Study Notes
PARAGRAPH 20
A second possibility of the Infinite Consciousness that must be admitted is its power of self-limitation or secondary self-formation into a subordinate movement within the integral illimitable consciousness and knowledge; for that is a necessary consequence of the power of self-determination of the Infinite. Each self-determination of the self-being must have its own awareness of its self-truth and its self-nature; or, if we prefer so to put it, the Being in that determination must be so self-aware.
EXPLANATION
We have seen that Oneness, in becoming Many does not fall away from its Oneness. But, it is really an inexhaustible diverse display of unity. This is the miracle of the Maya of the universe.
A second possibility of the Infinite Consciousness is its power of self-limitation. There is a secondary self-formation into a subordinate movement within the integral illimitable consciousness and knowledge. Because self-limitation into a form is a necessary consequence of the power of self-determination of the Infinite. Each self-determination (form) is aware of its self-truth and self-nature. Rather the Being in that determination (form) is aware of itself.
Spiritual individuality means that each individual self or spirit is a centre of self-vision and all-vision; the circumference —the boundless circumference, as we may say,—of this vision may be the same for all, but the centre may be different,—not located as in a spatial point in a spatial circle, but a psychological centre related with others through a coexistence of the diversely conscious Many in the universal being.
EXPLANATION
What we call our individuality is our individual body, mind and life separated from others. But spiritual individuality means each individual self or spirit is a centre of self-vision and all-vision. That is, it knows itself and at the same time it knows all others as itself.
The circumference of this vision is boundless unlike our physical consciousness which is bounded by body, mind and life. It may be the same for all. Yet the centre may be different. It is not located in a point in a space, in a circle in a space. But it is a psychological centre. It is related with others through a coexistence of the diversely conscious Many in the universal being.
Each being in a world will see the same world, but see it from its own self-being according to its own way of self-nature: for each will manifest its own truth of the Infinite, its own way of self-determination and of meeting the cosmic determinations; its vision by the law of unity in variety will no doubt be fundamentally the same as that of others, but it will still develop its own differentiation, —as we see all human beings conscious in the one human way of the same cosmic things, yet always with an individual difference.
EXPLANATION
The spiritual being in each, in a world, will see the same world. It will see it form its own self-being according to its own way of self-nature. Because each will manifest its own truth of the Infinite. Each will manifest its own way of self-determination and of meeting the cosmic determinations.
Each has a vision by the law of unity in variety. This vision will be fundamentally the same as that of others. Yet it will still develop its own differentiation. It is similar to human beings conscious in the one human way of the same cosmic things. For example, the sun, the moon, the earth is the same for all human beings. Yet there is an individual difference in perception.
This self-limitation would be, not fundamental, but an individual specialisation of a common universality or totality; the spiritual individual would act from his own centre of the one Truth and according to his self-nature, but on a common basis and not with any blindness to other-self and other-nature. It would be consciousness limiting its action with full knowledge, not a movement of ignorance.
EXPLANATION
At our physical level our self-limitation in our body, mind and life is fundamental. In our actions we act with blindness to other- self and other-nature. Our action is a movement in ignorance.
On the contrary, at the spiritual level, this self-limitation in each being would not be fundamental. It is an individual specialisation of a common universality or totality. The spiritual individual would act from his own centre of the one Truth and according to his self-nature. He would act on a common basis and not with any blindness to other-self and other -nature. Here the consciousness limits its action with full knowledge; it is not a movement of ignorance.
But apart from this individualising self-limitation, there must also be in the consciousness of the Infinite a power of cosmic limitation; it must be able to limit its action so as to base a given world or universe and to keep it in its own order, harmony, self-building: for the creation of a universe necessitates a special determination of the Infinite Consciousness to preside over that world and a holding back of all that is not needed for that movement.
EXPLANATION
There is an individualising self-limitation. Likewise, there is a power of cosmic limitation in the consciousness of the Infinite. It must be able to limit its action so as to base a given world or universe. It keeps it in its own order, harmony, self-building .
The creation of an individual requires self-determination of the Infinite. Likewise creation of a universe necessitates a special determination of the Infinite Consciousness to preside over that world. It holds back all that is not needed for that movement.
For example, while performing a delicate movement like keeping a glass on the floor we use only little force holding back all our power. In the same way the Infinite consciousness uses only what is required of its power of limitation to create a universe. While playing a football game we use only that much power so as to drive the ball in a particular direction. We set the rules and accordingly we play the game. Likewise the Infinite sets the rule in its finite action.
In the same way the putting forth of an independent action of some power like Mind, Life or Matter must have as its support a similar principle of self-limitation. It cannot be said that such a movement must be impossible for the Infinite, because it is illimitable; on the contrary, this must be one of its many powers; for its powers too are illimitable: but this also, like other self-determinations, other finite buildings, would not be a separation or a real division, for all the Infinite Consciousness would be around and behind it and supporting it and the special movement itself would be intrinsically aware not only of itself, but, in essence, of all that was behind it.
EXPLANATION
We find there is an independent action of power like Mind, Life and Matter. This independent action also must have as its support a similar principle of self-limitation. We may think that the Infinite is illimitable and therefore such a self-limitation is not possible for the Infinite.
On the contrary this self-limitation must be one of its illimitable powers. We have seen that when there is a self-determination (taking a finite form) of the Infinite there would not be a separation or a real division.
In the same way in an independent action of power of Mind, Life and Matter there would not be a real division. Because the Infinite Consciousness would be around and behind it and supporting it. The special movement itself would be intrinsically aware not only of itself but of all that was behind it in essence.
This would be so, inevitably, in the integral consciousness of the Infinite: but we can suppose also that an intrinsic though not an active awareness of this kind, demarcating itself, yet indivisible, might be there too in the total self-consciousness of the movement of the Finite.
EXPLANATION
This intrinsic awareness would be there inevitably in the integral consciousness of the Infinite. All the movements in this physical world happen at the finite level. We may ask whether in all the finite movements in this world there is awareness about the Infinite Consciousness supporting such movements.
Sri Aurobindo says that there is an intrinsic awareness if not an active awareness in such movements of the finite. Such intrinsic awareness demarcates itself and yet is indivisible. It might be there too in the total self-consciousness of the movement of the Finite.
This much cosmic or individual conscious self-limitation would evidently be possible to the Infinite and can be accepted by a larger reason as one of its spiritual possibilities; but so far, on this basis, any division or ignorant separation or binding and blinding limitation such as is apparent in our own consciousness would be unaccountable.
EXPLANATION
This much cosmic or individual self-limitation would be evidently possible to the Infinite. This can be accepted as one of its spiritual possibilities. On this basis, there is no reason for the apparent division, ignorant separation and binding limitation to exist such as we see in this world.