June 12, 2025
Periods of Apparent Emptiness or Dryness in the Spiritual Practice
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 4, Ordeals and Difficulties, pp..103-104This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/06/10/periods-of-apparent-emptiness-or-dryness-in-the-spiritual-practice/
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
00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:04,960
In the external life, we are
trained to desire visible signs
2
00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:08,560
of forward movement, progress,
constant development.
3
00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,800
We believe if we are not moving
forward, then we must be
4
00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,720
retrogressing.
We value action over quiet
5
00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,360
times.
When we are relieved from
6
00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:23,680
action, such as during a
vacation or at the stage of
7
00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,400
retirement from the working
life, we frequently find that
8
00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,640
there is a complete sensation
from involvement in almost any
9
00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:36,000
form of activity.
The statement that I do not want
10
00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,760
to do any work I worked my whole
life is a frequent accompaniment
11
00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,120
to this state of affairs,
illustrating the state of mind
12
00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:48,200
of the individual.
We tend to carry over these
13
00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:52,280
attitudes into the spiritual
sadhna until such time as we
14
00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,640
gain the understanding that
spiritual growth is not always
15
00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,480
visible and not always
dynamically active on the
16
00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:03,600
surface.
Srioro Bindo describes a process
17
00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:08,720
of ascent and integration.
The spiritual power shifts us
18
00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:13,040
into a higher vibratory pattern,
but it's still need to work
19
00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:17,120
itself out through the mind, the
vital being, and the physical
20
00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,640
body.
Each of these successively more
21
00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:25,520
dense aspects of our being need
to both imbibe the new energy
22
00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:30,360
and adjust their functioning to
accommodate the new force at
23
00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,400
work.
Much of this process goes on
24
00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,920
behind the scenes.
We may not see the work going
25
00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,160
on, but it continues
nevertheless.
26
00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,280
The real issue then comes down
to the reaction the seeker has
27
00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,280
to these periods of
assimilation.
28
00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,920
As long as he is carrying the
habitual pattern of the external
29
00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,480
life and its set of
expectations, he becomes
30
00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,000
distressed and concerned about
the lack of visible forward
31
00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:04,080
movement and he can either fall
into a state of depression or a
32
00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,360
state evidencing a lack of faith
in the process.
33
00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:11,440
This can create a lot of
unnecessary tension and self
34
00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:16,080
doubt which simply disrupts the
energetic flow and slows it
35
00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,280
down.
A balance needs to be found that
36
00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,800
provides the seeker with
understanding, patience,
37
00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,840
perseverance and ongoing
aspiration.
38
00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:31,240
The focusing of the mind and
heart on the inner psychic being
39
00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:35,360
and its natural link to the
Divine, if possible during these
40
00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:42,920
periods, is of immense value.
Shriora window notes quote the
41
00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:46,560
interval periods when all is
quiet and nothing being done on
42
00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,520
the surface come to all and
cannot be avoided.
43
00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,720
You must not cherish the
suggestion that is it is because
44
00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:59,240
of your want of aspiration or
any other unfitness that it is
45
00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:03,160
so.
And if you had the constant
46
00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:07,960
ardent aspiration, then there
would be no such periods and
47
00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:11,320
there would be an uninterrupted
stream of experiences.
48
00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,520
It is not so.
Even if the aspiration were
49
00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,560
there, the interval periods
would come.
50
00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:23,400
If even in them one can aspire,
so much the better.
51
00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,680
But the main thing is to meet
them with quietude and not
52
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,800
become restless, depressed or
despondent.
53
00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:38,240
A constant fire can be there
only after a certain stage has
54
00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:42,760
been reached, that is, when one
is always inside, consciously
55
00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:46,880
living in the psychic being.
But for that all this
56
00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:51,080
preparation of the mind, vital,
physical, is necessary.
57
00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:56,040
For this fire belongs to the
psychic, and one cannot command
58
00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,720
it always merely by the mind's
effort.
59
00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:04,280
Naturally, the more one pointed
the aspiration, the swifter the
60
00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,480
progress.
The difficulty comes when either
61
00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,560
the vital with its desires or
the physical with its past
62
00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:16,079
habitual movements comes in, as
they do with almost everyone.
63
00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,440
It is then that the dryness and
difficulty of spontaneous
64
00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:24,280
aspiration come.
This dryness is a well known
65
00:04:24,280 --> 00:04:29,240
obstacle in all sadhna, but one
has to persist and not be
66
00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,520
discouraged if one keeps the
will fixed.
67
00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:37,440
Even in these barren periods
they pass, and after their
68
00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:42,240
passage a greater force of
aspiration and experience
69
00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,120
becomes possible.
End Quote.
70
00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:48,840
Reference.
Shrioro Bindu and the Mother
71
00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:53,520
looking from within, Chapter 4
where deals and Difficulties
72
00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,000
pages one O 3 to one O 4.
00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:04,960
In the external life, we are
trained to desire visible signs
2
00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:08,560
of forward movement, progress,
constant development.
3
00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,800
We believe if we are not moving
forward, then we must be
4
00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,720
retrogressing.
We value action over quiet
5
00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,360
times.
When we are relieved from
6
00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:23,680
action, such as during a
vacation or at the stage of
7
00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,400
retirement from the working
life, we frequently find that
8
00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,640
there is a complete sensation
from involvement in almost any
9
00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:36,000
form of activity.
The statement that I do not want
10
00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,760
to do any work I worked my whole
life is a frequent accompaniment
11
00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,120
to this state of affairs,
illustrating the state of mind
12
00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:48,200
of the individual.
We tend to carry over these
13
00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:52,280
attitudes into the spiritual
sadhna until such time as we
14
00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,640
gain the understanding that
spiritual growth is not always
15
00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,480
visible and not always
dynamically active on the
16
00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:03,600
surface.
Srioro Bindo describes a process
17
00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:08,720
of ascent and integration.
The spiritual power shifts us
18
00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:13,040
into a higher vibratory pattern,
but it's still need to work
19
00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:17,120
itself out through the mind, the
vital being, and the physical
20
00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,640
body.
Each of these successively more
21
00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:25,520
dense aspects of our being need
to both imbibe the new energy
22
00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:30,360
and adjust their functioning to
accommodate the new force at
23
00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,400
work.
Much of this process goes on
24
00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,920
behind the scenes.
We may not see the work going
25
00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,160
on, but it continues
nevertheless.
26
00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,280
The real issue then comes down
to the reaction the seeker has
27
00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,280
to these periods of
assimilation.
28
00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,920
As long as he is carrying the
habitual pattern of the external
29
00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,480
life and its set of
expectations, he becomes
30
00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,000
distressed and concerned about
the lack of visible forward
31
00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:04,080
movement and he can either fall
into a state of depression or a
32
00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,360
state evidencing a lack of faith
in the process.
33
00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:11,440
This can create a lot of
unnecessary tension and self
34
00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:16,080
doubt which simply disrupts the
energetic flow and slows it
35
00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,280
down.
A balance needs to be found that
36
00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,800
provides the seeker with
understanding, patience,
37
00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,840
perseverance and ongoing
aspiration.
38
00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:31,240
The focusing of the mind and
heart on the inner psychic being
39
00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:35,360
and its natural link to the
Divine, if possible during these
40
00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:42,920
periods, is of immense value.
Shriora window notes quote the
41
00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:46,560
interval periods when all is
quiet and nothing being done on
42
00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,520
the surface come to all and
cannot be avoided.
43
00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,720
You must not cherish the
suggestion that is it is because
44
00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:59,240
of your want of aspiration or
any other unfitness that it is
45
00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:03,160
so.
And if you had the constant
46
00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:07,960
ardent aspiration, then there
would be no such periods and
47
00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:11,320
there would be an uninterrupted
stream of experiences.
48
00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,520
It is not so.
Even if the aspiration were
49
00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,560
there, the interval periods
would come.
50
00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:23,400
If even in them one can aspire,
so much the better.
51
00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,680
But the main thing is to meet
them with quietude and not
52
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,800
become restless, depressed or
despondent.
53
00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:38,240
A constant fire can be there
only after a certain stage has
54
00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:42,760
been reached, that is, when one
is always inside, consciously
55
00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:46,880
living in the psychic being.
But for that all this
56
00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:51,080
preparation of the mind, vital,
physical, is necessary.
57
00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:56,040
For this fire belongs to the
psychic, and one cannot command
58
00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,720
it always merely by the mind's
effort.
59
00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:04,280
Naturally, the more one pointed
the aspiration, the swifter the
60
00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,480
progress.
The difficulty comes when either
61
00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,560
the vital with its desires or
the physical with its past
62
00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:16,079
habitual movements comes in, as
they do with almost everyone.
63
00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,440
It is then that the dryness and
difficulty of spontaneous
64
00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:24,280
aspiration come.
This dryness is a well known
65
00:04:24,280 --> 00:04:29,240
obstacle in all sadhna, but one
has to persist and not be
66
00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,520
discouraged if one keeps the
will fixed.
67
00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:37,440
Even in these barren periods
they pass, and after their
68
00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:42,240
passage a greater force of
aspiration and experience
69
00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,120
becomes possible.
End Quote.
70
00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:48,840
Reference.
Shrioro Bindu and the Mother
71
00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:53,520
looking from within, Chapter 4
where deals and Difficulties
72
00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,000
pages one O 3 to one O 4.