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Growth Online	Spiritual Reality, & Theory of Creation	Knowledge Base
	by Roy Posner and MSS

INTRODUCTION TO PAGE THE OMNIPRESENT REALITY & CREATION The Omnipresent Reality Process of Creation (Involution and Evolution) Delight of Being is Purpose of Creation Processes of Self-Conception, Self-Limitation, and Self-Absorption Processes of Creation of Universe Mirrors How We Create in Life   DETAILS OF THE INVOLUTION Origins and Nature of the Plane Existence, Conscious-Force, Delight Origins and Nature of the Plane of Supermind Origins and Nature of the Plane of Overmind Origins and Nature of the Plane of Mind Origins and Nature of the Plane of Life/Energy

Cosmic Determinism, the Rendering of Creation, and Free Will Real Ideas The Triple Differentiation of the One Origins and Nature of Space and Time   DETAILS OF THE EVOLUTION Overview of the Unfolding of the Evolution Origins and Nature of Matter Origins and Nature of Life in the Universe Origins and Nature of Mind The Gross/Material, Subtle, and Causal Plane in Creation   RELATED TOPICS Truth The One & The Many Oneness of Life, Unity in Diversity The Individual, Universal, and Transcendent

Finite and Infinite Rebirth Supramental Plane We Can Rise To Using the Supramental Force in Our Lives Being, Becoming, Being in the Becoming Source of Ignorance & Integral Knowledge The Nature of Consciousness The Nature of Positive & Negative; Good and Evil Nature's Way vs. Soul Spiritual Powers, Attributes, Expressions Powers of Light and Darkness The Avatar Sri Aurobindo The Mother; the Divine Mother Other Also See: Human Evolution, Spirituality for the Individual, Foundations of Indian Spirituality

Also See Our Comprehensive Summation  of Our Theory of Creation

 

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INTRODUCTION TO PAGE
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In this section of the Growth Online Knowledge Base, we present our original thoughts, as well as links to our original articles on the Spiritual Growth topic of "The Spiritual Reality and the Theory of Creation." Here is an overview of the topics. It is based on the ideas of the seer and sage Sri Aurobindo and the insights of Mother's Service Society.

The Omnipresent Reality (The Absolute of the West, Brahman of the East) is (to Mind) the unknowable immutable timeless spaceless reality that is the source of all creation that can be known through Soul and Supramental Truth Consciousness.

The Involutionary process is how the Omnipresent Reality (the Absolute, Brahman) that extended to the Triune of Existence, Consciousness-Force, Delight becomes the Energy that is the source of all forms in the universe enabled creation. The Evolutionary process is how those forms, beginning with matter, evolve in the universe to incorporate a vital aspect, mind, and one day spirit, fulfilling its destiny by returning to the spiritual source. The creation took place for the Delight of being of those forms when they are created. (I.e. a universe was created so that the delight of being of the Infinite Spirit can manifest in the forms of creation. When we discover our higher self and spirit, we experience the delight for which we were created.)

The Involution in creation that moved from a spiritual source to forms in creation occurred through three fundamental sub-processes, Self-Conception, i.e it conceives what is wishes to achieve (creating a universe), as well as Self-limitation, and Self-Absorption.

The nature of the involution is also explained in greater detail, including the nature of Existence, Conscious-Force, Delight, out of which emerged the plane of Supermind (i.e. Truth Consciousness) which rendered the created universe of forms a divine source, the plane of Mind which was sanctioned by Supermind to divide the force to enable the creation of distinct forms in the universe, and the plane of energy and Life, out of which the forms of the universe were to be created. Then the nature of the evolution is explained in greater detail, including an overview of the unfolding of the evolution, the matter that emerged from force and energy, the animated life forms and animus of life that emerged from matter, and the power of mind that emerged from the life forms, particularly the human.

We return then again for more information on the involution. When the creation is complete there is then the One source and the Many forms of the universe (the One and the Many). There is the Infinite of the One and the Finite of the Many, where the goal of creation is to bring the Infinite into the Finite. In the process of creation of the universe, Space and Time were enabled.

The reconciliation of Chance and Necessity and the subjects of Fate and Free Will in the universe are covered. In the universe substance and consciousness appears in the Gross/Material, Subtle, and Causal planes. A discussion of the Oneness of life is explained.

The Supramental (Truth Consciousness) plane enabled the Force of Existence, Consciousness-Force, Delight to turn into energy and then the forms of creation. It is the key to all of creation. It is also the ultimate truth consciousness that we can rise to in life. Real Ideas are spirit-originating ideas that are fused with a will for effectuation in the universe, which come through the Supramental plane and determine the formulations of existence in creation. The purpose of life is to bring the Spirit Being into the Becomings of our lives in the evolution. Also, we overcome our essential Ignorance born of creation and develop an Integral Knowledge of existence. We do each of these by discovering our True Self and Spirit within. See additional subjects above.

Return to Table of Contents

 

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THE OMNIPRESENT REALITY AND CREATION
 

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The Omnipresent Reality
(The Absolute, Brahman, God)
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What the Reality Is How the Reality Extends to Creation How the Reality Includes Difficulties of Creation Perceiving the Reality from the Depths and Spiritual Mind Knowing the Reality through Supramental Consciousness Realizing the Reality After, Beyond the Spiritual Aspects Realizing the Reality in Our Lives at the Planes of Matter, Life, and Mind The Reality and Accomplishment

 

Here we try to explain the ultimate form of existence, the Reality; Brahman, the Absolute. It is an attempt to perceive the ultimate conception of existence here in life and beyond; in the realm if the unmanifest and the manifest universe; in the realm of existence in the cosmos and the realm of pure potentiality. These thoughts are based on the spiritual insights of Sri Aurobindo, Sri Karmayogi, and other members of MSS. We at Growth Online have added additional thoughts based on these.

What the Reality Is
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The Omnipresent Reality
There is a Reality beyond Man, Life, and Cosmos. Even beyond God as we know it. It is timeless, spaceless, immutable, ineffable. And that Reality has extended itself into this life. Matter, animated life, mentality are all forms of this Omnipresent Reality.

We are that Reality, but we do not perceive it; as the transcendent, the divine, God is considered something separate from ourselves. But we too are a formation of that Reality. We are a materialization, a manifestation of It; a substance of the Infinite consciousness. We are an extension of the One, evolving through time.

To perceive the Reality is to have the glimpse of the Absolute, Brahman; the ultimate conception of Existence given to Man.

Brahman, the Reality
Brahman, the Absolute, the Reality is the ultimate conception of existence.

The Omnipresent Reality in Sri Aurobindo's Teachings
A central tenet of Sri Aurobindo's philosophy is that the Truth of existence is an omnipresent Reality that both transcends the manifested universe and is inherent in it. This Reality, referred to as Brahman, is an Absolute: it is not limited by any mental conception or duality, whether personal or impersonal, existent or nonexistent, formless or manifested in form, timeless or extended in time, spaceless or extended in space. It is simultaneously all of these but is bound by none of them. It is at once the universe, each individual being and thing in the universe, and the Transcendent beyond the universe. (MSS)

First Glimpse of the Omnipresent Reality

There is an ultimate Reality that surrounds us; that we are a part of. It permeates matter, life, and mind. It is there in the hidden realms, in the universal plane, and in the transcendent Divine. The Reality is the essence of all these things. It is actually those things themselves; we, God, and the universe. Moreover, everything in this Reality is inexorably united and one. Everything, every plane, every force and being are unified within themselves and to each other. It is the Divine plan, method, and unfolding.

But how do we feel this ultimate conception of Existence? It is one thing to know that we are part of this Great All, it is another to truly perceive it, experience it, be awed, enriched, overwhelmed, and fulfilled by the fact.

In the physical/material consciousness we ordinarily live in, we perceive nothing of this wonder, splendor, power of existence. We are immune from it there. However, sometimes we have small experiences, sense subtle workings and unfoldings that suggest a correlation, interrelation of something wondrous; something beyond this world, yet within it; within us. At the subtle level of life, beyond the material, we have intimations of the Reality. And yet it is only reflective, a side glance, a transitory glimpse of the Wonder.

Beyond the gross/material and subtle, there is the causal experience. It is here that we can begin to truly perceive the omnipresent Reality; that which permeates all existence. It is here that we move into identity with the Reality, Brahman, the Absolute. We have intimations of the Wonder. It is there not only in our thoughts, but in our subtle perceptions of life. It is also there in extraordinary momentary feelings and emotions, even in our nerves. At that point, we sense, we feel, we know bound up with something Greater, even as we realize that this permeating Presence is right here, within us, around us, in the essence of all things. It is even there in the most superficial, surface of life.

When we conceive, perceive, and realize the Reality in our own lives, we have the greatest of all human experiences; that of the Infinite Divine expressing in all planes, beings, and things. Everywhere we look, we feel the Reality in its essence, in its progressive unfolding. We feel that we are part of a totality that is Infinite, Conscious, and Divine. At that point, we experience an inextricable Oneness with everyone and all things. Through that experience, we blend in, melt into the Reality that we are part of, even as we gaze out ecstatically on Its creation.

Impressions of Brahman
Impressions of Brahman based on an interpretation of Sri Karmayogi's conception based on Sri Aurobindo's:

-Brahman is omnipresent in every and all things.

-Brahman is like an egg that contains the Unmanifest and the Manifest and their integral relationship.

-From out of Brahman came Satchitananda and then creation.

-Brahman expresses in all planes from Existence (Sat) to Matter.

-Brahman is the ultimate conception of Reality afforded to Man.

-Bringing Brahman to the surface of Life is the purpose and destiny of Man.

-Brahman is ultimate Unity; of Unmanifest and Manifest; Spirit and Matter; Infinite and Finite; Time and Timelessness;  etc.

-Brahman can only be realized by rising to Supramental (Truth) consciousness.

-When Brahman is realized, we are able to fulfill our Human Aspiration -- for God, Immortality, Love, and Joy.

What the Reality Is
-The Reality, Brahman, the Absolute is the Unmanifest and the Manifest, Being and Becoming, Spirit and Life, and their integral oneness.

-Through our higher consciousness, we can realize that the Reality and its Oneness, including its truth, perfection, and and infinity at every planes.

The Reality
There is an ultimate Reality that embraces both Spirit and Matter, the Unmanifest and the Manifest. It is actually more than their sum, but their integral oneness and unity. We not only can have a glimpse and vision of this Reality, but we can realize it in our own lives, including the world around us.

Realizing the Cosmic Egg that is Brahman
We can think of Brahman as a cosmic Egg. Within it are two interwoven aspects, the Unmanifest and the Manifest, the Being and Becoming. To perceive their integral oneness and unity is to have a vision of Brahman, the Reality.

Brahman as Many and All Things
Brahman is many things and all things. (MSS)

Brahman
Brahman dwells equally in all existences. (Sri Aurobindo)

Brahman in All Planes
Brahman is in all planes from Existence, Conscious-Force, Supermind, Overmind, Mind, Energy/Life, and Matter.

Emergence of the Dual Aspect of the Reality
The Reality (Brahman) began as ineffable, immutable, timeless, spaceless being, and then extended itself into a universe of forms. The Reality thus becomes the Unmanifest and the Manifest, the Transcendent and Imminent, the Spirit, and Matter. It is actually beyond this as their oneness, unity, and integration. 

Brahman as Manifest and Unmanifest Realm of Infinite Possibilities
-The Unmanifest is not an empty void; it is an infinite possibility beyond form and manifestation. (MSS)

-Brahman is the Manifest, and the Unmanifest realm of infinite possibilities.

The Absolute, the Omnipresent Reality Described by Sri Aurobindo
Sri Aurobindo says that if you hold on to reality but go beyond it in your experience, you can ultimately come to something which includes both the Manifest and Unmanifest. This is what he calls the Absolute of Omnipresent Reality. It encompasses both Being (Sat) and Non-Being (Asat) and yet it is not limited even to these two. It is the Ultimate Reality, because it includes all realities. It is something more than all out of which all emerges. (MSS, modified)

God is Omnipresent Reality
For Sri Aurobindo, God is the Omnipresent Reality. (MSS)

Energy at Rest and in Motion Together is Contained in Brahman
The Absolute contains the manifest realm of constant change or energy in motion, and the unmanifest realm of energy at rest. (MSS)

Aspects of Omnipresent Reality
Both Being and Becoming, Self and Universe, are the Divine, real aspects of one indivisible Omnipresent Reality. (MSS)

Brahman as Truth
Pre-eminently, Brahman is TRUTH. (MSS)

Truth at Every Plane
Brahman is the truth at every plane. (MSS)

Brahman Consciousness
Brahman is the consciousness which knows itself in all that exists. (MSS)

Creative Truth of Brahmin Creates Brahman
We can as well say it is a creative Truth of Brahman that creates Brahman out of what we see. (MSS)

The Reality is Time and Time Eternity: We Can thus Bring Out the Future Now
-The Omnipresent Reality is both Time and (Time) Eternity.

-The eternal time exists at every moment. The whole of the future and the whole of the past exists simultaneously.

-Because the whole future exits now, we can make it real now. (MSS)

The Reality, Brahman
According to modern spiritual teachers like Sri Aurobindo, there is an ultimate conception of existence. It is called "the Reality", "Brahman", or "the Absolute" and includes both Spirit and Matter; i.e. the the Unmanifest and the Manifest; the One and the Many; the Being and the Becoming. In other words, Spirit and Matter are in essence One. It is actually more than their sum and totality, but their unity and integration, which makes all the difference in understanding their relation. To perceive how spirit is the source of matter (and life and mind), and matter the materialization of spirit is to perceive this Oneness.

The Reality -- aka Brahman  in the East and The Absolute in the West -- is not only the oneness and integration of spirit and matter, but also exists at each plane from the material to vital to mental to spiritual. Brahman is the essence of each plane, and through right consciousness and action, we can bring out, i.e.to the surface the capacity, perfection, infinity that is the Brahman at that plane.

To have the Brahman Consciousness is to perceive as a living reality this unity and integration of Spirit and Matter. And yet Brahman cannot be known by mind. One must move to the highest point of spiritualized mind, even above Intuition to have the vision of the integral oneness of the unmanifest and manifest that is Brahman. According to Sri Aurobindo, when we move to the deepest depths, the soul within, our minds move to the supramental heights where we perceive the integral view of Brahman, which is the ultimate perception of the Reality, the Absolute.

Realizing the Reality (Brahman) In Our Lives
One of the greatest of all questions is What is Life? Another is What is God? A third is What is my purpose in the world? Indian metaphysics answers all of these questions through the ultimate conception and principle of existence, known as Brahman. It is also referred to as The Absolute in the West. Let us call it "the Reality." Let's also consider a more modern evolutionary view of It as expounded by the Indian seer and sage Sri Aurobindo, and the contemporary, multi-dimensional spiritual genius Sri Karmayogi.

The human mind can easily conceive of the realm of matter which we live in. It can also conceive of the realm of spirit; even the possibility that this universe of forms emerged from it. What it cannot readily do is think of their oneness, unity, and integration; in particular, that the universe is a form of spirit; and that spirit extends and fulfills itself in creation. This integral fusion of spirit and matter -- i.e. of the Unmanifest and the Manifest, of the Transcendent and the Immanent -- is the ultimate conception of existence afforded to us. It is the Reality.

The Reality includes and yet  is beyond God the creator, as well as the transcendent Divine Spirit. It also embraces every and all things in creation; in this universe of forms, including us. The Reality is a starling conception that supersedes all notions of existence ever devised by man. It is in that way the ultimate Reality, Brahman, the Absolute. And yet it is something we can realize in our own lives.

Interestingly, America has in many ways realized the Reality in the realm of matter. It has perceived the infinite possibilities of material existence and has brought much of it to the surface of life. This suggests that we can realize, bring out the infinity of the Reality at any plane -- from vital to mental to spiritual. It is a vast opportunity that lies before us.

But then where is this Reality, this infinite possibility in these varying planes of existence? The answer is that it is buried deep down in an essential Essence. When Man rises in consciousness at that plane, we bring that essence to the fore in infinite variation. Whereas the US has brought the Reality, Brahman to the surface at the material level, we have yet to devise the ultimate emotional and social possibilities at the vital plane; or the most profound and wide reaching mental conceptions of existence at the mental plane. That infinity awaits those who can draw it out, who are able to unlock and bring to the surface, thereby enabling life to fulfill its ultimate potential.

And yet we cannot realize the Reality and its potentiality through the vehicle that is our ordinary Mind. Our normal mental functioning cannot perceive the inherent oneness, unity, and integration of spirit and matter; the Unmanifest and the Unmanifest; the Creator and the Creation. It sees them as separate aspects, not as integral, complementary partners and parts of a Whole. As a result, we cannot perceive the essence that exists at any plane -- whether material, vital, and mental levels -- not draw out its spirit to bring about its infinite potential in life.

However, when we move to higher mind, including its spiritual aspects as intuition and revelations of thought -- of knowledge perceived directly without the hard churning of thinking -- we begin to perceive the Reality; i.e. have a direct Vision of the unity of spirit and matter, and a perception of the infinite possibility in the plane we are focused on. It is at that point that we can begin to draw out the Infinite from the Finite through myriads of higher feelings, deeper and more profound emotions, and connections at the vital level; and penetrating insights, revelatory principles, and deep human values at the mental level.

But we can only have a vision of the Reality and bring out its essences when we move our center of awareness away from the surface of life, and develop a deeper poise within. The more we orient our lives inward in silence and stillness, the more our mind opens to perceive the integral oneness and unity of spirit and matter; and therefore perceive new ways to bring out the infinite possibilities locked into every aspect of our lives. Through such a "witness consciousness", we not only glimpse the Reality, but more readily become instruments for extracting the Essence that opens life to its ultimate possibilities. Then we become conduits and instruments for infinite progress, in life, and a leader of the evolution and transformation of life on earth.

Becoming One with 'The Field'

The other day I had a powerful inner experience. It lasted less than a minute, though it vibrated forward and stayed with me in the minutes, hours, and days since.

I was walking through a state of the art outdoor shopping center in Emeryville, California, near Berkeley.  As I entered the main street, on either side of which were fancy stores and above expensive condominiums, I suddenly felt a kind of stillness and whiteness around me. Simultaneously, I felt that everything in the surroundings was One thing; that there was no differentiation between objects, even as they maintained an essential interconnection. Moreover, I felt that I was part of this white Oneness. I sensed that this is how life really is; i.e. a wholeness and interconnected single Reality with no essential separation, even as distinct objects existed.

Accompanying this experience was the complete cessation of thought, emotion, feeling, and sensation. In fact, every time the smallest thought or feeling or sensation rose in me, I felt I was losing touch with this Reality, this undifferentiated, yet integral Field of Oneness. As I held back these subtle disturbances, the connection with this Reality maintained itself in my consciousness. For a minute or so, I was absorbed in clear vision state of Oneness, melting into that Field of pure existence surrounding me.

In the days that followed, I began to think about the undifferentiated Field that we are part of, and how we can connect with and remain one with It. I then recalled the film 'The Legend of Bagger Vance' where Bagger as golf caddy to Junah instructed him on how be to become "one with the Field." Just as Krishna instructed Arjuna before the battle of Kurekshetra in the Bhagavad Gita, Junah now tried to heed Bagger's advice and become one with the Reality before him. Rather than feeling separate from that field -- of the grass, the air, the trees; even the invisible realms -- Junah put aside his limiting thoughts, emotions, and attitudes, and merged with It in order to perform the task at hand. As a result, he made a great shot that not only turned the championship match against the two greatest golfers in the world in his favor, but it changed his life forever, including his perception of what is reality, and what engenders outer success and inner fulfillment.

When I walked into that outdoor mall, lined with palm trees and state of the art stores below colorful condos, I became one with that Field. There was no subject in me perceiving and separated from an object of perception. There was simply one undifferentiated Existence that I had embraced and merged with. Being absorbed in the Field in that moment, I sensed that all that was happening was absolutely perfect; that this was in fact the True State of existence, and that anything I did in from that status would unfold flawlessly.

This wonderful experience gave me a glimpse of the Truth of existence; of the one contiguous Reality that extends from heaven to earth, from spirit to matter, outside and inside, without separation and division; just a single stream of undifferentiated whiteness that is the Field of life.

Perceiving Brahman Evokes Its Power
Perceiving the Reality brings about its essence and infinite, creative power in our lives.

Embracing All and Every Thing
From an understanding of the nature of the Reality, Brahman, God, the Infinite -- as both the Unmanifest and the Manifest, the Creator and Creation, Spirit and Matter, and their integral relationship -- the following comes to mind about the way we view our existence:

-We need to ACCEPT everything in life, since all is Brahman. Not just 'this' at the expense of 'that', but all. The ego likes this but not that. But the Reality is beyond the ego. It embraces all and every thing; all planes and acts and forms in life. By embracing life this way, dualities, contradictions are overcome, as we move from the exclusive Part we are attached to to the Whole that is the Truth unfolding, engendering harmony and oneness.

-We also need to see the PURPOSE of all things in the scheme of things. We need to see each thing in its context; of its role in the unfolding, on its way to greater progress. (That way we see how even the trivial action of a person in the unfolding of an event serves an important purpose. That there are no such things as "interruptions" or "disturbances" or "side roads or issues" that take one off track.)

This leads to a profound RESPECT for all things, for all acts, for every person at any moment in time. It enables us to move from ego and selfishness to embracing the needs and concerns of others; i.e. self-givingness. It also engenders Non-reaction since nothing is outside us to disturb us (since we embrace and accept all in our purview).

Brahman is all and every thing (and even beyond to their integral relationship). And yet we can rise beyond exclusive mind to intuition and thereby perceive It, including the Dance of the All on its way to ever-greater progress. It is to have a glimpse of the Marvel of existence.

Brahman, the Reality and Consciousness of It
-Brahman is both Spirit and Matter; the Creator and the Creation; the Unmanifest and the Manifest and their integral Oneness.
-Brahman consciousness is to perceive and realize that Oneness.

The Absolute
-For Sri Aurobindo, the Absolute (Brahman, the Reality) consists of all that is manifested in the infinite and eternal cosmos as well as all that remains unmanifest as infinite potential. Being and Non-Being are dual aspects of the Absolute.

-The Absolute contains the manifest realm of constant change or energy in motions and the unmanifest realm of energy at rest. They are two sides of one reality.  They are Becoming and Being. (MSS, slightly altered)

Misconceptions and Correct Conceptions of Brahman

Misconception	Correct Conception
Brahman first and manifestation next.	They are both coexistent and simultaneous
Brahman is eternal while manifestation is temporal.	They are both eternal
Brahman    is sachchidananda	It is not bound even by sachchidananda. If it wants it can choose not to exist or be conscious in which case it passes beyond all verbal definitions or descriptions.
Brahman has created the world.	It does not create anything but simply brings forth what is inside it.
The world and manifestation are outside Brahman.	They are inside Brahman as nothing can be outside it.
The acme of manifestation is supramental manifestation.	The supramental manifestation is only the beginning of evolution in Knowledge. It looks like the acme for those looking from below who are in ignorance.
The Infinite Brahman could not have created the finite world.	Its infinity is not a bar to its capacity for turning itself into a finite world.
Existence is the All.	Existence is only a movement of Brahman which can stop the movement if it wants and free itself from it.
Brahaman is impersonal.	It has a personal dimension as the Existent.
Manifestation has positive and negative sides.	The negative disappears for those who can see the world as a marvel which it becomes if one can see that matter is delight of existence only.
Brahman is detached from the world and is uninvolved.	All that takes place here is only an expression of its Will and so how can it be uninvolved?
The manifestation is composed of an infinite number of forms and entities.	There is only one reality that looks at itself in infinite ways. (N. Ashokan)

Reality as Truth at every Plane
-Brahman is the truth and reality at each and every plane.
-In our Ignorance we do not perceive that truth.
-Through our higher consciousness, we can perceive and realize that truth.

Brahman and Our True Self
-Brahman is our deepest and secret Reality, our true Self, and we can recover this Reality of our being.
-We can know our True Self within and thereby know the Reality, Brahman.

Knowing Brahman at Planes, including Soul
We can know the Reality, Brahman at every plane, including the plane of the Soul of our being.

The Omnipresent Reality

-The Omnipresent reality is present everywhere; in the Non-Being and in the created universe.

-The Omnipresent reality is spirit; it is also matter.

-Non-being and the universe are different states of the Reality.

-We see these divisions in Omnipresent reality because of the limitations of our instruments of perception. Being and the universe are one.  (Sri Aurobindo, somewhat modified)

Vision of Brahman; the Reality
-Normally we perceive Spirit and Matter, the Creator and Creation as two separate entities; even opposites. However, the deeper truth is that these pairs are One. From our higher consciousness we perceive the Oneness of Spirit and Matter, (i.e. the Oneness of the Creator and the Creation; the Unmanifest and the Manifest). This is to perceive the Absolute, to have a vision of Brahman, the Reality.

-Spirit is the source and essence of matter; matter is an extension and materialization of spirit. They are one in essence. In fact, they are more than one, but are integrally united and interconnected. Together in their integral unity and totality, they make up the Reality.

-To perceive at every moment that we here in creation are spirit in essence is to have that Vision. That we are progressively manifesting that Oneness on the surface, not just in the essence.

-Brahman consciousness is to conceive, perceive, and realize  the Oneness, unity, and integration of Spirit and Matter; the Creator and the Creation; Being and Becoming.

-Brahman consciousness is to know the Truth of Existence.

-Brahman consciousness is to know the Truth of Existence in the details of life.

Wholeness of, Equality of Small & Large of Brahman (the Absolute)
The Spirit is Brahman. It creates the solar system and an anthill. Brahman is a whole. It can only be a whole. It can give itself only as a whole. It cannot give itself as a part. Brahman cannot give a part of Himself. The character of Brahman being a whole can never be parted for a moment. I am a man. My body is a whole. My body cannot move in parts. It can move itself only as a whole. I go to buy a fruit. It is a small work. I go to buy a house. One is small and the other is greater. To both works, I can go only as a whole man; I cannot send a small part of mine to do a small work. In creation, Brahman gives Himself equally fully to the solar system and the anthill. The solar system is of infinite proportion; the anthill is insignificant in its appearance. In essence, both are equal. [MSS]

Brahman Experience By Going Beyond Two Sides
For Brahman to become real, there should be no two sides. Both sides becoming ONE gives the feeling that IT is real. (MSS)

Vision of Brahman in the Tree
To be able to see Brahman in the tree and the tree in Brahman and to be able to see both simultaneously is the vision of Brahman, ─ Of the many ideas the Mind should give up, one is that the Absolute is a vacant void. It is better to give up the other 'idea' that it is not a void. (MSS)

What Brahman Is
Brahman is the Self, the soul, the being, as it is the Spirit.   (MSS)

 

How the Reality Extends to Creation
(topic)

The Omnipresent Reality
Sri Aurobindo explains that the omnipresent Reality (Brahman in the East, the Absolute in the West) is highest conception of existence afforded to Man. He also explains how that Reality extended itself from an Unmanifest Supreme Conscious Being to a Manifest universe of forms in planes of Life/Energy, Matter, Vitalized Life, and Mind.  To know the Reality then is to know the unity and integration of the Unmanifest and the manifest, of Spirit and Matter, of the One and the Many.

Emergence of the Dual Aspect of the Reality
The Reality (Brahman) began as ineffable, immutable, timeless, spaceless being, and then extended itself into a universe of forms. The Reality thus becomes the Unmanifest and the Manifest, the Transcendent and Imminent, the Spirit, and Matter. It is their oneness, unity, and integration.

Brahman to Satchitananda to Creation
-Out of Brahman comes Satchitananda and from It creation. Brahman, the Reality is then both in an integral relationship.

-Unknowable Brahman extended itself to Satchitananda. I.e. it Exists, (Sat); it is Conscious of its Existence and thereby emanates a Force (Chit) and Delights in its Existence and Consciousness (Ananda). Through the Supramental Truth power the energy that is the source of creation emerges from the Conscious-Force (Chit).

The Absolute and Creating
The Absolute does not create.
It releases what is already in existence in Infinity.
Infinity is infinite existence that allows infinite non-existence. (MSS)

Creation is Eternal: Has No Beginning or End
From the writings of Sri Aurobindo and Sri Karmayogi we see that not only is the universe an extension of the Infinite Divine, but this universe is eternal, meaning that it had no beginning, just like the Infinite Consciousness and Source. This would surely challenging science who claim the Big Bang or something similar is the source. But this is only the material beginning. Mind, Energy, etc. -- i.e. other planes of existence  may have eternal roots and destinies; i.e. they always were and always will be, just like the Infinite Source itself.

Brahman, Satchitananda, and Creation
-Perceiving the Reality, we understand the evolutionary flow of life.

-Brahman is a being that extended Itself to become a Becoming, and then a Being in the becoming.

-Brahman became a Being that became conscious of itself, which released a force, and delighted in the experience (Sat-Chit-Ananda). Through the action of Supermind, its Force extended into an Energy that became the basis of Creation. Brahman was now Creator and Creation; Unmanifest and Manifest, and their Oneness and integral relation.

-Out of Force of Sat-Chit-Ananda the universe came to be.

-To perceive the Oneness of Sat-Chit-Ananda and Life is to perceive the Reality. To perceive Sat-Chit-Ananda in our own lives is to reach the highest evolutionary realization of our being.

Brahman's Nature as Satchitananda and Its Importance for Humanity
In its highest manifested poise, Brahman's nature may be described as Sachchidananda --infinite existence, infinite consciousness, and infinite delight or bliss --a triune principle in which the three are united in a single Reality. In other words, it is a fully conscious and blissful infinite existence. The importance of this concept for humanity lies in its implication that Brahman is our deepest and secret Reality, it is our true Self, and it is possible to recover this Reality of our being by removing the veil of ignorance that hides it from us and imprisons us in a false identification with an apparently divided and limited egoistic movement on the surface of our being. This is the metaphysical basis for Sri Aurobindo's yoga, the discipline given to consciously unite our phenomenal existence and life with our essential Reality. (MSS)

The Reality Becoming the Universe Permits Brahman Realization in Plane in Our Lives
The view the Omnipresent Reality became the universe, permits the principle that any plane is power, however small, when perfected crosses its plane and has the potential to reach Brahman. (MSS)

Brahman and Creation
The essence in creation is Brahman. (MSS)

The Gods Emanating from Brahman
As first formations of force, Gods emanated from the Suprme -- i..e Brahman and Satchitananda. The first batch of four divine beings turned asuric [dark forces], and so a 2nd batch came, which included the overmental gods such as Vishnu and Shiva. These overmental gods are fully satisfied with themselves and see no need to improve or transform. E.g. Durga said that she is so satisfied with the worship that she is being offered by people that she has forgotten that there is a supreme above her. [based on MSS]

How the Reality Includes Difficulties of Creation
(topic)

Brahman Embraces the Difficulties of Existence
How has the absolute Brahman, Sachchidananda, become what we see here around us --this world of inconscient matter, struggling life, ignorance, limitation, conflict, suffering, death, and evil? In answering this question, Sri Aurobindo explains that the Absolute is not bound --not bound to its infinite existence, not bound to its infinite consciousness and the force inherent in that consciousness, not bound to its infinite bliss. Second, he explains that by definition Brahman is capable of manifesting within its absolute existence innumerable, limited, even distorted and contrary forms of its being. We may further deduce that an infinitely extended, infinitely diverse manifestation, replete with objects and beings ranging from the most unconscious, the most vile, to the most conscious, the most beautiful, the most divine, would be perfectly consistent with an existence that was Absolute.

But how does the Brahman do this? Through what Sri Aurobindo describes as the principle of exclusive concentration. This principle is best explained through the example of our own ability to narrow our conscious awareness on a particular idea or perception, putting behind in the background of our focused awareness the rest of our conscious existence. When an author concentrates in writing her story -- developing the characters, the scene, the action -- her own personal identity becomes for the moment lost to her conscious awareness. Her consciousness enters into the story and identifies with it. She does not cease to be what she is or lose her knowledge of her identity, but practically her awareness is narrowed and identified at a point. This ability to focus awareness and put into the background all else is inherent in consciousness. It is through a similar process that the One and Infinite Being becomes the many, apparently separate, individual beings and things we see manifested in the universe. The separation is in appearance only, for in truth all individuals are constituted by the One, are That in their Reality, for there is nothing outside the Absolute. They are forms and appearances of its Being, expressions of its Consciousness, movements of its Delight. (MSS)

Embracing All and Every Thing
From an understanding of the nature of the Reality, Brahman, God, the Infinite -- as both the Unmanifest and the Manifest, the Creator and Creation, Spirit and Matter, and their integral relationship -- the following comes to mind about the way we view our existence:

-We need to ACCEPT everything in life, since all is Brahman. Not just 'this' at the expense of 'that', but all. The ego likes this but not that. But the Reality is beyond the ego. It embraces all and every thing; all planes and acts and forms in life. By embracing life this way, dualities, contradictions are overcome, as we move from the exclusive Part we are attached to to the Whole that is the Truth unfolding, engendering harmony and oneness.

-We also need to see the PURPOSE of all things in the scheme of things. We need to see each thing in its context; of its role in the unfolding, on its way to greater progress. (That way we see how even the trivial action of a person in the unfolding of an event serves an important purpose. That there are no such things as "interruptions" or "disturbances" or "side roads or issues" that take one off track.)

This leads to a profound RESPECT for all things, for all acts, for every person at any moment in time. It enables us to move from ego and selfishness to embracing the needs and concerns of others; i.e. self-givingness. It also engenders Non-reaction since nothing is outside us to disturb us (since we embrace and accept all in our purview).

Brahman is all and every thing (and even beyond to their integral relationship). And yet we can rise beyond exclusive mind to intuition and thereby perceive It, including the Dance of the All on its way to ever-greater progress. It is to have a glimpse of the Marvel of existence.

 

Perceiving the Reality from the Depths and Spiritual Mind
(topic)

Experiencing the Reality from Within
There is an ultimate Reality. It is beyond our normal conceptions of God. It is timeless, spaceless, immutable, indefinable. It is the Unmanifest as well as the Manifest. It is the Absolute of the West; Brahman of the East.

How can we know this ultimate Reality?  Not when we live ordinary lives of the surface. Only when we develop an inner poise and orientation can we begin that journey. From there we can begin to get intimations of this Reality.

As we plunge into the depths within, we become silent witness to the world. Deeper still we come upon our True Self, our personal evolving soul. There we constantly perceive the multiplicity of possibilities unfolding at any moment in time. We always know in which direction to turn, to act; what to avoid; what elements in our being need improvement, uplifting. There we feel connections to the universal and transcendent planes. We also now have direct intuitions and intimations of the forces and truths of the universe which enter our minds without thought.

In that status all conflicts, divisions, and dualities that we experience, such as the apparent incompatibility of Spirit and Matter, or the dual life experience of pleasure and pain, begin to break down.

From that deep poise, the contradictions of life resolve into their natural complementary status. From there we perceive that the inner and the outer are one; that in fact, the entire universe is contained inside ourselves and if we change the inner, the outer will respond in kind.

As a result of these harmonic experiences, we perceive the unity of the manifest and the unmanifest, which is the omnipresent Reality, the ultimate vision and experience of life.

We can begin approach this profound inner status through meditation, deep concentration, consecration of activities (i.e. surrendering all actions to the descending Force), and other methods.

As we make deep inroad into our inner being, we feel the divine presence within and above compelling us to Surrender to it. We perceive our role in the comic scheme of things. We become instruments of the transcendent and universal intent. We begin to offer our very existence to the Higher Purpose.

First Glimpse of the Omnipresent Reality

There is an ultimate Reality that surrounds us; that we are a part of. It permeates matter, life, and mind. It is there in the hidden realms, in the universal plane, and in the transcendent Divine. The Reality is the essence of all these things. It is actually those things themselves; we, God, and the universe. Moreover, everything in this Reality is inexorably united and one. Everything, every plane, every force and being are unified within themselves and to each other. It is the Divine plan, method, and unfolding.

But how do we feel this ultimate conception of Existence? It is one thing to know that we are part of this Great All, it is another to truly perceive it, experience it, be awed, enriched, overwhelmed, and fulfilled by the fact.

In the physical/material consciousness we ordinarily live in, we perceive nothing of this wonder, splendor, power of existence. We are immune from it there. However, sometimes we have small experiences, sense subtle workings and unfoldings that suggest a correlation, interrelation of something wondrous; something beyond this world, yet within it; within us. At the subtle level of life, beyond the material, we have intimations of the Reality. And yet it is only reflective, a side glance, a transitory glimpse of the Wonder.

Beyond the gross/material and subtle, there is the causal experience. It is here that we can begin to truly perceive the omnipresent Reality; that which permeates all existence. It is here that we move into identity with the Reality, Brahman, the Absolute. We have intimations of the Wonder. It is there not only in our thoughts, but in our subtle perceptions of life. It is also there in extraordinary momentary feelings and emotions, even in our nerves. At that point, we sense, we feel, we know bound up with something Greater, even as we realize that this permeating Presence is right here, within us, around us, in the essence of all things. It is even there in the most superficial, surface of life.

When we conceive, perceive, and realize the Reality in our own lives, we have the greatest of all human experiences; that of the Infinite Divine expressing in all planes, beings, and things. Everywhere we look, we feel the Reality in its essence, in its progressive unfolding. We feel that we are part of a totality that is Infinite, Conscious, and Divine. At that point, we experience an inextricable Oneness with everyone and all things. Through that experience, we blend in, melt into the Reality that we are part of, even as we gaze out ecstatically on Its creation.

See and Bring Out the Infinite, Brahman in Activities
We can see and bring out the Infinite, Brahman in every activity of our lives. It is the power to bring out the infinite from the finite, which is our spiritual destiny.

Soul, Spiritualized Mind, and Realization of the Reality
-Brahman, the reality, the Absolute is the ultimate conception of existence.

-We perceive it when we go beyond Mind proper, which sees only separateness and a part, to spiritualized Mind which perceives more widely, as a whole.

-When we move to the depths and soul within, we are catapulted to spiritualized mind, as we have intuitions, revelation, intimations of the highest Truth of Existence, the Reality, Brahman.

-In Truth Consciousness, Supermind, we most readily perceive the reality, Brahman.

Reality as Truth at every Plane
-Brahman is the truth and reality at each and every plane.
-In our Ignorance we do not perceive that truth.
-Through our higher consciousness, we can perceive and realize that truth.

Brahman and Our True Self
-Brahman is our deepest and secret Reality, our true Self, and we can recover this Reality of our being.
-We can know our True Self within and thereby know the Reality, Brahman.

Knowing Brahman at Planes, including Soul
We can know the Reality, Brahman at every plane, including the plane of the Soul of our being.

The Omnipresent Reality
The Omnipresent Reality (The Absolute, Brahman) at first appears as the unknowable, undefinable, unfathomable timeless, spaceless. But this is how Mind perceives it. Developing the supramental truth consciousness one can come to perceive it and see its realization in the details of life.

Vision of the Reality, Brahman, God
-To know the integral unity of spirit and matter is to have the vision of Brahman.

-Brahman consciousness is to have the conception, perception, and realization of the Oneness of the Manifest and Unmanifest.

-The Reality is the integral unity of the Creator and the Creation.

-To perceive spirit in all we do, and perceive this life as the arena for the spirit's unfolding is to have the vision of Brahman, God, the Absolute.

-To see life as spirit unfolding is to know the Reality. To see life as the Divine's fulfillment is Brahman consciousness.

We are Part of God
Nature is God in Physical Form. We are all a part of Nature. Being part of Nature means we ourselves are part of God. (MSS)

Discovering the Unity of the Reality Within Ourselves
-We need to discover the unity of the Reality [Brahman, God, the Absolute] through the development of our consciousness.

-If the individual finds his soul within, he begins to develop his consciousness, enabling him to perceive the unity of Brahman [of the creator and the creation and more so]. In touching his [personal evolving] soul, he moves beyond his individual status and ego, and touches the universal and transcendent spirit. In such a status, he is able to perceive the unity of spirit and matter, of the creator and that which has been created. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

The Reality becoming the Universe Permits Brahman Realization in Plane in Our Lives
The view the Omnipresent Reality became the universe, permits the principle that any plane is power, however small, when perfected crosses its plane and has the potential to reach Brahman. (MSS)

Knowing Brahman through Brahman Inside
Man can know the whole of Brahman only through the Brahman inside him. For the Brahman in man to emerge, it should begin in the psychic and reach the Supermind. (MSS)

 

Knowing the Reality through Supramental Consciousness
(topic)

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. 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.

[It is fully enabled when we develop the supramental status. I.e. when we have the (ultimate) supramental vision, we see the unity in all, in all life, existence, activities, etc. This is the perception of the fundamental unity 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.)]

Mind vs. Supermind in Revealing the Reality
When man moves to the Supermind, the Absolute can fully reveal to his mind instead of the partial Sachchidananda, which is a mental version of It. (MSS)

Brahman and Supermind
Only the Supermind is in constant touch with the Brahman. All other solutions up to the Overmind will not suffice. (MSS)

Vision of Brahman through Truth Consciousness
Only from the highest, unitarian, supramental truth consciousness can we know the Reality; can we perceive the unity of the Unmanifest in potential and the kinetic Manifest, and their integral unity and interdependence. It is the Vision of Brahman.

The Omnipresent Reality, Mind, and Supermind
That which is ineffable (inexpressible), immutable (undeniable) is the Omnipresent Reality to the Mind. Supermind (Truth consciousness) can know it intimately however, and manifest it.

Experiencing the Omnipresent Reality through Unitarian (Supramental) Consciousness
Sri Aurobindo says that we can only have this ultimate perception, this Vision of Brahman by rising to the highest unitarian (supramental, truth) consciousness. [That as he will later reveal can only happen when we forge a deeper consciousness within and come upon our Evolving Soul, Psychic Being within.]

When Man reaches his highest unitarian consciousness and makes the soul connection he can experience the original calm and passivity of the Unmanifest Brahman in his own life, enabling his ultimate perfection in his Manifest life.

The Reality and the Supramental Power
There is one Reality that includes the Unmanifest and the Manifest. There is also a Force that has emerged from the one Reality that sits between the Unmanifest and the Manifest. It is the Truth Consciousness and Power. Sri Aurobindo calls it the ''Supramental." That Force and instrument enabled the universe to emerge from the Unmanifest, the Divine Source, the Infinite.  It is also a Power we can rise to. It is now descending into the earth's atmosphere, especially in the last 50 years, penetrating deeper and deeper. When we consecrate, we open to that ever increasingly powerful Force.

The (divine) Mother can be thought as the conduit for that Force. That force has a power over life to instantly set things in order and attract positive conditions. It has a ''causal" power -- i.e. a capacity to create the completely out of nothing. When we open to the Mother -- when we consecrate activities, conditions, problems, and issues through Her -- we enable the Force to act through her, which produce the miraculous-like life changing results.

Having said this, the Divine Mother is even more than this for she is the force of creation itself.

All of this takes place within an ultimate Reality.  We can perceive It from our deepest and highest consciousness. It is the Vision of Brahman -- the highest perception of melding of the Creator and the Creation; of Spirit and Life; the Infinite and the Finite. It is the vision of the harmony of all things beyond division and duality. In particular, it is to perceive the integral relationship between Spirit and Life. E.g., we perceive that life is a manifestation of spirit, and also has a spiritual purpose that we can collaborate in by rising in our own consciousness.

Reconciliation, Unity of Spirit and Matter
The reconciliation of Spirit and Matter takes place as we see that both make up the Omnipresent Reality, also known as Brahman, the Absolute, God. The Reality, Brahman is both Spirit and Matter. We normally see these as distinct and separate as a result of the limitations of our instruments of perception [i.e. our minds and below]. The spiritual Being and the manifest universe are in fact one; they make up an intimate Oneness. [This fusion in the unity of Brahman we can know when we rise to the unitarian consciousness, i.e. the supramental consciousness. We perceive the unmanifest and the manifest as opposites because we live in the lower planes of the physical, vital, and the sense-based mind, but we can come to see that they are one and inexorably related. As we rise in consciousness, we perceive their unity; i.e. we have the true insight into the unity of this dual aspect of Brahman, the Omnipresent Reality.]

Supramental Consciousness and Vision of Brahman
When Man reaches the (Supramental) Truth Consciousness, he gains the full Vision of Brahman.

Mind, Supermind, and Brahman Realization
Mind sees Brahman as immutable, never born or ending, unknowable. Supermind perceives and enables the realization of Brahman in life.

Brahman Perceived through Mind vs. Supermind (Brahma Jananam)
Brahman is the origin. It is the Eternal and Infinite. It is immutable. It is never born, nor does it grow. It knows no end. This is the description we know. This is the description of Mind's Infinity.

Brahman seen by the Mind is incomplete. We can say it has no birth or death. Brahman seen by the Supermind is complete Brahman. It can be born if it chooses or die if it chooses. Brahman is covered by Ignorance in our world. Brahman is of knowledge in the higher world. The complete Brahman emerging in our world from the ignorance is what is called Brahma Jananam. Its world is a world of MARVEL where there is no suffering, pain or death. It is the Supramental world which Sri Aurobindo worked to create on earth. (MSS)

Supramental Consciousness, Unity, and Brahman Realization
Supramental consciousness sees the integral unity of things, the relationship of the part to the whole. In this way it perceives the relationship of the One, of the spirit, and the Many (creation). It knows the integral relationship between them. It can realize the spirit in Life; thus enable Brahman in life.

Movement Within and Above to Supermind that Enables Us to Perceive the True Nature of the Reality
We can move into the depths, culminating in the evolving soul deep within, enabling us to move up in consciousness from Mind proper to spiritual Mind (intuition, et al) culminating in Supramental, Unitarian perception. It is at that point that we can perceive the purpose of creation in terms of the creator; the manifest as an extension of and one with the unmanifest; where we can know the unity of the universe and the spirit; which is the perception of Brahman, the Reality, God.

Mother, Supermind, and Brahman
Mother is born amongst men so that Supermind in him may effectively express Brahman in his waking consciousness in the fullness of Brahman. (MSS)

 

Realizing the Reality After, Beyond the Spiritual Aspects
(topic)

Experience 12 Aspects of Spirit Before Brahmin
Conception of Brahman: Before one conceives of Brahman, one should have experienced the 12 aspects of Spirit. Infinity, Eternity, Truth, Goodness, Consciousness, Knowledge, Power, Beauty, Love, Joy, Silence and Peace. One who is utterly Truthful can realise any of them or all of them. Having realised them, one should rise above them in conception. That will be the conception of Brahman. (MSS)

Brahman Expressing Directly Rather than Through Spiritual Aspects
For Brahman to be effective in the world, Brahman should manifest in the world directly as Brahman, not as Truth or Love. Now Brahman manifests in the world as Ignorance. (MSS)

Realizing the Reality in Our Lives at the Planes of Matter, Life, and Mind
(topic)

Realizing the Brahman Truth and Reality at every Plane
-Brahman (the Reality) is the truth and reality at each and every plane.
-Brahman is our deepest and secret Reality, our true Self, and we can recover this Reality of our being.
-To bring it to the surface is the infinite opportunity before us.

Realizing Brahmin at Every Plane
To realize Brahman in every plane is the infinite opportunity before us.

Bringing Out the Infinite
I love the idea that the "Unmanifest is not an empty void; it is an infinite possibility beyond form and manifestation." This is the thought that has driven my recent thinking on the subject of Brahman. That we can bring out the Infinite from the Finite that is buried in it; the Brahman that is hidden in that plane.

Another aspect is that we can experience the Unmanifest and Manifest as one integral thing, which means in our daily lives we can perceive the Infinite; i.e. Brahman, the Reality. As a result of having that Vision, we become instruments of it emergence out of the plane we are focusing on -- whether mind, life, matter. Each time we do, success flies towards us, intentions are fulfilled 100 times over, money and other life powers come in torrents, bliss wells up to ecstasy, etc.

A more direct approach for the devotees is simply open to the Divine Mother. She brings out the Infinite from the Finite. She brings Brahman to the surface at that plane focused on for the aspirant.

Thank you for reminding us through this marvelous quote of the ultimate conception of existence afforded to us -- the Reality, Brahman, the Absolute.

Knowing Brahman from Supermind, Mind, Life, and Matter
Sri Aurobindo wants us to discover Brahman in Supermind. The Indian elite is capable of doing so in Mind and the masses can do it in Life. The Westerner did so in Matter. Discovery of Brahman in Matter is science and prosperity, in Life it is infinite prosperity and everlasting peace, in Mind it is subtle knowledge of supramental evolution. These are the steps HE wants us to skip and evolve as the Supramental Being. Let us do it at any ONE level. (MSS)

Discovery of Brahman in Life, Matter
Discovery of Brahman in Life, includes discovering Brahman in Matter. (MSS)

Brahman in Matter
To discover Brahman in matter, one needs to have all the energy the work needs at the material level organised into effective skill by the mental interest, motivated by the spiritual attitude of veneration. Brahman reveals if the spirit is evoked from the work. (MSS)

Brahman is in All Things, Money, Products, etc.
Brahman is in all things; all things are in Brahman; all things are Brahman.   Money is in all products; all products are in money; all products are money.   This is true of thought, light, Silence and all. It is such an obvious fact, we lose sight of it.  

The Reality Becoming the Universe Permits Brahman Realization in Plane in Our Lives
The view the Omnipresent Reality became the universe, permits the principle that any plane is power, however small, when perfected crosses its plane and has the potential to reach Brahman. (MSS)

Perceiving Brahman Evokes Its Power
Perceiving the Reality brings about its essence and infinite, creative power in our lives.

Experiencing Brahman in Thought, Feeling, Sense
Brahman can be thought, felt and sensed as thought is Brahman, feeling is Brahman, sense is Brahman. Brahman can be explained in words as words are Brahman. It can be done by one who realises that the words are Brahman.  (MSS)

Brahman in Gross, Subtle, Causal Planes
Brahman manifests in the gross, subtle and causal planes. (MSS)

Realizing We are Brahman; Not Body or Mind
To see we are only playing a role, to know we are NOT this body or mind is to know we are Brahman. The chapter 'Pure Existent' gives this conception conclusively. We have to move to the appropriate perception and sensation. (MSS)

Also See Practical Concept of Infinity

 

The Reality and Accomplishment
(topic)

Perceiving Brahman Evokes Its Power
Perceiving the Reality brings about its essence and infinite, creative power in our lives.

Capacity of Brahman: Something Out of Nothing
Capacity to create something out of nothing is the capacity of Brahman. (MSS)

Willingness to See Something as Brahman Creates It
By virtue of our willingness to see something as Brahman, it becomes Brahman is an eternal truth of the everlasting Infinite. (MSS)

The Reality Becoming the Universe Permits Brahman Realization in Plane in Our Lives
The view the Omnipresent Reality became the universe, permits the principle that any plane is power, however small, when perfected crosses its plane and has the potential to reach Brahman. (MSS)

Brahman and Creation
The essence in creation is Brahman. (MSS)

Discovering Brahman in Various Planes
Sri Aurobindo wants us to discover Brahman in Supermind. The Indian elite is capable of doing so in Mind and the masses can do it in Life. The Westerner did so in Matter. Discovery of Brahman in Matter is science and prosperity, in Life it is infinite prosperity and everlasting peace, in Mind it is subtle knowledge of supramental evolution. These are the steps HE wants us to skip and evolve as the Supramental Being. Let us do it at any ONE level. (MSS)

Bringing Out the Infinite
I love the idea that the "Unmanifest is not an empty void; it is an infinite possibility beyond form and manifestation." This is the thought that has driven my recent thinking on the subject of Brahman. That we can bring out the Infinite from the Finite that is buried in it; the Brahman that is hidden in that plane.

Another aspect is that we can experience the Unmanifest and Manifest as one integral thing, which means in our daily lives we can perceive the Infinite; i.e. Brahman, the Reality. As a result of having that Vision, we become instruments of it emergence out of the plane we are focusing on -- whether mind, life, matter. Each time we do, success flies towards us, intentions are fulfilled 100 times over, money and other life powers come in torrents, bliss wells up to ecstasy, etc.

A more direct approach for the devotees is simply open to the Divine Mother. She brings out the Infinite from the Finite. She brings Brahman to the surface at that plane focused on for the aspirant.

Thank you for reminding us through this marvelous quote of the ultimate conception of existence afforded to us -- the Reality, Brahman, the Absolute.

The Reality is Time and Time Eternity: We Can thus Bring Out the Future Now
-The Omnipresent Reality is both Time and (Time) Eternity.

-The eternal time exists at every moment. The whole of the future and the whole of the past exists simultaneously.

-Because the whole future exits now, we can make it real now. (MSS)

Energy Organized as Skill to release Brahmin in Work
To discover Brahman in matter, one needs to have all the energy the work needs at the material level organised into effective skill by the mental interest, motivated by the spiritual attitude of veneration. Brahman reveals if the spirit is evoked from the work. (MSS)

Power of Brahman Emerging in an Act
Any act in the doing of it slightly changes, bringing out its inherent vitality. It is the power of Brahman escaping the fixed form and spilling over that changes the course. (MSS)

Brahman is in All Things, Money, Products, etc.
Brahman is in all things; all things are in Brahman; all things are Brahman.   Money is in all products; all products are in money; all products are money.   This is true of thought, light, Silence and all. It is such an obvious fact, we lose sight of it.  (MSS)

Indian Prosperity through Brahman in Life
-The route for Indian prosperity is to discover Brahman in Life.
-Let India discover Brahman in Matter or Life. She will be more than prosperous. (MSS)

Brahman is Soul Seeking Beyond Results, Process
Man seeks results; science seeks process. Essence exceeds process and result. Man is Soul seeking Brahman. (MSS)

Realizing the Reality (Brahman) In Our Lives
One of the greatest of all questions is What is Life? Another is What is God? A third is What is my purpose in the world? Indian metaphysics answers all of these questions through the ultimate conception and principle of existence, known as Brahman. It is also referred to as The Absolute in the West. Let us call it "the Reality." Let's also consider a more modern evolutionary view of It as expounded by the Indian seer and sage Sri Aurobindo, and the contemporary, multi-dimensional spiritual genius Sri Karmayogi.

The human mind can conceive of the realm of matter we live in. It can also conceive of a realm of spirit; even the possibility that this universe of forms emerged from spirit. What it cannot readily do is think of their oneness, unity, and integration; in particular, that the universe is a form of spirit; and that spirit extends and fulfills itself in creation. This notion of the the fusion of spirit and matter -- of the Unmanifest and the Manifest, of the Transcendent and the Immanent -- is the ultimate conception of existence afforded to us. It is the Reality.

The Reality is beyond and yet includes a God that is the creator. It is also inclusive of the transcendence of the Divine Spirit. It embraces every and all things in creation. It is a starling conception and reality that supersedes all notions of ultimate existence so far devised by man. It is the ultimate Reality. An yet it is something we can realize in our own lives.

Interestingly, the Americans have in many ways realized the Reality in matter. It has perceived the infinite possibilities of material reality and has brought that infinity to the fore. For the realization of the Reality at any plane -- in the case of the USA, at the material level -- is to bring out its infinity. America and hardly anyone else knows how to bring about infinity at the vital, mental, and spiritual level. That remains for the future.

In the essence of anything in creation is the spirit; the same spirit that is the transcendent Reality. The immanent Reality of life in the cosmos is also Brahman, but it is buried deep down in an essential essence. When we rise in consciousness at that plane, we bring out its essence in the form of its infinity to the surface. Whereas the US has brought out Brahman, the Reality to the surface at the material level, we have yet to devise the ultimate emotional and social possibilities of the vital plane or mental conceptions as living realities for humanity at the mental plane to the surface. That infinity awaits those who can draw it out. Who perceive the infinity locked into that plane that can be brought to the surface, infinitely lifting and ennobling life.

And yet we cannot realize the Reality and its potentiality when we live on the surface of things, or even when we use ordinary mind. It cannot perceive the inherent oneness, unity, and integration of spirit and matter, the Unmanifest and the Unmanifest. It sees them as separate. Thus, it cannot perceive the spirit that is there in matter that can be drawn out and brought to the surface. However, when we move to higher mind, including its spiritual aspects through intuition and revelations of thought, of knowledge directly without the churning of thinking, we begin to perceive the Reality, to have a direct Vision of Brahman. It is at that point that we can begin to draw out the Infinite from the Finite.

But we can only move to such perceptions of spiritualized Mind when we move our center of awareness away from the surface, into a deeper poise within. The deeper within we go, all the way to our True Self and Evolving Soul within, the more open our mind opens to the spiritual heights, where we perceive the integral oneness and unity of spirit and matter; knowing directly that they are one and the same things. With this glimpse of the Reality, we can become instruments for bringing out the Essence of any matter to the surface; eliciting its infinity; its ultimate creative possibility and perfection. Then we become ultimate conduits and instruments for progress, including the evolution and transformation of life on earth.

Also See Practical Concept of Infinity

Other

Realizing Brahman as Studied as Subject, Not Object
Brahman will remain abstract as long as He is studied as an object. Only when He is felt as a Subject does He become concrete. (MSS)

Brahman and Consecration
To go in by consecration is to see the Brahman in its truth. Its greater truth is its external expression. (MSS)

One Indivisible Omnipresent Reality
Both Being and Becoming Self and Universe, are the Divine, real aspects of one indivisible Omnipresent Reality. (MSS)

Absolute as Being and Power of Creation
The Absolute, the Infinite Consciousness is not just a Being, but it is a Power, containing not only a quiescence and repose, but an action in of itself, a creation in of itself. The Absolute is then capable of an eternal action and creation; of deploying the Infinite Power.

Untitled
We are each the Source and the Unfolding in Creation.

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The Omnipresent Reality, Eternal Time, Consecration, and Making Our Future
-The Omnipresent Reality is both Time and Eternity. The eternal Time exists at very moment. The whole of the  future and the whole of the past exist simultaneously. That has great relevance to us also. The past is not over. We can consecrate the past and change it even now.

-Our whole future is there in potential right now. Because the whole future is here now, we can work on it and make the future what we want it to be. (MSS)

Vision and Power of Brahman
Brahman is the sum of the upper hemisphere of Spirit and the lower hemisphere of creation -- matter, life, and mind. It is actually beyond these, in that it is their integration. To perceive this is to have the vision of Brahman (the Absolute, the Infinite).

The vision of Brahman is to perceive the Spirit and Matter as part of one single Whole. It is beyond that to see their integration.

The vision of Brahman is to see both the One and the Many; the Creator and the Creation, and their integration.

The power of Brahman is to see and bring out the Infinite from the finite.

The Vision of Brahman
To have the vision of Brahman is to see the integral relationship of spirit and matter. To see how matter expresses spirit in the details of life, to know the spirit as the Source, and beyond these. It is the ultimate reconciliation of sprit and matter; of the creator and the creation. These pairs are integrally bound up in one another, and are not dualistic, but integrally one. To perceive that truly is to have the vision of Brahman (or the integral vision of the Absolute, or the integral vision of God). It can be fully perceived this way when we move out of time, ego, Ignorance and finiteness, and moves to timelessness in time, experience the spirit being in the becoming of our daily lives, experience the timelessness in time, etc. This occurs by moving to the depths where one connects with our personal evolving soul. From their we can have the integral vision that relates these pairs, and relates the creator and the creation as one; i.e. the vision of Brahman.

Brahman Consciousness
Brahman consciousness is to know that the creation is the body of the Spiritual reality. It is to perceive the Spirit in all manner of creation. It is to perceive the unity of the One and the Many. It is to perceive the Being in the Becoming; Time Eternity in Time.

Vision of Brahman
The Reality, Brahman includes both the Pure Existent as well as the creation that will emerge out of it. To have the Brahman consciousness is to see the unity of the Pure Existent/Being/Spirit and the created universe (creation). It is the unity of the Being and the Becoming of the universe; of the world existence we know as Life.

Brahman Consciousness
Brahman consciousness is to perceive, to live, to embody the integral relationship between the unmanifest and the manifest.

Experiencing Brahman, the Absolute
Brahman (aka The Absolute, the Omnipresent Reality) is more than the sum of its parts; more than the one and the many; more than the involution and the evolution; more than what our minds can perceive. In that sense, it is indefinable. And yet, we can have a vision of It, as we move to the highest spiritual consciousness, where we see spirit of the upper hemisphere in the matter, life, and mind of the lower hemisphere of the universe. The vision of Brahman is to see these as one thing, and something even more.

When we can sense Brahman in each moment, in each thing, in each act, we sense the infinite in the finite, the timeless in time, the indefinable in the definable; enabling a new synthesis of awareness. We become a new type of being. As we rise among the planes of spiritual consciousness we approach this vision. 

Westerner has Found Brahman in Matter
Sri Aurobindo said the Westerner has discovered Brahman in Matter. [MSS, slightly modified.] [not in the other planes, which remains unfulfilled.]

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Process of Creation (Involution and Evolution)
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Extended Article Describing the Theory of Creation (Involution and Evolution)

Creation is Knowable
The knowledge of the creation, i.e. how the cosmos, the universe came about is known. It is not unknowable, as the religious traditions state.

Involution and Evolution
The process of the Absolute manifesting is called the Involution. The process where existence on earth moves toward uniting back toward its Divine Origins through matter, the vital life, and mind, and then Spirit is called the Evolution.

Involution, Evolution, and Man's Evolution
The process of the cosmos emerging from an  Infinite consciousness and then to cosmic Mind and further to the essential Energy of the universe is known as the Involution.

The emergence of matter from out of that Energy and then to animated life and life forms to the emergence of mind (in those forms), and then spiritualized mind and further upwards to the embodiment of the Conscious Being, Force, and Delight in those forms is the evolution.

Man embodies the evolution of life in creation. His physical body is an embodiment of matter. His emotional, vital, psychological, and social being embodies Life, his mentality embodies Mind, and his (potential) spiritualized mentality represents higher planes of Mind up to Spirit.

The Full Involution and Evolution
The full involution (or "decent") is from the Reality to the conscious Being to conscious Force to delight to Supermind to Overmind to Mind to Energy to Matter. The evolution in the universe (the "ascent") is essentially the opposite movement.

The Processes of Involution and Evolution
The involution is the process by which the Absolute manifest the creation, the universe. It is the process by which the Many emerged from the One as a universe of divided, ignorant forms. The involution is that which occurred that enabled the creation, the universe, the cosmos to manifest from out of the Original Principle, the Divine, God, the Absolute. Involution is the process of self-limitation, of densification, by which the Absolute, Brahman veils itself by stages until it assumes the appearance in the cosmos, the universe we know of. It wishes to create the universe to objectify itself and its spiritual properties in infinite possibilities, for the purpose of delight of discovery which it will achieve thereafter.

The evolution is the movement forward by which the created universe evolves from its initial state of divided, ignorant forms, emerges as Life and Mind, and in that process rediscovers its Source. The evolution occurs after the involution. It is the development and progressive movement of all in the cosmos, including humans, to attain its fulfillment, including rediscovery in delight of the spiritual aspect, that Consciousness-Force that was the source of the creation. The evolution is the progressive development from the first inconscience in matter into life (movement, sensation, etc. and living physical beings), to mind (in conscious being, animals, including the human, the self-conscious thinking animal), to spiritualized mind, culminating in Supermind, Truth Consciousness (as supramental individuals, leading to a supramental, i.e. a divine life on earth.)

The Cosmic Process of Creation
At the cosmic level the process of creation is the means by which the infinite, unmanifest and eternal spirit creates out of itself a finite, temporal material universe. An Infinite Being and Consciousness, all-knowing and all-powerful, creates, by itself becoming, a world peopled with apparently inanimate, inconscient objects and unconscious or semi-conscious, mortal creatures. Because that Infinite Reality is the origin, basis and real constitution of everything in the universe, the smallest infinitesimal act of the least significant individual in the most limiting circumstances imaginable is capable of revealing and unleashing the greatest opportunity resulting in the highest accomplishment. Often that infinite potential reveals in apparently chance events such as the first meeting of two strangers under the least expected conditions or the casual communication of a small but significant and life-changing information.

All creation, all accomplishment originates as an act of consciousness and an organization of that consciousness leading to the formation of a result. Sri Aurobindo describes this process of creation at the cosmic level in The Life Divine. (MSS)

Process of Creation Same in All Fields and Planes of Existence
Spiritual vision reveals that the fundamental reality and the process of creation are the same in all fields and planes of existence. Only the forms and expressions of manifestation vary. Mastery of the process in any field of life implies the knowledge and power for accomplishment in that field. E.g. the level of the individual, this mastery is the knowledge and power of the Complete Act, which is the capacity to make any act generate the desired results. (MSS, modified)

The Involutionary and Evolutionary Process

It is relatively easy for us to perceive that Evolution is taking place in the universe -- i.e. there has been and continues to be a movement from matter to animated life to mentality in conscious beings, and upward to ever higher consciousness. It is less obvious however to perceive the Involution of existence that has taken shape from an Infinite consciousness that has culminated in material existence in the universe.

In Evolution, we see a progressive ascendance of consciousness and ever more subtle substance from dumb, physical matter to animated life forms to mental intelligence, and upward. It is far more difficult to imagine how an original Infinite, timeless, spaceless Reality and Being enabled an essential Energy that became the basis for the forms in the universe, beginning with matter.

More difficult still is the fact that in this Involutionary process, what was enabled at each stage was less conscious than what preceded it, not more so, as in the Evolution. Thus, from an ultimate Consciousness and Force, emerged a less conscious invisible Energy from which emerged distinct forms as unconscious, dumb material existence -- i.e. matter.  Thus, whereas the Evolution seems be progressive, the creation of the universe in the Involutionary process from a Divine source seemed to be regressive; a diminution of consciousness!

And yet according to Sri Aurobindo, it was the very intention of the Infinite Reality to create a universe of forms and have those forms begin as unconscious matter. Why would it take this counter-intuitive course? It did so to create the greatest variation of experience amongst the forms of life; to include the dark and the light, the false and the true, the good and evil, the positive and the negative, and so forth. This infinite variety would create the greatest variation of discovery amongst those forms, including us, which in turn creates the greatest diversity of in the experience of Joy and Delight. And Delight was after all the reason this universe of forms was created in the first place. Now there could be infinite diversity and multiplicity of the experience Delight beyond the fixed original Delight and Bliss of the Infinite consciousness.

Equally interesting is the fact that though the Infinite consciousness seemed to disappear as it descended from  Force to Energy to matter in the Involutionary process, it is still involved as potential in matter and the animated forms and mentality that emerged from it. In fact, the reason animated forms evolved from matter upward in the Evolution is precisely because that capacity was already involved in material existence during the Involutionary process. That was actually the Divine's intention. The same for animated life and its involved mentality, and mentality's involved spiritual capacities beyond it. Thus in every plane are all the potential planes that will emerge from it. It is analogous to the DNA that is there when a human is conceived, which determines that person's nature.

Or to put it another way, Evolution takes place because in any given plane are involved the planes that will emerge from it. So animated life, mind, and spirit will evolve from matter because it is already involved, hidden in its essence as potential. That would thereby indicate that matter is spiritual in its essence. Though those higher forms of consciousness were ever diminished in the Involutionary process, they emerge through the reverse process of Evolution in the universe. Thus, Involution is the very reason Evolution is made possible.

In the end, an Infinite Reality hid itself in its descent from an original Consciousness and Force to a subtle Energy from which a material universe emerged. That original Reality and its Conscious-Force has then begun to reemerge in the Evolution from matter to animate life forms to mentality, and to realms beyond that are spiritual in nature. Thus, our ultimate destiny is embody through our Evolution the very Infinite Being, Consciousness, Force, and Delight that is the very Source of our existence.

The Process of Creation, Involution, and Evolution
On the 197th birthday of Charles Darwin, people are trying to reconcile his ideas with the spirit. So far, all parties -- secular and scientific, and religious -- seem far away from understanding the true nature of evolution. Evolution takes place for any entity when it organizes itself at a higher level.

When a business develops a strategic plan to grow, it is essentially organizing itself and then executing that plan, which creates further progress for the firm. When I as an individual plan out what I want to become, organize the details, and then carry it out, I can rapidly progress. If the organization or individual plans and succeeds in going not just a bit further, but to a substantially new level, there is not only progress, but evolution.

There is then a single process of accomplishment and creation that is taking place in life: a conception of that which we wish to become, the organization of the details of that vision, and an intense execution that enables the aspiration and intention to manifest. When that process is practiced to perfection, it enables not only progress, but evolution. Even the Spiritual reality in creating a universe from its Divine source, followed this same essential approach: it conceived that which it wished to create -- a universe -- and it organized and made it happen through powers of consciousness that turned conscious force into unseen subtle energy that became the basis of the forms of creation. It evolved itself further into a universe.

If we are to understand evolution, we need to understand this single great process of creation that moves from vision to organization to manifestation. Even when a primitive being or an animal evolves, there is some higher quality that is being organized, that is moving from its current level of being to a higher order. We can see this in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, where the ape vaguely perceives that a bone it has found can be used, tries it out, and then uses it to gain superiority over its rivals. It is the organization of a perception into a living reality. Evolution is then a product of the organization of consciousness -- whether it is consciously, subconsciously, or unconsciously takes place -- as in the case of the amoeba.

There is another dimension to the evolutionary process. It is that the higher levels of progress, development, and evolution that entities move towards and eventually attain is already involved in their being. Just as a tree emerges of a seed in which all of its existence is mostly predetermined, so too there is an involved capacity to bring about the next stage or phase of its being. When the lowest life forms emerged from unanimated matter, that matter already had within it an involved capacity to develop into an animated life form. Likewise, if I wish to become more intuitively spiritual -- a higher formation of mentality -- that capacity is already there involved as potential in my current mental framework. It is their in the seed of my being as potential.

Thus, not only is there one universal process of creation that moves from stages of vision to organization to manifestation, i.e. through a movement of higher consciousness, but the stages we can evolve to are already there embedded in our being as potentiality. This is the case because in the creation of the cosmos from a Divine Source, those very planes of being were there before the universe even existed, and in creation were then embedded in the forms that emerged, including us. E.g., a plane of Mind existed before the universe came to be and higher life forms developed a mind with the capacity to think. This preexistence of the planes that we are emerging into, from an involved seed of consciousness that is rooted in these very planes prior to creation, is another dimension to evolution. Thus, we can say that the evolutionary process is able to occur because the involutionary process has created these potentialities in the very fiber of our being. The planes that emerge from us were already involved in us as a seed in subtle form.

Through the process of conception, vision, intention, organization of the intent, and the carrying out the intent, we progress. If it is substantial -- i.e. there is a dramatic change for the positive -- it is more than progress, but evolution. And yet the seeds of our intention are already there in our being, even as we have the free will to become the very thing we wish to become. In the end, we become the next highest thing -- i.e. we progress and evolve -- when we organize that which is emerging turning it into a living reality. We as humans can consciously do this, and accelerate the speed of the evolution of Man. 

Evolution, Involution, and Darwin
Darwin understood the physical causes of evolution in animals; even their only partially. He did not understand the subtle causes -- i.e. the psychological and spiritual.

For example, the evolutionary spiritual philosopher Sri Aurobindo says that evolution occurs not only because of a movement to higher consciousness -- e.g. greater thought or insight --, but to the unfolding of a seed of that possibility that is involved in that form. I.e. in a dumb animal is an involved consciousness of mentality, which will only come out through the evolution of that species, which is what happened when higher animals and man evolved from it. This involved seed and capacity is there because the Spirit put it there in its own involutionary descent from the Infinite consciousness, the Divine on its way to creating a universe of forms. All evolution is an unfolding of this intended process.

Thus, evolution is the very essence and will of God, to create ever more conscious beings, reflective of its own Infinite, Divine nature.

Darwin's explanation does not perceive the essential process of creation, therefore his view of evolution is material and mechanistic. Still his was a great breakthrough at its own (limited) level.

God, Brahman, the Reality is Evolving
Normally we consider God as something distant and apart from ourselves. Rarely do we think of the Divine as immanent in the world, let alone evolving in the universe.

To address this issue, let us begin with a bit of metaphysics. The ultimate conception of existence is an omnipresent Reality that exists in all planes -- from an Infinite consciousness ''above" in the Unmanifest down through matter, life, and mind in the manifest universe. This Reality -- this ultimate conception of what is contained in all planes Unmanifest and Manifest -- is known as 'Brahman' in the East and 'The Absolute' in the West. Most will settle for 'God,' though that conception can be quite limiting.

But how then is this omnipresent Reality; this God, Brahman, Absolute evolving? To answer that question, we need to understand the 'Process of Creation.' To begin with there is an ineffable, immutable, infinite consciousness that always was, is, and always will be. It is the Reality in its first stage; before creation. This Infinite has then extended itself into a field of manifest entities. It extended its own infinite being, consciousness, and delight into a universal field of distinct forces and forms. To do so, it rendered a creating plane of Truth Consciousness, and from it, formulated the dividing capacity of Mind, through which emerged the Energies that are the source of all forces and distinct material life forms in space and time. This second movement can be thought of as the Involutionary process. Thus in the first stage there is a decent/involution from an  Infinite consciousness to Supermind, Mind, and then Energy; and a second stage of ascent/evolution in the universe from Energy to Matter to Life and Life Forms to Mind, the latter expressing mainly through we human beings.  

The Reality is then all of the planes of the involutionary and evolutionary processes together. Brahman/The Reality/God, is not only timeless, spaceless being, but extended Itself to forms of its Force in creation. In other words Brahman, God, the Reality also became this life. It is thus the Unmanifest and Manifest, and their integral relationship. This is the ultimate conception of Reality afforded to Man.

Moreover, since we humans in the universe are an extension of that Reality, and since we are evolving, then God the Divine, Brahman, the Absolute Reality is evolving as well. As we bring higher consciousness to bear in our lives, we evolve, as does God the Infinite. As we become more conscious -- overcoming our personal limitations and wanting qualities; find our spirit and soul within; commune with the transcendent  Divine, bring the that Higher Power into the details of our lives -- we not only uplift ourselves and life, but enable the Reality itself to evolve through creation.

We are then the instrument of God's evolution. As we evolve, so does the Reality, Brahman, which is in and of every and all things. When we connect to our higher nature, we serve the evolution of the Reality, as it seeks to render its own spiritual attributes of Silence, Oneness, Truth, Wisdom, Power, Love, Beauty, and Delight into this universe of forms.

Involution and Evolution
The involution -- which is from spirit to matter -- is reversed in the evolution; i.e. is a return to spirit from matter. The involution goes from the Real Idea of the Divine to manifest a universe for the delight of being, creates the planes of mind, life, and matter, and then hides them before creation; whereas the evolution is the reverse process where matter appears, where the plane of life emerges from matter, where mind emerges from life, and spirit from mind, and in that process enables man to discover the delight of being, the purpose for which the Divine manifest through Supermind the universe.

Process of Creation
Before the created universe, the manifestation, the Absolute through a process of self-conception, conceived of a universe for the purpose of the discovery of delight of being by those forms that would be created. To begin that process The Absolute extended to three aspects; Existence (which we will refer to as "Being," which can also be interpreted as pure spirit), Consciousness-Force, and Delight.

Brahman to Satchitananda to Creation
-Out of Brahman comes Satchitananda and from It creation. Brahman, the Reality is then both in an integral relationship.

-Unknowable Brahman extended itself to Satchitananda. I.e. it Exists, (Sat); it is Conscious of its Existence and thereby emanates a Force (Chit) and Delights in its Existence and Consciousness (Ananda). Through the Supramental Truth power the energy that is the source of creation emerges from the Conscious-Force (Chit).

The Cosmic Process of Creation
At the cosmic level the process of creation is the means by which the infinite, unmanifest and eternal spirit creates out of itself a finite, temporal material universe. An Infinite Being and Consciousness, all-knowing and all-powerful, creates, by itself becoming, a world peopled with apparently inanimate, inconscient objects and unconscious or semi-conscious, mortal creatures. Because that Infinite Reality is the origin, basis and real constitution of everything in the universe, the smallest infinitesimal act of the least significant individual in the most limiting circumstances imaginable is capable of revealing and unleashing the greatest opportunity resulting in the highest accomplishment. Often that infinite potential reveals in apparently chance events such as the first meeting of two strangers under the least expected conditions or the casual communication of a small but significant and life-changing information.

All creation, all accomplishment originates as an act of consciousness and an organization of that consciousness leading to the formation of a result. Sri Aurobindo describes this process of creation at the cosmic level in The Life Divine. (MSS)

The Involutionary and Evolutionary Process
The Omnipresent Reality is the unknowable immutable timeless spaceless that is the source of all creation. To initiate that process it divided into three aspects; Existence, i.e. the Reality now exits, and is identifiable Spirit and Truth; Consciousness-Force, the Reality is now conscious of its existence; and Delight, the Reality delights in its existence. From this triune existence, it begins the process of creation of the universe. How the Force of the triune that becomes the energy that is the source of all forms in the universe is the Involutionary process enabling creation. The Evolutionary process is how those forms, beginning with matter evolve in the universe to vital, mind, and spirit, fulfilling its destiny by returning to the spiritual source. The creation took place for the Delight of being of those forms when they are created. The Involution in creation that moved from a spiritual source to forms in creation occurred through three fundamental processes, Self-Conception, i.e it conceives what is wishes to achieve (creating a universe), as well as Self-limitation, and Self-Absorption. The Unfolding of the evolution in the universe is then explained in details from matter to vital to mind to spirit.

Involution & Evolution in Life as Explained by Sri Aurobindo
Involution & Evolution Before Creation -- In The Life Divine, Sri Aurobindo describes how by a process of involution the One, infinite, indivisible, formless omnipresent and omniscient reality or Self-Conscious Being creates of itself a world of multiple, divided, ignorant, impotent forms and how by a process of evolution these forms struggle to survive, grow and rise in consciousness to manifest in form the infinite potentials concealed in the formless.

Involution & Evolution in Creation/the Universe/in Our Lives -- We can understand the evolution fully only when we understand the essential role and process of the involution. The involution provides the essential foundation and conducive circumstances for the evolution. All that we perceive as unconsciousness, obstacle, resistance, hostility and perversity are products of the involution which play essential roles in the emergence of positive characteristics and accomplished capacities in the evolution. (MSS)

The Seed of Potentiality
In Sri Aurobindo's metaphysics, life emerged from a Conscious-Force, but the consciousness dissolved on the way to manifesting matter. Yet all of the magnificence is involved, hidden in matter as a seed of potential. Animated life and mind emerged from that seed, yet each of these also hold a seed of further possibility. When we evolve our consciousness, we bring the (infinite) potentiality out of the seed. If we examine your quote from Savitri, we can see this involutionary/evolutionary philosophy captured.

"All the world's possibilities in man
Are waiting as the tree waits in its seed:
His past lives in him; it drives his future's pace;
His present's acts fashion his coming fate.
The unborn gods hide in his house of Life."

From Material View of Science to Involution/Evolution of the Infinite
We worship the God of Science, trusting in its laws and rules, bowing before its child, Technology. After all, we are dazzled by the material benefit it has given us, including unprecedented security and infinite-like physical comforts.

And yet science's foundation rests on a material view of the world. All of its principles and insights derive from physical matter it can measure. Its view of evolution is a mere progression from matter forward -- i.e. as mere ever-more complex forms of atoms, molecules, chemical reactions, and micro and macro elements. This narrow, materialistic, mechanistic view of existence is what we have subconsciously embraced as the foundation of existence, particularly in the West.

But what if there were a decidedly different view? What if all that we are becoming and evolving towards was already involved, inherent in matter? What if embedded in material existence is a seed of all that has evolved from it -- from animated life and life forms to the  mentality of Man? What if in the hidden, subtle recesses of matter, there was the consciousness of future life and mind, lying dormant, holding out for the right time and conditions before coming out?

Science of course does not embrace such an involved consciousness latent in matter, for it cannot see it or measure it -- its prime means of determining the existence of anything. How can the seed of a life and mind be contained in material rock or stone or ice or water or fire when there are no signs of that possibility when examined under a microscope or analyzed with the latest, state-of-the-art measuring devices? And yet everything that has evolved from matter was and is there in consciousness, involved in it, secretly hidden from view, waiting to come out. Embedded in matter is not just the possibility and seeds of animated, energized life and the forms that move and interact; not just the splendors of mentality that emerged through those life forms, including us, but the possibility of Spirit itself emerging through we mental beings. Thus, all of life in the universe is a flowering from that seed; a constant unfolding of higher substance and consciousness from that involved, hidden Essence embedded in matter.

But who or what planted this life-mind-spirit seed in the recesses of matter? The answer is that only an Infinite consciousness, a Divine entity could have imagined, conceived, and planted the hidden fountain of life in the very core and being of matter. Only a Higher Power could have imagined and planted the ''DNA" of conscious life in the heart of a material existence; that on the surface appears completely unconscious and inert.

But why would a Divine entity usher in a universe with the dense, gross substance and unconsciousness of matter? Why not begin with those higher formations -- of matter, life, and mentality; or better yet their full integration. Surely, an Infinite consciousness could have devised anything It chose. The answer to this conundrum -- which incidentally also explains why there is suffering, difficulty, and evil in the world -- is quite simple: It did so to enable the greatest possibility and multiplicity in life. By starting with the unconsciousness of matter, an infinite array of possibilities could emerge above it; from positive to negative, light to dark, easy to problematic, etc. across all dualities and contradictions of existence.  That would enable Its own Divine attributes -- peace, harmony, wisdom, creativity, beauty, love, delight, etc. -- to express through an infinite variety of forces, energies, forms, and circumstance; across an infinitely varied spectrum of existence, providing ultimate diversity and richness to life.

Implicit in a seed of future planes embedded matter is not only an Infinite source, but the fact that these planes existed in some form before creation! In fact, we can only understand the evolution of planes from seeds of matter if we perceive the involutionary process that embedded those potentialities in first place. Whereas evolution is a self-unfolding from Matter to Life to Mind and Spirit, Involution is a previous and inverse process of self-manifestation of the Infinite consciousness into the planes Mind, Life/Energy, and Matter. Or looking at it chronologically, first there was the Infinite Divine, which manifest the plane of Supermind or Truth consciousness, and then Mind, out of which derived the plane of energy (Vital), out of which emerged the plane of Matter. As each plane emerged, it lost the higher consciousness, but embedded or involved itself as future potential. This is the involutionary process from spirit to matter. The evolutionary process then occurs, which is the unfolding from matter of involved Life/Energy and life forms, and then mentality from Life in those life forms, and then Spirit from Mind. Ultimately, conscious mental individuals in the evolution open and connecting back to the highest, Infinite consciousness that was the source of All in the involution.

The dual involutionary/evolutionary process is thus very different process than the mere, dumb, unconscious material evolution presented by Science. Involution indicates an Infinite consciousness and a Divine process behind the material one. Interestingly, recent scientific/mathematical formulas are starting to point in this direction. E.g., Dark Energy may be one significant step in that direction, indicating energy previous to matter.

Scientists ever-increasingly stand agape as they see their material, mechanistic views of existence ironically torn down through their own scientific investigations. When they come to see that all other planes -- back to cosmic Mind and Spirit -- were/are there before creation, and that life, mind, and spirit are buried in matter waiting to come out, they will begin to perceive the right relation of things, including the ultimate meaning and purpose of life in the cosmos.

The Processes of Involution & Evolution  
The Process of Creation is the process by which the Many emerged from the One as a universe of divided, ignorant forms.

The process begins when the immutable, unknowable Absolute divides into the triune of Existence/Being (i.e. that the Absolute can now be known as existing; which we will later perceive as "Spirit"), Conscious Force (i.e. It is also conscious of Its existence, which enables a Force or power), and Delight (i.e. It delights in the consciousness of its existence). This is the first stage of the involution. Now the involution continues through the further division of the Conscious-Force. This is enabled through the Truth Consciousness, a fourth aspect which will divide the Force from the Consciousness, and the Force itself into Knowledge and Will. When the Knowledge is empties in the Will through a process of self-absorption, what remains is the formation of Energy. In other words, as a result of this dividing action of the Truth Consciousness on the Conscious-Force, a plane of energy is released. This non-moving energy exits before the universe begins. When it "moves," coagulates, and then disaggregates into separate objects, i.e. forms, the universe begins. Space and time are also formed in this overall process.

The evolution is the movement forward by which the created universe evolves from its initial state of divided, ignorant forms, emerges as Life and Mind, and in that process rediscovers its Source. The evolution occurs after the involution. The evolution is the development and progressive movement of all in the cosmos, including humans, to attain its fulfillment, including rediscovery in delight of the spiritual aspect, that Consciousness-Force that was the source of the creation but was intentionally hidden for the purpose of the delight of discovery. The evolution is the progressive development from the first inconscience in matter into life (movement, sensation, etc. and living physical beings), to mind (in conscious being, animals, including the human, the self-conscious thinking animal), to spiritualized mind, culminating in Supermind, Truth Consciousness (as supramental individuals, leading to a supramental, i.e. a divine life on earth.)

In this process of Involution that creates this original Energy that formulated into forms of the universe, the Spirit consciousness of Existence/Being is absorbed and lost purposefully, so that the individual forms who would appear in creation, i.e. we humans, can experience the joy of discovery through our higher consciousness of the spirit hidden in the forms (including in matter, in life, in mind) that are actually embedded (i.e. involved) within each of these aspects of creation. Thus the Absolute (the Divine) enabled creation so that the conscious being in creation would have the joy of discovery of the spirit in matter and life. In essence, He wanted to extend his Delight of Being into the Delight of Becoming in the universe. He also purposely created divided, unconscious, ignorant forms through the instrument of Truth Consciousness in order to create the greatest possibility and multiplicity of those forms, which would have the greatest variation for expressing the Delight of Being. When we move form our unconsciousness to our higher consciousness we experience the delight of Being, the very reason that the Creator enabled a manifest universe in the first place.

Involution and Evolution
Beginning essentially with the energy that was there before the Big Bang or something similar is the manifestation of the universe. The universe is the body of the Divine, a form of the Divine in embodied matter and life.

The universe essentially began as energy at rest, becomes energy that moves, and eventually coagulates into forms of matter (plasma, galaxies, etc.), further evolving on earth (and elsewhere) as vital animus of life, and culminating in humans (and perhaps other intelligent life forms) as mind. Man continues this evolutionary process by rising to his higher nature above mind and within through sprit. When he touches Supermind and the pure spirit above in all aspect of his being, he has completed the evolutionary purpose. This entire process is the evolution.

Man utilizes the same spiritual supramental power that enables the Divine to manifest the universe to aid in our own ascent from vital and mental-based humans to spiritual and supramental truth consciousness evolutionary beings. This is the culminating of the evolution.

The spiritualized evolutionary individual and collective existence fulfills the purpose of the universe, which is delight of being.

How Supermind Enabled the Universe
To begin the process of creating the universe, the Absolute, the Original Principle, the Omnipresent Reality has the Real Idea of creation. It's conception is to create a manifest universe for the purpose of extending its own Delight into infinite multiplicity of forms. By creating a manifest universe of infinite variation of forms, infinite discovery is made potential through those forms. When they (i.e. us) discover the spirit in ourselves, in life, we experience the joy of the discovery, the Delight of Being, the very reason the Absolute wished for a universe of forms from out of itself.  Our delight of Being would then matches and even exceeds the delight of the Creator.

To that Goal the Absolute divides or extends itself into three aspects of itself in preparation for the creation -- as Existence, as Consciousness, and as Delight (i.e. Sat-chit-ananda). The Absolute further extends itself to further enable a manifest creation and universe it wishes to bring about. To that end it extends another plane, the plane of Truth Consciousness, or Supermind. Supermind coordinates the rendering of the Absolute, expressed as Real Ideas, into a created universe. Supermind is thus the great ordering mechanism and instrument of creation. It has the supreme Vision and Unity of Understanding of all of all attributes and will of the Supreme from "above" to order the creation in its potential of multiplicity as a universe "below." Supermind is both a Knowledge and a Power. It has the Knowledge of the Real Ideas and the intent of the Absolute to render a universe, and it has the Power to carry it out.

To that end Supermind creates the planes of (Cosmic) Mind to begin the process of objectifying the spirit of the Absolute into a manifestation, a universe. Creation must express the Timeless in the plane of Time in order to exist; i.e. to objectify itself, which requires division. To that end Supermind created the plane of Cosmic Mind to divide the Consciousness-Force. When the Consciousness-Force is split by Cosmic Mind, as agent of Supermind, Knowledge and Will are created. When the Knowledge is exhausted in the Will, the plane of Life emerges, initially as Energy at rest. When energy moves, then the energy coagulates and then forms distinct elements of matter. The distinct forms are thus the divisions required if there is to be objectification out of the Absolute.  This is what Supermind has enabled. Up to the point where energy is about to move is, in essence, the Involution.

When the energy moves, the Evolution begins as this energy coagulates into the forms of creation -- beginning initially as matter (which then evolves as animus of life and mind in the universe). All forms in the universe are forms of energy. This energy is in essence the Force of Consciousness-Force, separated from its Knowledge & Consciousness.

Supermind is then the ordering extension of the Absolute that enabled the Force to be divided from the Consciousness-Force to form energy which moved and coagulated into forms. 

Definition of Creation
Creation is an ordered deployment of the infinite possibilities of the Absolute. The Supreme and Eternal Infinite determines itself to our consciousness in the universe through Supermind by real and fundamental truths, as "Real Ideas" which can be seized by us, especially if we rise to a consciousness of spiritual intuition and beyond.

Involution and Evolution
The involution then was from Divine spirit to the beginnings of matter. The evolution is from matter to life to mind to spirit. In both the involution and the evolution, the Truth Consciousness power of the Divine, the supramental creative power, is the instrument for further movement, development, and progress.

The Omnipresent Reality/Brahman,/The Absolute Extends to Existence, Consciousness-Force, Delight to Manifest the Universe
The Omnipresent Reality in order to begin the process of creation of the universe divided into three aspects Existence, Consciousness-Force, and Bliss (Sat-Chit-Ananda). It extended one-step further to Supermind to enable the universe, i.e. coordinate between Satchitananda and that which would be created as matter, life, and mind. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

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Involution and Evolution
In the involution the plane of Mind (as the agent of Supermind) split the Force into Knowledge and Will in order to continue the process that led to the manifestation of the universe. In this process, spirit manifest matter. In the evolution man rises above mind to supermind where Knowledge and Will are reunited, fused in our expanded consciousness, enabling us to move from matter-life-mind to the Force of the Spirit and further to the Pure Existent.

Creation of the Universe
The universe was created when in the Involution before creation the plane of mind, as agent of the plane of Supermind, split the Force of (Existence, Consciousness Force, Delight; i.e. Sat-Chit-Ananda), creating Knowledge and Will out of the Force. When the Knowledge began to act on Will, Energy was released in the form of the plane of Life. When Knowledge withdrew from Will, the Energy was then devoid of its knowledge causing the plane of Matter to be created; i.e. distinct forms of matter to take shape. (At the point that the plane of energy/Life was created, the universe begins. It is without forms. When the energy moves and coagulates into forms, matter in the universe begins.)

The Process of Creation
The process of creation tells us the finite Matter is the inversion of the Infinite Sat (Existence). This inversion has originally occurred through a self-absorption and now emerges back to its original status by a process of evolution. (MSS)

The Divine's Power of Creation that is Available to Us
There are many properties of the Divine Reality. One is its poise as silent Witness of its creation. Others are its poise of supreme Love, ultimate Delight, infinite Wisdom, and Oneness and Unity of being. Another aspect of the Divine is its capacity to Create. Out of a conscious Decision of an Infinite Reality emerged a universe of Forms. Out of nothingness came an entire cosmos, demonstrating the Divine's infinite capacity to create.

What I would like to bring out here is that as forms of the body of the Divine, we have that same infinite capacity to create in our own lives as that of the Infinite Reality. We too have the ability to envision something unprecedented in our future and follow a process so that it manifests just as we intended. Just as the universe emerged from the Real Ideas of an Infinite consciousness, so too our heart's desire can be realized through an conception and idea originating in our minds.

I am not simply suggesting that we have the power to create, but we have the power to create perfect outcomes that come about instantaneously or very rapidly -- overcoming normally perceived limits of what is possible, and how cause and effect unfold. If we envision what we want, have the deep aspiration and will for it to come about, organize it in its details, carry it out in a timely manner with consummate skill and the very best of attitudes, and bring the spiritual Force to bear, we will evoke sudden good fortune that will descend on us like a miracle.

In this way, the process by which a universe of forms emerged from the Supreme is also available to us in our own lives. We are therefore also the Ishwara, the divine Creator in potential. We here in the body of God are capable of doing the same as He. In the end, that might be the greatest gift that the Supreme has endowed us with.

Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo
-Sri Aurobindo envisaged that The Supreme Reality is in its initial status before creation unknowable, immutable, and timeless.

-for the process of creation there is then created three extensions of the Supreme Reality -- Existence, Consciousness Force, and Delight (Sat, Chit, and Ananda). The Reality in its first extension is first Pure Existence (i.e. it exists, i.e. there is a Truth to its Existence; it is a Being); second it is conscious of its existence, which causes it to be a force (a Conscious Force); and third it Delights in its own recognition of, its consciousness of its existence.
-An involutionary process enables the creation of the universe. When the involution ends, the evolution begins.
-The Supermind was/is the instrument for the organization of the Reality into the universe.
-The evolution begins with energy that became Matter that became Vital Life that became Mind. Through man it is evolving further through mind to spiritual mind
-The Omnipresent Reality thus now (the Absolute, God, Brahman) includes both Matter and Spirit; the Creator and Creation; the One and the Many.
-Man has come to the present stage of evolution through a process of evolutionary growth, which is as yet still incomplete.
-Man has to grow in consciousness until he reaches complete and perfect consciousness, not only in his individual, but in his collective and social life.
-In fact, growth of consciousness is the supreme secret of life and the master key to earthly evolution.
-Man can bring the Spirit Being into the Becoming into life; timelessness into time; and the infinite into the finite.
-Man fulfills the universe's purpose which fulfills the transcendent purpose.
-There is at the heart of things a conscious force that is evolving to ever-higher forms of being in life, and indeed, there is thus also evolution of the Divine in the world.
-Physical evolution has brought mankind from lower forms of existence to the present stage of development, but is on the verge of yet higher stages of evolution. In the next stage, man will emerge as a 'gnostic being.' This is our divine destiny.
-Corresponding to the ascent from the material to the spiritual is a descent of the spiritual into the material. The link between the process of ascent and descent is where Mind and Supermind meet with a veil between them.
-Reaching the supramental consciousness above spiritual mind and in all facets of our being is the ultimate destiny of the individual on earth.

The Effect of the Pure Existent and Spirit in Our Lives
The original status of God, Brahman, the Absolute it is that it is unknowable, undefinable, infinite, timeless, spaceless, etc. It's first defined status on the way to manifest a universe of forms is that It exists. That existence is called Sat in the East. The experience of Sat, i.e. the Pure Existent is what we mean by "spirit." Spirit is the essence of Brahman. It is also called Being. In our lives, we come to see that this Spirit or Being is the substance from which we are made -- in our bodies, our vital, and our minds. I.e. spirit (of existence) is the substance of the universe; and we are made up of that spiritual substance. As we become more conscious, we play the decisive role of bringing the spirit into life, i.e. realizing it in our material, life existence, thereby bringing the Being into the Becoming, which transforms our lives and the life around us into its infinite possibilities.

End of Involution, Beginning of Evolution
At the point that energy coagulates into objective uniqueness the involution ends and the evolution begins.

Untitled
First there was a Being, a Spirit, which extended itself to became Conscious of itself as spirit, of which that Awareness became a Force which came to Delight in its being and consciousness and power to such a degree that it extended itself into a universe of forms so that individuals there would come to discover to their infinite delight their true spiritual nature.

Releasing the Infinite in Planes in the Creation
The Infinite Omnipresent Reality became infinite Existence as Spirit, infinite Consciousness of its Existence, infinite Force, and infinite Delight of existence; inverting in Creation to discover the infinite hidden in matter, life, spiritual mind and beyond.

The Inversion of Existence, Consciousness-Force, Delight in Creation
In the process of creation, as a result of the Absolute following a process of self-conception, self-limitation, and self-absorption, the Existence (of E, C-F-D) above inverts to Non-Existence in creation, and then will evolve back in the evolution through the dualities of life and death on its way back to Existence; Consciousness above inverts into Inconscience in the creation, which will evolve back in the evolution through the dualities of Truth and Falsehood, and Knowledge and Error until it reaches Consciousness; and Delight above inverts into Insensibility in the creation and journeys back in the evolution through Pleasure and Pain back to Delight. These dualities will be the basis for (and the opportunities and methods out of) the Problems of life.

Why would the Absolute create such Problems? To enable the greatest Delight in the future created universe the Absolute followed a process of self-absorption to negate all of its Divine attributes, so that we in creation could have the greatest intensity in their rediscovery. Also, through the dualities that emerge there can be the greatest quantity and quality of forms that can be vehicles for the discovery of the Delight.

The Source of Divisions and Dualities in Creation
The Existence, i.e. being/Spirit (of Existence, Consciousness-Force, Delight) "Above" becomes Non-Being at the dawn of creation. The Consciousness-Force becomes Inconscience (Unconsciousness), and the Delight becomes Insensitivity. Thus we see the essential contradiction, contradictory aspect of what is Above and what is Below, between the One and the Many. Furthermore, the contradiction between Being and Non-being shows itself in particular in the universe and life as the division between Life and Death. The contradiction between Consciousness-Force and Inconscience shows itself as the division between Truth and Falsehood (and between knowledge and error), and the contradiction between Delight and Insensibility shows itself as Pleasure and Pain. Thus we can see the root beginnings and causes of all problems, contradictions, divisions, dualities in the universe. This is VERY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT EXPLAINS ALL OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF LIFE! 

[Through Nature these lesser and greater contradictions work themselves out in an ascending movement back to their oneness; though through our invocation of Spirit we overcome them rapidly as we see them in their inherent oneness and unity, i.e. as we develop the supramental and Brahman consciousness.]

 

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Delight of Being is Purpose of Creation
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The Purpose of Creation

A question from a reader:
"Why did this creation happen? What is the purpose of creation?"

Answer:
-One reason is so that the static Delight of the Unmanifest could express as dynamic Delight in the myriad of forms of creation in the manifestation.

-Sri Aurobindo also indicates that the transcendent Reality, the Divine All manifest a universe in infinite space and time so that it can reveal through its forms that Reality. Thus, this progressive revealing of the transcendental Reality is the meaning and aim of the universe.

Another way to look at this is to say that the Spiritual qualities of the Divine All -- Truth, Oneness, Wisdom, Peace, Power, Creativity, Love, Delight, Infinity, Timelessness, etc -- seek myriad expression in an infinite variety of forms. To express these aspects of the Transcendent Reality in life is why the universe, the forms, we humans are here.

Delight of the Reality and Creation
For the purpose of creation the ineffable, immutable Reality first moved towards Existence, then became conscious of that existence, which through off a force, and then Delight in being conscious of its existence. The Reality then sought to extend that Delight into the forms of creation that would emerge from the Energy that came from Its Conscious-Force. when we discover our true nature that is of the Original Being, we experience Delight, thereby fulfilling the Intent of the Infinite.

Delight is Purpose of Creation
To begin the process of creating the universe, the Absolute, the Original Principle, the Omnipresent Reality has the Real Idea of creation. It's conception is to manifest a universe for the purpose of extending its own Delight into infinite multiplicity of forms. By creating a universe of infinite variation of forms, infinite discovery is made possible through those forms. When they (i.e. us) discover our higher nature, including the spirit inside, we experience joy of discovery, the Delight of Being, the very reason the Absolute manifest a universe of forms from out of itself. 

God's Delight Comes Out by Discovering Spirit in the Planes of Creation
God's delight lies in the original delight of the Spirit. It comes out when the original Spirit hidden in Mind, Life and Matter emerges on the surface. (MSS)

Delight Fulfills Man's Purpose
Ananda, Delight of Sat-Chit-Ananda, which is the source of creation, can be experienced by Man within, fulfilling Man's purpose in the universe.

Purpose of Universe is Delight Experienced by forms, i.e. Us in Creation
The Absolute rendered a universe so that the individual forms (i.e. us) in it could experience the Delight that the Absolute experienced.

Delight and Creation
Delight of Being (Ananda) moving to delight of Becoming [i.e.in Life] is the root reason of creation. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

Delight vs. Human Happiness
Sri Aurobindo indicates that Delight is beyond the normal human, happiness which is based on the transitory and unstable joy that comes with the fulfillment of human desires, attachments, successes, etc.

Emergence of Delight in Humans
Sri Aurobindo indicates that Delight emerges through our inconscience; through pain, pleasure, and indifference. Whereas, pain, pleasure, and indifference come from living a superficial of the part, we can concentrate ourselves in the depths within, overcome our ego-sense, and thereby experience delight in any and all things. We can also use the higher powers of mind that are not tied to the life and body to free ourselves of these obstacles, enabling Delight in all things. [As we become more universalized with others and the environment, we move towards our destiny of experiencing Delight in all things.]

Process of Creation
Before the created universe, the manifestation, the Absolute through a process of self-conception, conceived of a universe for the purpose of the discover of delight of being by those forms that would be created. To begin that process The Absolute extended to three aspects; Existence (which we will refer to as "Being," which can also be interpreted as pure spirit), Consciousness-Force, and Delight. (MSS)

Ultimate Purpose of Our Existence
The ultimate purpose in life is to discover the delight of being through our higher consciousness; thus fulfilling the purpose for which the Divine manifest a universe of forms; further diffusion and dissemination of the Original Delight into the universe. Our ultimate mission then can be to rise to our highest level of consciousness, where we not only experience this delight, not only experience the spiritual attributes of love, truth, knowledge, bliss, and power, but where overcome the divisions and dualities of existence, enabling higher harmonies of progress to emerge in the world. In that way we become the instruments of universe's progress and delight of being.

Multiplicity of Forms & Delight
The Divine manifest a universe in division and duality to enable the greatest multiplicity and possibility of forms. The greater this diversity and multiplicity of forms, including us, the greater the possibilities of discovery and thus delight; the very delight for which the Divine created the universe. (When we live at higher planes of our consciousness we perceive that these division, dualities, and problems of existence, are not in fact in conflict, that each side of the duality needs the other side to further evolve, that there is no good and bad, that they are one in a truer Good.)

Static to Dynamic Delight in Creation
Sri Aurobindo tells us that the omnipresent Reality (God, the Absolute) enabled a universe so it could extend its static delight into dynamic delight through the becomings of the multiplicity of forms of creation; including us. When we discover our higher nature/consciousness, we experience Delight, fulfilling the intention of the Divine in creating the universe. Whenever we discover anything of our higher nature, we experience joy and delight of being. 

Darwin's 'Variation' in Terms of Consciousness
Like religion, science has a limited view of life. The former affirms a Spiritual Source, which is wonderful, but denies or is unaware or disinterested in the process of evolution in the details of life. The latter has served society well and produced vast practical results, but has a partial, mechanistic, material-only view of reality that often produces negative outcomes. Any attempt to reconcile these two realms is a movement of integration and harmony, and is eminently helpful for our understanding of life. Many recent deep thinkers, such as Deepak Chopra, have been trying to forge a link, and have made real, substantial progress in this area. If only the two sides would listen!

Recently I visited the new California Academy of Science located in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. It is two American football fields long and sits parallel to the equally vast and architecturally striking new De Young Museum. One of the CAS exhibits in the hall traces the course of biological evolution on earth as developed by 19^th century giant Charles Darwin. While perusing the main scientific principles behind his theory, something on the wall caught my eye. It was a statement that said something to the effect that "Variation is the spur and cause of evolution." It then struck me that this scientific principle could be explained in terms of spiritual laws of life, thereby reconciling spirit and science.

According to Sri Aurobindo, Variation goes to the very essence of the process of creation that enabled a universe to emerge from a Divine Source. He describes how an original immutable and ineffable Reality moved toward creation by first taking to existence, then becoming conscious of its own existence, which in turn released a force that coagulated into the primal Energy that became the source of all forms in creation.

But why would a Divine Reality seek to create this universe in the first place? Sri Aurobindo explains that this original unmanifest Reality extended itself into a Manifest cosmos so that its own Delight and Bliss could be experienced by those forms of force, including we humans. That when we discover our true nature and selves, we experience the same Delight that the Creator experienced when it moved toward being conscious of Its own Self. Thus, when I discover who I truly am, what purpose I truly serve, etc. -- i.e. move to higher consciousness -- I experience that same Delight.

So where does Variation come into the picture? It turns out that though the Delight of the Divine is one of eternal pleasure and bliss -- called Ananda in Indian parlance -- it is of one sort. I.e. it is singular, but static and unchanging. Therefore, according to Sri Aurobindo, the Divine wished to create a universe of forms that also experienced dynamic delight; i.e. where each of us through the process of self-discovery experienced a unique form of that bliss in our own lives. Well, in order to experience that unique form of Delight, we need to be unique individuals, each expressing and manifesting a unique consciousness. In other words, the Divine intended infinite variation for we humans in creation for infinite variety of discovery and bliss.

Thus, through cosmic insights into the nature of Reality, Sri Aurobindo has seized on the same conclusion as Darwin. Variation -- whether understood in terms of outer functioning of species as in the case of Darwin, or through Divine purpose and intention through human choice, functioning, and discovery as described by Sri Aurobindo -- is a principle of life both embraced.

To be able to describe the outer forces of life in terms of processes of consciousness is one of the great challenges of the New Age. The dogma and superstition of religious precepts and the narrow-minded, mechanistic, material view of existence are limited, contradictory influences that can only be resolved by such higher understanding. From that vantage point we are able perceive the source and essence of all phenomena; the deepest and most profound influence on the workings of life; and the true nature of our evolution through time.

Why There is Ignorance Falsehood, and Evil in Creation
Why is their ignorance, falsehood, evil, etc. in the world is a subject that has been discussed through the ages. No one has come up with an adequate answer, except modern sages like Sri Aurobindo who have the advantage of understanding evolution in combination with the spirit. He explains that out of a Divine Source emerged forms of an original force/energy that make up the universe, including us. We are divided, ignorant, false, beings, even as there are many negative aspects of the cosmos to go along with the positive. So why was there positive and negative in creation?

The Divine Reality extended itself into a universe of forms so that it could extend its status of immutable, unchanging, infinite Joy and Delight into the forms of creation. E.g. an individual rises in consciousness or otherwise become more aware, he has the joy of discovery, which is the very reason we are here, the reason forms emerged from a Divine Source -- i.e. to experience the Delight of the creator.

Then why the negative in creation? In order for the Delight of the Spiritual Source to extend into the greatest quantity/multiplicity of the forms, it had to enable a universe of unlimited possibilities, including the possibilities of the negative. The Divine though its deputy of Nature (as opposed to Soul) sanctioned difficulty, pain, division, duality, ignorance, falsehoods, and evil so that the greatest Delight of the immutable Divine can enter the greatest multiplicity of forms in the most varied way, i.e. through the greatest possibilities in the universe. This is the secret of ignorance, falsehoods, and evil in life.

As we evolve to our highest nature, we will then overcome our ignorance, falsehood, and evil, which will create an even greater richness to life in the future, as all possibilities (including the movement from the current good to the greater good), are now included, create an even more joyful, blissful, yes Divine life on earth.

Cosmic Reason for Delight
When one experiences delight of being, one is fulfilling the purpose for which the Divine created the universe, delight of being; i.e. for us to experience the delight through the discovery of our higher nature.

Joy and Delight of Being Comes through Discovery of Our Higher Nature
Joy and delight is really the delight of discovery in life, discovery of something new, of something you did not know or experience before.

See Thoughts on Delight of Being of Creation Based on Sri Aurobindo's 'The Life Divine'

See Thoughts on Happiness, Joy, Delight of Being for the Individual

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Processes of Self-Conception, Self-Limitation, and Self-Absorption
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[These thoughts are from MSS, Growth Online; and paraphrases of Sri Aurobindo.]
 

Overview

The Infinite Creating the Universe through Self-conception, Self-limitation and Self-absorption
The Infinite ONE seeking delight in Self-discovery hid Himself and emerged out of it. He [Sri Aurobindo] says it was done by Self-conception, Self-limitation and Self-absorption. (MSS)

Self-Conception, Self-Limitation, and Self-Absorption in the Universe
Creation is a process of self-conception, self-limitation and self-absorption by the Infinite to manifest as and through finite forms.

Self-conception, Self-Absorption in Involution
In the involution a process of self conception is used by the Divine to conceptualize the universe as a Real Idea, and through supermind converts that Real Idea into the planes of matter, life, and mind. Then thorough a process of self-absorption the Divine hides Itself (as Spirit) to enable forms. Through the evolution, man can discover the spirit that was self-absorbed, hidden, i.e. Godhead in objects, and thereby experience the delight of existence, fulfilling our purpose.

The Subprocesses of Creation & Accomplishment: Self-Conception, Self-Limitation, & Self-Absorption
The three sub processes that the Absolute utilized to support the underlying process by which the universe emerged from the One are self-conception, self-limitation, and self-absorption. The individual follows the same process when he wishes to successfully create, accomplish, create in life. E.g. a writer conceives that which he wishes to write about (self-conception), he limits himself to the area(s) he will cover in the book, i.e. he will not write about everything (self-limitation), and he absorbs himself in the writing, which is reflected in his concentration and focus (self-absorption). These are all necessary processes for the efficiency that will enable perfect execution and success.

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Process of Self-Conception, Limitation, and Absorption for the Individual
The Absolute (God, Brahman, etc.) manifest the universe through a process of self conception, self limitation, and self absorption. Perhaps we can see that same process of creation in life in this example: A man needs to respond to an inquiry from one of his readers. He thinks of her situation before beginning his response. In that way he is self-conceiving that which he wants to respond with (it's his self-conception of what will be); he limits what he will say to the salient points, i.e. he wants to keep the discussion focused and not go off on too many tangents; this is his self-limitation; and, finally, he refrains from revealing the deepest truths, so that the reader can discover it for himself and have the joy of discovery; this is his self-absorption. We can see these three processes in all circumstances where accomplishment is perfect.

Self-Conception, Limitation, and Absorption in the Individual
We see Self-Conception, Self-Limitation, and Self-Absorption in the individual. I self-conceive that which I wish to be (self-conception), select that element that I am interested in (self-limitation) to the exclusion of other things, and completely focus my energies on that which I selected and limited myself to (self-absorption).

Process of Creation of an Act: Self-Conception, Limitation, Absorption
-I had dripped the sweetener onto the sides of the bottle when pouring a little bit into my coffee. Also it dribble onto the table top. I had done this many times before since the sweetener bottle arrived.

-The method was wrong -- unconscious. I.e., no conscious energy was applied to it, to the act.

-Recognizing the clumsiness and mess of the past, I wanted to do it different this time.

-I conceived of a way of resting the bottle on the top of the cup, perpendicular, to give it balance.

-This is self-conception of thinking of an idea, and self-limitation to come up with this specific potential solution.

-I then did the pouring, and it came out in just the right quantity, i.e. perfect flow; and with no mess. It seemed like a perfect solution.

-This was self-absorption in the act, as I was entirely focused on executing my plan to the exclusion of all other matters, everything else.

-The execution was as near to perfect as I could imagine at the time.

-I not only executed the act as intended, but I now had the method of doing it in the future.

-In a way, the latter was the life response because I now could do it repeatedly without failure.

-Another response was the fact that I had now been graced with perceiving the process of creation is the smallest of acts.

-That was also a response to my last night's efforts to begin to think of the specifics and then the integration of ides of the midsection of your book on Life Response, as explained above.

Self-Conception, Limitation, and Absorption for the Individual
Focus is the process of self-limitation. We limit ourselves down from the various possibilities. It is the second stage of the process of creation, with self-conception (of what to do, be) being the first. Self-absorption is a further stage where we put all of our energies into the thing we have set to focus on, and do so the expense of everything else.

 

Self-Conception

Power of Self-Determination
The Infinite consciousness has not only a power of self-determination.

Self-Conception
In the involution, a process of self conception is used by the Divine to conceptualize the universe as a Real Idea.

Self-Conception
All creation issues from a conscious or subconscious formulation of an intention of the consciousness, i.e. a self-conception of what the consciousness wants to become or achieve. A man may want to become an entrepreneur, earn or marry into wealth, or have many children. A patriot may dream of his country's freedom or prosperity, as Sri Aurobindo aspired for the freedom of India four decades before it was finally realized on his birthday in 1947.

Accomplishment is Self-conception
Accomplishment is self-conception. To paraphrase the Gita, 'You can become anything you have faith and aspire to become.' (MSS)

 

Self-Limitation

Self-Limitation
The Absolute limiting its possibilities to act is self-limitation.

Self-Limitation of the Infinite Consciousness
The Infinite consciousness has not only a power of (1) self-determination, but of (2) self-limitation. The self-limitation would be an individual specialization from out of a common universality or totality. Each self-determination has its own self-truth; it's own self-limitation from out of the universal totality.

Self-Limitation
To make self-absorption (i.e. the complete hiding of Himself on the road to creation), the Absolute limits its possibilities to act, which is an act of self-limitation, whose conception is an act of self-conception.

Self-Limitation of Force
Self-limitation is the power of the Infinite to limit its Force.

Self-Limitation
Consciousness is inherently infinite and capable of infinite alternatives, creation necessarily involves a decision to limit, focus, concentrate on the realization of a specific form, objective or course of action. Thus, all accomplishment involves self-limiting choices. The man may decide to start as an employee of another firm, rise to an executive position, then strike out to start his own business. The patriot who chooses to fight for his country may have to renounce a successful, lucrative career, as many of India's freedom fighters did, or the comforts of a quiet family life in pursuit of his ideal. Only by self-limitation can the infinite manifest as the finite. Only by self-limitation can you bring forth from among the infinite potentials of life the finite accomplishments you aspire for.

Self-Limitation of the Individual
We know from our own experience that when we concentrate our attention on a particular object - be it a thought, a feeling, sensation, external object or event - our attention is simultaneously drawn away from other fields of perception so that we may not display the normal awareness of what is going on around us and we may not respond to external stimuli as we do in a normal waking state. We know that this apparent lack of awareness and responsiveness are the result of a conscious self-limitation or concentration of our attention on a particular field. Concentration or self-limitation is an inherent power of consciousness.

 

Self-Absorption

Self-Absorption of the Infinite
Self-absorption is a power of the Infinite Consciousness; a plunging into itself; in which all would be involved.

Self-Absorption
Self-absorption is the complete hiding of Himself on the road to creation.

Self-Absorption
The process of creation tells us the finite Matter is the inversion of the Infinite Sat (Existence). This inversion has originally occurred through a self-absorption and now emerges back to its original status by a process of evolution.

Self-Absorption
The act of converting consciousness into will and energy involves a self-absorption of that consciousness into the forms it creates, i.e. all forms are created by and consist of consciousness self-absorbed.

The Process of Self-Absorption
The Supreme Absolute who removed His essence of spiritual Being in the involution to enable creation is the process of self-absorption.

Self-Absorption
The act of hiding (self-Absorption) requires the processes that enable division and duality that extend as such divisions as subjectivity and objectivity, time and timelessness, Ignorance and Knowledge, etc.

Self-Absorption
The more full and complete the hiding of Himself, then the greater the intensity if discovery and thus Delight. [In terms of the individual perhaps we could say that the greater I focus myself on my chosen path or direction, the greater the delight in the discovery of success and higher consciousness along the way.]

Self-Absorption through Self-Conception and Limitation
To make self-absorption (i.e. the complete hiding of Himself on the road to creation), the Absolute limits its possibilities of act, which is an act of self-limitation, whose conception is an act of self-conception.

Self-Absorption of Consciousness-Force
Self-absorption of consciousness-force so that it is not at all manifest in surface behaviour is also an inherent power of consciousness. [E.g. Consciousness exists in Matter, but it is self-absorbed there, and thus not-detectable in the surface.]

Absorption that Causes Mind to Forget Its Source
Because of absorption in the workings of formative Energy, Mind forgets that from which it derived, from Supermind. There is a partial movement of Conscious Force absorbed in its forms and actions.

The Self-Absorption that is Inconscience in Creation
The self-absorption is the state (in existence) we call the inconscience.

Self-Absorption of the Delight
The Delight of the Infinite Divine is hidden from us, is lost intentionally by the Creator to enable its greatest possibilities and diversities.

Self-Absorption by the Individual

Self Absorption for Infinite, the Individual
There is a parallel between the self-absorption of the individual in the process of creation, and the self-absorption of the Infinite in creating a universe from the Divine source.

Self-Absorption of the Individual
One is concentrated, self-absorbed in the one thing one has self-limited oneself to.

On Absorption
Every efficient activity requires a level of concentration and focusing, which is our absorption in the act, which mirrors the self-absorption of the Absolute on its way to extending itself as the universe in creation.

Self-Absorption of the Divine, the Cosmos, and the Individual
Self absorption in the process of creation of the universe occurs in the universe as well, including our own lives.

Self-Absorption of the Individual
The greatest performances of great actors are those in which they absorb themselves so fully by identification with the characters they are portraying that they forget for a moment who they really are. Creation is an act of self-giving in which one becomes the thing one creates just as the Divine has become the universe. The entrepreneur immerses himself in the effort to build a business, fully identified with his work and his role as leader, apparently forgetful of other potential careers, talents and personal interests he may possess. Thus, every form or action contains self-absorbed within it as a seed the intention and consciousness with which it was created. Each aspect and element of the entrepreneur's business plan, the people he hires, the location he selects, the name he gives his company, the products he designs, the decisions he takes are infused with his original inspiring conception. Organizations often fail because they drift away from the purity of the original inspiration that gave them birth and is the true source of their energy and vitality.

Individual Conception, Limitation, Absorption
When I choose what I wish to be (self-conception) excluding al other things (self-limitation), and put all my energies into that choice forgetting all other things (self-absorption) I follow the process of creation. This mirrors the process of creation of the universe of forms from a Divine Source.

Self-Absorption of the Individual
The writer who removes his essence of being a non-writer, i.e. other aspects of the expression of his personality in life, in order to focus on the task at hand, writing, is a parallel in life to the Supreme Absolute who removed His essence of spiritual Being in the involution to enable creation. In both cases it is a movement of self-absorption, a sub process of the process of creation.

Self-Limitation and Self-Absorption
It is the power of self-limitation and self-absorption that is necessary to accomplish a great work. It centralizes all of one's scattered interests and energies into a directed pinpointed force for accomplishment.

On Self-Absorption of the Individual
Every efficient activity requires a level of concentration and focusing, which is our absorption in the act, which mirrors the self-absorption of the Absolute on its way to extending itself as the universe in creation.

Self-Conception, Limitation, and Absorption for the Individual
Focus is the process of self-limitation. We limit ourselves down from the various possibilities. It is the second stage of the process of creation, with self-conception (of what to do, be) being the first. Self-absorption is a further stage where we put all of our energies into the thing we have set to focus on, and do so the expense of everything else.

MSS Paper: Theory of Creation & Sri Aurobindo
 

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Processes of Creation of Universe Mirrors How We Create in Life
(top)
 

 

Creation for the Creator, the Individual, Society, and an Organization

There is essentially one process of growth, accomplishment, and creation in the cosmos. It begins with a vision and aspiration, continues with a decision, and unfolds through organization and action, culminating in a result. This process occurs for the Divine spirit, for the individual human, for society, and for a business or organization. 

Creation of the Universe -- From an Omnipresent spiritual Reality emerged a Divine Will to create a universe of forms. Through a process of creation, a Conscious Force emerged from out of a spiritual Existence that developed into an essential Energy out of which the forms of the universe, including us over time manifest. The process was Vision, Aspiration, Decision, Organization, and Manifestation. The universe and all its forms was created through these stages of the process.

Creation for the Individual -- We follow that same process when we create as individuals. We have a vision and aspiration for something to come about. We make the firm decision to accomplish it. We organize the details and carry it out through a determined, persevering effort, which brings enormous positive results in practically no time.

Creation for the Society -- Accomplishment and development occurs similarly in society. A pioneer individual aspires to accomplish something for the society. That individual turns that vision and aspiration into a decision to make it come about, which is organized through details, including strategies and plans of action, which are carried out through a determined, persevering effort that rapidly produces breakthrough results, accomplishment, and growth for society.

Creation for a Business/Organization -- A business or other organization accomplishes and grows in a similar fashion. It does this through a strategic plan. In that plan, it has a vision of what it aspires to accomplish, including the business values it subscribes to. It makes the firm decision to carry out its vision. It organizes the details into specific strategies and plans of action, and carries it out with the highest skills and attitudes. As a result, the company rapidly accomplishes in that targeted area, often in overwhelming fashion.

We can look at this process in terms of an energy flow of physical, vital, mental, and spiritual energies. In all cases, the vision, aspiration, and decision organizes the available energy into a Force, which through organization of the details becomes a Power that when executed through a determined persevering action manifests as overwhelming Results in stunningly short order. It is the same essential process of creation for Creator aspect of the Divine Spirit, for the individual, for society, and for the business/organization. How can we follow that process in our own lives or organizations to enable ultimate accomplishment in no time?

The Process of Creation for the Divine, the Individual, and Acts are the Same
-The process by which an individual or a collective creates in life is the same process that enabled a universe to emerge from a Spiritual source.
-When we create and accomplish in life, we essentially have a vision of, an aspiration of that which we want to accomplish, we organize its details, and carry it out through skills and positive attitudes that enables it to manifest as a living reality.
-Likewise, the Divine had a Vision of creating a universe to extend its Delight into forms, which it manifest by extending its original Spiritual status into a conscious Force, out of which emerged an essential Energy, which became/s becoming all forms in the universe, including us, via the dividing action of Truth Consciousness (Supermind). Thus the Divine too enabled the universe through a process of vision/conception to organization to manifestation.
-The individual act is a microcosm of the universe.
-The process of a successful act that manifests as accomplishment is the same process as the process of the creation, whether for the individual or the universe.
-Acts are accomplished perfectly through knowledge, aspiration, conception, will, organization, and skilled execution. This is a complete act that yields infinite results, mirroring the infinite results that took form as our universe originating from a Divine source. When we perfect an act by following the process of creation, we are mirroring the process of creation of the universe from a Divine source. In all instances, the ultimate purpose of the result is Delight of Being.
-There is ultimately only one process in the unmanifest, as well as in our manifest universe -- the Process of Creation.

The Process of Creation for the Individual; that Enabled the Universe

-Process of Creation for the Individual
An aspiration is a force set in motion that is organized into a power by the organization of the details including the consciousness of the individual, business, collective that is turned into a power and then through its capacities and its actions manifests as a material reality.

There is thus force, aspiration/idea, organization, energy (i.e. organized power of force), and matter (manifestation, materialization of energy). 

The completed process of creation enables discovery of the New and a joy and delight of being.

-Process of Creation that Enabled the Universe
The Absolute/Brahman/God extends as a Existence (i.e. Being/Spirit), Consciousness-Force, Delight. A Real Idea is initiated through this Consciousness-Force, which is organized through the intermediary organizational power of Truth Consciousness (Supermind), which divides the Force through the Truth Consciousness's deputy, the plane of Mind, producing Knowledge and Will from out of the split Force, which produces (from out of the Force) the plane of Life, which is Energy (i.e. the power of the Force) at the outset of the Universe. From out of the plane of Life/Energy manifests inconscient, i.e. unconscious Matter in the universe (as a result of the Knowledge being absorbed by the Will).

There is thus Force, Real Idea, Organization, Energy (organized power of Force), and Matter. This is the involution.

The whole process that ended in Matter began with Being.

In the evolution (i.e. the universe) invisible Energy at rest moves, the involved Matter emerges from it*, and visible Life/Vital/Energy from it, and mind (mainly through the human) emerges from life/vital/energy. Then through human evolution spiritual mind comes from mind, and Spirit (i.e. Being) from Spiritual Mind then emerges from Mind completing the cycle back up.

The cycle also moves along another pathway down into the depths of the individual who moves from surface living guided by the senses to a greater status in the depths within himself, culminating in the discovery of the personal evolving soul, which then ties up with the ascending vertical evolutionary movement in that it aids in the establishment of the higher movement to Spiritual Mind (silence, illuminations, light, intuition, revelation, et al), to Truth Consciousness (Supermind), and then pure Spirit (Being and Existence).

This process of discovery of our True Self and Infinite Capacities enables the Joy and Delight of Being for the individual (and thus fulfills the purpose of the universe, which is fulfilling the transcendent purpose).

The whole process of evolution that started in Matter thus ends in Being. (This is the inverse of the involution.)

*There is overlap between the involution and evolution here.

Splitting in the Involutionary Descent, Fusing in the Evolutionary Ascent
In the involutionary descent there is a splitting of aspects beginning with the One that divides into Existence-Consciousness Force-Delight, each of which then splits ad infinitum until we reach the dawn of creation where matter is enabled in infinite atomic existence. In the evolutionary ascent from matter to spirit there is an ascending gathering and combining of aspects into ever reducing fusions of ever-more subtle consciousness culminating in the spiritual One. There are rules of separation and combination to be learned.

This same process can be followed and the same rules applied when we follow the parallel process of growth and accomplishment in our own lives, which we call the energy conversion process of human creation. The movement from idea to its result is a splitting in the descent from the one thought to the myriad of details of manifestation, where the ascent ranges upward and in an ever-gathering movement from the material to vital to mental consciousness, culminating in the one spiritual consciousness.

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Process of Creation in Life Mirrors Process of Divine Creation of Universe

The process of creation in our own lives mirrors the process by which the universe came about; i.e. manifest a universe from it conception, its Real Idea. The Divine began with a Real Idea to create a universe for greater delight of being. It then moves from consciousness to force to energy at rest to energy moving, the Big Bang, culminating in the manifestation of the universe as matter. We follow a similar process from Direction (including a vision which is our idea of that which we want to accomplish, its Organization, and its Implementation, culminating in results.

Similarity of How We Create and How the Universe Created a Divine reality
In general the process of creation and accomplishment begins with a conception and direction, is organized further in its details, and  is then implemented enabling results. It is a movement from initial energy, to energy directed as force, to energy organized as power, which  materializes as results.

The Divine began with a Real Idea of creating a universe for Delight of being. It used Supermind to organize it, turning Conscious-Force into energy of creation ending in matter, i.e. forms of Force. Similarly, we conceptualize what we wish to be, directing our energies into a force; organize the details, our will, and personality for accomplishment, turning the force into a power; and then implement it through skills and effort, turning the power of energy into great results.

Creation as Process of Self-Conception, Self-Limitation, and Self-Absorption
Creation is a process of self-conception, self-limitation and self-absorption by the Infinite to manifest as and through finite forms. All creation issues from a conscious or subconscious formulation of an intention of the consciousness, i.e. a self-conception of what the consciousness wants to become or achieve. A man may want to become an entrepreneur, earn or marry into wealth, or have many children. A patriot may dream of his country's freedom or prosperity, as Sri Aurobindo aspired for the freedom of India four decades before it was finally realized on his birthday in 1947.

Consciousness is inherently infinite and capable of infinite alternatives, creation necessarily involves a decision to limit, focus, concentrate on the realization of a specific form, objective or course of action. Thus, all accomplishment involves self-limiting choices. The man may decide to start as an employee of another firm, rise to an executive position, then strike out to start his own business. The patriot who chooses to fight for his country may have to renounce a successful, lucrative career, as many of India's freedom fighters did, or the comforts of a quiet family life in pursuit of his ideal. Only by self-limitation can the infinite manifest as the finite. Only by self-limitation can you bring forth from among the infinite potentials of life the finite accomplishments you aspire for.

The act of converting consciousness into will and energy involves a self-absorption of that consciousness into the forms it creates, i.e. all forms are created by and consist of consciousness self-absorbed. The greatest performances of great actors are those in which they absorb themselves so fully by identification with the characters they are portraying that they forget for a moment who they really are. Creation is an act of self-giving in which one becomes the thing one creates just as the Divine has become the universe. The entrepreneur immerses himself in the effort to build a business, fully identified with his work and his role as leader, apparently forgetful of other potential careers, talents and personal interests he may possess. Thus, every form or action contains self-absorbed within it as a seed the intention and consciousness with which it was created. Each aspect and element of the entrepreneur's business plan, the people he hires, the location he selects, the name he gives his company, the products he designs, the decisions he takes are infused with his original inspiring conception. Organizations often fail because they drift away from the purity of the original inspiration that gave them birth and is the true source of their energy and vitality. (MSS)

Process of Creation Mirrors All Process in Life
The process of creation (by which any aspect of existence is able to create something anew out of itself) is essentially the same on all planes of existence -- spiritual, mental, vital, physical; and mirrors the process by which the universe itself was created from out of the One. The process can be seen in how physical objects, the material, are created, or in the mental imaginative processes that enabled a Shakespeare to create his works. It can be seen as it relates to psychology of human character, attitudes and emotions; to the sociology of organizations, nations and their development; to the creation and growth of businesses; and in every important or mundane act, activity, situation, circumstance, and event we engage in, in which we attempt to accomplish in life. In all life the process of creating something anew is essentially the same. 

Process of Accomplishment
Individuals accomplish by growing beyond their limited capacities. In other words, from out of the limitations, the "Involution," humans make an Evolution. Greater accomplishment comes from out of this process. In fact, this is a process that the whole universe is going through. The ultimate purpose of this process is the unfolding of the higher qualities and capacities in the individual, which reflect the original purpose and determinants of the source of the creation, the Absolute, the Divine.

The Method of Creation of the Universe; and in Our Lives
Brahman spit into Sat-Chit-Ananda; i.e. Existence-Conscious-Force, Bliss. Supermind split off from these, created the plane of Mind, which split Conscious-Force into Knowledge and Will. Knowledge effected will to release energy which released the plane of Life when Knowledge withdrew, from which the plane of Matter was formed when Knowledge completely withdrew. The creation began with this dumb, inconscient Matter.

Self-conception, self-limitation and self-absorption are the processes along the way, with Delight in discovery being the purpose.

We can call this method the Descent. When individuals follow the process of creation and accomplishment in their own lives they also work in a human descent that begins with an idea (the higher) from the plane of Mind that ends in results (the lower) in the plane of Matter.

Self-Conception, Limitation, and Absorption for the Individual
Focus is the process of self-limitation. We limit ourselves down from the various possibilities. It is the second stage of the process of creation, with self-conception (of what to do, be) being the first. Self-absorption is a further stage where we put all of our energies into the thing we have set to focus on, and do so the expense of everything else.

Untitled
Knowledge and Will were a stage in the process of creation of the One into the Many. Likewise, when we create, we begin with knowledge of that which we wish to create, do, and then engage the will (of the vital-physical) to insure its manifestation into something tangible and real. (In Supermind this process is simultaneous.)

A Question
If in the process of Creation knowledge acted on will releasing the plane of energy which became the plane of matter as knowledge was absorbed, how can we practically show at each step the parallel process of growth and accomplishment in our own lives?

Supramental Consciousness Enables Creation
The supramental consciousness enabled the Divine to create the universe. This same power enables us to discover and embody our ultimate evolutionary nature.

Understanding Process of Creation
We can only fully understand the process of creation of the universe from out of a Divine and that same process in life by ourselves having the supramental consciousness. Though mind can only know it partially, yet it is where we must begin to understand the metaphysics and reality of creation.

Organization, the Force, and Efficiency of Results
Organizing a work or an endeavor one level higher than its current status, creates substantial improvements of results relative to that effort. E.g. the likelihood of success of an activity may be doubled or more. That is the power of organization. Opening to the Divine Force however opens enables infinite possibilities, where productivity and success can be 10, 100, a 1000 times to infinity greater. It also enables the decent of one or more spiritual properties into the atmosphere of the work, such as Truth, Knowledge, Power, Peace, Oneness, and Delight. This is the power of Spiritual Organization, a super organizing mechanism; an instrument of the Divine Force.

Untitled
To see the process of creation of the universe at work in the process by which we create and accomplish in life is a great wisdom, and a key to opening the gates to the infinite possibility in life.

INTERVIEW on Accomplishment through the Process of Creation
In this interview Roy Posner, president of Growth Online, discusses how we can learn to create infinite accomplishment, success, and joy for ourselves, our businesses, for society by following growth and development processes that mirror the process by which the universe was created from a Divine source. 

Untitled
The process by which the Divine creates the universe as revealed in The Life Divine is the same process by which man creates in his own life. The essence of that process is summarised as self-conception, self-limitation and self-absorption; consciousness involving as force, force creating form, etc.  (MSS)

 

Related

To view mini thoughts on the practical ways that the process of creation, growth, and accomplished can be followed by an individual to achieve greatly in life, click here.

 

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DETAILS OF THE INVOLUTION

Origins and Nature of the Planes of Existence, Conscious Force, Delight (Sat-Chit-Ananda)

Origins and Nature of the Plane of Supermind | Origins and Nature of the Plane of Mind

Origins and Nature of the Plane of Life/Energy

 

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INVOLUTION:
 Origins and Nature of the Planes of Existence, Conscious Force, Delight (Sat-Chit-Ananda)
(top)

 

Overview of Sat-Chit-Ananda in Creation

The Involutionary Process
The Involutionary process is how the Omnipresent Reality (the Absolute, Brahman) that extended to the Triune of Existence, Consciousness-Force, Delight becomes the Energy that is the source of all forms in the universe enabled creation.

Brahman to Satchitananda to Creation
-Out of Brahman comes Satchitananda and from It creation. Brahman, the Reality is then both in an integral relationship.

-Unknowable Brahman extended itself to Satchitananda. I.e. it Exists, (Sat); it is Conscious of its Existence and thereby emanates a Force (Chit) and Delights in its Existence and Consciousness (Ananda). Through the Supramental Truth power the energy that is the source of creation emerges from the Conscious-Force (Chit).

Theory of Creation
The Omnipresent Reality is the unknowable immutable timeless spaceless that is the source of all creation. To initiate that process it divided into three aspects; Existence, i.e. the Reality now exits, and is identifiable Spirit and Truth; Consciousness-Force, the Reality is now conscious of its existence; and Delight, the Reality delights in its existence. From this triune existence it begins the process of creation of the universe. How the Force of the triune that becomes the energy that is the source of all forms in the universe is the Involutionary process enabling creation.

The Omnipresent Reality/Brahman,/The Absolute Extends to Existence, Consciousness-Force, Delight to Manifest the Universe

The Omnipresent Reality in order to begin the process of creation of the universe divided into three aspects Existence, Consciousness-Force, and Bliss (Sat-Chit-Ananda). It extended one step further to Supermind to enable the universe, i.e. coordinate between Satchitananda and that which would be created as matter, life, and mind. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

The Beginnings of the Process of Creation
The Process of Creation is the process by which the Many emerged from the One as a universe of divided, ignorant forms.

The process begins when the immutable, unknowable Absolute divides into the triune of Existence/Being (i.e. that the Absolute can now be known as existing; which we will later perceive as "Spirit"), Conscious Force (i.e. It is also conscious of Its existence, which enables a Force or power), and Delight (i.e. It delights in the consciousness of its existence). This is the first stage of the involution.

Creation of the Universe
The universe was created when in the Involution before creation the plane of mind, as agent of the plane of Supermind, split the Force of (Existence, Consciousness Force, Delight; i.e. Sat-Chit-Ananda), creating Knowledge and Will out of the Force.

 

Sat-Chit-Ananda
Existence/Being (Sat) (pure absolute existence)	Conscious - Force (Chit) (The force generated by being conscious of Its existence, which becomes the Energy of Creation)	Delight (Ananda) (The delight in existing/being)

Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo
-Sri Aurobindo envisaged that The Supreme Reality is in its initial status before creation unknowable, immutable, and timeless.

-for the process of creation there is then created three extensions of the Supreme Reality -- Existence, Consciousness Force, and Delight (Sat, Chit, and Ananda). The Reality in its first extension is first Pure Existence (i.e. it exists, i.e. there is a Truth to its Existence; it is a Being); second it is conscious of its existence, which causes it to be a force (a Conscious Force); and third it Delights in its own recognition of, its consciousness of its existence.

Unity of Sat-Chit-Ananda (Existence, Consciousness-Force, Delight)
Sachchidananda is the One with a triple aspect.  In the Supreme the three are not three but one - existence is consciousness, consciousness is bliss, and they are thus inseparable, not only inseparable but so much each other that they are not distinct at all.  In the superior planes of manifestation they become triune - although inseparable, one can be made more prominent and base or lead the others.  In the lower planes below they become separable in appearance, though not in their secret reality, and one can exist phenomenally without the others so that we become aware of what seems to us an inconscient or a painful existence or a consciousness without Ananda.  Indeed, without this separation of them in experience pain and ignorance and falsehood and death and what we call inconscience could not have manifested themselves - there could not have been this evolution of a limited and suffering consciousness out of the universal nescience of Matter. (Sri Aurobindo)

Releasing the Infinite in Planes in the Creation
The Infinite Omnipresent Reality became infinite Existence as Spirit, infinite Consciousness of its Existence, infinite Force, and infinite Delight of existence; inverting in Creation to discover the infinite hidden in matter, life, spiritual mind and beyond.

The Inversion of Existence, Consciousness-Force, Delight in Creation
In the process of creation, as a result of the Absolute following a process of self-conception, self-limitation, and self-absorption, the Existence (of E, C-F-D) above inverts to Non-Existence in creation, and then will evolve back in the evolution through the dualities of life and death on its way back to Existence; Consciousness above inverts into Inconscience in the creation, which will evolve back in the evolution through the dualities of Truth and Falsehood, and Knowledge and Error until it reaches Consciousness; and Delight above inverts into Insensibility in the creation and journeys back in the evolution through Pleasure and Pain back to Delight. These dualities will be the basis for (and the opportunities and methods out of) the Problems of life.

Continuum of Being
There is a continuum of Self (Pure Being?) > Conscious Being > Divine Being > Power of Being > Joy of Being. (Is this a viable statement?)

The Rishis and Satchitananda
Even the Rishis saw only one side of Sachchidananda. (MSS) [which was?]

Existence/Being (Sat)

Pure Existence
Behind the Infinite Energy that is poring into life, there is Stability. It is Pure Existent; timeless, spaceless, immutable, inexhaustible, not moving, pure existence.

The Pure Existent Infinite Stability (Behind the Infinite Energy)
Sri Aurobindo says that when we go beyond ego and enter a higher consciousness, we begin to see that there is a boundless Energy of infinite existence, movement, and activity that is pouring itself into Space and Time. This energy's intensity and force of movement is the same in the formation and upholding the macro and the micro. It is the same in all; in expression or repression; affirmation and negation; in the strong and the weak. And yet, behind this movement, there is Stability. It is pure existence, eternal, infinite, indefinable; not affected by the succession of time, not involved in the extensions of space; beyond form, quantity and quality. It is immutable, inexhaustible and unexpended, not acting though containing all this action, not energy, but pure existence.

The Pure Existent
The pure Existent is the Being (i.e. Sat of Satchitananda).

-It is the first stage from out of the immutable Absolute in the process toward a creation.

-In Existence, i.e. the pure Existent there is no Time or Space.

-There is an undefinable, infinite, timeless, spaceless Existence; it is a pure absolute existence.

The Absolute, the Pure Existent, and Energy
The Absolute contains and exceeds the Stability of the Pure Existence and the Energy (it supports) that is prior to and pours into creation.

Existence/Being
-Sri Aurobindo says that the Pure Existent, Sat of Sat-Chit-Ananda, is the first step that the Absolute, Brahman takes out of itself on its march to create life in the universe.

-The first extension of the Omnipresent Reality is Existence/Being. I.e. there is an existence to the Omnipresent reality that can be perceived. Existence/Being is in essence "the Pure Existent."

Existence/Being
Existence/Being consists of three aspects: Self, Purusha (i.e. Conscious Being, Spirit, Soul), and Ishwara (Creator, Creative Being). Self conceives the universe, Purusha can execute the conception. Ishwara does conceive and execute the creation of the universe.

The Effect of the Pure Existent and Spirit in Our Lives
The original status of God, Brahman, the Absolute it is that it is unknowable, undefinable, infinite, timeless, spaceless, etc. It's first defined status on the way to manifest a universe of forms is that It exists. That existence is called Sat in the East. The experience of Sat, i.e. the Pure Existent is what we mean by "spirit." Spirit is the essence of Brahman. It is also called Being. In our lives we come to see that this Spirit or Being is the substance from which we are made -- in our bodies, our vital, and our minds. I.e. spirit (of existence) is the substance of the universe; and we are made up of that spiritual substance. As we become more conscious, we play the decisive role of bringing the spirit into life, i.e. realizing it in our material, life existence, thereby bringing the Being into the Becoming, which transforms our lives and the life around us into its infinite possibilities.

The Creator Aspect (Ishwara) of Existence/Being
The original condition, Existence/Being has three aspects; its Absolute aspect (Self/Atman), its Witness/Spirit aspect (Conscious Being/Purusha), and its Creator aspect (Divine Being/Ishwara).

THE ABSOLUTE (Brahman, The Omnipresent Reality)
Existence/Being (Sat)	Conscious-Force (Chit)	Delight (Ananda)
Absolute (Brahman, the Beyond All, Self/Atman) -- Witness, Spirit, Conscious Being (Purusha) -- Creator, Divine Being (Ishwara)	Knowledge, Will V Energy, Life V The Universe	Beauty Bliss Love

The Absolute aspect of Existence is beyond all limitations, indeterminate, the Source Being. It can conceive the universe, but cannot execute it. There is also the Spirit or Witness consciousness (Purusha), a step closer to something we can identify (i.e. the spirit). It can stand back from creation, be a detached witness of it, and execute/initiate the process of creation. However, it cannot conceive it, which the Absolute state can. The Creator (Ishwara) is the third aspect of Existence (Sat, Being), and it can conceive and execute creation. (The Supermind -- the fourth aspect beyond Existence, Conscious-Force, Delight -- will be the instrument of the Creator aspect of Existence to create the universe out of the Conscious Force.)

Creation from Out of Existence/Being
-There is Self, Purusha (Spirit) and Ishwara (creator) as elements of Existence/Being involved in the process of creation of the universe.

-Self uses power of Maya to conceive creation) Purusha uses power of Prakriti, Nature to be an instrument in creation) Ishwara uses the power of Shakti to conceive and carry out the creation of the universe)

THE ABSOLUTE
Sat-Chit-Ananda
Existence/Being (Sat)			Conscious - Force (Chit)	Delight (Ananda)
Self (uses power of Maya to conceive creation)	Purusha (uses power of Prakriti, Nature to be an instrument in creation)	Ishwara (uses the power of Shakti to conceive and carry out the creation of the universe)	V Knowledge & Will V Energy V Universe emerges

Methods of Self, Purusha, Shakti
Maya is the Method of Self, Nature (Prakriti) is the method of Purusha, and Shakti is the method of Ishwara.

Maya as Power of Existence/Being (Sat)
Maya is the conceptive method by which the Self of Existence/Being (Sat) conceives to create a universe of divided forms for the purpose of extending Its Delight.

Lower and Higher Maya
Sri Aurobindo speaks of a lower Maya that is illusion, unreal to the Mind, as well as a higher Maya by which a universe of separate, divided (non-whole) forms were created from the One.

Sri Aurobindo Says Maya is Real to the Self
Analysing many of our beliefs from the first principles, we will be surprised by the fact that our whole existence is superstition. Rightly Shankara called it Maya and pleaded for its rejection in toto. Buddha's analysis dissolved ego and he extended it to the Self too. Ego is the creation of Mind which on analysis can dissolve. Self existed before the creation of the Mind. How can mental analysis dissolve Self? Thus Shankara stole a march over Buddha. Sri Aurobindo goes one step further that Maya, which is unreal to the mind, is real to the Self and He quotes the Vedas in His support, though He explains it on his own. A detailed knowledge of this idea in The Life Divine will directly help research in education. (MSS)

The Process of Creation (the Involution) in terms of Maya, Prakriti, Shakti - 1

• In the beginning is the self-conscious unity of Being.
• For the sake of the play, it becomes Sachchidananda.
• Supermind is the nature of Sachchidananda -- its objective status.
• The Self-Conscious Being presents itself as Brahman, Purusha, Ishwara with their corresponding powers of Maya, Prakriti, Shakti.
• Maya conceptively creates while preserving the original oneness.
• Prakriti dynamically executes as Purusha stands aloof.
• Shakti conceptively creates and dynamically executes as Ishwara here is a part of Shakti, by surrendering to it.
• Simultaneously the self-conscious Being divides itself subjectively as Spirit and objectively as Truth. The objective status of consciousness is knowledge.
• The action of Brahma, Purusha, and Ishwara through Maya, Prakriti, and Shakti takes place in the plane of Supermind which is the objective status of Sachchidananda.
• Supermind is called the plane of Truth-Conscious.
• It is here the ONE becomes the Many without actual separation, a differentiation without distinction.

The Process of Creation (the Involution) in terms of Maya, Prakriti, Shakti - 2

• In Creation the Absolute (Brahman) becomes the Self-Conscious Being, (Sat Purusha).
• The Self-conscious being acquires three consecutive states of Brahman, Purusha, Ishwara.
• Maya, Prakriti, Shakti are their powers.
• What Maya conceives, Prakriti executes.
• Shakti does both, i.e. conceives and executes.
• It is done in the Supramental plane which is the objectivised status of Sat.
• In addition, Sat creates Spirit and Truth by subjective, objective processes.
• Spirit again by a subjective-objective process creates Time and Space.
• So far, it is creation in the cosmos.
• Only when Time splits into Time and Timelessness is Mind created.
• Mind creates Life and Matter. (MSS, slightly modified)

Purusha
Purusha is the soul of the universe. (MSS) [Man has a soul too that reflects this. -editor]
 

Conscious-Force (Chit)

Conscious-Force
The Being is Conscious, and as a result has become a Force. (In this way, the Conscious-Force is the power of the Being.)

Conscious Force from Brahman to Create the Universe of Forms
Brahman (The Omnipresent reality, the Absolute) throws out force of consciousness to create the worlds of forms.

Sri Aurobindo Says the Force is Conscious
In the chapter on Conscious-Force Sri Aurobindo sets out to argue that the Force is conscious. In the previous chapter in the very last para He raises this question where Force is independent or a power of the Being. In an important sense, this question is a cornerstone of His philosophy. While the Upanishads, the materialist and the scientist argue Force is force, Sri Aurobindo postulates that the Force is a power of Being and therefore it is conscious. Hence HE called the chapter Conscious-Force. (MSS)

Conscious-Force
To create the universe the Absolute, Brahman at that point extended its Pure Existence (Sat) to Conscious Force (Chit); i.e. Sat extended to Chit. I.e. to create the world of forms Brahman throws out the force of consciousness to create the world of forms. That Force became the Energy which enabled the universe, including the world.

Conscious-Force (Chit) Created the World
Chit (Conscious Force), as energy, created the world.

Conscious-Force in Sri Aurobindo's 'The Life Divine'

Introduction
Whereas in the previous chapter on the Pure Existent Sri Aurobindo  spoke of the Stability behind the Infinite boundless energy that is pouring itself into Space and Time, in this chapter he focuses on the essential Force that is the source of that energy and hence of all forms in creation. Or to put it another way, if Being/Existence (i.e. Sat of Satchitananda) provides the timeless, spaceless, ineffable, immutable Stability and basis for a universe to emerge from it, then there must be a second aspect required for that universe to actually emerge; some Force and power out of which the Energy of creation can emerge. There is, and it is "Conscious-Force."

All Existence in the Universe is Forms of Force
He begins by saying all existence in the universe is a product of this Force and its corresponding energy. That the very seed of existence in the universe is this Force and energy expressing through all planes from inconscient matter to life through mind to supermind. (In each plane that Force has a different expression.)

Forms Take Shape as Gathering of Forces
He also explains that all of the forms that take shape in the cosmos is a meeting of and mutual adoption between unshaped forces that become forms of that Force.

Reason for Sensation and Action in the Universe
He also explains why there is sensation and action in the universe. He says that sensation and action is a response of something in a form of Force to the contact of other forms of Force.

Consciousness Enables the Force to Move
He says that Force can remain at rest self-concentrated or state of self-diffusion/movement. Then why does this Force move, issuing forth the energy that is the basis of all forms of that Force in creation? He says that this is not just a Force, but a Conscious Force. He says that Existence (As described in the previous chapter) is Conscious, and as a result it produces a Conscious-Force, one with a will or intention; which expresses as Energy. Since it is also conscious, it is not merely compelled to move, but do so in a conscious, creative way enabling unique formations and planes of forms of that Force to emerge.

Conscious Force as Second Stage of Satchitananda and Thus Creation
In the final analysis, if Existence/Being provides the Essence and Stability for creation, then Conscious Force is the basis for the instrumentality of Creation through forms of that Force. Or to put it another way, to create the world of forms, Brahman throws out the force of consciousness to create the world of forms.

Thus, the process of creation of a universe from an Infinite source is first Existence/being (sat), followed by Conscious-Force (Chit) of Satchitananda. (See diagram below)

Consciousness Involved in Planes
Finally, Sri Aurobindo says that the consciousness expresses differently amongst the planes. In inconscient matter, there is virtually no consciousness on the surface, but it is involved in it in its essence. As we move up to the next planes of animated life and then mind, the consciousness reveals itself more on the surface. E.g. in mind, consciousness is already well developed. Yet it to has involved consciousness of spiritualized mind, supermind, even Sat, Chit, and Ananda, and Brahman. Every plane has every higher plane involved in it in its essence (as potentiality).

Bringing Out the Consciousness of Any Plane
In Matter the Conscious aspect of the Force is least on the surface, it is involved, and expresses only in its subconscient nature. As we ascend the chord of planes from matter to Supermind, it is more on the surface. In Supermind it is fully present, active. Our human evolution is thus to bring it fully to the surface; for it to show itself in all aspects of that plane. It is really to bring out the Consciousness, which in the involutionary processes was divided and cut off from the Force, whereas (just) the Force is already present.

In the involutionary process -- the descent from Sat-Chit-Ananda to Mind to Energy to Matter -- that Conscious-Force will ever increasingly shed its Consciousness in degrees, but not its Force. In the evolutionary process of the universe from Matter to Animated Life to Mind and beyond, the consciousness that was involved moves tot he surface, i.e. is evolved.

Conscious-Force
The process begins when the immutable, unknowable Absolute divides into the triune of Existence/Being (i.e. that the Absolute can now be known as existing; which we will later perceive as "Spirit"), Conscious Force (i.e. It is also conscious of Its existence, which enables a Force or power), and Delight (i.e. It delights in the consciousness of its existence). This is the first stage of the involution. Now the involution continues through the further division of the Conscious-Force. This is enabled through the Truth Consciousness, a fourth aspect which will divide the Force from the Consciousness, and the Force itself into Knowledge and Will. When the Knowledge is empties in the Will through a process of self-absorption, what remains is the formation of Energy. In other words, as a result of this dividing action of the Truth Consciousness on the Conscious-Force, a plane of energy is released. This non-moving energy exits before the universe begins. When it "moves," coagulates, and then disaggregates into separate objects, i.e. forms, the universe begins. Space and time are also formed in this overall process.

Splitting the Conscious Force to Create the Energy of the Universe
Supermind created the plane of Mind, which split Conscious Force into Knowledge and Will. Knowledge working on Will released Energy (i.e. the plane of Life). That still energy began to move, which coagulated into forms. (As Knowledge was absorbed by the Will these forms took shape, originally as the inconscient Matter, which is the first form of the Energy. This process up through where energy begins to coagulate into forms is the Involution, after which the evolution begins.]

Splitting the Force
In the involution the plane of Mind (as the agent of Supermind) split the (conscious) Force into Knowledge and Will in order to continue the process that led to the manifestation of the universe.

Universe from the Conscious-Force
The universe was created when in the Involution before creation the plane of mind, as agent of the plane of Supermind, split the Force of (Existence, Consciousness Force, Delight; i.e. Sat-Chit-Ananda), creating Knowledge and Will out of the Force. When the Knowledge began to act on Will, Energy was released in the form of the plane of Life. When Knowledge withdrew from Will, the Energy was then devoid of its knowledge causing the a plane of Matter to be created; i.e. distinct forms of matter to take shape.

Inversion of the Conscious Force in Creation
Consciousness above inverts into Inconscience in the creation, which will evolve back in the evolution through the dualities of Truth and Falsehood, and Knowledge and Error until it reaches Consciousness. [Thus we can say the Spirit, Purusha expresses in all planes, as does Brahman, the Omnipresent Reality Itself, which 'gave birth to Existence/Being and the Conscious Force.]

Inconscience out of the Conscious-Force
The Consciousness-Force becomes Inconscience (Unconsciousness) in creation (beginning in Matter).

Conscious Force Expresses in the Universe
The conscious Force expresses in everything in the universe; from the subconscient matter to life to mind to Supermind. Thus in every thing dwells the Original Conscious Force. (E.g. matter itself is forms of Conscious Force.)

Conscious-Force Expresses at All Planes in Creation
Consciousness is a self-aware force of existence, rising above us as Supermind, at mind, and below mind as vital, material and subconscient.

Conscious-Force and Matter
Matter is forms of Force; is a form of Conscious Force. [an inconscient/unconscious form.] The Conscious Force is involved, buried in Matter.

 

Delight (Ananda)

Formation and Purpose of Delight
When the Being becomes conscious of itself, it takes Delight in that fact.

The purpose of creation is to extend the static delight of the Unmanifest into the dynamic delight of he multiplicity of forms in the Manifest.

When individuals in the Manifest universe discover their higher nature, they experience delight, which was the purpose of their creation in the first place.

Delight (Ananda) and Psychic (Evolving Soul)
Delight/Ananda in the unmanifest becomes Psychic Being (evolving Soul) within us in the manifest.

Delight (Ananda) and Psychic (Evolving Soul)
The other day I had a momentary glimpse of why Ananda became the psychic being. I felt a sudden profound pleasure and a kind of flash of light within, a few moments after concentrating in the depths as I walked. Then I understood why Ananda became the psychic.  It was a dramatic experience, unlike anything before.

Delight of the Spirit vs. Human Happiness
Delight/Ananda for the individual is the experience of the Spirit, as opposed to the happiness of the individual which is transitory and changes, even to its opposite.

See thoughts on Delight as reason for creation

 

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INVOLUTION:
 Origins and Nature of the Plane of Supermind
(top)

 

Supermind
By 'Supermind,' Sri Aurobindo means several things. For one, it a plane that resides between the 'upper hemisphere' of pure being and consciousness, and the 'lower hemisphere; of life in the universe (mind, life, and matter). This plane is what enables the Real Ideas of the Supreme to manifest as forms of that force in creation. So in that sense, Supermind is the power that enables creation; that divides the Force into the forms, forces, and powers, seen and unseen experienced in the universe.

Another way of looking at Supermind is a plane of perfect knowledge that has the full, integral truth of anything. It is a plane that Man can rise to above his current limited mentality so he too can have perfect understanding of a matter that enters his mind seemingly out of nowhere through revelations of that truth.

A third way of looking at Supermind is not only the means of creation, but a force and power that is leaning down on the earth's consciousness, and which we can open to in order to transform the various aspects of our being, as well as instantly or very rapidly set right the conditions of life, creating sudden good fortune ("instantaneous miraculousness") for the person opening to it.

Ultimately Sri Aurobindo envisions a new race of humans who through an opening to the supramental power and knowledge have been transformed in all planes of their being, mental, vital, and spiritual, ushering in what he calls the Gnostic, supramental individual who will be the basis of a new divine life on earth.

Supermind & Satchitananda
Supermind is the objective state, the nature of of Sachchidananda. It is the creator of the universe.

Supermind is Situated between Two Hemispheres
Supermind is [the plane] between the Sachchidananda [Existence, Conscious-Force, Delight; i.e. the Divine Consciousness] and the lower creation [Mind, Life, Matter]. 

Supermind as Creator of Universe
Supermind is an extension of Existence, Conscious-Force, Delight that renders the universe.

Role of Supermind
Supermind renders the Real Ideas of the conscious Being into the descending planes leading to creation (energy and matter).

What Supermind Creates
Through the involutionary process, Supermind renders out of the upper planes of Sat-Chit-Ananda, the lower planes of Mind, Life, and Matter.

Supermind and Brahman
Supermind is the extension of creative knowledge of Brahman (the Reality and totality that precedes Satchitananda).

Supermind Contains Self Determining Truth
Supermind alone contains the self-determining Truth of the Divine Consciousness and is necessary for a Truth creation. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

Supermind as Creator
Supermind is the source of manifestation in creation. Supermind is the ultimate determinant as it shapes the Real Ideas through the Conscious Force to enable patters in creation. Supermind is the Creator.

Supermind as Creator and Availability to Man
-The Supermind is a plane of consciousness that enabled the creation of the universe from out of a Divine Source.
-Supermind  is the ordering mechanism that enabled the triune of Existence-Consciousness Force-Delight (Sat-Chit-Ananda) of the Absolute to become the creation and the forms within it.
-Supermind enabled/enables the involution from the Spirit into the forms of creation.
-Supermind is the ordering mechanism of the divine. It is that which enables the manifestation, the cosmos, the universe, the One to emanate from the One, the Original Source. It is also the power in the universe that one can open to that enables us to bring in the powers of the One, the Absolute into our lives, enabling us to evolve to a higher functioning, culminating in the supramental beings and the supramental life on earth. 
-Supermind  is also there in the universe enabling that which was created (i.e. the universe and humanity) to evolve and connect back to its original spiritual source, fulfilling the destiny of the universe and all that is in it. Simply put it is the plane that created the universe, and it is the plane by which we fulfill in our evolution the purpose of the creation.

How Supermind Enabled the Universe
To begin the process of creating the universe, the Absolute, the Original Principle, the Omnipresent Reality has the Real Idea of creation. It's conception is to create a manifest universe for the purpose of extending its own Delight into infinite multiplicity of forms. By creating a manifest universe of infinite variation of forms, infinite discovery is made potential through those forms. When they (i.e. us) discover the spirit in ourselves, in life, we experience the joy of the discovery, the Delight of Being, the very reason the Absolute wished for a universe of forms from out of itself.  Our delight of Being would then matches and even exceeds the delight of the Creator.

To that Goal the Absolute divides or extends itself into three aspects of itself in preparation for the creation -- as Existence, as Consciousness, and as Delight (i.e. Sat-chit-ananda). The Absolute further extends itself to further enable a manifest creation and universe it wishes to bring about. To that end it extends another plane, the plane of Truth Consciousness, or Supermind. Supermind coordinates the rendering of the Absolute, expressed as Real Ideas, into a created universe. Supermind is thus the great ordering mechanism and instrument of creation. It has the supreme Vision and Unity of Understanding of all of all attributes and will of the Supreme from "above" to order the creation in its potential of multiplicity as a universe "below." Supermind is both a Knowledge and a Power. It has the Knowledge of the Real Ideas and the intent of the Absolute to render a universe, and it has the Power to carry it out.

To that end Supermind creates the planes of (Cosmic) Mind to begin the process of objectifying the spirit of the Absolute into a manifestation, a universe. Creation must express the Timeless in the plane of Time in order to exist; i.e. to objectify itself, which requires division. To that end Supermind created the plane of Cosmic Mind to divide the Consciousness-Force. When the Consciousness-Force is split by Cosmic Mind, as agent of Supermind, Knowledge and Will are created. When the Knowledge is exhausted in the Will, the plane of Life emerges, initially as Energy at rest. When energy moves, then the energy coagulates and then forms distinct elements of matter. The distinct forms are thus the divisions required if there is to be objectification out of the Absolute.  This is what Supermind has enabled. Up to the point where energy is about to move is, in essence, the Involution.

When the energy moves, the Evolution begins as this energy coagulates into the forms of creation -- beginning initially as matter (which then evolves as animus of life and mind in the universe). All forms in the universe are forms of energy. This energy is in essence the Force of Consciousness-Force, separated from its Knowledge & Consciousness.

Supermind is then the ordering extension of the Absolute that enabled the Force to be divided from the Consciousness-Force to form energy which moved and coagulated into forms.    

Supermind Creates Forms Out of Conscious Force/Energy from Real Ideas that It Comprehends and Apprehends
In addition to enabling the Energy (out of of Conscious Force), which becomes the substance of creation, there is also a process by which Supermind creates distinct forms and forces out of the Energy in a particular way. It is done through the rendering of Its own Real Ideas in Space and Time through the creation of subject, object, method of eight essential determining aspects. This is explained in detail below.

How the One Became the Many; and Space and Time Emerged

[The following is based on the Theory of Creation presented by Sri Aurobindo in 'The Life Divine' and elsewhere, and further expanded on by Sri Karmayogi.]

From time immemorial, individuals have asked themselves how this world came to be, and what was the process that enabled it to happen. Here is one perspective:

To begin with, there was/is an infinite, divine Source of all things; a timeless, spaceless, immutable, ineffable Being. We can think of it as the "One," since there were not yet distinct forces and forms in a manifest universe. I.e. there was not yet a “Many.” Due to some inner compulsion, the One extended Itself to become the Many, which is in essence the distinct, unique forces and forms that will become the basis of Creation.

How then did the Many emerge from the One; i.e. the Creation from the Creator?

In the Source/Infinite consciousness are Real Ideas, which are possibilities It seeks to render as living realities; i.e. cosmic determinants that the Spirit seeks to make real in creation. Among them are spiritual aspects or qualities, including Oneness, Knowledge, Creativity, Beauty, Love, and Delight. There are also variations, combination, and subsets of these that the Divine seeks in its extension from the One to then Many.

Then how were/are the Real Ideas made real in the cosmos as unique forces and forms?

The Truth Consciousness, which Sri Aurobindo calls "Supermind" rendered through its own Comprehending capacity images of those Real Ideas. Or to put it another way, Comprehending Supermind imagined and envisioned distinct forces and forms that would embody these cosmic ideas and determinants.

At this point however, these imaginations have not been rendered real; as they are only a conception of separate formations. (We can compare this to the writer who has established characters, values and meaning, and plot in his mind, but has not yet committed them to paper.) However, through Supermind’s Apprehending capacity these envisioned formations are rendered real as distinct entries in an emerging cosmos. I.e. Oneness, Knowledge, Creativity, Beauty, Love, Delight, et al become distinct forces and forms at the unseen universal plane.

How then did these imagined forms become real?

To become separate, distinct objects, Apprehending Supermind divided each of the previously envisioned attributes of Knowledge, Oneness, Creativity, Love, Delight, etc. and their infinite variations into triplicities in the form of subject - subject/object experience - object. E.g. the distinct possibility of the spiritual aspect of "Knowledge" is rendered into Knower – Knowing – Known. E.g., as a knowing being one knows that which is known. (Or to put it in words of our own experience. I as knower am knowing what is known.) Similarly, there is the triplicity of the lover (the subject) loving (experience) the beloved (object). And so forth for the myriad of cosmic determinates/spiritual qualities of the Infinite Divine. In essence, the One reality has now divided itself in various ways so that each subject can experience itself as object, thereby becoming the Many.

It should be noted that at this point there is no physical universe. Before that can come about, there needs to be a foundation for it's occurrence; which is in essence what we know of as space and time. Though the Infinite Source is beyond space and time -- it is spaceless and timeless -- a potential universe requires these as underpinning. How does that happen?  

When the triplicities of the cosmic determinates are established through Supermind's comprehending action, which is, in essence, how the spiritual aspects/determinants are made real as distinct forces and forms, space and time are created.

But why does this happen? To answer that we need to know more about the nature of space and time.

Sri Aurobindo and Sri Karmayogi tell us that space is created at the point where a form is able, from its own unique vantage point, to perceive other forces and forms. Space then is perceived as a sense of extension from one form's perspective to another's.

Then there is time, which can be thought of as an outgrowth of space. Time is created at the point where a form perceives one form, then another one, etc. in sequence, which generates the sense of movement in extension. The perception of movement in the extension of space is what we call time.

With the triplicities of subject – functioning – object occurring though the comprehending action of the Truth Consciousness, distinct forces and forms take shape. Though these are initially at the idea of force, power and knowledge, they eventually begin to take on properties of substance through the creation and dispersion of an essential Energy. As forms take on properties of substance, they more readily perceive other forms, creating the sense of extension which is space, as well as the sense of movement within the extension, which is time.

In essence, this is the process by which the One extends Itself and is rendered into the Many. The process begins with the rendering of Real Ideas/Cosmic Determinants of the Source Being into forces and forms as triplicities of subject, experience, object, through the comprehending and apprehending action of Truth Consciousness. This becomes the basis of space and time, as well as the further involution of the cosmos that will culminate in the material-based universe that we live in.

Apprehending Supermind Creates Triplicities of Cosmic Determinants; Space and Time are Born
Sachchidananda gives rise to eight fundamental determinants. In Supermind, these eight determinants each give rise to three aspects or expressions of itself – subjective, objective and the experience or interaction between the two. In the Comprehending Supermind the object of knowledge and subject of knowledge are the same, but the apprehending Supermind creates time and space by splitting it into three so the One as subject can experience itself as object. We have said that Knowledge is the reflection of Chit. In Apprehending Supermind, Knowledge splits into three aspects -- the knower, the object of knowledge, and the act of knowing. Similarly, Will becomes the subject that wills, the object of the will and the act of willing. Beauty becomes the perceiver of beauty, the object of beauty, and the experience of beauty, and so on. (MSS)

Supermind Comprehending and Apprehending Power to Create a Universe of Forms
Now that we understand the method of (the Higher) Maya to shape finite appearance out of an undivided Infinite that enable a phenomenal existence of individual formations of Itself, Sri Aurobindo introduces us  to the power that will render this capacity into a living reality. It is the power of Supermind, which he deems the Creator of those forms of force that will make up a living universe.

He says that this supreme Truth (Supramental) Consciousness -- residing between the Infinite  "above" and the cosmos/universe "below" -- will through the inherent Real Idea (i.e. the cosmic conception of what creation can be) draw out the One into the Many.

[It should be noted that the Infinite Divine does not create something outside itself, different or separate from itself. It manifests and expresses truths and powers that are contained within itself in the same way that a prism reveals all the colors of the rainbow that are contained in white light.]

Supermind thus draws out the One into the Many through its comprehending and apprehending powers, differentiating and then manifesting the principles, forces, and forms of creation.

--Comprehending Supermind subjectively conceives principles, forms, and movements within itself, each of which contains all the rest of existence within it. It enables differentiation in potential.

--Apprehending Supermind then projects these principles, forces and forms into the objective real. In Apprehending Supermind, there is a reversal, as the all that is within each form gets expressed outside, around and encompassing the form as its field, environment and circumstances. What is there subjectively within each form in Comprehending Supermind expresses objectively as external reality in Apprehending Supermind.

It should also be pointed out that this objective reality precipitated by Apprehending Supermind is a frontal appearance for something more, as the rest of its existence is implicit behind it (i.e. which is created by Apprehending Supermind).

[This is analogous to the external facts, circumstances and actions that we experience in life that reflect the hidden, underlying truths, forces, and powers that are its source and influence. To see how the outer aspects of life reflect an inner working is to have a profound visions of existence. It is to see the outer as a reflection of the inner truth in any matter or circumstance.]

Apprehending-Enabling Role of Supermind in Creation
In order for Substance to become perceptible to us as Matter, the Energy must give that substance Forms which can be apprehended by our senses. This is the role of Mind (the universal principle of Mind). Consciousness-Force uses the instrumentation of [Supermind's Agent] Mind to divide the indivisible existence into individual Forms. (MSS)

[This process is a result of the apprehending action of the plane of Supermind, which enabled Mind to split the Force to create objects and forms from the moving Energy. Its prior comprehending action knows the inherent unity of all things.]

Comprehending & Apprehending Action of Supermind
-Supermind is the vast self-extension of the Brahman. It can contain Brahman in it and it can develop. In one part of the Supermind it has the powers of envelopment, involution and making implicit (Comprehending Supermind), and in another part has the powers of development, evolution and making explicit (Apprehending Supermind). The first is in Timelessness and the second is in Time.
-The subjective state is the comprehending Supermind in timelessness, the objective state is apprehending Supermind in Time. (Paraphrase of MSS)

Supermind's Power to Create and Real-Ideas
In Supermind the Divine formulates Real-Ideas that become manifest realities in the universe. Real Ideas express real Truths and Powers of Being (Sat). (MSS)

Power of Supermind to Create; Real Ideas; Knowledge and Will
Supermind creates by the Real-Idea that posses the inherent power to realize itself in manifestation. By Real-Idea, Sri Aurobindo means an idea which has the full power to realize itself. Conscious-Force (Chit) is both knowledge and will. In Supermind, knowledge and will are united. Whatever Supermind knows, it has the power to effectuate. Whatever it will, it posses the complete knowledge necessary for effectuation. ... The Real-Idea is a vibration of Being (Sat) that becomes whatever it wants. (MSS, slightly modified)

Supermind Realizes the Divine Conceptions of Real Ideas
In the Supermind, through Real-Ideas, the Divine conceptualizes everything it want to create in the world. Whatever it creates as a Real-Idea is a truth power of the Divine Being that has the full power to manifest itself. (MSS)

Real Ideas of Supermind
As the idea is from consciousness, so the Real-Idea is from the Being. Consciousness in its downward movement creates idea (knowledge) and will. As it is moving downward, they are separate. Being is the prior stage to consciousness. Therefore, its idea is Real-Idea. There will and knowledge are united. The officer commanding issues orders below to fire. A junior officer shouts out the order. The soldier fires. When the commanding officer wants to fire, he needs no orders. He fires. (MSS)

Supermind Deploying Real Ideas of the Source
All actions of the Supermind Truth Consciousness are determined by the Real Ideas of the Source. Supermind is deploying the Intention in the form of real Ideas of the Source in its methods and applications of creation. (The Source is essentially the Creator aspect of the Being; i.e. Sat, i.e. Existence of E-C-F,D)

[Those Real Ideas are even now descending into creation ; i.e the earth's atmosphere. If man is conscious he will perceive them, and thus will participate in the further creative deployment of the development and evolution on earth.]

Also See Entries on Real Ideas

Cosmic Determinants Deployed by Supermind
There is an ultimate intention of the Absolute in its movement towards creation. This intention are the ultimate Determinants of existence in the cosmos. The deployment of these intensions of the Absolute that are the determinants of all existence in the universe is deployed through the power of Supermind (Truth Consciousness.) There are eight determinants. Three come from Existence (i.e. Sat; E of E-CF-D) -- (1) Impersonal Spirit, (2) Witness Spirit, and (3) Creator. Two come from Consciousness Force (i.e. Chit, CF of E-CF-D) -- (4) Knowledge and (5) Will. Three come from Delight (i.e. Ananda; D of E-CF-D) -- (6) Beauty, (7) Love, and (8) Delight/Joy from Delight. All existence in creation reflects one or more of these eight. Supermind is the power that enabled the deployment of these eight into creation.

All existence in the universe then reflects various combinations of any of these eight in the form of subject, object, nature of the action. E.g. the expression in the universe of the determinant Love takes the form of Lover (the subject, Loved/the Beloved (the object), Loving (the action that the subject is relating to the object).

Integration of Two Aspects in Creation
We can begin to conceive the integration of two aspect of creation. (1) The energy conversion process that led Conscious-Force to emerge as Energy at rest that led to the creation of distinct forms in creation, and (2) the comprehending and apprehending aspects of Supermind that rendered three aspects -- subject, object, experience -- to each of the cosmic determinants (love, knowledge, witness, delight, etc.). To integrate the two seamlessly is one goal of understanding the Theory of Creation.

Supermind as Faculty of Conscious Force
Sri Aurobindo refers to this faculty of Consciousness-force as Supermind and the concepts generated by it as Real-ideas.

Six Powers of Supermind
[Comprehending Supermind] Development, evolution, making explicit in the descent. [Apprehending Supermind] Envelopment, involution, making implicit in the ascent are the six powers of the Supermind. (MSS)

Real Ideas Creates at Supramental Level
-At the Supramental level it is Real-Idea that creates.

1. all in each, and

2. each in all.

Supermind and Life Response
The Supermind is capable of instantaneous miraculousness.
30,000 years can be abridged in 30 years.
One can become what he aspires for. (MSS)

See Article Supermind as Creator

See Thoughts on the Emergence of the Force Moving in the World to Enable Its Further Evolution

 

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INVOLUTION:
Origins and Nature of the Plane of Overmind
(The Plane of Overmind in the Involutionary Descent)
(top)

 

 

Planes of Involution & Evolution
In the decent (the involution), supermind emerges from sat-chit-ananda, then overmind from supermind, cosmic mind from overmind, energy from cosmic mind, and matter from energy. In the evolution, there is matter which evolves to vital life to mind (the three of which entail humans) to spiritual mind and upward.

Overmind

The next plane down in the descent from supermind is overmind. Like Supermind it is in identity with the object, yet has begun to lose connection with all other objects. Thus, it is the first movement out of integral knowledge and the first step into the Ignorance. (Mind is a much greater step.) It is in Overmind that the power and uniqueness of the Gods arise.

 

Supermind vs. Overmind

-Truth is self-existent in the plane of Supermind. Here there is no ignorance. Power of Supermind can enter into ignorance, reach its foundation of truth, unite all of them and from there transform ignorance into knowledge. Without that seed of truth, however little, neither ignorance, nor evil, nor falsehood, nor even hostility can exist.

-Overmind is a plane where the full power of truth does not exist.

-It is a plane where truths can protect themselves and act, eliminating the destructive influence of ignorance. Overmind brings together several truths to act in unison. (MSS)

 

Overmind
Overmind though great by bringing out the vast knowledge and uniqueness of a thing, is the first step towards Ignorance, in that it has lost total identify with all other things. Thus, a sense of separativeness is created, losing the inherent unity of what is perceived and made possible in supermind.

 

Overmind as Source of Lapse into Ignorance
Overmind is the plane that takes the unity and oneness of the Divine (manifest by Supermind in the universe) and turns it into the first divisions. Those divisions enable the beginnings of the separateness, uniqueness, and individuality of things. Thus it is the root cause of separation; where ego and ignorance are born, and the limits of our mentality.

 

Overmind

The next step in the process of creation [the involution] is the emergence of the Overmind. This is the first step into the Ignorance. What Sri Aurobindo means by Overmind can be imagined this way: I identify with one aspect of my personality, but I do not identify with all the other aspects. I think of myself as an adult. I look back and see myself behind that adulthood, but I say the child-self or my other-selves are not me. What I see of myself is true, but it is no longer the whole truth. I still know myself, but I do not know every other manifestation of myself. Overmind is the plane of the Gods. Each God is a manifestation of the Divine. Each is a true manifestation of the Divine, one aspect. Each of them can look back and find the Supramental Divine behind or within them, but none of them recognizes that all the other Gods are equally aspects of the Divine. Each expresses a Truth of the Divine, but limits itself to one aspect or portion of the whole Truth. It is the beginning of division and of separative knowledge. (MSS)

Overmind as Source of Lapse into Ignorance
-The process that enabled us to lapse into the original Ignorance began with Overmind, where there is a reflection of the unified Supramental truth consciousness, but expresses as the original division and separateness of things, expressing in their uniqueness. Ignorance is ultimately born of this lacking unitary knowledge and consciousness. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

-Supermind expresses the integral relationship of all things born of the Absolute through Satchitananda; Overmind takes this unity, and expresses the uniqueness of things born of division.

Gods and Overmind
Gods arise in Overmind, where each expresses a powerful uniqueness of the Divine.

Gods are magnificent overmental individual manifestations of the divine, though being so, they have each lost their oneness with one another, as they only perceive their own uniqueness. Thus, they like anything else in overmental consciousness are wonders and have profound unique view of things, but it is still a partial view, not the whole truth as in supermind.

 

The Yoga of Sri Aurobindo, The Mother, Supermind, and Overmind

Between the lower hemisphere's highest reach -- overmind -- and the spiritual worlds of the Absolute lies a zone which was known to the ancient spiritual seekers called rishis, and which Sri Aurobindo called "Truth Consciousness;" or to use his own phraseology, the plane of "Supermind." 

The Mother was of the opinion that the power of the overmental world would serve the aim of their yoga -- namely the abolition of falsehood, suffering, and death in life. Sri Aurobindo explained to her that in the overmental world Truth was not self-existent; i.e. it had the beginnings of the negative side. Thus, overmind could build a partial world of truth uniting all available truths, but would not include overcoming the ignorance. Should the power of this world descend on earth, a great transformation would occur, but it would still leave a base of ignorance -- which means the body and life of Man would still be left untouched. In Supermind however, Truth is self-existent. The Truth of Supermind can also penetrate ignorance and reach its basis of truth and unite all such truths and build upon them. 

Thus, Sri Aurobindo and The Mother saw that the body and its inconscient base would not yield to the overmental force, but could not resist the onslaught of the supramental Force and truth. The Mother saw the profundity of Sri Aurobindo's experience and gave up her preference. 

In 1926, the overmental force descended into the mind, vital and very physical depths of Sri Aurobindo. After that momentous victory, he retired to make further gains in his yogic adventure -- which was to rise and bring down the supramental truth consciousness into the earthly realm. (MSS)

 

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INVOLUTION:
Origins and Nature of the Plane of Mind
(The Plane of Mind in the Involutionary Descent)
(top)

 

Origins of Plane of Mind
To that end Supermind creates the planes of (Cosmic) Mind to begin the process of objectifying the spirit of the Absolute into a manifestation, a universe. Creation must express the Timeless in the plane of Time in order to exist; i.e. to objectify itself, which requires division. To that end Supermind created the plane of Cosmic Mind to divide the Consciousness-Force. When the Consciousness-Force is split by Cosmic Mind, as agent of Supermind, Knowledge and Will are created. When the Knowledge is exhausted in the Will, the plane of Life emerges, initially as Energy at rest.

Mind's Origins in Supermind and Spirit
-Spirit is the subjective experience of Sat.

-Supermind is the nature of Sachchidananda where Truth acquires consciousness of the comprehensive vast rhythm of existence.

-Mind is born when Supermind splits into Time and Timeless planes between them.

-The knowledge and will into which Mind divides itself enables knowledge to work on will releasing a plane of energy which is life.

-In the process of knowledge working on will, a little of that knowledge is lost. When all the knowledge is lost, life becomes Matter. (MSS)

Untitled
Creation must express the Timeless in the plane of Time in order to exist; i.e. to objectify itself, which requires division. To that end Supermind created the plane of Cosmic Mind to divide the Consciousness-Force. When the Consciousness-Force is split by Cosmic Mind, as agent of Supermind, Knowledge and Will are created. When the Knowledge is exhausted in the Will, the plane of Life emerges, initially as Energy at rest. When energy moves, then the energy coagulates and then forms distinct elements of matter. The distinct forms are thus the divisions required if there is to be objectification out of the Absolute.  This is what Supermind has enabled. Up to the point where energy is about to move is, in essence, the Involution.

Mind, Supermind, and Creation
Mind as Supermind's deputy is the source of manifestation in creation. Supermind is the ultimate determinant as it shapes the Real Ideas through the Conscious Force to enable patters in creation. Supermind is the Creator.

Additional: 

See chapter in Sri Aurobindo's The Life Divine On the Nature of Mind

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INVOLUTION:
 Origins and Nature of the Plane of Life/Energy
(How Energy, the Plane of Life Emerged from Conscious-Force
in the Involution and is the Source of All Forms in Creation)
(top)

Origin of Energy
-Whereas physics is searching to explain the existence and origin of energy from some antecedent or smallest finite source, he [Sri Aurobindo] states that the origin of the energy is energy at rest, energy held in silent, motionless potential.

-The origin of all energy is Being, which is energy at rest or in potential.

-The Absolute manifests as Being, which at this stage has not yet become Consciousness-Force. Therefore all energy is held in potential. When Being expresses itself as Consciousness-Force through the power of Supermind, it manifests as energy and forms. Therefore, the foundation, basis and origin of all energy is energy at rest held in potential. (MSS)

Origins of Energy
The origin of all energy is Being/Existence Sat, which is energy at rest or in potential. The source of that energy is the will of Being/Existence, i.e. Consciousness-Force (Chit) projecting potential energy into forms. (MSS)

Consciousness Leads to Subjectivity and Objectivity; Force to Energy and Form
Being [Existence] manifests itself as the universe through an act of Self-conception which is at once Consciousness (knowledge) and Force (will). The consciousness gives rise to subjectivity and objectivity. The Force gives rise to all energy and form, including material energy and form. All forms (physical, vital, mental and supramental) are nothing but formations of force. (MSS)

Energy
The latest conception of Science is that the ultimate Reality is Energy. Indian yoga and philosophy knew that even before the Buddha [over 2500 years ago]. Indians went two further steps beyond Energy as the ultimate Reality. (MSS)

Energy and the Plane of Life
The ocean of energy out of which forms take shape is the plane of Life.

Energy Emerges from Splitting of Consciousness, and the Emergence of Matter from Energy
As a result of the splitting of the Consciousness-Force, Energy is created in the involution. As that Energy gathers, moves, and formulates, matter emerges. (The splitting of the Consciousness-Force created Knowledge and Will. The Knowledge acting on the Will releases the plane of Life and Energy. When Knowledge is completely absorbed and evaporated into the Will, the Energy dissipates and turns into Matter. Matter has no Knowledge or Consciousness and is thus Inconscient.)

Knowledge & Will in the Involution is Source of Energy in Creation; It Reflects the Process of How We Create in Life
In this process [of the involution] Knowledge and Will emerge from Conscious Force (through the action of Supermind). When the Knowledge acts on the Will, Energy (i.e. the plane of Life) emerges. [It is similar to when an individual learns about something, which drives him to have an aspiration, which creates the will to make it occur. That will creates energy, i.e energizes the person to act. So too when Knowledge acted/is acting on Will in the involution, Energy was/is created, that was/is the basis of creation of the universe.]

Once Knowledge acts on Will to create the Energy at rest, it [the Knowledge] withdraw from the Will, which causes the energy to become dumb physical matter. (The energy at rest begins to move and formulate into matter.) Thus the action of Knowledge and Will is the key to the involution and the evolution that follows. [Likewise, in our own lives when we are conscious of possibilities, thus developing the will and thus the energy to see them through until they manifest as a result we are in essence mimicking the Process, the Act of Creation of the E-CF-D.]

(Knowledge and Will are at first fused and one in the involution, indicating their Divine aspect. In creation, including our own lives, knowledge and will are divided, separate, which is the cause of duality in the universe and our inherent divided and Ignorant nature. As we discover our higher nature, the Knowledge of things, and the Will to see to the application of that Knowledge move towards reuniting, enabling an integral, dynamic, flawless, creative, infinite existence, reflecting the same in the manifest universe as the unmanifest Divine.)

Consciousness is the Substance, the Source of All Energy & Force in Universe
Consciousness is the very stuff [i.e. substance] of our existence. It is the ultimate source of all energy and force in the universe. (MSS)

Energy and Life
-There is an ocean of energy, a plane of Force enveloping the earth. This is Life.
-Forms, matter, us emerge from this energy, this plane of Life
-The Divine has created Man in the plane of life, through the force of life.

-Man is one formation of life, and the animal is another formation of life. Matter itself is a hard formation dense to our touch. (MSS, paraphrased)

Life and Energy
The dominant characteristic of life is energy. (MSS)

Life
Life is the energy that enables forms in creation. Energy at rest moved to enable the universe. Energy also moves in creation now to create forms and take away forms.

Also see How Energy Expresses in the Universe

The Nature of Life
Life is a form of, a dynamic of, a current of, a universal operation of the cosmic Conscious Force. Life creates, maintains, destroys, and recreates forms or bodies. Life builds up forms, energizes the forms through stimulation, and maintains the forces through disintegration and renewal of substance. (Based on Sri Aurobindo's The Life Divine, Book 1 Chapter 19)

Life Reflects Consciousness
Life is a universal field of energy/force that expresses the intention of the consciousness from which the force originates. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

Life/Energy and Matter
Life is energy that emerged from the Conscious Force in the involution (through Supermind and then Mind).

Matter came from Energy/Life

Life thus came before matter.

Matter is formation of Energy/Life.

Energy is Source of Matter
Invisible energy, which is Life, is the source of visible matter.

Energy Preceded Matter in the Involution
In the involution Energy precedes Matter though on the physical plane we see only matter generating energy.

Definition of Life
Life is the Force, the Energy that enables forms to take shape, change, dissolve, and reconstitute in and out of the universe.

Life Continues to Create Forms
Life is continually creating forms from its energy.

Energy Behind Does Not Die, but Takes on New Forms
When a form dies, its energy does not, as it seeks and enters new forms. When the defense industry began to decline in Silicon Valley over the last two decades that energy continued to flow despite the companies' demise, and helped in the formation of new technologies in new organizations. The form dies, but not the energy, which seeks a higher form for its purpose.

Source of the Plane of Life
Life is a plane below that of Mind, but above Matter. Mind, or rather Supermind, with Mind as its instrument, divided the Conscious Force, enabling energy to emerge, which is the plane of Life through which all forms take shape.

Life is Infinite, Creative Force
In Life Divine, Sri Aurobindo describes life as a universal force that expresses as the individual force maintaining each individual form or object in manifestation. It is the force that creates and preserves the form, defends its survival and energizes its growth. Although we view life in terms of many separate and individual lives, it is only one single, universal existence that we perceive as many. In its origin, life is the infinite, creative force that builds the worlds and inhabits them with forms of its own self-conception and creation. It is the conscious force of Sat, the Self-Conscious Being, the Pure Existence, the Divine Consciousness, the omnipresent reality. (MSS)

Life and Forms
Life is a form of, a dynamic of, a current of, a universal operation of the cosmic Conscious Force. Life creates, maintains, destroys, and recreates forms or bodies. Life builds up forms, energizes the forms through stimulation, and maintains the forces through disintegration and renewal of substance. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

Life
Life is really a universal operation of Conscious-Force acting subconsciously on and in Matter. It is the operation that creates, maintains, destroys and re-creates forms or bodies and attempts by play of nerve-force, that is to say, by currents of interchange of stimulating energy to awake conscious sensation in those bodies." (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

Source of Life
Life is energy that emerged from a Divine source that formulates as matter and other forms, including us in the universe. This occurs in the involutionary process.

Role of Life
Life creates sensation by acting on matter and takes that sensation to mind to convert it into thought so that thought can control matter. This is the indispensable role of Life. It is not something to be avoided but is something in which its origin must be discovered.

Life
'Life' is a partially involved subconscious status of Consciousness-Force. (MSS)

Untitled
Life, i.e. the plane of Life, i.e. energy, would still exist without any forms in the universe.

Life Force vs. Life of Being
Life exists in two layers of Force and Being. Life of force is governed by the law of karma. Life of Being is governed by the law of causality. In the one, failure and success alternates; in the other, there is only success. (MSS)

Man Created in Plane of Life
God has created Man in the plane of life, through the force of life. (MSS)

Spirit Revives
Spirit revives dead or dying vehicle into fresh new life. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

Two Principles of Life
There are two aspects of the vital, i.e. two principles of Life; the necessity or will of the separative ego to survive in its distinctness and guard its identity, and the compulsion of Nature to fuse itself with others. [The two principles of life are the separative individual and the social individual.] (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

See Additional Thoughts on What Life Is
 

See chapter in Sri Aurobindo's The Life Divine On the Nature of Life

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Cosmic Determinism, the Rendering of Creation, and Free Will
(top)
 

 

The Determinism of the Absolute and Individual Collaboration

Free Will and the Divine Determinism
We have ultimate freedom of choice, i.e. free will, within the determination of the Absolute (The Divine, Brahman).

On Choice vs. Fate in Our Lives
Q: As I look at my life it appears to have more to do with fate than choices I made. A: We have free will within the determination of the Divine Intent. There is both simultaneously choice and destiny. The more we are conscious, the more free will and destiny coincide, as we tend to choose what our higher nature (and thus the Divine) desires. If we look back on our lives, we will see that we made choices that propelled us forward; that brought about our progress. Those choices, conscious, semi-conscious, or subconscious were in essence in sync with the Divine will. The more we evolve ourselves, the more our choices are consciously working in tandem with the Divine will. We can also make choices that are neutral or in opposition to the Divine Will. Even these lead to our evolution, but through Nature's slow and difficult ways of contradiction and suffering.

The Absolute as Ultimate Determinant
The Absolute (Brahman) is the ultimate determinant, in that it has an intention to express its Delight and Consciousness in the forms of creation.

The Divine's Determinism of Real Ideas
-The Divine's determinism is expressed through Real Ideas. Those are deployed though the action of Supermind in creation.
-The real Ideas of the Absolute manifest through cosmic determinants such as Witness, Knowledge, Love, beauty, and others which are deploying in creation.
-These determinants are expressions of the Triune of Existence, Consciousness-Force, Delight (Sat-Chit-Ananda).
-We can choose to collaborate with that deployment. We have free will to do so.

Deployment of the Infinite Power of the Absolute
Sri Aurobindo says that The Absolute, the Infinite Consciousness is not just a Being, but it is a Power, containing not only a quiescence and repose, but an action in of itself, a creation in of itself. The Absolute is then capable of an eternal action and creation; of deploying the Infinite Power. Creation would then be an ordered deployment of the infinite possibilities of the Absolute. The Supreme and Eternal Infinite determines itself to our consciousness in the universe through Supermind by real and fundamental truths, as "Real Ideas" which can be seized by us, especially if we rise to a consciousness of spiritual intuition and beyond.

The Unfolding of the Determinism of the Absolute in Creation
-The Absolute (Brahman, the Omnipresent Reality) is the ultimate determinant in existence. That determination is expressed through Its essential Real Ideas, which are deployed in creation through the action of Supermind.

-Real-Ideas are the faculties of the Absolute that have the inherent power to fulfill themselves.

-Supermind deploys the Real Ideas through specific cosmic determinants that come from each of Existence (Sat), Conscious-Force (Chit), and Delight (Ananda). E.g. from Conscious-Force comes the determinant of Knowledge, and from Delight comes the determinant of Love.

-Supermind renders the Real Ideas through these eight determinants in creation through its comprehending power (which turns them into possibilities for manifestation), and then through its Apprehending power, which renders them as real in creation.

-In the Apprehending Process, Supermind creates space and time, and for each of the determinants enables the triune of object-subject-experience. E.g. for the cosmic determinants of Knowledge Supermind renders it into the Knower, that which is Known, and the Knowledge (that is known); or for Love as (the) Lover, (the) Beloved, (the act/experience of) Loving. All of life takes shape this way.

-Every individual has free will to choose as he pleases. And yet he does so within the ultimate determinism of the Absolute. Thus, the individual has a choice to collaborate in the unfolding of the will and determinism of the Absolute in creation.

How the Absolute Reflects as Determinants in the Universe
The Absolute is the source of all determination we see in creation. We know that in the involution the Absolute extended itself to the triune Existence, Conscious Force, Delight to enable creation. Each of these three is the source of all determination in Nature in the creation, and manifests specific ways that we express ourselves in life. (These ways are predetermined for us ) From "Existence" comes the determinants of Self, Creator, and Witness; from Consciousness Force comes the determinants of Knowledge and Will. From Delight come the determinants of Love, Joy, and Beauty. Specifically, we in life experience our sense of self in (Self), our ability to create (Creator), a way to stand back and view the creation as Witness; our ability to comprehend and know (Knowledge), our will and drive to see what we create through (Will); to share a relationship with other forms and beings (Love), to experience the satisfaction of that which is created (Joy), and the ability to acknowledge the forms we create (beauty.) These are the predetermined ways we experience life. Within that predetermination we have a choice of how to act.

Each determinant potentially manifests in any of three ways. E.g. when we live in such a way that is a reflection of the determinant of Knowledge, it can express as the Known, the Known, and the Knowledge; indicating we can express within that determinant as the subject, the object, subject-object (i.e. attribute or energy type or life activity).

Rendering of Creation through Comprehending and Apprehending Supermind

Comprehending Supermind

-Comprehending Supermind enables differentiation in potential of each of the eight cosmic determinants (witness, love, knowledge, etc.) into three aspect -- of subject (that which is viewing), object (the object of what which is being viewed), and experience (the viewing itself). E.g. the determinant of "love" formulates into the subject who is doing the loving (the lover), the object of that love (the beloved), which occurs through the experience and act of loving. Again, this differentiation is established (through Real-Ideas) as potential only.

Analogy: When I am thinking, I am the subject, thinking about an object through a method. Thus the process is Subject (me doing the thinking), Object (what I am thinking about; in this case how to explain Creation), and Method (thinking). Supermind rendered each of the essential eight cosmic determinants into Subject, Object, and Method. e.g. Lover, Beloved, Loving.

Without this triplet movement, there would be nothing to life. It would be a static zero. It is the rendering of the undifferentiated into the differentiated object to the subject through a method that life has any substance. Imagine if I could not think because I had nothing to think about, or something to think about without something thinking about it, etc. supermind renders the undifferentiated into the triune power of object, subject, method. without it nothing would happen in life.

Apprehending Supermind

-While Comprehending Supermind imagines the Real Ideas via the cosmic determinants rendered in their triplicity in creation, Apprehending Supermind moves it to manifestation; i.e. make the imagined real.

To do that first it establishes the dimensions of space and time. This is necessary so that the determinants can render into their triple aspect of Object, subject, and method. Analogy: How can I love the beloved unless there is a context of space and time to do so.

After Supermind creates Space and Time it establishes distinct individual centres of consciousness for each of the eight determinants (witness, love, knowledge, delight, beauty, etc.), and draws out the three aspect of subject, object, experience in creation for each in space and time.

Comprehending Supermind is analogous to a person imagining all of the things he can be (e.g. husband, father, businessperson, etc.), whereas Apprehending Supermind is analogous to actually becoming them.

Fate, Free Will, and Determinism of the Divine
What we call 'fate" is really the determinism of the Divine, which unfolds either through Nature or Soul, depending on the consciousness brought to bear. We have Free Will to participate in the unfolding of the Divine Determinism (Fate).

The Divine Intent
There is a Divine intent, which we can collaborate in.

Determinism of the Divine and Free Will
There is a Divine Intent. However, it cannot be executed/carried out until we exercise our own free will. (Sometimes, however, It acts on Its own, which is Grace.) This then resolves the contradiction between determinism and free will, that religion and science has grappled with from their respective sides of the issue.

Determinism and Free Will
The Absolute as Creator intended a universe so that forms manifest there, including us, could discover their true nature and thus experience Delight of Being. That intention is the determinism of the Source. And yet we have free will whether or not to participate in Its Intention.

The Supreme Will is the Cause, Not Human Action
All that happens is always the effect of the Supreme's Will. Human action can be the occasion but never the cause. (The Mother)

Divine Will is to Be Realized
We are always free to make our proposals to the Lord, but after all it is only His will that is realised. (The Mother)

Analysis of the Chapter on Cosmic Determinants from Sri Aurobindo's 'The Life Divine'

See Thoughts on How Human Choice Determines Who We Become

See Thoughts on the Way of Nature

 

Reconciling Chance and Necessity

Chance and Mechanical Necessity in Spiritual Context
Is existence just random Chance, or is it obediently following rules of Mechanical Necessity in Nature? Sri Aurobindo answers that only within the context of an Infinite source and consciousness all can be understood. He explains that the principle of free variation of the Infinite consciousness explains what we perceive as Chance in Nature, and the principle of truth powers of the Infinite explains what we see as Mechanical Necessity in Nature. Thus chance and necessity are explained in Nature. Such a theory would then give meaning to all of the unexpected process of Nature.

Chance vs. Necessity, and Free Will
Is existence just random Chance, or is it obediently following rules of Mechanical Necessity in Nature? Sri Aurobindo says that the principle of free variation of the Infinite consciousness (the Absolute) explains what we perceive as Chance in Nature, and the principle of truth powers of the Infinite explains what we see as Mechanical Necessity in Nature. In this way, chance and necessity are explained in Nature. (Such a theory would then give meaning to all of the unexplained processes of Nature.)

Chance and Order in the Universe
In life we recognize the phenomenon of chance, even as we see the order around us. How do we justify their coexistence? The One, the Infinite in the involution of the process of creation inverted itself into Finite forms, and in the evolution is moving back towards its Divine, infinite nature. This accounts for both chance and order. The infinite variations demanded by the journey of the finite to the infinite in the evolution (i.e. in the universe) explains the chance/ This journey which is subdivided into various stages, each stage organizing and establishing itself before passing onto the next highest stage explains the order. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo, MSS)

Nature, Soul; Fate as Determinism of the Divine
-Life divides into Nature and Soul. Normal normally occurs through the slow and painful unfolding of Nature (Prakriti). In Higher, spirit-oriented life -- i.e. Soul (Purusha) -- life evolves rapidly and harmoniously. As we evolve there is a greater and greater capacity for further evolution through Soul, rather than Nature.

-The Divine sanctions in the created universe both the way of Nature and Soul. It perceives that in an unevolved universe it has enabled, Nature -- of progress through dualities and division -- must come first.

-What we call 'fate" is really the determinism of the Divine, which unfolds either through Nature or Soul, depending on the consciousness brought to bear. We have Free Will to participate in the unfolding of the Divine Determinism (Fate).

Fate (Determinism) and Free Will
Fate is real. Free will too is real. How do we reconcile these two seemingly opposite views? Philosophically we can say that the determinism of the Infinite is the utter freedom of the Finite. I.e. though the infinite divine enabled this universe, this world, including the hidden spirit in all things that is there just below our field of awareness in all things seen and unseen, we are free in the finite world we live in to discover it. Man always has the choice to either identify himself with the ego, the limitations of time, the finite possibility in the moment, and the dualities of Nature, including pain and suffering; or he can choose to find his inner self, his soul, his oneness with all, the timelessness of the Being, the infinity in the finite moment, and the Reality of the Being; i.e. the indwelling Spirit that arose from the Divine source, and is the source of fate. It is our choice. Now that the spiritual Force is here, and has descended into the earth's atmosphere, it is easier for us to make this choice. (Paraphrase of MSS)

 

All That Occurs is for the Best

All That Occurs is for the Best
From a deeper poise of consciousness one realizes that everything that is happening, has happened, and will happen -- to you, to others, to the collective, and to the world and the universe --   is ALWAYS for the best. If not a Perfect best; it is a Relative best. It is relative best in the short term; a perfect best in the long term.

Everything is for the Best

"Everything is for the best" is in one sense an infuriating statement for those who seek truth. At one level it is absolutely true in that what occurs is the best considering the current conditions of consciousness. On another plane, it is false because it is static and does not account for the emerging will to bring about a higher harmony and oneness.

All that Happened To Us Had To
We will see some time in our life that all that has happened to us had to occur.

All That Occurred Had to, Indicating We Too are Brahman, God
When you examine recent history you see that everything had to take place as it did, suggesting that at one level there is a perfection in everything that is unfolding. It is further proof that God, Brahman, the Absolute, the Omnipresent Reality -- whatever name you give it -- is both the Source from which this universe manifest, and that which has been Created, the universe we live in, including us. The perfection we are as an element of God/Brahman is demonstrated in one way by the fact that all that has taken place had to.

Untitled
There is no real good or bad, all is what is should be. (Paraphrase of The Mother)

 

Other

The Inner Can Control the Outer
The outer reflects the inner. All life outside is under man's control. (MSS)

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Real Ideas
(top)

 

Real Ideas
-Real Ideas are the Truths the Conscious Being wills to manifest in creation; what the Divine conceives it wants to accomplish. Real Ideas are thus the ultimate blueprint of creation.

-Real-Ideas are the faculties of the Absolute that have the inherent power to fulfill themselves.

-Real Ideas come from the Supramental plane which determine the formulation if existence in creation.

The Unfolding of the Determinism of the Absolute in Creation through Real Ideas
-The Absolute (Brahman, the Omnipresent Reality) is the ultimate determinant in existence. That determination is expressed through Its essential Real Ideas, which are deployed in creation through the action of Supermind.

-Real-Ideas are the faculties of the Absolute that have the inherent power to fulfill themselves.

-Supermind deploys the Real Ideas through specific cosmic determinants that come from each of Existence (Sat), Conscious-Force (Chit), and Delight (Ananda). E.g. from Conscious-Force comes the determinant of Knowledge, and from Delight comes the determinant of Love.

-Supermind renders the Real Ideas through these eight determinants in creation through its comprehending power (which turns them into possibilities for manifestation), and then through its Apprehending power, which renders them as real in creation.

-In the Apprehending Process, Supermind creates space and time, and for each of the determinants enables the triune of object-subject-experience. E.g. for the cosmic determinants of Knowledge Supermind renders it into the Knower, that which is Known, and the Knowledge (that is known); or for Love as (the) Lover, (the) Beloved, (the act/experience of) Loving. All of life takes shape this way.

-Every individual has free will to choose as he pleases. And yet he does so within the ultimate determinism of the Absolute. Thus, the individual has a choice to collaborate in the unfolding of the will and determinism of the Absolute in creation.
 

How the One Became the Many; and Space and Time Emerged

[The following is based on the Theory of Creation presented by Sri Aurobindo in 'The Life Divine' and elsewhere, and further expanded on by Sri Karmayogi.]

From time immemorial, individuals have asked themselves how this world came to be, and what was the process that enabled it to happen. Here is one perspective:

To begin with, there was/is an infinite, divine Source of all things; a timeless, spaceless, immutable, ineffable Being. We can think of it as the "One," since there were not yet distinct forces and forms in a manifest universe. I.e. there was not yet a “Many.” Due to some inner compulsion, the One extended Itself to become the Many, which is in essence the distinct, unique forces and forms that will become the basis of Creation.

How then did the Many emerge from the One; i.e. the Creation from the Creator?

In the Source/Infinite consciousness are Real Ideas, which are possibilities It seeks to render as living realities; i.e. cosmic determinants that the Spirit seeks to make real in creation. Among them are spiritual aspects or qualities, including Oneness, Knowledge, Creativity, Beauty, Love, and Delight. There are also variations, combination, and subsets of these that the Divine seeks in its extension from the One to then Many.

Then how were/are the Real Ideas made real in the cosmos as unique forces and forms?

The Truth Consciousness, which Sri Aurobindo calls "Supermind" rendered through its own Comprehending capacity images of those Real Ideas. Or to put it another way, Comprehending Supermind imagined and envisioned distinct forces and forms that would embody these cosmic ideas and determinants.

At this point however, these imaginations have not been rendered real; as they are only a conception of separate formations. (We can compare this to the writer who has established characters, values and meaning, and plot in his mind, but has not yet committed them to paper.) However, through Supermind’s Apprehending capacity these envisioned formations are rendered real as distinct entries in an emerging cosmos. I.e. Oneness, Knowledge, Creativity, Beauty, Love, Delight, et al become distinct forces and forms at the unseen universal plane.

How then did these imagined forms become real?

To become separate, distinct objects, Apprehending Supermind divided each of the previously envisioned attributes of Knowledge, Oneness, Creativity, Love, Delight, etc. and their infinite variations into triplicities in the form of subject - subject/object experience - object. E.g. the distinct possibility of the spiritual aspect of "Knowledge" is rendered into Knower – Knowing – Known. E.g., as a knowing being one knows that which is known. (Or to put it in words of our own experience. I as knower am knowing what is known.) Similarly, there is the triplicity of the lover (the subject) loving (experience) the beloved (object). And so forth for the myriad of cosmic determinates/spiritual qualities of the Infinite Divine. In essence, the One reality has now divided itself in various ways so that each subject can experience itself as object, thereby becoming the Many.

It should be noted that at this point there is no physical universe. Before that can come about, there needs to be a foundation for it's occurrence; which is in essence what we know of as space and time. Though the Infinite Source is beyond space and time -- it is spaceless and timeless -- a potential universe requires these as underpinning. How does that happen?  

When the triplicities of the cosmic determinates are established through Supermind's comprehending action, which is, in essence, how the spiritual aspects/determinants are made real as distinct forces and forms, space and time are created.

But why does this happen? To answer that we need to know more about the nature of space and time.

Sri Aurobindo and Sri Karmayogi tell us that space is created at the point where a form is able, from its own unique vantage point, to perceive other forces and forms. Space then is perceived as a sense of extension from one form's perspective to another's.

Then there is time, which can be thought of as an outgrowth of space. Time is created at the point where a form perceives one form, then another one, etc. in sequence, which generates the sense of movement in extension. The perception of movement in the extension of space is what we call time.

With the triplicities of subject – functioning – object occurring though the comprehending action of the Truth Consciousness, distinct forces and forms take shape. Though these are initially at the idea of force, power and knowledge, they eventually begin to take on properties of substance through the creation and dispersion of an essential Energy. As forms take on properties of substance, they more readily perceive other forms, creating the sense of extension which is space, as well as the sense of movement within the extension, which is time.

In essence, this is the process by which the One extends Itself and is rendered into the Many. The process begins with the rendering of Real Ideas/Cosmic Determinants of the Source Being into forces and forms as triplicities of subject, experience, object, through the comprehending and apprehending action of Truth Consciousness. This becomes the basis of space and time, as well as the further involution of the cosmos that will culminate in the material-based universe that we live in.

Real Ideas of Truth are Rendered in Creation through Supermind
What then what are the things, entities, force, et al that Supermind is rendering comprehensively and apprehensively? Or to put it another way, what is the Truth that Supermind seeks to manifest in the universe? Sri Aurobindo says it is Real Ideas. These are the Truths the Conscious Being wills to manifest in creation; what the Divine conceives it wants to accomplish. Real Ideas are thus the ultimate blueprint of creation.

Then what are these Real Ideas, and what truths does the Conscious Being seek to manifest in creation? He will later indicate that these Truths, these Real Ideas reflect "cosmic determinants,"  that are extensions in life of Sat, Chit, and Ananda, including spiritual attributes of Silent Witness, Creator, Oneness of being, Knowledge/Wisdom, Love, Joy/Delight, and Beauty. These Truths/Real Ideas will manifest (a) through principles which the Conscious Being conceives, (b) through forms of force (including us) which the Conscious Being conceives, who will be their instrument, and (c) through movements of those forms. Through principles, forms, and their movements the Truths of Real Idea will emerge from the One into the Many in space and time of creation.

[This cosmic "process of creation" is analogous to how we as humans create and accomplish in life. We have an idea, vision that we wish to bring about. It can be something we hope to accomplish or a deep value or belief we subscribe to in life. We then develop the intention and will for it to come about. We then establish the means for that to happen; through organization and a plan by which it can be made real. We then implement the organized plan through time-bound movements and actions. Thus, just as we organize and execute a plan of action through vision, organization, execution, so too the Conscious-Being envisions Truths it wishes to manifests, devises principles by which it can occur, conceives of forms (like us) which serve as their instrument, and perceives movements of those Forms so that the Truths/spiritual expressions and determinants, unfold and become living reality in the manifest universe.]

It should also be pointed out that Real Ideas are not just conceptions, but are Ideas of power. That is, they have the full power to realize itself in manifestation. They are a vibration emanating from the Conscious Being that becomes whatever it wants.

Supermind thus renders these Real Ideas, these Spiritual expressions first as formations of ideaized possibility in its Comprehending capacity, and then as living realities through its Apprehending capacity. It will enable the Truths/Real Ideas of the conscious being to manifest through principles, forms, and movements of those forms.

Supermind thus serves as the instrument of the Urge, Will, and Intention of the Conscious Being to render its envisioned Truths/Real Ideas as real in creation. In Supermind through the Real Idea, the Divine conceptualizes and then renders everything It wants to manifest in life.

[I conceive that I want my vision/idea to be realized. This is analogous to comprehending Supermind, which seeks to create real images of the Divine's Real Ideas. I then execute my vision/idea through plan and action. This is analogous to Apprehending Supermind., which seeks to manifest these images in space and time as living realities.]

[One, Single Process of Creation -- In this way, we begin to see that there is only one fundamental process of creation, that exists in the Unmanifest on its way towards manifestation, and that exists in the world, including our ability to manifest that which is unmanifest in our minds.]

Absolute as Being and Power; Real Ideas
The Absolute, the Infinite Consciousness is not just a Being, but it is a Power, containing not only a quiescence and repose, but an action in of itself, a creation in of itself. The Absolute is then capable of an eternal action and creation; of deploying the Infinite Power. Creation would then be an ordered deployment of the infinite possibilities of the Absolute. The Supreme and Eternal Infinite determines itself to our consciousness in the universe through Supermind by real and fundamental truths, as "Real Ideas" which can be seized by us, especially if we rise to a consciousness of spiritual intuition and beyond.

Formations of Real Ideas
The consciousness-force inherent in the seed as real-idea gives rise by rhythm of contact of substance with substance to the growth of the form of the tree from that seed, differentiating itself into trunk, roots, leaves, fruits and flowers. By a similar process, the consciousness-force latent in the child gives rise by rhythm of contact with people, objects, ideas and life experiences to the growth of conscious awareness and development of the personality of the child, differentiating itself in the process into an individual with characteristics, capacities, propensities and inclinations unique to its own being. By the same process, the power of Real-idea in the call for freedom unleashed an American, French and Russian Revolution. Continuous contact and interaction of that idea with other ideas, institutions, attitudes and values leads to the progressive manifestation of the Real-idea of freedom in the field of human social existence. (MSS) 

On Real-Ideas
-Real-Idea is a vibration of the Being, by which Supermind creates. Real-Idea combines knowledge and will in a state of fusion.

-This real-idea is a truth-perception which is self-effective; for it is the idea and will of the spirit in direct action and originates a movement of the substance of being which must inevitably effectuate itself in state and act of being.

-The supramental consciousness contains the Real-Idea in it.

-Supermind begins the process or organizing and developing the Real Idea of creation.

-It is the divine Mind (the subordinate delimiting action of the Real Idea), through the instrumentation of the supramental apprehending consciousness that projects the finite from the Infinite.

-Creation is a continuing phenomenon that expresses as Real Ideas descending, which we can rise to, embrace, and embody insuring their instrumentality.

-The more we are conscious, the more we are able to be a pure instrument for the right embodiment of descending Real Ideas.

-All forms of existence originated as the Real Ideas of the Self-Existent Reality.

-External forms--matter are symbols of the Real Ideas of the Self-Existent Reality.

-In all material things reside a mute and involved Real-Idea.

-For the gnostic being would be in unison and communion with the Consciousness-Force that is at the root of everything: his vision and his will would be the channel of the supramental Real-Idea, the self-effective Truth-Force...
(Paraphrase or direct quotes of MSS, Sri Aurobindo, and others)

Real Ideas and Cosmic Determinants
Real Ideas reflect "cosmic determinants," that are extensions in life of Sat, Chit, and Ananda, including spiritual attributes of Silent Witness, Creator, Oneness of being, Knowledge/Wisdom, Love, Joy/Delight, and Beauty.

The Purpose of Creation

A question from a reader:
"Why did this creation happen? What is the purpose of creation?"

Answer:
-One reason is so that the static Delight of the Unmanifest could express as dynamic Delight in the myriad of forms of creation in the manifestation.

-Sri Aurobindo also indicates that the transcendent Reality, the Divine All manifest a universe in infinite space and time so that it can reveal through its forms that Reality. Thus, this progressive revealing of the transcendental Reality is the meaning and aim of the universe.

Another way to look at this is to say that the Spiritual qualities of the Divine All -- Truth, Oneness, Wisdom, Peace, Power, Creativity, Love, Delight, Infinity, Timelessness, etc -- seek myriad expression in an infinite variety of forms. To express these aspects of the Transcendent Reality in life is why the universe, the forms, we humans are here.

Method Real Ideas Manifest
These Truths/Real Ideas will manifest (a) through principles which the Conscious Being conceives, (b) through forms of force (including us) which the Conscious Being conceives, who will be their instrument, and (c) through movements of those forms. Through principles, forms, and their movements the Truths of Real Idea will emerge from the One into the Many in space and time of creation.

Connecting with a Real Idea, Where Knowledge & Will Are Fused
Real-Idea is the original phrase of Sri Aurobindo who attributes it to being the faculty of the Supermind. He calls it a self-effectuating Idea, an idea that has the inherent power to fulfil itself. Our mind has knowledge and will. Knowledge knows, will implements.

I come to know of a conference in Washington. I understand attending this conference will do good to me, my career and my research. This is the knowledge of it. My knowledge about this conference will not take me to Washington. It has no power to buy my ticket, secure me an invitation, offer me leave of absence, etc.

That part belongs to my will, usually called determination. The mind knows, the will executes. In Real-Idea, both the knowledge and will are together. If you know, it will be fulfilled.

Sri Aurobindo's Force has the Real-Idea, i.e. when you know, what you know accomplishes itself. As soon as you come to know of the conference in Washington, if you invoke Mother's Force - Sri Aurobindo's Force is The Mother's Force - you will be called by your professor who tells you of this conference and asks whether you are willing to attend it.

When you listen to him about his need to send someone from his department and the department will secure your visa and ticket, you are pleasantly surprised. After you attend the conference and return, you tell yourself, 'It was a long felt dream. I was not strong enough to wish for it, being the junior most in the department. It all happened by itself, as if there was a Hand behind guiding it.' (MSS)

 Notes on Real Ideas (to be organized)
-Real Ideas come from the Supramental plane which determine the formulation if existence in creation.

-To begin the process of creating the universe, the Absolute, the Original Principle, the Omnipresent Reality has the Real Idea of creation.

-The involution goes from the Real Idea of the Divine to manifest a universe for the delight of being. The Divine began with a Real Idea to create a universe for greater delight of being

-A Real Idea is initiated through this Consciousness-Force, which is organized through the intermediary organizational power of Truth Consciousness (Supermind)

-In the involution a process of self conception is used by the Divine to conceptualize the universe as a Real Idea, and through supermind converts that Real Idea into the planes of matter, life, and mind. Supermind coordinates the rendering of the Absolute, expressed as Real Ideas, into a created universe. Supermind is both a Knowledge and a Power. It has the Knowledge of the Real Ideas and the intent of the Absolute to render a universe, and it has the Power to carry it out.

-The Absolute, the Infinite Consciousness is not just a Being, but it is a Power, containing not only a quiescence and repose, but an action in of itself, a creation in of itself. The Absolute is then capable of an eternal action and creation; of deploying the Infinite Power. Creation would then be an ordered deployment of the infinite possibilities of the Absolute. The Supreme and Eternal Infinite determines itself to our consciousness in the universe through Supermind by real and fundamental truths, as "Real Ideas" which can be seized by us, especially if we rise to a consciousness of spiritual intuition and beyond.

-Creation is not simply some thing, process that happened once as an extension of the Being, but is a continuing phenomenon that expresses as Real Ideas descending, which we can rise to, embrace, and embody insuring their instrumentality.

-The movement among the planes (from matter to life to mind and beyond) is due to a upward movement of consciousness that ends in something new. [There is a creative outcome.] It's drive is Consciousness-Force and the power of the Real Idea.

-Creative insight that comes as intuition is a distilling of an original Real Idea of Supermind.

Real Ideas Creates at Supramental Level
-At the Supramental level it is Real-Idea that creates.

1.       all in each, and

2.       each in all.

Aligning Ourselves with the Cosmic Intention
At any moment, there is a higher, Divine intention at work. It is flowing from that transcendent reality to the universal plane and on through us at the individual level. It flows in endless forms, factors, and variations. It has the potential to realize itself through our inner and outer actions, provided we are aware of and open to it.

The problem is that we are normally focused on what our limited self and ego dictates, than any urge to fulfill the higher intent of an Infinite consciousness. However, if we align with that cosmic aspiration, force, and unfolding, we can bring staggering positive result to the world, while accomplishing in ways we would never have imagined.

The Bhagavad Gita indicates that a person interested in a spirit-oriented existence should do one's work as service, not to aggrandize one's ego and exclusively for personal gain. At a deeper level still, Krishna indicates that one can surrender and become an instrument for the Divine intent. Sri Aurobindo goes further still and describes the nature of that cosmic aspiration. He indicates that there are Real Ideas originating in and flowing from an infinite, conscious Being, which aspires for their realization in the cosmos. Moreover, the individual human has the capacity at any moment to open to and latch onto these inner and outer movements, and be an instrument for their realization in life.

How then can we partake in this cosmic process in a practical way? At various point, we can pause to consider where we are going, and ask ourselves this question: Are we doing what the universe seems to be indicating for us, or are we caught up in selfish motives and desires. If we know what that Higher Purpose is, then we are well on our way to becoming an instruments of Its cosmic Intent, while living an unprecedented, marvelous, spirit-oriented practical existence. If we don't have that direct connection, we can offer up a powerful prayer such as, ''Oh Divine spirit, let Your will be done in my life." Then when we carry out our work, that higher power will guide us in the right direction each step of the way.

Whichever approach you take, life will unfold like a Marvel. As a result, not only will you be able to fulfill your deepest aspirations, not only will you constantly grow as a person, not only will you be an instrument for evolutionary change, but you will have brought a portion of the Transcendent Will into being in the world.

Real Ideas of Supermind
As the idea is from consciousness, so the Real-Idea is from the Being. Consciousness in its downward movement creates idea (knowledge) and will. As it is moving downward, they are separate. Being is the prior stage to consciousness. Therefore, its idea is Real-Idea. There will and knowledge are united. The officer commanding issues orders below to fire. A junior officer shouts out the order. The soldier fires. When the commanding officer wants to fire, he needs no orders. He fires. (MSS)

Supermind as Faculty of Conscious Force
Sri Aurobindo refers to this faculty of Consciousness-force as Supermind and the concepts generated by it as Real-ideas.

The spiritual energy-substance which is the Pure Existent imparts to this supramental consciousness-force an infinite power for effectuality. The process of creation is the process by which the supermental consciousness-force formulates Real-ideas out of the energy-substance of the Pure Existent and manifests those Real-ideas as forms and forces in the planes of mind, life and matter. Every form and force in the universe is form and expression of Real-idea, partially expressing or fully concealing the secret intention is strives to manifest in nature.

On The Real-Idea
The Real-Idea is Being [pure spirit] aware of what is in itself and automatically self-creative by the force of that Truth-awareness. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

On Capturing "Real Ideas"
The Real Ideas of the Absolute stream down through the planes of consciousness. They are the cosmic potentials of seeking a plane to manifest a whole new form of creation. As human we normally "capture them" at our own lower planes, i.e. at our own limited physical and vital consciousness, causing the Real Ideas to take an inferior form. As we rise in consciousness to mind, spiritual mind and above, we become more positive instruments for the Real Ideas to manifest their infinite creativity of creation in higher and more subtle forms.

Highest Instruments of Real Ideas
Real Ideas are streaming down from Spirit. By attaining our highest consciousness we become the best possible instruments for their successful unfolding into Creative New Realities in life.

Also See Entries on the Nature of Supramental Plane

 

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The Triple Differentiation of the One
(top)

 

Triple Differentiation of the Absolute as Subject, Object, Experience
When the Absolute want to experience itself as Separate, it first divides itself into three parts or aspects -- subject, object, experience.

Apprehending Supermind Creates Triplicities of Cosmic Determinants; Space and Time are Born
Sachchidananda gives rise to eight fundamental determinants. In Supermind, these eight determinants each give rise to three aspects or expressions of itself – subjective, objective and the experience or interaction between the two. In the Comprehending Supermind the object of knowledge and subject of knowledge are the same, but the apprehending Supermind creates time and space by splitting it into three so the One as subject can experience itself as object. We have said that Knowledge is the reflection of Chit. In Apprehending Supermind, Knowledge splits into three aspects -- the knower, the object of knowledge, and the act of knowing. Similarly, Will becomes the subject that wills, the object of the will and the act of willing. Beauty becomes the perceiver of beauty, the object of beauty, and the experience of beauty, and so on. (MSS)

From the One to Triplicity of Subject-Experience-Object

To become separate, distinct objects, Apprehending Supermind divided each of the previously envisioned attributes of Knowledge, Oneness, Creativity, Love, Delight, etc. and their infinite variations into triplicities in the form of subject - subject/object experience - object. E.g. the distinct possibility of the spiritual aspect of "Knowledge" is rendered into Knower – Knowing – Known. E.g., as a knowing being one knows that which is known. (Or to put it in words of our own experience. I as knower am knowing what is known.) Similarly, there is the triplicity of the lover (the subject) loving (experience) the beloved (object). And so forth for the myriad of cosmic determinates/spiritual qualities of the Infinite Divine. In essence, the One reality has now divided itself in various ways so that each subject can experience itself as object, thereby becoming the Many.

 

The Unfolding of the Determinism of the Absolute in Creation
-The Absolute (Brahman, the Omnipresent Reality) is the ultimate determinant in existence. That determination is expressed through Its essential Real Ideas, which are deployed in creation through the action of Supermind.

-Real-Ideas are the faculties of the Absolute that have the inherent power to fulfill themselves.

-Supermind deploys the Real Ideas through specific cosmic determinants that come from each of Existence (Sat), Conscious-Force (Chit), and Delight (Ananda). E.g. from Conscious-Force comes the determinant of Knowledge, and from Delight comes the determinant of Love.

-Supermind renders the Real Ideas through these eight determinants in creation through its comprehending power (which turns them into possibilities for manifestation), and then through its Apprehending power, which renders them as real in creation.

-In the Apprehending Process, Supermind creates space and time, and for each of the determinants enables the triune of object-subject-experience. E.g. for the cosmic determinants of Knowledge Supermind renders it into the Knower, that which is Known, and the Knowledge (that is known); or for Love as (the) Lover, (the) Beloved, (the act/experience of) Loving. All of life takes shape this way.

-Every individual has free will to choose as he pleases. And yet he does so within the ultimate determinism of the Absolute. Thus, the individual has a choice to collaborate in the unfolding of the will and determinism of the Absolute in creation.

 

How the One Became the Many; and Space and Time Emerged

[The following is based on the Theory of Creation presented by Sri Aurobindo in 'The Life Divine' and elsewhere, and further expanded on by Sri Karmayogi.]

From time immemorial, individuals have asked themselves how this world came to be, and what was the process that enabled it to happen. Here is one perspective:

To begin with, there was/is an infinite, divine Source of all things; a timeless, spaceless, immutable, ineffable Being. We can think of it as the "One," since there were not yet distinct forces and forms in a manifest universe. I.e. there was not yet a “Many.” Due to some inner compulsion, the One extended Itself to become the Many, which is in essence the distinct, unique forces and forms that will become the basis of Creation.

How then did the Many emerge from the One; i.e. the Creation from the Creator?

In the Source/Infinite consciousness are Real Ideas, which are possibilities It seeks to render as living realities; i.e. cosmic determinants that the Spirit seeks to make real in creation. Among them are spiritual aspects or qualities, including Oneness, Knowledge, Creativity, Beauty, Love, and Delight. There are also variations, combination, and subsets of these that the Divine seeks in its extension from the One to then Many.

Then how were/are the Real Ideas made real in the cosmos as unique forces and forms?

The Truth Consciousness, which Sri Aurobindo calls "Supermind" rendered through its own Comprehending capacity images of those Real Ideas. Or to put it another way, Comprehending Supermind imagined and envisioned distinct forces and forms that would embody these cosmic ideas and determinants.

At this point however, these imaginations have not been rendered real; as they are only a conception of separate formations. (We can compare this to the writer who has established characters, values and meaning, and plot in his mind, but has not yet committed them to paper.) However, through Supermind’s Apprehending capacity these envisioned formations are rendered real as distinct entries in an emerging cosmos. I.e. Oneness, Knowledge, Creativity, Beauty, Love, Delight, et al become distinct forces and forms at the unseen universal plane.

How then did these imagined forms become real?

To become separate, distinct objects, Apprehending Supermind divided each of the previously envisioned attributes of Knowledge, Oneness, Creativity, Love, Delight, etc. and their infinite variations into triplicities in the form of subject - subject/object experience - object. E.g. the distinct possibility of the spiritual aspect of "Knowledge" is rendered into Knower – Knowing – Known. E.g., as a knowing being one knows that which is known. (Or to put it in words of our own experience. I as knower am knowing what is known.) Similarly, there is the triplicity of the lover (the subject) loving (experience) the beloved (object). And so forth for the myriad of cosmic determinates/spiritual qualities of the Infinite Divine. In essence, the One reality has now divided itself in various ways so that each subject can experience itself as object, thereby becoming the Many.

It should be noted that at this point there is no physical universe. Before that can come about, there needs to be a foundation for it's occurrence; which is in essence what we know of as space and time. Though the Infinite Source is beyond space and time -- it is spaceless and timeless -- a potential universe requires these as underpinning. How does that happen?  

When the triplicities of the cosmic determinates are established through Supermind's comprehending action, which is, in essence, how the spiritual aspects/determinants are made real as distinct forces and forms, space and time are created.

But why does this happen? To answer that we need to know more about the nature of space and time.

Sri Aurobindo and Sri Karmayogi tell us that space is created at the point where a form is able, from its own unique vantage point, to perceive other forces and forms. Space then is perceived as a sense of extension from one form's perspective to another's.

Then there is time, which can be thought of as an outgrowth of space. Time is created at the point where a form perceives one form, then another one, etc. in sequence, which generates the sense of movement in extension. The perception of movement in the extension of space is what we call time.

With the triplicities of subject – functioning – object occurring though the comprehending action of the Truth Consciousness, distinct forces and forms take shape. Though these are initially at the idea of force, power and knowledge, they eventually begin to take on properties of substance through the creation and dispersion of an essential Energy. As forms take on properties of substance, they more readily perceive other forms, creating the sense of extension which is space, as well as the sense of movement within the extension, which is time.

In essence, this is the process by which the One extends Itself and is rendered into the Many. The process begins with the rendering of Real Ideas/Cosmic Determinants of the Source Being into forces and forms as triplicities of subject, experience, object, through the comprehending and apprehending action of Truth Consciousness. This becomes the basis of space and time, as well as the further involution of the cosmos that will culminate in the material-based universe that we live in.

 

The Undivided Consciousness Behind Subject and the Object
Those who understand this world say that at the most fundamental level of nature, one undivided consciousness collapses upon itself to create both the subject and the object of experience. In reality, the subject and the object, the seer and the scenery, the observer and the observed are the same being. (Deepak Chopra)

 

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Origins and Nature of Space and Time
(top)

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The Nature of Space and Time

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The Cause, Origins of Space and Time

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The Purpose of Space and Time

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DETAILS OF THE EVOLUTION

Overview of the Unfolding of the Evolution | Origins and Nature of Matter

Origins and Nature of Life in the Universe | Origins and Nature of Mind
 

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EVOLUTION:
 Overview of the Unfolding of the Evolution
(top)
 

Unfolding of Planes in Evolution

Four Evolutionary Developments in the Universe 
From some Conscious Force, perhaps we can call it a spiritual Reality, an essential Energy emerged completely at rest. When that essential energy began to move, and then coagulated into forms of existence, the universe was born. In that universe, the first essential forms of existence took shape. Though their are unseen forms --including subtle forces and powers --the first forms we come to physically know are the forms of Matter.

Gradually, we see, as we travel ahead on this cosmic timeline, mysteriously and apparently from within a proper mixture of the elements of matter, a second aspect emerging out of the inconscient matter. It is the animation of matter, which we can call the Vital (or Life) aspect. These vitalized forms, or 'life forms"  range from the simplest forms of life (e.g. amoebae, paramecium, fungus) all the way up through the complex animals in the primate family to humans.

On the next leg of our journey along the timeline of creation, we find the next evolutionary development occurring in animate forms. First in very rudimentary and later in more and more complex arrangements we see the birth of self-consciousness. In the earliest forms of animate life, consciousness appears to be based in chemical responses to impacts from internal or external sources. We see initial signs of life trying to defend, adapt, protect, hunt, etc. Gradually as higher forms of life with greater complexity emerged on earth we observe that consciousness, in fact, becomes different from the nervous response to chemical reactions. As thought, inspiration and creativity slowly emerge in the lower animals, and then in the higher primates, and finally in humans, we can clearly see more than just the mechanics, animus, and responses of the organism at work. Thus, we see the third aspect, Mind emerging in the evolution of creation.  Mind is the next building block of nature that is the basis of a more fully self-conscious species capable of self-choice and direction. It is most fully developed in humans, especially in the past ten thousand years, and its influence is rapidly accelerating, especially in the past 100 years.

Recently in cosmic terms as we approach what might be called modern times, say a few thousand years ago, which is like a second in the time window we have just traveled, we see another singularity emerging in the self-conscious species we call man. The evolutionary development of spiritual awakening or spiritual consciousness has appeared. Though rare, this experience has repeatedly occurred not just in ancient mystical societies but throughout modern times. In fact, when we scan life today, we find a small cross-section of individuals with a growing aspiration to exceed mind and find union and harmony in a higher universal consciousness. Thus Spirit is the fourth evolutionary development of existence in the universe. This principle is likely to expand in man after he has more successfully realized the full power of his mental consciousness.

We should point out that these four evolutionary developments in the universe actually existed before the universe existed. It is actually because they existed as plane of consciousness before creation that they exist in creation. Before creation there was Spirit from which in the "Involution" emerged a plane of Mind (unseen, hidden, unmanifest), which enabled a plane of Life, which is really an unseen Energy at rest, which coagulated into the forms of the universe as explained above, primarily as Matter. The universe essentially begins at the point where the unmoving energy of the Involution begins to move and coagulate in into the forms of existence. As these forms take shape, as subtle forces, plasma, matter, etc. the universe takes shape.

The Evolution
The Evolution is how forms, beginning with matter evolve in the universe to vital, mind, and spirit, fulfilling its destiny by returning to the spiritual source.

The Evolution Reverses the Involution
The involution begins with a self-conceptive Real Idea of the Divine to manifest a universe for the Delight of being, creates the planes of mind, life, and matter, and then through a process of self-absorption hides them before creation; whereas the evolution is the reverse process where matter appears, where the plane of life emerges from matter, where mind emerges from life, and Spirit (Being) from mind. In that process of coming to higher planes of spiritual mind to spirit man has the joy of self-discovery of his higher consciousness, which gives him the Delight of being, the very purpose for which the Absolute, the Divine manifest this universe in the first place.

Evolution is Reverse of Involution
The involution, which is from Existence (i.e. Being/Spirit) culminating in matter, is reversed in the evolution; i.e. there is an opposite movement, a return from the initial state of matter to the ultimate state of Spirit (Being).

Involution, then Evolution
Involution of consciousness-force in and as energy-substance is followed by evolution of conscious-force from the energy-substance. (MSS) 

Evolution is Rediscovery of Lost Spirit/Being of Creation
The Spirit Being has been absorbed and disappears in the process of the involution. Thus the evolution is the bringing back, the rediscovery of the Spirit that was lost. We, as universal instruments, enable this through our own higher consciousness. We can therefore say that evolution is the progressive unfolding of the Spirit Being into the Becoming of life, the Spirit reemerging in the practical life.

Untitled
Evolution is the progressive unfolding of the Being into the Becoming, the spirit emerging in the practical life. (Paraphrase of MSS)

Evolution is Overcoming the Inversion of Creation
Evolution is the method to overcome Non-Existence through and beyond the dualities of life and death; Inconscience through and beyond its dualities of Truth and Falsehood, and Knowledge and Error; and Insensibility through and beyond its dualities of Pleasure and Pain.

Formulations of Conscious Force
The universe consists of formulation of the original Conscious Force; as formulations of forces as physical matter, as energies of life, as thoughts of mind. The higher the plane, the more subtle and more conscious is the formulation. In spirit above mind they are highest. There are gradations there too. There is also gradations of force that we experience from the surface to the depths culminating in the evolving soul within.

The Seed of Potentiality
In Sri Aurobindo's metaphysics, life emerged from a Conscious-Force, but the consciousness dissolved on the way to manifesting matter. Yet all of the magnificence is involved, hidden in matter as a seed of potential. Animated life and mind emerged from that seed, yet each of these also hold a seed of further possibility. When we evolve our consciousness, we bring the (infinite) potentiality out of the seed. If we examine your quote from Savitri, we can see this involutionary/evolutionary philosophy captured.

"All the world's possibilities in man
Are waiting as the tree waits in its seed:
His past lives in him; it drives his future's pace;
His present's acts fashion his coming fate.
The unborn gods hide in his house of Life."

Evolution, Involution, and Darwin
Darwin understood the physical causes of evolution in animals; even their only partially. He did not understand the subtle causes -- i.e. the psychological and spiritual.

For example, the evolutionary spiritual philosopher Sri Aurobindo says that evolution occurs not only because of a movement to higher consciousness -- e.g. greater thought or insight --, but to the unfolding of a seed of that possibility that is involved in that form. I.e. in a dumb animal is an involved consciousness of mentality, which will only come out through the evolution of that species, which is what happened when higher animals and man evolved from it. This involved seed and capacity is there because the Spirit put it there in its own involutionary descent from the Infinite consciousness, the Divine on its way to creating a universe of forms. All evolution is an unfolding of this intended process.

Thus, evolution is the very essence and will of God, to create ever more conscious beings, reflective of its own Infinite, Divine nature.

Darwin's explanation does not perceive the essential process of creation, therefore his view of evolution is material and mechanistic. Still his was a great breakthrough at its own (limited) level.

 

The Evolutionary Process
(what is the process by which the evolution occurs)

The Process of Creation, Involution, and Evolution
On the 197th birthday of Charles Darwin, people are trying to reconcile his ideas with the spirit. So far, all parties -- secular and scientific, and religious -- seem far away from understanding the true nature of evolution. Evolution takes place for any entity when it organizes itself at a higher level.

When a business develops a strategic plan to grow, it is essentially organizing itself and then executing that plan, which creates further progress for the firm. When I as an individual plan out what I want to become, organize the details, and then carry it out, I can rapidly progress. If the organization or individual plans and succeeds in going not just a bit further, but to a substantially new level, there is not only progress, but evolution.

There is then a single process of accomplishment and creation that is taking place in life: a conception of that which we wish to become, the organization of the details of that vision, and an intense execution that enables the aspiration and intention to manifest. When that process is practiced to perfection it enables not only progress, but evolution. Even the Spiritual reality in creating a universe from its Divine source, followed this same essential approach: it conceived that which it wished to create -- a universe -- and it organized and made it happen through powers of consciousness that turned conscious force into unseen subtle energy that became the basis of the forms of creation. It evolved itself further into a universe.

If we are to understand evolution, we need to understand this single great process of creation that moves from vision to organization to manifestation. Even when a primitive being or an animal evolves, there is some higher quality that is being organized, that is moving from its current level of being to a higher order. We can see this in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, where the ape vaguely perceives that a bone it has found can be used, tries it out, and then uses it to gain superiority over its rivals. It is the organization of a perception into a living reality. Evolution is then a product of the organization of consciousness -- whether it is consciously, subconsciously, or unconsciously takes place -- as in the case of the amoeba.

There is another dimension to the evolutionary process. It is that the higher levels of progress, development, and evolution that entities attain is already involved in their being. Just as a tree emerges of a seed in which all of its existence is mostly predetermined, so too there is an involved capacity to bring about the next stage or phase of its being. When the lowest life forms emerged from unanimated matter, that matter already had within it an involved capacity to develop into an animated life form. Likewise, if I wish to become more intuitively spiritual -- a higher formation of mentality -- that capacity is already there involved as potential in my current mental framework. It is their in the seed of my being as potential.

Thus, not only is there one universal process of creation that moves from stages of vision to organization to manifestation, i.e. through a movement of higher consciousness, but the stages we can evolve to are already there embedded in our being as potentiality. This is the case because in the creation of the cosmos from a Divine Source, those very planes of being were there before the universe even existed, and in creation were then embedded in the forms that emerged, including us. E.g., a plane of Mind existed before the universe came to be and higher life forms developed a mind with the capacity to think. This preexistence of the planes that we are emerging into, from an involved seed of consciousness that is rooted in these very planes prior to creation, is another dimension to evolution. Thus, we can say that the evolutionary process is able to occur because the involutionary process has created these potentialities in the very fiber of our being. The planes that emerge from us were already involved in us as a seed in subtle form.

Through the process of conception, vision, intention, organization of the intent, and the carrying out the intent, we progress. If it is substantial -- i.e. there is a dramatic change for the positive -- it is more than progress, but evolution. And yet the seeds of our intention are already there in our being, even as we have the free will to become the very thing we wish to become. In the end, we become the next highest thing -- i.e. we progress and evolve -- when we organize that which is emerging turning it into a living reality. We as humans can consciously do this, and accelerate the speed of the evolution of Man.

Evolution as Higher Forms of Force
We are all forms of an original Force. When we enable higher formations of this force -- making it a more conscious Force -- we evolve.

The Evolutionary Process of Ascent
-There is an upward evolutionary progress, an ascent, of the consciousness itself from grade to higher grade.

-The transition from one state to the next is a stride from one principle of being to a different, higher principle.

-When the Force of concealed conscious being is so intensified in a plane, it develops a new principle of action, enabling a whole new plane to emerge out of it. This is the evolutionary process of ascent.

-The difference between the stages of evolution are due to the workings of the inner Force and not in the outer process of the evolutionary transition. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

The Evolutionary Process
All evolution is in essence a heightening of the force of consciousness in the manifest being so that it may be raised into the greater intensity of what is still unmanifest, from matter into life, from life into mind, from the mind into the spirit. It is this that must be the method of our growth from a mental into a spiritual and supramental manifestation, out of a still half-animal humanity into a divine being and a divine living. (Sri Aurobindo)

Cause of Evolution
Evolution results from a rhythm and process of the contact between forms of substance, which awakens and releases the latent consciousness-force inherent in each form so that it can more fully express on the surface. (MSS) 
 

 

Origins and Nature of Energy

End of Involution, Beginning of Evolution
At the point that energy coagulates into objective uniqueness the involution ends and the evolution begins.

Energy and Life
-There is an ocean of energy, a plane of Force enveloping the earth. This is Life.
-Forms, matter, us emerge from this energy, this plane of Life
-The Divine has created Man in the plane of life, through the force of life.

-Man is one formation of life, and the animal is another formation of life. Matter itself is a hard formation dense to our touch.  
(MSS, paraphrased)

Untitled
The dominant characteristic of life is energy. (MSS)

Energy Emerges First from the Inconscience
In the beginning of the evolution when all is emerged in inconscience, there is the emergence first of Energy, not Consciousness, which emerges later.

Science Sees the Force, not the Will
The energy detected and measured by science is itself a partial expression of that consciousness-force, partial because we perceive only the force and not the will that determines the direction of that force. (MSS)

Thoughts on Energy

• Energy originates in Being through its extension to Consciousness to Force and to Will through the dividing action of the plane of Mind as determined by Supermind.
• Energy is the result of will which is the product of knowledge acting on the force of consciousness of the Being.
• Though energy in life expresses physically, vitally, and mentally, its origins are spiritual; i.e. from the Being. So it is logical that it also can express spiritually, which it does.
• Energy manifest as results in life through a process of conversion, and withers and dies through unconscious dispersion.
• Energy gathers through right consciousness, emotion, thought, and action.
• True interest in another energizes; in separative self (i.e. ego) depletes.
• Moving within replenishes energy, as it is a movement toward the Being in the individual in the universe.
• Energy gathers by understanding the nature of energy, or for that matter, the nature of anything.
• Nature is the energy of life moving towards a Higher end.

Process of Energy Creation
Knowledge and Will come from Consciousness-Force (of the Absolute, Brahman). Will comes about because of a Knowledge. That Will is the Energy of creation. This same process is there for the individual. (E.g. I am aware of something that can be achieved. I see the benefit of achieving it. I want to achieve it. Will arises. This in turn creates energy (i.e. turns the force of Consciousness-Force into energy.) The culmination as substance, results depends on execution, whether it be in the Creation, or in our individual creation.

Spirit Revives
Spirit revives dead or dying vehicle into fresh new life. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo)

The Process of Evolution that Humans Can Accelerate
Sri Aurobindo, the Indian sage and seer spent decades trying to fathom the true nature of existence. He came to see that the universe came about through an involution of the Spirit; i.e. through a conscious decision of the Divine Will, there emerged a Force and then an Energy out of which all forms in the universe were created. At the point where the Force/Energy emerged form a Divine Source and coagulated into the first forms of creation, there began the evolution of the universe, which began as unconscious matter, evolved an animus of life, including life forms, and the development of mentality expressed predominantly through primate and especially man.

While philosophers and seers like Sri Aurobindo have attempted to explain the involution part, scientists like Darwin have tried to explain the evolution part; the movement from matter to life to intelligence. Unfortunately, these explanation have focused on the surface realities, and the outer material processes of evolution, as explained in such concepts as survival of the fittest, natural selection, spontaneous mutation, and so forth. Though there is considerable truth in these conclusions, especially at the material level, Sri Aurobindo believed that they elicit only a superficial understanding of the processes that enable evolution to move forward. He instead focused on the inner processes of evolution that enabled life to emerge from matter, and mind to emerge from life. His interest was to try to explain why these successive planes emerged from out of one another.

Sri Aurobindo explains it this way: There is a process of unfolding that occurs from one plane to the next plane; e.g. from matter to life to mind. The reason one plane emerges from the previous because it is already involved there as potential in the previous plane, not unlike a seed that has the potential to develop into a tree. When the existing plane becomes fully organized at its level, then the next plane emerges out of it. So the animus/life (in plant, lower life, animal, humans) that emerged from pure matter (material rock, gasses, et al.) were involved as potential to begin with, and emerged when the material level was organized enough to move to the next level. The same with the emergence of mentality from out of animus/life. (There are actually many subplanes and stratas in between.)

Sri Aurobindo goes on to say that what really compels the emergence of the next plane is the underlying (original) spirit that is embedded in each plane, pushing that plane's potential to emerge from its current plane into the next plane. (In the involution the Spirit was self-absorbed and hidden beginning in the Force and Energy and then the matter that emerged in the universe.) Since spirit, which is really the same spirit that created the universe in the first place, i.e. the Divine spirit, is infinitely creative, what emerges in the next plane is always dynamically new and creative; it is always an unexpected manifestation of new forms of consciousness. After all who could have conceived a thinking being from the plant, or perhaps a future spiritual being from the current mental-based man?

You might ask at this point, how does this all relate to me? Well Sri Aurobindo goes on to say that from time immemorial Nature has led this process of ascendance upward from matter to animus/life to mind. It is the slow and painful method by which life normally progresses. Now however the human being, the self-conscious, self-determining mental human can now take the evolution further. By connecting to his inner being, to his spiritual soul within, or to the Divine above, he comes in contact with the very spiritual powers and forces that enabled the current planes of matter, life, and mind to emerge. He then has the capacity to collaborate with spirit to enable further planes or sub planes to emerge, as well as the perfection of the current planes.

Thus man, through his conscious collaboration with the dynamic spiritual essence, becomes the enabler for the further evolution of the species. He enables new possibilities to rise in life; such as new perceptions, insights, and ideas; new inventions, products, and services; and new ways of living and acting and interacting. Ultimately through an individual's connection to consciousness and spirit, he becomes an instrument of human evolution. In that way, rather than Nature being the leader of our evolution, the self-conscious human individual becomes the pioneer and leader of our future evolution, further releasing the infinite potential and further (spiritual) planes of life.

 

Forms of Force

Forms of Force
Everything in the universe, seen and unseen is a formulation, i.e. a form of the Original Force that extended from Being, i.e. Spirit in the involution.

All Forms, Matter, We are Divine
What we think of as unspiritual outer forms (matter, life, us) is at a deeper level seen as spiritual as well. The forms of the universe are manifestations of the consciousness and force of the Divine. Matter is a materialization of the Consciousness-Force of the Divine. Matter and Spirit are therefore the same. So are life and mind. So are we. (Yet from the mental state of consciousness we see that we need to divinize these aspects, including ourselves.)

Creation of Forms
Form is created by contrast and apparent division of spiritual substance that is one and indivisible. (MSS)

Spirit Precedes and Enables Energy and Form
Science is not sure which came first, consciousness or the structure, leaning to the latter. Sri Aurobindo said that the Force was anterior to the form; i.e. the spirit and the energy at rest that is derived from the process of creation precedes and enables forms in the universe. (Paraphrase of MSS)

How Plane of Mind Creates Forms
In order for Substance to become perceptible to us as Matter, the Energy must give that substance Forms which can be apprehended by our senses. That is the role of Mind (the universal principle of mind). Consciousness-Force uses the instrumentation of Mind to divide the indivisible existence into individual Forms. (MSS)

Life Force vs. Life of Being
Life exists in two layers of Force and Being. Life of force is governed by the law of karma. Life of Being is governed by the law of causality. In the one, failure and success alternates; in the other, there is only success. (MSS)

Untitled
Everything that takes form in the manifestation, i.e. the known universe, was anterior, existed as potential form, as consciousness-force, before the creation. This is even now an ongoing process.

The Evolution of the Substance of Spirit
Spirit is the substance of the universe. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo) In the creation that spiritual substance first takes the form matter, and then life, and then our mentality, and rises to ever higher, more subtle forms to spiritualized mind and beyond. In this sense through our growth, evolution, and transformation, we enable spirit to evolve in creation.

Things that are New
All things that are new in the world are new formulations of form of Force, and are thus new embodiment of Delight of Being.

Creative Formulation of Spirit Emerging
Each time a new variation of the same principle emerges, it is a new creative formation of spirit in the object.

Life is Infinite, Creative Force
In Life Divine, Sri Aurobindo describes life as a universal force that expresses as the individual force maintaining each individual form or object in manifestation. It is the force that creates and preserves the form, defends its survival and energizes its growth. Although we view life in terms of many separate and individual lives, it is only one single, universal existence that we perceive as many. In its origin, life is the infinite, creative force that builds the worlds and inhabits them with forms of its own self-conception and creation. It is the conscious force of Sat, the Self-Conscious Being, the Pure Existence, the Divine Consciousness, the omnipresent reality. (MSS)

Science Sees the Force, not the Will
The energy detected and measured by science is itself a partial expression of that consciousness-force, partial because we perceive only the force and not the will that determines the direction of that force. (MSS)

P,V,M are Expressions of Consciousness-Force
-Sri Aurobindo presents a unifying conception of matter, life and mind by representing that all three are expressions of a common energy-substance.

-This pure fundamental reality is what he terms Consciousness-Force, which is itself an expression of a more subtle reality he refers to as Self-conscious Being or Pure Existence.

-All matter, life and mental experience are limited or veiled expressions of this fundamental Consciousness-Force.

-Conscious-Force manifests as mind, life and matter through the process of involution.

-Consciousness-Force has the inherent capacity to take on the behavioral characteristics that we associate with inanimate, inconscient material energy-substance. This is made possible by an involution of the inherent properties of consciousness-force so that it assumes the appearance to our sense experience of inconscient material energy-substance, subconscious life and conscious mentality.

-Sri Aurobindo maintains that even our normal human consciousness is an involved state of the conscious-force of pure existence. It is involved in the sense that it possesses only very limited knowledge and negligible power in comparison with the knowledge and power inherent in pure consciousness-force. (MSS)

Physical, Vital, Mental Energy-Substance as Expressions of Consciousness-Force
Physical energy-substance, vital energy-substance and mental-energy substance represent three different expressions, or one might say vibratory frequencies, of a more fundamental energy-substance termed consciousness-force. (MSS)

Perceiving Consciousness and Energy Among P,V,M Levels
As we go down the ladder from mentality to vitality to physicality, consciousness becomes more involved and concealed, while energy becomes more evolved and manifest. (MSS)

Expressions of Energy in Life
-There is a field of energy that has emerged, and continues to emerge from the Consciousness-Force of the Absolute. That energy is the plane of Life. Life is then a sea of energy permeating all of existence that gives rise to all forms in the universe.

-Life is a field of energy that takes form materially, vitally, mentally, and spiritually.

-In life there is matter, i.e. the material plane, which express through material energies, there is the vital plane which expresses through vital energies, there is mind, which expresses through mental energies, and there is the supramental plane beyond mind which expresses through supramental energies.

-Life expresses through gross/material, subtle, and causal formations. Gross/material means the thing expresses as physical substance and can be perceived with the senses. When a thing expresses subtlely, it is not perceived through the senses, but is invisible. When a thing expresses causally, not only is it invisible but it is infused with spiritual consciousness giving it ultimate power of effectivity.

-Matter (e.g. the stone or the human body) expresses at the gross/material plane, as well as subtle, and causal planes; Vital individual wants, desires, emotions, feelings, attitudes, etc. and other vital life energies express predominantly at the subtle plane (though they can express causally as well.) Thoughts, ideas, opinions, beliefs, logical thoughts, etc., of the mind express fully at the subtle plane. Aspects of the spirit and supermind express causally (i.e. super-subtlely).