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Namah Going Beyond Desire and Aversion

all our movements. Desire is but one of many Each experience is a benchmark. Just allow the
different vibrations. But the remedy can be Divine to set the pace for you. It all comes from
the same. Try not to segregate the ‘good’ from our relationship with the psychic being. The
the ‘bad’, because even what we regard as true consciousness identifies exclusively with
our virtues need to be transformed. Every the psychic being. Because of that, “The Divine
part of our nature can be swept up in the Consciousness is not only aware but knows and
psychic embrace. effects (4).” It transcends the Witness poise and
can transform all our movements. The true
That is our path. We are also on a collective consciousness is the executor of this Will and
yoga. You, the microcosm, by changing your transforms desire and aversion into the
nature can help to influence the entire yoga sublime poise of aspiration. The present state
collective. Address the wholeness of your of desire is only a deformation of aspiration
being and it will leave an imprint on others and there is no space for it in the New World.
around. Don’t let the mind select what needs
to be addressed: the process can be applied Infuse your desires with your highest
to every one of our movements. Take anger consciousness and see if their orientation
for instance, its onset can be diffused and can change, “.... what you have to do is shift
transformed immediately by this practice. the objective of desire: instead of turning it to
So, as soon as the movement is recognised, something towards things that are external,
follow the same procedure and step back, artificial, superficial and egotistical, you must
catching it with our consciousness, put a light join it as a force of realisation to the aspiration
on it and offer. to the truth (5).”

The human being is a creature of habit, References
so as one consciously observes, one can
eventually interpret those cues that are 1. Sri Aurobindo. Birth Centenary Library, Volume
feeding this pattern. Desire is subjected to 18. Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust;
habit like anything else. Observation is an 1970, p. 222.
art and, with sustained practice, we begin
to read and follow the signals so that our 2. Sri Aurobindo. SABCL, Volume 24; 1970, pp.
consciousness can more readily catch these 1398-99.
repetitive patterns. Allow the foresight to
seamlessly integrate into your sadhana. a 3. The Mother. The Collected Works of the Mother,
a
Volume 7. Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram
The transformation of desire Trust; 2003, p. 75.

We must always seek to refine and purify 4. The Mother. Collected Works; 2003, p. 167.
our consciousness. Armed with sincerity, it
will heighten and expand through stages. 5. Ibid., p. 194.

James Anderson, author of the book, ‘A Torch in the Dark’ is coordinating editor of NAMAH.

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