Originally posted on sciy.org by Ron Anastasia on Fri 15 Jul 2005 07:30 AM PDT
042 ap. Re: yoga, culture, choice (post 1973)
Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2005 07:30:08 +0100 (BST)
From: alok pandey <taijasalok@yahoo.co.in>
Subject: Re: yoga, culture, choice (post 1973)
To: scienceandspirit@sriaurobindocenter-la.com
Message - 042/149
Dear Rich,
Your questions and concerns are very valid and cannot be ignored.
Here are some of my own suggestions as to the possible answers based on
what I have understood and tried to put into practise or experienced
within:
1. The events of the world as in the individual are symbolic of a
deeper rtruth that is trying to manifest or is being obstructed (though
in the last analysis both help in the working but that would be a
dangerous stance to begin with). To understand the symbolic truth or
the play and balance of forces that are at work one needs ï¬rst of al to
get rid of nervous and emotional reaction as well as of the surface
reason that is incapable of knowing. This itself would mean a
considerable inner advancement following the path of yoga. Till that is
available it is better to suspend our judgement and learn to dive deep
to get the soul vision of things. Such a vision is possible and
accessible and it forms in fact one of the basis of yogic efforts.
2. This in a sense answers the second issue as well. It is to get
at the inner Guide that Sri Aurobindo stressed so much. Even when They
were in Their gross physical bodies, they were not openly decalaring
the Truth Vision of everything. The disciples were also led to follow
the path with a great degree of inner freedom. In a sense that applies
here also and freedom would naturally mean also a freedom to err in our
perceptions that nevertheless by the fact of our aspiration to know the
truth would lead us deeper. But also we must remember that They have
only passed beyond the arc of our limited sight and There help is as
available today as yesterday and if need to know something about
anyttghing it will be revealed to us if we turn to Them with faith and
open to Their Influence. So here again yoga steps in to ï¬ll the niche
left by the seeming absence.
3. The supra-ethical concerns are natural but we must remember that
after all this is Their world and They surely know what is happening
and are doing whatever is necessary for it. If we are in a position to
help or placed in a situation to decide about the above issues, then
surely we must decide based on our highest available light. But if we
are not and yet cannot see the deeper forces at play then we can surely
pray for the good of the world and I am sure each such prayer is a help
in its own right. As to the exact nature of these events (cloning, etc)
and their signiï¬cance much has been said. And for the moment I would
refrain from topuching these issues separately as that would mean a
letter way too long. I have written on several of these issues and if
you are interested then I would ï¬sh out some time and send them across.
4. It is a tricky domain, this intrasubjective reality of the world
and it is only by a progressive stilling of the mind and emotions and
the sense-reactions that we can get around at anything unmixed and
true. That takes time and again needs yoga.
5. Collectiive yoga truly begins when one bursts through the shell of
the ego and enters in some meassure in the cosmic consciousness. Before
that it is only a physical, vital or mental asscociatiopn and
interchange that helps no doubt but has its gross limitations. Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother did the collective yoga beinb in a room, so
did Pavitra da and many others. Colective yoga is certainly not
throwing oneself with a frenzy in the world or joining a group with an
ignorant mental or sentimental idealism. These things have their place
in the balance of world forces but are yet movements of ignorance. Yoga
goes beyond, far beyond that and we see it again in Sri Aurobindo's and
the Mother's action.
Most of all if we simply read through the writings of Sri Aurobindo and
the Mother in Their totality we shall ï¬nd the answers to everything or
the faculty of inner knowledge may open revealing to us the truths of
each moment.
That in brief is my response to the questions which are important but
for which yoga would give the most perfect answer in the meassure in
which we grow in it.
love
alok
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