March 20, 2024
The Three Gunas, the Operation of Prakriti in the External Nature, and the Exercise of Will
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch. 1 Life Through the Eyes of the Yogin, pp. 21-22 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/03/18/the-three-gunas-the-operation-of-prakriti-in-the-external-nature-and-the-exercise-of-will/
YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at http://www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at http://www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:04,560
The actions that take place in
the external world are
2
00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:08,680
controlled by the action of the
three gunas, or qualities of
3
00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:11,560
nature.
This includes not only the
4
00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,400
physical nature, but also the
vital nature and the mental
5
00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,440
nature.
There is what we may call a
6
00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,440
machinery of nature that drives
the creation forward for a name
7
00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:27,920
determined by not each of us
individually, but by the divine
8
00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:31,440
will carrying out its intention
in the creation.
9
00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,200
To the extent that we exercise
our will in carrying out our
10
00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:41,080
lives, we are not wholly
independent actors, but part of
11
00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:45,360
the entire fabric of the reality
that is woven around us and
12
00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,920
which includes us.
The force of the past chain of
13
00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:54,080
causality, the actual present
circumstances, and the play of
14
00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:58,440
the Gunas drive, the eventual
determination of decisions made
15
00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,040
now and the shaping of the
future.
16
00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,519
Since we are not separate and
independent of the Divine
17
00:01:05,519 --> 00:01:09,680
reality, and in our external
nature, we act under the
18
00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:13,440
impulsion of procrity.
The illusion we hold of a
19
00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,520
separate status of being
independent actors able to
20
00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:22,000
exercise fully independent will,
is erroneous.
21
00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,160
The Bhagwad Gita points out that
the divine is seated in the
22
00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:30,920
heart and turns our actions as a
form of machinery under the
23
00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:35,640
impulsion of the gunas and their
constant variable play.
24
00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,200
When we shift our standpoint to
identify with that divine
25
00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:44,800
consciousness which permeates
all existence and transcends it,
26
00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:50,640
and which is seated in the heart
of each being, then we share in
27
00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:55,200
the exercise of free will of the
divine, and the willpower we
28
00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:59,080
exert takes on the color of the
divine impulsion in the
29
00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,800
manifestation.
Sri Aurobindo observes, quote
30
00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:08,759
The only free will in the world
is the one divine will of which
31
00:02:08,759 --> 00:02:13,760
nature is the executrix, for she
is the master and creator of all
32
00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,400
other wills.
Human free will can be real in a
33
00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:22,360
sense, but like all things that
belong to the modes of nature,
34
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,720
it is only relatively real.
The mind rides on a swirl of
35
00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,760
natural forces, balances on a
poise between several
36
00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:37,320
possibilities, inclines to one
side or another, settles, and
37
00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:41,240
has the sense of choosing.
But it does not see.
38
00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:45,440
It is not even dimly aware of
the force behind that has
39
00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:50,240
determined its choice.
It cannot see it, because that
40
00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:54,440
force is something total and to
our eyes indeterminate.
41
00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:59,200
At most, mind can only
distinguish with an approach to
42
00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,520
clarity and precision some out
of the complex variety of
43
00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:08,240
particular determinations by
which this force works out, her
44
00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:13,800
incalculable purposes.
Partial itself, the mind rides
45
00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:19,080
on a part of the machine unaware
of 9/10 of its motor agencies in
46
00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:23,960
time and environment, unaware of
its past preparation and future
47
00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,920
drift.
But because it rides, it thinks
48
00:03:27,920 --> 00:03:29,760
that it is directing the
machine.
49
00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,240
In a sense, it counts for that
clear inclination of the mind
50
00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,720
which we call our will.
That firm settling of the
51
00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,120
inclination which presents
itself to us as a deliberate
52
00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:47,880
choice, is one of nature's most
powerful determinants, but it is
53
00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:52,920
never independent in soul.
Behind this petty, instrumental
54
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:57,120
action of the human will there
is something vast and powerful
55
00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:02,600
and eternal that overseas the
trend of the inclination and
56
00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:07,640
presses on the turn of the will.
There is a total truth in
57
00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:12,120
nature, greater than our
individual choice, and in this
58
00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,720
total truth we're even beyond
and behind it.
59
00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:19,279
There is something that
determines all results.
60
00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:23,000
Its presence and secret
knowledge keeps us steadily in
61
00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:27,160
the process of nature, a
dynamic, almost automatic
62
00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,840
perception of the right
relations, the varying or
63
00:04:30,840 --> 00:04:34,560
persistent necessities, the
inevitable steps of the
64
00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:38,360
movement.
There is a secret divine will,
65
00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:45,120
eternal and infinite, omniscient
and omnipotent, that expresses
66
00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:50,480
itself in the universality and
in each particular of all these
67
00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:55,280
apparently temporal and finite,
inconscient or half conscient
68
00:04:55,280 --> 00:04:58,640
things.
This is the power or presence
69
00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,680
meant by the Gita when it speaks
of the Lord within the heart of
70
00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,840
all existences, who turns all
creatures as if mounted on a
71
00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:09,640
machine by the illusion of
nature.
72
00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:15,560
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother, the
73
00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:20,240
Hidden Forces of Life, Chapter
One, Life Through the Eyes of
74
00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:23,480
the Yogin, pages 21 to 22.
00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:04,560
The actions that take place in
the external world are
2
00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:08,680
controlled by the action of the
three gunas, or qualities of
3
00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:11,560
nature.
This includes not only the
4
00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,400
physical nature, but also the
vital nature and the mental
5
00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,440
nature.
There is what we may call a
6
00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,440
machinery of nature that drives
the creation forward for a name
7
00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:27,920
determined by not each of us
individually, but by the divine
8
00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:31,440
will carrying out its intention
in the creation.
9
00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,200
To the extent that we exercise
our will in carrying out our
10
00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:41,080
lives, we are not wholly
independent actors, but part of
11
00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:45,360
the entire fabric of the reality
that is woven around us and
12
00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,920
which includes us.
The force of the past chain of
13
00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:54,080
causality, the actual present
circumstances, and the play of
14
00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:58,440
the Gunas drive, the eventual
determination of decisions made
15
00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,040
now and the shaping of the
future.
16
00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,519
Since we are not separate and
independent of the Divine
17
00:01:05,519 --> 00:01:09,680
reality, and in our external
nature, we act under the
18
00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:13,440
impulsion of procrity.
The illusion we hold of a
19
00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,520
separate status of being
independent actors able to
20
00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:22,000
exercise fully independent will,
is erroneous.
21
00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,160
The Bhagwad Gita points out that
the divine is seated in the
22
00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:30,920
heart and turns our actions as a
form of machinery under the
23
00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:35,640
impulsion of the gunas and their
constant variable play.
24
00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,200
When we shift our standpoint to
identify with that divine
25
00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:44,800
consciousness which permeates
all existence and transcends it,
26
00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:50,640
and which is seated in the heart
of each being, then we share in
27
00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:55,200
the exercise of free will of the
divine, and the willpower we
28
00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:59,080
exert takes on the color of the
divine impulsion in the
29
00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,800
manifestation.
Sri Aurobindo observes, quote
30
00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:08,759
The only free will in the world
is the one divine will of which
31
00:02:08,759 --> 00:02:13,760
nature is the executrix, for she
is the master and creator of all
32
00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,400
other wills.
Human free will can be real in a
33
00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:22,360
sense, but like all things that
belong to the modes of nature,
34
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,720
it is only relatively real.
The mind rides on a swirl of
35
00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,760
natural forces, balances on a
poise between several
36
00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:37,320
possibilities, inclines to one
side or another, settles, and
37
00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:41,240
has the sense of choosing.
But it does not see.
38
00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:45,440
It is not even dimly aware of
the force behind that has
39
00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:50,240
determined its choice.
It cannot see it, because that
40
00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:54,440
force is something total and to
our eyes indeterminate.
41
00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:59,200
At most, mind can only
distinguish with an approach to
42
00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,520
clarity and precision some out
of the complex variety of
43
00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:08,240
particular determinations by
which this force works out, her
44
00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:13,800
incalculable purposes.
Partial itself, the mind rides
45
00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:19,080
on a part of the machine unaware
of 9/10 of its motor agencies in
46
00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:23,960
time and environment, unaware of
its past preparation and future
47
00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,920
drift.
But because it rides, it thinks
48
00:03:27,920 --> 00:03:29,760
that it is directing the
machine.
49
00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,240
In a sense, it counts for that
clear inclination of the mind
50
00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,720
which we call our will.
That firm settling of the
51
00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,120
inclination which presents
itself to us as a deliberate
52
00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:47,880
choice, is one of nature's most
powerful determinants, but it is
53
00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:52,920
never independent in soul.
Behind this petty, instrumental
54
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:57,120
action of the human will there
is something vast and powerful
55
00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:02,600
and eternal that overseas the
trend of the inclination and
56
00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:07,640
presses on the turn of the will.
There is a total truth in
57
00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:12,120
nature, greater than our
individual choice, and in this
58
00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,720
total truth we're even beyond
and behind it.
59
00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:19,279
There is something that
determines all results.
60
00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:23,000
Its presence and secret
knowledge keeps us steadily in
61
00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:27,160
the process of nature, a
dynamic, almost automatic
62
00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,840
perception of the right
relations, the varying or
63
00:04:30,840 --> 00:04:34,560
persistent necessities, the
inevitable steps of the
64
00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:38,360
movement.
There is a secret divine will,
65
00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:45,120
eternal and infinite, omniscient
and omnipotent, that expresses
66
00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:50,480
itself in the universality and
in each particular of all these
67
00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:55,280
apparently temporal and finite,
inconscient or half conscient
68
00:04:55,280 --> 00:04:58,640
things.
This is the power or presence
69
00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,680
meant by the Gita when it speaks
of the Lord within the heart of
70
00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,840
all existences, who turns all
creatures as if mounted on a
71
00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:09,640
machine by the illusion of
nature.
72
00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:15,560
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother, the
73
00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:20,240
Hidden Forces of Life, Chapter
One, Life Through the Eyes of
74
00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:23,480
the Yogin, pages 21 to 22.