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Namah Vol. 30, Issue 2, 15th July 2022

with emotional values (from Level 2). There The superficial sensation of indifference is
are higher pleasures which are characteristic quite evident when we are demoralised,
of Level 2: the joy of success; the pleasure of demotivated, depressed; become subject to
our fortunes; the pleasure of satisfaction of boredom, alienation and meaninglessness in
our greed, desires, ambitions; the pleasures life. It is characteristic of low self-esteem —
we get from our emotional transactions with an attitude that we cannot disregard if we
our fellow-beings. consider the WHO estimate that by the end
of the first quarter of the twenty-first century,
The problem is that all such pleasures are depression per se is expected to emerge as the
short-lived. Moreover, such pleasure can second largest chronic disease in the world!
immediately change into the polar opposite,
bringing in sorrow, hatred, revolt or revenge. Ironically, the reaction of indifference is even
A
At any cost, it does not reflect the Ananda demonstrated in the shift of the universal
aspect of Sachchidaananda. Rather, it is best substance of abuse from hallucinogens
epitomised in this passage in Savitri, which like LSD to opioids like heroin. LSD gave
shows that at the end it leads to nowhere: romantic feelings — perceptions changed
and became impregnated with colours and
“Pain with its lash, joy with its silver bribe meanings. Heroin, on the other hand, does
Guard the wheel’s circling immobility (5).” not give any colourful experience, but a
zombie-like feeling of indifference so that
That is why, Sri Aurobindo explained that the addict can be cut off from the banality
what we ordinarily perceive as joy does not of the world!
necessarily reflect the Divine Bliss but is a
vital feeling that, “Joy is a vital feeling, like
its opposite, sorrow (6).”

Level 3

Level 3 is the level of the cognitive mind,
which manifests when our vital (Level 2) is
optimally stabilised on the foundation of our
bodily-life (Level 1). This is the level of our
ideas, thoughts, speculations, conceptions
and abstractions.

Unfortunately, this is also the level from
which doubts, scepticism, faithlessness and
pessimism arise. This can result in a mental
indifference as a response to the shocks of life. Can ‘pain-pleasure-indifference’ be
This indifference should not be confused with surpassed?
the detachment and equanimity of the Yogis,
which is a different thing. Of course, there are certain points to be

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