June 23, 2025
Focus on the Inner Call, the Inner Experience and the Inner Presence as the Basis of the Spiritual Practice
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg..113This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/06/21/focus-on-the-inner-call-the-inner-experience-and-the-inner-presence-as-the-basis-of-the-spiritual-practice/
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
00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:06,000
In our outer lives in the world,
an enormous focus and emphasis
2
00:00:06,560 --> 00:00:10,440
is placed on development of
skills that can bring success,
3
00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,480
remuneration or power to the
individual.
4
00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:19,120
It may be development of the
physical body to such a degree
5
00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,160
that one can become pre eminent
in some specific sport or
6
00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:27,480
competitive activity.
Those individuals who succeed in
7
00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:32,840
this arena become world renowned
celebrities and can earn 10s or
8
00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:36,880
even hundreds of millions of
dollars in their career through
9
00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,720
the sport and through the
endorsements and opportunities
10
00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:44,560
that arise as a result of their
name recognition and the
11
00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,640
adulation bestowed upon them by
their fans.
12
00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:53,480
Which itself becomes a source of
leverage for further income as
13
00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:57,640
they parlay that recognition
into lucrative opportunities.
14
00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,480
If the development takes place
in the mental field, people
15
00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,840
become scientists,
technologists, inventors, or may
16
00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:11,720
become highly skilled and fluent
in the details of translating
17
00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:16,680
ideas into real world results
for the leading individuals in
18
00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:21,560
their respective fields.
There are prizes, recognition,
19
00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,920
financial remuneration and
careers that can follow.
20
00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,200
Or they may be able to create
some new technology or
21
00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,680
methodology that catapults them
into the lead in business.
22
00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:40,520
In the field of art and culture,
based on a blending of physical,
23
00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,640
vital and mental capacities.
There are also enormous
24
00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,440
opportunities that come to those
who are skilled and highly
25
00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:50,720
trained in their respective
activities.
26
00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,040
Those who develop strong powers
of the vital nature can become
27
00:01:56,040 --> 00:02:00,440
dominant leaders, managers,
political leaders, and
28
00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:05,240
charismatic role models.
We thus naturally believe that
29
00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:09,919
success in the spiritual field
must follow along a similar line
30
00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:15,920
and that mental, emotional,
vital or physical skills must
31
00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:19,680
play an important role in
achieving spiritual realization.
32
00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,800
This actually is a mistaken idea
that can lead to an
33
00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:28,720
overconfidence by those who
bring their developed skill sets
34
00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:32,840
to the practice of yoga.
They may excel at carrying out
35
00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:37,440
the physical asanas or become
leaders in a particular path or
36
00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:42,600
methodology, but that does not
imply that they are actually
37
00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,120
advancing quickly on the
spiritual plane.
38
00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:50,240
They may actually be impeding
their progress by their focus on
39
00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,920
the external skill sets that are
so rewarding in the outer life,
40
00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,080
rather than on the inner
movement and totally different
41
00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:02,360
types of skills needed to shift
the awareness away from the
42
00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:08,760
trappings of outer worldly
success, recognition and wealth.
43
00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:14,480
Alternatively, those who do not
bring those specific worldly
44
00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:18,720
skills to the process may feel
discouraged if they interact
45
00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,240
with those who have mental
attainment, artistic
46
00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:27,040
capabilities, vital leadership
roles, or physical capacities.
47
00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:32,760
There is, however, no need for
such discouragement, as it may
48
00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:37,680
be that what they bring to the
process is even more important
49
00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:44,080
in the spiritual realm than all
the capacities Sri Orobindo
50
00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:49,240
notes quote.
A simple, straight and sincere
51
00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,800
call and aspiration from the
heart is the one important thing
52
00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:58,280
and more essential and effective
than capacities.
53
00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:04,040
Also to get the consciousness to
turn inwards, not remain outward
54
00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:10,320
going, is of great importance to
arrive at the inner call, the
55
00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,840
inner experience, the inner
presence.
56
00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,640
End Quote.
Reference Shriya Rabindu and the
57
00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,960
Mother Looking from within,
Chapter 5.
58
00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,280
Attitudes on the Path, page 113.
00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:06,000
In our outer lives in the world,
an enormous focus and emphasis
2
00:00:06,560 --> 00:00:10,440
is placed on development of
skills that can bring success,
3
00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,480
remuneration or power to the
individual.
4
00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:19,120
It may be development of the
physical body to such a degree
5
00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,160
that one can become pre eminent
in some specific sport or
6
00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:27,480
competitive activity.
Those individuals who succeed in
7
00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:32,840
this arena become world renowned
celebrities and can earn 10s or
8
00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:36,880
even hundreds of millions of
dollars in their career through
9
00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,720
the sport and through the
endorsements and opportunities
10
00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:44,560
that arise as a result of their
name recognition and the
11
00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,640
adulation bestowed upon them by
their fans.
12
00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:53,480
Which itself becomes a source of
leverage for further income as
13
00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:57,640
they parlay that recognition
into lucrative opportunities.
14
00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,480
If the development takes place
in the mental field, people
15
00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,840
become scientists,
technologists, inventors, or may
16
00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:11,720
become highly skilled and fluent
in the details of translating
17
00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:16,680
ideas into real world results
for the leading individuals in
18
00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:21,560
their respective fields.
There are prizes, recognition,
19
00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,920
financial remuneration and
careers that can follow.
20
00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,200
Or they may be able to create
some new technology or
21
00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,680
methodology that catapults them
into the lead in business.
22
00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:40,520
In the field of art and culture,
based on a blending of physical,
23
00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,640
vital and mental capacities.
There are also enormous
24
00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,440
opportunities that come to those
who are skilled and highly
25
00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:50,720
trained in their respective
activities.
26
00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,040
Those who develop strong powers
of the vital nature can become
27
00:01:56,040 --> 00:02:00,440
dominant leaders, managers,
political leaders, and
28
00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:05,240
charismatic role models.
We thus naturally believe that
29
00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:09,919
success in the spiritual field
must follow along a similar line
30
00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:15,920
and that mental, emotional,
vital or physical skills must
31
00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:19,680
play an important role in
achieving spiritual realization.
32
00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,800
This actually is a mistaken idea
that can lead to an
33
00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:28,720
overconfidence by those who
bring their developed skill sets
34
00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:32,840
to the practice of yoga.
They may excel at carrying out
35
00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:37,440
the physical asanas or become
leaders in a particular path or
36
00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:42,600
methodology, but that does not
imply that they are actually
37
00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,120
advancing quickly on the
spiritual plane.
38
00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:50,240
They may actually be impeding
their progress by their focus on
39
00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,920
the external skill sets that are
so rewarding in the outer life,
40
00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,080
rather than on the inner
movement and totally different
41
00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:02,360
types of skills needed to shift
the awareness away from the
42
00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:08,760
trappings of outer worldly
success, recognition and wealth.
43
00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:14,480
Alternatively, those who do not
bring those specific worldly
44
00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:18,720
skills to the process may feel
discouraged if they interact
45
00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,240
with those who have mental
attainment, artistic
46
00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:27,040
capabilities, vital leadership
roles, or physical capacities.
47
00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:32,760
There is, however, no need for
such discouragement, as it may
48
00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:37,680
be that what they bring to the
process is even more important
49
00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:44,080
in the spiritual realm than all
the capacities Sri Orobindo
50
00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:49,240
notes quote.
A simple, straight and sincere
51
00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,800
call and aspiration from the
heart is the one important thing
52
00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:58,280
and more essential and effective
than capacities.
53
00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:04,040
Also to get the consciousness to
turn inwards, not remain outward
54
00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:10,320
going, is of great importance to
arrive at the inner call, the
55
00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,840
inner experience, the inner
presence.
56
00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,640
End Quote.
Reference Shriya Rabindu and the
57
00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,960
Mother Looking from within,
Chapter 5.
58
00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,280
Attitudes on the Path, page 113.