Focus on the Inner Call, the Inner Experience and the Inner Presence as the Basis of the Spiritual Practice

0:00 In our outer lives in the world, an enormous focus and emphasis is placed on development of skills that can bring success, remuneration or power to the individual. It may be development of the physical body to such a degree that one can become pre eminent in some specific sport or competitive activity. Those individuals who succeed in this arena become world renowned celebrities and can earn 10s or even hundreds of millions of dollars in their career through the sport and through the endorsements and opportunities that arise as a result of their name recognition and the adulation bestowed upon them by their fans.

0:48 Which itself becomes a source of leverage for further income as they parlay that recognition into lucrative opportunities. If the development takes place in the mental field, people become scientists, technologists, inventors, or may become highly skilled and fluent in the details of translating ideas into real world results for the leading individuals in their respective fields. There are prizes, recognition, financial remuneration and careers that can follow. Or they may be able to create some new technology or methodology that catapults them into the lead in business.

1:36 In the field of art and culture, based on a blending of physical, vital and mental capacities. There are also enormous opportunities that come to those who are skilled and highly trained in their respective activities. Those who develop strong powers of the vital nature can become dominant leaders, managers, political leaders, and charismatic role models. We thus naturally believe that success in the spiritual field must follow along a similar line and that mental, emotional, vital or physical skills must play an important role in achieving spiritual realization.

2:20 This actually is a mistaken idea that can lead to an overconfidence by those who bring their developed skill sets to the practice of yoga. They may excel at carrying out the physical asanas or become leaders in a particular path or methodology, but that does not imply that they are actually advancing quickly on the spiritual plane. They may actually be impeding their progress by their focus on the external skill sets that are so rewarding in the outer life, rather than on the inner movement and totally different types of skills needed to shift the awareness away from the trappings of outer worldly success, recognition and wealth.

3:10 Alternatively, those who do not bring those specific worldly skills to the process may feel discouraged if they interact with those who have mental attainment, artistic capabilities, vital leadership roles, or physical capacities. There is, however, no need for such discouragement, as it may be that what they bring to the process is even more important in the spiritual realm than all the capacities Sri Orobindo notes quote. A simple, straight and sincere call and aspiration from the heart is the one important thing and more essential and effective than capacities.

3:59 Also to get the consciousness to turn inwards, not remain outward going, is of great importance to arrive at the inner call, the inner experience, the inner presence. End Quote. Reference Shriya Rabindu and the Mother Looking from within, Chapter 5. Attitudes on the Path, page 113.