Oct. 4, 2024
The Difference Between Scientific Focus and Artistic Focus
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter IV Concentration, pp. 39-41 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/10/01/the-difference-between-scientific-focus-and-artistic-focus/
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
00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:05,320
Many people hold the idea that
science is fact based and
2
00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:09,480
focused on the external world
solely, while the artistic focus
3
00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:13,360
is based in the use of
imagination and it's not as tied
4
00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:17,120
to external facts.
The difference, however, is not
5
00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,560
necessarily one of a lack of
imagination by those with a
6
00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,240
scientific bent, but a different
direction of focus, of
7
00:00:24,240 --> 00:00:28,120
concentration.
Some of the greatest scientists,
8
00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:32,840
in fact, have extolled the power
of imagination as being more
9
00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:36,320
important than systematic
intellectual pursuit of
10
00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,680
knowledge.
And on the other side, there
11
00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:43,840
have been great artists who have
from time to time turned their
12
00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,760
attention to matters of science
and engineering with great
13
00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,680
effect.
One such artist was Leonardo da
14
00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:54,800
Vinci, whose work in engineering
design and the scientific
15
00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,880
theories behind his designs has
been highlighted positively
16
00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:03,160
through the centuries.
Once an individual develops the
17
00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:07,360
power of concentration, he can
turn his attention to just about
18
00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,560
any line of development or any
pursuit and make progress in
19
00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,720
that field.
Capacities that he had no
20
00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:19,120
knowledge about become evident
as he begins to concentrate in
21
00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:23,120
any particular field.
We see this with individuals who
22
00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,920
studied the humanities in
college but who wound up highly
23
00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,680
successful in business without a
formal background or education
24
00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,200
in that field.
There are numerous examples of
25
00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:39,840
people who turn their power of
concentration on a for them, new
26
00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:45,760
area of focus and who succeed in
a second, third, or even fourth
27
00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:51,800
line of endeavour.
A disciple asks, How is it that
28
00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,920
in people occupied with
scientific studies, artistic
29
00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:58,440
imagination is lacking?
Are these two things opposed to
30
00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,640
each other?
The mother responds.
31
00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:07,040
Not necessarily.
In general, the mother notes
32
00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,759
quote.
They do not belong to the same
33
00:02:09,759 --> 00:02:13,040
domain.
It is exactly as though you had
34
00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,560
what is called a torch light, a
small beacon light in your head
35
00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,640
at the place of observation.
Scientists who want to do a
36
00:02:20,640 --> 00:02:24,080
certain work turn the beacon in
a particular way.
37
00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,840
They always put it there and the
beacon remains.
38
00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:32,160
Thus they turn it towards
matter, towards the details of
39
00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:36,080
matter.
But people with imagination turn
40
00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,960
it upward, because up above
there is everything you know,
41
00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,760
all inspirations of artistic and
literary things.
42
00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:48,760
This comes from another domain.
It comes from a much more subtle
43
00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:53,920
domain, much less material.
So these turn upward and want to
44
00:02:53,920 --> 00:02:57,920
receive the light from above,
but it is the same instrument.
45
00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:02,800
The others turn it downwards and
it is just a lack of gymnastic
46
00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:05,880
skill.
It is the same instrument.
47
00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,960
It is the same power of a
luminous ray upon something, but
48
00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,200
as one has made it a habit of
concentrating it in a certain
49
00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:18,840
direction, one is no longer
supple. 1 loses the habit of
50
00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:23,600
doing things otherwise.
But you can at any time do both
51
00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,840
the things.
When you are doing science you
52
00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,160
turn it in One Direction, and
when you do literature and art
53
00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,880
you turn it in the other
direction, but it is the same
54
00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,040
instrument.
All depends on the orientation.
55
00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,480
If you have concentration, you
can move this power of
56
00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:45,840
concentration from one place to
another, and in every way it
57
00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,640
will be effective.
If you are occupied with
58
00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:54,040
science, you use it in a
scientific way, and if you want
59
00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,040
to do art, you use it in an
artistic way.
60
00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:01,200
But it is the same instrument
and it is the same power of
61
00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,160
concentration.
It is simply because people do
62
00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,880
not know this that they limit
themselves.
63
00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:12,000
So the hinges get rusty.
They do not turn anymore.
64
00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,079
Otherwise, if one keeps the
habit of turning them, they
65
00:04:16,079 --> 00:04:20,480
continue to turn.
Moreover, even from the ordinary
66
00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,760
point of view, it is not rare to
find a scientist having as his
67
00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,960
hobby some artistic occupation
and reverse.
68
00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,960
Also, it is because they have
found that the one was not
69
00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:36,960
harmful to the other and that it
was the same faculty which could
70
00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:41,760
be utilized in both.
Essentially, from the general
71
00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:46,440
point of view, particularly from
the intellectual viewpoint, the
72
00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,120
most important thing is the
capacity of attention and
73
00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,520
concentration.
It is that which one must work
74
00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,480
at and develop.
From the point of view of
75
00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,600
action, physical action, it is
the will.
76
00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,440
You must work and build up an
unshakable will.
77
00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,680
From the intellectual point of
view, you must work and build up
78
00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:12,520
a power of concentration which
nothing can shake, and if you
79
00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:18,000
have both concentration and
will, you will be a genius and
80
00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,400
nothing will resist you.
End Quote.
81
00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:26,360
Reference Sri Orobindo and the
Mother Powers Within, Chapter 4
82
00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,960
Concentration, pages 39 to 41.
00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:05,320
Many people hold the idea that
science is fact based and
2
00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:09,480
focused on the external world
solely, while the artistic focus
3
00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:13,360
is based in the use of
imagination and it's not as tied
4
00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:17,120
to external facts.
The difference, however, is not
5
00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,560
necessarily one of a lack of
imagination by those with a
6
00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,240
scientific bent, but a different
direction of focus, of
7
00:00:24,240 --> 00:00:28,120
concentration.
Some of the greatest scientists,
8
00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:32,840
in fact, have extolled the power
of imagination as being more
9
00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:36,320
important than systematic
intellectual pursuit of
10
00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,680
knowledge.
And on the other side, there
11
00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:43,840
have been great artists who have
from time to time turned their
12
00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,760
attention to matters of science
and engineering with great
13
00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,680
effect.
One such artist was Leonardo da
14
00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:54,800
Vinci, whose work in engineering
design and the scientific
15
00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,880
theories behind his designs has
been highlighted positively
16
00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:03,160
through the centuries.
Once an individual develops the
17
00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:07,360
power of concentration, he can
turn his attention to just about
18
00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,560
any line of development or any
pursuit and make progress in
19
00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,720
that field.
Capacities that he had no
20
00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:19,120
knowledge about become evident
as he begins to concentrate in
21
00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:23,120
any particular field.
We see this with individuals who
22
00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,920
studied the humanities in
college but who wound up highly
23
00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,680
successful in business without a
formal background or education
24
00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,200
in that field.
There are numerous examples of
25
00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:39,840
people who turn their power of
concentration on a for them, new
26
00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:45,760
area of focus and who succeed in
a second, third, or even fourth
27
00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:51,800
line of endeavour.
A disciple asks, How is it that
28
00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,920
in people occupied with
scientific studies, artistic
29
00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:58,440
imagination is lacking?
Are these two things opposed to
30
00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,640
each other?
The mother responds.
31
00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:07,040
Not necessarily.
In general, the mother notes
32
00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,759
quote.
They do not belong to the same
33
00:02:09,759 --> 00:02:13,040
domain.
It is exactly as though you had
34
00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,560
what is called a torch light, a
small beacon light in your head
35
00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,640
at the place of observation.
Scientists who want to do a
36
00:02:20,640 --> 00:02:24,080
certain work turn the beacon in
a particular way.
37
00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,840
They always put it there and the
beacon remains.
38
00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:32,160
Thus they turn it towards
matter, towards the details of
39
00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:36,080
matter.
But people with imagination turn
40
00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,960
it upward, because up above
there is everything you know,
41
00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,760
all inspirations of artistic and
literary things.
42
00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:48,760
This comes from another domain.
It comes from a much more subtle
43
00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:53,920
domain, much less material.
So these turn upward and want to
44
00:02:53,920 --> 00:02:57,920
receive the light from above,
but it is the same instrument.
45
00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:02,800
The others turn it downwards and
it is just a lack of gymnastic
46
00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:05,880
skill.
It is the same instrument.
47
00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,960
It is the same power of a
luminous ray upon something, but
48
00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,200
as one has made it a habit of
concentrating it in a certain
49
00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:18,840
direction, one is no longer
supple. 1 loses the habit of
50
00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:23,600
doing things otherwise.
But you can at any time do both
51
00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,840
the things.
When you are doing science you
52
00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,160
turn it in One Direction, and
when you do literature and art
53
00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,880
you turn it in the other
direction, but it is the same
54
00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,040
instrument.
All depends on the orientation.
55
00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,480
If you have concentration, you
can move this power of
56
00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:45,840
concentration from one place to
another, and in every way it
57
00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,640
will be effective.
If you are occupied with
58
00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:54,040
science, you use it in a
scientific way, and if you want
59
00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,040
to do art, you use it in an
artistic way.
60
00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:01,200
But it is the same instrument
and it is the same power of
61
00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,160
concentration.
It is simply because people do
62
00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,880
not know this that they limit
themselves.
63
00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:12,000
So the hinges get rusty.
They do not turn anymore.
64
00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,079
Otherwise, if one keeps the
habit of turning them, they
65
00:04:16,079 --> 00:04:20,480
continue to turn.
Moreover, even from the ordinary
66
00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,760
point of view, it is not rare to
find a scientist having as his
67
00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,960
hobby some artistic occupation
and reverse.
68
00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,960
Also, it is because they have
found that the one was not
69
00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:36,960
harmful to the other and that it
was the same faculty which could
70
00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:41,760
be utilized in both.
Essentially, from the general
71
00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:46,440
point of view, particularly from
the intellectual viewpoint, the
72
00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,120
most important thing is the
capacity of attention and
73
00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,520
concentration.
It is that which one must work
74
00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,480
at and develop.
From the point of view of
75
00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,600
action, physical action, it is
the will.
76
00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,440
You must work and build up an
unshakable will.
77
00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,680
From the intellectual point of
view, you must work and build up
78
00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:12,520
a power of concentration which
nothing can shake, and if you
79
00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:18,000
have both concentration and
will, you will be a genius and
80
00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,400
nothing will resist you.
End Quote.
81
00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:26,360
Reference Sri Orobindo and the
Mother Powers Within, Chapter 4
82
00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,960
Concentration, pages 39 to 41.