Dec. 18, 2024
True Strength Resides in Quietude
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter XV Quiet, Calm, Peace, Silence, pp. 120-121 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/12/15/true-strength-resides-in-quietude/
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
00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,080
We tend to equate strength with
outward expressions, whether it
2
00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:10,360
be through physical power,
emotional pressure, bullying or
3
00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:14,960
the use of mental will force to
achieve 1's intended results.
4
00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:20,000
We talk about strongman
dictators who in particular use
5
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:24,840
threats, bullying, and police
power to pressure people and
6
00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,640
countries to comply with their
demands.
7
00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,960
The fact, however, that they
have to use such outward
8
00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:35,280
manifestations of strength to
convince others to carry out
9
00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:39,960
their wishes makes it clear that
they're actually hiding their
10
00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,640
weaknesses, insecurities and
fears.
11
00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:48,800
They know deep down that their
direction and guidance cannot be
12
00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:53,120
justified in an open and
balanced way, and thus they
13
00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:57,120
resort to physical violence and
threats to get what they want.
14
00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:02,920
True strength need not beat its
chest in order to manifest.
15
00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:08,920
If we try, when provoked, to
rein in our anger and respond
16
00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:13,640
peacefully both externally and
internally, we will see that
17
00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:18,200
this is much more difficult and
requires more strength than
18
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,440
simply venting and letting our
vital and emotional response
19
00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:27,080
simply have its way.
For the spiritual seeker,
20
00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,720
understanding the difference
between true strength and true
21
00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:36,040
weakness becomes essential.
As new powers develop and begin
22
00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,840
to enter and express themselves
in the being through the
23
00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,560
practice of the spiritual
discipline, a foundation of
24
00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,640
peace and quiet strength becomes
essential.
25
00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:51,920
Otherwise the powers either get
spilt or they distort and
26
00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:56,080
potentially harm the physical,
vital or mental levels of the
27
00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:59,800
being if they overload the
circuit, so to speak.
28
00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:05,480
A basis of wideness and
increasing ability to accept and
29
00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:10,479
tolerate more powerful forces
impacting 1 is the requirement
30
00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,000
for accumulating spiritual force
through sadhna.
31
00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:19,720
This same basis manifests as the
ability to remain calm under any
32
00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:23,800
form of external pressure and
negative circumstance.
33
00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:30,320
The mother notes quote, quietude
is a very positive state.
34
00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:35,200
There is a positive peace which
is not the opposite of conflict,
35
00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:41,320
an active peace, contagious,
powerful, which controls and
36
00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:45,440
calms, which puts everything in
order, organizes.
37
00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:51,000
It is of this I am speaking.
When I tell someone be calm, I
38
00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:55,560
don't mean to say go and sleep.
Be inert and passive and don't
39
00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:57,520
do anything.
Far from it.
40
00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,720
True quietude is a very great
force, a very great strength.
41
00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,800
In fact.
One can say, looking at the
42
00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,560
problem from the other side,
that all those who are really
43
00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,520
strong, powerful, are always
very calm.
44
00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:16,720
It is only the weak who are
agitated.
45
00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:22,800
As soon as one becomes truly
strong, one is peaceful, calm,
46
00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:28,680
quiet and one has the power of
endurance to face the adverse
47
00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,640
waves which come rushing from
outside in the hope of
48
00:03:31,640 --> 00:03:35,560
disturbing one.
This true quietude is always a
49
00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:40,000
sign of force.
Calmness belongs to the strong
50
00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,840
and this is true even in the
physical field.
51
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,280
I don't know if you have
observed animals like lions,
52
00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:52,400
tigers, elephants, but it is a
fact that when they are not in
53
00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:56,040
action, they are always so
perfectly still.
54
00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,280
A lion sitting and looking at
you always seems to be telling
55
00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:05,320
you, oh, how fidgety you are.
It looks at you with such a
56
00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:11,120
peaceful air of wisdom, and all
its power, energy, physical
57
00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:17,200
strength are there, gathered,
collected, concentrated and
58
00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:21,920
without a shadow of agitation,
ready for action when the order
59
00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:26,400
is given.
I have seen people, many people,
60
00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:30,200
who could not sit still for half
an hour without fidgeting.
61
00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,920
They had to move a foot or a leg
or an arm or their head.
62
00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:40,560
They had to stir restlessly all
the time, for they did not have
63
00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,880
the power or the strength to
remain quiet.
64
00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:50,040
This capacity to remain still
when one wants to, to gather all
65
00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:54,120
one's energies and spend them as
one wishes, completely if one
66
00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:59,640
wants, or to apportion them as
one wants in action, with a
67
00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:04,400
perfect calm, even in action,
that is always the sign of
68
00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:08,360
strength.
It may be physical strength or
69
00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:13,480
vital strength or mental
strength, but if you are in the
70
00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:17,680
least agitated, you may be sure
there is a weakness somewhere.
71
00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:22,720
And if your restlessness is
integral, it is also an integral
72
00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,000
weakness.
End Quote.
73
00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:31,080
Reference Srioro Bindo and the
Mother Powers within, Chapter
74
00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:35,880
15.
Quiet, calm, peace, silence.
75
00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,640
Pages 1:20 to 1:21.
00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,080
We tend to equate strength with
outward expressions, whether it
2
00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:10,360
be through physical power,
emotional pressure, bullying or
3
00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:14,960
the use of mental will force to
achieve 1's intended results.
4
00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:20,000
We talk about strongman
dictators who in particular use
5
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:24,840
threats, bullying, and police
power to pressure people and
6
00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,640
countries to comply with their
demands.
7
00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,960
The fact, however, that they
have to use such outward
8
00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:35,280
manifestations of strength to
convince others to carry out
9
00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:39,960
their wishes makes it clear that
they're actually hiding their
10
00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,640
weaknesses, insecurities and
fears.
11
00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:48,800
They know deep down that their
direction and guidance cannot be
12
00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:53,120
justified in an open and
balanced way, and thus they
13
00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:57,120
resort to physical violence and
threats to get what they want.
14
00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:02,920
True strength need not beat its
chest in order to manifest.
15
00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:08,920
If we try, when provoked, to
rein in our anger and respond
16
00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:13,640
peacefully both externally and
internally, we will see that
17
00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:18,200
this is much more difficult and
requires more strength than
18
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,440
simply venting and letting our
vital and emotional response
19
00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:27,080
simply have its way.
For the spiritual seeker,
20
00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,720
understanding the difference
between true strength and true
21
00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:36,040
weakness becomes essential.
As new powers develop and begin
22
00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,840
to enter and express themselves
in the being through the
23
00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,560
practice of the spiritual
discipline, a foundation of
24
00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,640
peace and quiet strength becomes
essential.
25
00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:51,920
Otherwise the powers either get
spilt or they distort and
26
00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:56,080
potentially harm the physical,
vital or mental levels of the
27
00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:59,800
being if they overload the
circuit, so to speak.
28
00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:05,480
A basis of wideness and
increasing ability to accept and
29
00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:10,479
tolerate more powerful forces
impacting 1 is the requirement
30
00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,000
for accumulating spiritual force
through sadhna.
31
00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:19,720
This same basis manifests as the
ability to remain calm under any
32
00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:23,800
form of external pressure and
negative circumstance.
33
00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:30,320
The mother notes quote, quietude
is a very positive state.
34
00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:35,200
There is a positive peace which
is not the opposite of conflict,
35
00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:41,320
an active peace, contagious,
powerful, which controls and
36
00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:45,440
calms, which puts everything in
order, organizes.
37
00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:51,000
It is of this I am speaking.
When I tell someone be calm, I
38
00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:55,560
don't mean to say go and sleep.
Be inert and passive and don't
39
00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:57,520
do anything.
Far from it.
40
00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,720
True quietude is a very great
force, a very great strength.
41
00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,800
In fact.
One can say, looking at the
42
00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,560
problem from the other side,
that all those who are really
43
00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,520
strong, powerful, are always
very calm.
44
00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:16,720
It is only the weak who are
agitated.
45
00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:22,800
As soon as one becomes truly
strong, one is peaceful, calm,
46
00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:28,680
quiet and one has the power of
endurance to face the adverse
47
00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,640
waves which come rushing from
outside in the hope of
48
00:03:31,640 --> 00:03:35,560
disturbing one.
This true quietude is always a
49
00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:40,000
sign of force.
Calmness belongs to the strong
50
00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,840
and this is true even in the
physical field.
51
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,280
I don't know if you have
observed animals like lions,
52
00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:52,400
tigers, elephants, but it is a
fact that when they are not in
53
00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:56,040
action, they are always so
perfectly still.
54
00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,280
A lion sitting and looking at
you always seems to be telling
55
00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:05,320
you, oh, how fidgety you are.
It looks at you with such a
56
00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:11,120
peaceful air of wisdom, and all
its power, energy, physical
57
00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:17,200
strength are there, gathered,
collected, concentrated and
58
00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:21,920
without a shadow of agitation,
ready for action when the order
59
00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:26,400
is given.
I have seen people, many people,
60
00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:30,200
who could not sit still for half
an hour without fidgeting.
61
00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,920
They had to move a foot or a leg
or an arm or their head.
62
00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:40,560
They had to stir restlessly all
the time, for they did not have
63
00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,880
the power or the strength to
remain quiet.
64
00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:50,040
This capacity to remain still
when one wants to, to gather all
65
00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:54,120
one's energies and spend them as
one wishes, completely if one
66
00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:59,640
wants, or to apportion them as
one wants in action, with a
67
00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:04,400
perfect calm, even in action,
that is always the sign of
68
00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:08,360
strength.
It may be physical strength or
69
00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:13,480
vital strength or mental
strength, but if you are in the
70
00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:17,680
least agitated, you may be sure
there is a weakness somewhere.
71
00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:22,720
And if your restlessness is
integral, it is also an integral
72
00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,000
weakness.
End Quote.
73
00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:31,080
Reference Srioro Bindo and the
Mother Powers within, Chapter
74
00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:35,880
15.
Quiet, calm, peace, silence.
75
00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,640
Pages 1:20 to 1:21.