June 5, 2025
Faithfulness to the Light and the Divine Call
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within , Chapter 4, Ordeals and Difficulties, pp..97-98
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/06/03/faithfulness-to-the-light-and-the-divine-call/
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
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,800
People have an inner commentary
and soundtrack going on
2
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:06,920
virtually constantly in their
heads.
3
00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,960
The soundtrack may be a piece of
music they heard which keeps
4
00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,920
repeating in their minds what is
colloquially called an earworm.
5
00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,040
It may also be something of far
less enjoyment, such as a
6
00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:24,440
constant ringing in the ears,
tinnitus that can drive people
7
00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:28,840
eventually to distraction,
disrupt sleep and rest, and make
8
00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,240
the individual tired and
irritable.
9
00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:36,200
With respect to the inner
commentary or dialogue, there is
10
00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,720
an evaluation process that goes
on for everything that occurs
11
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,160
around 1:00.
There are judgments, reactions
12
00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:47,360
of anger or jealousy, which are
not necessarily expressed
13
00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,280
outwardly, but which are
nevertheless sending thought
14
00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,680
currents through the brain,
perceptible to the mind.
15
00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:59,480
Sometimes these thought currents
begin to make suggestions for
16
00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,000
how one should act or what one
should do.
17
00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,680
In some cases, the individual
actually begins to listen to
18
00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,560
these suggestions and to act
upon them.
19
00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:14,400
In other cases, the individual
is able to recognize them as
20
00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,920
essentially reactive traffic,
responsive to the impressions
21
00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:23,080
that the senses send to the
brain, triggered due to these
22
00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:29,040
sensations, and can thus be
dismissed as just the running of
23
00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:32,120
the brain.
For those who have taken up a
24
00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:35,800
spiritual sadhna, there's
generally a time when they'd
25
00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:42,440
learn meditation or practice
concentration, mindfulness or
26
00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:49,600
creation of Zen mind, which is
quiet, aware, receptive but non
27
00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,720
reactive.
They are encouraged to observe
28
00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,560
these thoughts, but not to let
them carry one's attention off.
29
00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:02,120
This is a difficult process at
first, made easier with regular
30
00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:06,400
practice.
The sodic is not thereby immune
31
00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,160
to such thoughts or feelings
running through his mind.
32
00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:14,720
Ideally, he is able to distance
himself from them and observe
33
00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,040
them without attachment or
involvement.
34
00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:22,200
However, when there is some
obstacle, weakness or failure,
35
00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:27,240
the thoughts come, whether in
the form of self doubt or a form
36
00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:33,080
of skepticism about the path or
one's ability to follow it, or
37
00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:37,520
in the divine aid.
Just as with any other of these
38
00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:42,120
various processes, the Sadak is
asked to distance himself from
39
00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:46,000
them.
Sri Robindo adds another method
40
00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,800
to the tools available to the
Sadak in the form of
41
00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,280
substitution.
When thoughts of failure or
42
00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,120
weakness arise, the sodak is
asked to replace them with
43
00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:01,160
thoughts of the longer term
trajectory and the support of
44
00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,880
the Divine.
One can recall Sri Aurobindo's
45
00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:09,520
dictum that he who chooses the
infinite has been chosen by the
46
00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,480
infinite.
When we remove the ego
47
00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:16,400
personality from the center of
this equation, we see that we
48
00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,440
need simply accept that the
Divine has found a readiness in
49
00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,880
the individual and has chosen
him for this path.
50
00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:29,760
Thus, the success or failure is
not in the individual's hands
51
00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,560
but in the grip of the Divine.
This leads to an attitude of
52
00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:40,200
patience, perseverance based on
aspiration, and a sense of
53
00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:44,920
grateful receptivity.
Shiro Bindu observes.
54
00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:50,600
Quote the great need in all
crises and attacks to refuse to
55
00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:56,640
listen to any suggestions,
impulses, lures, and to oppose
56
00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:01,080
to them all the call of the
truth, the imperative beckoning
57
00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:06,560
of the light in all doubts and
depressions, to say I belong to
58
00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,560
the Divine.
I cannot fail to all suggestions
59
00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,280
of impurity and unfitness to
reply.
60
00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,640
I am a child of immortality
chosen by the Divine.
61
00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,280
I have but to be true to myself
and to Him the victory is sure.
62
00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:29,280
Even if I fell, I would rise
again to all impulses to serve
63
00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:33,960
some smaller ideal to reply.
This is the greatest, this is
64
00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,200
the truth that alone can satisfy
the soul within me.
65
00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:42,640
I will endure through all tests
and tribulations to the very end
66
00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,480
of the Divine journey.
This is what I mean by
67
00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,360
faithfulness to the Light and
the Call.
68
00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:52,720
End Quote.
Reference.
69
00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:57,480
Sri Robindo and the Mother,
Looking from Within, Chapter 4,
70
00:04:57,840 --> 00:05:02,480
Ordeals and Difficulties, pages
97 to 98.
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,800
People have an inner commentary
and soundtrack going on
2
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:06,920
virtually constantly in their
heads.
3
00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,960
The soundtrack may be a piece of
music they heard which keeps
4
00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,920
repeating in their minds what is
colloquially called an earworm.
5
00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,040
It may also be something of far
less enjoyment, such as a
6
00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:24,440
constant ringing in the ears,
tinnitus that can drive people
7
00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:28,840
eventually to distraction,
disrupt sleep and rest, and make
8
00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,240
the individual tired and
irritable.
9
00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:36,200
With respect to the inner
commentary or dialogue, there is
10
00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,720
an evaluation process that goes
on for everything that occurs
11
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,160
around 1:00.
There are judgments, reactions
12
00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:47,360
of anger or jealousy, which are
not necessarily expressed
13
00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,280
outwardly, but which are
nevertheless sending thought
14
00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,680
currents through the brain,
perceptible to the mind.
15
00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:59,480
Sometimes these thought currents
begin to make suggestions for
16
00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,000
how one should act or what one
should do.
17
00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,680
In some cases, the individual
actually begins to listen to
18
00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,560
these suggestions and to act
upon them.
19
00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:14,400
In other cases, the individual
is able to recognize them as
20
00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,920
essentially reactive traffic,
responsive to the impressions
21
00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:23,080
that the senses send to the
brain, triggered due to these
22
00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:29,040
sensations, and can thus be
dismissed as just the running of
23
00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:32,120
the brain.
For those who have taken up a
24
00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:35,800
spiritual sadhna, there's
generally a time when they'd
25
00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:42,440
learn meditation or practice
concentration, mindfulness or
26
00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:49,600
creation of Zen mind, which is
quiet, aware, receptive but non
27
00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,720
reactive.
They are encouraged to observe
28
00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,560
these thoughts, but not to let
them carry one's attention off.
29
00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:02,120
This is a difficult process at
first, made easier with regular
30
00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:06,400
practice.
The sodic is not thereby immune
31
00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,160
to such thoughts or feelings
running through his mind.
32
00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:14,720
Ideally, he is able to distance
himself from them and observe
33
00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,040
them without attachment or
involvement.
34
00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:22,200
However, when there is some
obstacle, weakness or failure,
35
00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:27,240
the thoughts come, whether in
the form of self doubt or a form
36
00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:33,080
of skepticism about the path or
one's ability to follow it, or
37
00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:37,520
in the divine aid.
Just as with any other of these
38
00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:42,120
various processes, the Sadak is
asked to distance himself from
39
00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:46,000
them.
Sri Robindo adds another method
40
00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,800
to the tools available to the
Sadak in the form of
41
00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,280
substitution.
When thoughts of failure or
42
00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,120
weakness arise, the sodak is
asked to replace them with
43
00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:01,160
thoughts of the longer term
trajectory and the support of
44
00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,880
the Divine.
One can recall Sri Aurobindo's
45
00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:09,520
dictum that he who chooses the
infinite has been chosen by the
46
00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,480
infinite.
When we remove the ego
47
00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:16,400
personality from the center of
this equation, we see that we
48
00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,440
need simply accept that the
Divine has found a readiness in
49
00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,880
the individual and has chosen
him for this path.
50
00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:29,760
Thus, the success or failure is
not in the individual's hands
51
00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,560
but in the grip of the Divine.
This leads to an attitude of
52
00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:40,200
patience, perseverance based on
aspiration, and a sense of
53
00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:44,920
grateful receptivity.
Shiro Bindu observes.
54
00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:50,600
Quote the great need in all
crises and attacks to refuse to
55
00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:56,640
listen to any suggestions,
impulses, lures, and to oppose
56
00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:01,080
to them all the call of the
truth, the imperative beckoning
57
00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:06,560
of the light in all doubts and
depressions, to say I belong to
58
00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,560
the Divine.
I cannot fail to all suggestions
59
00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,280
of impurity and unfitness to
reply.
60
00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,640
I am a child of immortality
chosen by the Divine.
61
00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,280
I have but to be true to myself
and to Him the victory is sure.
62
00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:29,280
Even if I fell, I would rise
again to all impulses to serve
63
00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:33,960
some smaller ideal to reply.
This is the greatest, this is
64
00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,200
the truth that alone can satisfy
the soul within me.
65
00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:42,640
I will endure through all tests
and tribulations to the very end
66
00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,480
of the Divine journey.
This is what I mean by
67
00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,360
faithfulness to the Light and
the Call.
68
00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:52,720
End Quote.
Reference.
69
00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:57,480
Sri Robindo and the Mother,
Looking from Within, Chapter 4,
70
00:04:57,840 --> 00:05:02,480
Ordeals and Difficulties, pages
97 to 98.