PURUSHA AND PRAKRITI ARABINDO AND ANNAI *THE PURUSHA AND THE PRAKRIT!*
Self: In the silent state, who is it that guards our being and witnesses it? SRI AUR0BIND0: The Self or Purusha is the witness. (23.1.1934) Self: Yesterday evening, there was a vital disturbance. I know quite well of its irrational character and yet cannot get out of it. This is my normal defect and weakness. But this time somehow, I tried to persevere in coming out of the disturbance. After some time, my consciousness entered a state where it could not only detach itself from the vital and its revolt but force it to throw away its selfish and unsatisfied feelings by the Mother's Force which was there. During that time, I felt as if I were neither mind, vital nor physical, but something else. What was that experience? SRI AUR0BIND0: What experience? The separation from mind, physical and vital? That is the separate Purusha consciousness. The Purusha separated from the instruments can control them---when there is an identification, he cannot. (25.4.1934) Everything is more powerful than the Purusha when one follows the Prakriti the Purusha then is merely passive. (11.5.1934) Self: Now I attempt to save myself from the identification with mind, vital and physical-especially when some outward movement tries to influence me. How does the inner Purusha deal with these instruments? SRI AUR0BIND0: It observes their movements and gives or withdraws its consent according to their nature. Or else it quiets them all down so as to receive only from above. (27.4.1934) Self: While concentrating, aspiring and receiving, should the Purusha identify itself with the Aadhar and do these things? SRI AUR0BIND0: The Purusha does not identify with the Aadhar--it observes it. If the Purusha identifies with Prakriti, then 1t loses its separate consciousness in Prakriti. (28.4.1934) Self: During the work the mind was thinking quietly. As I did not like that kind of mental action during the work, I tried to silence it with will and force. It was effective to some extent. In the evening, however, the physical mind was very active. The concentration and receptivity could not be maintained as usual. What was there that made it difficult for the Purusha to bring back the right condition? SRI AUROBINDO: The Purusha is one thing and the ordinary mental will and force are another. The latter may be unsuccessful in their action. When you are in the Purusha consciousness, that itself implies a state of concentration and receptivity. (28.4.1934) Self: When the mother grants us certain things and the Purusha receives them separating itself from the Aadhar, how would the latter participate in the reception? SRI AUROBINDO: The Aadhar will receive them better than if the Purusha evolved and mixed up with the lower Prakriti. (30.4.1934) Self: When a wrong movement is to be rejected the Purusha finds t hard to separate itself from the Prakriti. Why so? SRI AUROBINDO: It is not yet sufficiently detached and separate. (30.4.1934) Self: When the Purusha is separated from the Prakrit, is it the Purusha itself that aspires and receives in us? SRI AUROBINDO: The Purusha by its will is the cause of the aspiration and reception.(10.5.1934) Self: ls the Purusha and the psychic being considered as one and the same? SRI AUROBINDO: I have already said they are different. (10.5.1934) The psychic realisation and the Purusha-Prakriti realisation are two quite-different things. (15.5.1934) Self: My friend P says, "In the beginning when the Purusha separates itself from the Prakriti, it entirely withdraws itself, throwing away the lower nature and cutting all relation with it." Well? SRI AUROBINDO: There is no question of throwing away the lower nature, but of observing it, knowing it, mastering and transforming 1t. (15.5.1934) Self: If my friend is right, will the Purusha not care when the mind, vital or body does something which is not one with the Divine? *SRI *AUROBINDO: The business of the Purusha is to be the observer and knower, the giver or withdrawal of the assent, the master (Ishwar) of the Prakriti. Why should it give assent to a movement that 1s not one with the Divine? (15.5.1934) Self: It seems some parts of my nature do not obey the Purusha. What to do? SRI AUROBINDO: Go on quietly insisting till the Prakrit does obey. (15.5.1934) Self: At present how far is my Purusha n direct touch with the Divine? SRI AUROBINDO: At present it is the Porsha in the mind that you feel-when you become aware of the Purusha on the spiritual plane then there is more chance of its getting into direct touch with the Divine. (15.5.1934) Self: P believes that the Purusha can remain withdrawn and allow the lower nature (the Prakriti) to satisfy its desires. For he is not bothered whether nature is satisfied or not so long as he is not identified with her. SRI AUR0BIND0: That is the old Vedantic idea-to be free and detached within and leave the Prakriti to itself. When you die, the Purusha will go to glory and the Prakriti drop off-perhaps into Hell. This theory 1s a source of any amount of self-deception and wilful self-Indulgence. (15.5.1934) Self: During the period of the physical purification, cannot the mind and vitality follow their movement of sadhana, without rest or delay on the way, if the Purusha is realised in them? SRI AUR0BINDO: If you can keep detachment and the realisation of the Purusha at all times. (28.5.1934) Self: The Purusha consciousness is becoming separate from the Prakrit. If she does not obey the Purusha, has he not become severe and harsh to her? SRI AUR0BINDO: No. The Purusha always remains calm and always goes on putting its will till it succeeds. (5.6.1934) Self: Even when the Purusha does not lose his separateness and wants the Prakrit to be calm, she does not care to listen to him at all. SRI AUROBINDO: As you have indulged the Prakriti for the last ten thousand lives or so, it has been accustomed to impose its own way on the Purusha. To be separate is only the first step. Also I fancy the Purusha in you is still very mental in its will. (3.7.1934) Self: You said, "The Purusha in you is still very mental in its will." What then should be the right post on the Purusha? SRI AUROBINDO: It is not a pos1t1on, 1t 1s a manner of action. The Purusha's act1on is more effective when 1t 1s spiritual. But that comes afterwards. (4.7.1934) Self: My inner part feels sad sometimes seeing the ordinary mind busy with its mechanical rounds and disturbing the tranquillity-at the same time the Purusha is only detached and observing but not reacting. SRI AUR0BINDO: It 1s the nature of the Purusha to observe only at first-it comes forward first as the Witness (9.7.1934) Self: Be/ore the consciousness is surcharged with the active self, is it not possible to set right or give a proper value to actions? I mean: can they not proceed from the true consciousness? SRI AUROBINDO: There is the witness element in the consciousness that can distinguish-otherwise it is only possible if the psychic becomes active. (17.10.1934) It is the will of the Purusha that ought to meet action-will is a silent force put upon the thing to be changed. (22.10.1934) It is only by developing the habit of will or command in the Purusha consciousness that that can be done. Left to himself the Purusha is either inactive in Prakriti, controlled by her or separate and a witness. (10.12.1934) KR IRS `15922 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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