{"id":4536,"date":"2013-07-13T01:56:41","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:56:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=4536"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:56:41","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:56:41","slug":"28-11-july-1956-vol-08-questions-and-answers-volume-08","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/02-works-of-the-mother\/01-cwmce\/08-questions-and-answers-volume-08\/28-11-july-1956-vol-08-questions-and-answers-volume-08","title":{"rendered":"-28_11 July 1956.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n


\n11 July 1956<\/font> <\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I have received three
\nquestions, one of which would require some fairly unpleasant remarks which I
\ndon\u2019t want to make to you\u2026. There are two others here which I could perhaps
\nanswer: One is about a sentence in
\nThe Synthesis of Yoga<\/span> where Sri
\nAurobindo speaks of the psychic being as \u201cinsisting\u201d on <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cbeauty restored to its
\npriesthood of interpretation of the Eternal.\u201d <\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\n<\/span>The Synthesis of Yoga p. 146.<\/font><\/span><\/i><\/b><\/font> <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>I have been asked what this means. <\/span><\/p>\n

 To tell the truth, I
\ndon\u2019t know why; I don\u2019t know if it is the old ascetic idea that beauty has no
\nplace in yoga, or if it is the word \u201cpriesthood\u201d of interpretation of the
\nEternal, for which an explanation is being asked. <\/span><\/p>\n

 In the first case, I
\nbelieve I have already said often enough and repeated that in the physical
\nworld, of all things it is beauty which best expresses the Divine. The physical
\nworld is the world of form, and the perfection of form is beauty. So I think it
\nis not necessary to go over all that again. And once we admit this, that in the
\nphysical world beauty is the best and closest expression of the Divine, it is
\nnatural to speak of it as a \u201cpriestess\u201d, who interprets, expresses, manifests
\nthe Eternal. Its true role is to put the whole of manifested nature into
\ncontact with the Eternal through the perfection of form, harmony, and through a
\nsense of the ideal which raises you towards something higher. So I think this
\njustifies the word \u201cpriesthood\u201d and explains and answers the question<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

(Silence)<\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The other question is about a phrase I used <\/span>―<\/span> I believe it <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 216<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

was last week <\/span>―<\/span> when I spoke of the \u201cthreshold of occultism\u201d. So a question is
\nput to me about this occult world, that is to say, the world invisible to
\nordinary physical eyes, and I am asked for explanations or comments on the
\nbeings who live in these worlds which are invisible to ordinary eyes. <\/span><\/p>\n

 I am even told that I
\nspeak very often of negative entities, that is to say, of hostile formations,
\nof small beings formed from the disintegration of human beings after their
\ndeath <\/span>―<\/span> the disintegration of the vital or mental being at death but
\nthat I have never spoken of the great beings, the magnificent beings or
\npositive entities which help the evolution. I believe I have spoken to you
\nabout these quite often, but still I have been asked once again for
\nexplanations. <\/span><\/p>\n

 Well, the occult world is
\nnot one single region where everything is mixed, which only becomes occult
\nbecause we can\u2019t see it. The occult world is a gradation of regions, one could
\nperhaps say, of more and more etherial or subtle regions, anyway, those farther
\nand farther removed in their nature from the physical materiality we ordinarily
\nsee. And each one of these domains is a world in itself, having its forms and
\ninhabited by beings with a density, one might say, analogous to that of the
\ndomain in which they live. Just as in the physical world we are of the same
\nmateriality as the physical world, so in the vital world, in the mental world,
\nin the overmind world and in the supramental world <\/span>―<\/span> and in many others, infinite
\nothers <\/span>― <\/span>there are beings which have a form whose substance is similar to
\nthe one of that world. This means that if you are able to enter consciously
\ninto that world with the part of your being which corresponds to that domain,
\nyou can move there quite objectively, as in the material world<\/span><\/p>\n

 And there, there are as
\nmany, and even many more things to see and observe than in our poor little
\nmaterial world, which belongs to only one zone of this infinite gradation. You
\nmeet all sorts of things in these domains, and you need to make a study as
\nprofound, perhaps still more profound than in the phy- <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 217<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

sical world, to be able to know what is happening there, to have
\nrelations with the beings who live there.<\/span><\/p>\n

 It is obvious that as one
\ngoes farther, as it were, from the material world, the forms and consciousness
\nof those beings are of a purity, beauty and perfection much higher than our
\nordinary physical forms. It is only in the nearest vital world, the one which
\nis, so to say, mixed with our material life <\/span>―<\/span> though it lies beyond it and
\nthere is a zone where the vital is no longer mixed with the material world <\/span>― <\/span>of that material vital one can
\nsay that in some of its aspects it is even uglier than things here, for it is
\nfilled with a bad will which is not counterbalanced by the presence of the
\npsychic being which, in the physical world, amends, corrects, puts right,
\ndirects this bad will. But it is rather a limited zone and, as soon as one goes
\nbeyond it, one can find and meet things that are not favourable to human life,
\nbeings not on the same scale as human existence, but having their own beauty
\nand grandeur, with whom one may establish relations which may become quite pleasant
\nand even useful. <\/span><\/p>\n

 Only, as I have already
\ntold you, it is not very prudent to venture into these domains without a
\nprevious initiation and, above all, a purification of nature which prevents you
\nfrom entering there all weighed down and deformed by your desires, your
\npassions, egoisms, fears and weaknesses. Before undertaking these activities
\none needs a complete preparation of self-purification and widening of the
\nconsciousness which is absolutely indispensable. <\/span><\/p>\n

 In these invisible worlds
\nthere are also regions which are the result of human mental formations. One can
\nfind there all one wants. In fact, one very often finds there exactly what one
\nexpects to find. There are hells, there are paradises, there are purgatories.
\nThere are all sorts of things in accordance with the different religions and
\ntheir conceptions. These things have only a very relative existence, but with a
\nrelativity similar to that of material things here; that is to say, for someone
\nwho finds himself there, they are entirely real and their effects quite
\ntangible.
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 218<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

One needs an inner liberation, a wideness of the consciousness
\nand a contact with a deeper and higher truth to be able to escape from the
\nillusion of their reality. But this is something almost similar to what happens
\nhere: human beings here are mostly convinced that the only reality is the
\nphysical reality <\/span>―<\/span> the reality of what one can touch, can see <\/span>―<\/span> and for them, all that cannot
\nbe seen, cannot be touched, cannot be felt, is after all, problematical; well,
\nwhat happens there is an identical phenomenon. People who at the moment of
\ndeath are convinced, for one reason or another, that they are going to paradise
\nor maybe to hell, do find<\/i><\/b> themselves there after their death; and for them it is
\ntruly a paradise or a hell. And it is extremely difficult to make them come out
\nof it and go to a place which is more true, more real.<\/span><\/p>\n

 So it is difficult to
\nspeak of all these worlds, these innumerable worlds, in a few minutes. It is a
\nknowledge which needs a lived experience of many years, thoroughly systematic,
\nand which requires, as I said, an inner preparation absolutely indispensable,
\nto make it harmless. <\/span><\/p>\n

 We all get the chance to
\nhave a little contact <\/span>― <\/span>very partial, very superficial <\/span>― <\/span>with these worlds in our dreams.
\nAnd the study of dreams itself already demands much time and care, and in
\nitself may constitute a preparation for a deeper study of the invisible worlds.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 I think that is all we
\ncan profitably say about it this evening. <\/span><\/p>\n

(Silence)<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The last question is from somebody who finds that I have made
\npromises a little lightly and that, after all, I haven\u2019t kept my word!…
\nPerhaps I expected more from humanity than it was capable of giving me <\/span>―<\/span> about that I don\u2019t know.
\nPerhaps it is a purely superficial impression. <\/span><\/p>\n

 I said more or less this,
\nthat those who are here in the Ashram will know the descent of the Supermind <\/span>―<\/span> they can\u2019t blame<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 219<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

\u00a0<\/span>me for not having
\ninformed them when it came, I made no mystery of it! <\/span>―<\/span> and that they will participate
\nin it <\/span>―<\/span> indeed, I did not forbid anyone to participate in it! On the
\ncontrary, I believe I encouraged everybody to be open and to receive it, and
\ntry to profit by it. <\/span><\/p>\n

 And so I said: From that moment
\nthe transforming Grace will radiate in the most effective way. Well, I
\nchallenge anyone to tell me the opposite! <\/span><\/p>\n

 But here indeed it begins
\nto be a little more\u2026 I added: And fortunately for the aspirants this happy
\nfuture <\/span>―<\/span> I don\u2019t think I wrote it in this way, but that doesn\u2019t matter <\/span>―<\/span> this happy future will
\nmaterialise for them in spite of all the obstacles that the unregenerate human
\nnature may put up against it. I continue to hope that it will be like this! <\/span><\/p>\n

 But now that person, who
\nis perhaps a bit impatient, tells me this: \u201cWhy have the difficulties increased
\nfor quite a large number of sadhaks?\u201d (Mother puts the paper down forcefully on
\nthe table<\/i><\/span>) Who told you that it is not because you have become more conscious!
\nthat all your difficulties were there before, only you did not know it?… If
\nyou see more clearly and see things which are not very pretty, it is not the
\nfault of the Supermind, it is your fault! It gives you a light, a mirror in
\nwhich you can see yourself better than you did before, and you are a little
\ntroubled because it is not always very pretty? But what can I do?<\/span><\/p>\n

 And this person
\nconcludes: \u201cDoesn\u2019t the supramental Force work here in spite of all the
\nobstacles the unregenerate human nature puts up against it?\u201d Truly, I hope it
\ndoes! for otherwise, nothing could be done, the world would never be
\nregenerated. But I have explained to you why it seems more difficult to you. It
\nis because you are a little more conscious now and see things you did not see
\nbefore. <\/span><\/p>\n

 There is yet another
\nreason. When the Force which is at work is stronger, more insistent, naturally
\nwhat resists, resists as strongly. And if instead <\/span>―<\/span> it is here I have to say
\nsomething
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 220<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

that\u2019s not very pleasant <\/span>―<\/span> if instead of being hypnotised
\nby your little difficulties, your little inconveniences, your small
\ndiscomforts, your \u201cbig\u201d defects, if instead of being hypnotised by all that,
\nyou tried to see the other side, how much more powerful the Force is, the Grace
\nmore active, the Help more tangible; in a word, if you were a little less
\negoistic and less concentrated on yourselves and had a little wider vision in
\nwhich you could include things that don\u2019t concern you personally, perhaps your
\nview of the problem would change.<\/span><\/p>\n

 Well, this is what I
\nadvise you to do, and then we shall speak about it later when you have tried my
\nremedy: don\u2019t think so much about yourself. <\/span><\/p>\n

 After all, this perhaps
\nis the problem which interests you most, but it is certainly not the most
\ninteresting!
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 221<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n <\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

11 July 1956    I have received three questions, one of which would require some fairly unpleasant remarks which I don\u2019t want to make to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[127],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-08-questions-and-answers-volume-08","wpcat-127-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4536","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=4536"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4536\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}