The Traditional Role of the Guru, and the Action of the Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram

1
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,720
Traditionally, a realized guru
has always been recognized as

2
00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:09,160
capable of sorting out and
resolving issues of disciples

3
00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,240
who came under their direct
guidance.

4
00:00:12,040 --> 00:00:15,960
It has even been said that such
a guru could take responsibility

5
00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:20,840
for and eliminate the effects of
past karma for the disciple.

6
00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:26,000
Communication of deep spiritual
experiences and insights also is

7
00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,680
known to occur in the guru
disciple relationship.

8
00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,480
In some cases, these things
occur through what are called

9
00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:37,960
gift waves in some of the
Tibetan tradition or through

10
00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,600
what is called shaktipat in some
of the yoga traditions.

11
00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,560
In other cases, the guru
provides a mirror to the

12
00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:50,520
disciple or simply provides
insight and guidance when the

13
00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,920
disciple faces some serious
concerns or issues.

14
00:00:55,120 --> 00:01:00,000
In his book Autobiography of a
Yogi, Paramount Yogananda

15
00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,519
described how he was cured of a
potentially fatal disease as a

16
00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:08,760
young person by his parents
devotion to their guru lineage

17
00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:11,840
and concentration on a photo of
their guru.

18
00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,840
While in many cases the guru
relationship is less intense

19
00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:22,040
than those instances recounted
here, the value and importance

20
00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,720
of the guru's guidance and
inward concentration are not to

21
00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:31,680
be underestimated.
For disciples who joined the Sri

22
00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:34,920
Orovindo Ashram during the
lifetimes of Sri Orovindo and

23
00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,840
the Mother, a unique opportunity
was made available to them.

24
00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,680
The Mother organized the
functioning of the ashram and

25
00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:44,720
direct guidance of the
disciples.

26
00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:49,000
Many people reported the inner
openings and experiences that

27
00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,760
they had as a result of her
influence.

28
00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,920
One simple incident is described
by an individual who is living

29
00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:02,600
at the ashram during August 1973
at the time of the final balcony

30
00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:07,400
darshan of the mother.
At the time, the word was that

31
00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,800
she was not going to appear for
the darshan due to age and

32
00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:15,560
physical incapacity.
This individual, who resided

33
00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:19,440
some mile or more from the
ashram building, went to bed on

34
00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,880
the evening of the 14th of
August with the firm

35
00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,440
understanding that there would
not be a darshan event taking

36
00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:30,880
place the next day.
Around 3:00 AM, he was suddenly

37
00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,280
jolted awake with an electric
sensation running through his

38
00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:39,120
entire body, and he knew that
the darshan was going to take

39
00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,200
place.
He prepared himself for the day

40
00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,600
with a feeling that he was
floating several inches above

41
00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,760
the ground.
When he arrived at the ashram

42
00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:53,120
facility, the signboard
indicated that indeed the

43
00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,120
darshan would occur that
evening.

44
00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,480
This incident is one of many
that have been recounted by

45
00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:03,920
disciples and devotees over the
years after interacting with the

46
00:03:03,920 --> 00:03:08,400
Mother and being impacted by the
spiritual force that radiated

47
00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:13,360
from her with an intensity that
was unmatched in anyone else

48
00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:17,240
they had known in their lives,
other than for those who also

49
00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,520
had the benefit of direct
interaction with Sri Rovindo.

50
00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:25,080
The Mother's ability to respond
to the inner energetic movement

51
00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:29,240
of individuals and aid them in
working through any resistance

52
00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:33,080
or obstacles to achieve the next
stage in their spiritual

53
00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:38,360
progress was exceptional.
Today, many still experience the

54
00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:42,480
subtle and transformative
influence of the Mother wherever

55
00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,680
they happen to be in the world,
whatever they happen to be

56
00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,760
doing, and whatever
circumstances they find

57
00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:53,000
themselves in when they open
themselves inwardly with

58
00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:58,640
aspiration, receptivity and a
consecrated surrender to the

59
00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:03,320
Divine Force, Sri Aurobindo
observes quote.

60
00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:09,960
You have only to aspire to keep
yourself open to the Mother, to

61
00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:14,560
reject all that is contrary to
her will, and to let her work in

62
00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:18,839
you, doing all your work for her
and in the faith that it is

63
00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:20,839
through her force that you can
do it.

64
00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:26,360
If you remain open in this way,
the knowledge and realization

65
00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:32,800
will come to you in due course.
End Quote reference.

66
00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:36,560
Trioro Bindo.
Faces of Yoga, chapter 2.

67
00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,880
Faith, Aspiration, Surrender,
page 24.