Nov. 1, 2025
Personal Effort in Service of the Divine Is an Initial Step Towards Complete Shift to the Divine Standpoint
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 2, Faith — Aspiration — Surrender, pp. 29-30This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/10/30/personal-effort-in-service-of-the-divine-is-an-initial-step-towards-complete-shift-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
#Sri Aurobindo #yoga #integral yoga #Divine standpoint #ego-consciousness
1
00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:04,520
The normal human action is based
in the ego consciousness.
2
00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:08,640
We act as if we are fully
independent, making our own
3
00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:12,920
decisions based on our own
criteria, needs and concerns.
4
00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,920
We treat ourselves as something
of a self standing actor,
5
00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,160
working to survive in a somewhat
hostile world and environment,
6
00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:25,800
maintaining our individuality
against the pressures of both
7
00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:31,280
circumstances and our societal
setting, while at the same time
8
00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,760
finding ways to fit in to our
society.
9
00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,040
This is of course, a very much
illusory viewpoint.
10
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,720
We have the illusion of agency
while we are being moved,
11
00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:48,880
motivated or manipulated by the
various forces operative in the
12
00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,880
world, in the society and within
the historical evolutionary
13
00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:58,800
basis of human life itself.
We act under the impulsion of
14
00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:03,360
instincts, deeply embedded
reactions such as the fight or
15
00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:07,840
flight response, and the
expectations of our society as
16
00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:12,280
communicated to us through
parents, relatives, friends,
17
00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:17,160
teachers and society at large,
including through mass media,
18
00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,600
social media and our
interactions with others.
19
00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:25,760
Through any and all means, we
are shaped and we accept the
20
00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:30,320
basic aspects of what we have
chosen to focus on as the core
21
00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:32,720
of our personality and our
lives.
22
00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,920
It is not generally feasible to
simply leave all of this behind
23
00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:42,440
and surrender to a higher force
without some kind of process and
24
00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:47,120
transitional period.
Nor is it feasible to simply
25
00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,400
float along with whatever
current is flowing towards and
26
00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:53,880
through us at any moment.
And there are forces in the
27
00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:58,080
world that have their own
intentionality, purpose and
28
00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:02,240
objectives, and they will take
charge of our energies if we are
29
00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,920
not awake and vigilant to what
they are attempting to do.
30
00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:11,200
Thus Srioro Bindo describes the
need for a personal effort
31
00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:17,120
consisting of aspiration,
rejection and surrender until
32
00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:21,000
such time as the Divine has
taken full charge of the being
33
00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:25,600
and we no longer experience the
sense of being a separate
34
00:02:25,920 --> 00:02:31,880
individual self standing ego
personality, but rather a Nexus
35
00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,720
of the Divine energy and
manifestation which receives and
36
00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:39,760
further transmits that force
within our own sphere of
37
00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,920
activity.
Along the way we become aware of
38
00:02:43,920 --> 00:02:47,840
the many limiting factors in the
established life ways of our
39
00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:53,240
minds, vital being and physical
being, and thus we work to
40
00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,560
recognize them and invite the
higher consciousness to
41
00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:01,680
transform them systematically,
piece by piece, step by step,
42
00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:06,960
moment by moment.
Sri Aurobindo observes quote.
43
00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,840
It is not advisable in the early
stages of the sadhana to leave
44
00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:15,480
everything to the Divine or
expect everything from it
45
00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,560
without the need of 1's own
endeavour.
46
00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,440
That is only possible when the
psychic being is in front and
47
00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:27,680
influence thing a whole action.
And even then vigilance and a
48
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:33,080
constant ascent are necessary.
Or else later on in the ultimate
49
00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:37,080
stages of the yoga, when a
direct or almost direct super
50
00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,720
mental force is taking up the
consciousness.
51
00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,560
But this stage is very far away
as yet.
52
00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:48,760
Under other conditions this
attitude is likely to lead to
53
00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:53,760
stagnation and inertia.
It is only the more mechanical
54
00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:56,640
parts of the being that can
truly say they are helpless.
55
00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:01,040
The physical material
consciousness especially is
56
00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:05,840
inert in its nature and moved
either by the mental and vital
57
00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:10,240
or by the higher forces.
But one has always the power to
58
00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:14,560
put the mental will or vital
push at the service of the
59
00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,560
divide.
One cannot be sure of the
60
00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,839
immediate result, for the
obstruction of the lower nature
61
00:04:21,079 --> 00:04:24,360
or the pressure of the adverse
forces can often act
62
00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:29,000
successfully for a time, even
for a long time, against the
63
00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,920
necessary change.
One has then to persist, to put
64
00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:38,480
always the will on the side of
the Divine, rejecting what has
65
00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:42,520
to be rejected, opening oneself
to the true light and the true
66
00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:48,120
Force, calling it down quietly,
steadfastly, without tiring,
67
00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:52,600
without depression or
impatience, until 1 feels the
68
00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,880
divine Force at work and the
obstacles beginning to give way.
69
00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,640
You say you are conscious of
your ignorance and obscurity.
70
00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:06,000
If it is only a general
consciousness that is not
71
00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:10,360
enough, but if you are conscious
of it in the details, in its
72
00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:14,360
actual working, then that is
sufficient to start with.
73
00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:18,520
You have to reject steadfastly
the wrong workings of which you
74
00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:23,320
are conscious, and make your
mind and vital a quiet and clear
75
00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:27,160
field for the action of the
Divine Force.
76
00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:34,480
End Quote Reference Srioro
Bindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 2.
77
00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:39,800
Faith, Aspiration Surrender,
pages 29 to 30.
00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:04,520
The normal human action is based
in the ego consciousness.
2
00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:08,640
We act as if we are fully
independent, making our own
3
00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:12,920
decisions based on our own
criteria, needs and concerns.
4
00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,920
We treat ourselves as something
of a self standing actor,
5
00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,160
working to survive in a somewhat
hostile world and environment,
6
00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:25,800
maintaining our individuality
against the pressures of both
7
00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:31,280
circumstances and our societal
setting, while at the same time
8
00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,760
finding ways to fit in to our
society.
9
00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,040
This is of course, a very much
illusory viewpoint.
10
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,720
We have the illusion of agency
while we are being moved,
11
00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:48,880
motivated or manipulated by the
various forces operative in the
12
00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,880
world, in the society and within
the historical evolutionary
13
00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:58,800
basis of human life itself.
We act under the impulsion of
14
00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:03,360
instincts, deeply embedded
reactions such as the fight or
15
00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:07,840
flight response, and the
expectations of our society as
16
00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:12,280
communicated to us through
parents, relatives, friends,
17
00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:17,160
teachers and society at large,
including through mass media,
18
00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,600
social media and our
interactions with others.
19
00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:25,760
Through any and all means, we
are shaped and we accept the
20
00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:30,320
basic aspects of what we have
chosen to focus on as the core
21
00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:32,720
of our personality and our
lives.
22
00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,920
It is not generally feasible to
simply leave all of this behind
23
00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:42,440
and surrender to a higher force
without some kind of process and
24
00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:47,120
transitional period.
Nor is it feasible to simply
25
00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,400
float along with whatever
current is flowing towards and
26
00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:53,880
through us at any moment.
And there are forces in the
27
00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:58,080
world that have their own
intentionality, purpose and
28
00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:02,240
objectives, and they will take
charge of our energies if we are
29
00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,920
not awake and vigilant to what
they are attempting to do.
30
00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:11,200
Thus Srioro Bindo describes the
need for a personal effort
31
00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:17,120
consisting of aspiration,
rejection and surrender until
32
00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:21,000
such time as the Divine has
taken full charge of the being
33
00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:25,600
and we no longer experience the
sense of being a separate
34
00:02:25,920 --> 00:02:31,880
individual self standing ego
personality, but rather a Nexus
35
00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,720
of the Divine energy and
manifestation which receives and
36
00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:39,760
further transmits that force
within our own sphere of
37
00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,920
activity.
Along the way we become aware of
38
00:02:43,920 --> 00:02:47,840
the many limiting factors in the
established life ways of our
39
00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:53,240
minds, vital being and physical
being, and thus we work to
40
00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,560
recognize them and invite the
higher consciousness to
41
00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:01,680
transform them systematically,
piece by piece, step by step,
42
00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:06,960
moment by moment.
Sri Aurobindo observes quote.
43
00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,840
It is not advisable in the early
stages of the sadhana to leave
44
00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:15,480
everything to the Divine or
expect everything from it
45
00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,560
without the need of 1's own
endeavour.
46
00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,440
That is only possible when the
psychic being is in front and
47
00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:27,680
influence thing a whole action.
And even then vigilance and a
48
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:33,080
constant ascent are necessary.
Or else later on in the ultimate
49
00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:37,080
stages of the yoga, when a
direct or almost direct super
50
00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,720
mental force is taking up the
consciousness.
51
00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,560
But this stage is very far away
as yet.
52
00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:48,760
Under other conditions this
attitude is likely to lead to
53
00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:53,760
stagnation and inertia.
It is only the more mechanical
54
00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:56,640
parts of the being that can
truly say they are helpless.
55
00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:01,040
The physical material
consciousness especially is
56
00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:05,840
inert in its nature and moved
either by the mental and vital
57
00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:10,240
or by the higher forces.
But one has always the power to
58
00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:14,560
put the mental will or vital
push at the service of the
59
00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,560
divide.
One cannot be sure of the
60
00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,839
immediate result, for the
obstruction of the lower nature
61
00:04:21,079 --> 00:04:24,360
or the pressure of the adverse
forces can often act
62
00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:29,000
successfully for a time, even
for a long time, against the
63
00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,920
necessary change.
One has then to persist, to put
64
00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:38,480
always the will on the side of
the Divine, rejecting what has
65
00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:42,520
to be rejected, opening oneself
to the true light and the true
66
00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:48,120
Force, calling it down quietly,
steadfastly, without tiring,
67
00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:52,600
without depression or
impatience, until 1 feels the
68
00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,880
divine Force at work and the
obstacles beginning to give way.
69
00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,640
You say you are conscious of
your ignorance and obscurity.
70
00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:06,000
If it is only a general
consciousness that is not
71
00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:10,360
enough, but if you are conscious
of it in the details, in its
72
00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:14,360
actual working, then that is
sufficient to start with.
73
00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:18,520
You have to reject steadfastly
the wrong workings of which you
74
00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:23,320
are conscious, and make your
mind and vital a quiet and clear
75
00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:27,160
field for the action of the
Divine Force.
76
00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:34,480
End Quote Reference Srioro
Bindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 2.
77
00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:39,800
Faith, Aspiration Surrender,
pages 29 to 30.
