March 17, 2025
Understanding the Higher Guidance That Directs Our Actions Towards Our Spiritual Destiny
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 1, Looking at Life and Circumstances, pp. 25-26This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/03/15/understanding-the-higher-guidance-that-directs-our-actions-towards-our-spiritual-destiny/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable 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 SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,120
When we rely on our surface
impressions, which are very much
2
00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:11,000
based on and influenced by our
background, family, society and
3
00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:16,120
the values inculcated into us by
those relationships, we only are
4
00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,360
able to truly understand a
fraction of what is actually
5
00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,240
occurring.
And generally this is
6
00:00:22,240 --> 00:00:27,520
conditioned by our desires,
wishes, and preconceived ideas
7
00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:34,120
based on our ego consciousness.
It is thus necessarily not truly
8
00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:38,200
possible to get a real sense of
the larger perspective that
9
00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:42,520
encompasses our growth and the
developmental trend that is
10
00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:46,600
working itself out within us and
in our environs.
11
00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,920
We are somewhat like the famous
anecdote of the five blind men
12
00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,560
who are asked to describe an
elephant.
13
00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,280
One man who takes hold of the
tail says an elephant is like a
14
00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,080
rope.
Another who grabs hold of an ear
15
00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:08,040
says an elephant is like a fan.
Yet a third who grabs the trunk
16
00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,120
believes an elephant is like a
hose.
17
00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,000
None of them can actually
describe the reality of the
18
00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,480
elephant, just the very small
part that they are able to
19
00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:19,720
experience directly at the
moment.
20
00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,680
The question then is how can we
separate ourselves from this
21
00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:30,440
surface awareness and experience
a truer, more comprehensive view
22
00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,360
of our lives and our
development?
23
00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:38,440
The sages in India developed a
methodology of separation of the
24
00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:43,880
witness consciousness from the
active nature, the separation of
25
00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:48,680
Purusha and Prakruti, in order
to try to gain a standpoint from
26
00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:52,920
which they could be less
involved and thus able to gain a
27
00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:56,880
new perspective that would help
them gain this more complete
28
00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:02,040
view of things.
As long as we are inundated with
29
00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,360
the noise of our surface
awareness, we find it difficult,
30
00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,440
if not impossible, to
consciously receive any higher
31
00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,760
guidance or comprehend the
intention behind it.
32
00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:17,360
This does not mean that the
guidance is not there at work.
33
00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,680
Rather it means that we are
simply not aware of its action.
34
00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:27,840
In some cases, long after an
event, we reflect back and see
35
00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,560
how it was pivotal in our
development and how it was
36
00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:36,080
potentially interpreted
negatively at the time or not
37
00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,040
recognize for the Seminole
impact it would have on our
38
00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:45,480
growth and the development of
our lives, Triorbindo writes.
39
00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,920
Quote.
The true sense of the guidance
40
00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:52,400
becomes clearer when we can go
deep within and see from there
41
00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:57,400
more intimately the play of the
forces and receive intimations
42
00:02:57,640 --> 00:03:02,040
of the will behind them.
The surface mind can get only an
43
00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:07,000
imperfect glimpse when we are in
contact with the Divine or in
44
00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,320
contact with an inner knowledge
and vision.
45
00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,920
We begin to see all the
circumstances of our life in a
46
00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:18,880
new light and can observe how
they all tended, without our
47
00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:23,160
knowing it, towards the growth
of our being and consciousness,
48
00:03:23,640 --> 00:03:27,680
towards the work we had to do,
towards some development that
49
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:32,600
had to be made, not only what
seemed good, fortunate or
50
00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:37,080
successful, but also the
struggles, failures,
51
00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:41,760
difficulties, upheavals.
But with each person, the
52
00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:45,160
guidance works differently
according to his nature, the
53
00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:50,360
conditions of his life, his cast
of consciousness, his stage of
54
00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,040
development, his need of further
experience.
55
00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:59,760
We are not automata but
conscious beings, and our
56
00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:04,920
mentality, our will and its
decisions, our attitude to life
57
00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:09,560
and demand on it, our motives
and movements help to determine
58
00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,120
our course.
They may lead to much suffering
59
00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:17,920
and evil, but through it all the
guidance makes use of them for
60
00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,760
our growth and experience, and
consequently the development of
61
00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:27,360
our being and consciousness.
All advance by however devious
62
00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:32,040
ways, even in spite of what
seems a going backwards or going
63
00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:37,000
astray, gathering whatever
experience is necessary for the
64
00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:41,320
soul's destiny.
When we are in close contact
65
00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,840
with the Divine, a protection
can come which helps or directly
66
00:04:45,840 --> 00:04:49,800
guides or moves us.
It does not throw aside all
67
00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:54,000
difficulties, sufferings or
dangers, but it carries us
68
00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:58,320
through them and out of them,
except where for a special
69
00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,040
purpose there is need of the
opposite.
70
00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:06,440
End Quote reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother,
71
00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:10,800
Looking from within, Chapter 1.
Looking at Life and
72
00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,720
Circumstances, pages 25 to 26.
00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,120
When we rely on our surface
impressions, which are very much
2
00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:11,000
based on and influenced by our
background, family, society and
3
00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:16,120
the values inculcated into us by
those relationships, we only are
4
00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,360
able to truly understand a
fraction of what is actually
5
00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,240
occurring.
And generally this is
6
00:00:22,240 --> 00:00:27,520
conditioned by our desires,
wishes, and preconceived ideas
7
00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:34,120
based on our ego consciousness.
It is thus necessarily not truly
8
00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:38,200
possible to get a real sense of
the larger perspective that
9
00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:42,520
encompasses our growth and the
developmental trend that is
10
00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:46,600
working itself out within us and
in our environs.
11
00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,920
We are somewhat like the famous
anecdote of the five blind men
12
00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,560
who are asked to describe an
elephant.
13
00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,280
One man who takes hold of the
tail says an elephant is like a
14
00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,080
rope.
Another who grabs hold of an ear
15
00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:08,040
says an elephant is like a fan.
Yet a third who grabs the trunk
16
00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,120
believes an elephant is like a
hose.
17
00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,000
None of them can actually
describe the reality of the
18
00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,480
elephant, just the very small
part that they are able to
19
00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:19,720
experience directly at the
moment.
20
00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,680
The question then is how can we
separate ourselves from this
21
00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:30,440
surface awareness and experience
a truer, more comprehensive view
22
00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,360
of our lives and our
development?
23
00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:38,440
The sages in India developed a
methodology of separation of the
24
00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:43,880
witness consciousness from the
active nature, the separation of
25
00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:48,680
Purusha and Prakruti, in order
to try to gain a standpoint from
26
00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:52,920
which they could be less
involved and thus able to gain a
27
00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:56,880
new perspective that would help
them gain this more complete
28
00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:02,040
view of things.
As long as we are inundated with
29
00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,360
the noise of our surface
awareness, we find it difficult,
30
00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,440
if not impossible, to
consciously receive any higher
31
00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,760
guidance or comprehend the
intention behind it.
32
00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:17,360
This does not mean that the
guidance is not there at work.
33
00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,680
Rather it means that we are
simply not aware of its action.
34
00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:27,840
In some cases, long after an
event, we reflect back and see
35
00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,560
how it was pivotal in our
development and how it was
36
00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:36,080
potentially interpreted
negatively at the time or not
37
00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,040
recognize for the Seminole
impact it would have on our
38
00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:45,480
growth and the development of
our lives, Triorbindo writes.
39
00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,920
Quote.
The true sense of the guidance
40
00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:52,400
becomes clearer when we can go
deep within and see from there
41
00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:57,400
more intimately the play of the
forces and receive intimations
42
00:02:57,640 --> 00:03:02,040
of the will behind them.
The surface mind can get only an
43
00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:07,000
imperfect glimpse when we are in
contact with the Divine or in
44
00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,320
contact with an inner knowledge
and vision.
45
00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,920
We begin to see all the
circumstances of our life in a
46
00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:18,880
new light and can observe how
they all tended, without our
47
00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:23,160
knowing it, towards the growth
of our being and consciousness,
48
00:03:23,640 --> 00:03:27,680
towards the work we had to do,
towards some development that
49
00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:32,600
had to be made, not only what
seemed good, fortunate or
50
00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:37,080
successful, but also the
struggles, failures,
51
00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:41,760
difficulties, upheavals.
But with each person, the
52
00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:45,160
guidance works differently
according to his nature, the
53
00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:50,360
conditions of his life, his cast
of consciousness, his stage of
54
00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,040
development, his need of further
experience.
55
00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:59,760
We are not automata but
conscious beings, and our
56
00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:04,920
mentality, our will and its
decisions, our attitude to life
57
00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:09,560
and demand on it, our motives
and movements help to determine
58
00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,120
our course.
They may lead to much suffering
59
00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:17,920
and evil, but through it all the
guidance makes use of them for
60
00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,760
our growth and experience, and
consequently the development of
61
00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:27,360
our being and consciousness.
All advance by however devious
62
00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:32,040
ways, even in spite of what
seems a going backwards or going
63
00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:37,000
astray, gathering whatever
experience is necessary for the
64
00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:41,320
soul's destiny.
When we are in close contact
65
00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,840
with the Divine, a protection
can come which helps or directly
66
00:04:45,840 --> 00:04:49,800
guides or moves us.
It does not throw aside all
67
00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:54,000
difficulties, sufferings or
dangers, but it carries us
68
00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:58,320
through them and out of them,
except where for a special
69
00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,040
purpose there is need of the
opposite.
70
00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:06,440
End Quote reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother,
71
00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:10,800
Looking from within, Chapter 1.
Looking at Life and
72
00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,720
Circumstances, pages 25 to 26.