Dec. 6, 2024
The Best Way of Widening One's Thought
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter XIII Power of Identification, pp. 105-106 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/12/03/the-best-way-of-widening-ones-thought/
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
00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:06,120
If we observe carefully our
interactions with others, we may
2
00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:09,320
note that when another person is
describing or explaining
3
00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:14,440
something, our minds are eager
to jump in, express a different
4
00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:19,120
point of view, or simply remain
fixed in our own ideas and
5
00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,320
mindset.
In other words, hearing without
6
00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,640
listening.
This standpoint keeps us locked
7
00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,680
into a very narrow view of
existence, expressing the
8
00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,760
habitual stance of the mental
consciousness, which sees things
9
00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:38,440
in a linear fashion.
Generally, there is another way
10
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,520
which is based on a more global,
wider view of reality.
11
00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,240
The mother describes this option
in detail.
12
00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,880
By following this method, an
individual puts aside for the
13
00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:56,000
time being, his own viewpoint
and the rajasic impulse to
14
00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,720
express it, and puts himself in
a receptive mode to gain a
15
00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:04,760
deeper understanding of the
standpoint and view of the other
16
00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:08,800
individual.
At some point, this process
17
00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:12,560
coalesces into a new synthesis
of understanding that
18
00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:17,560
incorporates the essential truth
underlying both positions.
19
00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:24,200
The mother notes, For instance,
you are with someone, this
20
00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:29,120
person tells you something, you
tell him the contrary, as it
21
00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:33,360
usually happens, simply through
a spirit of contradiction, and
22
00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,840
you begin arguing.
Naturally, you will never come
23
00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,360
to any point except a quarrel if
you are ill natured.
24
00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:45,040
But instead of doing that,
instead of remaining in your own
25
00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:50,440
ideas or your own words, if you
tell yourself, wait a little,
26
00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,720
I'm going to try and see why he
said that to me.
27
00:01:54,320 --> 00:02:01,480
Yes, why did he tell me that?
And you concentrate, why, why,
28
00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,960
why?
You stand there just like that,
29
00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:09,000
trying.
The other person continues
30
00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:13,280
speaking, doesn't he?
And is very happy too, for you
31
00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:18,560
don't contradict him any longer.
He talks profusely and is sure
32
00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,240
he has convinced you.
Then you concentrate more and
33
00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:26,360
more on what he is saying and
with the feeling that gradually
34
00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:30,080
through his words you are
entering his mind.
35
00:02:30,920 --> 00:02:34,000
When you enter his head,
suddenly you enter into his way
36
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:38,200
of thinking.
And next, just imagine you
37
00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,960
understand why he is speaking to
you thus.
38
00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:46,640
And then, if you have a fairly
swift intelligence, and put what
39
00:02:46,640 --> 00:02:50,040
you have just come to understand
alongside what you had known
40
00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:55,520
before, you have the two ways
together, and so can find the
41
00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:59,760
truth, reconciling both.
And here you have truly made
42
00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,720
progress.
And this is the best way of
43
00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:06,640
widening one's thought.
If you are beginning an
44
00:03:06,640 --> 00:03:11,040
argument, keep quiet.
Immediately, instantaneously,
45
00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:16,200
you must be silent.
Say nothing at all, and then try
46
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,680
to see the thing as the other
person sees it.
47
00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,720
That won't make you forget your
own way of seeing it, not at
48
00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:26,160
all.
But you will be able to put both
49
00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:30,200
of them together, and you will
truly have made progress.
50
00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,400
A real progress.
End Quote.
51
00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:39,720
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother Powers within Chapter 13
52
00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:44,680
Power of Identification pages
one O 5 to one O 6.
00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:06,120
If we observe carefully our
interactions with others, we may
2
00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:09,320
note that when another person is
describing or explaining
3
00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:14,440
something, our minds are eager
to jump in, express a different
4
00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:19,120
point of view, or simply remain
fixed in our own ideas and
5
00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,320
mindset.
In other words, hearing without
6
00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,640
listening.
This standpoint keeps us locked
7
00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,680
into a very narrow view of
existence, expressing the
8
00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,760
habitual stance of the mental
consciousness, which sees things
9
00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:38,440
in a linear fashion.
Generally, there is another way
10
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,520
which is based on a more global,
wider view of reality.
11
00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,240
The mother describes this option
in detail.
12
00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,880
By following this method, an
individual puts aside for the
13
00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:56,000
time being, his own viewpoint
and the rajasic impulse to
14
00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,720
express it, and puts himself in
a receptive mode to gain a
15
00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:04,760
deeper understanding of the
standpoint and view of the other
16
00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:08,800
individual.
At some point, this process
17
00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:12,560
coalesces into a new synthesis
of understanding that
18
00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:17,560
incorporates the essential truth
underlying both positions.
19
00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:24,200
The mother notes, For instance,
you are with someone, this
20
00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:29,120
person tells you something, you
tell him the contrary, as it
21
00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:33,360
usually happens, simply through
a spirit of contradiction, and
22
00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,840
you begin arguing.
Naturally, you will never come
23
00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,360
to any point except a quarrel if
you are ill natured.
24
00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:45,040
But instead of doing that,
instead of remaining in your own
25
00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:50,440
ideas or your own words, if you
tell yourself, wait a little,
26
00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,720
I'm going to try and see why he
said that to me.
27
00:01:54,320 --> 00:02:01,480
Yes, why did he tell me that?
And you concentrate, why, why,
28
00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,960
why?
You stand there just like that,
29
00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:09,000
trying.
The other person continues
30
00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:13,280
speaking, doesn't he?
And is very happy too, for you
31
00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:18,560
don't contradict him any longer.
He talks profusely and is sure
32
00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,240
he has convinced you.
Then you concentrate more and
33
00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:26,360
more on what he is saying and
with the feeling that gradually
34
00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:30,080
through his words you are
entering his mind.
35
00:02:30,920 --> 00:02:34,000
When you enter his head,
suddenly you enter into his way
36
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:38,200
of thinking.
And next, just imagine you
37
00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,960
understand why he is speaking to
you thus.
38
00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:46,640
And then, if you have a fairly
swift intelligence, and put what
39
00:02:46,640 --> 00:02:50,040
you have just come to understand
alongside what you had known
40
00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:55,520
before, you have the two ways
together, and so can find the
41
00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:59,760
truth, reconciling both.
And here you have truly made
42
00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,720
progress.
And this is the best way of
43
00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:06,640
widening one's thought.
If you are beginning an
44
00:03:06,640 --> 00:03:11,040
argument, keep quiet.
Immediately, instantaneously,
45
00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:16,200
you must be silent.
Say nothing at all, and then try
46
00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,680
to see the thing as the other
person sees it.
47
00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,720
That won't make you forget your
own way of seeing it, not at
48
00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:26,160
all.
But you will be able to put both
49
00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:30,200
of them together, and you will
truly have made progress.
50
00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,400
A real progress.
End Quote.
51
00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:39,720
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother Powers within Chapter 13
52
00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:44,680
Power of Identification pages
one O 5 to one O 6.