Dec. 11, 2024
How to Know God
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter XIII Power of Identification, pg. 110
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/12/08/how-to-know-god/
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
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:05,840
The Titiri Upanishad speaks of a
unified field of the conscious
2
00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:12,120
universe, the spirit who is here
in a man and the spirit who is
3
00:00:12,120 --> 00:00:16,680
there in the sun.
It is one spirit and there is no
4
00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,560
other.
Titiri Upanishad Brahmanandavali
5
00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:25,360
Chapter 8, translated by Sri
Aurobindo In the Upanishads,
6
00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:30,560
many people believe that God is
separate and distinct, someone
7
00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:35,920
living up in the clouds, so to
speak, who directs, creates and
8
00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:40,000
manages our existence.
They look upon God as some kind
9
00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,920
of king who imposes and disposes
according to his whim.
10
00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,840
These people look upon
themselves as separate beings
11
00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:51,840
who rely on God, who
nevertheless have free will and
12
00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,480
can therefore act against the
will of God, and who will be
13
00:00:55,480 --> 00:01:00,160
penalized by God if they do so.
They never consider that they
14
00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:04,040
are actually unified in
consciousness with God, and the
15
00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:07,240
realization of that unity of
consciousness does not come to
16
00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:10,680
them.
There are also many who have a
17
00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,800
different view and experience
and who recognize that God,
18
00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:19,880
omnipresent, omnipotent, all
knowing, having infinite
19
00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,480
extension and infinite
consciousness, must necessarily
20
00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:30,320
encompass all space, all created
universes and all beings in
21
00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:34,680
those universes, as otherwise
there would be limits placed
22
00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,240
upon God and He would
necessarily have to be
23
00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:43,000
considered finite, not infinite.
In the first case, it is clearly
24
00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,920
not possible for the individual
to unite with the consciousness
25
00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:49,680
of God.
The individual is always
26
00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:54,600
inferior and subordinate.
In the second case, however, it
27
00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,960
becomes possible for a
realization of oneness with God
28
00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:02,840
to take place, and it is this
aspiration that fuels the
29
00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:08,080
seeking and the tapasya, the
disciplines of yogic practice.
30
00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:14,280
Eventually, it is through a
tuning of focusing and an
31
00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:18,960
unwavering holding of that tuned
aspiration that one can become
32
00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:23,320
conscious of and be identified
with the Divine, as each
33
00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:30,000
individual is indeed an aspect
of that one spirit in the life
34
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,520
Divine.
Sri Robindo describes the
35
00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,560
various methods of knowledge.
Knowledge that separates the
36
00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:40,440
knower from the known is
derivative knowledge and subject
37
00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:46,360
to error and misinterpretation.
Knowledge by identity, where the
38
00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:51,280
knower, the known and the
process of knowing are one, is
39
00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,640
true knowledge.
The Titiri Upanishad once again
40
00:02:55,640 --> 00:02:58,680
in chapter 6 of the
Brahmanandhavali quote.
41
00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,680
The spirit desired of old I
would be manifest for the birth
42
00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,120
of peoples.
Therefore He concentrated all
43
00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:11,520
himself in thought, and by the
force of his brooding He created
44
00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:15,320
all this universe.
Yeah, all whatsoever existeth.
45
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,320
Now when he had brought it
forth, he entered into that he
46
00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,320
had created.
He entering in became the is
47
00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:28,800
here and the may be there.
He became that which is defined
48
00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:34,360
and that which hath no feature.
He became this howest thing and
49
00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:38,520
that houseless.
He became knowledge and he
50
00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:43,360
became ignorance.
He became truth and he became
51
00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,920
falsehood.
Yeah, He became all truth, even
52
00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:51,680
whatsoever here existeth.
Therefore they say of him that
53
00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,920
He is truth.
End Quote.
54
00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,920
A disciple asks, can the divine
be attained in this way?
55
00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,760
The Mother observes, quote.
Do you understand?
56
00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:08,600
The only way of knowing the
Divine is by identifying oneself
57
00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,280
with Him.
There is no other.
58
00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,520
There's only one, one single
way.
59
00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:19,519
Hence, once you are master of
this method of identification,
60
00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:24,880
you can identify yourself.
So you choose your object for
61
00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,880
identification.
You want to identify yourself
62
00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:32,280
with the divine, but so long as
you do not know how to identify
63
00:04:32,280 --> 00:04:37,880
yourself, 101 things will always
come across your path, pulling
64
00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:42,920
you here, pulling you there,
scattering you, and you will not
65
00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,120
be able to identify yourself
with him.
66
00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:50,040
But if you have learned how to
identify yourself, then you have
67
00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:54,240
only to Orient the
identification, place it where
68
00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:58,360
you want it, and then hold on
there until you get a result.
69
00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,280
It will come very fast.
If you are master of your power
70
00:05:02,280 --> 00:05:05,920
of identification.
Yes, it will come very quickly.
71
00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:11,280
Ramakrishna used to say that the
time could vary between 3 days,
72
00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:18,600
three hours and 3 minutes.
These days are for very slow
73
00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:23,320
people, three hours for those
who were a little swifter, 3
74
00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,080
minutes for those who are used
to it.
75
00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,440
End Quote.
Reference Sri Ro Bindu and the
76
00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:36,400
Mother Powers within Chapter 13,
Power of Identification, page
77
00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:37,360
110.
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:05,840
The Titiri Upanishad speaks of a
unified field of the conscious
2
00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:12,120
universe, the spirit who is here
in a man and the spirit who is
3
00:00:12,120 --> 00:00:16,680
there in the sun.
It is one spirit and there is no
4
00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,560
other.
Titiri Upanishad Brahmanandavali
5
00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:25,360
Chapter 8, translated by Sri
Aurobindo In the Upanishads,
6
00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:30,560
many people believe that God is
separate and distinct, someone
7
00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:35,920
living up in the clouds, so to
speak, who directs, creates and
8
00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:40,000
manages our existence.
They look upon God as some kind
9
00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,920
of king who imposes and disposes
according to his whim.
10
00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,840
These people look upon
themselves as separate beings
11
00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:51,840
who rely on God, who
nevertheless have free will and
12
00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,480
can therefore act against the
will of God, and who will be
13
00:00:55,480 --> 00:01:00,160
penalized by God if they do so.
They never consider that they
14
00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:04,040
are actually unified in
consciousness with God, and the
15
00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:07,240
realization of that unity of
consciousness does not come to
16
00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:10,680
them.
There are also many who have a
17
00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,800
different view and experience
and who recognize that God,
18
00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:19,880
omnipresent, omnipotent, all
knowing, having infinite
19
00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,480
extension and infinite
consciousness, must necessarily
20
00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:30,320
encompass all space, all created
universes and all beings in
21
00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:34,680
those universes, as otherwise
there would be limits placed
22
00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,240
upon God and He would
necessarily have to be
23
00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:43,000
considered finite, not infinite.
In the first case, it is clearly
24
00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,920
not possible for the individual
to unite with the consciousness
25
00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:49,680
of God.
The individual is always
26
00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:54,600
inferior and subordinate.
In the second case, however, it
27
00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,960
becomes possible for a
realization of oneness with God
28
00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:02,840
to take place, and it is this
aspiration that fuels the
29
00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:08,080
seeking and the tapasya, the
disciplines of yogic practice.
30
00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:14,280
Eventually, it is through a
tuning of focusing and an
31
00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:18,960
unwavering holding of that tuned
aspiration that one can become
32
00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:23,320
conscious of and be identified
with the Divine, as each
33
00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:30,000
individual is indeed an aspect
of that one spirit in the life
34
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,520
Divine.
Sri Robindo describes the
35
00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,560
various methods of knowledge.
Knowledge that separates the
36
00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:40,440
knower from the known is
derivative knowledge and subject
37
00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:46,360
to error and misinterpretation.
Knowledge by identity, where the
38
00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:51,280
knower, the known and the
process of knowing are one, is
39
00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,640
true knowledge.
The Titiri Upanishad once again
40
00:02:55,640 --> 00:02:58,680
in chapter 6 of the
Brahmanandhavali quote.
41
00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,680
The spirit desired of old I
would be manifest for the birth
42
00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,120
of peoples.
Therefore He concentrated all
43
00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:11,520
himself in thought, and by the
force of his brooding He created
44
00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:15,320
all this universe.
Yeah, all whatsoever existeth.
45
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,320
Now when he had brought it
forth, he entered into that he
46
00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,320
had created.
He entering in became the is
47
00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:28,800
here and the may be there.
He became that which is defined
48
00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:34,360
and that which hath no feature.
He became this howest thing and
49
00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:38,520
that houseless.
He became knowledge and he
50
00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:43,360
became ignorance.
He became truth and he became
51
00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,920
falsehood.
Yeah, He became all truth, even
52
00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:51,680
whatsoever here existeth.
Therefore they say of him that
53
00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,920
He is truth.
End Quote.
54
00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,920
A disciple asks, can the divine
be attained in this way?
55
00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,760
The Mother observes, quote.
Do you understand?
56
00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:08,600
The only way of knowing the
Divine is by identifying oneself
57
00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,280
with Him.
There is no other.
58
00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,520
There's only one, one single
way.
59
00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:19,519
Hence, once you are master of
this method of identification,
60
00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:24,880
you can identify yourself.
So you choose your object for
61
00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,880
identification.
You want to identify yourself
62
00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:32,280
with the divine, but so long as
you do not know how to identify
63
00:04:32,280 --> 00:04:37,880
yourself, 101 things will always
come across your path, pulling
64
00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:42,920
you here, pulling you there,
scattering you, and you will not
65
00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,120
be able to identify yourself
with him.
66
00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:50,040
But if you have learned how to
identify yourself, then you have
67
00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:54,240
only to Orient the
identification, place it where
68
00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:58,360
you want it, and then hold on
there until you get a result.
69
00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,280
It will come very fast.
If you are master of your power
70
00:05:02,280 --> 00:05:05,920
of identification.
Yes, it will come very quickly.
71
00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:11,280
Ramakrishna used to say that the
time could vary between 3 days,
72
00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:18,600
three hours and 3 minutes.
These days are for very slow
73
00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:23,320
people, three hours for those
who were a little swifter, 3
74
00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,080
minutes for those who are used
to it.
75
00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,440
End Quote.
Reference Sri Ro Bindu and the
76
00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:36,400
Mother Powers within Chapter 13,
Power of Identification, page
77
00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:37,360
110.