July 20, 2025
The Individual Action Needed to Implement the Spiritual Path in One's Life
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 131
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/07/18/the-individual-action-needed-to-implement-the-spiritual-path-in-ones-life/
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
00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:04,480
The vital nature wants to
continue its old ways and
2
00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:06,880
achieve fulfillment of its
desires.
3
00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,640
It is also very effective at
finding ways to convince the
4
00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,720
mind to carry out its impulses
and desires.
5
00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,720
When an individual takes up the
spiritual path, the vital being
6
00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,840
does not get discouraged.
It simply tries to find ways to
7
00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,800
carry on while paying lip
service to the spiritual
8
00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:31,160
seeking.
One of the ways it does that is
9
00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:36,080
to latch onto the idea, true in
an ultimate sense, that it is
10
00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:39,000
the divine force which is
carrying out the sadhna.
11
00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:44,240
It then can conclude that the
individual need not do anything
12
00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:47,240
because the Divine is
responsible and doing it.
13
00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,600
All this is ultimately an excuse
for it to continue in its
14
00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,600
habitual ways of action and
enjoyment by forsaking
15
00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,720
responsibility for making any
changes.
16
00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:04,480
In his book The Mother, Sri
Aurobindo addresses this point
17
00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:06,200
clearly.
Quote.
18
00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,720
Note that a temasek surrender,
refusing to fulfill the
19
00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:15,880
conditions and calling on God to
do everything and save one all
20
00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:21,040
the trouble and struggle is a
deception and does not lead to
21
00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,960
freedom and perfection.
End Quote.
22
00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:30,280
The divine force acts by
providing insight, inspiration
23
00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:34,800
and support to the individual
who is charged with undertaking
24
00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,520
the actions that lead to changes
in human nature over time.
25
00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:43,280
This implies that there is an
effort, an action by the
26
00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:48,200
individual, which Rioralbindo
defines as aspiration,
27
00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:54,040
rejection, and surrender.
Without this, the idea of
28
00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,920
spirituality is essentially just
a mental conception, similar to
29
00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,920
the idea that one can learn to
swim by reading a book about
30
00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,800
swimming without ever getting in
the water.
31
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,320
Turning the mind toward the
spiritual focus is a positive
32
00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,200
step.
Providing the emotional and
33
00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,600
vital support for that focus
helps to bring it into action.
34
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:21,200
Carrying it out in one's life,
in one's inner reactions and in
35
00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,640
one's external relations is the
implementation that is
36
00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:28,560
eventually needed to be
successful in the yogic
37
00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:32,840
endeavour.
Rooting out those ideas, habits,
38
00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:37,960
predilections, trained responses
and desires that contradict this
39
00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:43,800
spiritual action is the process
called for the rejection of the
40
00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:51,320
old Ways and Means of living,
Sri Robindo writes quote Faith,
41
00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:57,120
reliance upon God, surrender and
self giving to the divine power
42
00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:03,840
are necessary and indispensable.
But reliance upon God must not
43
00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:08,840
be made an excuse for indolence,
weakness and surrender to the
44
00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:13,440
impulses of the lower nature.
It must go along with untiring
45
00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,640
aspiration and a personal
rejection of all that comes in
46
00:03:17,640 --> 00:03:21,960
the way of the Divine truth.
The surrender to the Divine must
47
00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:26,640
not be turned into an excuse, a
cloak, or an occasion for
48
00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:32,080
surrender to 1's own desires and
lower movements or to 1's ego.
49
00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,880
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
50
00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:40,120
Mother Looking from Within,
Chapter 5.
51
00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,600
Attitudes on the Path, page 131.
00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:04,480
The vital nature wants to
continue its old ways and
2
00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:06,880
achieve fulfillment of its
desires.
3
00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,640
It is also very effective at
finding ways to convince the
4
00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,720
mind to carry out its impulses
and desires.
5
00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,720
When an individual takes up the
spiritual path, the vital being
6
00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,840
does not get discouraged.
It simply tries to find ways to
7
00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,800
carry on while paying lip
service to the spiritual
8
00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:31,160
seeking.
One of the ways it does that is
9
00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:36,080
to latch onto the idea, true in
an ultimate sense, that it is
10
00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:39,000
the divine force which is
carrying out the sadhna.
11
00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:44,240
It then can conclude that the
individual need not do anything
12
00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:47,240
because the Divine is
responsible and doing it.
13
00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,600
All this is ultimately an excuse
for it to continue in its
14
00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,600
habitual ways of action and
enjoyment by forsaking
15
00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,720
responsibility for making any
changes.
16
00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:04,480
In his book The Mother, Sri
Aurobindo addresses this point
17
00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:06,200
clearly.
Quote.
18
00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,720
Note that a temasek surrender,
refusing to fulfill the
19
00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:15,880
conditions and calling on God to
do everything and save one all
20
00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:21,040
the trouble and struggle is a
deception and does not lead to
21
00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,960
freedom and perfection.
End Quote.
22
00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:30,280
The divine force acts by
providing insight, inspiration
23
00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:34,800
and support to the individual
who is charged with undertaking
24
00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,520
the actions that lead to changes
in human nature over time.
25
00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:43,280
This implies that there is an
effort, an action by the
26
00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:48,200
individual, which Rioralbindo
defines as aspiration,
27
00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:54,040
rejection, and surrender.
Without this, the idea of
28
00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,920
spirituality is essentially just
a mental conception, similar to
29
00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,920
the idea that one can learn to
swim by reading a book about
30
00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,800
swimming without ever getting in
the water.
31
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,320
Turning the mind toward the
spiritual focus is a positive
32
00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,200
step.
Providing the emotional and
33
00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,600
vital support for that focus
helps to bring it into action.
34
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:21,200
Carrying it out in one's life,
in one's inner reactions and in
35
00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,640
one's external relations is the
implementation that is
36
00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:28,560
eventually needed to be
successful in the yogic
37
00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:32,840
endeavour.
Rooting out those ideas, habits,
38
00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:37,960
predilections, trained responses
and desires that contradict this
39
00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:43,800
spiritual action is the process
called for the rejection of the
40
00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:51,320
old Ways and Means of living,
Sri Robindo writes quote Faith,
41
00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:57,120
reliance upon God, surrender and
self giving to the divine power
42
00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:03,840
are necessary and indispensable.
But reliance upon God must not
43
00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:08,840
be made an excuse for indolence,
weakness and surrender to the
44
00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:13,440
impulses of the lower nature.
It must go along with untiring
45
00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,640
aspiration and a personal
rejection of all that comes in
46
00:03:17,640 --> 00:03:21,960
the way of the Divine truth.
The surrender to the Divine must
47
00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:26,640
not be turned into an excuse, a
cloak, or an occasion for
48
00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:32,080
surrender to 1's own desires and
lower movements or to 1's ego.
49
00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,880
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
50
00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:40,120
Mother Looking from Within,
Chapter 5.
51
00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,600
Attitudes on the Path, page 131.