Aug. 29, 2025
Finding the Inner Balance of Non-Attachment While Living in the World
reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 160This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/08/27/finding-the-inner-balance-of-non-attachment-while-living-in-the-world/
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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
00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:05,560
In his epic poem Savitri, a
legend and a symbol, Sriorobindo
2
00:00:05,560 --> 00:00:10,160
writes quote He who would save
himself lives bare and calm.
3
00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,000
He who would save the race must
share its pain.
4
00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:18,600
End Quote Renunciation of the
world.
5
00:00:19,080 --> 00:00:23,640
Avoidance of interacting with
the objects, actions, events and
6
00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:28,320
needs of the external life is
frequently A chosen route for
7
00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:30,680
those who seek personal
salvation.
8
00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,840
For those who wish to
participate in the development
9
00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:39,360
of the divine manifestation, the
idea of total immersion in the
10
00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,480
external life is not a solution
either.
11
00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:48,000
Neither the materialist denial
nor the refusal of the ascetic,
12
00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,520
as Triorbindo terms these
concepts in the life divine,
13
00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,480
provide the answer for the
seeker looking to uplift and
14
00:00:56,480 --> 00:01:01,960
transform rather than avoid or
become immersed in the things of
15
00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,760
the world.
Virtually from the moment we are
16
00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:11,040
born, our family, friends,
schools and society at large
17
00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:16,440
inculcate in us the sense that
we need to have a career, earn
18
00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:20,640
money and acquire goods.
On top of this general
19
00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,640
background, there is a very
powerful media and marketing
20
00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,000
presence that drums these ideas
into people day and night.
21
00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:33,840
It is no wonder that most people
define themselves by what job
22
00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,320
they do, what money they earn,
their financial well-being and
23
00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:41,200
status and the things they
acquire.
24
00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,080
The issue for the spiritual
seeker then is how to interact
25
00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:51,200
with the fullness of life in the
world while at the same time not
26
00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:56,080
being devoured by the lures of
acquiring and owning things and
27
00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,320
all that comes along with that
focus.
28
00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:04,880
The traditional solution of
avoidance, renunciation may be a
29
00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:10,039
solution for some, but it does
not answer the question as to
30
00:02:10,039 --> 00:02:13,160
the significance and meaning of
our lives.
31
00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:19,280
In his book, Siddhartha Hermann
Hesse takes up the theme of
32
00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:24,160
relationship to worldly success
versus the life of a renunciate.
33
00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:29,440
The story partially reflects the
tale of the Buddha, who was born
34
00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:33,720
as a Prince, surrounded by
luxury and the fulfilment of
35
00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:38,480
anything he could desire, but
who eventually began to reflect
36
00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:43,800
on the issue of suffering,
disease, old age and death.
37
00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:49,080
In his tale, Hesa shows
Siddhartha similarly abandoning
38
00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:54,000
the teachings of his family and
his society and his worldly life
39
00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:58,720
to become a renunciate.
He is dissatisfied with that
40
00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:02,720
path and decides to explore life
in the world to all its depths,
41
00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:07,320
including acquisition of wealth
and development of a family.
42
00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:14,160
This too is unsatisfying to him.
He eventually meets a ferryman
43
00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:19,320
who does his job while living a
life of peace and inner
44
00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,400
contentment.
While Hesse winds up with the
45
00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:28,160
solution of a simple life
uncomplicated by career and
46
00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:32,360
concerns for wealth while
carrying out a useful function
47
00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:36,840
in the world, such a solution
does not fully address the
48
00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,560
question of the transformation
and uplifting of life itself.
49
00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:46,440
In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri
Krishna explains to Arjuna that
50
00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,880
the true liberation is not
through external renunciation,
51
00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:54,760
but through the inner attitude
one holds in the midst of all
52
00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:58,920
activities.
The challenge for most seekers,
53
00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:02,400
of course, is actually achieving
this perspective and balance in
54
00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:04,120
the way one deals with the
world.
55
00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:09,640
This takes a measure of inner
growth, reflection, separation
56
00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:14,480
of 1's identification with the
ego personality and recognizing
57
00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,240
the deeper meaning of life and
the growth of the soul
58
00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:23,400
personality, the psychic being.
For most people this is a long
59
00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,480
patient effort of practice as
each life circumstance
60
00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:31,600
challenges the individual and
provides an opportunity for
61
00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:36,240
achieving this standpoint.
The mother notes quote.
62
00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,400
There should be no attachment to
any object or any mode of life.
63
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:47,080
You must be absolutely free if
you want to have the true yogic
64
00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,280
attitude.
You must be able to accept
65
00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:54,880
everything that comes from the
Divine and let it go easily and
66
00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:59,000
without regret.
The attitude of the ascetic who
67
00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:03,280
says I want nothing and the
attitude of the man of the world
68
00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:07,120
who says I want this thing are
the same.
69
00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:12,640
The One may be as much attached
to his renunciation as the other
70
00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:17,240
to his possession.
It is much more difficult not to
71
00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:21,320
be attached to the things you
possess than to possess nothing.
72
00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,800
This is something that has been
known for centuries.
73
00:05:25,280 --> 00:05:29,120
It requires a much greater
quality not to be attached to
74
00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:33,840
the things one possesses than to
be without any possessions, or
75
00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:36,560
to reduce one's possessions to a
strict minimum.
76
00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:41,400
It is much more difficult.
It is a much higher degree of
77
00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,720
moral worth.
Simply this attitude.
78
00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:50,480
When a thing comes to you to
take it, use it when for one
79
00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:55,440
reason or another it goes away,
to let it go and not regret it,
80
00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:59,640
not to refuse it.
When it comes to know how to
81
00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,800
adapt yourself and not to regret
it when it goes.
82
00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:09,560
End Quote Reference Sri Orobindo
and the Mother Looking from
83
00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:15,160
Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on
the Path, page 160.
00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:05,560
In his epic poem Savitri, a
legend and a symbol, Sriorobindo
2
00:00:05,560 --> 00:00:10,160
writes quote He who would save
himself lives bare and calm.
3
00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,000
He who would save the race must
share its pain.
4
00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:18,600
End Quote Renunciation of the
world.
5
00:00:19,080 --> 00:00:23,640
Avoidance of interacting with
the objects, actions, events and
6
00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:28,320
needs of the external life is
frequently A chosen route for
7
00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:30,680
those who seek personal
salvation.
8
00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,840
For those who wish to
participate in the development
9
00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:39,360
of the divine manifestation, the
idea of total immersion in the
10
00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,480
external life is not a solution
either.
11
00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:48,000
Neither the materialist denial
nor the refusal of the ascetic,
12
00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,520
as Triorbindo terms these
concepts in the life divine,
13
00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,480
provide the answer for the
seeker looking to uplift and
14
00:00:56,480 --> 00:01:01,960
transform rather than avoid or
become immersed in the things of
15
00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,760
the world.
Virtually from the moment we are
16
00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:11,040
born, our family, friends,
schools and society at large
17
00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:16,440
inculcate in us the sense that
we need to have a career, earn
18
00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:20,640
money and acquire goods.
On top of this general
19
00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,640
background, there is a very
powerful media and marketing
20
00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,000
presence that drums these ideas
into people day and night.
21
00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:33,840
It is no wonder that most people
define themselves by what job
22
00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,320
they do, what money they earn,
their financial well-being and
23
00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:41,200
status and the things they
acquire.
24
00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,080
The issue for the spiritual
seeker then is how to interact
25
00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:51,200
with the fullness of life in the
world while at the same time not
26
00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:56,080
being devoured by the lures of
acquiring and owning things and
27
00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,320
all that comes along with that
focus.
28
00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:04,880
The traditional solution of
avoidance, renunciation may be a
29
00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:10,039
solution for some, but it does
not answer the question as to
30
00:02:10,039 --> 00:02:13,160
the significance and meaning of
our lives.
31
00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:19,280
In his book, Siddhartha Hermann
Hesse takes up the theme of
32
00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:24,160
relationship to worldly success
versus the life of a renunciate.
33
00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:29,440
The story partially reflects the
tale of the Buddha, who was born
34
00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:33,720
as a Prince, surrounded by
luxury and the fulfilment of
35
00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:38,480
anything he could desire, but
who eventually began to reflect
36
00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:43,800
on the issue of suffering,
disease, old age and death.
37
00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:49,080
In his tale, Hesa shows
Siddhartha similarly abandoning
38
00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:54,000
the teachings of his family and
his society and his worldly life
39
00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:58,720
to become a renunciate.
He is dissatisfied with that
40
00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:02,720
path and decides to explore life
in the world to all its depths,
41
00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:07,320
including acquisition of wealth
and development of a family.
42
00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:14,160
This too is unsatisfying to him.
He eventually meets a ferryman
43
00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:19,320
who does his job while living a
life of peace and inner
44
00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,400
contentment.
While Hesse winds up with the
45
00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:28,160
solution of a simple life
uncomplicated by career and
46
00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:32,360
concerns for wealth while
carrying out a useful function
47
00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:36,840
in the world, such a solution
does not fully address the
48
00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,560
question of the transformation
and uplifting of life itself.
49
00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:46,440
In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri
Krishna explains to Arjuna that
50
00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,880
the true liberation is not
through external renunciation,
51
00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:54,760
but through the inner attitude
one holds in the midst of all
52
00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:58,920
activities.
The challenge for most seekers,
53
00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:02,400
of course, is actually achieving
this perspective and balance in
54
00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:04,120
the way one deals with the
world.
55
00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:09,640
This takes a measure of inner
growth, reflection, separation
56
00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:14,480
of 1's identification with the
ego personality and recognizing
57
00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,240
the deeper meaning of life and
the growth of the soul
58
00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:23,400
personality, the psychic being.
For most people this is a long
59
00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,480
patient effort of practice as
each life circumstance
60
00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:31,600
challenges the individual and
provides an opportunity for
61
00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:36,240
achieving this standpoint.
The mother notes quote.
62
00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,400
There should be no attachment to
any object or any mode of life.
63
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:47,080
You must be absolutely free if
you want to have the true yogic
64
00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,280
attitude.
You must be able to accept
65
00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:54,880
everything that comes from the
Divine and let it go easily and
66
00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:59,000
without regret.
The attitude of the ascetic who
67
00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:03,280
says I want nothing and the
attitude of the man of the world
68
00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:07,120
who says I want this thing are
the same.
69
00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:12,640
The One may be as much attached
to his renunciation as the other
70
00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:17,240
to his possession.
It is much more difficult not to
71
00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:21,320
be attached to the things you
possess than to possess nothing.
72
00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,800
This is something that has been
known for centuries.
73
00:05:25,280 --> 00:05:29,120
It requires a much greater
quality not to be attached to
74
00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:33,840
the things one possesses than to
be without any possessions, or
75
00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:36,560
to reduce one's possessions to a
strict minimum.
76
00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:41,400
It is much more difficult.
It is a much higher degree of
77
00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,720
moral worth.
Simply this attitude.
78
00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:50,480
When a thing comes to you to
take it, use it when for one
79
00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:55,440
reason or another it goes away,
to let it go and not regret it,
80
00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:59,640
not to refuse it.
When it comes to know how to
81
00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,800
adapt yourself and not to regret
it when it goes.
82
00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:09,560
End Quote Reference Sri Orobindo
and the Mother Looking from
83
00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:15,160
Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on
the Path, page 160.
