April 29, 2025
Spiritual Development Can Occur Regardless of One's Activities in the World
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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/2025/04/27/spiritual-development-can-occur-regardless-of-ones-activities-in-the-world/
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
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,520
From early childhood we are
inculcated with the idea of
2
00:00:04,520 --> 00:00:09,040
achieving success, becoming
foremost and occupying a
3
00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:14,120
position of power, prestige or
wealth in the world.
4
00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,960
Parents drum this idea into the
mind of their children that they
5
00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:23,120
need to study, attain degrees,
choose suitable lucrative
6
00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:28,280
careers, and marry well to
occupy their role in society.
7
00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,479
A hierarchy is established
through this process that treats
8
00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:37,240
certain types of careers as
prestigious and rewarding and
9
00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:42,280
others as low, demeaning,
degrading, or somehow of lesser
10
00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:46,920
value or importance.
Even when the individual takes
11
00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,840
up the spiritual quest, they
have these habits still
12
00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:54,920
ingrained in their psyche and
wind up through the lens of
13
00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:59,320
mental judgement based on them.
Categorizing certain activities
14
00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:03,960
is better, bigger, more
important as compared to others.
15
00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,960
This can take the form of a
subtwick egoism if it is based
16
00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:13,240
on the idea of mental or moral
superiority, or a form of
17
00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:18,200
rajasic egoism if it is based on
a need to impose oneself upon
18
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,840
others and assert power and
control, or even a temasek
19
00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,840
egoism if it is simply allowing
these past impressions to
20
00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:31,240
control them without any
reflection or thought involved
21
00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,800
at all.
This crops up in the form of
22
00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,680
treating certain individuals who
have been assigned jobs with
23
00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:42,560
certain types of public activity
or intellectual efforts or
24
00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,280
management responsibility as
more important and more
25
00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,840
spiritually advanced than those
who are set to carry out
26
00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:54,280
assigned tasks or who do
subordinate tasks for the person
27
00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,360
having the most visible role and
responsibility.
28
00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:02,880
Similarly, in many societies,
the role of women is treated as
29
00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,200
a lesser position or value than
the activities of the men.
30
00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,960
In some cultures or religious
backgrounds, this is extended to
31
00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:15,360
a judgement about the spiritual
potential or attainments, and
32
00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:19,160
women are thereby excluded from
leadership roles in those
33
00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,920
groups.
Clearly, spiritual development
34
00:02:22,920 --> 00:02:26,720
is not tied to whether someone
takes birth in a male or female
35
00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:32,080
body or in any particular group,
racial background, or other
36
00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,600
purely external features of
their current birth.
37
00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,160
It is good to reflect on things
that illustrate that everything
38
00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:44,640
is based in oneness and the big
jobs cannot succeed without the
39
00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:49,120
small jobs being done.
An intellectual immersed in
40
00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:53,000
studies will not survive if
there's not a farmer to grow the
41
00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:57,760
food, a carrier to move the
food, a market to stock the
42
00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,720
food, and individuals to
purchase and store and then
43
00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,720
prepare the food.
All of these smaller jobs are
44
00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,560
essential to the success of the
bigger job.
45
00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:13,960
Similarly, scientists tell us
that if the ants or the bees
46
00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:19,040
were to be exterminated, our
human life on this planet would
47
00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:23,120
not be tenable.
The outer work is not a
48
00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,680
reflection of the inner
spiritual development or
49
00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:29,320
maturity.
A person could be outwardly seen
50
00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:35,040
as important, a head of state or
ACEO of a major corporation, and
51
00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,880
yet be quite immature
spiritually.
52
00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,160
While someone sweeping the dust
out of a house may in fact be a
53
00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:46,040
quite mature soul.
The spiritual realization can
54
00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,560
come through the path of
knowledge, the path of power,
55
00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:54,520
the path of interchange, love
and devotion, and harmony, the
56
00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:58,520
path of service.
Each of these elements is
57
00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,560
essential for the completeness
of the creation, and over the
58
00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:07,040
course of many lifetimes it is
likely that a particular soul
59
00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:12,440
has occupied various positions
in the external hierarchy while
60
00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:16,640
their soul gained the experience
and maturity it sought from that
61
00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:21,360
particular life experience.
There are cases where
62
00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,680
individuals with extensive
academic or intellectual
63
00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:28,400
attainments wind up taking on
functions that build their
64
00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:34,440
ability to serve, to support, to
protect, to assist others, and
65
00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,480
this requires them to undertake
roles that are different than
66
00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,680
their natural academic or
intellectual pursuits.
67
00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,880
These new functions do not take
away from the development they
68
00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,760
have in other fields, but
actually may enrich their
69
00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:53,560
understanding and their powers
of action in the world by adding
70
00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,280
entirely new areas of focus and
capacity.
71
00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:03,640
Srioro Bindo observes quote.
Of course, the idea of bigness
72
00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,760
and smallness is quite foreign
to the spiritual truth.
73
00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,400
Spiritually there is nothing big
or small.
74
00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,880
Such ideas are like those of the
literary people who think
75
00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:19,040
writing a poem is a high work
and making shoes or cooking the
76
00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:23,480
dinner is a small and low one.
But all is equal in the eyes of
77
00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:28,120
the spirit, and it is only the
spirit within which it is done
78
00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,680
that matters.
It's the same with a particular
79
00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:36,200
kind of work.
There is nothing big or small.
80
00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:42,160
End Quote reference Trioro,
Window and the Mother looking
81
00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:47,440
from within, Chapter 3 Action
and Work, page 63.
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,520
From early childhood we are
inculcated with the idea of
2
00:00:04,520 --> 00:00:09,040
achieving success, becoming
foremost and occupying a
3
00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:14,120
position of power, prestige or
wealth in the world.
4
00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,960
Parents drum this idea into the
mind of their children that they
5
00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:23,120
need to study, attain degrees,
choose suitable lucrative
6
00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:28,280
careers, and marry well to
occupy their role in society.
7
00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,479
A hierarchy is established
through this process that treats
8
00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:37,240
certain types of careers as
prestigious and rewarding and
9
00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:42,280
others as low, demeaning,
degrading, or somehow of lesser
10
00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:46,920
value or importance.
Even when the individual takes
11
00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,840
up the spiritual quest, they
have these habits still
12
00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:54,920
ingrained in their psyche and
wind up through the lens of
13
00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:59,320
mental judgement based on them.
Categorizing certain activities
14
00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:03,960
is better, bigger, more
important as compared to others.
15
00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,960
This can take the form of a
subtwick egoism if it is based
16
00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:13,240
on the idea of mental or moral
superiority, or a form of
17
00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:18,200
rajasic egoism if it is based on
a need to impose oneself upon
18
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,840
others and assert power and
control, or even a temasek
19
00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,840
egoism if it is simply allowing
these past impressions to
20
00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:31,240
control them without any
reflection or thought involved
21
00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,800
at all.
This crops up in the form of
22
00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,680
treating certain individuals who
have been assigned jobs with
23
00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:42,560
certain types of public activity
or intellectual efforts or
24
00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,280
management responsibility as
more important and more
25
00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,840
spiritually advanced than those
who are set to carry out
26
00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:54,280
assigned tasks or who do
subordinate tasks for the person
27
00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,360
having the most visible role and
responsibility.
28
00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:02,880
Similarly, in many societies,
the role of women is treated as
29
00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,200
a lesser position or value than
the activities of the men.
30
00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,960
In some cultures or religious
backgrounds, this is extended to
31
00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:15,360
a judgement about the spiritual
potential or attainments, and
32
00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:19,160
women are thereby excluded from
leadership roles in those
33
00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,920
groups.
Clearly, spiritual development
34
00:02:22,920 --> 00:02:26,720
is not tied to whether someone
takes birth in a male or female
35
00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:32,080
body or in any particular group,
racial background, or other
36
00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,600
purely external features of
their current birth.
37
00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,160
It is good to reflect on things
that illustrate that everything
38
00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:44,640
is based in oneness and the big
jobs cannot succeed without the
39
00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:49,120
small jobs being done.
An intellectual immersed in
40
00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:53,000
studies will not survive if
there's not a farmer to grow the
41
00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:57,760
food, a carrier to move the
food, a market to stock the
42
00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,720
food, and individuals to
purchase and store and then
43
00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,720
prepare the food.
All of these smaller jobs are
44
00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,560
essential to the success of the
bigger job.
45
00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:13,960
Similarly, scientists tell us
that if the ants or the bees
46
00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:19,040
were to be exterminated, our
human life on this planet would
47
00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:23,120
not be tenable.
The outer work is not a
48
00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,680
reflection of the inner
spiritual development or
49
00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:29,320
maturity.
A person could be outwardly seen
50
00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:35,040
as important, a head of state or
ACEO of a major corporation, and
51
00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,880
yet be quite immature
spiritually.
52
00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,160
While someone sweeping the dust
out of a house may in fact be a
53
00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:46,040
quite mature soul.
The spiritual realization can
54
00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,560
come through the path of
knowledge, the path of power,
55
00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:54,520
the path of interchange, love
and devotion, and harmony, the
56
00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:58,520
path of service.
Each of these elements is
57
00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,560
essential for the completeness
of the creation, and over the
58
00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:07,040
course of many lifetimes it is
likely that a particular soul
59
00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:12,440
has occupied various positions
in the external hierarchy while
60
00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:16,640
their soul gained the experience
and maturity it sought from that
61
00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:21,360
particular life experience.
There are cases where
62
00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,680
individuals with extensive
academic or intellectual
63
00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:28,400
attainments wind up taking on
functions that build their
64
00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:34,440
ability to serve, to support, to
protect, to assist others, and
65
00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,480
this requires them to undertake
roles that are different than
66
00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,680
their natural academic or
intellectual pursuits.
67
00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,880
These new functions do not take
away from the development they
68
00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,760
have in other fields, but
actually may enrich their
69
00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:53,560
understanding and their powers
of action in the world by adding
70
00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,280
entirely new areas of focus and
capacity.
71
00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:03,640
Srioro Bindo observes quote.
Of course, the idea of bigness
72
00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,760
and smallness is quite foreign
to the spiritual truth.
73
00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,400
Spiritually there is nothing big
or small.
74
00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,880
Such ideas are like those of the
literary people who think
75
00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:19,040
writing a poem is a high work
and making shoes or cooking the
76
00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:23,480
dinner is a small and low one.
But all is equal in the eyes of
77
00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:28,120
the spirit, and it is only the
spirit within which it is done
78
00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,680
that matters.
It's the same with a particular
79
00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:36,200
kind of work.
There is nothing big or small.
80
00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:42,160
End Quote reference Trioro,
Window and the Mother looking
81
00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:47,440
from within, Chapter 3 Action
and Work, page 63.