Page 15 - NAMAH-Apr-2021

Namah Viewing and treating others as the Divine

Mother or our own psychic being. quiet, straight and right dealing with all things
you have to deal with must be the rule of your
One important issue that may come in our action (21).”
working relationships is with regard to how
to treat superiors and subordinates. This letter What is suggested here is an attitude of
from Sri Aurobindo sums it up nicely, and equality or equanimity, that of remaining
can also be applied to relationships outside centred deep within ourselves and unmoved,
of the workplace: unaffected by the things that others do or
the circumstances of the work. It means
“To be able to see the viewpoint of others and keeping an inner contact with the Divine,
make allowance for their nature — neither being leaning on the Divine for support in the work
too harsh, authoritative or exacting, nor too and its challenges, rather than on others or
weak and accommodating or indulgent, but on our own limited abilities and resources.
still, even when firm, combining firmness with Again, our outer nature should become an
tact and sympathy,— it is very necessary for one instrument of our inner Self, of the psychic
who has to deal with others as his inferiors in being, and as Sri Aurobindo nicely puts it
position and subject to his authority. It is also in another letter, not set up shop for itself.
necessary when the position is reversed so that In another interesting letter Sri Aurobindo
there may not be unnecessary clash or friction indicates the effectiveness of this inner poise
with official superiors (20).” on the behaviour of others:

More generally, we may be frustrated by what “I have known even instances in which the
we perceive as the wrong actions of others, perception of the Divine in all accompanied
whether towards us directly, or towards by an intense experience of universal love or a
the work itself. The following letter nicely wide experience of an inner harmony had an
describes the yogic attitude towards these extraordinary effect in making all around kind
difficulties: and helpful, even the most coarse and hard
and cruel (22).”
“From the point of view of sadhana — you must
not allow yourself to be in the least disturbed With regard to relationships in general,
by these things [lack of sympathy and support in including those outside of work, for those
one’s work]. What you have to do, what is right practising the yoga, Sri Aurobindo advises
to be done, should be done in perfect calmness that personal relations should have the Divine
with the support of the Divine Force. All that for their centre. This means that our focus
is necessary for a successful result, can be should be on our relation with the Divine, on
done — including the securing of the support the development of that relation into a close
of those who are able to help you. But if this union, and relations with others should be
outer support is not forthcoming, you have subordinated to that central relation and
not to be disturbed but to proceed calmly on come as a part of it. There can be friendships
your way. If there is any difficulty or unsuccess with others, but attachment to others should
anywhere not due to your own fault, you have fall away as well as any engrossing affection
not to be troubled. Strength, unmoved calm, that interferes with the developing relation

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