Page 12 - NAMAH-Jan-2018

Namah Vol. 25, Issue 4, 15th January 2018

The issue of rebirth outcome is predicted beforehand. One has to
proceed with full trust and faith in the Divine
In the Aurobindonian paradigm, the outer regardless of the predicaments on the way. If
being or surface personality is “that passing astrological warnings predict obstacles and
experimental and structural self which has been setbacks, they may not be dismissed but
made for us by an interaction between our being accepted with detachment and equipoise
and the pressure of a lower cosmic Nature (7).” along with aspiration and invocation to
The Psychic Being, which is the evolving poise dissolve any negative formation. What
of the Self, carries the essence of the deepest is most important is to work and progress
experiences as memory traces that outlive through one’s consciousness to outgrow the
the life span and act as templates for future pulls of karma and to integrate the myriad
lives. The surface personality changes with strands of the being around the central
the change in cultural, social, temporal and principle — an endeavour that alone can
historical denouements. The onus here is ensure a rebirth in terms of consciousness.
to constantly outgrow the past. In such a
world-view, a tackling of past karmas does not References
ensure a hassle-free future. The future has to
be constantly sought after through elements 1. Brunton P. Essays on the Quest. London: Rider;
in one’s consciousness and there is always 1984, p. 85.
a space for the Unborn and Unforeseen to
manifest. Astrological remedies for past 2. Ibid., pp. 85-6.
karmas as well as astrological predictions
for the future have a limited role in such a 3. Ibid., p.86.
world-view where rebirth is understood not
as a repetition of the surface personality but 4. The Mother. CollectedWorks of the Mother,
indicates a rebirth in terms of consciousness. Volume 15. Cent.ed. Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo
Ashram Trust; 1980, pp. 37-8.
The integral aspirant
5. Brunton P. Essays on the Quest, p. 86.
The aspirant for an integral life and integral
health should preferably take up the journey 6. Sri Aurobindo. Birth Centenary Library, Volume
of life as an adventure that leads to the 12. Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust;
Divine but not through macadamized 1971, p. 462.
and customary pathways. Rather one has
to follow an innovative trajectory where one 7. Sri Aurobindo. SABCL, Volume 20. Pondicherry:
creatively charts one’s own way in consonance Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust; 1970, p. 262.
with the truth of one’s inner being that
would be unique for each individual.
An adventure loses its joy and thrill if the — Dr. Soumitra Basu

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