Nov. 4, 2024
Overcoming Difficulties With Cheerfulness
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter VII Attitude, pg. 72 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/11/01/overcoming-difficulties-with-cheerfulness/
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 --> 00:00:05,280
We are all familiar with the
artificial type of cheerfulness
2
00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:10,520
of the vital nature which puts
on a happy face and glad hands
3
00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,680
everyone in a show of bubbly
cheer.
4
00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:17,160
We are also familiar with the
artificial type of cheerfulness
5
00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,560
that arises through the use of
intoxicating beverages and
6
00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:25,200
immersion in an atmosphere of
vital excitement.
7
00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:30,040
This type of cheer, however, is
not able to overcome the
8
00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:34,600
difficulties one has to face,
and when one leaves behind that
9
00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:38,480
artificial cheer, one is still
faced with the problems,
10
00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:43,680
obstacles, doubts, fears, and
depressions that were
11
00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,480
temporarily masked behind the
surface smile.
12
00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:52,240
The type of cheerfulness that is
powerful and effective stems
13
00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:56,840
from the psychic being that has
begun to come forward and direct
14
00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,560
the life with a sense of its
meaning and purpose.
15
00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,840
The soul has taken birth to
accomplish something.
16
00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:07,320
It recognizes that there are
numerous setbacks and obstacles
17
00:01:07,320 --> 00:01:12,400
along the way, and it is
prepared to meet them quietly,
18
00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:17,280
patiently, cheerfully, to
eventually achieve the goal.
19
00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,800
Devotees have frequently in the
past put on a sad face and a
20
00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:27,560
grim demeanour, expressing how
difficult the spiritual path was
21
00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,400
and how much sacrifice it
required.
22
00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,480
The dark night of the soul has
been a frequent topic among
23
00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:39,680
devotees in many paths.
They show their seriousness and
24
00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:43,520
they struggle.
There is a story from the
25
00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:47,600
ancient texts that illustrates
something of this power of
26
00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,600
cheerfulness in the spiritual
quest.
27
00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:55,560
The divine sage Narad was
travelling one day and came
28
00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:59,880
across a Yogi who had undertaken
strict austerities, seated under
29
00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:04,360
a tree, meditating without
distraction and without regard
30
00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,440
for any of the amenities or
comforts of the external life.
31
00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:14,160
When he saw Narad, he inquired,
I have been meditating here for
32
00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,680
years without break.
When shall I achieve final
33
00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,760
liberation?
Narod used his divine sight to
34
00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:26,440
look into the yogi's future and
stated In four more lifetimes
35
00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:28,480
you will achieve final
liberation.
36
00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,800
The Yogi was crestfallen at the
verdict of Narod as he was
37
00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:38,960
expecting liberation right away.
Narod continued along his way
38
00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,960
and found a seeker immersed in
singing and dancing out of
39
00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:46,560
devotion to God.
He too inquired of Narod about
40
00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,520
his liberation when he would be
in the presence of the God he
41
00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,760
worshipped.
Narod replied that as many
42
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,360
leaves as there are on this
tree, that is the number of
43
00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,800
lifetimes it will take for your
liberation.
44
00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:06,840
At this the devotee became
ecstatic, exclaiming that in
45
00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:09,120
such a short time he would see
God.
46
00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,760
A celestial voice came from the
heavens declaring You are
47
00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:18,440
liberated now.
The cheerfulness of this devotee
48
00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,240
was a power of his soul which
had obviously taken charge of
49
00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:27,040
his external being and his life.
He faced what the other Yogi
50
00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,840
felt would be an enormous set
back with characteristic
51
00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,360
cheerfulness and joy.
This was the fast path to
52
00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:39,040
complete liberation from the
bonds of the external world and
53
00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:45,680
life, the Mother writes.
Quote Another remarkable sign of
54
00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:50,200
the conversion of your vital,
owing to Agne's influence, is
55
00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,920
that you face your difficulties
and obstacles with a smile.
56
00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,960
You do not sit any more in
sackcloth and ashes lamenting
57
00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:03,160
over your mistakes and feeling
utterly crestfallen because you
58
00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:05,480
are not at the moment quite up
to the mark.
59
00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:11,280
You simply chase away depression
with a smile. 100 Mistakes do
60
00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:15,080
not matter to you.
With a smile you recognize that
61
00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,440
you have erred, and with a smile
you reserve not to repeat the
62
00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:23,280
folly in the future.
All depression and gloom is
63
00:04:23,280 --> 00:04:27,680
created by the hostile forces,
which are never so pleased as
64
00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,040
when throwing on you a
melancholy mood.
65
00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:35,120
Humility is indeed one thing,
and depression quite another,
66
00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:40,320
the former a divine movement,
and the latter a very crude
67
00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:45,760
expression of the dark forces.
Therefore face your troubles
68
00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:48,560
joyously.
Oppose with invariable
69
00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,480
cheerfulness the obstacles that
beset the road to
70
00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:55,200
transformation.
The best means of routing the
71
00:04:55,200 --> 00:05:00,280
enemy is to laugh in his face.
You may grapple and tussle for
72
00:05:00,280 --> 00:05:04,600
days and he may still show an
undiminished vigor, but just
73
00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:07,560
once laugh at him and lo, he
takes to his heels.
74
00:05:08,280 --> 00:05:12,320
A laugh of self-confidence and
of faith in the Divine is the
75
00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:14,440
most shattering strength
possible.
76
00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,920
It disrupts the enemy's front
and spreads havoc in his ranks
77
00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,360
and carries you triumphantly
onwards.
78
00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,800
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
79
00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,440
Mother powers within.
Chapter 7.
80
00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,640
Attitude, page 72.
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:05,280
We are all familiar with the
artificial type of cheerfulness
2
00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:10,520
of the vital nature which puts
on a happy face and glad hands
3
00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,680
everyone in a show of bubbly
cheer.
4
00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:17,160
We are also familiar with the
artificial type of cheerfulness
5
00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,560
that arises through the use of
intoxicating beverages and
6
00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:25,200
immersion in an atmosphere of
vital excitement.
7
00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:30,040
This type of cheer, however, is
not able to overcome the
8
00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:34,600
difficulties one has to face,
and when one leaves behind that
9
00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:38,480
artificial cheer, one is still
faced with the problems,
10
00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:43,680
obstacles, doubts, fears, and
depressions that were
11
00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,480
temporarily masked behind the
surface smile.
12
00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:52,240
The type of cheerfulness that is
powerful and effective stems
13
00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:56,840
from the psychic being that has
begun to come forward and direct
14
00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,560
the life with a sense of its
meaning and purpose.
15
00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,840
The soul has taken birth to
accomplish something.
16
00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:07,320
It recognizes that there are
numerous setbacks and obstacles
17
00:01:07,320 --> 00:01:12,400
along the way, and it is
prepared to meet them quietly,
18
00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:17,280
patiently, cheerfully, to
eventually achieve the goal.
19
00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,800
Devotees have frequently in the
past put on a sad face and a
20
00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:27,560
grim demeanour, expressing how
difficult the spiritual path was
21
00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,400
and how much sacrifice it
required.
22
00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,480
The dark night of the soul has
been a frequent topic among
23
00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:39,680
devotees in many paths.
They show their seriousness and
24
00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:43,520
they struggle.
There is a story from the
25
00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:47,600
ancient texts that illustrates
something of this power of
26
00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,600
cheerfulness in the spiritual
quest.
27
00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:55,560
The divine sage Narad was
travelling one day and came
28
00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:59,880
across a Yogi who had undertaken
strict austerities, seated under
29
00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:04,360
a tree, meditating without
distraction and without regard
30
00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,440
for any of the amenities or
comforts of the external life.
31
00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:14,160
When he saw Narad, he inquired,
I have been meditating here for
32
00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,680
years without break.
When shall I achieve final
33
00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,760
liberation?
Narod used his divine sight to
34
00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:26,440
look into the yogi's future and
stated In four more lifetimes
35
00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:28,480
you will achieve final
liberation.
36
00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,800
The Yogi was crestfallen at the
verdict of Narod as he was
37
00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:38,960
expecting liberation right away.
Narod continued along his way
38
00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,960
and found a seeker immersed in
singing and dancing out of
39
00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:46,560
devotion to God.
He too inquired of Narod about
40
00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,520
his liberation when he would be
in the presence of the God he
41
00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,760
worshipped.
Narod replied that as many
42
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,360
leaves as there are on this
tree, that is the number of
43
00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,800
lifetimes it will take for your
liberation.
44
00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:06,840
At this the devotee became
ecstatic, exclaiming that in
45
00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:09,120
such a short time he would see
God.
46
00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,760
A celestial voice came from the
heavens declaring You are
47
00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:18,440
liberated now.
The cheerfulness of this devotee
48
00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,240
was a power of his soul which
had obviously taken charge of
49
00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:27,040
his external being and his life.
He faced what the other Yogi
50
00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,840
felt would be an enormous set
back with characteristic
51
00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,360
cheerfulness and joy.
This was the fast path to
52
00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:39,040
complete liberation from the
bonds of the external world and
53
00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:45,680
life, the Mother writes.
Quote Another remarkable sign of
54
00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:50,200
the conversion of your vital,
owing to Agne's influence, is
55
00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,920
that you face your difficulties
and obstacles with a smile.
56
00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,960
You do not sit any more in
sackcloth and ashes lamenting
57
00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:03,160
over your mistakes and feeling
utterly crestfallen because you
58
00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:05,480
are not at the moment quite up
to the mark.
59
00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:11,280
You simply chase away depression
with a smile. 100 Mistakes do
60
00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:15,080
not matter to you.
With a smile you recognize that
61
00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,440
you have erred, and with a smile
you reserve not to repeat the
62
00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:23,280
folly in the future.
All depression and gloom is
63
00:04:23,280 --> 00:04:27,680
created by the hostile forces,
which are never so pleased as
64
00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,040
when throwing on you a
melancholy mood.
65
00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:35,120
Humility is indeed one thing,
and depression quite another,
66
00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:40,320
the former a divine movement,
and the latter a very crude
67
00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:45,760
expression of the dark forces.
Therefore face your troubles
68
00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:48,560
joyously.
Oppose with invariable
69
00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,480
cheerfulness the obstacles that
beset the road to
70
00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:55,200
transformation.
The best means of routing the
71
00:04:55,200 --> 00:05:00,280
enemy is to laugh in his face.
You may grapple and tussle for
72
00:05:00,280 --> 00:05:04,600
days and he may still show an
undiminished vigor, but just
73
00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:07,560
once laugh at him and lo, he
takes to his heels.
74
00:05:08,280 --> 00:05:12,320
A laugh of self-confidence and
of faith in the Divine is the
75
00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:14,440
most shattering strength
possible.
76
00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,920
It disrupts the enemy's front
and spreads havoc in his ranks
77
00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,360
and carries you triumphantly
onwards.
78
00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,800
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
79
00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,440
Mother powers within.
Chapter 7.
80
00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,640
Attitude, page 72.