Nov. 3, 2024
Seeking and Attaining Mastery Over the Touches of Nature
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter VII Attitude, pp. 70-71 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/11/01/seeking-and-attaining-mastery-over-the-touches-of-nature/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are all available 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 Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,720
Seekers throughout the ages have
struggled with the issue of how
2
00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:07,720
to deal with the pressures and
circumstances of the external
3
00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,520
world.
They recognize the swing of
4
00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:14,920
emotions, feelings, and thoughts
that occur as they receive input
5
00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:19,040
from people and events.
They recognize that sometimes
6
00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,880
this causes them to lose control
and do things that are
7
00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:27,080
counterproductive or which
create enormous internal
8
00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:31,560
stresses and disturb the calm of
the mind and emotions, the
9
00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:35,800
nervous and vital framework, and
even the operations of their
10
00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:40,360
physical bodies.
Sri Aurobindo describes 3 steps
11
00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,160
that can aid the seeker in
gaining mastery over his
12
00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:45,400
internal reactions and
responses.
13
00:00:46,160 --> 00:00:50,200
The first step is one which has
been commonly employed, namely
14
00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,920
to habituate the being to bear
stronger and stronger touches as
15
00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,040
forces from outside create their
pressure on the being.
16
00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,760
It is in the second step where
Sri Robindo focuses on a method
17
00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,400
that, while not unknown to
spiritual seekers in the past,
18
00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,640
has not been put into consistent
practice.
19
00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,400
That is, to create the
separation of the witness
20
00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,800
consciousness and the active
nature, the separation of
21
00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:22,000
Purusha and Prakriti, and to
take the standpoint of the
22
00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,720
Purusha observing but not
intervening in the operations of
23
00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:31,440
the external nature, which
includes the mental, vital and
24
00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:35,960
physical elements of the being.
The third step moves a step
25
00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:41,040
further and the Pirusha exerts
control over the external nature
26
00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:45,360
and changes the entire structure
of reaction and response.
27
00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:51,160
Apropoa this view, Sri Robindo
has translated the following
28
00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,120
verses from chapter 4 of the
Shweta Shwatara Upanishad.
29
00:01:55,560 --> 00:02:00,040
Quote 2 Winged birds cling about
a common tree.
30
00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:05,760
Comrades yoke fellows, and one
eats the sweet fruit of the
31
00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,199
tree, the other eats not, but
watches.
32
00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:14,000
The soul upon a common tree is
absorbed, and because he is not
33
00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:19,280
Lord, grieves and is bewildered,
but when he sees and cleaves to
34
00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:24,000
that other who is the Lord, he
knows that all is his greatness,
35
00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:26,720
and his sorrow passes away from
him.
36
00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,520
End Quote.
Trior Bindo notes, quote.
37
00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,000
The soul which seeks mastery may
begin by turning upon these
38
00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,840
reactions, the encountering and
opposing force of a strong and
39
00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,160
equal endurance.
Instead of seeking to protect
40
00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:47,760
itself from or to shun an escape
the unpleasant impacts, it may
41
00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:52,240
confront them and teach itself
to suffer and to bear them with
42
00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:57,840
perseverance, with fortitude and
increasing equanimity or an
43
00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:03,000
austere or calm acceptance.
This attitude, this discipline,
44
00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:07,320
brings out three results. 3
Powers of the soul in relation
45
00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,920
to things.
First, it is found that what was
46
00:03:10,920 --> 00:03:13,960
before unbearable becomes easy
to endure.
47
00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:18,000
The scale of the power that
meets the impact rises in
48
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,960
degree.
It needs a greater and greater
49
00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:25,160
force of it, or of its
protracted incidents to cause
50
00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:31,960
trouble, pain, grief, aversion,
or any other of the notes in the
51
00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:34,240
gamut of the unpleasant
reactions.
52
00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:39,200
Secondly, it is found that the
conscious nature divides itself
53
00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,680
into two parts.
One of the normal mental and
54
00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:46,560
emotional nature, in which the
customary reactions continue to
55
00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,240
take place.
Another of the higher will and
56
00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:54,640
reason, which observes and is
not troubled or affected by the
57
00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,760
passion of this lower nature,
does not accept it as its own,
58
00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,720
does not approve, sanction or
participate.
59
00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:07,400
Then the lower nature begins to
lose the force and power of its
60
00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:11,880
reactions, to submit to the
suggestions of calm and strength
61
00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:16,680
from the higher reason and will,
and gradually that calm and
62
00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,399
strength take possession of the
mental and emotional, even of
63
00:04:20,399 --> 00:04:23,160
the sensational, vital and
physical being.
64
00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:28,760
This brings the third power and
result, the power by this
65
00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:32,720
endurance and mastery, this
separation and rejection of the
66
00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:38,560
lower nature, to get rid of the
normal reactions, and even if we
67
00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:43,240
will, to remold all our modes of
experience by the strength of
68
00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,720
the spirit.
This method is applied not only
69
00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,360
to the unpleasant but also to
the pleasant reactions.
70
00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,760
The soul refuses to give itself
up to or be carried away by
71
00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:58,120
them.
It endures with calm the impacts
72
00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:02,640
which bring joy and pleasure,
refuses to be excited by them,
73
00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,960
and replaces the joy and eager
seeking of the mind after
74
00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,160
pleasant things by the calm of
the spirit.
75
00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:15,760
It can be applied, too, to the
thought mind in a calm reception
76
00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:20,480
of knowledge and of limitations
of knowledge which refuses to be
77
00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,960
carried away by the fascination
of this attractive or repelled
78
00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:29,000
by dislike for that unaccustomed
or unpalatable thought
79
00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:33,360
suggestion, and waits on the
truth with a detached
80
00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,120
observation which allows it to
grow on the strong,
81
00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,520
disinterested, mastering will
and reason.
82
00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:47,080
Thus the soul becomes gradually
equal to all things master of
83
00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:51,160
itself, adequate to meet the
world with a strong front in the
84
00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:55,840
mind and an undisturbed serenity
of the spirit.
85
00:05:56,840 --> 00:06:00,000
End Quote.
Reference 3.
86
00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,440
Orobindo and the Mother Powers
within, Chapter 7.
87
00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,000
Attitude, pages 70 to 71.
00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,720
Seekers throughout the ages have
struggled with the issue of how
2
00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:07,720
to deal with the pressures and
circumstances of the external
3
00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,520
world.
They recognize the swing of
4
00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:14,920
emotions, feelings, and thoughts
that occur as they receive input
5
00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:19,040
from people and events.
They recognize that sometimes
6
00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,880
this causes them to lose control
and do things that are
7
00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:27,080
counterproductive or which
create enormous internal
8
00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:31,560
stresses and disturb the calm of
the mind and emotions, the
9
00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:35,800
nervous and vital framework, and
even the operations of their
10
00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:40,360
physical bodies.
Sri Aurobindo describes 3 steps
11
00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,160
that can aid the seeker in
gaining mastery over his
12
00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:45,400
internal reactions and
responses.
13
00:00:46,160 --> 00:00:50,200
The first step is one which has
been commonly employed, namely
14
00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,920
to habituate the being to bear
stronger and stronger touches as
15
00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,040
forces from outside create their
pressure on the being.
16
00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,760
It is in the second step where
Sri Robindo focuses on a method
17
00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,400
that, while not unknown to
spiritual seekers in the past,
18
00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,640
has not been put into consistent
practice.
19
00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,400
That is, to create the
separation of the witness
20
00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,800
consciousness and the active
nature, the separation of
21
00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:22,000
Purusha and Prakriti, and to
take the standpoint of the
22
00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,720
Purusha observing but not
intervening in the operations of
23
00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:31,440
the external nature, which
includes the mental, vital and
24
00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:35,960
physical elements of the being.
The third step moves a step
25
00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:41,040
further and the Pirusha exerts
control over the external nature
26
00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:45,360
and changes the entire structure
of reaction and response.
27
00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:51,160
Apropoa this view, Sri Robindo
has translated the following
28
00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,120
verses from chapter 4 of the
Shweta Shwatara Upanishad.
29
00:01:55,560 --> 00:02:00,040
Quote 2 Winged birds cling about
a common tree.
30
00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:05,760
Comrades yoke fellows, and one
eats the sweet fruit of the
31
00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,199
tree, the other eats not, but
watches.
32
00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:14,000
The soul upon a common tree is
absorbed, and because he is not
33
00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:19,280
Lord, grieves and is bewildered,
but when he sees and cleaves to
34
00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:24,000
that other who is the Lord, he
knows that all is his greatness,
35
00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:26,720
and his sorrow passes away from
him.
36
00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,520
End Quote.
Trior Bindo notes, quote.
37
00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,000
The soul which seeks mastery may
begin by turning upon these
38
00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,840
reactions, the encountering and
opposing force of a strong and
39
00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,160
equal endurance.
Instead of seeking to protect
40
00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:47,760
itself from or to shun an escape
the unpleasant impacts, it may
41
00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:52,240
confront them and teach itself
to suffer and to bear them with
42
00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:57,840
perseverance, with fortitude and
increasing equanimity or an
43
00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:03,000
austere or calm acceptance.
This attitude, this discipline,
44
00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:07,320
brings out three results. 3
Powers of the soul in relation
45
00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,920
to things.
First, it is found that what was
46
00:03:10,920 --> 00:03:13,960
before unbearable becomes easy
to endure.
47
00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:18,000
The scale of the power that
meets the impact rises in
48
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,960
degree.
It needs a greater and greater
49
00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:25,160
force of it, or of its
protracted incidents to cause
50
00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:31,960
trouble, pain, grief, aversion,
or any other of the notes in the
51
00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:34,240
gamut of the unpleasant
reactions.
52
00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:39,200
Secondly, it is found that the
conscious nature divides itself
53
00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,680
into two parts.
One of the normal mental and
54
00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:46,560
emotional nature, in which the
customary reactions continue to
55
00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,240
take place.
Another of the higher will and
56
00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:54,640
reason, which observes and is
not troubled or affected by the
57
00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,760
passion of this lower nature,
does not accept it as its own,
58
00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,720
does not approve, sanction or
participate.
59
00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:07,400
Then the lower nature begins to
lose the force and power of its
60
00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:11,880
reactions, to submit to the
suggestions of calm and strength
61
00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:16,680
from the higher reason and will,
and gradually that calm and
62
00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,399
strength take possession of the
mental and emotional, even of
63
00:04:20,399 --> 00:04:23,160
the sensational, vital and
physical being.
64
00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:28,760
This brings the third power and
result, the power by this
65
00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:32,720
endurance and mastery, this
separation and rejection of the
66
00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:38,560
lower nature, to get rid of the
normal reactions, and even if we
67
00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:43,240
will, to remold all our modes of
experience by the strength of
68
00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,720
the spirit.
This method is applied not only
69
00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,360
to the unpleasant but also to
the pleasant reactions.
70
00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,760
The soul refuses to give itself
up to or be carried away by
71
00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:58,120
them.
It endures with calm the impacts
72
00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:02,640
which bring joy and pleasure,
refuses to be excited by them,
73
00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,960
and replaces the joy and eager
seeking of the mind after
74
00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,160
pleasant things by the calm of
the spirit.
75
00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:15,760
It can be applied, too, to the
thought mind in a calm reception
76
00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:20,480
of knowledge and of limitations
of knowledge which refuses to be
77
00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,960
carried away by the fascination
of this attractive or repelled
78
00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:29,000
by dislike for that unaccustomed
or unpalatable thought
79
00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:33,360
suggestion, and waits on the
truth with a detached
80
00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,120
observation which allows it to
grow on the strong,
81
00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,520
disinterested, mastering will
and reason.
82
00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:47,080
Thus the soul becomes gradually
equal to all things master of
83
00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:51,160
itself, adequate to meet the
world with a strong front in the
84
00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:55,840
mind and an undisturbed serenity
of the spirit.
85
00:05:56,840 --> 00:06:00,000
End Quote.
Reference 3.
86
00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,440
Orobindo and the Mother Powers
within, Chapter 7.
87
00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,000
Attitude, pages 70 to 71.