Works of Sri Aurobindo

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Purity and Humility   

PURITY

 

Purity is the best of powers.  

This is purity, to accept no other influence but only the influence of the Divine.

 

On earth, true purity is to think as the Divine thinks, to will as the Divine wills, to feel as the Divine feels.

 24 September 1945

 

If one lives only for the Divine and by the Divine, there follows a perfect purity.

 

Purity is perfect sincerity and one cannot have it unless the being is entirely consecrated to the Divine.

 

Mother, tell me how I can keep Your service holy and free from the slightest stain of human impurity.

 

By wanting it and always aspiring for it.

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Integral purity: the whole being is purified of the ego.

 

Power of integral purity: the power to accept nothing but the divine influence.

 

Mental purity: a mirror which does not distort.

 

Perfect mental purity: a spotless mirror constantly turned towards the Divine.

 

Integral mental purity: silent, attentive, receptive, concentrated on the Divine this is the path to purity.

 

Vital purity: it begins with the abolition of desire.

 

Collective purity: a very precious achievement but one difficult to obtain.

 

Divine purity: it is happy just to be, in all simplicity.

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SIMPLICITY

 

 

To express Harmony, of all things Simplicity is the best.

 

There is a great beauty in simplicity.

 

Integral simplicity: the simplicity which is the consequence of perfect sincerity.

 

Spirituality is supreme simplicity.

 6 March 1971 

True spirituality is it very simple.

 6 March 1971

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HUMILITY AND MODESTY

 

Humility: adorable in its simplicity.

 

The greater beings are always the most simple and modest.

 

Correct self-evaluation: simple and modest, does not try to push itself forward.

 

Modesty is satisfied with its own charm and does not draw attention to itself.

 

The more we advance on the Path, the more modest we become and the more we see that we have done nothing in comparison to what remains to be done.

 4 June 1956

We must learn that whatever our efforts, whatever our struggles, whatever even our victories, compared with the path still to be traversed what we have already travelled is nothing.

 

Do not think yourself big or small, very important or very unimportant; for we are nothing in ourselves. 

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 We must only live to become what the Divine wills of us.

 

You are becoming very wise and approaching the realisation that we are nothing, we know nothing and we can do nothing; only the Supreme Divine knows, does and is.

 

True humility consists in knowing that the Supreme Consciousness, the Supreme Will alone exists and that the I is not.

 

To be humble means for the mind, the vital and the body never to forget that without the Divine they know nothing, are nothing and can do nothing; without the Divine they are nothing but ignorance, chaos and impotence. The Divine alone is Truth, Life, Power, Love, Felicity.

Therefore the mind, the vital, and the body must learn and feel, once and for all, that they are wholly incapable of understanding and judging the Divine, not only in his essence but also in his action and manifestation.

This is the only true humility and with it come quiet and peace.

This is also the surest shield against all hostile attack. Indeed, in the human being it is always the door of pride at which the Adversary knocks, for it is this door which opens to let him enter.

 

Whatever is your personal value or even your individual realisation, the first quality required in yoga is humility.  

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A true and sincere humility is our safeguard it is the surest way to the indispensable dissolution of the ego.

 

Humility and sincerity are the best safeguards. Without them each step is a danger; with them the victory is certain.  

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