March 21, 2025
The Process for Gaining Equality in the Face of Outer Circumstances
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 1, Looking at Life and Circumstances, pg. 29 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/03/19/the-process-for-gaining-equality-in-the-face-of-outer-circumstances/
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
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,520
The question of how to achieve
the status of inner equality to
2
00:00:04,520 --> 00:00:08,920
all outward circumstances is one
that occupies the attention of
3
00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:14,280
spiritual seekers everywhere.
In his book Bases of Yoga, Sri
4
00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,400
Aurobindo devotes the 1st
chapter to the questions of
5
00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:22,360
achieving calm, peace and
equality as these are
6
00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:24,640
foundational for spiritual
development.
7
00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:28,880
Some individuals try to
establish a philosophical
8
00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,880
approach based in the mind.
They become analytical about
9
00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:37,680
situations and work to defuse
vital reactions that arise
10
00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,600
through applying a deeper
insight to the situation.
11
00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,840
Others try a devotional approach
that is based on an acceptance
12
00:00:46,160 --> 00:00:49,960
of the Divine as doing what is
right and necessary in the life
13
00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:54,320
of the seeker.
Still others try an approach of
14
00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,600
Stoicism that seeks to employ
the active will to manage the
15
00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,800
vital reactions.
Shrioro Bindo recommends in
16
00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,800
various places and approach of
separation of the witness
17
00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:08,640
consciousness from the external
nature.
18
00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:13,720
The witness calmly observes as
if anything happening to and
19
00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,960
with the outer nature is
something separate and apart
20
00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,320
from the standpoint of the
witness.
21
00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:25,600
Techniques of Raja Yoga as
described by Swami Vivekananda
22
00:01:26,320 --> 00:01:30,600
include an approach of observing
thoughts and sensations as they
23
00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:35,240
arise in the mind and not
purposely attending to them.
24
00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:40,160
This is akin to the approach of
the witness consciousness.
25
00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,600
If the seeker is able to shift
the standpoint of the psychic
26
00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:49,080
being, the aspiration,
consecration and devotion that
27
00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:53,920
it has as its normal form of
expression help to mitigate
28
00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,680
reactions based on the ego
personality.
29
00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:02,880
Whichever approach 1 takes, with
regular practice the seeker
30
00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:07,640
eventually is able to find a way
to reduce the influence of these
31
00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:13,520
external impacts.
The Mother notes quote to live
32
00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:19,360
within in constant aspiration
towards the Divine that renders
33
00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,640
us capable of regarding life
with a smile and remaining in
34
00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:27,520
peace whatever the external
circumstances.
35
00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:33,520
Live within, Do not be shaken by
external circumstances.
36
00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:38,320
He who lives to serve the truth
is not affected by outward
37
00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:44,680
circumstances.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindu
38
00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:48,200
and the Mother Looking from
within, Chapter 1.
39
00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,840
Looking at Life and
Circumstances, page 29.
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,520
The question of how to achieve
the status of inner equality to
2
00:00:04,520 --> 00:00:08,920
all outward circumstances is one
that occupies the attention of
3
00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:14,280
spiritual seekers everywhere.
In his book Bases of Yoga, Sri
4
00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,400
Aurobindo devotes the 1st
chapter to the questions of
5
00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:22,360
achieving calm, peace and
equality as these are
6
00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:24,640
foundational for spiritual
development.
7
00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:28,880
Some individuals try to
establish a philosophical
8
00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,880
approach based in the mind.
They become analytical about
9
00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:37,680
situations and work to defuse
vital reactions that arise
10
00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,600
through applying a deeper
insight to the situation.
11
00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,840
Others try a devotional approach
that is based on an acceptance
12
00:00:46,160 --> 00:00:49,960
of the Divine as doing what is
right and necessary in the life
13
00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:54,320
of the seeker.
Still others try an approach of
14
00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,600
Stoicism that seeks to employ
the active will to manage the
15
00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,800
vital reactions.
Shrioro Bindo recommends in
16
00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,800
various places and approach of
separation of the witness
17
00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:08,640
consciousness from the external
nature.
18
00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:13,720
The witness calmly observes as
if anything happening to and
19
00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,960
with the outer nature is
something separate and apart
20
00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,320
from the standpoint of the
witness.
21
00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:25,600
Techniques of Raja Yoga as
described by Swami Vivekananda
22
00:01:26,320 --> 00:01:30,600
include an approach of observing
thoughts and sensations as they
23
00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:35,240
arise in the mind and not
purposely attending to them.
24
00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:40,160
This is akin to the approach of
the witness consciousness.
25
00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,600
If the seeker is able to shift
the standpoint of the psychic
26
00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:49,080
being, the aspiration,
consecration and devotion that
27
00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:53,920
it has as its normal form of
expression help to mitigate
28
00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,680
reactions based on the ego
personality.
29
00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:02,880
Whichever approach 1 takes, with
regular practice the seeker
30
00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:07,640
eventually is able to find a way
to reduce the influence of these
31
00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:13,520
external impacts.
The Mother notes quote to live
32
00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:19,360
within in constant aspiration
towards the Divine that renders
33
00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,640
us capable of regarding life
with a smile and remaining in
34
00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:27,520
peace whatever the external
circumstances.
35
00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:33,520
Live within, Do not be shaken by
external circumstances.
36
00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:38,320
He who lives to serve the truth
is not affected by outward
37
00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:44,680
circumstances.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindu
38
00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:48,200
and the Mother Looking from
within, Chapter 1.
39
00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,840
Looking at Life and
Circumstances, page 29.