{"id":3295,"date":"2013-07-13T01:47:16","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=3295"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:47:16","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:47:16","slug":"12-book-7-canto-2-the-parable-of-the-search-for-the-soul-vol-02-savitri-1951","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/02-other-editions\/01-savitri\/02-savitri-1951\/12-book-7-canto-2-the-parable-of-the-search-for-the-soul-vol-02-savitri-1951","title":{"rendered":"-12_Book 7 Canto 2 The Parable of The Search for The Soul.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\n
\nCANTO TWO<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nTHE PARABLE OF
\nTHE SEARCH<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

\n
\nFOR THE SOUL<\/font>
\n\t\t\t<\/b>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\t\t\t <\/td>\n\n

\nAS in the vigilance of the
\nsleepless night<\/P> <\/p>\n

\nThrough the slow heavy-footed silent hours,<\/p>\n

\nRepressing in her bosom its load of grief,<\/p>\n

She sat
\nstaring at the dumb tread of Time<\/p>\n

And the
\napproach of ever-nearing Fate,<\/p>\n

A
\nsummons from her being's summit came,<\/p>\n

A sound,
\na call that broke the seals of Night.<\/p>\n

Above
\nher brows where will and knowledge meet<\/p>\n

A mighty
\nVoice invaded mortal space.<\/p>\n

<\/P><\/font><\/p>\n

\nIt seemed to come from inaccessible
\nheights<\/p>\n

And yet
\nwas intimate with all the world<\/p>\n

And knew
\nthe meaning of the steps of Time<\/p>\n

And saw
\neternal destiny's changeless scene<\/p>\n

\nFilling the far prospect of the cosmic gaze.<\/p>\n

As the
\nVoice touched, her body became a stark<\/p>\n

And
\nrigid golden statue of motionless trance,<\/p>\n

A stone
\nof God lit by an amethyst soul.<\/p>\n

Around
\nher body's stillness all grew still: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHer heart listened to its slow
\nmeasured beats,<\/P><\/p>\n

Her mind
\nrenouncing thought heard and was mute: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n"Why earnest thou to this dumb
\ndeathbound earth,<\/P><\/p>\n

This
\nignorant life beneath indifferent skies<\/p>\n

Tied
\nlike a sacrifice on the altar of Time,<\/p>\n

\nO'spirit, O immortal energy,<\/p>\n

If 'twas
\nto nurse grief in a helpless heart<\/p>\n

<\/P><\/font><\/p>\n

\nOr with hard tearless eyes awake
\nthy doom?<\/p>\n

Arise,
\nO
\nsoul, and vanquish Time and Death."<\/p>\n

But
\nSavitri's heart replied in the dim night: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n"My strength is taken from me and
\ngiven to Death,<\/P><\/p>\n

Why
\nshould I lift my hands to the shut heavens <\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

Page  118<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nOr struggle with mute inevitable
\nFate <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr hope in vain to uplift an
\nignorant race <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWho hug their lot and mock the
\nsaviour Light <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd see in Mind Wisdom's sole
\ntabernacle, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIn its harsh peak and its
\ninconscient base <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA rock of safety and an anchor of
\nsleep? <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIs there a God whom any cry can
\nmove? <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe sits in peace and leaves the
\nmortal's strength <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nImpotent against his calm
\nomnipotent Law <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd Inconsdence and the almighty
\nhands of Death. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat need have I, what need has
\nSatyavan <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTo avoid the black meshed net, the
\ndismal door, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr call a mightier Light into
\nlife's closed room,. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA greater Law into man's little
\nworld? <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhy should I strive with earth's
\nunyielding laws <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr stave off death's inevitable
\nhour? <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThis surely is best to pactise with
\nmy fate <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd follow close behind my lover's
\nsteps <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd pass through night from
\ntwilight to the sun <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAcross the tenebrous river that
\ndivides <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe adjoining parishes of earth and
\nheaven. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThen could we lie inarmed breast
\nupon breast, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nUntroubled by thought, untroubled
\nby our hearts, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nForgetting man and life and time
\nand its hours, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nForgetting eternity's call,
\nforgetting God." <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe Voice replied: "Is this
\nenough, 0 spirit? <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd what shall thy soul say when it
\nwakes and knows <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe work was left undone for which
\nit came? <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr is this all for thy being born
\non earth <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCharged with a mandate from
\neternity, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA listener to the voices of the
\nyears, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA follower of the footprints of the
\ngods, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTo pass and leave unchanged the old
\ndusty laws? <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nShall there be no new tables, no
\nnew Word, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNo greater light come down upon the
\nearth <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDelivering her from her
\nunconsciousness, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMan's spirit from unalterable fate? <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCam'st thou not down to open the
\ndoors of Fate, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe iron doors that seemed for ever
\nclosed, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd lead man to truth's wide and
\ngolden road <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n

Page  119<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThat runs through finite things to
\neternity? <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIs this then the report that I must
\nmake, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMy head bowed with shame before the
\nEtemal's seat,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHis power he kindled in thy body
\nhas failed, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHis labourer returns, her task
\nundone?" <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThen Savitri's heart fell mute, it
\nspoke no word. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut holding back her troubled rebel
\nheart, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAbrupt, erect and strong, calm like
\na hill, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSurmounting the seas of mortal
\nignorance, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts peak immutable above mind's
\nair, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA Power within her answered the
\nstill Voice: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n"I am thy portion here charged with
\nthy work, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAs thou myself seated for ever
\nabove, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSpeak to my depths, O great and
\ndeathless Voice, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCommand, for I am here to do thy
\nwill." <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe Voice replied: "Remember why
\nthou cam'st: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFind out thy soul, recover thy hid
\nself, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIn silence seek God's meaning in
\nthy depths, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThen mortal nature change to the
\ndivine. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOpen God's door, enter into his
\ntrance. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCast Thought from thee, that nimble
\nape of Light: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIn his tremendous hush stilling thy
\nbrain<\/P><\/p>\n

His vast
\nTruth wake within and know and see.<\/p>\n

Cast
\nfrom thee sense that veils thy spirit's sight: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nIn the enormous emptiness of thy
\nmind<\/P><\/p>\n

Thou
\nshalt see the Etemal's body in the world,<\/p>\n

Know him
\nin every voice heard by thy soul: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nIn the world's contacts meet his
\nsingle touch; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAll things shall fold thee into his
\nembrace. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nConquer thy heart's throbs, let thy
\nheart beat in God: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThy nature shall be the engine of
\nhis works,<\/P><\/p>\n

Thy
\nvoice shall house the mightiness of his Word: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThen shalt thou harbour my force
\nand conquer Death." <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThen Savitri by her doomed husband
\nsat, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nStill rigid in her golden
\nmotionless pose, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA statue of the fire of the inner
\nsun. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIn the black night the wrath of
\nstorm swept by, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe thunder crashed above her, the
\nrain hissed, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts million footsteps pattered on
\nthe roof. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nImpassive mid the movement and the
\ncry, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nPage   120<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nWitness of the thoughts of mind,
\nthe moods of life,<\/P><\/p>\n

She
\nlooked into herself and sought for her soul. <\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n      
\nA dream disclosed to her the cosmic past,<\/P><\/p>\n

The
\ncrypt-seed and the mystic origins,<\/p>\n

The
\nshadowy beginnings of world-fate: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nA lamp of symbol lighting hidden
\ntruth<\/P><\/p>\n

Imaged
\nto her the world's significance.<\/p>\n

In the
\nindeterminate formlessness of Self<\/p>\n

\nCreation took its first mysterious steps,<\/p>\n

It made
\nthe body's shape a house of soul<\/p>\n

And
\nMatter learned to think and person grew,<\/p>\n

She saw
\nSpace peopled with the seeds of life<\/p>\n

And saw
\nthe human creature born in Time.<\/p>\n

At first
\nappeared a dim half-neutral tide<\/p>\n

Of being
\nemerging out of infinite Nought: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nA consciousness looked at the
\ninconscient Vast<\/P><\/p>\n

And
\npleasure and pain stirred in the insensible Void.<\/p>\n

All was
\nthe deed of a blind World-Energy: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nUnconscious of her own exploits she
\nworked,<\/P><\/p>\n

\nShaping a universe out of the Inane.<\/p>\n

<\/P><\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn fragmentary beings she grew
\naware: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nA chaos of little sensibilities <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nGathered round a small ego's
\npinpoint head; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIn it a sentient creature found its
\npoise, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt moved and lived a breathing,
\nthinking whole. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOn a dim ocean of subconscient life <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA formless surface consciousness
\nawoke: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA stream of thoughts and feelings
\ncame and went, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA foam of memories hardened and
\nbecame <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA bright crust of habitual sense
\nand thought, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA seat of living personality <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd recurrent habits mimicked
\npermanence. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMind nascent laboured out a mutable
\nform, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt built a mobile house on shifting
\nsands, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA floating isle upon a bottomless
\nsea. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA conscious being was by this
\nlabour made; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt looked around it on its
\ndifficult field<\/P><\/p>\n

In the
\ngreen wonderful and perilous earth; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nIt hoped in a brief body to
\nsurvive, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n

Page   121<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nRelying on Matter's false eternity.<\/P><\/font><\/p>\n

\nIt felt a godhead in its fragile
\nhouse; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nIt saw blue heavens, dreamed
\nimmortality. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n      A
\nconscious soul in the Inconscient's world<\/P><\/p>\n

Hidden
\nbehind our thoughts and hopes and dreams,<\/p>\n

An
\nindifferent Master signing Nature's acts<\/p>\n

Leaves
\nthe vicegerent mind a seeming king.<\/p>\n

In his
\nfloating house upon the sea of Time<\/p>\n

This
\nregent sits at work and never rests: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHe is a puppet of the dance of
\nTime,<\/P><\/p>\n

He is
\ndriven by the hours, the moment's call<\/p>\n

\nCompels him with the thronging of life's need<\/p>\n

And the
\nbabel of the voices of the world.<\/p>\n

This
\nmind no silence knows nor dreamless sleep,<\/p>\n

In the
\nincessant circling of its steps<\/p>\n

\nThoughts tread for ever through the listening brain; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nIt toils like a machine and cannot
\nstop.<\/P><\/p>\n

Into the
\nbody's many-storeyed rooms<\/p>\n

\nEndless crowd down the dream-god's messages.<\/p>\n

All is a
\nhundred-toned murmur and babble and stir,<\/p>\n

There is
\na tireless running to and fro,<\/p>\n

A haste
\nof movement and a ceaseless cry,<\/p>\n

The
\nhurried servant senses answer apace<\/p>\n

To every
\nknock upon the outer doors,<\/p>\n

Bring in
\nlife's visitors, report each call,<\/p>\n

Admit
\nthe thousand queries and the calls<\/p>\n

And the
\nmessages of communicating minds<\/p>\n

And the
\nheavy business of unnumbered lives<\/p>\n

And all
\nthe thousandfold commerce of the world.<\/p>\n

Even in
\nthe tracts of sleep is scant repose; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHe mocks life's steps in strange
\nsubconscient dreams, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe strays in a sublime realm of
\nsymbol scenes, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHis night with thin-air visions and
\ndim forms <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe packs or peoples with slight
\ndrifting shapes <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd only a moment spends in silent
\nself. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAdventuring into infinite
\nmind-space <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe unfolds his wings of thought in
\ninner air, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr travelling in imagination's car <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCrosses the globe, journeys beneath
\nthe stars, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTo subtle worlds takes his ethereal
\ncourse, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nPage  122<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nVisits the gods on life's
\nmiraculous peaks, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCommunicates with Heaven, tampers
\nwith Hell. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThis is the little surface of man's
\nlife. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe is this and he is all the
\nuniverse, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe scales the Unseen, his depths
\ndare the Abyss; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA whole mysterious world is locked
\nwithin.<\/P><\/p>\n

\nUnknown to himself lives a hidden king<\/p>\n

Behind
\nrich tapestries in great secret rooms; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nAn epicure of the spirit's unseen
\njoys,<\/P><\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe lives on the sweet honey of
\nsolitude: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nA nameless god in an unapproachable
\nfane, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIn the secret adytum of his inmost
\nsoul <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe guards the being's covered
\nmysteries <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBeneath the threshold behind
\nshadowy gates <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr shut in vast cellars of
\ninconscient sleep. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe immaculate Divine All-Wonderful <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCasts into the argent purity of his
\nsoul <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHis splendour and his greatness and
\nthe light <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOf self-creation in Time's infinity <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAs into a sublimely mirroring
\nglass. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMan in the world's life works out
\nthe dreams of God. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut all is there, even God's
\nopposites; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe is a little front of Nature's
\nworks, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA thinking outline of a cryptic
\nForce. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAll she reveals in him that is in
\nher, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHer glories walk in him and her
\ndarknesses. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMan's house of life holds not the
\ngods alone: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThere are occult Shadows, there are
\ntenebrous Powers, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nInhabitants of life's ominous
\nnether rooms, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA shadowy world's stupendous
\ndenizens. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA careless guardian of his nature's
\npowers, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMan harbours dangerous forces in
\nhis house. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe Titan and the Fury and the
\nDjinn <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nLie bound in the subconscient's
\ncavern pit <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd the Beast grovels in his antre
\nden: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDire mutterings rise and murmur in
\ntheir drowse.<\/P><\/p>\n

\nInsurgent sometimes raises its huge head<\/p>\n

A
\nmonstrous mystery lurking in life's deeps,<\/p>\n

The
\nmystery of dark and fallen worlds,<\/p>\n

The
\ndread visages of the adversary Kings.<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage  123<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThe dreadful powers held down
\nwithin his depths<\/P><\/p>\n

Become
\nhis masters or his ministers; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nEnormous they invade his bodily
\nhouse,<\/P><\/p>\n

Can act
\nin his acts, infest his thought and life.<\/p>\n

\nInferno surges into the human air<\/p>\n

And
\ntouches all with a perverting breath.<\/p>\n

Grey
\nforces like a thin miasma creep<\/p>\n

\nStealing through chinks in his closed mansion's doors,<\/p>\n

\nDiscolouring the walls of upper mind<\/p>\n

<\/P><\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn which he lives his fair and
\nspecious life,<\/p>\n

And
\nleave behind a stench of sin and death: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nNot only rise in him perverse
\ndrifts of thought<\/P><\/p>\n

And
\nformidable formless influences,<\/p>\n

But
\nthere come presences and awful shapes: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nTremendous forms and faces mount
\ndim steps<\/P><\/p>\n

And
\nstare at times into his living-rooms,<\/p>\n

Or
\ncalled up for a moment's passionate work<\/p>\n

Lay a
\ndire custom's claim upon his heart: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nAroused from sleep, they can be
\nbound no more.<\/P><\/p>\n

\nAfflicting the daylight and alarming night,<\/p>\n

\nInvading at will his outer tenement<\/p>\n

The
\nstark gloom's grisly dire inhabitants<\/p>\n

\nMounting into God's light all light perturb.<\/p>\n

All they
\nhave touched or seen they make their own,<\/p>\n

In
\nNature's basement lodge, mind's passages fill,<\/p>\n

\nDisrupt thought's links and musing sequences,<\/p>\n

Break
\nthrough the soul's stillness with a noise and cry<\/p>\n

Or they
\ncall the inhabitants of the abyss,<\/p>\n

Invite
\nthe instincts to forbidden joys,<\/p>\n

A
\nlaughter wake of dread demoniac mirth<\/p>\n

And with
\nnether riot and revel shake life's floor.<\/p>\n

\nImpotent to quell his terrible prisoners<\/p>\n

\nAppalled the householder helpless sits above,<\/p>\n

Taken
\nfrom him his house is his no more.<\/p>\n

He is
\nbound and forced, a victim of the play,<\/p>\n

<\/P><\/font><\/p>\n

\nOr,
\nallured, joys in the mad and mighty din.<\/p>\n

His
\nnature's dangerous forces have arisen<\/p>\n

And hold
\nat will a rebel's holiday. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nAroused from the darkness where
\nthey crouched in the depths,<\/P><\/p>\n

\nPrisoned from the sight, they can be held no more; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nPage  124<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHis nature's impulses are now his
\nlords.<\/P><\/p>\n

Once
\nquelled or wearing specious names and vests<\/p>\n

\nInfernal elements, demon powers are there.<\/p>\n

Man's
\nlower nature hides these awful guests.<\/p>\n

Their
\nvast contagion grips sometimes man's world.<\/p>\n

An awful
\ninsurgence overpowers man's soul.<\/p>\n

In house
\nand house the huge uprising grows;
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHell's companies are loosed to do
\ntheir work,<\/P><\/p>\n

Into the
\nearth-ways they break out from all doors,<\/p>\n

<\/P> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nInvade with blood-lust and the will
\nto slay<\/p>\n

And fill
\nwith horror and carnage God's fair world.<\/p>\n

Death
\nand his hunters stop a victim earth; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThe terrible Angel smites at every
\ndoor: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAn awful laughter mocks at the
\nworld's pain<\/P><\/p>\n

And
\nmassacre and torture grin at Heaven: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nAll is the prey of the destroying
\nforce; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCreation rocks and tremble top and
\nbase.<\/P><\/p>\n

This
\nevil Nature housed in human hearts<\/p>\n

A
\nforeign inhabitant, a dangerous guest: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThe soul that harbours it it can
\ndislodge,<\/P><\/p>\n

Expel
\nthe householder, possess the house.<\/p>\n

An
\nopposite potency contradicting God,<\/p>\n

A
\nmomentary Evil's almightiness<\/p>\n

Has
\nstraddled the straight path of Nature's acts.<\/p>\n

It
\nimitates the Godhead it denies,<\/p>\n

Puts on
\nhis figure and assumes his face.<\/p>\n

A
\nManichean creator and destroyer,<\/p>\n

This can
\nabolish man, annul his world.<\/p>\n

But
\nthere is a guardian power, there are Hands that save,<\/p>\n

Calm
\neyes divine regard the human scene. <\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n      All
\nthe world's possibilities in man<\/P><\/p>\n

Are
\nwaiting as the tree waits in its seed: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHis past lives in him; it drives
\nhis future's pace; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHis present's acts fashion his
\ncoming fate. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe unborn gods hide in his house
\nof Life. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe daemons of the unknown
\novershadow his mind <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCasting their dreams into live
\nmoulds of thought, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe moulds in which his mind builds
\nout its world. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHis mind creates around him its
\nuniverse. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAll that has been renews in him its
\nbirth, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n


\n <\/font>Page  125<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nAll that can be is figured in his
\nsoul. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIssuing in deeds it scores on the
\nroads of the world, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nObscure to the interpreting
\nreason's guess, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nLines of the secret purpose of the
\ngods. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIn strange directions runs the
\nintricate plan; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHeld back from human foresight is
\ntheir end. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd the far intention of some
\nordering Will <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr the order of life's arbitrary
\nChance <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFinds out 'its settled poise and
\nfated hour. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOur surface watched in vain by
\nreason's gaze, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nInvaded by the impromptus of the
\nunseen, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHelpless records the accidents of
\nTime, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe involuntary turns and leaps of
\nlife. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOnly a little of us foresees its
\nsteps, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOnly a little has will and purposed
\npace. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA vast subliminal is man's
\nmeasureless part. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe dim subconscient is his cavern
\nbase. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAbolished vainly in the walks of
\nTime <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOur past lives still in our
\nunconscious selves <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd by the weight of its hidden
\ninfluences <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIs shaped our future's
\nself-discovery. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThus all is an inevitable chain <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd yet a series seems of
\naccidents. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe unremembering hours repeat the
\nold acts, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOur dead past round our future's
\nankles clings <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd drags back the new nature's
\nglorious stride, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr from its buried corpse old
\nghosts arise, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOld thoughts, old longings, dead
\npassions live again, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nRecur in sleep or move the waking
\nman <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTo words that force the barrier of
\nthe lips, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTo deeds that suddenly start and
\no'erleap <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHis head of reason and his guardian
\nwill. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAn old self lurks in the new self
\nwe are; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHardly we escape from what we once
\nhad been: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIn the dim gleam of habit's
\npassages,<\/P><\/p>\n

In the
\nsubconscient's darkling corridors<\/p>\n

All
\nthings are carried by the porter nerves<\/p>\n

And
\nnothing checked by subterranean mind,<\/p>\n

\nUnstudied by the guardians of the doors,<\/p>\n

And
\npassed by a blind instinctive memory, <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nPage  126<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThe old gang dismissed, old
\ncancelled passports serve,<\/P><\/p>\n

\nNothing is wholly dead that once had lived.<\/p>\n

In dim
\ntunnels of the world's being and in ours<\/p>\n

The old
\nrejected nature still survives; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThe corpses of its slain thoughts
\nraise their heads<\/P><\/p>\n

And
\nvisit mind's nocturnal walks in sleep,<\/p>\n

Its
\nstifled impulses breathe and move and rise; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nAll keeps a phantom immortality.<\/P><\/p>\n

\nIrresistible are Nature's sequences: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThe seeds of sins renounced sprout
\nfrom hid soil; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe evil cast from our hearts once
\nmore we face.<\/P><\/p>\n

Our dead
\nselves come to slay our living soul.<\/p>\n

A
\nportion of us lives in present Time,<\/p>\n

A secret
\nmass in dim inconscience gropes; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nOut of the inconscient and
\nsubliminal<\/P><\/p>\n

\nArisen, we live in mind's uncertain light<\/p>\n

And
\nstrive to know and master a dubious world<\/p>\n

Whose
\npurpose and meaning are hidden from our sight.<\/p>\n

Above us
\ndwells a superconscient god<\/p>\n

Hidden
\nin the mystery of his own light: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nAround us is a vast of ignorance<\/P><\/p>\n

Lit by
\nthe uncertain ray of human mind,<\/p>\n

Below us
\nsleeps the Inconscient dark and mute. <\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n      But
\nthis is only Matter's first self-view,<\/P><\/p>\n

A scale
\nand series in the Ignorance.<\/p>\n

This is
\nnot all we are or all our world.<\/p>\n

<\/P><\/font><\/p>\n

\nOur greater self of knowledge waits
\nfor us,<\/p>\n

A
\nsupreme light in the truth-conscious Vast: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nIt sees from summits beyond
\nthinking mind,<\/P><\/p>\n

It moves
\nin a splendid air transcending life.<\/p>\n

It shall
\ndescend and make earth's life divine.<\/p>\n

Truth
\nmade the world, not a blind Nature-Force.<\/p>\n

For here
\nare not our large diviner heights; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nOur summits in the superconscient's
\nblaze<\/P><\/p>\n

Are
\nglorious with the very face of God: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThere is our aspect of eternity,<\/P><\/p>\n

There is
\nthe figure of the god we are,<\/p>\n

His
\nyoung imaging look on deathless things,<\/p>\n

His joy
\nin our escape from death and Time,<\/p>\n

His
\nimmortality and light and bliss. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n

Page   127<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nOur larger being sits behind
\ncryptic walls: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThere are greatnesses hidden in our
\nunseen parts<\/P><\/p>\n

That
\nwait their hour to step into life's front: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nWe feel an aid from deep indwelling
\nGods: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOne speaks within. Light comes to
\nus from above.<\/P><\/p>\n

Our soul
\nfrom its mysterious chamber acts; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nIts influence pressing on our heart
\nand mind<\/P><\/p>\n

Pushes
\nthem to exceed their mortal selves.<\/p>\n

It seeks
\nfor Good and Beauty and for God; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nWe see beyond self's walls our
\nlimitless self,<\/P><\/p>\n

We gaze
\nthrough our world's glass at half-seeing vasts,<\/p>\n

We hunt
\nfor the Truth behind apparent things.<\/p>\n

Our
\ninner Mind dwells in a larger light,<\/p>\n

Its
\nbrightness looks at us through hidden doors; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nOur members luminous grow and
\nWisdom's face<\/P><\/p>\n

\nAppears in the doorway of the mystic ward: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nWhen she enters into our house of
\noutward sense,<\/P><\/p>\n

Then we
\nlook up and see, above, her sun.<\/p>\n

A mighty
\nlife-self with its inner powers<\/p>\n

\nSupports the dwarfish modicum we call life; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nIt can graft upon our crawl two
\npuissant wings.<\/P><\/p>\n

Our
\nbody's subtle self is throned within<\/p>\n

In its
\nviewless palace of veridical dreams<\/p>\n

That are
\nbright shadows of the thoughts of God.<\/p>\n

In the
\nprone obscure beginnings of the race <\/p>\n

The
\nhuman grew in the bowed apelike man.<\/p>\n

He stood
\nerect, a Godlike form and force<\/p>\n

And a
\nsoul's thoughts looked out from earthborn eyes; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nMan stood erect, he wore the
\nthinker's brow: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe looked at heaven and saw his
\ncomrade stars; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA vision came of beauty and greater
\nbirth<\/P><\/p>\n

Slowly
\nemerging from the heart's chapel of light<\/p>\n

And
\nmoved in a white lucent air of dreams.<\/p>\n

He saw
\nhis being's unrealised vastnesses,<\/p>\n

He
\naspired and housed the nascent demi-god.<\/p>\n

Out of
\nthe dim recesses of the self<\/p>\n

The
\noccult seeker into the open came: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHe heard the far and touched the
\nintangible,<\/P><\/p>\n

He gazed
\ninto the future and the unseen; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHe used the powers
\nearth-instruments cannot use,<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

Page   128<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nA pastime made of the impossible; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe caught up fragments of the
\nOmniscient's thought,<\/P><\/p>\n

He
\nscattered formulas of omnipotence.<\/p>\n

Thus man
\nin his little house made of earth's dust<\/p>\n

Grew
\ntowards an unseen heaven of thought and dream<\/p>\n

\nLooking into the vast vistas of his mind<\/p>\n

On a
\nsmall globe dotting infinity.<\/p>\n

At last
\nclimbing a long and narrow stair<\/p>\n

He stood
\nalone on a high roof of things<\/p>\n

And saw
\nthe light of a spiritual sun.<\/p>\n

\nAspiring he transcends his earthly self; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHe stands in the largeness of his
\nsoul new-born<\/P><\/p>\n

\nRedeemed from encirclement by mortal things<\/p>\n

And
\nmoves in a pure free spiritual realm<\/p>\n

As in
\nthe rare breath of a stratosphere.<\/p>\n

A lost
\nend of far lines of divinity,<\/p>\n

He
\nmounts by a frail thread to his high source; <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nHe reaches his fount of
\nimmortality,<\/P><\/p>\n

He calls
\nthe Godhead into his mortal life.<\/p>\n

All this
\nthe spirit concealed had done in her: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nA portion of the mighty Mother came<\/P><\/p>\n

Into her
\nas into its own human part: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nAmid the cosmic workings of the
\nGods <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt marked her the centre of a
\nwide-drawn scheme, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDreamed in the passion of her
\nfar-seeing spirit <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTo mould humanity into God's own
\nshape <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd lead this great blind
\nstruggling world to light <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr a new world discover or create. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nEarth must transform herself and
\nequal Heaven <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr Heaven descend into earth's
\nmortal state. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut for such vast spiritual change
\nto be, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOut of the mystic cavern in man's
\nheart <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe heavenly Psyche must put off
\nher veil <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd step into common nature's
\ncrowded rooms <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd stand uncovered in that
\nnature's front <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd rule its thoughts and fill the
\nbody and life. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nObedient to a high command she sat: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTime, life and death were passing
\nincidents <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nObstructing with their transient
\nview her sight, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHer sight that must break through
\nand liberate the god <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nPage 129<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nImprisoned in the visionless mortal
\nman.<\/P><\/p>\n

The
\ninferior nature born into ignorance<\/p>\n

Still
\ntook too large a place, it veiled her self<\/p>\n

And must
\nbe pushed aside to find her soul. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n

Page 130<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n\t\t\t <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CANTO TWO   THE PARABLE OF THE SEARCH FOR THE SOUL     AS in the vigilance of the sleepless night Through the slow heavy-footed…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-02-savitri-1951","wpcat-73-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3295"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3295\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}