July 9, 2025
Integral Surrender to the Divine
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pp. 123-124
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/07/07/integral-surrender-to-the-divine/
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
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,280
We tend to live under the
illusion that we are one being
2
00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:08,039
and that what we think or feel
represents who we are.
3
00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:13,320
We accept the idea that we are
dedicated to a spiritual path or
4
00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:17,320
we accept the sense of devotion
that we feel as representing our
5
00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:22,280
surrender to the Divine will.
Yet, we have different aspects
6
00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,720
of our being that may not
actually carry out this
7
00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:29,000
dedication or surrender in their
day-to-day activities.
8
00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:34,880
Rather, they may act from desire
or some egoistic impulsion.
9
00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:38,520
We may fail to notice this
variance from our deeper
10
00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:43,360
aspirations if we do not
appreciate both the complexity
11
00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,720
and the differing motivations
that occur in our physical,
12
00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,080
vital, emotional, and mental
beings.
13
00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,560
Once we recognize this
complexity, we can begin to
14
00:00:55,560 --> 00:01:00,480
attend to it using our core
aspiration as a foundation and
15
00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:05,160
then reviewing the various
thought processes, emotions,
16
00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:10,000
feelings, sensations and
reactions to ensure they are
17
00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,680
adhering to this central
aspiration and consecration.
18
00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:18,080
And to the extent they are not
withholding our sanction of
19
00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:22,160
those activities and providing
new and focused direction to
20
00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:26,600
these parts of the being to
align them with the need to open
21
00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,040
to and act based on the Divine
Will.
22
00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:36,400
Sri Aurobindo observes quote a
complete surrender is not
23
00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,920
possible in so short a time.
For a complete surrender means
24
00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,920
to cut the knot of the ego in
each part of the being and offer
25
00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:50,880
it free and whole to the Divine.
The mind, the vital, the
26
00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:55,280
physical consciousness, and even
each part of these in all its
27
00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:59,240
movements have one after the
other to surrender separately,
28
00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,880
to give up their own way and to
accept the way of the Divine.
29
00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,400
But what 1 can do is to make
from the beginning a central
30
00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:13,240
resolve and self dedication, and
to implement it in whatever way
31
00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:17,360
one finds open at each step,
taking advantage of each
32
00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:21,760
occasion that offers itself to
make the self giving complete.
33
00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,840
A surrender in One Direction
makes others easier, more
34
00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:31,920
inevitable, but it does not of
itself cut or loosen the other.
35
00:02:31,920 --> 00:02:36,360
Knots, and especially those
which are very intimately bound
36
00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:40,040
up with the present personality
and its most cherished
37
00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:45,120
formations may often present
great difficulties even after
38
00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:49,160
the central will has been fixed
and the first seals are put on
39
00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,640
its resolve in practice.
End Quote.
40
00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,720
Reference.
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother,
41
00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:03,160
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, pages 123
42
00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:04,360
to 124.
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,280
We tend to live under the
illusion that we are one being
2
00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:08,039
and that what we think or feel
represents who we are.
3
00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:13,320
We accept the idea that we are
dedicated to a spiritual path or
4
00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:17,320
we accept the sense of devotion
that we feel as representing our
5
00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:22,280
surrender to the Divine will.
Yet, we have different aspects
6
00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,720
of our being that may not
actually carry out this
7
00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:29,000
dedication or surrender in their
day-to-day activities.
8
00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:34,880
Rather, they may act from desire
or some egoistic impulsion.
9
00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:38,520
We may fail to notice this
variance from our deeper
10
00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:43,360
aspirations if we do not
appreciate both the complexity
11
00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,720
and the differing motivations
that occur in our physical,
12
00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,080
vital, emotional, and mental
beings.
13
00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,560
Once we recognize this
complexity, we can begin to
14
00:00:55,560 --> 00:01:00,480
attend to it using our core
aspiration as a foundation and
15
00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:05,160
then reviewing the various
thought processes, emotions,
16
00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:10,000
feelings, sensations and
reactions to ensure they are
17
00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,680
adhering to this central
aspiration and consecration.
18
00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:18,080
And to the extent they are not
withholding our sanction of
19
00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:22,160
those activities and providing
new and focused direction to
20
00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:26,600
these parts of the being to
align them with the need to open
21
00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,040
to and act based on the Divine
Will.
22
00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:36,400
Sri Aurobindo observes quote a
complete surrender is not
23
00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,920
possible in so short a time.
For a complete surrender means
24
00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,920
to cut the knot of the ego in
each part of the being and offer
25
00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:50,880
it free and whole to the Divine.
The mind, the vital, the
26
00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:55,280
physical consciousness, and even
each part of these in all its
27
00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:59,240
movements have one after the
other to surrender separately,
28
00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,880
to give up their own way and to
accept the way of the Divine.
29
00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,400
But what 1 can do is to make
from the beginning a central
30
00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:13,240
resolve and self dedication, and
to implement it in whatever way
31
00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:17,360
one finds open at each step,
taking advantage of each
32
00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:21,760
occasion that offers itself to
make the self giving complete.
33
00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,840
A surrender in One Direction
makes others easier, more
34
00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:31,920
inevitable, but it does not of
itself cut or loosen the other.
35
00:02:31,920 --> 00:02:36,360
Knots, and especially those
which are very intimately bound
36
00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:40,040
up with the present personality
and its most cherished
37
00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:45,120
formations may often present
great difficulties even after
38
00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:49,160
the central will has been fixed
and the first seals are put on
39
00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,640
its resolve in practice.
End Quote.
40
00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,720
Reference.
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother,
41
00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:03,160
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, pages 123
42
00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:04,360
to 124.