AN ANALYSIS OF SRI AUROBINDO'S
'THE LIFE DIVINE'
"The Gnostic Being"
(Book 2 Chapter XXVII)
In this chapter Sri Aurobindo describes the inner makeup if the supramentalized individual (i.e. the Gnostic Being). He addresses in general what the supramental (gnostic) nature and transformation will be; and the role of supermind in the evolution. He also describes in great detail the Gnostic Being and his supramental nature, including-
the ignorance that is shed
the truth and integral knowledge that is attained
how knowledge & will are fused for action
that we become one with others
the bounding up of the individual self, the universal, and the transcendent Divine
the oneness of being between our inner selves and the world outside ourselves
our integral relationship with the world,
our ultimate delight of being
the transformation's affect on our physical, vital, and mental being.
He also focuses on the new collective existence that will arise as these gnostic, supramental individuals proliferate, including how it will be a world absent of conflict and problems, and other aspects of this gnostic collective existence. (It is greatly expanded on in the next, final chapter.)
Here are the main points in greater detail:
(in development)
[DETAILS]
THE SUPRAMENTAL NATURE & TRANSFORMATION
Unlike the spiritual transformation the Supramental nature and transformation is a perfect integration and consummation of spiritual nature and experience.
It is difficult for mental thought to understand or describe Supramental nature.
The Supramental consciousness is a power of the Infinite.
Oneness and unity: The Supramental nature sees everything in its oneness, in all things, in the greatest multiplicity and diversity, even in what appears as contradictions. The Supramental, Divine life is one of essential, spontaneous, and inherent unity. A dominant principle of harmony would impose itself on the life of the Ignorance.
The Supramental nature perceives the truth of all, and the truth of each thing.
SUPERMIND IN THE EVOLUTION
The Gnostic individual would be the culmination of the spiritual man.
There is a transition from involution in the Ignorance to evolution in the Knowledge.
Process of spirit in movement among planes: Evolution proceeds because of the upswing of the spiritual Power in that plane [as explained in chapter Ascent and Integration], but also because of the descent of an already self-realized Power from that plane.
Supermind can hold all knowledge in itself, yet put forth what is needed in all Stages of the evolution.
For the Supramental change to begin, the vital between the subliminal and the surface parts needs to have already been broken down.
Instead of a struggle between higher consciousness and the forces of the Inconscience, there would be a graded progression from lesser light to greater light. (This is a result of the supramental action.)
There would not only be the creation of a supramental being as a results of the evolution, but it will carry forth the other levels of spiritual mind, with individuals centered at the varying shadings of existence.
The Supramental descent would penetrate and awaken into greater action the hidden Truth-Power everywhere in Nature.
There would be a more enlightened dealing with the opportunities and difficulties of existence.
The Supramental being could create a unity even with the mental world, and its Ignorance.
Overmind vs. supramental manifestation: The Overmind follows out the diversities and divergent possibilities in life. It allows each to follow its own path in reference to the Divine. It even accepts and encourages these diversities and contradictions, which we can say is the secret sense of the Ignorance in life. The Supramental existence is, on the other hand, one of essential harmonic unity in that diversity.
He would have a spontaneous sympathy with all in the universe.
The gnostic being signifies the evolution from a consciousness of Ignorance to Satchitananda.
INTEGRAL KNOWLEDGE; TRUTH
A complete self-knowledge in all things, and in all moments.
He would know the cosmic forces, and in Truth Consciousness know the right relationship of things.
All is seen in relation to the whole so that each step is luminous and joyous.
One has not an ideative knowledge, but the [essential] real Idea of the Supermind. [Knowledge not through ideas as we know it, but of the essential Real Ideas of the Infinite.]
Ignorance will turn into knowledge.
The self of the gnostic being is the Spirit is in one and all; the one truth underlying al things.
Knowledge will proceed by identity with all; an intuition of truth's processes; guiding one's life at each step.
An identity is an integration of knower, knowledge, and that which is known.
The supramental in terms of mind: Intellectual seeking would be replaced by supramental identity and gnostic intuition of the contents of the identity [revised].
He will realize the subliminal inner being's connection with other planes of being; its knowledge and power will be a natural part of his being.
Truth: There would be no ignorance leading to wrong will, nor falsehood of the steps. All action is the automatic self-expression of the Gnostic truth. The truth is within itself a self-truth. An integral fully conscious being in full possession of its own truth of existence. All actions follow from the self-truth. His will and the Divine Will are one. His truth and the divine Truth are one.
A oneness with the truth. All is self-determined by truth if consciousness and truth of being.
Consciousness beyond thought, ideation: There is nothing to formulate as in mind; there is simply Identity of consciousness, Knowledge of consciousness. It is not ideative; observing, forming ideas. It is light of consciousness. It is, it knows, it is the object of consciousness.
Mind used thought to arrive at knowledge or for action. Supermind uses thought to express the idea, not to arrive at knowledge.
The Gnostic Being has a supramental truth consciousness, including a direct and inherent truth of being and truth of things. [Note that Sat/Existence/Being is perceived by us objectively as truth, subjectively as spirit. In the Gnostic Being we regain this objective truth sense of Sat/Existence/Being.)
The division between Soul and Nature, which affects the Ignorance, would be removed.
KNOWLEDGE & WILL; ACTION
Knowledge and Will are fused: The knowledge of what is willed, the will of action, and the power to effectuate its knowledge is one in the Gnostic being. Knowledge would be embodied in the will, and will embodied in action.
Action taken (or withheld) would be based on the Truth of the Divine Will.
There is no seeking of results, but the joy of being and doing.
ONENESS WITH OTHERS
All beings would be his own selves.
There will be no contradiction or strife between one's own good and the good of others.
A oneness with others.
INDIVIDUAL, UNIVERSAL, & TRANSCENDENT SELF & BEING
The individual and the universe are simultaneous and interrelated experiences of the same transcendent Being.
There would be harmony of his individual self with his total self, will, and action (i.e. universal self), and with his transcendent self, will, and action.
He would be in the world but exceed it by connection with Self in the transcendental above it.
We are complete only when we have taken the universal into ourselves and transcended it.
Universalization: His individuality would be universal; for he individualizes the universal. The Supramental being would be one in self with all. There would be an individualized centration of a universal, cosmic existence; that of one who carries the universe and all beings within him. [As on p.979 Mother experienced a kind of extended being, an extension of herself into those around her, her disciples, even the whole world.] He will have a natural connection with other planes of being, a knowledge of their power and influences. All life will be known in terms of these planes, enabling him to have a full power over the physical world, and the physical, vital, and mental planes, enabling perfection of the physical existence.
There would be a feeling and action of universality on his part.
He will have a cosmic consciousness, sense, feeling by which all objective life will become part of his subjective existence in everything felt and, as if taking place within his own self of being. [The Mother experienced this kind of extended being into those around her (her disciples, even others around the world.]
There would be a God love and the delight of God.
The 3 powers that express in him are the individual, the cosmic, universal entity, and the Divine reality above the individual and the cosmic. In the Supramental being they are united and harmonized.
His existence would be one with the universal and transcendental Self and Spirit.
His actions would originate from and obey the Supreme Self and Spirit's divine governance of Nature.
He would see his natural being as the becoming and manifestation of the World-Mother.
He would have an entire identity with the Cosmic Self.
Nature and Supernature: The individual nature would become a current of the Supernature.
He is one with God, the Eternal, self-plunged into the depths of the Infinite. [The transcendent nature of the Gnostic Being.]
Oneness of Truth of one's will and Divine Will: The motive to act will be in concord with the truth of the circumstances, which are one with the Divine Will. There would be a Gnostic consciousness of Truth-Will. There is a unity of his will and the Eternal will.
All ways and powers of consciousness would be felt as the ways and powers of his universality.
RELATIONSHIP WITH WORLD (INNER-OUTER-CORRESPONDENCE)
The gnostic consciousness has not only a power of awareness of an inner existence but of a world consciousness and action.
In the gnostic life the inner and the outer, the self and the world, would be one.
The spiritual man always lives within.
The inner life overcomes the antimony of the inner and outer existence.
DELIGHT OF BEING
Delight of existence -- The existence of the Supramental being would be for delight of existence. All its movements would be for the joy of the Spirit. The delight of spirit in himself and equally the delight of the Divine in all.
One has an integral bliss of being.
There would be a God love and the delight of God.
"Love will be for him the contact, meeting, union of self with self, spirit with spirit, a unification of being, a power and joy and intimacy and closeness of soul to soul, of the One to the One, a joy of identity and the consequences of a diverse identity. It is the joy of an intimate self-revealing diversity of the One, the multitudinous of the One and a happy interaction in the identity, that will be for him the full revealed sense of life."
There is no aim except just to be; only to be conscious of being; only to delight in being.
Suffering change into ananda, delight -- At the level of spiritual Mind and Overmind there is a power to change the vibration of pain into vibrations of Ananda. With the gnostic evolution there brings about this complete reversal, giving the body immunity, serenity of being, deliverance from suffering, and the experience of the total delight of being. The culmination of the supramental manifestation in the ascent would be the Bliss, Ananda of the Divine, Brahman; it would be an embodiment of this beatific existence. There would be this fundamental delight of being.
The Gnostic being and delight in the mental, vital, and physical: In the mind this would be a calm of delight of spiritual perception, In the heart a passionate delight of delight of universal union, love, sympathy, joy of beings and joy of things. In the will and vital as energy of delight as a divine life power in action, or beatude of the sense touching the Divine; a sense of universal harmony and beauty. In the body as ecstasy pouring in; the beauty and glory of objects.
DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONALITY AND SELF (BEYOND CHARACTER)
Unity of personality and impersonality: The impersonality of the individual is the person as Being, the non-ego, universal. The of the individual personal is an outgrowth of the impersonal, and is his form of self in the changes of Nature, his expression nature-status, nature-action, his personal expression of what is impermanent. In the supramental consciousness the individual personality and impersonality are inseparable parts of the same reality, not opposite.
One's character, the personality, and The Person: There is the character of the person born of Nature with fixed qualities. There is the personality of the person, an unformed part of being or Nature. There is the Person, i.e. the Individual, who is all of Self, universal, and transcendental as the Gnostic being. The Person is the Individual (capital I) is the Gnostic being.
Character is of a fixed Nature. Personality is unformed, indistinguishable, in flux. The Person is the Self, an infinite and universal being.
EFFECT ON PHYSICAL, VITAL, MENTAL
He would feel the pressure of the Divine in every center of his consciousness, in every vibration of his life force, in every cell of his body.
The supramental as expressed in life, vital: "The gnostic evolution will lift that to its highest and fullest expression, but it will not act for the power, satisfaction, enjoyment of the mental and vital ego. .... Love will be for him the contact, meeting, union of self with self, of spirit with spirit, a unification of being, a power and joy and intimacy and closeness of soul to soul, of the One to the One, a joy of identity and the consequences of a diverse identity. It is this joy of an intimate self-revealing diversity of the One, the multitudinous union of the One and a happy interaction in the identity, that will be for him the full revealed sense of life. ..."
There will be established a new relation of Spirit with Mind, Life, and Matter.
The supramental in terms of the body: For the body the subconscient will become conscious and subject to supramental control, penetrated with its light and action. Its inconscient, including its obscurity and ambiguity, its obstruction will be transformed into a form of superconscience. Though spiritual mind and above enables Mind to have a power over the physical, at the Supramental level the truth of the Real Idea of the Spirit will govern all, enabling the body to become a perfectly responsive instrument of the Spirit. One will cease to be identified with the body-consciousness. Thereafter a spiritual light and force can take up the body. This requires a moving away form the physical Nature that veils the Spirit. "... what it [the body] craves for is duration, health, strength, physical perfection, bodily happiness, liberation from suffering, ease. ... When the gnostic Force can act in the body, these things can be established. ..." "The supramental ... will liberate and restore the obscured and spoiled intuitive instincts of the body and enlighten and supplement them with a greater conscious action. This change would institute and maintain a right physical perception of things, a right relation and right reaction to objects and energies, ..." "... it will flood the whole being with a supreme energy of Consciousness-Force, which would meet, assimilate or hamonise with itself all the force of existence that surround and press upon the body."
UNITY IN DIVERSITY
The law of Supermind is unity fulfilled in diversity.
The Gnostic being or race would express in infinite diversity of types, not a single type of individuality.
ABSENCE OF PROBLEMS, CONFLICT, DUALITY
Suffering and incomplete Conscious Force: The cause of suffering in Man is due to the incomplete Conscious-Force in the physical, vital, and mental parts due to refusing, or inability to assimilate or harmonize contacts of the universal Energy.
In the gnostic individual there is no conflict of good and evil. There are in fact no problems at all.
Problems: Problems do not exist for the Gnostic being, for problems are of the mental ignorance seeking for knowledge, which the Gnostic being does not have.
There would be no seperative egoism.
NEW GNOSTIC COLLECTIVE EXISTENCE
The Gnostic collective existence: This nature of the gnostic of beings would determine the group life of gnostic beings. This collective would have the same unity, truth, and other attributes of the gnostic individual. In the collective gnostic life all divergences in itself would be opulences. and turn multitudinous thought action and feeling into unity of a luminous whole. This as a result of its indwelling Truth Consciousness. There would be a mixture of gnostic being in touch still with being of lesser consciousness, who receive the higher lights and influences of the gnostic beings in them. E.g. there might be the rise of a new and greater order of mental beings, who are partly or directly intuitive.
The gnostic life will exist and act for the Divine in itself, and in the world; for the Divine in the world.
OTHER
FREEDOM FROM LAWS: Need for virtues, edicts, dharmas, ethics disappear as one lives and is guided by the self-flow of the spiritual nature. there is a freedom from all constricted laws.
INFINITE FREEDOM: The knowledge and action of the gnostic being would have the wideness and plasticity of an infinite freedom. In the Gnostic being Freedom and order, which seem contraries to mind and life, are native to each other, and one. He has great freedom, because his will is ruled by no law, no restriction, no mental standards. He lives in the liberty of unity with all, and the Divine. There is there an infinite, free play of possibilities.
POWER OF PERFECT SELF-EXPRESSION: A power of perfect self-expression in Nature.
PEACE, EQUALITY, CALM: There would be a peace extended into a universal calm of equality, creating peace with all it encounters.
WE, NOT NATURE, SHAPES LIFE: We shape life rather than life, Nature shaping us.
TRUTH & INFINITE MIRRORING THE ABSOLUTE: As there is absolute truth and infinity in the Absolute, there is the same for us when we reach our Supernature.
ULTIMATE EVOLUTION IN SATCHITANANDA: The Satchitananda being beyond supramental : "At the higher end of the evolution the ascending ranges and summits of Supermind would begin to rise towards some supreme manifestation of the pure spiritual existence, consciousness and delight of the Satchitananda." The complete Gnostic being would be the complete manifestation of Satchitananda.
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