All Life Is Yoga: Sri Aurobindo – His Life and Work

Part Three

Sri Aurobindo's Messages

The ascent of the human soul to the supreme Spirit is that soul’s highest aim and necessity, for that is the supreme reality; but there can be too the descent of the Spirit and its powers into the world and that would justify the existence of the material world also, give a meaning, a divine purpose to the creation and solve its riddle. East and West could be reconciled in the pursuit of the highest and largest ideal, Spirit embrace Matter and Matter find its own true reality and the hidden Reality in all things in the Spirit. — Sri Aurobindo

Chapter I

Uttarpara Speech

Delivered at Uttarpara, Bengal, on 30 May 1909. Text published in the Bengalee, an English-language newspaper of Calcutta, on 1 June; thoroughly revised by Sri Aurobindo and republished in the Karmayogin on 19 and 26 June.

I was asked to speak to you at the annual meeting of your sabha, it was my intention to say a few words about the subject chosen for today, – the subject of the Hindu religion. I do not know now whether I shall fulfil that intention; for as I sat here, there came into my mind a word that I have to speak to you, a word that I have to speak to the whole of the Indian Nation. It was spoken first to myself in jail and I have come out of jail to speak it to my people...

Chapter II

A Message to the West

I have been asked to send on this occasion of the fifteenth August a message to the West, but what I have to say might be delivered equally as a message to the East. It has been customary to dwell on the division and difference between these two sections of the human family and even oppose them to each other; but, for myself I would rather be disposed to dwell on oneness and unity than on division and difference. East and West have the same human nature, a common human destiny, the same aspiration after a greater perfection, the same seeking after something higher than itself, something towards which inwardly and even outwardly we move. There has been a tendency in some minds to dwell on the spirituality or mysticism of the East and the materialism of the West; but the West has had no less than the East its spiritual seekings and, though not in such profusion, its saints and sages and mystics, the East has had its materialistic tendencies, its material splendours, its similar or identical dealings with life and Matter and the world in which we live. East and West have always met and mixed more or less closely, they have powerfully influenced each other and at the present day are under an increasing compulsion of Nature and Fate to do so more than ever before.

There is a common hope, a common destiny, both spiritual and material, for which both are needed as co-workers. It is no longer towards division and difference that we should turn our minds, but on unity, union, even oneness necessary for the pursuit and realisation of a common ideal, the destined goal, the fulfilment towards which Nature in her beginning obscurely set out and must in an increasing light of knowledge replacing her first ignorance constantly persevere...

Chapter III

The Fifteenth of August 1947

Sri Aurobindo wrote this message at the request of All India Radio, Tiruchirapalli, for broadcast on the eve of the day when India achieved independence, 15 August 1947 (Long Version).

August 15th is the birthday of free India. It marks for her the end of an old era, the beginning of a new age. But it has a significance not only for us, but for Asia and the whole world; for it signifies the entry into the comity of nations of a new power with untold potentialities which has a great part to play in determining the political, social, cultural and spiritual future of humanity. To me personally it must naturally be gratifying that this date which was notable only for me because it was my own birthday celebrated annually by those who have accepted my gospel of life, should have acquired this vast significance. As a mystic, I take this identification, not as a coincidence or fortuitous accident, but as a sanction and seal of the Divine Power which guides my steps on the work with which I began life. Indeed almost all the world movements which I hoped to see fulfilled in my lifetime, though at that time they looked like impossible dreams, I can observe on this day either approaching fruition or initiated and on the way to their achievement...

Part Four

Sri Aurobindo's Birthdays 1923-1926

Formerly we used to celebrate the event of my physical birth in a “vital” manner. There was the seed of the inner Truth in it, but the manifestation was vital. Now, I wish that if the day is observed it should be in keeping with the Truth it symbolises. — Sri Aurobindo

Chapter I

The Fifteenth of August 1923

Sri Aurobindo spoke on the 15th of August 1923.

Formerly we used to celebrate the event of my physical birth in a “vital” manner. There was the seed of the inner Truth in it, but the manifestation was vital. Now, I wish that if the day is observed it should be in keeping with the Truth it symbolises...

Chapter II

Celebration of the 15th of August 1924

The substance of what Sri Aurobindo Spoke on the 15th August 1924. (This year Sri Aurobindo came out at 9-15 in the morning and again at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. He spoke for about 30-35 minutes, 10-15 minutes he remained silent in the beginning.)

It has become customary to expect some speech from me on this day. I prefer to communicate through the Silent Consciousness, because speech addresses itself to the mind while through the Silent Consciousness one can reach something deeper. We are practising together a yoga which is quite different in certain essentials from other methods which go by the same name. According to the old method we have to select the intellect, the emotion or the will or to difierenciate between Purusha and Prakriti, the conscious Soul and Nature. By that we arrive at an Infinite of Knowledge, an all-Loving and all-Beautiful Supreme or an Infinite Impersonal Will, Or the Silent Brahman beyond our mind, emotional Being or, Will or our individual Purusha...

Chapter III

15th of August 1925

15-8-1925 (4.30 p.m.)

Our Yoga aims at the discovery of the Supramental being, the Supramental world, and the Supramental nature, and their manifestations in life. But we must guard ourselves against certain general mistakes which are likely to arise. People think that certain powers such as Anima, Garima, or the control of the physical functions, and the capacity to cure diseases, constitute the Supramentalised physical. In many cases, these powers are acquired by persons who happen to open themselves consciously, or unconsciously, to the subli­minal being, where these powers lie. There are plenty of cases where such powers are seen in persons who have no idea of the Supermind or Yoga...

Chapter IV

The Meaning of the 15th of August

Sri Aurobindo’s speech on l5th August 1926.

I shall say a few words today about the 15th of August. The question was one that was recently put to me and I gave a negative answer in order to remove – certain mental and conventional notions on the matter.

I shall now speak about the positive side of the matter. There is another side to it and if there were not that other side there would be no use in this celebration. I shall not refer to the personal aspect for very obvious reasons, but I shall say something in general with regard to what it can and ought to mean in regard to the yoga, the common object we all have in view...

Part Five

Sri Aurobindo on Himself

The Mother’s consciousness and mine are the same, the one Divine Consciousness in two, because that is necessary for the play. Nothing can be done without her knowledge and force, without her consciousness – if anybody really feels her consciousness, he should know that I am there behind it and if he feels me it is the same with hers. If a separation is made like that (I leave aside the turns which their minds so strongly put upon these things), how can the Truth establish itself – from the Truth there is no such separation. — Sri Aurobindo

Chapter I

Sri Aurobindo and the Mother as Avataras

It is said that you and the Mother have been on the earth since its creation. But what have you been doing for so many millions of years in disguise? I say “disguise” because it is only now that you are showing yourselves to the world in your real nature.

Carrying on the evolution.

*

I fail to understand what you mean by “Carrying on the evolution.” Could you explain this more fully?

That would mean writing the whole of human history. I can only say that as there are special descents to carry on the evolution to a farther stage, so also something of the Divine is always there to help through each stage itself in one direction or another.

*

Chapter II

Identity of Consciousness and Path

There is no difference between the Mother’s path and mine; we have and have always had the same path, the path that leads to the supramental change and the divine realisation; not only at the end, but from the beginning they have been the same.

Part Six

The Mother on Sri Aurobindo

What Sri Aurobindo represents in the world’s history is not a teaching, not even a revelation; it is a decisive action direct from the Supreme. — The Mother

Chapter I

Sri Aurobindo

From a meditation written on the day after the Mother first saw Sri Aurobindo.

It matters little that there are thousands of beings plunged in the densest ignorance, He whom we saw yesterday is on earth; his presence is enough to prove that a day will come when darkness shall be transformed into light, and Thy reign shall be indeed established upon earth.

O Lord, Divine Builder of this marvel, my heart overflows with joy and gratitude when I think of it, and my hope has no bounds.

My adoration is beyond all words, my reverence is silent.

Chapter II

Mahasamadhi

Lord, this morning Thou hast given me the assurance that Thou wouldst stay with us until Thy work is achieved, not only as a consciousness which guides and illumines but also as a dynamic Presence in action. In unmistakable terms Thou hast promised that all of Thyself would remain here and not leave the earth atmosphere until earth is transformed. Grant that we may be worthy of this marvellous Presence and that henceforth everything in us be concentrated on the one will to be more and more perfectly consecrated to the fulfilment of Thy sublime Work.

Chapter III

Eternal Presence

You spoke of Sri Aurobindo’s birth as “eternal” in the history of the universe. What exactly was meant by “eternal”?

The sentence can be understood in four different ways on four ascending planes of consciousness:

1. Physically, the consequence of the birth will be of eternal importance to the world.

2. Mentally, it is a birth that will be eternally remembered in the universal history.

3. Psychically, a birth that recurs for ever from age to age upon earth.

4. Spiritually, the birth of the Eternal upon earth.

Chapter IV

Work and Teaching

Sri Aurobindo’s work is a unique earth-transformation.

Chapter V

Sri Aurobindo's Symbol

The descending triangle represents Sat-Chit-Ananda.

The ascending triangle represents the aspiring answer from matter under the form of life, light and love...

References

Quotation from Sri Aurobindo

CWSA Vol 35, p. 5

CWSA Vol 36, p. 11

I. Sri Aurobindo and His Ashram

Early Life and Career

Sri Aurobindo and His Ashram, 1948, Arya Publishing House, Calcutta

Political Life

Sri Aurobindo and His Ashram, 1948, Arya Publishing House, Calcutta (CWSA Vol 36, pp. 47-66)

Spiritual Life

Sri Aurobindo and His Ashram, 1948, Arya Publishing House, Calcutta

II. The Ashram and the Teaching

Sri Aurobindo's Asram

CWSA Vol 36, pp. 530-31

Sri Aurobindo's Teaching

CWSA Vol 36, pp. 547-50

III. Sri Aurobindo's Messages

Uttarpara Speech

CWSA Vol 8, pp. 3-12

A Message to the West

CWSA Vol 36, pp. 551-53

The Fifteenth of August 1947

CWSA Vol 36, pp. 474-77

IV. Sri Aurobindo's Birthdays 1923-1926

The Fifteenth of August 1923

Evening Talks with Sri Aurobindo - A. B. Purani, third edition, pp. 483-84

Celebration of the 15th of August 1924

Evening Talks with Sri Aurobindo - A. B. Purani, third edition, pp. 489-92

15th of August 1925

Evening Talks with Sri Aurobindo - A. B. Purani, third edition, pp. 496-98

The Meaning of the 15th of August

Evening Talks with Sri Aurobindo - A. B. Purani, third edition, pp. 489-92

V. Sri Aurobindo on Himself

Sri Aurobindo and the Mother as Avataras

CWSA Vol 32, p. 88

CWSA Vol 32, p. 88

CWSA Vol 32, p. 91

CWSA Vol 32, p. 91

CWSA Vol 28, pp. 472-73

CWSA Vol 35, p. 419

CWSA Vol 35, p. 433

Identity of Consciousness and Path

CWSA Vol 32, p. 79

CWSA Vol 32, p. 81

VI. The Mother on Sri Aurobindo

Sri Aurobindo

CWM Vol 13, p. 3

CWM Vol 13, p. 4

CWM Vol 13, p. 5

CWM Vol 13, p. 15

CWM Vol 13, p. 17

Mahasamadhi

CWM Vol 13, p. 6

CWM Vol 13, p. 7

CWM Vol 13, p. 8

CWM Vol 13, p. 8

CWM Vol 13, p. 8

CWM Vol 13, p. 9

CWM Vol 13, p. 7

Eternal Presence

CWM Vol 13, p. 10

CWM Vol 13, p. 10

CWM Vol 13, p. 10

CWM Vol 13, p. 11

CWM Vol 13, p. 12

CWM Vol 13, p. 13

CWM Vol 13, p. 13

CWM Vol 13, p. 15

Work and Teaching

CWM Vol 13, p. 21

CWM Vol 13, p. 21

CWM Vol 13, p. 22

CWM Vol 13, p. 24

CWM Vol 10, p. 95-96

CWM Vol 13, p. 28

Sri Aurobindo's Symbol

CWM Vol 13, pp. 28-29

CWM Vol 13, p. 16

* * *

CWM: Collected Works of the Mother, 2nd ed., Vols. 1-17

CWSA: Collected Works of Sri Aurobindo 2012 Vols. 1-37