Oct. 8, 2024
Mastering the Power of Concentration
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter IV Concentration, pg. 44 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/10/06/mastering-the-power-of-concentration/
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
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,080
There are any number of ways to
develop concentration.
2
00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:09,120
Concentration is also developed
progressively such that the
3
00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:13,960
power to concentrate increases
with practice and continued use.
4
00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:19,440
In their writings, both Fioro,
Gundo and the mother describe a
5
00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,520
number of ways to develop the
power of concentration.
6
00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:27,440
They leave it to each individual
to determine what method or
7
00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,440
methods work best in any
individual case.
8
00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,680
There is no one-size-fits-all
form of developing
9
00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:39,640
concentration.
It is also generally true that
10
00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:42,800
the same individual may find
that different methods need to
11
00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:46,080
be applied under different times
or circumstances.
12
00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:51,320
What is quite clear is that
concentration comes with the
13
00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:56,000
development of a quiet mind.
When an individual first
14
00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,240
attempts to achieve a quiet
mind, they tend to try to exert
15
00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:04,599
force to still the thoughts.
They generally find, however, in
16
00:01:04,599 --> 00:01:08,400
short order, that the method of
suppression does not work.
17
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:13,560
One can look at the methods as
having both a negative aspect
18
00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,200
and a positive aspect when it
comes to learning the art of
19
00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,680
concentration.
The negative aspect is to
20
00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,640
withdraw the mind from
distracting thoughts and
21
00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:27,200
occupations.
This can happen quite naturally
22
00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,960
if one can for instance go out
into nature, for instance a
23
00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:36,360
forest, and let the quiet of the
forest permeate 1's being.
24
00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:41,000
Some people bring quiet to the
mind by spending time by the
25
00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:46,080
ocean or outdoors at night with
the vast starry sky above.
26
00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:51,600
Reduction of use of electronic
devices can also aid the mind.
27
00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,040
On the positive side, there is
the focus on a subject of
28
00:01:56,040 --> 00:02:01,400
intense interest, whether it be
mathematics, art, science,
29
00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,680
reading or some other form of
study.
30
00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,560
Some people use the method
called Tratec, which involves
31
00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:13,680
focusing the attention on a
candle flame or other intense
32
00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:18,240
light to the exclusion of all
else until the awareness shifts
33
00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:22,720
into another domain.
A widely utilized technique
34
00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,400
involves various forms of
pranayama, the management of the
35
00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,840
breath.
Some people move their awareness
36
00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:34,400
into certain areas of the being,
such as between the eyebrows,
37
00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:39,480
above the head or behind the
heart, and open to the forces
38
00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:42,160
and energies that are active in
those ranges.
39
00:02:43,640 --> 00:02:46,920
Some people find that they need
to take the quieting of the mind
40
00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:51,600
in stages, particularly when the
thoughts are very active and
41
00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:56,680
overwhelming the awareness.
For such individuals, the use of
42
00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:58,800
a mantra is frequently
recommended.
43
00:02:59,640 --> 00:03:03,720
Focusing on the mantra and its
inner meaning, or at least its
44
00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:08,240
sound body, they are able to
occupy the mind and drive away
45
00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:12,520
the chaotic traffic of thoughts
that otherwise prevent
46
00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:16,320
concentration.
Some individuals develop the
47
00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:21,200
power of surrender and rely on
the divine grace, which gives
48
00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:26,600
them peace and a quiet mind as
the basis for their ability to
49
00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:31,560
concentrate.
Swami Vivekananda and his Raja
50
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:36,080
Yoga does a masterful job of
describing the normal state of
51
00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,680
the mind, the status of
achieving stillness of what he
52
00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,800
calls the mind stuff, and the
methods of attaining
53
00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,960
concentration.
For those who are suited to
54
00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:51,560
follow such a path, he has set
forth a comprehensive
55
00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:55,560
methodology.
The Tibetan Buddhist tradition
56
00:03:55,560 --> 00:04:00,040
uses, among other techniques, a
method of visualization combined
57
00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:05,480
with prayer, mantra, and various
postures to focus the mental
58
00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:09,040
attention.
Many individuals incorporate
59
00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:13,360
some form of visualization into
their practice, for instance,
60
00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,959
moving their awareness to a
place that naturally holds quiet
61
00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:22,840
and concentrated energy with
which they are familiar, or
62
00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:25,840
moving their awareness to an
experience they had of an
63
00:04:25,840 --> 00:04:30,760
intensely concentrated state.
There are times when
64
00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:34,880
concentration develops, and
other times when the mind needs
65
00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,960
to let go and relax and
recharge, so to speak.
66
00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,640
Eventually, the seeker can
appreciate the wave and through
67
00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:48,000
of the concentration process.
He does not begrudge the times
68
00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,360
of rest between periods of
concentration, as in the
69
00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,920
development of physical culture
through various forms of
70
00:04:55,920 --> 00:05:00,360
exercise, weight lifting, et
cetera, which sets forth an
71
00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:04,680
optimum regimen for effort and
then the relaxation of the
72
00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:10,080
muscles to achieve the best
result over time, So too, the
73
00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:14,240
development of concentration has
its own cycle of what may be
74
00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:20,640
termed a process of ascent and
integration, the mother writes.
75
00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,800
Quote.
There's a way of reducing the
76
00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:27,640
time necessary for doing things
by increasing the concentration
77
00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:31,320
considerably.
Some people can't do this for
78
00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:32,840
long.
It tires them.
79
00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:35,440
But it's like weightlifting,
isn't it?
80
00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:40,520
One can get accustomed to it.
And then if you can succeed in
81
00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:44,360
mastering this power of
concentration and in making your
82
00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:49,640
mind absolutely still, for this
indeed is the first condition.
83
00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:54,920
And if in this quietude you
concentrate it, concentrate,
84
00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:59,560
concentrate, concentrate on the
point you want to make, on the
85
00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:03,360
work you have to do or the
action you have to perform.
86
00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:07,560
Well, you can.
It comes like a kind of
87
00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:12,760
extremely quiet but all powerful
force of propulsion, and you go
88
00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,280
forward with one movement
without hesitation.
89
00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,040
You can literally do in 1/4 of
an hour what would otherwise
90
00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:23,360
take one hour.
And so this has the great
91
00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:28,560
advantage that it gives you time
and that after this, instead of
92
00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,840
going from one activity to
another, from 1 agitation to
93
00:06:32,840 --> 00:06:37,520
another, you can relax
completely for some minutes and
94
00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:42,640
have a total rest.
This gives you time to rest and
95
00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:47,840
in this repose, naturally, as
you are relaxed, all that could
96
00:06:47,840 --> 00:06:52,360
have been a little too tense is
relaxed and put in order and
97
00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:56,000
this puts you back in a
condition in which you are once
98
00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,560
again able to make another
concentration.
99
00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:04,520
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindo and the
100
00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:10,000
Mother Powers within Chapter 4
Concentration, page 44.
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,080
There are any number of ways to
develop concentration.
2
00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:09,120
Concentration is also developed
progressively such that the
3
00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:13,960
power to concentrate increases
with practice and continued use.
4
00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:19,440
In their writings, both Fioro,
Gundo and the mother describe a
5
00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,520
number of ways to develop the
power of concentration.
6
00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:27,440
They leave it to each individual
to determine what method or
7
00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,440
methods work best in any
individual case.
8
00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,680
There is no one-size-fits-all
form of developing
9
00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:39,640
concentration.
It is also generally true that
10
00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:42,800
the same individual may find
that different methods need to
11
00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:46,080
be applied under different times
or circumstances.
12
00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:51,320
What is quite clear is that
concentration comes with the
13
00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:56,000
development of a quiet mind.
When an individual first
14
00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,240
attempts to achieve a quiet
mind, they tend to try to exert
15
00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:04,599
force to still the thoughts.
They generally find, however, in
16
00:01:04,599 --> 00:01:08,400
short order, that the method of
suppression does not work.
17
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:13,560
One can look at the methods as
having both a negative aspect
18
00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,200
and a positive aspect when it
comes to learning the art of
19
00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,680
concentration.
The negative aspect is to
20
00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,640
withdraw the mind from
distracting thoughts and
21
00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:27,200
occupations.
This can happen quite naturally
22
00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,960
if one can for instance go out
into nature, for instance a
23
00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:36,360
forest, and let the quiet of the
forest permeate 1's being.
24
00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:41,000
Some people bring quiet to the
mind by spending time by the
25
00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:46,080
ocean or outdoors at night with
the vast starry sky above.
26
00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:51,600
Reduction of use of electronic
devices can also aid the mind.
27
00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,040
On the positive side, there is
the focus on a subject of
28
00:01:56,040 --> 00:02:01,400
intense interest, whether it be
mathematics, art, science,
29
00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,680
reading or some other form of
study.
30
00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,560
Some people use the method
called Tratec, which involves
31
00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:13,680
focusing the attention on a
candle flame or other intense
32
00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:18,240
light to the exclusion of all
else until the awareness shifts
33
00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:22,720
into another domain.
A widely utilized technique
34
00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,400
involves various forms of
pranayama, the management of the
35
00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,840
breath.
Some people move their awareness
36
00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:34,400
into certain areas of the being,
such as between the eyebrows,
37
00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:39,480
above the head or behind the
heart, and open to the forces
38
00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:42,160
and energies that are active in
those ranges.
39
00:02:43,640 --> 00:02:46,920
Some people find that they need
to take the quieting of the mind
40
00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:51,600
in stages, particularly when the
thoughts are very active and
41
00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:56,680
overwhelming the awareness.
For such individuals, the use of
42
00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:58,800
a mantra is frequently
recommended.
43
00:02:59,640 --> 00:03:03,720
Focusing on the mantra and its
inner meaning, or at least its
44
00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:08,240
sound body, they are able to
occupy the mind and drive away
45
00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:12,520
the chaotic traffic of thoughts
that otherwise prevent
46
00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:16,320
concentration.
Some individuals develop the
47
00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:21,200
power of surrender and rely on
the divine grace, which gives
48
00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:26,600
them peace and a quiet mind as
the basis for their ability to
49
00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:31,560
concentrate.
Swami Vivekananda and his Raja
50
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:36,080
Yoga does a masterful job of
describing the normal state of
51
00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,680
the mind, the status of
achieving stillness of what he
52
00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,800
calls the mind stuff, and the
methods of attaining
53
00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,960
concentration.
For those who are suited to
54
00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:51,560
follow such a path, he has set
forth a comprehensive
55
00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:55,560
methodology.
The Tibetan Buddhist tradition
56
00:03:55,560 --> 00:04:00,040
uses, among other techniques, a
method of visualization combined
57
00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:05,480
with prayer, mantra, and various
postures to focus the mental
58
00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:09,040
attention.
Many individuals incorporate
59
00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:13,360
some form of visualization into
their practice, for instance,
60
00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,959
moving their awareness to a
place that naturally holds quiet
61
00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:22,840
and concentrated energy with
which they are familiar, or
62
00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:25,840
moving their awareness to an
experience they had of an
63
00:04:25,840 --> 00:04:30,760
intensely concentrated state.
There are times when
64
00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:34,880
concentration develops, and
other times when the mind needs
65
00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,960
to let go and relax and
recharge, so to speak.
66
00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,640
Eventually, the seeker can
appreciate the wave and through
67
00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:48,000
of the concentration process.
He does not begrudge the times
68
00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,360
of rest between periods of
concentration, as in the
69
00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,920
development of physical culture
through various forms of
70
00:04:55,920 --> 00:05:00,360
exercise, weight lifting, et
cetera, which sets forth an
71
00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:04,680
optimum regimen for effort and
then the relaxation of the
72
00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:10,080
muscles to achieve the best
result over time, So too, the
73
00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:14,240
development of concentration has
its own cycle of what may be
74
00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:20,640
termed a process of ascent and
integration, the mother writes.
75
00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,800
Quote.
There's a way of reducing the
76
00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:27,640
time necessary for doing things
by increasing the concentration
77
00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:31,320
considerably.
Some people can't do this for
78
00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:32,840
long.
It tires them.
79
00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:35,440
But it's like weightlifting,
isn't it?
80
00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:40,520
One can get accustomed to it.
And then if you can succeed in
81
00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:44,360
mastering this power of
concentration and in making your
82
00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:49,640
mind absolutely still, for this
indeed is the first condition.
83
00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:54,920
And if in this quietude you
concentrate it, concentrate,
84
00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:59,560
concentrate, concentrate on the
point you want to make, on the
85
00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:03,360
work you have to do or the
action you have to perform.
86
00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:07,560
Well, you can.
It comes like a kind of
87
00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:12,760
extremely quiet but all powerful
force of propulsion, and you go
88
00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,280
forward with one movement
without hesitation.
89
00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,040
You can literally do in 1/4 of
an hour what would otherwise
90
00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:23,360
take one hour.
And so this has the great
91
00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:28,560
advantage that it gives you time
and that after this, instead of
92
00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,840
going from one activity to
another, from 1 agitation to
93
00:06:32,840 --> 00:06:37,520
another, you can relax
completely for some minutes and
94
00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:42,640
have a total rest.
This gives you time to rest and
95
00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:47,840
in this repose, naturally, as
you are relaxed, all that could
96
00:06:47,840 --> 00:06:52,360
have been a little too tense is
relaxed and put in order and
97
00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:56,000
this puts you back in a
condition in which you are once
98
00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,560
again able to make another
concentration.
99
00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:04,520
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindo and the
100
00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:10,000
Mother Powers within Chapter 4
Concentration, page 44.