Practical Applications of the Power of Immobility

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The mother provides a practical
example of the power of

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immobility, albeit as applied in
the external world and society.

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There is an apocryphal story
from the time of the

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Mahabharata.
Drona, the preceptor of the sons

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of Tritharashtra and the sons of
Pandu, Princess and future king

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of the Korova Kingdom, was
teaching the lesson of the day

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to them.
All 100 of the Korova Princess

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were asked one by one if they
had learned the lesson of the

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day, which was not to become
angry.

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They each replied affirmatively.
He then asked the Pandava

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Princess and four of them
answered affirmatively.

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But when he came to the eldest
of the Pandavas, Yudhishtira,

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the answer was in the negative.
He repeated this day after day,

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and after some days he became
frustrated with Yudhishtira's

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inability to learn this lesson.
He slapped Yudhishtira across

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the face, which under normal
circumstances could be a death

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sentence for anyone striking the
heir apparent to the Kingdom.

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At that moment, however,
Yudhishtira indicated that he

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had now learned the lesson.
He needed the practical

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application of his immovability
to provocation to ensure that he

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was master of his reaction.
Drona provided that opportunity,

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and he then saw that he had
indeed learned how not to become

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angry.
A modern business man reported a

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somewhat analogous situation.
He was in negotiations to buy a

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product brand.
The seller was pushing the

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businessman very hard.
Eventually a deal was worked out

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that included royalty payments
for 10 years.

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The seller started bullying,
harassing and repeatedly

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threatening lawsuit.
The buyer did not react.

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He did not become angry, nor did
he counter harsh words and

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threats with his own harsh words
and threats.

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Rather, he pointed out at each
instance with patience that he

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was abiding by the agreement and
that the seller should do

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whatever he felt he needed or
wanted to do.

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Eventually, the 10 year period
was finished, the deal was

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concluded and they each went
their separate ways.

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No litigation, no further
contact.

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The deal was concluded
successfully.

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They parted amicably, each
having obtained the bargained

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for results.
His non reaction was his way of

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navigating through a difficult
situation, the mother notes

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quote.
And there is a very small

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superficial application of this
which perhaps you will

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understand.
Someone comes and insults you or

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says unpleasant things to you,
and if you begin to vibrate in

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unison with this anger or this
I'll, will, you feel quite weak

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and powerless, And usually you
make a fool of yourself.

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But if you manage to keep within
yourself, especially in your

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head, a complete immobility
which refuses to receive these

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vibrations, then at the same
time you feel a great strength

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and the other person cannot
disturb you.

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If you remain very quiet, even
physically, and when violence is

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directed at you, you are able to
remain very quiet, very silent,

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very still.
Well, that has a power not only

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over you, but over the other
person also.

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If you don't have all these
vibrations of inner response, if

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you can remain absolutely
immobile within yourself

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everywhere, this has an almost
immediate effect upon the other

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person.
That gives you an idea of the

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power of immobility, and it is a
very common fact which can occur

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every day.
It is not a great event of

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spiritual life.
It is something of the outer

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material life.
End Quote.

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Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother Powers within, Chapter

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12.
Power of Immobility, page 100.