Nov. 9, 2025
Overcoming Self-Doubt and Fear of Incapacity in the Spiritual Endeavour
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 2, Faith — Aspiration — Surrender, pp. 33-34This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/11/07/overcoming-self-doubt-and-fear-of-incapacity-in-the-spiritual-endeavour/
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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
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:04,480
Spiritual seekers throughout the
ages have been confronted with
2
00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:08,000
internal anguish about whether
they actually have the capacity
3
00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,720
and ability to succeed in their
spiritual endeavour.
4
00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,720
They go through periods of
enthusiasm and joy as they feel
5
00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,400
the spiritual force working in
them bringing them insights,
6
00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,880
spiritual experiences and what
appears to be progress.
7
00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,480
When these periods are abated
for some time they may be
8
00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:34,960
subject to doubt, despair or
depression as they feel they may
9
00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:39,240
be unfit.
This oscillation between the two
10
00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:43,880
states is due to first of all
ego attachment and vital seeking
11
00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:48,280
that creates a desire or
ambition to succeed, sets
12
00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:53,240
parameters for what constitutes
success and then reacts if these
13
00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,080
self defined objectives are not
being met.
14
00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:01,640
The operation of the gunas rajas
fueling the vital ambition and
15
00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:06,240
enthusiasm and Thomas the
consequent falling back into
16
00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:12,000
doubt and despair drives these
reactions in various places.
17
00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,400
Sri Aurobindo describes the
transformation of consciousness
18
00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,800
as a dual action of ascent and
integration.
19
00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:24,080
During the times of ascent, the
experiences come and make
20
00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,840
themselves felt.
During the times of integration,
21
00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:33,680
these experiences recede as the
force works behind the scenes to
22
00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:38,680
modify the mind, the vital
being, and the physical frame to
23
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,680
hold and utilize it for the
transformation.
24
00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:47,120
During the times of integration
or assimilation, the surface
25
00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:51,480
being does not believe anything
is being done as it cannot see
26
00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,080
or feel it.
This is simply a mistaken
27
00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,760
impression.
Sri Aurobindo therefore asserts
28
00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:03,640
that he who chooses the infinite
has been chosen by the infinite,
29
00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,000
implying a divine sanction for
the individual that comes from
30
00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:13,200
the spiritual plane and is not
driven by the ego motivations of
31
00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:17,200
the individual.
The work of transformation of
32
00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:21,440
human nature is not something to
be done in a day, nor by
33
00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,720
individual effort.
It is the process of the
34
00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:29,080
evolution of the next stage of
consciousness, which necessarily
35
00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,800
has to work out a lot of
obstructions, obstacles,
36
00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:37,840
resistances and distortions that
exist in our present human
37
00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:41,360
nature.
If the individual moves away
38
00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:45,680
from the ego standpoint to the
divine standpoint, the need for
39
00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:50,960
internal self doubt disappears
in a work that may take decades
40
00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,920
or centuries.
Applying A judgement term based
41
00:02:54,920 --> 00:02:59,120
on an individual human life
experience is bound to be
42
00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:04,200
inaccurate and misleading,
Sriorbindo writes.
43
00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,560
Quote.
The only truth in your other
44
00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:13,360
experience, which you say seems
at the time so true to you, is
45
00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:17,080
that it is hopeless for you or
anyone to get out of the
46
00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:21,360
inferior consciousness by your
or his unaided effort.
47
00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,760
That is why when you sink into
this inferior consciousness,
48
00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:30,320
everything seems hopeless to
you, because you lose hold for a
49
00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:35,160
time of the true consciousness.
But the suggestion is untrue,
50
00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,920
because you have an opening to
the Divine and are not bound to
51
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,120
remain in the inferior
consciousness.
52
00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,480
When you are in the true
consciousness, then you see that
53
00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,960
everything can be done, even if
at present only a slight
54
00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:54,160
beginning has been made.
But a beginning is enough once
55
00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:59,440
the Force, the Power are there.
For the truth is that it can do
56
00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:04,920
everything and only time and the
soul's aspiration are needed for
57
00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:08,400
the entire change and the soul's
fulfilment.
58
00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:13,960
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo, Bases
59
00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:18,959
of Yoga Chapter 2.
Faith, Aspiration Surrender,
60
00:04:19,519 --> 00:04:21,600
pages 33 to 34.
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:04,480
Spiritual seekers throughout the
ages have been confronted with
2
00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:08,000
internal anguish about whether
they actually have the capacity
3
00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,720
and ability to succeed in their
spiritual endeavour.
4
00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,720
They go through periods of
enthusiasm and joy as they feel
5
00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,400
the spiritual force working in
them bringing them insights,
6
00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,880
spiritual experiences and what
appears to be progress.
7
00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,480
When these periods are abated
for some time they may be
8
00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:34,960
subject to doubt, despair or
depression as they feel they may
9
00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:39,240
be unfit.
This oscillation between the two
10
00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:43,880
states is due to first of all
ego attachment and vital seeking
11
00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:48,280
that creates a desire or
ambition to succeed, sets
12
00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:53,240
parameters for what constitutes
success and then reacts if these
13
00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,080
self defined objectives are not
being met.
14
00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:01,640
The operation of the gunas rajas
fueling the vital ambition and
15
00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:06,240
enthusiasm and Thomas the
consequent falling back into
16
00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:12,000
doubt and despair drives these
reactions in various places.
17
00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,400
Sri Aurobindo describes the
transformation of consciousness
18
00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,800
as a dual action of ascent and
integration.
19
00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:24,080
During the times of ascent, the
experiences come and make
20
00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,840
themselves felt.
During the times of integration,
21
00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:33,680
these experiences recede as the
force works behind the scenes to
22
00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:38,680
modify the mind, the vital
being, and the physical frame to
23
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,680
hold and utilize it for the
transformation.
24
00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:47,120
During the times of integration
or assimilation, the surface
25
00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:51,480
being does not believe anything
is being done as it cannot see
26
00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,080
or feel it.
This is simply a mistaken
27
00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,760
impression.
Sri Aurobindo therefore asserts
28
00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:03,640
that he who chooses the infinite
has been chosen by the infinite,
29
00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,000
implying a divine sanction for
the individual that comes from
30
00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:13,200
the spiritual plane and is not
driven by the ego motivations of
31
00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:17,200
the individual.
The work of transformation of
32
00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:21,440
human nature is not something to
be done in a day, nor by
33
00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,720
individual effort.
It is the process of the
34
00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:29,080
evolution of the next stage of
consciousness, which necessarily
35
00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,800
has to work out a lot of
obstructions, obstacles,
36
00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:37,840
resistances and distortions that
exist in our present human
37
00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:41,360
nature.
If the individual moves away
38
00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:45,680
from the ego standpoint to the
divine standpoint, the need for
39
00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:50,960
internal self doubt disappears
in a work that may take decades
40
00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,920
or centuries.
Applying A judgement term based
41
00:02:54,920 --> 00:02:59,120
on an individual human life
experience is bound to be
42
00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:04,200
inaccurate and misleading,
Sriorbindo writes.
43
00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,560
Quote.
The only truth in your other
44
00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:13,360
experience, which you say seems
at the time so true to you, is
45
00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:17,080
that it is hopeless for you or
anyone to get out of the
46
00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:21,360
inferior consciousness by your
or his unaided effort.
47
00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,760
That is why when you sink into
this inferior consciousness,
48
00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:30,320
everything seems hopeless to
you, because you lose hold for a
49
00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:35,160
time of the true consciousness.
But the suggestion is untrue,
50
00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,920
because you have an opening to
the Divine and are not bound to
51
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,120
remain in the inferior
consciousness.
52
00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,480
When you are in the true
consciousness, then you see that
53
00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,960
everything can be done, even if
at present only a slight
54
00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:54,160
beginning has been made.
But a beginning is enough once
55
00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:59,440
the Force, the Power are there.
For the truth is that it can do
56
00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:04,920
everything and only time and the
soul's aspiration are needed for
57
00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:08,400
the entire change and the soul's
fulfilment.
58
00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:13,960
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo, Bases
59
00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:18,959
of Yoga Chapter 2.
Faith, Aspiration Surrender,
60
00:04:19,519 --> 00:04:21,600
pages 33 to 34.
