April 4, 2025
External Interactions Provide the Seeker a Mirror to His Inner Characteristics and Traits
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 2, Looking at Oneself and Others, pp. 42-43This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/04/02/external-interactions-provide-the-seeker-a-mirror-to-his-inner-characteristics-and-traits/
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
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:05,320
What we see in others, in many
cases is a mirror to what we
2
00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:09,440
contain within ourselves.
We understand what is taking
3
00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,520
place because we are able to
receive the vibration,
4
00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,920
internalize it, and translate it
into something that resonates in
5
00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,440
our being.
In Western psychology there is a
6
00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,760
concept called projection,
whereby someone projects on to
7
00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:30,160
another person those traits,
qualities, motives or actions
8
00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:35,480
which one has within oneself,
whether openly visible or
9
00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:39,200
latent.
For a spiritual seeker, this
10
00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,640
provides us a marvellous
opportunity to view ourselves in
11
00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:47,560
this mirror, internalize the
review and follow the thread to
12
00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,680
the route that we harbor.
This gives us the chance to work
13
00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,400
on the issue within.
We can then be grateful to the
14
00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,360
grace that we are given the
opportunity to see our
15
00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:02,360
weaknesses and faults mirrored
in others if we have not yet
16
00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:06,440
gained the capacity for the
inward view that allows us to
17
00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,920
examine it carefully and
completely within ourselves.
18
00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,240
The technique of the separation
of the witness consciousness
19
00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,720
from the external nature is a
powerful means for this inward
20
00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,880
view.
We gain the standpoint of the
21
00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,160
witness who can calmly watch our
own internal reactions and
22
00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:31,360
responses as if they are
external to ourselves, and we
23
00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:36,160
can choose to support or
withdraw support from those
24
00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:40,080
movements.
If we take up a critical
25
00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:44,040
attitude and use our observation
to try to control or change the
26
00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:48,680
other person, then we are simply
veiling the truth from ourselves
27
00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:53,800
and instead of making progress,
we are busy creating disruption
28
00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,400
or conflict with others who may
or may not see things the way we
29
00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:01,520
see them.
This is especially true for
30
00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,880
individuals who have fixed ideas
about what constitutes right and
31
00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:10,400
wrong and who try to enforce
these ideas on others who may
32
00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,120
have a totally different view or
level of concern on these
33
00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:18,520
matters.
Fioro Bindo writes quote.
34
00:02:19,640 --> 00:02:22,840
Men are always more able to
criticize sharply the work of
35
00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:28,040
others and tell them how to do
things or what not to do, then
36
00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,040
skillful to avoid the same
mistakes themselves.
37
00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:36,120
Often indeed, one sees easily in
others faults which are there in
38
00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:38,480
oneself but which one fails to
see.
39
00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,200
The human mind is not really
conscious of itself.
40
00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:46,720
That is why in yoga one has
always to look and see what is
41
00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:52,040
in oneself and become more and
more conscious not to judge
42
00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:56,120
anyone but oneself until 1 can
see things from a calm mind.
43
00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,200
And a calm vital is an excellent
rule.
44
00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:04,160
Also, do not allow your mind to
form hasty impressions on the
45
00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,920
strength of some outward
appearance, nor your vital to
46
00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:11,760
act upon them.
There is a place in the inner
47
00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:15,920
being where one can always
remain calm, and from there look
48
00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:19,920
with poise and judgment on the
perturbations of the surface
49
00:03:19,920 --> 00:03:23,240
consciousness and act upon it to
change it.
50
00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:28,520
If you can learn to live in that
calm of the inner Being, you
51
00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:30,560
will have found your stable
basis.
52
00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,840
End Quote Reference.
Srioro Bindu and the Mother.
53
00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:40,680
Looking from Within, Chapter 2.
Looking at Oneself and Others,
54
00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,360
pages 42 to 43.
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:05,320
What we see in others, in many
cases is a mirror to what we
2
00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:09,440
contain within ourselves.
We understand what is taking
3
00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,520
place because we are able to
receive the vibration,
4
00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,920
internalize it, and translate it
into something that resonates in
5
00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,440
our being.
In Western psychology there is a
6
00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,760
concept called projection,
whereby someone projects on to
7
00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:30,160
another person those traits,
qualities, motives or actions
8
00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:35,480
which one has within oneself,
whether openly visible or
9
00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:39,200
latent.
For a spiritual seeker, this
10
00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,640
provides us a marvellous
opportunity to view ourselves in
11
00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:47,560
this mirror, internalize the
review and follow the thread to
12
00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,680
the route that we harbor.
This gives us the chance to work
13
00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,400
on the issue within.
We can then be grateful to the
14
00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,360
grace that we are given the
opportunity to see our
15
00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:02,360
weaknesses and faults mirrored
in others if we have not yet
16
00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:06,440
gained the capacity for the
inward view that allows us to
17
00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,920
examine it carefully and
completely within ourselves.
18
00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,240
The technique of the separation
of the witness consciousness
19
00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,720
from the external nature is a
powerful means for this inward
20
00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,880
view.
We gain the standpoint of the
21
00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,160
witness who can calmly watch our
own internal reactions and
22
00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:31,360
responses as if they are
external to ourselves, and we
23
00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:36,160
can choose to support or
withdraw support from those
24
00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:40,080
movements.
If we take up a critical
25
00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:44,040
attitude and use our observation
to try to control or change the
26
00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:48,680
other person, then we are simply
veiling the truth from ourselves
27
00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:53,800
and instead of making progress,
we are busy creating disruption
28
00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,400
or conflict with others who may
or may not see things the way we
29
00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:01,520
see them.
This is especially true for
30
00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,880
individuals who have fixed ideas
about what constitutes right and
31
00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:10,400
wrong and who try to enforce
these ideas on others who may
32
00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:14,120
have a totally different view or
level of concern on these
33
00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:18,520
matters.
Fioro Bindo writes quote.
34
00:02:19,640 --> 00:02:22,840
Men are always more able to
criticize sharply the work of
35
00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:28,040
others and tell them how to do
things or what not to do, then
36
00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,040
skillful to avoid the same
mistakes themselves.
37
00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:36,120
Often indeed, one sees easily in
others faults which are there in
38
00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:38,480
oneself but which one fails to
see.
39
00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,200
The human mind is not really
conscious of itself.
40
00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:46,720
That is why in yoga one has
always to look and see what is
41
00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:52,040
in oneself and become more and
more conscious not to judge
42
00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:56,120
anyone but oneself until 1 can
see things from a calm mind.
43
00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,200
And a calm vital is an excellent
rule.
44
00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:04,160
Also, do not allow your mind to
form hasty impressions on the
45
00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,920
strength of some outward
appearance, nor your vital to
46
00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:11,760
act upon them.
There is a place in the inner
47
00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:15,920
being where one can always
remain calm, and from there look
48
00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:19,920
with poise and judgment on the
perturbations of the surface
49
00:03:19,920 --> 00:03:23,240
consciousness and act upon it to
change it.
50
00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:28,520
If you can learn to live in that
calm of the inner Being, you
51
00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:30,560
will have found your stable
basis.
52
00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,840
End Quote Reference.
Srioro Bindu and the Mother.
53
00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:40,680
Looking from Within, Chapter 2.
Looking at Oneself and Others,
54
00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,360
pages 42 to 43.