Sept. 3, 2024
Spiritual Growth and the Development and Use of New Powers of Consciousness
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter I Latent Powers, pp.4-5 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/08/29/spiritual-growth-and-the-development-and-use-of-new-powers-of-consciousness/
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
00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:06,320
Spiritual seekers harness the
powers of body, vital being,
2
00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:11,280
emotions and mind in order to
develop and eventually attain
3
00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:16,560
the goal of their seeking.
The power of dedicated work, the
4
00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:21,320
power of the breath, the power
of devotion, the power of
5
00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:26,160
concentration, all have a part
to play in the seeker's journey
6
00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:30,080
towards spiritual fulfilment.
This is considered to be
7
00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,680
acceptable.
At a certain point, however,
8
00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:37,680
yogic practice tends to lead to
the development and expression
9
00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:42,240
of new powers, powers that are
uncommon when we look at the
10
00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,360
state of human development
today.
11
00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:49,040
And at this point, the seeker is
generally faced with a Riddle.
12
00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,120
What should they do about these
new forms of power that are
13
00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,080
arising as a result of their
practice?
14
00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,320
For those who follow a path of
renunciation, the advice has
15
00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:05,640
always been clear and direct
that the seeker should not take
16
00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:10,480
up, develop or become involved
with the application of these
17
00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,000
powers, which become
distractions to the seeking
18
00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:18,280
rather than aids.
On the other hand, those who
19
00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,480
follow a path of integration
into the life of humanity and
20
00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,640
who work toward carrying out the
divine intention in the
21
00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:30,400
manifestation may recognize that
these are evolutionary
22
00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:34,720
developments that represent, in
all likelihood, powers that are
23
00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:40,120
both natural and consistent with
the evolutionary process and
24
00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,440
thus should be accepted and
utilized in a balanced and
25
00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,080
harmonious manner in furtherance
of their spiritual ideal.
26
00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,000
The issue in both cases comes
down to the intention behind the
27
00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,080
acceptance and use of the
powers.
28
00:01:56,240 --> 00:02:01,760
If they are used to aggrandize
the ego, to gain domination, to
29
00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:06,320
enhance vanity, to acquire
wealth for individual enjoyment,
30
00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,960
they are clearly a distraction
for seekers in either direction.
31
00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,800
If, on the other hand, they are
put to work for the general
32
00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:19,840
development and support the arc
of consciousness as it
33
00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:24,240
successively works to manifest
higher states of consciousness
34
00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:28,680
in the world without the
individual ego attaching itself
35
00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:33,480
to this expression, then it
represents a power that can and
36
00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,920
should be utilized in the divine
work.
37
00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,080
We see many attempts to work
through this issue in the
38
00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:46,640
history of yogic process.
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras describe
39
00:02:46,640 --> 00:02:51,360
various sorts of powers, how and
in what manner they develop, and
40
00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,480
how to manage them.
Tibetan Yoga has extensive
41
00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,960
teachings on the methodology of
developing certain powers.
42
00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:04,080
Tantric Yoga in its various
forms seeks to harness and
43
00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:08,000
utilize the powers to not only
fulfill the force of the life,
44
00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:12,760
but as a means towards the
spiritual realization sought in
45
00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:16,720
those paths.
The Bhagwad Gita shows an
46
00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,200
integrated approach that appears
to accept the powers that come
47
00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:24,120
to the individual as long as
they are put at the service of
48
00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:28,280
the greater truth and destiny
that the individual is intended
49
00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:32,000
to fulfill.
The issue raised by the Gita is
50
00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:36,720
to find the right approach based
on undertaking any action with
51
00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:40,240
respect to the right
circumstance, the right
52
00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:45,880
intention, the right balance and
a view to the right result to be
53
00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,880
attained.
Temasek approaches based on
54
00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,720
darkness and false application
are discouraged.
55
00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,600
Similarly, Rajasic approaches
based on desire and
56
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,280
self-interest are also
discouraged.
57
00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,720
The approach taken by Sri
Aurobindo works to realize the
58
00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:11,200
evolutionary potential and
thereby carry out what he terms
59
00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:18,079
the Yoga of Self perfection.
Sri Aurobindo observes quote in
60
00:04:18,079 --> 00:04:21,560
Mystic experience.
When there is an opening of the
61
00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:26,960
inner centers, or in other ways,
spontaneously or by will or
62
00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:32,240
endeavour, or in the very course
of the spiritual growth, new
63
00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,040
powers of consciousness have
been known to develop.
64
00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:40,120
They present themselves as if an
automatic consequence of some
65
00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:45,760
inner opening or in answer to a
call in the being, so much so
66
00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,320
that it has been found necessary
to recommend to the seeker not
67
00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,240
to hunt after these powers, not
to accept or use them.
68
00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:58,320
This rejection is logical for
those who seek to withdraw from
69
00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:03,720
life, for all acceptance of
greater power would bind to life
70
00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:09,280
or be a burden on the bare and
pure urge towards liberation and
71
00:05:09,280 --> 00:05:12,960
indifference to all other aims
and issues is natural for the
72
00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:18,080
God lover who seeks God for his
own sake and not for power or
73
00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:22,520
any other inferior attraction.
The pursuit of these alluring
74
00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,720
but often dangerous forces would
be a deviation from his purpose.
75
00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:32,600
A similar rejection is a
necessary self restraint and a
76
00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,600
spiritual discipline for the
immature seeker, since such
77
00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:41,200
powers may be a great, even a
deadly peril, for their
78
00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:46,040
supernormality may easily feed
in him an abnormal exaggeration
79
00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,840
of the ego.
Power in itself may be dreaded
80
00:05:49,840 --> 00:05:53,240
as a temptation by the aspirant
to perfection.
81
00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:58,720
Because power can abase as well
as elevate, nothing is more
82
00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:03,680
liable to misuse.
But when new capacities come as
83
00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,560
an inevitable result of the
growth into a greater
84
00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:11,040
consciousness and a greater
life, and that growth is part of
85
00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,520
the very aim of the spiritual
being within us, this bar does
86
00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:19,000
not operate.
For a growth of the being into
87
00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:24,800
supernature, and its life in
supernature cannot take place or
88
00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,760
cannot be complete without
bringing with it a greater power
89
00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:32,600
of consciousness and a greater
power of life, and the
90
00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,960
spontaneous development of an
instrumentation of knowledge and
91
00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,720
force normal to that
supernature.
92
00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,520
There is nothing in this future
evolution of the being which
93
00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:48,080
could be regarded as irrational
or incredible.
94
00:06:48,840 --> 00:06:52,000
There is nothing in it abnormal
or miraculous.
95
00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:56,400
It would be the necessary course
of the evolution of
96
00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:01,680
consciousness and its forces in
the passage from the mental to
97
00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,360
the Gnostic or super mental
formulation of our existence.
98
00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:10,400
This action of the forces of
Super Nature would be a natural,
99
00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:15,120
normal and spontaneously simple
working of the new, higher or
100
00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:19,800
greater consciousness into which
the being enters in the course
101
00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:24,160
of his self evolution.
The Gnostic being, accepting the
102
00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:29,400
Gnostic life, would develop and
use the powers of this greater
103
00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:35,160
consciousness even as man
develops and uses the powers of
104
00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:40,920
his mental nature.
And quote reference Srioro Bindu
105
00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:45,480
and the Mother Powers within
Chapter One, Latent Powers,
106
00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,000
pages 4:00 to 5:00.
00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:06,320
Spiritual seekers harness the
powers of body, vital being,
2
00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:11,280
emotions and mind in order to
develop and eventually attain
3
00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:16,560
the goal of their seeking.
The power of dedicated work, the
4
00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:21,320
power of the breath, the power
of devotion, the power of
5
00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:26,160
concentration, all have a part
to play in the seeker's journey
6
00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:30,080
towards spiritual fulfilment.
This is considered to be
7
00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,680
acceptable.
At a certain point, however,
8
00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:37,680
yogic practice tends to lead to
the development and expression
9
00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:42,240
of new powers, powers that are
uncommon when we look at the
10
00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,360
state of human development
today.
11
00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:49,040
And at this point, the seeker is
generally faced with a Riddle.
12
00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,120
What should they do about these
new forms of power that are
13
00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,080
arising as a result of their
practice?
14
00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,320
For those who follow a path of
renunciation, the advice has
15
00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:05,640
always been clear and direct
that the seeker should not take
16
00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:10,480
up, develop or become involved
with the application of these
17
00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,000
powers, which become
distractions to the seeking
18
00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:18,280
rather than aids.
On the other hand, those who
19
00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,480
follow a path of integration
into the life of humanity and
20
00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,640
who work toward carrying out the
divine intention in the
21
00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:30,400
manifestation may recognize that
these are evolutionary
22
00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:34,720
developments that represent, in
all likelihood, powers that are
23
00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:40,120
both natural and consistent with
the evolutionary process and
24
00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,440
thus should be accepted and
utilized in a balanced and
25
00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,080
harmonious manner in furtherance
of their spiritual ideal.
26
00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,000
The issue in both cases comes
down to the intention behind the
27
00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,080
acceptance and use of the
powers.
28
00:01:56,240 --> 00:02:01,760
If they are used to aggrandize
the ego, to gain domination, to
29
00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:06,320
enhance vanity, to acquire
wealth for individual enjoyment,
30
00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,960
they are clearly a distraction
for seekers in either direction.
31
00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,800
If, on the other hand, they are
put to work for the general
32
00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:19,840
development and support the arc
of consciousness as it
33
00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:24,240
successively works to manifest
higher states of consciousness
34
00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:28,680
in the world without the
individual ego attaching itself
35
00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:33,480
to this expression, then it
represents a power that can and
36
00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,920
should be utilized in the divine
work.
37
00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,080
We see many attempts to work
through this issue in the
38
00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:46,640
history of yogic process.
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras describe
39
00:02:46,640 --> 00:02:51,360
various sorts of powers, how and
in what manner they develop, and
40
00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,480
how to manage them.
Tibetan Yoga has extensive
41
00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,960
teachings on the methodology of
developing certain powers.
42
00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:04,080
Tantric Yoga in its various
forms seeks to harness and
43
00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:08,000
utilize the powers to not only
fulfill the force of the life,
44
00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:12,760
but as a means towards the
spiritual realization sought in
45
00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:16,720
those paths.
The Bhagwad Gita shows an
46
00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,200
integrated approach that appears
to accept the powers that come
47
00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:24,120
to the individual as long as
they are put at the service of
48
00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:28,280
the greater truth and destiny
that the individual is intended
49
00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:32,000
to fulfill.
The issue raised by the Gita is
50
00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:36,720
to find the right approach based
on undertaking any action with
51
00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:40,240
respect to the right
circumstance, the right
52
00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:45,880
intention, the right balance and
a view to the right result to be
53
00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,880
attained.
Temasek approaches based on
54
00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,720
darkness and false application
are discouraged.
55
00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,600
Similarly, Rajasic approaches
based on desire and
56
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,280
self-interest are also
discouraged.
57
00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,720
The approach taken by Sri
Aurobindo works to realize the
58
00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:11,200
evolutionary potential and
thereby carry out what he terms
59
00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:18,079
the Yoga of Self perfection.
Sri Aurobindo observes quote in
60
00:04:18,079 --> 00:04:21,560
Mystic experience.
When there is an opening of the
61
00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:26,960
inner centers, or in other ways,
spontaneously or by will or
62
00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:32,240
endeavour, or in the very course
of the spiritual growth, new
63
00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,040
powers of consciousness have
been known to develop.
64
00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:40,120
They present themselves as if an
automatic consequence of some
65
00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:45,760
inner opening or in answer to a
call in the being, so much so
66
00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,320
that it has been found necessary
to recommend to the seeker not
67
00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,240
to hunt after these powers, not
to accept or use them.
68
00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:58,320
This rejection is logical for
those who seek to withdraw from
69
00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:03,720
life, for all acceptance of
greater power would bind to life
70
00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:09,280
or be a burden on the bare and
pure urge towards liberation and
71
00:05:09,280 --> 00:05:12,960
indifference to all other aims
and issues is natural for the
72
00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:18,080
God lover who seeks God for his
own sake and not for power or
73
00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:22,520
any other inferior attraction.
The pursuit of these alluring
74
00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,720
but often dangerous forces would
be a deviation from his purpose.
75
00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:32,600
A similar rejection is a
necessary self restraint and a
76
00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,600
spiritual discipline for the
immature seeker, since such
77
00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:41,200
powers may be a great, even a
deadly peril, for their
78
00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:46,040
supernormality may easily feed
in him an abnormal exaggeration
79
00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,840
of the ego.
Power in itself may be dreaded
80
00:05:49,840 --> 00:05:53,240
as a temptation by the aspirant
to perfection.
81
00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:58,720
Because power can abase as well
as elevate, nothing is more
82
00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:03,680
liable to misuse.
But when new capacities come as
83
00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,560
an inevitable result of the
growth into a greater
84
00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:11,040
consciousness and a greater
life, and that growth is part of
85
00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,520
the very aim of the spiritual
being within us, this bar does
86
00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:19,000
not operate.
For a growth of the being into
87
00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:24,800
supernature, and its life in
supernature cannot take place or
88
00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,760
cannot be complete without
bringing with it a greater power
89
00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:32,600
of consciousness and a greater
power of life, and the
90
00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,960
spontaneous development of an
instrumentation of knowledge and
91
00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,720
force normal to that
supernature.
92
00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,520
There is nothing in this future
evolution of the being which
93
00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:48,080
could be regarded as irrational
or incredible.
94
00:06:48,840 --> 00:06:52,000
There is nothing in it abnormal
or miraculous.
95
00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:56,400
It would be the necessary course
of the evolution of
96
00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:01,680
consciousness and its forces in
the passage from the mental to
97
00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,360
the Gnostic or super mental
formulation of our existence.
98
00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:10,400
This action of the forces of
Super Nature would be a natural,
99
00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:15,120
normal and spontaneously simple
working of the new, higher or
100
00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:19,800
greater consciousness into which
the being enters in the course
101
00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:24,160
of his self evolution.
The Gnostic being, accepting the
102
00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:29,400
Gnostic life, would develop and
use the powers of this greater
103
00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:35,160
consciousness even as man
develops and uses the powers of
104
00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:40,920
his mental nature.
And quote reference Srioro Bindu
105
00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:45,480
and the Mother Powers within
Chapter One, Latent Powers,
106
00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,000
pages 4:00 to 5:00.