Page 24 - NAMAH-Apr-2024

Namah Vol. 32, Issue 1, 24th April 2024

However, there is a different kind of pain Those guiding humanity to higher realms
and suffering that great yogis — like Swami must intimately understand and bear the pain
Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Savitri, the they aim to heal. This challenges the idea of
Mother, Jesus — take upon themselves. It is an exempt messenger, asserting that without
not equal to our ordinary pain and suffering. firsthand experience of suffering, effective
addressing and curing are not possible.
In the poem, Savitri, Narad asserts that the
yogi’s journey involves not only attaining
personal liberation (mokssa) but something
more. He says:

“But when God’s messenger comes to help the
world
And lead the soul of earth to higher things,
...
He too must bear the pang that he would heal:
Exempt and unafflicted by earth’s fate,
How shall he cure the ills he never felt?” p. 446 The yogi’s dual nature emphasises equanimity
and a deeply experienced love for humanity.
Liberation marks the first step in the yogic While crucial for personal liberation, equanimity
journey, where the pursuit of moksha requires extends the yogi’s journey beyond self-realisation
unwavering calmness. This tranquillity, to encompass shared human experience. The
though not the ultimate goal, serves as a willingness to bear collective pain becomes a
prerequisite for the subsequent phase — catalyst for transformation, aligning the yogi
transformation. with the role of a healing messenger on the
path of evolution.
Contrary to focusing solely on personal
liberation, the yogic journey goes beyond On the Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo, the great yogi
individual salvation. The next crucial step and seer of the 20th Century, who has given
involves transforming human nature, a the world a new paradigm of spirituality, the
challenging process requiring the yogi’s Mother writes how He ‘suffered’ for all of us!
active involvement in sharing humanity’s
collective pain. “To Thee who hast been the material envelope
of our Master, to Thee our infinite gratitude.
Sri Aurobindo and Narad assert that the yogi Before Thee who hast done so much for us,
must be both equanimous and actively share who hast worked, struggled, suffered, hoped,
the world’s pain. The narrative shifts from endured so much, before Thee who hast willed
self-centric pursuit to a broader engagement all, attempted all, prepared, achieved all for us,
with the well-being of the entire race. The before Thee we bow down and implore that
yogi is called to bear the pain they seek to we may never forget, even for a moment, all
alleviate, recognising the deep relationship we owe to Thee.”
between personal and collective evolution.

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