March 19, 2025
The Sometimes Fortunate Nature of Misfortune
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 1, Looking at Life and Circumstances, pp. 27-28This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/03/17/the-sometimes-fortunate-nature-of-misfortune/
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 SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:04,280
One of the core principles of
spiritual growth is the
2
00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:08,720
development of equality in the
sense of accepting whatever
3
00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,000
comes into one's life with
equanimity.
4
00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,600
This does not mean that the
proper standpoint excludes
5
00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:20,040
action against injustice or
oppression, rather that one
6
00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:24,640
recognizes that sometimes the
forces that come in the form of
7
00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:30,080
obstruction, harmful intentions
or interference are there to
8
00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,120
galvanized 1 into action and
progress.
9
00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,640
Action actually is much more
effective when it is not
10
00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:42,840
coloured by personal, limited
preconceived notions, desires or
11
00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:48,280
emotions that cloud the response
and impede the purity of the
12
00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,680
effort.
It is said that when, for
13
00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,760
instance, an individual has been
provoked to anger, he will tend
14
00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:59,400
to make mistakes and thereby
undermine the result.
15
00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:05,720
But it goes further than this.
Many times the resistance, the
16
00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:11,200
obstacle, the actual unfortunate
event is able to shift 1 to a
17
00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:16,520
new view, a new standpoint, a
new direction that turns out to
18
00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:20,640
be, in the long run, the
fulfilment of the individual's
19
00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,440
destiny.
This is particularly the case
20
00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,200
for those who are moved to take
up spiritual development.
21
00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,160
Consciously, they have put
themselves onto a path that
22
00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:35,360
creates what can be seen as a
positive feedback loop that
23
00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:39,960
responds to their aspiration by
helping the seeker achieve it.
24
00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,640
The achievement of spiritual
development necessarily involves
25
00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:49,600
breaking old habits and
attachments, and thus there are
26
00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,720
times when circumstances arise
that challenge the individual to
27
00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:59,240
grow rather than simply respond
with an embedded habit or an
28
00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:04,160
instinctive behaviour.
Sri Orobindo writes in his
29
00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:09,880
thoughts and aphorisms.
Quote, O misfortune, blessed be
30
00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:15,000
thou, for through thee I have
seen the face of my lover.
31
00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:21,120
End Quote.
A disciple asks, If through
32
00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:25,560
misfortune one sees the face of
God, then it is no longer a
33
00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:30,240
misfortune, is it?
The mother responds, quote.
34
00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:36,280
Obviously, far from being a
misfortune, it is a blessing.
35
00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,480
And this is precisely which
Riorrobindo means.
36
00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:45,120
When things happen which are not
what we expect, what we hope
37
00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:50,400
for, what we want, which are
contrary to our desires, in our
38
00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,720
ignorance we call them
misfortunes and lament.
39
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,760
But if we were to become a
little wiser and observe the
40
00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:03,240
deeper consequences of these
very same events, we would find
41
00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:07,280
that they are leading us rapidly
towards the Divine, the Beloved.
42
00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,000
Whereas easy and pleasant
circumstances encourage us to
43
00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:16,560
dally on the path, to stop along
the way, to pluck the flowers of
44
00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:20,520
pleasure which present
themselves to us, and which we
45
00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:25,920
are too weak or not sincere
enough to reject resolutely, so
46
00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:28,240
that our March forward is not
delayed.
47
00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:34,600
One must already be very strong,
very far along the way, to be
48
00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:38,400
able to face success and the
little enjoyments it brings
49
00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:43,240
without giving way.
Those who can do this, those who
50
00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:47,000
are strong, do not run after
success.
51
00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:52,960
They do not seek it and accept
it with indifference, for they
52
00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:57,360
know and appreciate the value of
the lashes given by unhappiness
53
00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,520
and misfortune.
But ultimately, the true
54
00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:06,760
attitude, the sign and proof
that we are near the goal, is a
55
00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,280
perfect equality which enables
us to accept success and
56
00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:16,440
failure, fortune and misfortune,
happiness and sorrow, with the
57
00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:20,519
same tranquil joy.
For all these things become
58
00:04:20,519 --> 00:04:24,160
marvelous gifts that the Lord,
in His infinite solicitude,
59
00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,880
showers upon us.
End Quote.
60
00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:33,160
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother, Looking from Within,
61
00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:39,120
Chapter 1, Looking at Life and
Circumstances, pages 27 to 28.
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:04,280
One of the core principles of
spiritual growth is the
2
00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:08,720
development of equality in the
sense of accepting whatever
3
00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,000
comes into one's life with
equanimity.
4
00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,600
This does not mean that the
proper standpoint excludes
5
00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:20,040
action against injustice or
oppression, rather that one
6
00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:24,640
recognizes that sometimes the
forces that come in the form of
7
00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:30,080
obstruction, harmful intentions
or interference are there to
8
00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,120
galvanized 1 into action and
progress.
9
00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,640
Action actually is much more
effective when it is not
10
00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:42,840
coloured by personal, limited
preconceived notions, desires or
11
00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:48,280
emotions that cloud the response
and impede the purity of the
12
00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,680
effort.
It is said that when, for
13
00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,760
instance, an individual has been
provoked to anger, he will tend
14
00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:59,400
to make mistakes and thereby
undermine the result.
15
00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:05,720
But it goes further than this.
Many times the resistance, the
16
00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:11,200
obstacle, the actual unfortunate
event is able to shift 1 to a
17
00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:16,520
new view, a new standpoint, a
new direction that turns out to
18
00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:20,640
be, in the long run, the
fulfilment of the individual's
19
00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,440
destiny.
This is particularly the case
20
00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,200
for those who are moved to take
up spiritual development.
21
00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,160
Consciously, they have put
themselves onto a path that
22
00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:35,360
creates what can be seen as a
positive feedback loop that
23
00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:39,960
responds to their aspiration by
helping the seeker achieve it.
24
00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,640
The achievement of spiritual
development necessarily involves
25
00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:49,600
breaking old habits and
attachments, and thus there are
26
00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,720
times when circumstances arise
that challenge the individual to
27
00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:59,240
grow rather than simply respond
with an embedded habit or an
28
00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:04,160
instinctive behaviour.
Sri Orobindo writes in his
29
00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:09,880
thoughts and aphorisms.
Quote, O misfortune, blessed be
30
00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:15,000
thou, for through thee I have
seen the face of my lover.
31
00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:21,120
End Quote.
A disciple asks, If through
32
00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:25,560
misfortune one sees the face of
God, then it is no longer a
33
00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:30,240
misfortune, is it?
The mother responds, quote.
34
00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:36,280
Obviously, far from being a
misfortune, it is a blessing.
35
00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,480
And this is precisely which
Riorrobindo means.
36
00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:45,120
When things happen which are not
what we expect, what we hope
37
00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:50,400
for, what we want, which are
contrary to our desires, in our
38
00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,720
ignorance we call them
misfortunes and lament.
39
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,760
But if we were to become a
little wiser and observe the
40
00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:03,240
deeper consequences of these
very same events, we would find
41
00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:07,280
that they are leading us rapidly
towards the Divine, the Beloved.
42
00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,000
Whereas easy and pleasant
circumstances encourage us to
43
00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:16,560
dally on the path, to stop along
the way, to pluck the flowers of
44
00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:20,520
pleasure which present
themselves to us, and which we
45
00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:25,920
are too weak or not sincere
enough to reject resolutely, so
46
00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:28,240
that our March forward is not
delayed.
47
00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:34,600
One must already be very strong,
very far along the way, to be
48
00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:38,400
able to face success and the
little enjoyments it brings
49
00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:43,240
without giving way.
Those who can do this, those who
50
00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:47,000
are strong, do not run after
success.
51
00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:52,960
They do not seek it and accept
it with indifference, for they
52
00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:57,360
know and appreciate the value of
the lashes given by unhappiness
53
00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,520
and misfortune.
But ultimately, the true
54
00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:06,760
attitude, the sign and proof
that we are near the goal, is a
55
00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,280
perfect equality which enables
us to accept success and
56
00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:16,440
failure, fortune and misfortune,
happiness and sorrow, with the
57
00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:20,519
same tranquil joy.
For all these things become
58
00:04:20,519 --> 00:04:24,160
marvelous gifts that the Lord,
in His infinite solicitude,
59
00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,880
showers upon us.
End Quote.
60
00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:33,160
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother, Looking from Within,
61
00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:39,120
Chapter 1, Looking at Life and
Circumstances, pages 27 to 28.