May 31, 2025
The Spiritual Seeker and the Challenges of Spiritual Growth and Development
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within , Chapter 4, Ordeals and Difficulties, pp.93-94This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/05/29/the-spiritual-seeker-and-the-challenges-of-spiritual-growth-and-development/
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
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,960
People believe generally that
taking up the spiritual life
2
00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:08,680
involves a form of escapism from
the daily obstacles,
3
00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:12,080
difficulties and pressures of
living and active life in
4
00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,520
society.
Some people in fact take up the
5
00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,760
spiritual path as an escape, but
that is neither the primary
6
00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,840
motivation nor does it represent
the majority of spiritual
7
00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,320
seekers.
Spirituality in its essence
8
00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,760
involves a change of
consciousness that is challenged
9
00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:35,960
at each step by the habits,
instincts and trained responses
10
00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:40,480
that the seeker brings with him,
as well as millennia of human
11
00:00:40,480 --> 00:00:45,360
evolution embedded in his being,
the challenges he faces with his
12
00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:49,760
physical, vital and mental
nature, and then on top of that,
13
00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:54,600
the interaction with others and
living in the world in some form
14
00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,320
or another.
When the seeker becomes aware of
15
00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:02,600
the difficulties, when the
amazing experiences and insights
16
00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:06,720
recede, it is quite common for a
period of dullness,
17
00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:12,240
dissatisfaction or depression to
enter the play of the three
18
00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,200
gunas.
The qualities of nature, satwa,
19
00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:21,600
rajas and tamas continues for
the spiritual seeker and thus he
20
00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,600
goes through periods when one or
another of these is predominant.
21
00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,840
When Sattva comes to the fore,
he feels that there is light,
22
00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,480
harmony, beauty and the advent
of knowledge.
23
00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:39,640
When Rajas rules, he may
experience periods of desire or
24
00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:43,160
ambition that can overpower his
spiritual aspiration with
25
00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:47,480
demands and vital seeking.
When Thomas takes the
26
00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:51,120
predominant position,
particularly when the rajasic
27
00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:55,880
element has been frustrated or
denied, he can experience doubt,
28
00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:01,720
despair, depression.
The phenomenon of the dark night
29
00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:06,720
of the soul is something that
arises at some point for every
30
00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:11,200
seeker as they navigate through
all the issues they face during
31
00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:16,160
the spiritual development.
Sri Aurobindo makes an important
32
00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:20,280
point for the spiritual
aspiration when he says, quote,
33
00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:25,040
he who chooses the Infinite has
been chosen by the infinite.
34
00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,040
End Quote.
We continue to think that our
35
00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:33,760
body, life, mind, Nexus, the
ego, personality, the external
36
00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:38,600
person is in charge and makes
its own decisions without
37
00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:42,720
recognizing that the universal
manifestation is driving the
38
00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:47,400
entire process forward.
And those who are ready, those
39
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,960
who are receptive, are the ones
who come to the spiritual
40
00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:55,520
transformative process.
All things in nature await their
41
00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:59,440
time.
Gestation and birth takes time.
42
00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,760
The transformation from the
Caterpillar to the butterfly
43
00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,200
takes time.
None of this is consciously
44
00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:11,000
controlled by the individual
being, but rather there is a
45
00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:16,120
process of nature as manifested
by the Divine that carries out
46
00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:20,440
these transformations.
Similarly, we see the children
47
00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,920
grow at their own pace, first
focusing primarily on physical
48
00:03:24,920 --> 00:03:28,840
development, then vital
development and later mental
49
00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,040
development.
When the individual is called to
50
00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,280
the spiritual path, it means
that he has reached the stage in
51
00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:40,000
his development when that is the
inevitable next step.
52
00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:46,440
He can try to avoid it, he can
attempt to misuse it, but if the
53
00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:50,320
calling is true, he will
eventually gain the focus and
54
00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:55,200
receptivity and develop the
active aspiration within him to
55
00:03:55,200 --> 00:04:00,440
grow into the spiritual life in
all its fulness, Sri Orobindo
56
00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,640
notes quote.
All who enter the spiritual path
57
00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:08,680
have to face the difficulties
and ordeals of the path, those
58
00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:12,240
which rise from their own nature
and those which come in from
59
00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,360
outside.
The difficulties in the nature
60
00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:18,519
always rise again and again till
you overcome them.
61
00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,840
They must be faced with both
strength and patience.
62
00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,800
But the vital part is prone to
depression when ordeals and
63
00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,680
difficulties rise.
This is not peculiar to you, but
64
00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:35,000
comes to all sadiqs.
It does not imply an unfitness
65
00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:40,640
for the sadhna or justify a
sense of helplessness, but you
66
00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:44,240
must train yourself to overcome
this reaction of depression.
67
00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:49,360
All who cleave to the path
steadfastly can be sure of their
68
00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:53,800
spiritual destiny.
If anyone fails to reach it, it
69
00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:58,240
can only be for one of the two
reasons, either because they
70
00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:03,960
leave the path or because for
some lure of ambition, vanity,
71
00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:09,160
desire, etcetera, they go astray
from the sincere dependence on
72
00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:14,120
the Divine.
End Quote Reference Shrioro
73
00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:18,560
Vindo and the Mother Looking
from Within, Chapter 4, Ordeals
74
00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:22,240
and Difficulties, pages 93 to
94.
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,960
People believe generally that
taking up the spiritual life
2
00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:08,680
involves a form of escapism from
the daily obstacles,
3
00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:12,080
difficulties and pressures of
living and active life in
4
00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,520
society.
Some people in fact take up the
5
00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,760
spiritual path as an escape, but
that is neither the primary
6
00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,840
motivation nor does it represent
the majority of spiritual
7
00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,320
seekers.
Spirituality in its essence
8
00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,760
involves a change of
consciousness that is challenged
9
00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:35,960
at each step by the habits,
instincts and trained responses
10
00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:40,480
that the seeker brings with him,
as well as millennia of human
11
00:00:40,480 --> 00:00:45,360
evolution embedded in his being,
the challenges he faces with his
12
00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:49,760
physical, vital and mental
nature, and then on top of that,
13
00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:54,600
the interaction with others and
living in the world in some form
14
00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,320
or another.
When the seeker becomes aware of
15
00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:02,600
the difficulties, when the
amazing experiences and insights
16
00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:06,720
recede, it is quite common for a
period of dullness,
17
00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:12,240
dissatisfaction or depression to
enter the play of the three
18
00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,200
gunas.
The qualities of nature, satwa,
19
00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:21,600
rajas and tamas continues for
the spiritual seeker and thus he
20
00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,600
goes through periods when one or
another of these is predominant.
21
00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,840
When Sattva comes to the fore,
he feels that there is light,
22
00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,480
harmony, beauty and the advent
of knowledge.
23
00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:39,640
When Rajas rules, he may
experience periods of desire or
24
00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:43,160
ambition that can overpower his
spiritual aspiration with
25
00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:47,480
demands and vital seeking.
When Thomas takes the
26
00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:51,120
predominant position,
particularly when the rajasic
27
00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:55,880
element has been frustrated or
denied, he can experience doubt,
28
00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:01,720
despair, depression.
The phenomenon of the dark night
29
00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:06,720
of the soul is something that
arises at some point for every
30
00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:11,200
seeker as they navigate through
all the issues they face during
31
00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:16,160
the spiritual development.
Sri Aurobindo makes an important
32
00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:20,280
point for the spiritual
aspiration when he says, quote,
33
00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:25,040
he who chooses the Infinite has
been chosen by the infinite.
34
00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,040
End Quote.
We continue to think that our
35
00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:33,760
body, life, mind, Nexus, the
ego, personality, the external
36
00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:38,600
person is in charge and makes
its own decisions without
37
00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:42,720
recognizing that the universal
manifestation is driving the
38
00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:47,400
entire process forward.
And those who are ready, those
39
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,960
who are receptive, are the ones
who come to the spiritual
40
00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:55,520
transformative process.
All things in nature await their
41
00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:59,440
time.
Gestation and birth takes time.
42
00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,760
The transformation from the
Caterpillar to the butterfly
43
00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,200
takes time.
None of this is consciously
44
00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:11,000
controlled by the individual
being, but rather there is a
45
00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:16,120
process of nature as manifested
by the Divine that carries out
46
00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:20,440
these transformations.
Similarly, we see the children
47
00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,920
grow at their own pace, first
focusing primarily on physical
48
00:03:24,920 --> 00:03:28,840
development, then vital
development and later mental
49
00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,040
development.
When the individual is called to
50
00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,280
the spiritual path, it means
that he has reached the stage in
51
00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:40,000
his development when that is the
inevitable next step.
52
00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:46,440
He can try to avoid it, he can
attempt to misuse it, but if the
53
00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:50,320
calling is true, he will
eventually gain the focus and
54
00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:55,200
receptivity and develop the
active aspiration within him to
55
00:03:55,200 --> 00:04:00,440
grow into the spiritual life in
all its fulness, Sri Orobindo
56
00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,640
notes quote.
All who enter the spiritual path
57
00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:08,680
have to face the difficulties
and ordeals of the path, those
58
00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:12,240
which rise from their own nature
and those which come in from
59
00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,360
outside.
The difficulties in the nature
60
00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:18,519
always rise again and again till
you overcome them.
61
00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,840
They must be faced with both
strength and patience.
62
00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,800
But the vital part is prone to
depression when ordeals and
63
00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,680
difficulties rise.
This is not peculiar to you, but
64
00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:35,000
comes to all sadiqs.
It does not imply an unfitness
65
00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:40,640
for the sadhna or justify a
sense of helplessness, but you
66
00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:44,240
must train yourself to overcome
this reaction of depression.
67
00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:49,360
All who cleave to the path
steadfastly can be sure of their
68
00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:53,800
spiritual destiny.
If anyone fails to reach it, it
69
00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:58,240
can only be for one of the two
reasons, either because they
70
00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:03,960
leave the path or because for
some lure of ambition, vanity,
71
00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:09,160
desire, etcetera, they go astray
from the sincere dependence on
72
00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:14,120
the Divine.
End Quote Reference Shrioro
73
00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:18,560
Vindo and the Mother Looking
from Within, Chapter 4, Ordeals
74
00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:22,240
and Difficulties, pages 93 to
94.