Aug. 7, 2024
The Miracles and Mysteries in Our Everyday Lives and the Conclusions We Can Draw From Them
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch.7 Spiritual Forces of Help and Succour, pp. 172-173 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/08/02/the-miracles-and-mysteries-in-our-everyday-lives-and-the-conclusions-we-can-draw-from-them/
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
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:06,000
We are constantly surrounded by
miracles in the sense that our
2
00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:10,840
lives are filled with
activities, events, processes
3
00:00:11,120 --> 00:00:16,120
and circumstances that we
clearly do not understand but
4
00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:20,000
accept based on some
explanation, assuming that
5
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,000
someone knows what it's all
about.
6
00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:27,160
Airplanes flying through the
air, rockets traveling to outer
7
00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:31,600
space and visiting the moon,
wireless communication anywhere
8
00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:36,680
in the world, wireless electric
charging, and all the myriad
9
00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,960
inventions that we take for
granted in the modern world.
10
00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:44,600
Who really knows what powers are
at work to make these things
11
00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,600
happen?
We can harness energies, but can
12
00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,600
we truly appreciate how these
things are even possible?
13
00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,800
We were travelling once from
India to the United States and
14
00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,680
took an escalator down to a
baggage claim area.
15
00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,680
We looked up and saw a young man
standing at the top of the
16
00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,160
escalator.
Apparently seeing one for the
17
00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:11,640
first time in his life and
unable to comprehend what this
18
00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:17,160
was, how it worked, and how he
should interact with it, we went
19
00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:21,440
back up, held his hand and
helped him down the escalator.
20
00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,600
It turns out he was a young
villager from India who was
21
00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:29,160
travelling on an airplane for
the very first time and had
22
00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,240
never been inside a modern
airport previously.
23
00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:37,760
To him, this whole thing was a
mystifying and miraculous
24
00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:42,800
situation.
The very processes of life, the
25
00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:45,880
organization of birth, growth
and death.
26
00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:50,800
The genetic code embedded in
every living being, the atomic
27
00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,040
structure of all material
elements.
28
00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,960
These are also all miraculous
things which we tend to overlook
29
00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:02,800
as we explain the science of it
all to ourselves.
30
00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,280
The functioning of our senses
and the powers of the mind.
31
00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:12,440
The power of creativity, the
power of intuition, the power of
32
00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:16,960
instinct, All of these represent
other powers that we do not
33
00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:20,560
fully understand but tend to
take for granted.
34
00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:26,040
Why then should we find it so
mysterious that there are also
35
00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:31,040
laws of cause and effect, the
law of karma, the process of
36
00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:35,200
soul growth and development, and
that there are powers that
37
00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:40,120
direct, guide and oversee this
entire creation, including the
38
00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,520
evolution of consciousness?
If all of these miraculous
39
00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:49,520
things surround us everywhere in
our lives, why do we find it so
40
00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,920
difficult to understand that
just as there are material
41
00:02:53,920 --> 00:02:58,720
forces at work, they are also
vital mental and spiritual
42
00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:02,720
forces at work in their own
various ways, accomplishing
43
00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:08,360
their own form of result?
The Mother observes Quote.
44
00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,840
But even from the purely
material point of view, you are
45
00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,120
used to certain things.
They have been explained to you,
46
00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,960
for example, electric light, or
that it is enough to press a
47
00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:25,440
button to start a car.
You can explain it, you've been
48
00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:29,520
told why, and so it seems
absolutely natural to you.
49
00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:34,160
But I had instances of people
who did not know, who were
50
00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,840
completely ignorant, who came
from a place where these things
51
00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:43,680
had not yet penetrated, and who
were suddenly shown a statue
52
00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:45,800
being lighted up by rays of
light.
53
00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,960
They fell on their knees in
adoration.
54
00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:53,880
It was a divine manifestation.
And I have seen someone else who
55
00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:57,080
was in the same state.
It was a child who knew nothing.
56
00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,960
In front of him a button was
pressed and the car started.
57
00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,000
It seemed a tremendous miracle
to him.
58
00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:08,520
Well, it is like that.
You are used to certain things.
59
00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,320
They seem absolutely natural to
you.
60
00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:16,480
If you were not used to them,
you would see you would think
61
00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,560
them miracles.
Well, turn over the problem.
62
00:04:22,079 --> 00:04:25,200
There is a heap of things you
cannot explain to yourself.
63
00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,880
There is a host of interventions
which change the course of
64
00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:33,080
circumstances and which you
don't even notice.
65
00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:38,640
And so everything seems to you
ordinary, monotonous and without
66
00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:43,960
any particular interest.
But if you had the knowledge and
67
00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,760
could see that all these things
which seem absolutely normal to
68
00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:52,160
you because you are used to them
and have not even asked yourself
69
00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:54,680
how does this happen in this
way?
70
00:04:55,640 --> 00:05:01,200
If you had the knowledge and saw
how it happens, what it is that
71
00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:06,400
acts, Why, for example, someone
who acts so imprudently that he
72
00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,880
would have broken his head does
not break it.
73
00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:13,480
Why everything seems arranged
for a frightful accident to take
74
00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:18,920
place and it does not occur.
And thousands, millions of
75
00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,720
things like that which happened
every day and everywhere.
76
00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:28,080
If you had enough knowledge to
see why it is like that, then at
77
00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:33,200
the same time you could say,
look, there is something like a
78
00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:40,240
force, a consciousness, a power
which acts and which is not from
79
00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:46,000
the material domain.
Materially, logically, this is
80
00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,800
what should have happened, and
it did not happen.
81
00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:52,600
You say, ah, it was his good
luck, don't you?
82
00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,560
And then you're satisfied.
It's all right for you.
83
00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:03,640
Silence.
It is the ignorant, limited
84
00:06:04,280 --> 00:06:07,400
egoistic consciousness which
demands miracles.
85
00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,840
As soon as one is enlightened,
one knows that everywhere and
86
00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:17,200
always there is miracle.
And the more faith one has in
87
00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:21,680
this miracle and this grace, the
more capable one becomes of
88
00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:26,240
seeing it or perceiving it
constantly at every place where
89
00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,840
it is.
It is ignorance and lack of
90
00:06:29,840 --> 00:06:33,480
faith.
It is blind egoism which
91
00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:38,960
prevents one from seeing.
End Quote Reference Sri
92
00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:43,240
Aurobindo and the Mother, The
Hidden Forces of Life, Chapter
93
00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:50,520
7, Spiritual Forces of Help and
Succor, pages 172 to 173.
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:06,000
We are constantly surrounded by
miracles in the sense that our
2
00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:10,840
lives are filled with
activities, events, processes
3
00:00:11,120 --> 00:00:16,120
and circumstances that we
clearly do not understand but
4
00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:20,000
accept based on some
explanation, assuming that
5
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,000
someone knows what it's all
about.
6
00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:27,160
Airplanes flying through the
air, rockets traveling to outer
7
00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:31,600
space and visiting the moon,
wireless communication anywhere
8
00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:36,680
in the world, wireless electric
charging, and all the myriad
9
00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,960
inventions that we take for
granted in the modern world.
10
00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:44,600
Who really knows what powers are
at work to make these things
11
00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,600
happen?
We can harness energies, but can
12
00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,600
we truly appreciate how these
things are even possible?
13
00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,800
We were travelling once from
India to the United States and
14
00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,680
took an escalator down to a
baggage claim area.
15
00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,680
We looked up and saw a young man
standing at the top of the
16
00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,160
escalator.
Apparently seeing one for the
17
00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:11,640
first time in his life and
unable to comprehend what this
18
00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:17,160
was, how it worked, and how he
should interact with it, we went
19
00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:21,440
back up, held his hand and
helped him down the escalator.
20
00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,600
It turns out he was a young
villager from India who was
21
00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:29,160
travelling on an airplane for
the very first time and had
22
00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,240
never been inside a modern
airport previously.
23
00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:37,760
To him, this whole thing was a
mystifying and miraculous
24
00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:42,800
situation.
The very processes of life, the
25
00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:45,880
organization of birth, growth
and death.
26
00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:50,800
The genetic code embedded in
every living being, the atomic
27
00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,040
structure of all material
elements.
28
00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,960
These are also all miraculous
things which we tend to overlook
29
00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:02,800
as we explain the science of it
all to ourselves.
30
00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,280
The functioning of our senses
and the powers of the mind.
31
00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:12,440
The power of creativity, the
power of intuition, the power of
32
00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:16,960
instinct, All of these represent
other powers that we do not
33
00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:20,560
fully understand but tend to
take for granted.
34
00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:26,040
Why then should we find it so
mysterious that there are also
35
00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:31,040
laws of cause and effect, the
law of karma, the process of
36
00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:35,200
soul growth and development, and
that there are powers that
37
00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:40,120
direct, guide and oversee this
entire creation, including the
38
00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,520
evolution of consciousness?
If all of these miraculous
39
00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:49,520
things surround us everywhere in
our lives, why do we find it so
40
00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,920
difficult to understand that
just as there are material
41
00:02:53,920 --> 00:02:58,720
forces at work, they are also
vital mental and spiritual
42
00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:02,720
forces at work in their own
various ways, accomplishing
43
00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:08,360
their own form of result?
The Mother observes Quote.
44
00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,840
But even from the purely
material point of view, you are
45
00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,120
used to certain things.
They have been explained to you,
46
00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,960
for example, electric light, or
that it is enough to press a
47
00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:25,440
button to start a car.
You can explain it, you've been
48
00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:29,520
told why, and so it seems
absolutely natural to you.
49
00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:34,160
But I had instances of people
who did not know, who were
50
00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,840
completely ignorant, who came
from a place where these things
51
00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:43,680
had not yet penetrated, and who
were suddenly shown a statue
52
00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:45,800
being lighted up by rays of
light.
53
00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,960
They fell on their knees in
adoration.
54
00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:53,880
It was a divine manifestation.
And I have seen someone else who
55
00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:57,080
was in the same state.
It was a child who knew nothing.
56
00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,960
In front of him a button was
pressed and the car started.
57
00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,000
It seemed a tremendous miracle
to him.
58
00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:08,520
Well, it is like that.
You are used to certain things.
59
00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,320
They seem absolutely natural to
you.
60
00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:16,480
If you were not used to them,
you would see you would think
61
00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,560
them miracles.
Well, turn over the problem.
62
00:04:22,079 --> 00:04:25,200
There is a heap of things you
cannot explain to yourself.
63
00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,880
There is a host of interventions
which change the course of
64
00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:33,080
circumstances and which you
don't even notice.
65
00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:38,640
And so everything seems to you
ordinary, monotonous and without
66
00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:43,960
any particular interest.
But if you had the knowledge and
67
00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,760
could see that all these things
which seem absolutely normal to
68
00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:52,160
you because you are used to them
and have not even asked yourself
69
00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:54,680
how does this happen in this
way?
70
00:04:55,640 --> 00:05:01,200
If you had the knowledge and saw
how it happens, what it is that
71
00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:06,400
acts, Why, for example, someone
who acts so imprudently that he
72
00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,880
would have broken his head does
not break it.
73
00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:13,480
Why everything seems arranged
for a frightful accident to take
74
00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:18,920
place and it does not occur.
And thousands, millions of
75
00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,720
things like that which happened
every day and everywhere.
76
00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:28,080
If you had enough knowledge to
see why it is like that, then at
77
00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:33,200
the same time you could say,
look, there is something like a
78
00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:40,240
force, a consciousness, a power
which acts and which is not from
79
00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:46,000
the material domain.
Materially, logically, this is
80
00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,800
what should have happened, and
it did not happen.
81
00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:52,600
You say, ah, it was his good
luck, don't you?
82
00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,560
And then you're satisfied.
It's all right for you.
83
00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:03,640
Silence.
It is the ignorant, limited
84
00:06:04,280 --> 00:06:07,400
egoistic consciousness which
demands miracles.
85
00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,840
As soon as one is enlightened,
one knows that everywhere and
86
00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:17,200
always there is miracle.
And the more faith one has in
87
00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:21,680
this miracle and this grace, the
more capable one becomes of
88
00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:26,240
seeing it or perceiving it
constantly at every place where
89
00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,840
it is.
It is ignorance and lack of
90
00:06:29,840 --> 00:06:33,480
faith.
It is blind egoism which
91
00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:38,960
prevents one from seeing.
End Quote Reference Sri
92
00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:43,240
Aurobindo and the Mother, The
Hidden Forces of Life, Chapter
93
00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:50,520
7, Spiritual Forces of Help and
Succor, pages 172 to 173.