Oct. 1, 2024
The Dreams of Childhood Are the Realities of Mature Age
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter III Imagination, pp. 34-35 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/09/27/the-dreams-of-childhood-are-the-realities-of-mature-age/
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 --> 00:00:05,160
Most individuals wind up having
to abandon their childhood
2
00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:09,440
dreams and aspirations.
They follow the career path set
3
00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:13,400
before them by their society,
their family, their teachers,
4
00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:18,280
and their peers.
Yet in most cases, they never
5
00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,720
fully lose their deeper
aspiration, which surfaced in
6
00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,920
their childhood before they were
fully indoctrinated in the ways
7
00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:29,920
of the world.
This may rise as a midlife
8
00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:36,040
crisis, as a sense of failure,
regret, loss or lack of meaning
9
00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:41,200
for their lives, or a turn to
alcohol or drugs to dull the
10
00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,160
inner sense of meaninglessness
of how they have invested their
11
00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:49,120
lives.
Or a feeling of emptiness when
12
00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:53,200
they realize that happiness
eludes them despite the career,
13
00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:57,920
the family, the house, the cars,
the bank accounts.
14
00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:04,000
In some instances, it leads to a
new direction, a new inspiration
15
00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:09,120
and a new birth, so to speak,
when they realize that they have
16
00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:11,560
strayed from their dreams as a
child.
17
00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,600
One individual case we witnessed
in the recent past involves
18
00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,360
someone who came from a highly
political family.
19
00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:25,000
He was pushed to high office,
eventually succeeding to one of
20
00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,520
the highest positions in the
political world.
21
00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,360
He was not cut out for that life
and struggled with it.
22
00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:37,240
Eventually he retired and took
up art and painting, and one
23
00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:41,600
could see the joy he could now
express once he could follow his
24
00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,000
artistic dreams.
Not every childhood dream,
25
00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:50,000
imagination or aspiration is for
spiritual knowledge.
26
00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:55,560
Many come with specific dreams
to focus on music, art, dance,
27
00:01:55,560 --> 00:02:00,080
sports, science, exploration,
etcetera, etcetera.
28
00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,640
Those who are circumstanced to
follow their line of approach
29
00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:08,800
with the support of their family
sometimes can take a very direct
30
00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:13,600
route to accomplishment.
In other instances, it takes
31
00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:17,800
time and much suffering to
eventually come back to the
32
00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,480
vision of youth, the mother
observes.
33
00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,640
Quote.
One must have a lively power of
34
00:02:24,640 --> 00:02:28,680
imagination, for I seem to be
telling you stupid things, but
35
00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,960
it's quite true.
There is a world in which you
36
00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:36,360
are the supreme maker of forms.
That is your own particular
37
00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,640
vital world.
You are the supreme fashioner
38
00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:43,160
and you can make a marvel of
your world if you know how to
39
00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:48,440
use it, if you have an artistic
or poetic consciousness, if you
40
00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:53,040
love harmony, beauty, you will
build there something marvellous
41
00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,320
which will tend to spring up
into the material manifestation.
42
00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:02,600
When I was small, I used to call
this telling stories to oneself.
43
00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,760
It is not at all a telling with
words in one's head.
44
00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:12,000
It is a going away to this place
which is fresh and pure and
45
00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,200
building up a wonderful story
there.
46
00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,120
And if you know how to tell
yourself a story in this way,
47
00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:23,560
and if it is truly beautiful,
truly harmonious, truly powerful
48
00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:28,280
and well coordinated, this story
will be realized in your life.
49
00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:34,320
Perhaps not exactly in the form
in which you created it, but as
50
00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,720
a more or less changed physical
expression of what you made.
51
00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:43,520
That may take years, perhaps,
but your story will tend to
52
00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:47,440
organize your life.
But there are very few people
53
00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,840
who know how to tell a beautiful
story, and then they always mix
54
00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,200
horrors in it, which they regret
later.
55
00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,320
If one could create a
magnificent story without any
56
00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:02,120
horror in it, nothing but
beauty, it would have a
57
00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:05,080
considerable influence on
everyone's life.
58
00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,120
And this is what people don't
know.
59
00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,400
If one knew how to use this
power, this creative power in
60
00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:17,920
the world of vital forms, if one
knew how to use this while yet a
61
00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:22,520
child, a very small child, for
it is then that one fashions his
62
00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:26,600
material destiny.
But usually people around you,
63
00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:31,240
sometimes even your own little
friends, but mostly parents and
64
00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:36,800
teachers, dabble in it and spoil
everything for you so well that
65
00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,480
very seldom does the thing
succeed completely.
66
00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:45,360
But otherwise, if it were done
like that, with the spontaneous
67
00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:49,640
candor of a child, you could
organize a wonderful life for
68
00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,840
yourself.
I am Speaking of the physical
69
00:04:52,840 --> 00:04:57,120
world.
The dreams of childhood are the
70
00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:01,040
realities of mature age.
End Quote.
71
00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:06,840
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother, Powers within, Chapter
72
00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:11,520
3.
Imagination, pages 34 to 35.
00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:05,160
Most individuals wind up having
to abandon their childhood
2
00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:09,440
dreams and aspirations.
They follow the career path set
3
00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:13,400
before them by their society,
their family, their teachers,
4
00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:18,280
and their peers.
Yet in most cases, they never
5
00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,720
fully lose their deeper
aspiration, which surfaced in
6
00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,920
their childhood before they were
fully indoctrinated in the ways
7
00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:29,920
of the world.
This may rise as a midlife
8
00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:36,040
crisis, as a sense of failure,
regret, loss or lack of meaning
9
00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:41,200
for their lives, or a turn to
alcohol or drugs to dull the
10
00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,160
inner sense of meaninglessness
of how they have invested their
11
00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:49,120
lives.
Or a feeling of emptiness when
12
00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:53,200
they realize that happiness
eludes them despite the career,
13
00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:57,920
the family, the house, the cars,
the bank accounts.
14
00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:04,000
In some instances, it leads to a
new direction, a new inspiration
15
00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:09,120
and a new birth, so to speak,
when they realize that they have
16
00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:11,560
strayed from their dreams as a
child.
17
00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,600
One individual case we witnessed
in the recent past involves
18
00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,360
someone who came from a highly
political family.
19
00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:25,000
He was pushed to high office,
eventually succeeding to one of
20
00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,520
the highest positions in the
political world.
21
00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,360
He was not cut out for that life
and struggled with it.
22
00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:37,240
Eventually he retired and took
up art and painting, and one
23
00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:41,600
could see the joy he could now
express once he could follow his
24
00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,000
artistic dreams.
Not every childhood dream,
25
00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:50,000
imagination or aspiration is for
spiritual knowledge.
26
00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:55,560
Many come with specific dreams
to focus on music, art, dance,
27
00:01:55,560 --> 00:02:00,080
sports, science, exploration,
etcetera, etcetera.
28
00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,640
Those who are circumstanced to
follow their line of approach
29
00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:08,800
with the support of their family
sometimes can take a very direct
30
00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:13,600
route to accomplishment.
In other instances, it takes
31
00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:17,800
time and much suffering to
eventually come back to the
32
00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,480
vision of youth, the mother
observes.
33
00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,640
Quote.
One must have a lively power of
34
00:02:24,640 --> 00:02:28,680
imagination, for I seem to be
telling you stupid things, but
35
00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,960
it's quite true.
There is a world in which you
36
00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:36,360
are the supreme maker of forms.
That is your own particular
37
00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,640
vital world.
You are the supreme fashioner
38
00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:43,160
and you can make a marvel of
your world if you know how to
39
00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:48,440
use it, if you have an artistic
or poetic consciousness, if you
40
00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:53,040
love harmony, beauty, you will
build there something marvellous
41
00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,320
which will tend to spring up
into the material manifestation.
42
00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:02,600
When I was small, I used to call
this telling stories to oneself.
43
00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,760
It is not at all a telling with
words in one's head.
44
00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:12,000
It is a going away to this place
which is fresh and pure and
45
00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,200
building up a wonderful story
there.
46
00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,120
And if you know how to tell
yourself a story in this way,
47
00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:23,560
and if it is truly beautiful,
truly harmonious, truly powerful
48
00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:28,280
and well coordinated, this story
will be realized in your life.
49
00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:34,320
Perhaps not exactly in the form
in which you created it, but as
50
00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,720
a more or less changed physical
expression of what you made.
51
00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:43,520
That may take years, perhaps,
but your story will tend to
52
00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:47,440
organize your life.
But there are very few people
53
00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,840
who know how to tell a beautiful
story, and then they always mix
54
00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,200
horrors in it, which they regret
later.
55
00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,320
If one could create a
magnificent story without any
56
00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:02,120
horror in it, nothing but
beauty, it would have a
57
00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:05,080
considerable influence on
everyone's life.
58
00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,120
And this is what people don't
know.
59
00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,400
If one knew how to use this
power, this creative power in
60
00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:17,920
the world of vital forms, if one
knew how to use this while yet a
61
00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:22,520
child, a very small child, for
it is then that one fashions his
62
00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:26,600
material destiny.
But usually people around you,
63
00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:31,240
sometimes even your own little
friends, but mostly parents and
64
00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:36,800
teachers, dabble in it and spoil
everything for you so well that
65
00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,480
very seldom does the thing
succeed completely.
66
00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:45,360
But otherwise, if it were done
like that, with the spontaneous
67
00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:49,640
candor of a child, you could
organize a wonderful life for
68
00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,840
yourself.
I am Speaking of the physical
69
00:04:52,840 --> 00:04:57,120
world.
The dreams of childhood are the
70
00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:01,040
realities of mature age.
End Quote.
71
00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:06,840
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother, Powers within, Chapter
72
00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:11,520
3.
Imagination, pages 34 to 35.