To Be Conscious

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When we reflect upon what we
really know about our existence,

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our lives, our purpose, the
forces at work in the world and

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in us, the influences to which
we are being subjected

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constantly, and the way we
respond to these influences

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without conscious awareness, it
becomes clear that we act out of

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a primary status of ignorance in
the life Divine.

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Sri Robindo devotes an entire
chapter to what he calls the

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sevenfold ignorance.
This ignorance encompasses

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virtually every aspect of our
lives.

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We think we know what we are
doing, we believe we are in

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control of our lives and our
decisions, and we take pride in

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our success in terms of various
external results we obtain

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through the knowledge we apply.
Yet our knowledge represents

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almost an infinitesimal part of
the vast and complex universal

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creation of which we are a small
element.

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We can make a start.
A recognition of our ignorance

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is the first step.
A next step is to take the

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standpoint of the witness of our
nature.

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From that standpoint, we observe
forces entering us and we

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observe our reactions to them.
We may also begin reflecting on

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the influences that have shaped
who we are in our external

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personality, our family and
peers, our education, our

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culture, our society and its
values, our religious training.

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And then further, we can begin
to deconstruct the instincts and

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habits that pre date even our
human existence, things we share

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due to the underlying animal
nature with the beings in the

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animal Kingdom.
We may begin to reflect on our

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past, our present, and the
trajectory that is creating our

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future.
We may take stock of the

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environment and how it impacts
what we do.

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We may consider the pressures
that are exerted upon us as we

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try to make our way in the world
and confront the obstacles,

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detours and failures that stand
in our path.

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We generally believe that we are
a unified whole, a being with a

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specific standpoint.
With close observation, we begin

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to see that we are actually
something of a blend of a

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physical being with its powers,
needs and limitations.

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A vital being with its
ambitions, desires, wants and

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reactions.
A mental being that believes it

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is in control even when it is
being manipulated and moved by

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the vital to support its
desires.

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As well as a psychic being that
tries to express and keep us

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connected to the divine truth of
existence, and a spiritual being

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that is aware of the connection
and tries to shift the

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standpoint to the divine away
from this conglomeration we call

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ourselves.
These different beings within us

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pull us in different directions
and may not always agree with

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each other, leading to internal
conflict, less than complete

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focus or power of action, and
various forms of breakdown and

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disturbance when the action of
one part undermines the basic

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stability of another part.
At a certain point during our

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observation, we can begin to
distinguish those elements and

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forces that support our true
spiritual nature, that enhance

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the light, harmony and
understanding, from those that

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are destructive, which try to
undermine us, and which work to

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distract us and leave us
wallowing in the pit of despair

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at the meaninglessness, the
superficiality, or the waste

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that consumes most of our lives.
The practice of yoga can aid the

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seeker in making the transition
from ignorance to knowledge,

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from darkness to light.
It is frequently said that day

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for the ordinary man is night
for the enlightened soul.

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All night for the ordinary man
is day for the Yogi.

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This epitomizes the difference
in standpoint and understanding

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that arises as the practice
deepens and the individual

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matures in his understanding.
The mother writes quote to be

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conscious.
First of all, we are conscious

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of only an insignificant portion
of our being.

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For the most part, we are
unconscious.

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It is this unconsciousness that
keeps us down to our

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unregenerate nature and prevents
change and transformation in it.

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It is through unconsciousness
that the undivined forces enter

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into us and make us their
slaves.

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You are to be conscious of
yourself.

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You must awake to your nature
and movements.

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You must know why and how you do
things or feel or think them.

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You must understand your motives
and impulses, the forces hidden

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and apparent that move you.
In fact, you must, as it were,

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take to pieces the entire
machinery of your being.

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Once you are conscious, it means
that you can distinguish and

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sift things.
You can see which are the forces

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that pull you down and which
help you on.

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And when you know the right from
the wrong, the true from the

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false, the divine from the
undivine, you are to act

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strictly up to your knowledge,
that is to say, resolutely

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reject 1 and accept the other.
The duality will present itself

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at every step, and at every step
you will have to make your

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choice.
You will have to be patient and

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persistent and vigilant.
Sleepless, as the adepts say.

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End Quote Reference Shrioro
Vindo and the Mother Looking

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from Within, Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, pages 143

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to 144.