Sept. 10, 2025
Liberation and Self-Perfection: Adherence to the Divine Intention in the Universal Manifestation
reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 168This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/09/08/liberation-and-self-perfection-adherence-to-the-divine-intention-in-the-universal-manifestation/
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
00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:04,520
Much of the historical context
of spirituality has been
2
00:00:04,520 --> 00:00:08,880
centered around the idea of
individual realization and
3
00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:12,440
liberation.
The disciplines, practices and
4
00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,360
methods have been geared towards
the individual achieving some
5
00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:20,720
form of release from what is
recognized to be the illusion of
6
00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:25,600
the external world around us and
the chasing after transitory
7
00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,800
rewards to be acquired in that
external world in the form of
8
00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:35,200
wealth, prestige, fame, power,
physical, vital or mental
9
00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:39,080
satisfactions or gratifications,
et cetera.
10
00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:43,640
The focus on individual
salvation has, however, seen
11
00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:46,040
modifications in some
traditions.
12
00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,920
The Bodhisattva vow in the
Buddhist tradition is an
13
00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,080
example.
The Bodhisattva reaches to the
14
00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:57,560
very border of liberation into
Nirvana, but vows not to
15
00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:02,520
crossover until every sentient
being has also been liberated.
16
00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:07,200
While the focus remains on
liberation as a goal, the
17
00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:12,000
Bodhisattva forsakes individual
achievement of the goal in favor
18
00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,560
of a collective result
encompassing all beings.
19
00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,120
The idea of the Kingdom of God
being realized on earth
20
00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,960
represents another attempt to
bridge the gap between the
21
00:01:23,960 --> 00:01:28,280
individual and the external
reality and the collective
22
00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:34,080
realization in the life divine.
Sri Aurobindo moves beyond the
23
00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,840
traditional focus on a purely
individual salvation.
24
00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:43,000
He acknowledges the reality of
both the process of liberation
25
00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,400
and the process of perfection as
part of the external
26
00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:51,480
manifestation which are normally
considered to be at odds with
27
00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,000
one another.
As he maps out the omnipresent
28
00:01:55,000 --> 00:02:01,120
reality that incorporates both
aspects in the synthesis of
29
00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:05,880
yoga, Sri Aurobindo introduces
the Yoga of Self Perfection to
30
00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,280
model a yogic sadhana that
incorporates this integral
31
00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,000
perspective.
Sri Aurobindo's recognition of a
32
00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,760
universal Divine intention and
consciousness, which is
33
00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,840
manifesting the evolution of
consciousness as the defining
34
00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:25,000
motive of the Divine's force in
the world, moves beyond the
35
00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:29,240
focus on the individual and
places the individual in a
36
00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:33,240
situation of consciously
accepting and collaborating with
37
00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:38,680
this larger movement for which
individual liberation is a part
38
00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,040
but not the entire meaning of
existence.
39
00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:48,000
The Mother notes quote, a
supreme disinterestedness and a
40
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,920
supreme liberation is to follow
the discipline of self
41
00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:57,000
perfection, the March of
progress, not with a precise end
42
00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:02,440
in view, the liberation of
Nirvana, but because this March
43
00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:07,320
of progress is the profound law
and the purpose of earthly life,
44
00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:11,680
the truth of universal
existence, and because you put
45
00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,600
yourself in harmony with it
spontaneously.
46
00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:19,640
Whatever the result may be,
there is a deep trust in the
47
00:03:19,640 --> 00:03:25,520
Divine grace, a total surrender
to the Divine will, an integral
48
00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:29,920
adhesion to the Divine plan
which makes one do the thing to
49
00:03:29,920 --> 00:03:32,520
be done without concern for the
result.
50
00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,920
That is the perfect liberation.
End Quote.
51
00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,960
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother Looking from Within,
52
00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,920
Chapter 5, Attitudes on the
Path, page 168.
00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:04,520
Much of the historical context
of spirituality has been
2
00:00:04,520 --> 00:00:08,880
centered around the idea of
individual realization and
3
00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:12,440
liberation.
The disciplines, practices and
4
00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,360
methods have been geared towards
the individual achieving some
5
00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:20,720
form of release from what is
recognized to be the illusion of
6
00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:25,600
the external world around us and
the chasing after transitory
7
00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,800
rewards to be acquired in that
external world in the form of
8
00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:35,200
wealth, prestige, fame, power,
physical, vital or mental
9
00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:39,080
satisfactions or gratifications,
et cetera.
10
00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:43,640
The focus on individual
salvation has, however, seen
11
00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:46,040
modifications in some
traditions.
12
00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,920
The Bodhisattva vow in the
Buddhist tradition is an
13
00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,080
example.
The Bodhisattva reaches to the
14
00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:57,560
very border of liberation into
Nirvana, but vows not to
15
00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:02,520
crossover until every sentient
being has also been liberated.
16
00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:07,200
While the focus remains on
liberation as a goal, the
17
00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:12,000
Bodhisattva forsakes individual
achievement of the goal in favor
18
00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,560
of a collective result
encompassing all beings.
19
00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,120
The idea of the Kingdom of God
being realized on earth
20
00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,960
represents another attempt to
bridge the gap between the
21
00:01:23,960 --> 00:01:28,280
individual and the external
reality and the collective
22
00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:34,080
realization in the life divine.
Sri Aurobindo moves beyond the
23
00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,840
traditional focus on a purely
individual salvation.
24
00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:43,000
He acknowledges the reality of
both the process of liberation
25
00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,400
and the process of perfection as
part of the external
26
00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:51,480
manifestation which are normally
considered to be at odds with
27
00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,000
one another.
As he maps out the omnipresent
28
00:01:55,000 --> 00:02:01,120
reality that incorporates both
aspects in the synthesis of
29
00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:05,880
yoga, Sri Aurobindo introduces
the Yoga of Self Perfection to
30
00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,280
model a yogic sadhana that
incorporates this integral
31
00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,000
perspective.
Sri Aurobindo's recognition of a
32
00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,760
universal Divine intention and
consciousness, which is
33
00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,840
manifesting the evolution of
consciousness as the defining
34
00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:25,000
motive of the Divine's force in
the world, moves beyond the
35
00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:29,240
focus on the individual and
places the individual in a
36
00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:33,240
situation of consciously
accepting and collaborating with
37
00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:38,680
this larger movement for which
individual liberation is a part
38
00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,040
but not the entire meaning of
existence.
39
00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:48,000
The Mother notes quote, a
supreme disinterestedness and a
40
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,920
supreme liberation is to follow
the discipline of self
41
00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:57,000
perfection, the March of
progress, not with a precise end
42
00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:02,440
in view, the liberation of
Nirvana, but because this March
43
00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:07,320
of progress is the profound law
and the purpose of earthly life,
44
00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:11,680
the truth of universal
existence, and because you put
45
00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,600
yourself in harmony with it
spontaneously.
46
00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:19,640
Whatever the result may be,
there is a deep trust in the
47
00:03:19,640 --> 00:03:25,520
Divine grace, a total surrender
to the Divine will, an integral
48
00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:29,920
adhesion to the Divine plan
which makes one do the thing to
49
00:03:29,920 --> 00:03:32,520
be done without concern for the
result.
50
00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,920
That is the perfect liberation.
End Quote.
51
00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,960
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother Looking from Within,
52
00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,920
Chapter 5, Attitudes on the
Path, page 168.
