880
dissatisfactions.
And yet, I do not wish you to
57
00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:55,000
court difficulties.
What I want is simply that you
58
00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,320
should learn to endure the
little insignificant troubles of
59
00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:02,120
your life.
Nothing great is ever
60
00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:06,400
accomplished without endurance.
If you study the lives of great
61
00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,680
men, you will see how they set
themselves like Flint against
62
00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:14,480
the weaknesses of the vital.
Even today, the true meaning of
63
00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,600
our civilization is the mastery
of the physical through
64
00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:21,640
endurance in the vital.
The spirit of sport and of
65
00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,600
adventure and the dauntless
facing of odds, which is evident
66
00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:30,200
in all fields of life, are part
of this ideal of endurance.
67
00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,440
In science itself.
Progress depends on the
68
00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,680
countless difficult tests and
trials which precede
69
00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:41,760
achievement.
What you must do is to give your
70
00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:46,840
vital a good beating as soon as
it protests, for when the when
71
00:04:46,840 --> 00:04:51,000
the physical is concerned, there
is reason to be considerate and
72
00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,680
to take precautions.
But with the vital, the only
73
00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:58,360
method is a sound kicking.
Kick your vital the moment it
74
00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,480
complaints, because there's no
other way of getting out of the
75
00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:06,040
petty consciousness which
attaches so much importance to
76
00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:10,280
creature comforts and social
amenities, instead of asking for
77
00:05:10,280 --> 00:05:13,560
the light and the truth.
End Quote.
78
00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:19,520
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
Mother Powers within, Chapter 7
79
00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:23,040
Attitude, pages 66 to 68.