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"The Aim of Life; Four Theories of Existence"
(Book 2 Chapter XVI)

 

 

Introduction

 

Here are the main points in greater detail:

Three Poises of Being (Self, Universal, Transcendent) and Ignorance
The multiplicity of the three poises of being (Self, Universal, and Transcendent) allows for a division of consciousness, an Ignorance, in which the Many ceases to be aware of its essential Oneness. When man awakes to his Soul, he becomes aware of the Universal and Transcendent, enabling him to overcome his Ignorance.

Matter, Life, and Mind
Matter is a result of a conscious Divine Energy. Life is a form of the divine energy; a creative urge of matter. Mind uses matter and life as a means of expression.

How Matter, Life, and Mind Overcome Their Limitations
Each of the three overcome their limitations by a descent of the higher power in the upper hemisphere. E.g. Mind overcomes its nature through the descent of the supramental truth consciousness. As the higher powers descend, the hold of the inconscient on life on the physical, vital, and mental gives way.

 

[DETAILS]

• (In the first pages of this chapter Sri Aurobindo restates his integral theory -- the evolutionary process; the nature of the Absolute; Being and Becoming; 3 poises of being (Self, Universal, Transcendent); the action of Satchitananda which compels evolution; Involution; Evolution; Supermind; etc.)

• Existence-Consciousness-Bliss is in the Being and the becoming. Its movement to unhide itself is the very cause of the evolution (!)

• Being presents itself in 3 poises -- as the Supracosmic Existence (transcendent), as the Cosmic Spirit (universal), and as the individual Self (self).

• The multiplicity of these 3 poises allows for a division of consciousness, an Ignorance, in which the Many cease to be aware of the essential Oneness.

• Supermind and Satchitananda are yet to be realized in the evolution.

• The evolution: Matter is a result of energy (force) which is consciousness. Therefore Matter is a form of spirit.

• Life is a creative urge of Matter. It is a form of the Divine energy. It uses matter as an instrument for its manifestation.

• Mind is a derivative power; it is a luminous shadow thrown by the divine supermind. 

• Mind uses Life and Matter as means of its expression.

• Matter, Life, and Mind, the three aspects in the lower hemisphere, overcome their limitations by a descent of their corresponding power in the Higher hemisphere. E.g. Mind overcomes its limitations through the descent of the supramental Truth consciousness from which it is a reflection. (Matter from Existence, and Life from Consciousness-Force.)

• Matter, Life, and Mind are built upon the Inconscient, and seem to be originated and supported y it.  As the higher powers penetrate Matter, Life, and Mind, the strength of the Inconscient gives way.

• We cannot know the fundamental realities and principles of being without knowing the processes and the phenomena that result from the processes. Unfortunately that is what Metaphysical philosophy does.

• There are roughly four main theories of existence -- the Supracosmic, the cosmic and terrestrial, the supraterrestial or other-worldly, and the integral or synthetic or composite, the theories that try to reconcile the other three. [This discussion begins on p.667.]

• In his self-integration the soul of the individual must awake to universality and to transcendence.

• There are 3 stages of the spirit's progressive self-expression in life; (1) the involution of spirit in the Inconscience; (2) an evolution of spirit in the Ignorance (this is the current stage we are in); (3) the deployment of the spirit's self-knowledge and self-power of its divine being and consciousness as the culmination.