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The Boundaries of the Ignorance

  (Book 2 Chapter  XI)

 

Introduction
In this chapter, describes how the ego is the lynchpin of our Ignorance, and though having been necessary in the cosmic scheme of things, it has grave limitations which are overcome when we move to the depths of our subliminal being within. Sri Aurobindo then describes in detail the nature of the major aspects of our being from the depths to the surface waking consciousness. Another major focus is his description of the various levels that we experience Ignorance, from practical to cosmic, which he refers to as its boundaries.

Here are the main points in greater detail:

From Ignorance to Knowledge
In this chapter Sri Aurobindo begins by describing how we have a consciousness of Ignorance that is moving towards a consciousness of Integral Knowledge.

Utility and Limits of Ego-Sense
He then goes on to explain the utility of the human ego, as a first basis of coherence, a lynchpin to hold ourselves together, to support our existence; and yet it reinforces our tendency towards surface living, and hence our Ignorance.

The Higher, Subtle Sense of the Subliminal
On the other hand, the inner being, including our subliminal part has a subtle sense, and therefore a much vaster capacity to perceive all that enters or touches us and our environment. It has the same capacities as our waking being, and is a secret intraconscient and circumconscient.

The Nature of the Subconscient
Sri Aurobindo then explains the nature of the subconscious parts within in detail. He says that the true subconscious is the Inconscient vibrating on the borders of consciousness, swallowing into its depths impressions of past experiences. They become seeds of unconscious habit and return constantly and chaotically to the surface, bringing up futile and perilous impressions and influences. It expresses in dream, in mechanical action and repetition, in obscure impulsions and motives; in perturbation, upheavals and dumb automatic necessities.

Summary of Parts of Our Being From Depths to Surface
Hew then goes on to summarize all these parts of our being as (1) the submental and subconscient, (2) the subliminal -- as inner mind, life, and physical with the psychic being supporting them, and (3) the waking consciousness. There is actually something more; a superconscient, a supreme Higher Reality.

The Variety, Boundaries of our Ignorance
He then expresses in detail the varieties and boundaries of our Ignorance. We are ignorant of-

-of our superconscient self, the subliminal, and the subconscient self.

-of our universal selves.

-of the world in which we live.

-of ourselves in Space.

-of ourselves in Time -- i.e. of the past, save our physical existence and memories. We know nothing of the future.

The Knot of Ego that Reinforces Our Ignorance
Finally, he reiterates that it is the ego sense that is the knot we are in that supports, reinforces our ego. [Moving out of ego will therefore release us from the Ignorance and allow us to discover the integral Knowledge.]

 

[Details ]

FROM IGNORANCE TO KNOWLEDGE

-Ignorance is a seperative knowledge labouring towards identity knowledge.

-The consciousness of the Mental man is a many-sided Ignorance striving to become an all-embracing Knowledge; a limited seperative awareness of things striving to become an integral consciousness and knowledge.

 

THE NATURE OF TIME & SPACE

-Time is a flow of dynamic movement. Space is an objective field of contents.

-This partial knowledge, accumulated in the succession of time is coordinated by perception, memory, intelligence, and will.

 

THE UTILITY AND REASON FOR THE EGO

-The ego sense gives the first basis of coherence to what would otherwise be an incoherence of impressions; a lynchpin to hold together the motion of our wheel of nature.

-The ego sense and idea maintains a constructed symbol of self, the seperative ego, which does duty for the hidden real self, the spirit or true being.

-The surface mental individuality is always ego-centric.

 

LIMITS OF SURFACE LIVING AND SENSE MIND ORIENTATION

-We perceive only a small part of the workings of our life (because we live on the surface).

-The ordinary waking mind is confined to the scanty gleaming of the physical senses.

 

THE SUBLIMINAL GOES BEYOND SURFACE/SENSE MIND

-Our subliminal; i.e. inner being, has a much vaster capacity of experience.

-The inner being perceives all that enters or touches us and our environment.

-The subliminal goes far beyond, and uses a subtle sense.

-The cognition and will of the inner being stands behind the whole conscious becoming.

-To know our inner being is the first step towards a real self-knowledge.

 

THE NATURE OF THE SUBCONSCIOUS

-Now Sri Aurobindo delves into what the subconscious is (as opposed to the subliminal, which is also within).

-Life and body, like mind, have a subconscious of their own.

-The true subconscious is the Inconscient vibrating on the borders of consciousness, swallowing into its depths impressions of past experiences. They become seeds of unconscious habit and return constantly and chaotically tot he surface, bringing up futile and perilous impressions and influences.

-It expresses in dream, in mechanical action and repetition, in obscure impulsions and motives; in perturbation, upheavals and dumb automatic necessities.

-The subliminal has not this subconscious character. It has the same capacities as our waking being. It is a secret intraconscient and circumconscient.

 

THE THREE ELEMENTS OF THE TOTALITY OF OUR BEING

-There are three elements in the totality of our being : (1) the submental and subconscient, (2) the subliminal -- as inner mind, life, and physical with the psychic being supporting them, and (3) the waking consciousness.

-There is actually something more; a superconscient, a supreme Higher Reality.

-[There is (in summary): inconscient, subconscient, subliminal, psychic, superconscient.]

-Thus Spirit or Oversoul (the superconscient) is also actually our highest, deepest, vastest Self.

-From the sea of the subconscient and subliminal comes waves to the  surface. The makeup and determination of those waves is the superconscient.

-The  Inconscient is evolving towards, into the knowledge of the superconscient.

This is unconsciousness of this superconscience of our highest, of our inmost self is our first, our capital ignorance.

-Our real self in the cosmos is the Superconscient, which becomes the subliminal self.

-The true being, unlike the physical, does not die.

-Neither the superconscient nor the subliminal are limited by moments of time.

 

THE VARIETIES, BOUNDARIES OF OUR IGNORANCE

-In our current existence, we know nothing of the past, save our physical existence and memories. We know nothing of the future.

-We are fixed in our experiences of the Ignorance, as in our ignorant perceptions of time.

-Man is ignorant of his superconscient self, his subliminal, and his subconscient self.

-Man is ignorant of the world in which he lives.

-The ego sense clinches, supports, reinforces his sense of division, and Ignorance.

-Ego is the most formidable of the knots which keep us tied to the Ignorance.

-We are ignorant of the ourselves in Space.

-We our ignorant of our universal selves.

 

EGO IS THE KNOT THAT REINFORCES IGNORANCE

-The ego sense clinches, supports, reinforces his sense of division, and Ignorance.

-Ego is the most formidable of the knots which keep us tied to the Ignorance.