{"id":3975,"date":"2013-07-13T01:52:37","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:52:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=3975"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:52:37","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:52:37","slug":"05-religion-and-occultism-vol-15-words-of-the-mother-volume-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/02-works-of-the-mother\/01-cwmce\/15-words-of-the-mother-volume-15\/05-religion-and-occultism-vol-15-words-of-the-mother-volume-15","title":{"rendered":"-05_Religion and Occultism .htm"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n\n
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\n
\nReligion and Occultism <\/font><\/span><\/i><\/b> <\/span> <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

RELIGION<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

God gives Himself to His whole creation; no one religion holds the
\nmonopoly of His Grace. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Instead of excluding each other, religions ought to complete each other.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The spiritual spirit is not contrary to a religious feeling of
\nadoration, devotion and consecration. But what is wrong in the religions is the
\nfixity of the mind clinging to one formula as an exclusive truth. One must
\nalways remember that formulas are only a mental expression of the truth and
\nthat this truth can always be expressed in many other ways. <\/span><\/p>\n

6 December 1964<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

You express your faith in Sri Aurobindo with certain words which are for
\nyou the best expression of this faith; this is quite all right. But if you are
\nconvinced that these very words are the only correct ones to express what Sri
\nAurobindo is, then you become dogmatic and are ready to create a religion. <\/span><\/p>\n

5 March 1965<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

In a severe tone: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMadam, you are
\npledging your word.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Very quietly: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know it, sir,
\nand when I make a promise, I keep it. But for me these things don\u2019t have much
\nimportance.
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 30<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

\nI have no attachment for any religion, and when
\none has no attachment, one has no aversion either. For me religions are forms,
\nmuch too human, of spiritual life. Each one expresses one aspect of the single
\nand eternal Truth, but in expressing it exclusive of the other aspects, it
\ndeforms and diminishes it. None has the right to call itself the only true one,
\nany more than it has the right to deny the truth contained in the others. And
\nall of them together would not suffice to express the Supreme Truth which is
\nbeyond all expression, even whilst being present in each one.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

In a dry tone: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am sorry, madam, but in this field I cannot follow you.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Smiling and peaceful: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know that very well, sir, and I told you all this only to explain to
\nyou why I did not reply very seriously to the promise you were demanding from
\nme.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Why do men want to worship? <\/span><\/p>\n

It is far better to become than to worship. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is the reluctance to change that makes one worship. <\/span><\/p>\n

24 June 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

One may abstain from worship only on condition that one changes, for
\nthere are many who want neither to change nor to worship! <\/span><\/p>\n

June 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n      The attitude to be taken towards religions<\/span><\/p>\n

A benevolent goodwill towards all worshippers. <\/span><\/p>\n

An enlightened indifference towards all religions.  <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 31<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

All religions are partial approximations of the one sole Truth that is
\nfar above them. <\/span><\/p>\n

April 1969<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

A benevolent goodwill towards all worshippers. <\/span><\/p>\n

An enlightened indifference towards all religions. <\/span><\/p>\n

As for the relation with the beings of the Overmind, if this relation
\nexists already, each case must have its own solution. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Why do men cling to a religion? <\/span><\/p>\n

Religions are based on creeds which are spiritual experiences brought
\ndown to a level where they become more easy to grasp, but at the cost of their
\nintegral purity and truth. <\/span><\/p>\n

The time of religions is over. <\/span><\/p>\n

We have entered the age of universal spirituality, of spiritual
\nexperience in its initial purity. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

(About an article
\nentitled \u201cReligion in the New Age\u201d) <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I have read the
\narticle − it is all right. I have made only one change − in the
\nlast page, where you write \u201csince it will be the age of God\u201d (God is still too
\nreligious) I have put \u201cof the\u00a0 <\/span>ONE\u201d −
\nbecause it will truly be the age of Unity. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I approve of your continuing this practice in the Arya Home provided
\nthose who live there are absolutely free <\/i>to
\nattend or not according to their own conviction. Practices of this kind have no
\nspiritual value if they become a habit or a compulsion, <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 32<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

even if it is only
\na mental<\/i> compulsion. I mean to say
\nthat no propaganda spirit must be used. <\/span><\/p>\n

With blessings. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Religious thought cannot be used unless it is liberated from the
\ninfluence of religions. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The notion of religion is most often linked
\nwith the search for God. Should religion be understood in this context only? As
\na matter of fact, these days, are there not other forms of religion? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

We call \u201creligion\u201d
\nany concept of the world or the universe which is presented as the exclusive Truth
\nin which one must have absolute faith, generally because this Truth is declared
\nto be the result of a revelation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the religions affirm the existence of a God and the rules to
\nfollow to obey Him, but there are some Godless religions, such as the
\nsocio-political organisations which, in the name of an Ideal or the State,
\nclaim the same right to be obeyed. <\/span><\/p>\n

Man\u2019s right is to pursue the Truth freely and to approach it freely in
\nhis own way. But each one ought to know that his discovery is good for him
\nalone and is not to be imposed upon others. <\/span><\/p>\n

13 May 1970<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

You must not confuse a religious teaching with a spiritual one. <\/span><\/p>\n

Religious teaching belongs to the past and halts progress.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 33<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

Spiritual teaching is the teaching of the future − it illumines
\nthe consciousness and prepares it for future realisation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Spiritual teaching is above religions and strives towards a global
\nTruth. <\/span><\/p>\n

It teaches us to enter into direct relation with the Divine. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/i>15 July 1972<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

OCCULTISM<\/a><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Occultism does not truly blossom except when it is surrendered to the
\nDivine. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

And yet there is an analogy. Just as you may read all the books possible
\non the art of playing the piano, but if you do not play it yourself you will
\nnever be a pianist, so too you may read everything that has been written on
\noccultism, but if you do not practise it yourself you will never be an
\noccultist. <\/span><\/p>\n

November 1957 <\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

Pre-vision: the power of projecting one\u2019s consciousness into the future.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I do not like these showy miracles − they most often fail
\npitifully under the pressure of the Force. The first effect is a dangerous
\nswelling of the ego. In front of all that, there is only one attitude to take −
\ndo your best and leave the result to the Lord. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 34<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

In the lives of many saints we read that
\nwith full trust the devotee refused to eat unless the Lord appeared and took
\npart. And the Lord did appear and eat and work like human beings. Is there any
\ntruth in such stories? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

A psychological
\ntruth because anybody can become for you the Lord if so you decide. The
\nsubjective point of view is much more widely prevailing than is generally
\nadmitted. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I have gone through the papers you sent me. <\/span><\/p>\n

The historic part of the papers seems to be true. The founder must surely
\nhave been acquainted with the Kaballah and with some mystics of <\/span>Asia Minor<\/span>. The original appears to have been
\nwritten in Latin with adjuncts of Hebrew words (probably taken from the
\nKaballah). But the Osiris-Isis part looks to me like a more recent addition
\nwhich came in something like 50 or 60 years ago. <\/span><\/p>\n

The whole thing is from its origin a very well-made, a very strong and
\nelaborate mental formation<\/i>,
\npowerfully designed to Catch hold of certain vital elements and forces (both
\noutside and inside the individuals) to rule and use them and through the vital
\nto exercise a partial power over the physical. <\/span><\/p>\n

Formations of this kind are numerous; they translate upon earth into
\nsecret societies. I have met it many<\/i>
\nof the kind, more or less ancient, more or less powerfully organised, but all
\nof a similar type. They are not, in their nature, spiritual. If there is any
\nspirituality in them, it comes not from
\nthe formation itself <\/i>but from the presence, in the society, of one or
\nseveral personalities with a spiritual character and achievement.  <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 35<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

In ancient times the teaching of the great spiritual truths was a secret
\nteaching reserved for a small number of initiates. <\/span><\/p>\n

Even now there are things that are spoken but cannot be written down,
\nand still less can they be printed. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In our daily practices we are endeavouring to express the great mystery
\nof the Divine Incarnation. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

In the final analysis, formulated knowledge is only a language that
\ngives the power to act upon the object of this knowledge. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

(A sadhak wrote that devotees were
\nperforming ceremonies much like the worship of deities in front of the
\nphotographs of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Stating that for proper worship
\nthere should be a bija-mantra [seed-mantra] to invoke the deity, he asked
\nwhether there was such a mantra for Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Mother
\nreplied:) <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I always advise to
\nlet the mantra rise from the depth of the heart as a sincere aspiration. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>It
\noccurs to me to beg Thee for a key word for japa. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

OM.<\/span> <\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 36<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>OM<\/span> is the signature of the Lord. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

(About<\/span><\/i> pranam,
\nthe gesture of obeisance to the Divine) <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

This gesture, when
\none makes it in all sincerity, is the consecration to the Divine in the whole creation.
\nIt is that, that is the origin of the thing\u2026 Like a recognition, a recognition
\nand a submission to the Divine in the creation. <\/span><\/p>\n

That is the true meaning. Naturally, in outer appearance, not one person
\nin a thousand does that\u2026 but that is the true meaning of this gesture.\u00b9 <\/span><\/p>\n

19 March 1973<\/span><\/i> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\nPage – 37<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Religion and Occultism    RELIGION   God gives Himself to His whole creation; no one religion holds the monopoly of His Grace. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Instead of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[114],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-15-words-of-the-mother-volume-15","wpcat-114-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3975","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=3975"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3975\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}