April 28, 2025
Self-Dedication to the Divine Through Work
Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
Amazon Music 
RSS Feed 
Castro 
RadioPublic 
PocketCasts 
YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 3, Action and Work, pg. 63This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/04/26/self-dedication-to-the-divine-through-work/
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
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:05,160
The ECO personality almost
always interprets external
2
00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:10,360
activity work by an arbitrary
measure of value, in many cases
3
00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:15,040
monetary, but in some cases
based on the benefits provided
4
00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:18,360
to the society.
Religious and spiritual
5
00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:22,200
institutions frequently take up
work that is considered to be
6
00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:26,400
charitable in nature, such as
feeding large numbers of people
7
00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,080
or treating people for their
health conditions, founding
8
00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:34,000
hospitals, and providing refuge
to people who are suffering.
9
00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,760
These things are then seen as a
representation of selfless work,
10
00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:44,080
a form of karma yoga.
While it is true these things
11
00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,920
may actually be a form of
conscious karma yoga, these
12
00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,920
outward activities are not in
and of themselves definitive.
13
00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,400
What appears to be selfless work
benefiting others may actually
14
00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:01,200
be undertaken as a form of
vanity, A seeking for approval
15
00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:06,720
of self by others, et cetera.
At the same time, people who
16
00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:10,720
carry out seemingly small or
humble functions are frequently
17
00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:16,400
looked down upon and devalued
both as to their existence and
18
00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:21,280
their spiritual potential.
Both of these approaches miss
19
00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:24,720
the essential nature of
spiritual development, namely
20
00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:32,000
that it takes place inwardly,
unseen, unheard, unannounced and
21
00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:37,480
without fanfare.
In his book The Mother, Srioro
22
00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:41,000
Bindo describes the qualities of
one who aspires to be a true
23
00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,800
doer of divine works.
At no point does he refer to the
24
00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,960
actual external function or work
product of the individual.
25
00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,800
All the descriptions are related
to the inner attitude, the
26
00:01:54,800 --> 00:02:00,080
dedication, the aspiration, the
consecration of the individual,
27
00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,920
the non attachment to the
results or fruits of the effort
28
00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,000
in whatever form of work they
are doing.
29
00:02:08,479 --> 00:02:11,600
Sri Krishna makes similar
statements in answer to the
30
00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,360
questions of Arjuna that arose
in the Bhagavad Gita.
31
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,200
One cannot necessarily discern
the liberated man from his
32
00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,920
outward actions.
The outward appearance does not
33
00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:28,760
always nor completely reflect
the inner status.
34
00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:33,920
There was a sadak at the Srioro
Bindo Ashram during the early
35
00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:38,520
1970s who worked in the dining
hall back area, drying and
36
00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,560
polishing the stainless steel
plates upon which meals were
37
00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:46,360
served to the sadaks.
It was unassuming work and he
38
00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,720
quietly went about this activity
with a calm and happy demeanour.
39
00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,320
Prior to joining the Sri
Arubindo Ashram, he was an
40
00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:59,840
ardent spiritual seeker and as a
result of his deep sense of
41
00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:04,240
peace and inner ease, he had
attracted a number of devoted
42
00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:08,040
followers and friends.
He could have become a teacher
43
00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:12,000
and leader of a spiritual
community in his own right, yet
44
00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:17,120
he chose to dry plates at the
Sri Aurobindo Ashram in pursuit
45
00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:21,800
of his spiritual sadhna.
Someone trying to judge him by
46
00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:27,040
his outward activity and simple
and unassuming manner would be
47
00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:32,800
very much misled and it turned
out that he became a beacon and
48
00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,720
light for many who chance to
come into his aura.
49
00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:42,280
Sri Aurobindo writes quote, Self
dedication does not depend on
50
00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:46,600
the particular work you do, but
on the spirit in which all work
51
00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,640
of whatever kind it may be, is
done.
52
00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:55,600
Any work done well and carefully
as a sacrifice to the Divine,
53
00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:01,560
without desire or egoism, with
equality of mind and calm,
54
00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:05,600
tranquillity and good or bad
fortune, for the sake of the
55
00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:10,320
Divine and not for the sake of
any personal gain, reward or
56
00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:14,440
result, with the consciousness
that it is the Divine power to
57
00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:20,240
which all work belongs, is a
means of self dedication through
58
00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:25,160
karma.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindu
59
00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,640
and the Mother looking from
within, Chapter 3.
60
00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,920
Action and Work, page 63.
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:05,160
The ECO personality almost
always interprets external
2
00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:10,360
activity work by an arbitrary
measure of value, in many cases
3
00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:15,040
monetary, but in some cases
based on the benefits provided
4
00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:18,360
to the society.
Religious and spiritual
5
00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:22,200
institutions frequently take up
work that is considered to be
6
00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:26,400
charitable in nature, such as
feeding large numbers of people
7
00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,080
or treating people for their
health conditions, founding
8
00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:34,000
hospitals, and providing refuge
to people who are suffering.
9
00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,760
These things are then seen as a
representation of selfless work,
10
00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:44,080
a form of karma yoga.
While it is true these things
11
00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,920
may actually be a form of
conscious karma yoga, these
12
00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,920
outward activities are not in
and of themselves definitive.
13
00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,400
What appears to be selfless work
benefiting others may actually
14
00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:01,200
be undertaken as a form of
vanity, A seeking for approval
15
00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:06,720
of self by others, et cetera.
At the same time, people who
16
00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:10,720
carry out seemingly small or
humble functions are frequently
17
00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:16,400
looked down upon and devalued
both as to their existence and
18
00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:21,280
their spiritual potential.
Both of these approaches miss
19
00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:24,720
the essential nature of
spiritual development, namely
20
00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:32,000
that it takes place inwardly,
unseen, unheard, unannounced and
21
00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:37,480
without fanfare.
In his book The Mother, Srioro
22
00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:41,000
Bindo describes the qualities of
one who aspires to be a true
23
00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,800
doer of divine works.
At no point does he refer to the
24
00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,960
actual external function or work
product of the individual.
25
00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,800
All the descriptions are related
to the inner attitude, the
26
00:01:54,800 --> 00:02:00,080
dedication, the aspiration, the
consecration of the individual,
27
00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,920
the non attachment to the
results or fruits of the effort
28
00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,000
in whatever form of work they
are doing.
29
00:02:08,479 --> 00:02:11,600
Sri Krishna makes similar
statements in answer to the
30
00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,360
questions of Arjuna that arose
in the Bhagavad Gita.
31
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,200
One cannot necessarily discern
the liberated man from his
32
00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,920
outward actions.
The outward appearance does not
33
00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:28,760
always nor completely reflect
the inner status.
34
00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:33,920
There was a sadak at the Srioro
Bindo Ashram during the early
35
00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:38,520
1970s who worked in the dining
hall back area, drying and
36
00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,560
polishing the stainless steel
plates upon which meals were
37
00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:46,360
served to the sadaks.
It was unassuming work and he
38
00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,720
quietly went about this activity
with a calm and happy demeanour.
39
00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,320
Prior to joining the Sri
Arubindo Ashram, he was an
40
00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:59,840
ardent spiritual seeker and as a
result of his deep sense of
41
00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:04,240
peace and inner ease, he had
attracted a number of devoted
42
00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:08,040
followers and friends.
He could have become a teacher
43
00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:12,000
and leader of a spiritual
community in his own right, yet
44
00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:17,120
he chose to dry plates at the
Sri Aurobindo Ashram in pursuit
45
00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:21,800
of his spiritual sadhna.
Someone trying to judge him by
46
00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:27,040
his outward activity and simple
and unassuming manner would be
47
00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:32,800
very much misled and it turned
out that he became a beacon and
48
00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,720
light for many who chance to
come into his aura.
49
00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:42,280
Sri Aurobindo writes quote, Self
dedication does not depend on
50
00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:46,600
the particular work you do, but
on the spirit in which all work
51
00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,640
of whatever kind it may be, is
done.
52
00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:55,600
Any work done well and carefully
as a sacrifice to the Divine,
53
00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:01,560
without desire or egoism, with
equality of mind and calm,
54
00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:05,600
tranquillity and good or bad
fortune, for the sake of the
55
00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:10,320
Divine and not for the sake of
any personal gain, reward or
56
00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:14,440
result, with the consciousness
that it is the Divine power to
57
00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:20,240
which all work belongs, is a
means of self dedication through
58
00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:25,160
karma.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindu
59
00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,640
and the Mother looking from
within, Chapter 3.
60
00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,920
Action and Work, page 63.