Works of Sri Aurobindo

open all | close all

-11_Past, Present and Future .htm

Past, Present and Future  

THE PAST

 

            Use the past as a spring-board to leap towards the future.

25 December 1953

            Often we cling to that which was, afraid of losing the result of a previous experience, of giving up a vast and high consciousness and falling again into an inferior state. But we must always look forward and advance.

13 October 1954

            The very memory of the past experience has sometimes to be swept away from the thoughts that it may not impede the work of perpetual reconstruction which alone, in this world of relativities, permits the perfect manifestation of the Divine.

21 November 1954 

            Beware of the charm of memories. What past experiences leave behind is the effect they have had on the growth of the consciousness. But when you try to relive a memory by putting yourself in similar circumstances, you soon realise that they are empty of their power and charm, for they have lost their usefulness for progress.

Page – 76


            Lasting remembrance: the remembrance of that which has helped the being to progress.

 

            Sentimental remembrance: only those circumstances which helped us in our seeking for the Divine must be the object of this remembrance.

 

            At certain periods, the whole terrestrial life seems to pass miraculously through stages which, at other times, it would take thousands of years to traverse.

11 December 1954  

            At every moment one must know how to lose everything in order to gain everything, to shed the past as a dead body and be reborn into a greater plenitude.

12 December 1954 

            For each person, everything depends on knowing whether one belongs to the past that perpetuates itself, to the present that is exhausting itself or to the future that longs to be born.

16 February 1963  

            To do yoga, one of the most important things to achieve is to get rid of all attachment to the past.

            Let the past be past and concentrate only on the progress you want to make and the surrender to the Divine you have to achieve.

            My blessings and help are always with you.

            With love.

10 January 1967

Page – 77


            Unless we break with the habits and beliefs of the past, there is little hope of advancing rapidly towards the future.

23 December 1967 

            To forget the past and to lose habits of thinking is indeed a difficult thing and generally requires a strong “tapasya”. But if you have faith in the Divine’s Grace and you implore it full-heartedly, you will succeed more easily.

            Blessings.

22 November 1968

            Let the waves of the past flow far from you, carrying away with them all attachments and all weaknesses.

            The luminous joy of the divine consciousness is waiting ready to take their place.

 

                                    Will not past action come in the way of sadhana?

 

Complete consecration to the Divine wipes out what one has been in the past.

 

My dear child,

            Your prayer has been heard. Your past has disappeared. Prepare to grow in consciousness, in light, in peace.

            Our blessings are always with you.

Page – 78


            Let the past be past.

            Concentrate only on the Eternal.

            Blessings.

10 December 1971 

            When one lives in contact with the universal harmony, time passes without leaving any trace.

 

THE PRESENT 

 

            The same minute never strikes twice on the clock of Fate.  

 

            There are unique moments in life that pass like a dream. One must Catch them on the wing, for they never return.

 

            The present is the most important moment in life.

12 February 1952 

            What is the most important moment in life? The present moment. For the past no longer exists and the future does not yet exist.

1952  

Page – 79


Soar ever higher, ever farther, without fear or hesitation !

            The hopes of today are the realisations of tomorrow.

 

THE FUTURE 

 

            The future is necessarily better than the past. We have only to push forward.

 

            Forward ! Towards a better future, the realisation of tomorrow.

 

            From step to step, from truth to truth, we shall climb ceaselessly until we reach the perfect realisation of tomorrow.

 

            The future: a promise yet unrealised.

 

            The future is full of promise.  

 

            The future is full of possibilities for those who know how to prepare themselves for it.

Page – 80


            Each new dawn brings the possibility of a new progress.

            We move forward without haste, for we are sure of the future.

 

            I propose that we should simply do what is right and fair, without thinking too much of the future, leaving it to the care of the Divine’s Grace.  

Page – 81