Study Notes
PARAGRAPH 16
Two things render that culmination more facile than it would otherwise be. Overmind in the descent towards material creation has originated modifications of itself,—Intuition especially with its penetrative lightning flashes of truth lighting up local points and stretches of country in our consciousness, —which can bring the concealed truth of things nearer to our comprehension, and, by opening ourselves more widely first in the inner being and then as a result in the outer surface self also to the messages of these higher ranges of consciousness, by growing into them, we can become ourselves also intuitive and overmental beings, not limited by the intellect and sense, but capable of a more universal comprehension and a direct touch of truth in its very self and body.
EXPLANATION
We have seen in the previous paragraph that the triune (three-in-one) Divine principles of Existence,Consciousness and Bliss are concealed in this world in their opposites of Non-Existence, Inconscience and Insensibility. Therefore, what is concealed must emerge. So also the Overmind and Supermind which are hidden, must in the end become realities.
Sri Aurobindo says the above possibilities can be achieved with ease by two things.
One, the Overmind in the descent towards material creation has originated modifications (from Overmind down below, upto the level of ordinary mind) of itself. One such modification is especially the plane of Intuition. Intuition brings forth the Truth in penetrative lightning flashes. It lights up the local points and stretches of the dark regions in our consciousness. This can bring the concealed truth of things nearer to our understanding.
We can open ourselves more widely first in the inner being. As a result we can also open our outer surface self to the messages of these higher ranges of consciousness from the intuitive plane. By growing into these higher ranges of consciousness we can ourselves also become intuitive and overmental beings.
Once we achieve such a state we will not be limited by intellect and sense. We will be capable of a more universal comprehension and a direct touch of truth in its very self and body.
In fact flashes of enlightenment from these higher ranges already come to us, but this intervention is mostly fragmentary, casual or partial; we have still to begin to enlarge ourselves into their likeness and organise in us the greater Truth activities of which we are potentially capable.
EXPLANATION
Even now flashes of enlightenment from these higher ranges already come to us. This occurrence is not a constant phenomenon. It is mostly fragmentary, casual or partial.
In order to make ourselves more receptive to such interventions we still have to begin to enlarge ourselves (beyond the narrow ranges of mental, vital and physical consciousness) aligning ourselves with the higher ranges.
We should organise our activities around the Psychic principle in us. Activities directed by our psychic being are greater Truth activities as compared to activities directed by our mind, life and body. Since psychic being is within us, we are potentially capable of organising our activities around our psychic centre.
But, secondly, Overmind, Intuition, even Supermind not only must be, as we have seen, principles inherent and involved in the Inconscience from which we arise in the evolution and inevitably destined to evolve, but are secretly present, occult actively with flashes of intuitive emergence in the cosmic activity of Mind, Life and Matter. It is true that their action is concealed and, even when they emerge, it is modified by the medium, material, vital, mental in which they work and not easily recognisable.
EXPLANATION
We have seen that Overmind, Intuition and even Supermind are principles inherent and involved in the Inconscience. We arise and we are destined to evolve from this state.
Also it is a fact that these higher principles are secretly present, occult actively with flashes of intuitive emergence in the cosmic activity of Mind, Life and Matter.
It is true that their action is concealed. Even when they emerge in action it is modified by the material, vital and mental medium.
Supermind cannot manifest itself as the Creator Power in the universe from the beginning, for if it did, the Ignorance and Inconscience would be impossible or else the slow evolution necessary would change into a rapid transformation scene. Yet at every step of the material energy we can see the stamp of inevitability given by a supramental creator, in all the development of life and mind the play of the lines of possibility and their combination which is the stamp of Overmind intervention. As Life and Mind have been released in Matter, so too must in their time these greater powers of the concealed Godhead emerge from the involution and their supreme Light descend into us from above.
EXPLANATION
It is through Overmind as its delegate to the Ignorance, creation is effected by the Supermind. Supermind cannot manifest itself as a Creator Power in the universe from the beginning. Had it been so, Ignorance and Inconscience would be impossible. What is a necessary slow evolution now would change into a rapid transformation scene.
If we look at the happenings in the material world, at every step of the material energy the stamp of inevitability on the material action is given by a supramental creator.
In all the development of life and mind the play of the lines of possibility and their combination is the stamp of Overmind intervention.
We know that Life and Mind have been released in Matter. So too from Life and Mind these greater powers of the concealed Godhead (Overmental and Supramental powers) must emerge from the involution. Ther supreme Light must descend into us from above.
This is the second thing mentioned by Sri Aurobindo that would facilitate the emergence of Divine Powers from Inconscience.
PARAGRAPH 17
A divine Life in the manifestation is then not only possible as the high result and ransom of our present life in the Ignorance but, if these things are as we have seen them, it is the inevitable outcome and consummation of Nature’s evolutionary endeavour.
EXPLANATION
As a high result and as a ransom of our present life in the Ignorance, manifestation of a divine Life is not only possible but it is the inevitable outcome and consummation of Nature’s evolutionary endeavour.