5th October 2014: Reading Circle – ‘Bases of Yoga’
We continued
with Chapter 5 of the book on, “Physical
Consciousness – Subconscient – Sleep and Dream – Illness”. We read the
passages from pages 94 to 96, which were basically on the subconscient parts of
our being. In simple and straightforward language, Sri Aurobindo explains what
is not perceived by our surface consciousness. The readings naturally led one
to look within oneself to grasp what Sri Aurobindo was revealing through words.
While it was necessary for one doing Yoga or Sadhana to know his lower nature,
Sri Aurobindo also cautions us of the dangers that we may expose ourselves to
if we are not well prepared in our consciousness for the descent. Here is what
Sri Aurobindo writes:
“If you go down into your lower parts or
ranges of nature, you must be always careful to keep a vigilant connection with
the higher already regenerated levels of the consciousness and to bring down
the Light and Purity through them into these nether still unregenerated
regions. If there is not this vigilance, one gets absorbed in the unregenerated
movements of the inferior layers and there is obscuration and trouble.”
We then
concluded the session with meditation music.
12th October 2014: Readings from The
Mother’s Writings and Talks: ‘The
Synthesis of Yoga – The Mother’s Talks’ and OM Choir
This was a
special Sunday for us. We started with a new session of readings preceding the
OM choir session for the second Sunday of the month. The book we referred to
was ‘The Synthesis of Yoga – The Mother’s Talks’, 1st edition, 1989
by Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. The talks were part of a series of talks
that Mother gave during her “Wednesday Classes” to students, teachers and
sadhaks of the ashram. This particular series on ‘The Synthesis of Yoga’ began on the 19th of October 1955
and dealt with six chapters of ‘The
Synthesis of Yoga’. During these sessions, The Mother would read from the
passages.
This Sunday, we
started with the first chapter, ‘The Four
Aids”, Talk 1. This particular section dealt with the fourth aid, Kala, or
Time. Here is a passage that summarises what we read then, about there being a
certain period of time for every movement to take place:
“And all movements – when you observe them,
you become aware that they have a certain rhythm – the movements of inner
consciousness, for example, not only from the point of view of understanding
but that of personal reactions, of the ups and downs in progress; of a fairly
regular periodic return, at once of advancing and recoiling, of difficulties and
of helps.”
Following the
readings, we sat down to chant OM during the remaining minutes, brining down
into us and surrendering to the effects that Om chanting generally brings.
19th October 2014: Reading Circle – ‘Bases of Yoga’
We continued
with the second round of readings on ‘Bases
of Yoga’, from page 100 to 102. In one passage, psycho-analytic ideas,
which were making their appearance then, were examined and their short-comings
highlighted in the light Sri Aurobindo’s own idea of a greater psychology. In
the greater psychology, the Superconscient was looked upon as the foundation of
things unlike in the new psychology where the subconscient was highlighted. The
passages went on to describe sleep. Here is a something Sri Aurobidno wrote on
sleep:
“Sleep, ……, usually brings down to a lower level, unless it is a
conscious sleep; to make it more and more conscious is the one permanent
remedy; but also until that is done, one should always react against this sinking
tendency when one wakes and not allow the effect of dull nights to accumulate.
But these things need always a settled endeavor and discipline and must take
time, sometimes a long time. It will not do to refrain from the effort because
immediate results do not appear.”
- Jayanthy
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