June 22, 2025
The Most Helpful Attitude for Spiritual Progress
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg..113
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/06/20/the-most-helpful-attitude-for-spiritual-progress/
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
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:06,240
The vital nature in particular
is addicted to drama, it seeks
2
00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:11,080
attention and excitement and
added complication is that in
3
00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:15,200
modern society with our fixation
on all types of electronic
4
00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:20,000
stimulation, Internet, mobile
phones, radio, television,
5
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:25,440
cinema, along with neon signs,
blaring ads and loud speakers
6
00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:29,760
etcetera, we find that the
nervous being and the vital
7
00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,840
nature are kept in a state of
constant agitation.
8
00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,920
This type of energetic status
makes it hard, if not virtually
9
00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:43,240
impossible to open and be
receptive to the higher forces
10
00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:47,400
that are trying to manifest.
The optimal state of awareness
11
00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,920
is 1 of quietude and serene
receptivity.
12
00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:56,400
The more we cater to the vitals,
call for struggle, suffering and
13
00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,760
disruptive efforts, the less we
maintain the readiness to both
14
00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:06,120
receive and accept the higher
forces and let them work in the
15
00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,920
being.
How then can we undertake any
16
00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,600
form of spiritual practice in
the modern world?
17
00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:17,360
As long as we remain absorbed in
the external life and live on
18
00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:21,560
the surface of our being, we are
subject to reacting to every
19
00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:25,520
impulse that comes our way, to
the point that our spiritual
20
00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:30,040
focus can become obscured by the
noise of the outer world as it
21
00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:35,280
impinges upon us, as well as our
internal reaction to that noise.
22
00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,080
The signal that represents the
focused energy and consciousness
23
00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:44,880
of the higher force that tries
to manifest is obscured by this
24
00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:49,120
noise.
Swami Vivekananda in his
25
00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:53,240
lectures on Raji Yoga describes
the state of agitation of the
26
00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,520
nervous pathways and the mind
stuff.
27
00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:00,200
He provides various ways to calm
the being to a state of clear
28
00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:04,400
receptivity.
There are in fact any number of
29
00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,680
methods dependent upon where the
seeker is in his sadhna at the
30
00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,320
time.
Sri Rabindu and the Mother do
31
00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,800
not ask us to rely on any
specific technique, although we
32
00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:21,040
can use these tools if need be
and if appropriate to the
33
00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:25,080
situation.
Rather, they focus on the larger
34
00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:29,760
attitudinal poise of the being.
This provides the framework for
35
00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,560
all other actions to support the
spiritual effort.
36
00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:37,600
The primary method is the shift
of the consciousness away from
37
00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:42,800
the ego personality and its
daily drama to either the Higher
38
00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:48,360
Self, the Atman, or to the
psychic being, the sole entity
39
00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:54,120
spark of the Divine deep within
the psychic being naturally
40
00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,880
maintains an attitude of
aspiration, consecration and
41
00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:03,880
receptivity that represents the
ideal state of awareness for the
42
00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,920
spiritual seeker.
The Mother writes quote.
43
00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:12,760
To live within in a constant
aspiration for the Divine
44
00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:18,160
enables us to look at life with
a smile and to remain peaceful
45
00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,320
whatever the outer circumstances
may be.
46
00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,800
End Quote.
Fioro Vendo observes quote.
47
00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:31,480
Always seek to progress in
quietude, happiness and
48
00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,520
confidence.
That is the most helpful
49
00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,360
attitude.
Do not listen to contrary
50
00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,680
suggestions from outside.
End Quote.
51
00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,440
Reference.
Fioro, Vendo and the Mother
52
00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,960
Looking from within.
Chapter 5.
53
00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,800
Attitudes on the Path Age 113.
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:06,240
The vital nature in particular
is addicted to drama, it seeks
2
00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:11,080
attention and excitement and
added complication is that in
3
00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:15,200
modern society with our fixation
on all types of electronic
4
00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:20,000
stimulation, Internet, mobile
phones, radio, television,
5
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:25,440
cinema, along with neon signs,
blaring ads and loud speakers
6
00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:29,760
etcetera, we find that the
nervous being and the vital
7
00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,840
nature are kept in a state of
constant agitation.
8
00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,920
This type of energetic status
makes it hard, if not virtually
9
00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:43,240
impossible to open and be
receptive to the higher forces
10
00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:47,400
that are trying to manifest.
The optimal state of awareness
11
00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,920
is 1 of quietude and serene
receptivity.
12
00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:56,400
The more we cater to the vitals,
call for struggle, suffering and
13
00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,760
disruptive efforts, the less we
maintain the readiness to both
14
00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:06,120
receive and accept the higher
forces and let them work in the
15
00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,920
being.
How then can we undertake any
16
00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,600
form of spiritual practice in
the modern world?
17
00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:17,360
As long as we remain absorbed in
the external life and live on
18
00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:21,560
the surface of our being, we are
subject to reacting to every
19
00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:25,520
impulse that comes our way, to
the point that our spiritual
20
00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:30,040
focus can become obscured by the
noise of the outer world as it
21
00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:35,280
impinges upon us, as well as our
internal reaction to that noise.
22
00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,080
The signal that represents the
focused energy and consciousness
23
00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:44,880
of the higher force that tries
to manifest is obscured by this
24
00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:49,120
noise.
Swami Vivekananda in his
25
00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:53,240
lectures on Raji Yoga describes
the state of agitation of the
26
00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,520
nervous pathways and the mind
stuff.
27
00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:00,200
He provides various ways to calm
the being to a state of clear
28
00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:04,400
receptivity.
There are in fact any number of
29
00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,680
methods dependent upon where the
seeker is in his sadhna at the
30
00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,320
time.
Sri Rabindu and the Mother do
31
00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,800
not ask us to rely on any
specific technique, although we
32
00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:21,040
can use these tools if need be
and if appropriate to the
33
00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:25,080
situation.
Rather, they focus on the larger
34
00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:29,760
attitudinal poise of the being.
This provides the framework for
35
00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,560
all other actions to support the
spiritual effort.
36
00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:37,600
The primary method is the shift
of the consciousness away from
37
00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:42,800
the ego personality and its
daily drama to either the Higher
38
00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:48,360
Self, the Atman, or to the
psychic being, the sole entity
39
00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:54,120
spark of the Divine deep within
the psychic being naturally
40
00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,880
maintains an attitude of
aspiration, consecration and
41
00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:03,880
receptivity that represents the
ideal state of awareness for the
42
00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,920
spiritual seeker.
The Mother writes quote.
43
00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:12,760
To live within in a constant
aspiration for the Divine
44
00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:18,160
enables us to look at life with
a smile and to remain peaceful
45
00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,320
whatever the outer circumstances
may be.
46
00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,800
End Quote.
Fioro Vendo observes quote.
47
00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:31,480
Always seek to progress in
quietude, happiness and
48
00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,520
confidence.
That is the most helpful
49
00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,360
attitude.
Do not listen to contrary
50
00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,680
suggestions from outside.
End Quote.
51
00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,440
Reference.
Fioro, Vendo and the Mother
52
00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,960
Looking from within.
Chapter 5.
53
00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,800
Attitudes on the Path Age 113.