July 29, 2025
Overcoming Doubt and Fear of Failure in the Yogic Sadhana Through the Shift from the Ego-Standpoint to the Divine Standpoint
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 138This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/07/27/overcoming-doubt-and-fear-of-failure-in-the-yogic-sadhana-through-the-shift-from-the-ego-standpoint-to-the-divine-standpoint/
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
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:03,880
We seem to be always second
guessing ourselves.
2
00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,360
Are we doing the sadhna in the
right way?
3
00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:11,840
Is there another method or
technique I should be employing?
4
00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,239
Why am I not seeing the results
I expect and desire?
5
00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:19,880
Am I even cut out for doing
sadhna?
6
00:00:21,080 --> 00:00:25,120
Maybe this was all just a big
mistake and I should get on with
7
00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:30,040
my life, my career, my family
and my enjoyment.
8
00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,800
This second guessing is based in
the ego consciousness and it
9
00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,040
puts this ego personality at the
center of everything.
10
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,960
There is a fundamental belief,
perhaps not actually voiced or
11
00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:48,960
even consciously thought, that
the Son of the Divine revolves
12
00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,440
around the earth of our ego
sense.
13
00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:57,040
If we, however, shift the
standpoint, the questions take
14
00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:01,600
on very little actual meaning.
When we begin to recognize that
15
00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:05,040
the Divine is systematically
manifesting the universal
16
00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:09,560
creation and that those who are
called to the yogic path are
17
00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:14,000
called under the impulsion of
the Divine, it becomes clear
18
00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,360
that all the second guessing is
unnecessary.
19
00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:22,280
Each individual is confronted
with the unique challenges to
20
00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:26,760
which his current development
and make up are suited and which
21
00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:30,800
he is given the opportunity to
work on to bring about the
22
00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:35,320
changes that need to occur for
the next stage of the evolution
23
00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:39,800
of consciousness to manifest and
transform life on the earth.
24
00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:45,680
Once we recognize this basic
truth of our existence, we can
25
00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:50,560
begin to accept that constancy
in our focus and dedication is
26
00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:55,480
the essential factor that we can
contribute and that makes the
27
00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,840
intended result able to manifest
in our lives.
28
00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,840
The Law of Attraction implies
that what we focus on with
29
00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:09,479
consistency and intensity will
be called forth to us over time
30
00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,880
and through whatever obstacles
and difficulties stand in the
31
00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:20,960
way, Sri Orobindo notes quote.
Whether by Tapasia or surrender
32
00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:24,600
does not matter.
The one thing is to be firm in
33
00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:28,960
setting one's face to the goal.
Once 1 is set one's feet on the
34
00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,760
way, how can one draw back from
it to something inferior?
35
00:02:33,640 --> 00:02:37,080
IF1 keeps firm, falls do not
matter.
36
00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,080
One rises up again and goes
forward.
37
00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,440
If one is firm towards the goal,
there can be on the way to the
38
00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:49,560
divine no eventual failure.
And if there is something within
39
00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:54,000
you that drives as surely there
is, falterings or falls or
40
00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,840
failure of faith make no
eventual difference.
41
00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:01,600
One has to go on till the
struggle is over and there is
42
00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,040
the straight and open and
thornless way before us.
43
00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,680
You have only to remain quiet
and firm in your following of
44
00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,160
the path and your will to go to
the end.
45
00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:18,280
If you do that, circumstances
will in the end be obliged to
46
00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:22,920
shape themselves to your will,
because it will be the Divine
47
00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:28,400
will in you.
And quote reference Sri
48
00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,600
Aurobindo and the Mother looking
from Within, Chapter 5,
49
00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:36,240
Attitudes on the Path, page 138.
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:03,880
We seem to be always second
guessing ourselves.
2
00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,360
Are we doing the sadhna in the
right way?
3
00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:11,840
Is there another method or
technique I should be employing?
4
00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,239
Why am I not seeing the results
I expect and desire?
5
00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:19,880
Am I even cut out for doing
sadhna?
6
00:00:21,080 --> 00:00:25,120
Maybe this was all just a big
mistake and I should get on with
7
00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:30,040
my life, my career, my family
and my enjoyment.
8
00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,800
This second guessing is based in
the ego consciousness and it
9
00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,040
puts this ego personality at the
center of everything.
10
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,960
There is a fundamental belief,
perhaps not actually voiced or
11
00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:48,960
even consciously thought, that
the Son of the Divine revolves
12
00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,440
around the earth of our ego
sense.
13
00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:57,040
If we, however, shift the
standpoint, the questions take
14
00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:01,600
on very little actual meaning.
When we begin to recognize that
15
00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:05,040
the Divine is systematically
manifesting the universal
16
00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:09,560
creation and that those who are
called to the yogic path are
17
00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:14,000
called under the impulsion of
the Divine, it becomes clear
18
00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,360
that all the second guessing is
unnecessary.
19
00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:22,280
Each individual is confronted
with the unique challenges to
20
00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:26,760
which his current development
and make up are suited and which
21
00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:30,800
he is given the opportunity to
work on to bring about the
22
00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:35,320
changes that need to occur for
the next stage of the evolution
23
00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:39,800
of consciousness to manifest and
transform life on the earth.
24
00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:45,680
Once we recognize this basic
truth of our existence, we can
25
00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:50,560
begin to accept that constancy
in our focus and dedication is
26
00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:55,480
the essential factor that we can
contribute and that makes the
27
00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,840
intended result able to manifest
in our lives.
28
00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,840
The Law of Attraction implies
that what we focus on with
29
00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:09,479
consistency and intensity will
be called forth to us over time
30
00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,880
and through whatever obstacles
and difficulties stand in the
31
00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:20,960
way, Sri Orobindo notes quote.
Whether by Tapasia or surrender
32
00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:24,600
does not matter.
The one thing is to be firm in
33
00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:28,960
setting one's face to the goal.
Once 1 is set one's feet on the
34
00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,760
way, how can one draw back from
it to something inferior?
35
00:02:33,640 --> 00:02:37,080
IF1 keeps firm, falls do not
matter.
36
00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,080
One rises up again and goes
forward.
37
00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,440
If one is firm towards the goal,
there can be on the way to the
38
00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:49,560
divine no eventual failure.
And if there is something within
39
00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:54,000
you that drives as surely there
is, falterings or falls or
40
00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,840
failure of faith make no
eventual difference.
41
00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:01,600
One has to go on till the
struggle is over and there is
42
00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,040
the straight and open and
thornless way before us.
43
00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,680
You have only to remain quiet
and firm in your following of
44
00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,160
the path and your will to go to
the end.
45
00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:18,280
If you do that, circumstances
will in the end be obliged to
46
00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:22,920
shape themselves to your will,
because it will be the Divine
47
00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:28,400
will in you.
And quote reference Sri
48
00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,600
Aurobindo and the Mother looking
from Within, Chapter 5,
49
00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:36,240
Attitudes on the Path, page 138.