Finding the Meaning of Our Lives and Expressing It in Our Thoughts, Words and Deeds

0:00 Eventually, as we grow and mature, as our powers of reflection and self examination increase, we begin to seriously consider why it is we are alive, what it is we are here to do, and how we accomplish whatever our lives are intended to be. There are several aspects to this process of growth and development. When we are born into our human lives, we are immature physically, vitally, emotionally and mentally. In Book 1, Canto won. In his epic poem Savitri, a legend and a symbol, Sri Aurobindo hints at our situation.

0:43 Quote. But the oblivion that succeeds the fall had blotted the crowded tablets of the past, and all that was destroyed must be rebuilt and old experience labored out once more. End Quote. We need to develop our physical, vital and mental framework and capacities, increase their power and perfect their action. This is an ongoing process in our lives. Much of our early focus is dedicated to this aspect of development, and we do not therefore usually focus our attention on why we are doing all this.

1:27 If we become fully entangled in the external being and its activities, we may even fully lose sight of any deeper purpose. And we live our lives as virtual automatons, eating, sleeping, studying, working, enjoying ourselves. In many cases we stop the development of our powers and simply try to exist and enjoy ourselves. And in those cases we distract ourselves with intoxications of various sorts, whether they be drugs or alcohol, mindless entertainment, sex, etcetera. Others continue developing the instruments of mind, life, and body as a way of keeping some meaning in front of them.

2:14 Eventually, neither dissipation nor engagement without deeper purpose suffices, and we then see people turning to the deeper questions of existence, the existential purpose that underlies everything we experience, everything we think, everything we do, everything we care about in our lives. Once we awaken to the existential questions, we begin our conscious spiritual quest, and at some point we become aware of our psychic being and get into touch with the spiritual reality, the universal consciousness that develops the universal manifestation for its own intention.

3:02 Once that occurs, we can begin to sort out with intentionality the actions and focus that help us stay consciously connected to the spiritual truth of our lives and which help us determine how to express that in a manner that utilizes the capacities and ever expanding levels of perfection in action that occur when we act with understanding and intention. The mother notes quote. If we truly want to progress and acquire the capacity of knowing the truth of our being, that is to say, what we are truly created for, what we can call our mission upon earth, then we must, in a very regular and constant manner, reject from us or eliminate in US whatever contradicts the truth of our existence, whatever is opposed to it. In this way, little by little, all the parts, all the elements of our being can be organized into a homogeneous whole around our psychic center.

4:13 This work of unification requires much time to be brought to some degree of perfection. Therefore, in order to accomplish it, we must arm ourselves with patience and endurance, with a determination to prolong our life as long as necessary for the success of our endeavour. As you pursue this labor of purification and unification, you must at the same time take great care to perfect the external and instrumental part of your being. When the higher truth manifests, it must find in you a mind that is supple and rich enough to be able to give the idea that seeks to express itself, a form of thought which preserves its force and clarity. This thought, again, when it seeks to clothe itself in words, must find in you a sufficient power of expression so that the words reveal the thought and do not deform it. And the formula in which you embody the truth should be manifested in all your feelings, all your acts of will, all your actions, in all the movements of your being. Finally, these movements themselves should, by constant effort, attain their highest perfection. End Quote.

5:43 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 65 to 66.