An Analysis of Sri Aurobindo's The Life Divine -- CHAPTER OUTLINES

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"The Destiny of the Individual"

(Book 1 Chapter V)

Introduction
Sri Aurobindo poses the question: how do we develop the integral view of the unity of spirit and matter -- i.e. the vision of Brahman; the perception of the Oneness of all things that provides the foundation through which we can fulfill our human aspiration and spiritual purpose? I.e. how do we rise to the unitarian, truth consciousness to have this Vision of Brahman.

He answers by saying that when we move within to the depths of our being and make the Soul connection there, we move out of ego and ignorance, rise to the unitarian view that sees the Reality as the unity and integration of Spirit and Life, of the One and the Many, of the Unmanifest Divine and the Manifest. It is also from that vision of the Reality that we experience the Existence, Conscious-Force, Delight in life that is the source of all existence in our own lives.

Here is the process: Connect to Soul (Psychic Being) > Overcomes ego > Moves us out of duality > Perceive Integration of Spirit and Matter (Vision of Brahman) > Bring Spirit into all aspects of life

Sri Aurobindo also moves on to a related topic and indicates that there the Reality has three aspects -- the transcendent, the universal, and the individual. The transcendent is the ultimate reality beyond this universe, out of which all has come, and is Infinite and Divine. The universe is a form given to the transcendent to fulfill its purpose. The individual is the center of the universal consciousness, and he serves there to fulfill the transcendent purpose.

-Sri Aurobindo says that individual has three levels of awareness; that which is subconscious to him (the limited, unconsciousness in the heart of his unevolved being), that which is conscious (conscient) to him; and that which is superconscient (universal and transcendent) to him. He lives in the middle state.

Here are the main points in greater detail:

Discovering the Unity of Brahman by Discovering Our Higher Consciousness through Soul
Brahman is the One; nothing else exists. It is the Absolute and the relative; the corporeal and incorporeal. This Reality exceeds all definitions of mind. Therefore, we need to discover a way beyond Mind to know the unity of Brahman, the Reality. We do that through by developing our higher consciousness.

If the individual finds his Soul within, he begins to develop his higher consciousness, enabling him to perceive the unity of Brahman, to see the true nature of existence. In touching his [personal evolving] Soul, he moves beyond his individual status/plane and ego, and touches the universal and the transcendent spirit. From that Soul status, he begins to perceive the unity of spirit and matter; the vision of Brahman. [I.e. by going in, we then go up and above mind to spiritualized mind, where we begin to see the unity of all things, including the unity of Spirit and Matter, which is essentially the attainment of Brahman consciousness.]

[The perception of the unity of Brahman is fully enabled when we develop the supramental consciousness. I.e. when we have the (ultimate) supramental vision, we see the unity in all, the Oneness in all life, existence, activities, etc. This is the perception of the fundamental unity of, the Vision of Brahman. (By the way, one definition of Brahman I have seen from Vedanta is that It is Everything, the one consciousness that fills every plane of existence.)]

The Individual, Universal, and Transcendent Consciousness
There is the individual, the universal, and the transcendent consciousness. The universe is a form given to the transcendent. The individual (human) is the center of the universal consciousness, and he serves a necessary purpose for the action of the transcendent in the universe. [When Man discovers his true Individual self by discovering his Soul, he is also able to see and fulfill/realize his universal and transcendent purpose. In supramental consciousness, he sees all three as unified.]

[DETAILS]

Note: These detail statements are either direct quotes from Sri Aurobindo or paraphrases.

Vision of Brahman

Brahman is the One; nothing else exists. It is the Absolute and the relative; the corporeal and incorporeal.

This unity of Brahman is ultimately undefinable. The Reality exceeds all definitions of mind. That is why the ancients expressed this Reality as "the Unknowable."

Life exists in Brahman in order to discover Brahman in Itself.

Man gives life that development of consciousness in which the discovery of Brahman in Itself is made possible.

[Brahman is not just the sum of all, including opposites and complements such a One and Many; unmanifest and manifest, etc; but is the unity of all and all opposites.]

[Brahman being the unity of all is parallel to our ability to see the unity in the contradictions.]

[When we have the supramental vision we see the unity in all, in all life, existence, activities, etc. This reflects the fundamental unity of Brahman.]

The Individual, the Universal, and the Transcendent

The individual activities are not inconsistent with the attainment of the transcendent and Supracosmic. After all, the transcendent embraces the universe, and the universe the individual.

The individual is the center of the whole universal consciousness; the universe a form given to the Formless and Indefinable.

The individual is necessary to the action of the Transcendent in the universe.

The manifestation of the Transcendent in the individual is how the collective, the universal becomes conscious of itself.

The Transcendent emerges in unity and multiplicity. In the individual the multiplicity becomes that which is subconscious to him, that which is conscious (conscient) to him; and that which is superconscient to him. He lives in the middle state.

Soul Connection Enables Us to See Brahman; and Unity of Individual, Universal, Transcendent

In the conscient the ego becomes the superficial point at which the unity can begin to emerge. [Thus the irony of ego's falsehood, and its necessity at a point in time.]

This state rooted in ego constitutes our imperfect individuality.

The liberation of the individual soul is the key on which all else depends.

If one individual finds his soul, there is a parallel outburst of others doing the same.

Other

Just as Brahman is out of the world (in the One), and in the world (in the Many), we are liberated by touching the transcendent Spirit, and by finding spirit in the Many, in the Unfolding [in the Becoming].

All affirmations are denied only to lead to a wider affirmation. All antimonies confront each other in order to recognize one Truth in their opposed aspects.