Vedic Vision Vedic Vision andand

Triple TransformationTriple Transformation

In the light ofIn the light of

Sri Aurobindo on the VedaSri Aurobindo on the Veda

Veda is the earliest gospel we have of Veda is the earliest gospel we have of man's immortality… man's immortality…

The central conception of the Veda is the The central conception of the Veda is the conquest of the Truth out of the conquest of the Truth out of the darkness of Ignorance and by the darkness of Ignorance and by the conquest of the Truth the conquest also conquest of the Truth the conquest also of Immortality.of Immortality.

The Veda is perfect and beautiful in its The Veda is perfect and beautiful in its coherence and its unity.coherence and its unity.

VEDICVEDIC VISIONVISION

The Beginning The Beginning

““At the beginning was the Self. At the beginning was the Self.

He was Alone. He was Alone.

He looked around and didn’t find He looked around and didn’t find anybody else except himself. anybody else except himself.

He said: “I Am …”, He said: “I Am …”,

but there was no other name to say, but there was no other name to say, for he was alone… for he was alone…

He was not happy. He wanted He was not happy. He wanted Another.”Another.”

Shatapatha BrahmanaShatapatha Brahmana

“ “Why should Brahman,”- asks Sri Why should Brahman,”- asks Sri Aurobindo, - who is “perfect, absolute, Aurobindo, - who is “perfect, absolute, infinite, needing nothing, desiring infinite, needing nothing, desiring nothing, at all throw out force of nothing, at all throw out force of consciousness to create in itself these consciousness to create in itself these worlds of forms?” worlds of forms?”

“ “If, then, being free to move or remain If, then, being free to move or remain eternally still, to throw itself into forms eternally still, to throw itself into forms or retain the potentiality of form in or retain the potentiality of form in itself, it indulges its power of itself, it indulges its power of movement and formation, it can be movement and formation, it can be only for one reason, only for one reason, for delightfor delight.”.”

“ “The Supreme,”- says the Mother, - “decided The Supreme,”- says the Mother, - “decided to exteriorise himself, objectivise himself, in to exteriorise himself, objectivise himself, in order to have order to have the joy of knowing himself the joy of knowing himself in detailin detail,… to be able to see Himself. ,… to be able to see Himself.

The first thing in Himself which He The first thing in Himself which He exteriorised was the Knowledge of the world exteriorised was the Knowledge of the world and the Power to create it. and the Power to create it.

This Knowledge-Consciousness and Force This Knowledge-Consciousness and Force began its work; and in the supreme Will there began its work; and in the supreme Will there was a plan, and the first principle of this plan was a plan, and the first principle of this plan was the expression of both was the expression of both the essential Joy the essential Joy and the essential Freedomand the essential Freedom, which seemed , which seemed to be the most interesting feature of this to be the most interesting feature of this creation.”creation.”

The First Creation: The First Creation: the Eternal Nightthe Eternal Night

“ “Night,- says the Veda,- was born out of Night,- says the Veda,- was born out of the shining Truth of the Supreme Power.the shining Truth of the Supreme Power.

From the Night the Waters of the From the Night the Waters of the Inconscient came into being. Inconscient came into being.

And from the Waters of the Inconscient And from the Waters of the Inconscient the Time was born, the Creator of all the Time was born, the Creator of all that moves.” that moves.”

RigVeda 10.191.1RigVeda 10.191.1

“ “Out of Himself He cast a luminous Out of Himself He cast a luminous shadow: all these worlds - from the shadow: all these worlds - from the Superconscient to the Inconscient;” Superconscient to the Inconscient;”

gradually denying Himself, gradually denying Himself, withdrawing His Supreme withdrawing His Supreme

Knowledge from His Supreme Knowledge from His Supreme Power, Power,

becoming unaware of these worlds becoming unaware of these worlds as Himself.as Himself.

Aitareya Upanishad 1.1.1-3Aitareya Upanishad 1.1.1-3

““In the enigma of the darkened Vasts,In the enigma of the darkened Vasts,In the passion and self-loss of the In the passion and self-loss of the Infinite …Infinite …A contradiction founds the base of life:A contradiction founds the base of life:The eternal, the divine RealityThe eternal, the divine RealityHas faced itself with its own Has faced itself with its own contraries;contraries;Being became the Void and Conscious-Being became the Void and Conscious-ForceForceNescience and walk of a blind EnergyNescience and walk of a blind EnergyAnd Ecstasy took the figure of world-And Ecstasy took the figure of world-

pain.”pain.” Savitri, p.141

ConsciousneConsciousness in Lightss in Light

BlissBliss TruthTruth LifeLife

The Supreme The Supreme EmanationsEmanations

When the first Involution took place, - says the When the first Involution took place, - says the Veda,- and the Light was turned into the Veda,- and the Light was turned into the Darkness, “the Creation became as if unsteady, It Darkness, “the Creation became as if unsteady, It could not sustain itself.” could not sustain itself.”

So the Supreme Self had to enter and to support So the Supreme Self had to enter and to support it from within. it from within.

When He entered, as the Veda says: “Himself by When He entered, as the Veda says: “Himself by Himself”, Himself”, atmanatmanam abhisamvivesha, atmanatmanam abhisamvivesha, the the Creation became steady.” Creation became steady.”

Taittiriya AranyakaTaittiriya Aranyaka 1.23 1.23

The Second CreationThe Second Creation

““When all was plunged When all was plunged in the negating Void, in the negating Void,Non-Being's night Non-Being's night could never have been could never have been savedsavedIf Being had not plunged If Being had not plunged

into the dark…” into the dark…” Savitri, p.141

In the Mother’s story, in order to repair the fall of In the Mother’s story, in order to repair the fall of the first Emanations, the Supreme Mother, Aditi, the first Emanations, the Supreme Mother, Aditi, delegated out of herself the force of Love, which delegated out of herself the force of Love, which has plunged into darkness of the first Creation. has plunged into darkness of the first Creation.

In the Vedas it is Agni, the Divine Will, the first In the Vedas it is Agni, the Divine Will, the first Avatar, who lay down and hid himself within the Avatar, who lay down and hid himself within the darkness: the Immortal among Mortals. It is darkness: the Immortal among Mortals. It is because of his presence that everyone is evolving, because of his presence that everyone is evolving, seeking after the higher knowledge of the seeking after the higher knowledge of the Supreme. Supreme.

THE EVOLUTIONTHE EVOLUTION

“ “A soul of the Divine is here slowly A soul of the Divine is here slowly awaking out of its involution and awaking out of its involution and concealment in the material concealment in the material Inconscience.”Inconscience.”

The Synthesis of Yoga

““He sleeps in the atom He sleeps in the atom and the burning star, and the burning star,He sleeps in man and god He sleeps in man and god and beast and stone: and beast and stone:Because he is there Because he is there the Inconscient does its the Inconscient does its work,work,Because he is there Because he is there the world forgets to die.” the world forgets to die.”

Savitri,Savitri, p.141p.141

““This terrestrial evolutionary This terrestrial evolutionary working of Nature has a double working of Nature has a double

process:process: 1)1) there is an outward visible process of there is an outward visible process of

physical evolution with birth as its physical evolution with birth as its machinery, — for each evolved form of machinery, — for each evolved form of body housing its own evolved power of body housing its own evolved power of consciousness is maintained and kept in consciousness is maintained and kept in continuity by heredity; continuity by heredity;

2)2) there is, at the same time, an invisible there is, at the same time, an invisible process of soul evolution with rebirth into process of soul evolution with rebirth into ascending grades of form and ascending grades of form and consciousness as its machinery.” consciousness as its machinery.” The Life Divine

““Brahman, - says Sri Aurobindo, - has Brahman, - says Sri Aurobindo, - has projected in Itself this luminous Shadow of projected in Itself this luminous Shadow of Itself and has in the act begun to Itself and has in the act begun to envisage Itself and consider Its envisage Itself and consider Its essentialities in the light of attributes.essentialities in the light of attributes.

He who is Existence, Consciousness, Bliss He who is Existence, Consciousness, Bliss envisages Himself as existent, conscious, envisages Himself as existent, conscious, blissful. blissful.

From that moment phenomenal From that moment phenomenal manifestation becomes inevitable; manifestation becomes inevitable;

the Unqualified chooses to regard Himself the Unqualified chooses to regard Himself as qualified, … as qualified, …

the One becomes the Many.”the One becomes the Many.”

Brahman, SpiritBrahman, Spirit SAT ExistenceSAT Existence CHIT Consciousness CHIT Consciousness ANANDA BlissANANDA Bliss

VIJNANA SupermindVIJNANA Supermind

MANAS MindMANAS Mind PRANA LifePRANA Life ANNA MatterANNA Matter

AtmanAtman, , SelfSelf

Sat Purusha Divine Self Sat Purusha Divine Self Chaitanya Purusha All-Conscious SoulChaitanya Purusha All-Conscious Soul Anandamaya Purusha All-Blissful SoulAnandamaya Purusha All-Blissful Soul

Vijnanamaya Purusha Great SoulVijnanamaya Purusha Great Soul

Manomaya Purusha Mental beingManomaya Purusha Mental being Pranamaya Purusha Vital beingPranamaya Purusha Vital being Annamaya Purusha Physical beingAnnamaya Purusha Physical being

The Double Soul of ManThe Double Soul of Man

““The true being may be realised in The true being may be realised in one or both of two aspects—the Self one or both of two aspects—the Self or Atman and the soul or or Atman and the soul or Antaratman, psychic being, Chaitya Antaratman, psychic being, Chaitya Purusha. Purusha.

The difference is that one is felt as The difference is that one is felt as universal, the other as individual universal, the other as individual supporting the mind, life and body. supporting the mind, life and body.

““When one first realises the Atman one When one first realises the Atman one feels it separate from all things, existing in feels it separate from all things, existing in itself and detached,… itself and detached,…

When one realises the psychic being, it is When one realises the psychic being, it is not like that; for this brings the sense of not like that; for this brings the sense of union with the Divine and dependence union with the Divine and dependence upon It and sole consecration to the Divine upon It and sole consecration to the Divine alone and the power to change the nature alone and the power to change the nature and discover the true mental, the true and discover the true mental, the true vital, the true physical being in oneself. vital, the true physical being in oneself.

Both realisations are necessary for this Both realisations are necessary for this yoga.”yoga.”

Letters on YogaLetters on Yoga

A New CreationA New Creation

The First CreationThe First Creation

was the Fall of the Spirit, which laid out was the Fall of the Spirit, which laid out the field for Its future Manifestation. the field for Its future Manifestation.

All the levels of consciousness were All the levels of consciousness were unfolded gradually, creating all the unfolded gradually, creating all the worlds in the involutionary order, from worlds in the involutionary order, from light to darkness, from superconscient light to darkness, from superconscient to inconscient, from Spirit to Matter. to inconscient, from Spirit to Matter.

The Second CreationThe Second Creation was a plunge of the Supreme into the was a plunge of the Supreme into the

Darkness of material Inconscience, Darkness of material Inconscience, bringing the aspect of the Self into bringing the aspect of the Self into existence, in terms of Individual growth existence, in terms of Individual growth and realisation. and realisation.

From this point matter becomes From this point matter becomes animated and the evolution takes animated and the evolution takes place. place.

It goes on till the Psychic being is fully It goes on till the Psychic being is fully individualised and formed, and the individualised and formed, and the instruments of its expression: body, life instruments of its expression: body, life and mind are fully developed to and mind are fully developed to embody the Spirit. embody the Spirit.

The Third CreationThe Third Creation

is the Supramental Descent, which is the Supramental Descent, which reconciles Nature with the Soul,reconciles Nature with the Soul,

enthrones the Psychic being as the enthrones the Psychic being as the Lord of Creation and gives it direct Lord of Creation and gives it direct access to the higher realms of Being access to the higher realms of Being and Consciousness, and Consciousness,

establishing the law of the Spirit in establishing the law of the Spirit in the whole Nature. the whole Nature.

“ “There are different statuses of the There are different statuses of the Divine Consciousness,” - says Sri Divine Consciousness,” - says Sri Aurobindo, - Individual, Universal and Aurobindo, - Individual, Universal and Transcendental.Transcendental.

“ “There are also different statuses of There are also different statuses of transformation. transformation.

I.I. First is the psychic transformation, in First is the psychic transformation, in which all is in contact with the Divine which all is in contact with the Divine through the individual psychic through the individual psychic consciousness. consciousness.

II.II. Next is the spiritual transformation in Next is the spiritual transformation in which all is merged in the Divine in the which all is merged in the Divine in the cosmic consciousness. cosmic consciousness.

III.III. Third is the supramental transformation Third is the supramental transformation in which all becomes supramentalised in which all becomes supramentalised in the divine gnostic consciousness.”in the divine gnostic consciousness.”

The Psychic TransformationThe Psychic Transformation The Psychic being “is a flame born out of the The Psychic being “is a flame born out of the

Divine and, luminous inhabitant of the Divine and, luminous inhabitant of the Ignorance, grows in it till it is able to turn it Ignorance, grows in it till it is able to turn it towards the Knowledge;” … towards the Knowledge;” …

it is a deputy of the unborn Self or Atman “in it is a deputy of the unborn Self or Atman “in the forms of Nature,the forms of Nature, the individual soul,… the individual soul,… supporting mind, life and body, standing supporting mind, life and body, standing behind (them) …, watching and profiting by behind (them) …, watching and profiting by their development and experience.”their development and experience.”

“ “If it can come forward into the front and If it can come forward into the front and govern overtly and entirely… this outer nature govern overtly and entirely… this outer nature of mind, life and body, then these can be cast of mind, life and body, then these can be cast into soul images of what is true, right and into soul images of what is true, right and beautiful and in the end the whole nature can beautiful and in the end the whole nature can be turned towards the real aim of life, the be turned towards the real aim of life, the supreme victory, the ascent into spiritual supreme victory, the ascent into spiritual existence.”existence.”

The Spiritual TransformationThe Spiritual Transformation

“ “The The Psychic beingPsychic being can by the spiritual influx enlarge can by the spiritual influx enlarge itself and embrace the whole world…in an intimate itself and embrace the whole world…in an intimate communion or oneness. communion or oneness.

Or it may become aware of its eternal Companion Or it may become aware of its eternal Companion and elect to live for ever in His presence, in an and elect to live for ever in His presence, in an imperishable union and oneness as the eternal imperishable union and oneness as the eternal lover with the eternal Beloved, which of all spiritual lover with the eternal Beloved, which of all spiritual experiences is the most intense in beauty and experiences is the most intense in beauty and rapture. rapture.

All these are great and splendid achievements of All these are great and splendid achievements of our spiritual self-finding, but they are not our spiritual self-finding, but they are not necessarily the last end and entire consummation; necessarily the last end and entire consummation; more is possible.”more is possible.”

Supramental transformationSupramental transformation

““The psychic transformation after rising into the The psychic transformation after rising into the spiritual change has then to be completed, spiritual change has then to be completed, integralised, exceeded and uplifted by a integralised, exceeded and uplifted by a supramental transformation. supramental transformation.

In Supermind is the integrating Light, the In Supermind is the integrating Light, the consummating Force, the wide entry into the consummating Force, the wide entry into the supreme Ananda: the psychic being uplifted by supreme Ananda: the psychic being uplifted by that Light and Force can unite itself with the that Light and Force can unite itself with the original Delight of existence from which it came: original Delight of existence from which it came: overcoming the dualities of pain and pleasure, overcoming the dualities of pain and pleasure, delivering from all fear and shrinking the mind, life delivering from all fear and shrinking the mind, life and body, it can recast the contacts of existence and body, it can recast the contacts of existence in the world into terms of the Divine Ananda.” in the world into terms of the Divine Ananda.”

The EndThe End