Study Notes
PARAGRAPH 13 Contd…
But it is only by the evolution in us of the concealed superconscient powers of cosmic Truth and of the Reality in which they are one that the harmony and unity we strive for can be dynamically realised in the very fibre of our being and all its self-expression and not merely in imperfect attempts, incomplete constructions, ever-changing approximations. The higher ranges of spiritual Mind have to open upon our being and consciousness and also that which is beyond even spiritual Mind must appear in us if we are to fulfil the divine possibility of our birth into cosmic existence.
EXPLANATION
How can harmony be realised as a practical reality? Sri Aurobindo says it is only by the evolution of the concealed superconscient powers of cosmic Truth (i.e. powers of the Overmental consciousness) in us and the Reality (i.e.Supramental consciousness) in which they are one that the harmony and unity we strive for can be dynamically realised.
Such a dynamic harmony can be realised in the very fibre of our being and in all its self-expression. It cannot be done merely in imperfect attempts, incomplete constructions, ever changing approximations. Here Sri Aurobindo highlights the fact that the Divine powers are already involved and concealed in us. What is involved in us has to evolve and express themselves. Without this process all the other attempts would be imperfect and incomplete and would not arrive at the True harmony.
To make this happen, the higher ranges of spiritual Mind(Overmind) have to open upon our being and consciousness. Also, that which is beyond even the spiritual Mind i.e. the Supermind must appear in us if we are to fulfil the divine possibility of our birth into cosmic existence. The divine possibility in us is to make our earthly life, Life Divine.
PARAGRAPH 14
Overmind in its descent reaches a line which divides the cosmic Truth from the cosmic Ignorance; it is the line at which it becomes possible for Consciousness-Force, emphasising the separateness of each independent movement created by Overmind and hiding or darkening their unity, to divide Mind by an exclusive concentration from the overmental source. There has already been a similar separation of Overmind from its supramental source, but with a transparency in the veil which allows a conscious transmission and maintains a certain luminous kinship; but here the veil is opaque and the transmission of the Overmind motives to the Mind is occult and obscure.
EXPLANATION
Overmind in its descent reaches a line which divides the cosmic Truth from the cosmic Ignorance. It is the line at which it becomes possible for Consciousness-Force to divide Mind from the overmental source by an exclusive concentration.
In this process, the separateness of each independent movement created by Overmind is emphasised and the unity among them is hidden or darkened. For instance when we watch a movie, by our exclusive concentration on the movie our attention is divided from all the rest of the things. Similarly, Mind by its exclusive concentration on the separate aspects is divided from its source, the Overmind.
There has been a similar separation of Overmind from its source, the Supermind. Yet there is a luminous kinship (relationship by light) maintained between the Overmind and the Supermind. This is made possible by a transparency in the veil which allows a conscious transmission from the Supermind to the Overmind.
But the veil separating the Overmind and the Mind is opaque. Therefore, the transmission of the Overmind motives to the Mind is occult and obscure.
(Letters on Yoga – III- p.282: There are in the cosmic consciousness two sides—one the contact with and perception of the ordinary cosmic forces and the beings behind these forces, that is what I call the cosmic Ignorance— the other is the perception of the cosmic Truths, the realisation of the one universal, the one universal Force, all the Vedantic truths of the One in all and all in one; ……
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There is no ignorance that is not part of the cosmic Ignorance —only in the individual it becomes a limited formation and movement, while the cosmic Ignorance is the whole movement of world-consciousness separated from the supreme Truth and acting in an inferior motion in which the Truth is perverted, diminished, mixed and clouded with falsehood and error. The cosmic Truth is the view on things of a cosmic Consciousness in which things are seen in their true essence and their true relation to the Divine and to each other.)
Mind separated acts as if it were an independent principle, and each mental being, each basic mental idea, power, force stands similarly on its separate self; if it communicates or combines with or contacts others, it is not with the catholic universality of the Overmind movement, on a basis of underlying oneness, but as independent units joining to form a separate constructed whole. It is by this movement that we pass from the cosmic Truth into the cosmic Ignorance.
EXPLANATION
Mind, separated from Overmind, acts as if it were an independent principle. Each mental being, each basic mental idea, power, force stands similarly on its separate self.
If it communicates or combines with or contacts others, it is done as independent units joining to form a separated constructed whole. It is not done with the catholic universality of the Overmind movement on a basis of underlying oneness. It is by this movement that we pass from the cosmic Truth into the cosmic Ignorance.
Let us imagine a statue made with different pieces of wood assembled together. Though the statue appears as a whole it is made up of different pieces. This is how Mind operates in its knowledge combining knowledge from other Minds. On the contrary, let us imagine a statue made up of a single piece of wood. The statue represents a uniform whole without any division. This is how Overmind operates as a whole.
The cosmic Mind on this level, no doubt, comprehends its own unity, but it is not aware of its own source and foundation in the Spirit or can only comprehend it by the intelligence, not in any enduring experience; it acts in itself as if by its own right and works out what it receives as material without direct communication with the source from which it receives it. Its units also act in ignorance of each other and of the cosmic whole except for the knowledge that they can get by contact and communication,—the basic sense of identity and the mutual penetration and understanding that comes from it are no longer there.
EXPLANATION
The cosmic Mind is a field of cosmic ignorance. It is below the Overmind from where the ignorance starts. It comprehends its own unity at this level. But, having separated from Overmind, it is unaware that its own source and foundation is in the Spirit. It can only comprehend unity by the intelligence, not in any enduring experience. This means, it is aware of the unity as a mental concept and not as a lasting experience. It acts in itself as if by its own right, being ignorant of the fact that the Overmind is behind all its actions. It works out what it receives as material without direct communication with the source (Overmind) from which it receives it.
Its units, the individual minds, also act in ignorance of each other and of the cosmic whole. Whatever knowledge individual minds get is only by contact and communication with other individual minds. At the cosmic level there is a sense of identity with other minds; there is mutual penetration and understanding. This is no longer there in the individual minds.
(Overmind and the Cosmic Consciousness: Letters on Yoga – Part 1, p.152: “Overmind is the highest source of the cosmic consciousness available to the embodied being in the Ignorance. It is part of the cosmic consciousness—but the human individual when he opens into the cosmic usually remains in the cosmic Mind-Life-Matter receiving only inspirations and influences from the higher planes of Intuition and Overmind. He receives through the spiritualised higher and illumined mind the fundamental experiences on which spiritual knowledge is based; he can become even full of intuitive mind movements, illuminations, various kinds of powers and illumined light, liberation, Ananda. But to rise fully into the Intuition is rare, to reach the Overmind still rarer— although influences and experiences can come down from there.)
All the actions of this Mind Energy proceed on the opposite basis of the Ignorance and its divisions and, although they are the results of a certain conscious knowledge, it is a partial knowledge, not a true and integral self-knowledge, nor a true and integral world-knowledge. This character persists in Life and in subtle Matter and reappears in the gross material universe which arises from the final lapse into the Inconscience.
EXPLANATION
The actions of the Overmind proceed on Knowledge and Oneness whereas the actions of the Mind Energy proceed on the opposite basis of the Ignorance and its divisions. Though they are the results of a certain conscious knowledge, it is a partial knowledge. It is not a true and integral self-knowledge. Nor is it a true and integral world-knowledge. It means, it is not a true knowledge either at the individual level or at the cosmic level.
It is the principle of Mind that rules Life and Matter. This character of partial knowledge and ignorance of the Mind persists in Life and in subtle Matter. It reappears in the gross material universe. We know that it is the Matter that arises from the final lapse into the Inconscience.
(Please refer Chapter XXV – The Knot of Matter, p.263: “Now it is true that the principle of division inMatter can be only a creation of the divided Mind which has precipitated itself into material existence; for that material existence has no self being, is not the original phenomenon but only a form created by an all-dividing Life-force which works out the conceptions of an all-dividing Mind.”)