Dec. 7, 2024
How to Gain a True Understanding of Another Person's Viewpoint
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter XIII Power of Identification, pp. 106-107 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/12/04/how-to-gain-a-true-understanding-of-another-persons-viewpoint/ Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are all available 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 Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:05,000
When we are met with ideas or
understanding propounded by
2
00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,880
others that we do not agree
with, we tend to create a mental
3
00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:13,160
barrier as a defence and then
develop our mental arguments to
4
00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:17,200
contradict or overturn the
proposed ideas.
5
00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,480
There is very little, if any,
true understanding that comes
6
00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,880
out of such interactions.
People wind up talking past one
7
00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,600
another as if they are engaged
in two separate and different
8
00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,200
conversations.
There is also no basis for
9
00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,400
achieving a greater harmony from
such interactions.
10
00:00:37,480 --> 00:00:41,680
When we do attempt to understand
another individual, we generally
11
00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:45,200
try to create a mental space
consisting of receptivity.
12
00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,800
We listen and try not to argue
and try to work our way to the
13
00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,120
basis and core of what the other
individual is trying to
14
00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:55,960
communicate from their
viewpoint.
15
00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,920
Even then, our mental viewpoint
will tend to detract from any
16
00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:05,560
complete understanding.
If we look on this similarly to
17
00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:09,840
the complex game of chess, there
are individuals who play one
18
00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,720
side and do not see what the
other side is trying to
19
00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:17,120
accomplish from their side.
Some individuals practice their
20
00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:21,880
ability to slip into the
viewpoint by switching sides and
21
00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,520
playing the other side of the
game, or in some instances they
22
00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,840
play both sides, switching and
then concentrating on the
23
00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,760
position from whichever side
they happen to be on.
24
00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:39,080
At a certain point, however, we
begin to realize that we will
25
00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:43,560
not be able to understand fully
another's viewpoint unless we
26
00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:47,720
can enter into the consciousness
and experience the vibrational
27
00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,680
pattern that is moving their
thought process.
28
00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,800
This involves an entirely
different type of relation than
29
00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:58,520
that of the mental viewpoint
trying to push its way into the
30
00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,320
mental framework of another
individual.
31
00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,240
It involves a level of
receptivity that appreciates the
32
00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:10,639
oneness of the individuals and
is able to open up to the
33
00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:15,840
vibratory pattern, thereby
gaining a full appreciation and
34
00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:20,480
thereby full understanding of
the standpoint of the other
35
00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:24,160
individual.
The mother describes the
36
00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:27,680
difference between a mental
attempt and what we may call a
37
00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,000
spiritual action based in
oneness.
38
00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:35,160
The process takes place in a
place of mental silence without
39
00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:40,560
the normal marshalling of ideas,
logic, debate points, etcetera
40
00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,840
that characterizes so much of
our interactions in the world.
41
00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:49,880
The real determining factor is
the practice needed to truly
42
00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:54,600
shift away from the mental
framework to the spiritual, the
43
00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,440
Mother writes quote.
It is the same for everything in
44
00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,400
all that you do together with
others.
45
00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:06,200
If you do not agree, take it as
a divine grace, a marvelous
46
00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,920
opportunity given you to make a
progress.
47
00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,280
And it is simple.
Instead of being on this side,
48
00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:17,240
you are on the other.
Instead of looking at yourself,
49
00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,720
you enter the other person and
look.
50
00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,640
You must have just a little bit
of imagination, a little more
51
00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:27,520
control over your thoughts, over
your movements.
52
00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:32,560
But that is not very difficult.
When you have tried it out a
53
00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,280
little, after a while you find
it very easy.
54
00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,120
You must not just look and then
make a mental effort telling
55
00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,560
yourself why is it like this and
like that.
56
00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:47,920
Why does he do that?
Why does he say that You will
57
00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,880
never arrive at anything you
won't understand.
58
00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,120
You will imagine all kinds of
explanations which will be
59
00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:59,280
worthless and teach you nothing
at all except to tell yourself
60
00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:04,560
that person is stupid or else
wicked things that lead nowhere.
61
00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:09,600
On the other hand, if you only
make that little movement and
62
00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:13,720
instead of looking at him as an
object quite alien to you, you
63
00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:17,880
try to enter within.
You enter within into that
64
00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:23,000
little head that's before you,
and then suddenly you find
65
00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,720
yourself on the other side.
You look at yourself and
66
00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,120
understand quite well what he is
saying.
67
00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:35,320
Everything is clear, the why,
the how, the reason, the feeling
68
00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:39,880
which is behind the whole thing.
It is an experiment you have the
69
00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,880
opportunity of making 100 times
a day.
70
00:04:44,280 --> 00:04:49,280
At first you won't succeed very
well, but if you persist you
71
00:04:49,280 --> 00:04:51,760
will end up by succeeding
admirably.
72
00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,920
This adds a lot of interest to
life, and besides, it is a work
73
00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,760
which really makes you progress,
for it makes you come out of
74
00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,840
that little armour of yours in
which you are nicely shut up, in
75
00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:06,720
which you knock against
everything.
76
00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:10,560
You have seen moths knocking
against the light, haven't you?
77
00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:13,880
Everyone's consciousness is like
that.
78
00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:19,040
It goes along, knocking here,
knocking there, for these are
79
00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,920
things foreign to it.
But instead of knocking about,
80
00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:27,160
one enters within.
Then it begins to become a part
81
00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:33,400
of oneself. 1 widens oneself,
breathes freely, has enough
82
00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,800
space to move in.
One doesn't knock against
83
00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:43,720
anything. 1 enters, penetrates,
understands and one lives in
84
00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:49,400
many places at the same time.
It is very interesting one does
85
00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:55,080
it automatically.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindo
86
00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:59,520
and the Mother Powers within
Chapter 13 Power of
87
00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:03,720
Identification pages one O 6 to
one O 7.
00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:05,000
When we are met with ideas or
understanding propounded by
2
00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,880
others that we do not agree
with, we tend to create a mental
3
00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:13,160
barrier as a defence and then
develop our mental arguments to
4
00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:17,200
contradict or overturn the
proposed ideas.
5
00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,480
There is very little, if any,
true understanding that comes
6
00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,880
out of such interactions.
People wind up talking past one
7
00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,600
another as if they are engaged
in two separate and different
8
00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,200
conversations.
There is also no basis for
9
00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,400
achieving a greater harmony from
such interactions.
10
00:00:37,480 --> 00:00:41,680
When we do attempt to understand
another individual, we generally
11
00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:45,200
try to create a mental space
consisting of receptivity.
12
00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,800
We listen and try not to argue
and try to work our way to the
13
00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,120
basis and core of what the other
individual is trying to
14
00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:55,960
communicate from their
viewpoint.
15
00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,920
Even then, our mental viewpoint
will tend to detract from any
16
00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:05,560
complete understanding.
If we look on this similarly to
17
00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:09,840
the complex game of chess, there
are individuals who play one
18
00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,720
side and do not see what the
other side is trying to
19
00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:17,120
accomplish from their side.
Some individuals practice their
20
00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:21,880
ability to slip into the
viewpoint by switching sides and
21
00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,520
playing the other side of the
game, or in some instances they
22
00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,840
play both sides, switching and
then concentrating on the
23
00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,760
position from whichever side
they happen to be on.
24
00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:39,080
At a certain point, however, we
begin to realize that we will
25
00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:43,560
not be able to understand fully
another's viewpoint unless we
26
00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:47,720
can enter into the consciousness
and experience the vibrational
27
00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,680
pattern that is moving their
thought process.
28
00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,800
This involves an entirely
different type of relation than
29
00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:58,520
that of the mental viewpoint
trying to push its way into the
30
00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,320
mental framework of another
individual.
31
00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,240
It involves a level of
receptivity that appreciates the
32
00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:10,639
oneness of the individuals and
is able to open up to the
33
00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:15,840
vibratory pattern, thereby
gaining a full appreciation and
34
00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:20,480
thereby full understanding of
the standpoint of the other
35
00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:24,160
individual.
The mother describes the
36
00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:27,680
difference between a mental
attempt and what we may call a
37
00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,000
spiritual action based in
oneness.
38
00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:35,160
The process takes place in a
place of mental silence without
39
00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:40,560
the normal marshalling of ideas,
logic, debate points, etcetera
40
00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,840
that characterizes so much of
our interactions in the world.
41
00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:49,880
The real determining factor is
the practice needed to truly
42
00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:54,600
shift away from the mental
framework to the spiritual, the
43
00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,440
Mother writes quote.
It is the same for everything in
44
00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,400
all that you do together with
others.
45
00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:06,200
If you do not agree, take it as
a divine grace, a marvelous
46
00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,920
opportunity given you to make a
progress.
47
00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,280
And it is simple.
Instead of being on this side,
48
00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:17,240
you are on the other.
Instead of looking at yourself,
49
00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,720
you enter the other person and
look.
50
00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,640
You must have just a little bit
of imagination, a little more
51
00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:27,520
control over your thoughts, over
your movements.
52
00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:32,560
But that is not very difficult.
When you have tried it out a
53
00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,280
little, after a while you find
it very easy.
54
00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,120
You must not just look and then
make a mental effort telling
55
00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,560
yourself why is it like this and
like that.
56
00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:47,920
Why does he do that?
Why does he say that You will
57
00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,880
never arrive at anything you
won't understand.
58
00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,120
You will imagine all kinds of
explanations which will be
59
00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:59,280
worthless and teach you nothing
at all except to tell yourself
60
00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:04,560
that person is stupid or else
wicked things that lead nowhere.
61
00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:09,600
On the other hand, if you only
make that little movement and
62
00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:13,720
instead of looking at him as an
object quite alien to you, you
63
00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:17,880
try to enter within.
You enter within into that
64
00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:23,000
little head that's before you,
and then suddenly you find
65
00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,720
yourself on the other side.
You look at yourself and
66
00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,120
understand quite well what he is
saying.
67
00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:35,320
Everything is clear, the why,
the how, the reason, the feeling
68
00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:39,880
which is behind the whole thing.
It is an experiment you have the
69
00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,880
opportunity of making 100 times
a day.
70
00:04:44,280 --> 00:04:49,280
At first you won't succeed very
well, but if you persist you
71
00:04:49,280 --> 00:04:51,760
will end up by succeeding
admirably.
72
00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,920
This adds a lot of interest to
life, and besides, it is a work
73
00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,760
which really makes you progress,
for it makes you come out of
74
00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,840
that little armour of yours in
which you are nicely shut up, in
75
00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:06,720
which you knock against
everything.
76
00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:10,560
You have seen moths knocking
against the light, haven't you?
77
00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:13,880
Everyone's consciousness is like
that.
78
00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:19,040
It goes along, knocking here,
knocking there, for these are
79
00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,920
things foreign to it.
But instead of knocking about,
80
00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:27,160
one enters within.
Then it begins to become a part
81
00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:33,400
of oneself. 1 widens oneself,
breathes freely, has enough
82
00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,800
space to move in.
One doesn't knock against
83
00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:43,720
anything. 1 enters, penetrates,
understands and one lives in
84
00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:49,400
many places at the same time.
It is very interesting one does
85
00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:55,080
it automatically.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindo
86
00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:59,520
and the Mother Powers within
Chapter 13 Power of
87
00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:03,720
Identification pages one O 6 to
one O 7.