May 13, 2025
Receiving Spiritual Shocks and Trials With Humility Through a Shift of Standpoint Away from the Ego-Consciousness
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within , Chapter 4, Ordeals and Difficulties, pg. 75This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/05/11/receiving-spiritual-shocks-and-trials-with-humility-through-a-shift-of-standpoint-away-from-the-ego-consciousness/
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
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,560
The way we respond to setbacks
or difficulties is conditioned
2
00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:07,800
by how deeply we are embedded in
the ego consciousness.
3
00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:12,520
The individual ego judges
everything from its own very
4
00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:16,520
limited viewpoint.
What it interprets as a negative
5
00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:21,760
result or as an obstacle may
actually be part of the larger
6
00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,680
process of change that human
nature is undergoing.
7
00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:28,880
The pressure of the outer
circumstances provides the
8
00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:33,120
impetus for change.
When the psychic being comes
9
00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:37,160
forward to actively lead the
being, it aligns itself with the
10
00:00:37,160 --> 00:00:41,520
divine consciousness and
standpoint and thus can accept
11
00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:46,720
the situation as an opportunity
and as a form of divine grace.
12
00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:52,320
Some of the lessons are painful.
Some of the lessons are life and
13
00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:56,640
death situations.
The individual cannot see all
14
00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,680
the threads that come together
to create a certain set of
15
00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:05,360
events and thus feel surprised
and overwhelmed in many cases by
16
00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,320
what is happening to them and in
their environment.
17
00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:14,120
Once the shift of standpoint
takes place, it becomes easier
18
00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,160
to see the wheels of the
Universal creation turning and
19
00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:22,240
recognize the time, spirit and
the necessity of what is
20
00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:26,520
occurring for the longer term
process that is manifesting and
21
00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,880
that brings these circumstances
to us as a means of our growth
22
00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:35,000
and development.
Even if one cannot understand
23
00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:39,240
the larger framework, the
psychic being can act from faith
24
00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:43,920
and devotion and accept that the
purpose is not the fulfillment
25
00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:50,040
of the ego's desires, needs, or
wants, but rather the intended
26
00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,200
development of the divine
manifestation through time.
27
00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,200
Many people relate how their
lives and focus change through a
28
00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:03,160
traumatic event such as extreme
illness, experiences of
29
00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:07,960
catastrophic accidents, death of
loved ones, failure and
30
00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:10,600
disillusionment in the outer
life, et cetera.
31
00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:15,280
Once the seeker takes up the
spiritual practice, the events.
32
00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:19,800
1 Experiences are all part of
the process of change that needs
33
00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,480
to occur.
Along the way.
34
00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,840
There are experiences of peace,
joy and love.
35
00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,920
There are also uprisings of all
of the long standing patterns of
36
00:02:31,920 --> 00:02:36,400
human existence, many of which
have been embedded in nature
37
00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,440
since time immemorial.
Thus, the seeker also will
38
00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:45,120
eventually come face to face
with doubt, despondency,
39
00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:53,080
insincerity, desire, vanity,
anger, greed, lust, hatred,
40
00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:59,400
seeking for power or influence
or wealth, opposition and other
41
00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,840
issues by which he can work on
the solutions that are needed to
42
00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:06,800
advance the consciousness along
its evolutionary path.
43
00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:12,320
The great Yogi Milorapa had to
undergo tremendous shocks and
44
00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:17,240
suffering in his life.
First, his patrimony was robbed
45
00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,360
by his uncle and aunt upon the
death of his father, throwing
46
00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:26,000
himself, his mother and sister
into destitution and essentially
47
00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,760
turning them into slaves.
He then went to learn the
48
00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,600
practices of black magic to seek
revenge.
49
00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,560
He later returned to the village
and brought down a destructive
50
00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,920
hailstorm.
Afterwards, he experienced
51
00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:44,320
remorse and realized he had
committed a grave sin and
52
00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,520
determined that he had to seek a
guru who could aid him in
53
00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,160
achieving liberation in one
lifetime.
54
00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:54,840
His guru put him to years of
back breaking construction of
55
00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,760
stone structures without
imparting any teachings to him
56
00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,640
while others came and received
the teachings.
57
00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:08,680
Eventually, Milarepa became
depressed and suicidal after
58
00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:13,560
years of struggle physically,
vitally, emotionally and
59
00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,240
mentally.
His guru gave him the teachings
60
00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:21,200
and set him on the path of
austere meditation, living in
61
00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:26,360
caves and surviving on nettles
and limited other supplies.
62
00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,280
At the end, he attained the
realization he sought.
63
00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:36,840
The path was one of endless
tragedy, suffering, pain and
64
00:04:36,840 --> 00:04:41,680
blows of various sort.
The result was that which His
65
00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:47,240
Spirit was guided to seek and
achieve, the Mother writes.
66
00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:52,360
Quote Shocks and trials always
come as a divine grace to show
67
00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:57,000
us the points in our being where
we fall short and the movements
68
00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,680
in which we turn our back on our
soul by listening to the clamour
69
00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,080
of our mental being and vital
being.
70
00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:08,000
If we know how to accept these
spiritual blows with due
71
00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:12,960
humility, we are sure to cover a
great distance at a single
72
00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,000
bound.
End Quote.
73
00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:20,360
Reference Sri Orobindo and the
Mother looking from within,
74
00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:24,760
Chapter 4.
Ordeals and Difficulties, page
75
00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:25,680
75.
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,560
The way we respond to setbacks
or difficulties is conditioned
2
00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:07,800
by how deeply we are embedded in
the ego consciousness.
3
00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:12,520
The individual ego judges
everything from its own very
4
00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:16,520
limited viewpoint.
What it interprets as a negative
5
00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:21,760
result or as an obstacle may
actually be part of the larger
6
00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,680
process of change that human
nature is undergoing.
7
00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:28,880
The pressure of the outer
circumstances provides the
8
00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:33,120
impetus for change.
When the psychic being comes
9
00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:37,160
forward to actively lead the
being, it aligns itself with the
10
00:00:37,160 --> 00:00:41,520
divine consciousness and
standpoint and thus can accept
11
00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:46,720
the situation as an opportunity
and as a form of divine grace.
12
00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:52,320
Some of the lessons are painful.
Some of the lessons are life and
13
00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:56,640
death situations.
The individual cannot see all
14
00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,680
the threads that come together
to create a certain set of
15
00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:05,360
events and thus feel surprised
and overwhelmed in many cases by
16
00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,320
what is happening to them and in
their environment.
17
00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:14,120
Once the shift of standpoint
takes place, it becomes easier
18
00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,160
to see the wheels of the
Universal creation turning and
19
00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:22,240
recognize the time, spirit and
the necessity of what is
20
00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:26,520
occurring for the longer term
process that is manifesting and
21
00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,880
that brings these circumstances
to us as a means of our growth
22
00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:35,000
and development.
Even if one cannot understand
23
00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:39,240
the larger framework, the
psychic being can act from faith
24
00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:43,920
and devotion and accept that the
purpose is not the fulfillment
25
00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:50,040
of the ego's desires, needs, or
wants, but rather the intended
26
00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,200
development of the divine
manifestation through time.
27
00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,200
Many people relate how their
lives and focus change through a
28
00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:03,160
traumatic event such as extreme
illness, experiences of
29
00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:07,960
catastrophic accidents, death of
loved ones, failure and
30
00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:10,600
disillusionment in the outer
life, et cetera.
31
00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:15,280
Once the seeker takes up the
spiritual practice, the events.
32
00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:19,800
1 Experiences are all part of
the process of change that needs
33
00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,480
to occur.
Along the way.
34
00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,840
There are experiences of peace,
joy and love.
35
00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,920
There are also uprisings of all
of the long standing patterns of
36
00:02:31,920 --> 00:02:36,400
human existence, many of which
have been embedded in nature
37
00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,440
since time immemorial.
Thus, the seeker also will
38
00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:45,120
eventually come face to face
with doubt, despondency,
39
00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:53,080
insincerity, desire, vanity,
anger, greed, lust, hatred,
40
00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:59,400
seeking for power or influence
or wealth, opposition and other
41
00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,840
issues by which he can work on
the solutions that are needed to
42
00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:06,800
advance the consciousness along
its evolutionary path.
43
00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:12,320
The great Yogi Milorapa had to
undergo tremendous shocks and
44
00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:17,240
suffering in his life.
First, his patrimony was robbed
45
00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,360
by his uncle and aunt upon the
death of his father, throwing
46
00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:26,000
himself, his mother and sister
into destitution and essentially
47
00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,760
turning them into slaves.
He then went to learn the
48
00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,600
practices of black magic to seek
revenge.
49
00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,560
He later returned to the village
and brought down a destructive
50
00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,920
hailstorm.
Afterwards, he experienced
51
00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:44,320
remorse and realized he had
committed a grave sin and
52
00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,520
determined that he had to seek a
guru who could aid him in
53
00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,160
achieving liberation in one
lifetime.
54
00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:54,840
His guru put him to years of
back breaking construction of
55
00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,760
stone structures without
imparting any teachings to him
56
00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,640
while others came and received
the teachings.
57
00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:08,680
Eventually, Milarepa became
depressed and suicidal after
58
00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:13,560
years of struggle physically,
vitally, emotionally and
59
00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,240
mentally.
His guru gave him the teachings
60
00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:21,200
and set him on the path of
austere meditation, living in
61
00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:26,360
caves and surviving on nettles
and limited other supplies.
62
00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,280
At the end, he attained the
realization he sought.
63
00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:36,840
The path was one of endless
tragedy, suffering, pain and
64
00:04:36,840 --> 00:04:41,680
blows of various sort.
The result was that which His
65
00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:47,240
Spirit was guided to seek and
achieve, the Mother writes.
66
00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:52,360
Quote Shocks and trials always
come as a divine grace to show
67
00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:57,000
us the points in our being where
we fall short and the movements
68
00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,680
in which we turn our back on our
soul by listening to the clamour
69
00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,080
of our mental being and vital
being.
70
00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:08,000
If we know how to accept these
spiritual blows with due
71
00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:12,960
humility, we are sure to cover a
great distance at a single
72
00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,000
bound.
End Quote.
73
00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:20,360
Reference Sri Orobindo and the
Mother looking from within,
74
00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:24,760
Chapter 4.
Ordeals and Difficulties, page
75
00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:25,680
75.