Oct. 27, 2025
Reliance on the Divine Power Rather Than on the Individual Mind and Will
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 2, Faith — Aspiration — Surrender, pg. 26This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/10/25/reliance-on-the-divine-power-rather-than-on-the-individual-mind-and-will/
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1
00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,960
A strong mental consciousness
and will may aid the individual
2
00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:09,440
in determining a way forward,
but they are not the powers that
3
00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,400
can eventually succeed in the
yogic process.
4
00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:18,160
If we view the yoga of nature,
we find that as a new power
5
00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:23,480
emerges, it brings with it
unique new ways of dealing with
6
00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:28,240
the need of the time and the
evolutionary process as it takes
7
00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:33,200
shape at that moment.
In his thoughts and glimpses,
8
00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:36,480
Sri Aurobindo states the case
succinctly.
9
00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,720
Quote When we have passed beyond
knowings, then we shall have
10
00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,200
knowledge.
Reason was the helper.
11
00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,360
Reason is the bar.
When we have passed beyond
12
00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:51,280
willings, then we shall have
power.
13
00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,280
Effort was the helper.
Effort is the bar.
14
00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,840
When we have passed beyond
enjoyings, then we shall have
15
00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:03,840
bliss.
Desire was the helper.
16
00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,600
Desire is the bar.
When we have passed beyond
17
00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,880
individualizing, then we shall
be real persons.
18
00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,240
Ego was the helper.
Ego is the bar.
19
00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:22,960
When we have passed beyond
humanity, then we shall be the
20
00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:26,240
man.
The animal was the helper.
21
00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,400
The animal is the bar.
End Quote.
22
00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:36,920
Spiritual development is not a
mental process and eventually
23
00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:41,600
the mental understanding and
will must agree to give way to a
24
00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,400
different form and way of
knowing and being a way more
25
00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,600
aligned with the nature of the
spiritual consciousness.
26
00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:54,640
This is most easily accomplished
if the seeker can develop the
27
00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,600
power of aspiration and
receptivity to the higher force
28
00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:03,200
and find a way to remain focused
there rather than on the
29
00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:09,039
individual effort.
In his Uttarpara speech, Sri
30
00:02:09,039 --> 00:02:12,520
Robindo relates an anecdote
about the sedition trial he was
31
00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:16,520
undergoing before a judge
representing the British Empire.
32
00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,720
He began to write out detailed
points for his attorney, but
33
00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:26,040
then he received an inner
command to remain calm and
34
00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,920
observe and that everything
would be worked out by a
35
00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:32,360
different force that was at
work.
36
00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:38,000
He saw each player in the drama
of his trial as an expression of
37
00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,920
Vasudev and understood that
everything was being done for
38
00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:51,240
him as a means to a greater end.
Sri Aurobindo notes quote There
39
00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,960
has always been too much
reliance on the action of your
40
00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:58,040
own mind and will.
That is why you cannot progress.
41
00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:02,400
If you could once get the habit
of silent reliance on the power
42
00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:06,600
of the Mother, not merely
calling it in to support your
43
00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:11,280
own effort, the obstacle would
diminish and eventually
44
00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:16,880
disappear.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindo
45
00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:24,280
Basis of Yoga Chapter 2 Faith,
Aspiration, Surrender page 26.
00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,960
A strong mental consciousness
and will may aid the individual
2
00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:09,440
in determining a way forward,
but they are not the powers that
3
00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,400
can eventually succeed in the
yogic process.
4
00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:18,160
If we view the yoga of nature,
we find that as a new power
5
00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:23,480
emerges, it brings with it
unique new ways of dealing with
6
00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:28,240
the need of the time and the
evolutionary process as it takes
7
00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:33,200
shape at that moment.
In his thoughts and glimpses,
8
00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:36,480
Sri Aurobindo states the case
succinctly.
9
00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,720
Quote When we have passed beyond
knowings, then we shall have
10
00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,200
knowledge.
Reason was the helper.
11
00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,360
Reason is the bar.
When we have passed beyond
12
00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:51,280
willings, then we shall have
power.
13
00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,280
Effort was the helper.
Effort is the bar.
14
00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,840
When we have passed beyond
enjoyings, then we shall have
15
00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:03,840
bliss.
Desire was the helper.
16
00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,600
Desire is the bar.
When we have passed beyond
17
00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,880
individualizing, then we shall
be real persons.
18
00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,240
Ego was the helper.
Ego is the bar.
19
00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:22,960
When we have passed beyond
humanity, then we shall be the
20
00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:26,240
man.
The animal was the helper.
21
00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,400
The animal is the bar.
End Quote.
22
00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:36,920
Spiritual development is not a
mental process and eventually
23
00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:41,600
the mental understanding and
will must agree to give way to a
24
00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,400
different form and way of
knowing and being a way more
25
00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,600
aligned with the nature of the
spiritual consciousness.
26
00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:54,640
This is most easily accomplished
if the seeker can develop the
27
00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,600
power of aspiration and
receptivity to the higher force
28
00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:03,200
and find a way to remain focused
there rather than on the
29
00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:09,039
individual effort.
In his Uttarpara speech, Sri
30
00:02:09,039 --> 00:02:12,520
Robindo relates an anecdote
about the sedition trial he was
31
00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:16,520
undergoing before a judge
representing the British Empire.
32
00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,720
He began to write out detailed
points for his attorney, but
33
00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:26,040
then he received an inner
command to remain calm and
34
00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,920
observe and that everything
would be worked out by a
35
00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:32,360
different force that was at
work.
36
00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:38,000
He saw each player in the drama
of his trial as an expression of
37
00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,920
Vasudev and understood that
everything was being done for
38
00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:51,240
him as a means to a greater end.
Sri Aurobindo notes quote There
39
00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,960
has always been too much
reliance on the action of your
40
00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:58,040
own mind and will.
That is why you cannot progress.
41
00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:02,400
If you could once get the habit
of silent reliance on the power
42
00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:06,600
of the Mother, not merely
calling it in to support your
43
00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:11,280
own effort, the obstacle would
diminish and eventually
44
00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:16,880
disappear.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindo
45
00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:24,280
Basis of Yoga Chapter 2 Faith,
Aspiration, Surrender page 26.
