Study Notes
PARAGRAPH 7
It is in the latter alternative that we find the secret we are seeking, the means of the transition, the needed step towards a supramental transformation; for we perceive a graduality of ascent, a communication with a more and more deep and immense light and power from above, a scale of intensities which can be regarded as so many stairs in the ascension of Mind or in a descent into Mind from That which is beyond it.
EXPLANATION
In the latter alternative of dynamic descent of light, knowledge, power, bliss and our ascent into higher regions of the Spirit we find the secret we are seeking; the means of the transition, the needed step towards a supramental transformation.
Because we perceive a graduality of ascent, a communication with a more and more deep and immense light and power from above. We perceive a scale of intensities which can be regarded as so many stairs in the ascension of Mind; or in a descent into Mind from That which is beyond it. At each gradation the intensity of light, knowledge, power increases.
We are aware of a sealike downpour of masses of a spontaneous knowledge which assumes the nature of Thought but has a different character from the process of thought to which we are accustomed; for there is nothing here of seeking, no trace of mental construction, no labour of speculation or difficult discovery; it is an automatic and spontaneous knowledge from a Higher Mind that seems to be in possession of Truth and not in search of hidden and withheld realities. One observes that this Thought is much more capable than the mind of including at once a mass of knowledge in a single view; it has a cosmic character, not the stamp of an individual thinking.
EXPLANATION
There is a descent of knowledge from above. It is like a sealike downpour of masses of spontaneous knowledge. This knowledge assumes the nature of Thought. But it has a different character from the process of thought to which we are accustomed.
In our usual thought process we seek for knowledge; we construct mental ideas; we speculate on the possibility of the outcome; we discover something after much difficulty.
But when the knowledge descends in the form of Thought from above, knowledge is self-possessed and there is no seeking for it. There is no process of mental construction. There is no labour of speculation of outcome because there is certainty. As knowledge is self-possessed there is nothing to discover new; everything is known. Here Sri Aurobindo refers to Higher Mind.
(This descent is first experienced as masses of thought; normally our thoughts are reasoned, they have got a mental coating, they are in form of ideas which have been arrived at one after another, but when the descent starts in the spiritual mind there is a torrent of masses of thought which give knowledge of many things at a time. It is not a laboured knowledge; Sri Aurobindo calls it the Higher Mind. Here truth delivers itself in the form of massive thought, not laboured thought but a spontaneous overwhelming movement of thought – Shri M.P.Pandit: Talks on The Life Divine, p. 178)
Beyond this Truth-Thought we can distinguish a greater illumination instinct with an increased power and intensity and driving force, a luminosity of the nature of Truth-Sight with thought formulation as a minor and dependent activity. If we accept the Vedic image of the Sun of Truth,—an image which in this experience becomes a reality,—we may compare the action of the Higher Mind to a composed and steady sunshine, the energy of the Illumined Mind beyond it to an outpouring of lightnings of flaming sun-stuff.
EXPLANATION
Beyond this Truth- Thought we can distinguish a greater illumination instinct. This illumination instinct has an increased power and intensity and driving force. Here the luminosity (Light) is of the nature of Truth-Sight; i.e. the Truth reveals itself as Sight. The thought formulation is a minor and dependent activity. Here Sri Aurobindo refers to Illumined Mind.
The Vedic image of the Sun of Truth becomes a reality in this experience. The action of the Higher Mind is compared to a composed and steady sunshine; the energy of the Illumined Mind which is beyond the Higher Mind is compared to an outpouring of lightnings of flaming sun-stuff.
Still beyond can be met a yet greater power of the Truth-Force, an intimate and exact Truth-vision, Truth-thought, Truth-sense, Truth-feeling, Truth-action, to which we can give in a special sense the name of Intuition; for though we have applied that word for want of a better to any supra-intellectual direct way of knowing, yet what we actually know as intuition is only one special movement of self-existent knowledge. This new range is its origin; it imparts to our intuitions something of its own distinct character and is very clearly an intermediary of a greater Truth-Light with which our mind cannot directly communicate.
EXPLANATION
Above the illumined Mind we come to the realm of Intuition. This realm is a greater power of the Truth-Force, an intimate and exact Truth-vision, Truth-thought, Truth-sense, Truth-feeling, Truth-action.
In the intuitive plane whatever we see is Truth, whatever we think is Truth, whatever we sense is Truth, whatever we feel is Truth, whatever we act is Truth (Unlike the ordinary mind where whatever we see, think, sense, feeling and act may not be Truth).
The word Intuition refers to any supra-intellectual direct way of knowing. Here our intellect has no role to play. Yet what we actually know as intuition is only one special movement of self-existent knowledge.
We have seen in the previous paragraph that in the dynamic movement, the greater action of Consciousness-Force may reveal a spiritual mind-range (Overmind). This new range is the origin of Intuition. It imparts to our intuitions something of its own distinct character. It is very clearly an intermediary of a greater Truth-Light (Supermind) with which our mind cannot directly communicate.
At the source of this Intuition we discover a superconscient cosmic Mind in direct contact with the Supramental Truth-Consciousness, an original intensity determinant of all movements below it and all mental energies,—not Mind as we know it, but an Overmind that covers as with the wide wings of some creative Oversoul this whole lower hemisphere of Knowledge-Ignorance, links it with that greater Truth-Consciousness while yet at the same time with its brilliant golden Lid it veils the face of the greater Truth from our sight, intervening with its flood of infinite possibilities as at once an obstacle and a passage in our seeking of the spiritual law of our existence, its highest aim, its secret Reality. This then is the occult link we were looking for; this is the Power that at once connects and divides the supreme Knowledge and the cosmic Ignorance.
EXPLANATION
We discover a superconscient cosmic Mind (Overmind) at the source of this Intuition. This superconscient cosmic Mind is in direct contact with the Supramental Truth-Consciousness.
It is an original force that determines all movements below it and all mental energies. It is not the Mind as we know it. But it is an Overmind that covers this whole lower hemisphere of Knowledge-Ignorance like the wide wings of some creative Oversoul. It links this lower hemisphere (of Mind, Life, Matter) with that greater Truth-Consciousness. Yet, at the same, it veils the face of the greater Truth with its brilliant golden Lid from our sight.
It intervenes with its flood of infinite possibilities as an obstacle (because it veils the greater supramental Light) and at the same time, as a passage in our seeking of the spiritual law, the highest aim, the secret Reality of our existence.
This is the occult link we were looking for. This is the Power that at once connects and divides the supreme Knowledge and the cosmic Ignorance.