Factors That Impede Progress on the Spiritual Path

0:00 Our human lives are not developed in a straight line of progress. We see forward movement toward whatever goal we have in front of us, and then various retrogressive movements that set back the progress. That is the experience of those who have a focus or objective in life. For those who are not motivated by some specific overarching goal, there is simply a series of events, activities, relationships, enjoyments and sufferings that make up the mixed lives they lead. There are multiple and complex interactions that 'cause this oscillation to occur. First, there are the conflicting needs, desires and demands of the various parts of the being.

0:48 These are modified by the stage of life development along with the training, education, traumas and societal expectations to which the individual has been exposed. Additionally, there's the action of the three gunas of nature which are always moving and changing their predominance and balance in all parts of the nature. The combination of the different intentions of the various parts of the being and the developmental stage of the individual, with the varying response due to the alternation of the gunas, leads to a complex, sometimes seemingly inexplicable difference in reaction.

1:31 For the spiritual seeker, there's an added factor of the opening of the psychic being and its more direct influence. This influence, however, has to work through the various parts of the being, the development of the instruments and the pressures working on the external nature and the life activities. We thus see that there are movements and moments when the spiritual aspiration is in front and the being is lit up with a spiritual glow, when friends or family enter that space, or when work or financial circumstances create added pressures, or when some past tendency arises based on a new situation triggering its action.

2:17 The aspiration, the consecration, the feeling of oneness or bliss can easily recede into the background as the external nature takes over for a time. The seeker carries with him all of the tendencies in seed form until they are fully and completely rejected from the being, and they can lie latent and dormant until the right circumstance arises for them to sprout up suddenly. The changing predominance of the gunas often provides such an opportunity as he responds differently when Sattva is in the ascendant with its more calm and insightful demeanour than when Rajas with its desires, passions and more aggressive pattern dominates, or when Tamas with its darkness, fear and weakness, dullness and torpor takes its dominant position for a time. The mother advises that by placing the psychic being at the core and referring each movement to it, the seeker, as a witness of the nature, can immediately see what forces are in control at the moment and thereby choose to support those that advance the spiritual growth and reject those that oppose or weaken that development.

3:41 The mother observes. Quote You can be a different person at different moments in your life. I know people who took decisions, had a strong will, know what they wanted and prepared to do it. Then there was a little reversal in the being. Another part came up and spoiled all the work in 10 minutes. What had been accomplished in two months was all undone. When the first part comes back, it is in disarray. It says what then? The whole work has to be started again slowly. Hence it is evident that it is very important to become aware of the psychic being.

4:23 One must have a kind of signpost or a mirror in which all things are reflected and show themselves as they truly are. And then according to what they are, one puts them in one place or another. One begins to explore, to organize. That takes time. The part comes back three or four times and every part that comes up says put me in the 1st place. What the others do is not important, not at all important. It is I who will decide, for I am the most important. I am sure that if you look at yourself, you will see that there's not one among you who has not had the experience.

5:07 You want to become conscious, to have goodwill. You have understood, your aspiration is shining, all is brilliant, illuminated. But all of a sudden something happens, a useless conversation, some unfortunate reading, and that upsets everything. Then one thinks that it was an illusion one lived in, that all things were seen from a certain angle. This is life 1 stumbles and falls at the first occasion one tells oneself 01 can't always be so serious. And when the other part returns once again, one repents bitterly.

5:50 I was a fool. I have wasted my time. Now I must begin again. At times there is one part that's ill humored in revolt, full of worries, and another which is progressive, full of surrender. All that one after the other. End Quote Reference Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, the psychic being soul, its nature, mission and evolution. Section 2. Role, function and Action of the Psychic. Pages 68 to 69.