Works of Sri Aurobindo

open all | close all

-15_The-Guru-and-General.htm

The Guru

 

In an age like ours success alone counts and the material satisfactions it brings. However, an ever-increasing number of dissatisfied people are seeking to know the reason of life. And, on the other hand, there are sages who know and strive to help suffering humanity and to spread the light of knowledge. When the two meet, he who knows and he who wants to know, there springs up a new hope in the world, and a little light penetrates the prevailing darkness.

 

The western mind always finds it difficult to submit totally to a Guru and without total and unquestioning surrender to the Guru his help to you is paralysed. That is why generally I advise westerners to find the guidance and the Presence within themselves; it is true that this process is very often open to uncertainty and self-deception, mistaking some voice of the ego in disguise for the Divine’s guidance.

In both cases, it is only an absolute sincerity and an unmixed humility that can be your safeguard.

With my blessings.

 21 January 1955

 

If you have faith and confidence, it is not the human form of the guru that you worship, but the Supreme Lord who manifests through him.

Be not troubled and give yourself unreservedly to the Supreme Lord through whatever channel helps you.

With love and blessings.

Page 61


I am not at all convinced by X’s theories. This seems to me to be merely the old human “animal” trying to satisfy its desires by mentalising them.

Generally speaking, when a man starts building yogic theories on his own particular work, one should always be wary.

All work can and should be done in a yogic spirit. But the “sacrifice” should be made to the Supreme Divine and not to a human being.

 23 June 1960

To each one things are said according to his or her capacity of understanding.

It follows that the knowledge given to one may not be useful or good for another. That is why the personal teaching of the Guru must not be disclosed to others.

 

The disciples judge the forms by the Master, others judge the Master by the forms.

 

The Indians believe (or have the experience) that the Divine lives in the human being. The Europeans don’t believe it. For them, he is somewhere above. He has incarnated only in Jesus Christ. So they don’t bow down to any human person. But if one bows down to a person who has embodied the Divine Consciousness of course with faith then that person can more easily transmit his consciousness (or experience) to the other.

 March 1973

Page 62


General  

 

Well-known or unknown has absolutely no importance from the spiritual point of view.

One man who earnestly pursues the yoga is of more value than a thousand well-known men.

 16 January 1935

Of those who possess a true value the power of Yoga will increase the value, but from one who has only some false appearance of art, even that appearance will vanish or else lose its appeal.

 

Divine Mother,

Do you wish us to try and intensively spread the Yoga in America?

 

Yoga cannot be spread by any exterior means.

 30 May 1966

May I ask Your help in dealing with the feeling of loneliness which appears when I am alone.

 

Those who feel lonely in the world are ready for union with the Divine.

 6 July 1966  

Page 63