July 12, 2025
Understanding the Respective Roles of Personal Effort and Divine Grace in the Transformation of Human Nature
Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
Amazon Music 
RSS Feed 
Castro 
RadioPublic 
PocketCasts 
YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 125This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/understanding-the-respective-roles-of-personal-effort-and-divine-grace-in-the-transformation-of-human-nature/
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
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:06,080
It is one thing to adopt in
one's own mind the idea that
2
00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:10,240
since the divine is doing the
work, we need simply accept the
3
00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,480
idea and let things take their
course.
4
00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:17,280
It is an entirely different
thing if we actually want to
5
00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,200
accomplish the transformation
needed to bring about a change
6
00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,880
in human nature based on
evolutionary growth and
7
00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,120
development.
There's a long debate about
8
00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:32,439
whether we have free will or
whether everything is determined
9
00:00:32,439 --> 00:00:37,080
by fate or destiny, dependent
origination or karmic
10
00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,800
consequence.
The mind wants to have a simple
11
00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:45,400
solution that tends to be either
yes or no, black or white.
12
00:00:46,160 --> 00:00:50,920
Thus, the idea of having the
divine do everything and the
13
00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:55,240
individual not having to make
any personal effort, or the
14
00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,640
opposite idea that says that
personal effort is the sole
15
00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:03,880
solution and there is no need or
even a reality to Divine grace
16
00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:08,040
in action is an expression of
the mind's limitations.
17
00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:13,000
There is certainly a role for
personal effort, just as there
18
00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:17,520
is a deeper understanding of the
working of the Divine Force or
19
00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:22,520
Divine grace.
Sri Aurobindo in his book The
20
00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:26,040
Mother clarifies this point.
Quote.
21
00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:31,840
But so long as the lower nature
is active, the personal effort
22
00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,640
of the Saudica remains
necessary.
23
00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:40,640
The personal effort required is
a triple labor of aspiration,
24
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:46,960
rejection and surrender.
Note that a Damasic surrender,
25
00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:50,960
refusing to fulfill the
conditions and calling on God to
26
00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:55,480
do everything and save one all
the trouble and struggle is a
27
00:01:55,480 --> 00:02:00,000
deception and does not lead to
freedom and perfection.
28
00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:05,400
End Quote.
In the same text he states quote
29
00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,960
reject the false notion that the
divine power will do and is
30
00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:14,280
bound to do everything for you
at your demand and even though
31
00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:17,640
you do not satisfy the
conditions laid down by the
32
00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:24,600
Supreme, reject too the false
and indolent expectation that
33
00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,560
the divine power will do even
the surrender for you.
34
00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,960
The Supreme demands your
surrender to Her, but does not
35
00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,040
impose it.
You are free at every moment
36
00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,840
till the irrevocable
transformation comes, to deny
37
00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:45,360
and to reject the Divine or to
recall yourself giving if you
38
00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,200
are willing to suffer the
spiritual consequence.
39
00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:51,640
Your surrender must be self-made
and free.
40
00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,320
It must be the surrender of a
living being, not of an inert
41
00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:02,560
automaton or mechanical tool.
An inert passivity is constantly
42
00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,560
confused with the real
surrender.
43
00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:09,120
But out of an inert passivity
nothing true and powerful can
44
00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,240
come.
End Quote.
45
00:03:12,640 --> 00:03:16,440
Sriorbindo further observes
quote it.
46
00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:20,200
The idea that the Sadhna is done
by the Divine rather than by
47
00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:25,680
oneself is a truth, but a truth
that does not become effective
48
00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:30,840
for the consciousness until or
in proportion as it is realized.
49
00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,680
The people who stagnate because
of it are those who accept the
50
00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:40,120
idea but do not realize so.
They have neither the force of
51
00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,760
Tapasia nor that of the Divine
Grace.
52
00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:49,480
On the other hand, those who can
realize it feel even behind
53
00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:54,920
their Tapasia and in it the
action of the Divine Force.
54
00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,200
End Quote.
Reference.
55
00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,880
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
56
00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,600
Attitudes on the Path, page 125.
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:06,080
It is one thing to adopt in
one's own mind the idea that
2
00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:10,240
since the divine is doing the
work, we need simply accept the
3
00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,480
idea and let things take their
course.
4
00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:17,280
It is an entirely different
thing if we actually want to
5
00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,200
accomplish the transformation
needed to bring about a change
6
00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,880
in human nature based on
evolutionary growth and
7
00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,120
development.
There's a long debate about
8
00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:32,439
whether we have free will or
whether everything is determined
9
00:00:32,439 --> 00:00:37,080
by fate or destiny, dependent
origination or karmic
10
00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,800
consequence.
The mind wants to have a simple
11
00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:45,400
solution that tends to be either
yes or no, black or white.
12
00:00:46,160 --> 00:00:50,920
Thus, the idea of having the
divine do everything and the
13
00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:55,240
individual not having to make
any personal effort, or the
14
00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,640
opposite idea that says that
personal effort is the sole
15
00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:03,880
solution and there is no need or
even a reality to Divine grace
16
00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:08,040
in action is an expression of
the mind's limitations.
17
00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:13,000
There is certainly a role for
personal effort, just as there
18
00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:17,520
is a deeper understanding of the
working of the Divine Force or
19
00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:22,520
Divine grace.
Sri Aurobindo in his book The
20
00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:26,040
Mother clarifies this point.
Quote.
21
00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:31,840
But so long as the lower nature
is active, the personal effort
22
00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,640
of the Saudica remains
necessary.
23
00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:40,640
The personal effort required is
a triple labor of aspiration,
24
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:46,960
rejection and surrender.
Note that a Damasic surrender,
25
00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:50,960
refusing to fulfill the
conditions and calling on God to
26
00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:55,480
do everything and save one all
the trouble and struggle is a
27
00:01:55,480 --> 00:02:00,000
deception and does not lead to
freedom and perfection.
28
00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:05,400
End Quote.
In the same text he states quote
29
00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,960
reject the false notion that the
divine power will do and is
30
00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:14,280
bound to do everything for you
at your demand and even though
31
00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:17,640
you do not satisfy the
conditions laid down by the
32
00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:24,600
Supreme, reject too the false
and indolent expectation that
33
00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,560
the divine power will do even
the surrender for you.
34
00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,960
The Supreme demands your
surrender to Her, but does not
35
00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,040
impose it.
You are free at every moment
36
00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,840
till the irrevocable
transformation comes, to deny
37
00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:45,360
and to reject the Divine or to
recall yourself giving if you
38
00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,200
are willing to suffer the
spiritual consequence.
39
00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:51,640
Your surrender must be self-made
and free.
40
00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,320
It must be the surrender of a
living being, not of an inert
41
00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:02,560
automaton or mechanical tool.
An inert passivity is constantly
42
00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,560
confused with the real
surrender.
43
00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:09,120
But out of an inert passivity
nothing true and powerful can
44
00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,240
come.
End Quote.
45
00:03:12,640 --> 00:03:16,440
Sriorbindo further observes
quote it.
46
00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:20,200
The idea that the Sadhna is done
by the Divine rather than by
47
00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:25,680
oneself is a truth, but a truth
that does not become effective
48
00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:30,840
for the consciousness until or
in proportion as it is realized.
49
00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,680
The people who stagnate because
of it are those who accept the
50
00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:40,120
idea but do not realize so.
They have neither the force of
51
00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,760
Tapasia nor that of the Divine
Grace.
52
00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:49,480
On the other hand, those who can
realize it feel even behind
53
00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:54,920
their Tapasia and in it the
action of the Divine Force.
54
00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,200
End Quote.
Reference.
55
00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,880
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
56
00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,600
Attitudes on the Path, page 125.