Page 28 - NAMAH-Jul-2022

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

representing a “cognitive unconscious (10).” it. This is a concept that has to be appreciated
in its proper perspective. Spiritual seekers
Likewise, the mechanical energy that have recorded the attainment of a static status
characterises the Inconscience may actually beyond Mind described in various ways
A
be supported by a consciousness behind that — Spirit, Atman, Brahman, Sachchidaananda,
cannot be cognised because of being masked. One without a second, Zero without a
Thus Sri Aurobindo’s usage of the term first. The attainment of such a static status
consciousness spans both the Inconscient involves a withdrawal from the dynamic
and the Superconscient. Moreover, Sri cycle of evolution and a surpassing or
Aurobindo does not view consciousness denial of all cognitive schemata. Sri
only in individual terms but also in universal Aurobindo acknowledges the validity of
and transcendental terms. these realisations. Indeed these beyond-
cognitive realisations, which usually are
attained by seekers as crowning movements
of their spiritual pursuit, were experienced
by Sri Aurobindo at the very beginning of
his spiritual odyssey before he formulated
his own vision of the Truth.

When Sri Aurobindo speaks of the ‘Mind’
as transitional in nature, he is referring to
the dynamics of the evolutionary hierarchy
of consciousness that has the potentiality to
manifest supra-cognitive states through a
It is important to understand that Sri superior type of humanity. The traditional
Aurobindo views consciousness as an all- spiritual seekers described beyond-cognitive
encompassing construct. We ordinarily link realisations which necessitate a state of
consciousness with ‘mind’ as this seems to ‘liberation’ from Nature. Psychology has a
be the highest faculty that has manifested in limited role in such an endeavour where
nature. That is why the Buddha said, “Mind is cognition and hence the mind have to be
the first of all principles, Mind is the highest of surpassed, negated and denied.
all principles: indeed Mind is the constituent of
all principles — manopuvvangamadhamma(11).” Sri Aurobindo describes supra-cognitive states
This ‘Mind’ is a status of consciousness that is in a superior type of humanity that involves an
manifested in individual as well as universal evolution of cognitive consciousness through a
terms. “transformation” of Nature. This needs a new,
albeit a greater psychology that encompasses
However, Sri Aurobindo considers the Mind consciousness in all its dimensions. “To do
as an intermediary plane of consciousness this we must dare to go below the clear surfaces
in the dynamic scale of evolution and hence of things on which the mind loves to dwell, to
transitional. Consciousness is not thus limited tempt the vast and obscure, to penetrate the
to the Mind but extends and expands beyond unfathomable depths of consciousness and

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