July 18, 2024
The Tension of the Current State of Human Existence
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch.6 Hidden Worlds and Evolutionary Forces, pp.152-153 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/07/13/the-tension-of-the-current-state-of-human-existence/
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
00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:05,000
Everywhere we turn we see
mounting crises.
2
00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:09,720
The news reports are dire.
Climate disasters are
3
00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,360
increasing.
We are poisoned daily by toxic
4
00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:19,360
substances in our food, water
and the very air we breathe on a
5
00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,360
day-to-day level.
We are struggling in a world
6
00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:26,520
that seems to be impossible to
understand, with change that is
7
00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,240
impacting every aspect of our
lives.
8
00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:33,840
New technologies come along that
need to be mastered simply to
9
00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,280
survive.
We find it harder to maintain a
10
00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:41,640
balance in our lives and we
struggle to understand how to
11
00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:47,400
make ends meet and at the same
time pursue our personal goals
12
00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:52,520
and aspirations.
We see wars breaking out, we see
13
00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:58,360
mass migrations, and our media
are constantly instilling fear
14
00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,440
in us with the warnings of
imminent disaster.
15
00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,600
We have developed weapons of
such magnitude that we can
16
00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,200
destroy our planet many times
over.
17
00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:14,760
Researchers have developed a
doomsday clock and this set ever
18
00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:20,040
closer to midnight.
Clearly, we have reached a point
19
00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,880
of extreme tension where we
stand on the brink of a
20
00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:26,680
precipice and we are pressured
to find a way out.
21
00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:32,760
Many give up and turn to
dissipation, drugs and alcohol,
22
00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,840
mindless entertainment, or
simple avoidance.
23
00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,920
Yet these solutions are simply
attempts to cope with the
24
00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:46,400
issues, not solve them.
Those who recognize and try to
25
00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:50,240
solve these problems are caught
in gridlock as the proposed
26
00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,800
solutions come into conflict
between different groups of
27
00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,160
stakeholders.
Our economic and political
28
00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,960
solutions simply are either not
working or cannot be
29
00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:05,320
implemented.
The interlocking crises limit
30
00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,639
our options, as a fix in One
Direction seems to have
31
00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,680
unintended consequences in
another.
32
00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:17,720
All of this points to a method
of nature that creates an
33
00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,800
ultimate contradiction or
conflict in order to push
34
00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:27,920
towards a new form of progress.
The proverb necessity is the
35
00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:32,880
mother of invention reminds us
that what we are seeing is not
36
00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:37,080
simply an existential threat,
but an opportunity.
37
00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:42,000
We have the opportunity to
abandon old ways of seeing and
38
00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,400
acting.
We have the opportunity to leave
39
00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:49,480
behind the framing of our
situation that prevents us from
40
00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:54,640
seeing the solutions.
We have the opportunity to step
41
00:02:54,640 --> 00:02:58,600
outside of our narrow approach
to things and begin to see and
42
00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:02,200
respond from a new, higher level
of consciousness.
43
00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,920
We see the signs around us.
A photograph taken from outer
44
00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:11,120
space looking back at the Earth
provided us a clue.
45
00:03:11,920 --> 00:03:15,480
We are all part of an
incredible, interactive,
46
00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:20,640
interdependent environment.
We are symbiotic to the other
47
00:03:20,640 --> 00:03:25,880
species on the planet, and we
cannot simply continue our old
48
00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:30,360
ways of conquering and
destroying when in fact those
49
00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,760
old ways are harbingers of our
own extinction.
50
00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:38,920
It is time for a leap into the
future through the development
51
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,800
of a new vision, a new
understanding, a new
52
00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:46,560
consciousness, the mother
observes.
53
00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,640
Quote.
One thing seems obvious.
54
00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,400
Humanity has reached a certain
state of general tension,
55
00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:59,800
tension and effort, inaction
even in daily life, with such an
56
00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:05,600
excessive hyperactivity, so
widespread a trepidation, that
57
00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,880
mankind as a whole seems to have
come to a point where it must
58
00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:12,840
either breakthrough the
resistance and emerge into a new
59
00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:19,360
consciousness, or else fall back
into an abyss of darkness and
60
00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:23,120
inertia.
This tension is so complete and
61
00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,880
so widespread that something
obviously has to break.
62
00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:32,520
It cannot go on in this way.
We may take it as a sure sign of
63
00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:36,160
the infusion into matter of a
new principle of force,
64
00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:42,160
consciousness, power, which by
its very pressure is producing
65
00:04:42,280 --> 00:04:47,040
this acute state.
Outwardly we could expect the
66
00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,160
old methods used by nature when
she wants to bring about an
67
00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,520
upheaval.
But there is a new
68
00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,920
characteristic, which of course,
is only visible in an elite.
69
00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,600
But even this elite is fairly
widespread.
70
00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,800
It is not localized.
At one point at one place in the
71
00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,320
world.
We find traces of it in all
72
00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:14,280
countries all over the world.
The will to find a new, higher
73
00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:19,840
progressive solution and effort
to rise towards a vaster, more
74
00:05:19,840 --> 00:05:26,120
comprehensive perfection.
End Quote reference Shriyuro
75
00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,240
bindo and the mother.
The hidden forces of life
76
00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,480
Chapter 6.
Hidden Worlds and Evolutionary
77
00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:36,320
Forces, pages 152 to 153.
00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:05,000
Everywhere we turn we see
mounting crises.
2
00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:09,720
The news reports are dire.
Climate disasters are
3
00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,360
increasing.
We are poisoned daily by toxic
4
00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:19,360
substances in our food, water
and the very air we breathe on a
5
00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,360
day-to-day level.
We are struggling in a world
6
00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:26,520
that seems to be impossible to
understand, with change that is
7
00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,240
impacting every aspect of our
lives.
8
00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:33,840
New technologies come along that
need to be mastered simply to
9
00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,280
survive.
We find it harder to maintain a
10
00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:41,640
balance in our lives and we
struggle to understand how to
11
00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:47,400
make ends meet and at the same
time pursue our personal goals
12
00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:52,520
and aspirations.
We see wars breaking out, we see
13
00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:58,360
mass migrations, and our media
are constantly instilling fear
14
00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,440
in us with the warnings of
imminent disaster.
15
00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,600
We have developed weapons of
such magnitude that we can
16
00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,200
destroy our planet many times
over.
17
00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:14,760
Researchers have developed a
doomsday clock and this set ever
18
00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:20,040
closer to midnight.
Clearly, we have reached a point
19
00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,880
of extreme tension where we
stand on the brink of a
20
00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:26,680
precipice and we are pressured
to find a way out.
21
00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:32,760
Many give up and turn to
dissipation, drugs and alcohol,
22
00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,840
mindless entertainment, or
simple avoidance.
23
00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,920
Yet these solutions are simply
attempts to cope with the
24
00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:46,400
issues, not solve them.
Those who recognize and try to
25
00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:50,240
solve these problems are caught
in gridlock as the proposed
26
00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,800
solutions come into conflict
between different groups of
27
00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,160
stakeholders.
Our economic and political
28
00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,960
solutions simply are either not
working or cannot be
29
00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:05,320
implemented.
The interlocking crises limit
30
00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,639
our options, as a fix in One
Direction seems to have
31
00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,680
unintended consequences in
another.
32
00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:17,720
All of this points to a method
of nature that creates an
33
00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,800
ultimate contradiction or
conflict in order to push
34
00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:27,920
towards a new form of progress.
The proverb necessity is the
35
00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:32,880
mother of invention reminds us
that what we are seeing is not
36
00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:37,080
simply an existential threat,
but an opportunity.
37
00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:42,000
We have the opportunity to
abandon old ways of seeing and
38
00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,400
acting.
We have the opportunity to leave
39
00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:49,480
behind the framing of our
situation that prevents us from
40
00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:54,640
seeing the solutions.
We have the opportunity to step
41
00:02:54,640 --> 00:02:58,600
outside of our narrow approach
to things and begin to see and
42
00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:02,200
respond from a new, higher level
of consciousness.
43
00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,920
We see the signs around us.
A photograph taken from outer
44
00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:11,120
space looking back at the Earth
provided us a clue.
45
00:03:11,920 --> 00:03:15,480
We are all part of an
incredible, interactive,
46
00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:20,640
interdependent environment.
We are symbiotic to the other
47
00:03:20,640 --> 00:03:25,880
species on the planet, and we
cannot simply continue our old
48
00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:30,360
ways of conquering and
destroying when in fact those
49
00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,760
old ways are harbingers of our
own extinction.
50
00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:38,920
It is time for a leap into the
future through the development
51
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,800
of a new vision, a new
understanding, a new
52
00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:46,560
consciousness, the mother
observes.
53
00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,640
Quote.
One thing seems obvious.
54
00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,400
Humanity has reached a certain
state of general tension,
55
00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:59,800
tension and effort, inaction
even in daily life, with such an
56
00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:05,600
excessive hyperactivity, so
widespread a trepidation, that
57
00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,880
mankind as a whole seems to have
come to a point where it must
58
00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:12,840
either breakthrough the
resistance and emerge into a new
59
00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:19,360
consciousness, or else fall back
into an abyss of darkness and
60
00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:23,120
inertia.
This tension is so complete and
61
00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,880
so widespread that something
obviously has to break.
62
00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:32,520
It cannot go on in this way.
We may take it as a sure sign of
63
00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:36,160
the infusion into matter of a
new principle of force,
64
00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:42,160
consciousness, power, which by
its very pressure is producing
65
00:04:42,280 --> 00:04:47,040
this acute state.
Outwardly we could expect the
66
00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,160
old methods used by nature when
she wants to bring about an
67
00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,520
upheaval.
But there is a new
68
00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,920
characteristic, which of course,
is only visible in an elite.
69
00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,600
But even this elite is fairly
widespread.
70
00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,800
It is not localized.
At one point at one place in the
71
00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,320
world.
We find traces of it in all
72
00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:14,280
countries all over the world.
The will to find a new, higher
73
00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:19,840
progressive solution and effort
to rise towards a vaster, more
74
00:05:19,840 --> 00:05:26,120
comprehensive perfection.
End Quote reference Shriyuro
75
00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,240
bindo and the mother.
The hidden forces of life
76
00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,480
Chapter 6.
Hidden Worlds and Evolutionary
77
00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:36,320
Forces, pages 152 to 153.