Page 43 - NAMAH-Jul-2019

Namah Yoga and our destiny

Yoga also teaches us first to be awake. When has an executive action. As Sri Aurobindo says,
we are conscious and awake, we notice for “Consciousness is cit but also cit ssakti (2).”
the first time those layers of conditioning
that comprise our ‘personality’. When we From Witness to Teacher
candidly look at ourselves, what we see
amounts to very little that is authentic and So as soon as we identify with this observer and
true. Everything seems very superficial. seek to become it, the function of this Witness
What is real and what is false? We have to go starts changing. Very gradually, it starts to take
deeper to access something more authentic on an executive action itself. The relationship
inside of ourselves. So we look below the becomes more dynamic and intimate. Gradually
surface and interiorise our consciousness. There the Witness becomes our Inner Teacher. If we
is little truth on the surface and if we live are going to steer our course through to our
there we amount to little more than a toy for destiny this Inner Teacher is indispensable. It
all kinds of different forces. As soon as the is our true pilot. This entity is, in a sense, our
orientation changes, the quality of our life true individuality, the Divine Person who has
starts to expand and deepen. We come closer accompanied us through countless previous
to our life purpose. We begin to develop a lives. As soon as we identify with it we start to
greater immunity to forces outside. We start realise our true identity which is also divine in
to rely more and more on our inner resources. essence. Our svadharma is to express the divinity
that lies buried inside our nature.
As our consciousness changes direction we
seek more guidance within. We dispense At first the instructions of this Teacher are
with the props and belief-systems that have barely audible. It never imposes its will on
up to now supported us in life. When we our nature. It only invites our collaboration
enquire inside we become aware at first of and it is this Truth inside that we have to
something that watches and stands back from bring out in our yoga. It comes forward by
the play of our nature. There is a Witness being attentive to its presence. When we
who merely looks and does not intervene. follow her commands the connection inside
We learn to follow its example. We try to is strengthened and we start to radiate it more
detach a little from the outside play of shocks and more in every part of our being. We don’t
and circumstances. It is a source of solidity toss away the scriptures and other external
and strength but the function of the observer helps, but we come to rely more and more
only changes when our awareness changes on our inner Guide.
into consciousness. Sri Aurobindo defines
consciousness as the “…faculty of being aware To manifest our Truth we have to raise and
of anything through identification. The Divine refine the level of our nature. We have to clear
Consciousness is not only aware but knows and away a lot of inner debris. At the beginning
effects. To be aware of a vibration, for instance, what the observer witnesses is a mess of
does not mean that you know everything about it conflicting wills. Our nature is hopelessly
(1).” Moreover, consciousness is aligned always divided and its different sides jar and compete
to Force. With consciousness, full knowledge of with one another. These discords need to be
the self and everything emerges. This knowledge annulled but we have to rely upon a higher

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