The Fundamental Concepts The Fundamental Concepts of Sri Aurobindo of Sri Aurobindo

K.SrinivasDepartment of Philosophy, School of Humanities, Pondicherry University,Puducherry-605 014,India

Sri Aurobindo ( 1872-1950) is one of the Sri Aurobindo ( 1872-1950) is one of the most influential contemporary Indian most influential contemporary Indian philosophers and mystics.philosophers and mystics.

According to G.H. Langley: “ Sri According to G.H. Langley: “ Sri Aurobindo is both a poet and Aurobindo is both a poet and speculative thinker . The same is true of speculative thinker . The same is true of Rabindranath Tagore, but the thought of Rabindranath Tagore, but the thought of Sri Aurobindo appears to me more Sri Aurobindo appears to me more comprehensive and systematic than that comprehensive and systematic than that of Tagore.”of Tagore.”

Sri Aurobindo: Indian Poet, Philosopher, Sri Aurobindo: Indian Poet, Philosopher, Mystic ( Mystic ( Royal India, Pakisthan, Royal India, Pakisthan, Ceylone Society, David Marlowe Ltd).Ceylone Society, David Marlowe Ltd).

His original name was Arabinda Akryod His original name was Arabinda Akryod GhoseGhose

The philosophy of Sri Aurobindo is The philosophy of Sri Aurobindo is known as integral philosophy for it known as integral philosophy for it combines physical, vital and mental combines physical, vital and mental elements into one single whole.elements into one single whole.

Most of his important writings appeared Most of his important writings appeared in his journal in his journal The Arya The Arya between 1914-between 1914-20. These writings of Sri Aurobindo 20. These writings of Sri Aurobindo were published later in the form of were published later in the form of books with some revisions. They are: books with some revisions. They are: The Essays on the Gita; Synthesis of The Essays on the Gita; Synthesis of Yoga; The Human Cycle; The Ideal of Yoga; The Human Cycle; The Ideal of Human Unity; The Life Divine; Two Human Unity; The Life Divine; Two Volumes of Collected Poems: Volumes of Collected Poems: and and Savitri. Savitri.

It consists of twenty seven thousand It consists of twenty seven thousand lines.lines.

His writings express a steady vision with His writings express a steady vision with regard to the evolution of the world, regard to the evolution of the world, and of man, through different stages, and of man, through different stages, points to the divine destiny of man.points to the divine destiny of man.

A harmonious and integral culture of A harmonious and integral culture of physical, vital, and mental potentialities physical, vital, and mental potentialities of of

man lead him to super-human level to man lead him to super-human level to realize the sublime truth (realize the sublime truth (sat-cit-anandasat-cit-ananda) .) .

Aurobindo’s Views on Evolution Aurobindo’s Views on Evolution The problem of evolution has attracted The problem of evolution has attracted

the attention of philosophers and the attention of philosophers and scientists alike. Several theories of scientists alike. Several theories of evolution have been advanced by them. evolution have been advanced by them.

Even before the scientists have advanced Even before the scientists have advanced

their theories of evolution the their theories of evolution the philosophers in the East and the West philosophers in the East and the West have advanced their theories. have advanced their theories.

For instance it is mentioned in the For instance it is mentioned in the Taittiriya Upanishad: ‘Taittiriya Upanishad: ‘In the beginning In the beginning all this Universe was Non-existent and all this Universe was Non-existent and unmanifest from which manifest unmanifest from which manifest existence was born. Itself created itself, existence was born. Itself created itself, non other created it. Therefore, they say non other created it. Therefore, they say of it the of it the

Well and beautifully made.” Well and beautifully made.” Similarly, one of the orthodox systems Similarly, one of the orthodox systems

of Indian philosophy, Samkhya talks of Indian philosophy, Samkhya talks about evolution. The proximity of about evolution. The proximity of PrakritiPrakriti, the primordial substance, to , the primordial substance, to PurushaPurusha, the consciousness, disturbs , the consciousness, disturbs the equilibrium of the the equilibrium of the gunasgunas ((sattva,rajas, sattva,rajas, and and tamastamas) which ) which results in evolution. results in evolution.

Aristotle, the ancient Greek Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher, made a significant philosopher, made a significant contribution to the theory of evolution. contribution to the theory of evolution. As a biologist he attributed evolutionary As a biologist he attributed evolutionary changes to natural causes. He held that changes to natural causes. He held that evolution of life started from the evolution of life started from the primordial soft mass of living matter, primordial soft mass of living matter, and it is a gradual process beginning and it is a gradual process beginning with plants to animals with sensitivity, with plants to animals with sensitivity, and to man.and to man.

The mechanistic theorists of evolution The mechanistic theorists of evolution held that life has arisen from inorganic held that life has arisen from inorganic matter controlled by natural laws. The matter controlled by natural laws. The modern evolutionists like Lamark, modern evolutionists like Lamark, Darwin, and De Vries made significant Darwin, and De Vries made significant contributions to the theory of evolution. contributions to the theory of evolution.

Bergson in the West advanced creative Bergson in the West advanced creative evolution, and Sri Aurobindo spiritual evolution, and Sri Aurobindo spiritual evolution.evolution.

In his In his The Life Divine The Life Divine Sri Aurobindo Sri Aurobindo discusses at length his spiritual theory of discusses at length his spiritual theory of evolution. According to him: “ There evolution. According to him: “ There seems to be no reason why Life should seems to be no reason why Life should not evolve out of material elements or not evolve out of material elements or Mind out of living forms, unless we Mind out of living forms, unless we accept the Vedantic solution that life is accept the Vedantic solution that life is already involved in matter and mind in already involved in matter and mind in life….” Most of the modern evolutionists life….” Most of the modern evolutionists ignored ignored

this point. The principle of evolution this point. The principle of evolution towards Spirit, Light and Knowledge towards Spirit, Light and Knowledge loses all its significance unless it is loses all its significance unless it is assumed that the Spirit itself has assumed that the Spirit itself has involved in matter, darkness and involved in matter, darkness and ignorance. In other words, evolution ignorance. In other words, evolution necessarily involves involution. This is necessarily involves involution. This is what is known as ascent by descent. Sri what is known as ascent by descent. Sri Aurobindo attacks both materialist and Aurobindo attacks both materialist and idealist theories.idealist theories.

There is self contradiction in There is self contradiction in materialism for it cannot explain how materialism for it cannot explain how unconscious principle evolves into life unconscious principle evolves into life and consciousness from it. Both Darwin and consciousness from it. Both Darwin and Spenser spoke of adaptation and Spenser spoke of adaptation between an individual and his between an individual and his environment, but human individual environment, but human individual cannot accept his environment as fixed cannot accept his environment as fixed and determined forever. Similarly, and determined forever. Similarly, idealist theories held idealist theories held

that reason is the highest stage of that reason is the highest stage of evolution. If it were so, then there is no evolution. If it were so, then there is no evolution beyond reason. Contrary to evolution beyond reason. Contrary to these views Sri Auroindo advocates these views Sri Auroindo advocates evolution in terms of spiritualistic and evolution in terms of spiritualistic and humanistic principles. The spirit is the humanistic principles. The spirit is the Supreme Reality. It is the source of Supreme Reality. It is the source of creation and evolution, and also the creation and evolution, and also the end of realization. The Spirit evolves end of realization. The Spirit evolves out of out of

matter since it is already implicit in it. matter since it is already implicit in it. The Supreme Reality is both stable and The Supreme Reality is both stable and dynamic. It is an integration of Being and dynamic. It is an integration of Being and becoming. The reality of the world is due becoming. The reality of the world is due to the manifestation of the Divine Unity to the manifestation of the Divine Unity into the world. The higher involves itself into the world. The higher involves itself in the lower in order to evolve out of it. in the lower in order to evolve out of it. Sri Aurobindo’s evolution centres around Sri Aurobindo’s evolution centres around his concept of Consciousness-Force his concept of Consciousness-Force which iswhich is

active. He calls it Life-Force or Divine active. He calls it Life-Force or Divine Sakti. Sakti. It is the power behind all the It is the power behind all the creation. The Supreme Reality is the one creation. The Supreme Reality is the one without the second. Both Spirit and without the second. Both Spirit and matter are real as there is Brahman in matter are real as there is Brahman in them. It is both immanent and them. It is both immanent and transcendent. According to Sri transcendent. According to Sri Aurobindo:’ The ascent to the divine Life Aurobindo:’ The ascent to the divine Life is the human journey, the work of works, is the human journey, the work of works, the acceptable sacrifice.” the acceptable sacrifice.”

The descent or the involution is self-The descent or the involution is self-concealing while the ascent or the concealing while the ascent or the evolution is the self-unvealing of the evolution is the self-unvealing of the Reality. There are successive levels of Reality. There are successive levels of desceding journey of Reality. There are desceding journey of Reality. There are several stages through which Reality several stages through which Reality gradually veils itself. Similarly, there is a gradually veils itself. Similarly, there is a progressive development in the progressive development in the ascending journey. The revelation of the ascending journey. The revelation of the unveiling of unveiling of

the Reality has to cross many steps the Reality has to cross many steps leading to total realization. There are in leading to total realization. There are in fact, three important stages of fact, three important stages of evolution, namely, of matter, of life, and evolution, namely, of matter, of life, and of mind. At present we are in the of mind. At present we are in the mental plane. Without the downward mental plane. Without the downward march of involution there is no march of involution there is no evolution. It follows the same patter of evolution. It follows the same patter of descent from mind to life, and from life descent from mind to life, and from life to matter.to matter.

The salient feature of Sri Aurobind’s The salient feature of Sri Aurobind’s evolution is that it solves the puzzle. evolution is that it solves the puzzle. The puzzle is that: how does life arise The puzzle is that: how does life arise out of lifeless matter? The Conscious-out of lifeless matter? The Conscious-Force is there in matter in a dormant Force is there in matter in a dormant from. I other words, matter is nothing from. I other words, matter is nothing but Spirit in a different form. The but Spirit in a different form. The inert matter is potentially endowed inert matter is potentially endowed with Conscious-Force. with Conscious-Force.

The descent starts from Truth and The descent starts from Truth and reaches matter through Conscious-Force, reaches matter through Conscious-Force, bliss, super-mind, mind, psyche, and life. bliss, super-mind, mind, psyche, and life. The order of the ascent would be just The order of the ascent would be just reverse. The order is as follows: matter reverse. The order is as follows: matter to life, life to psyche, psyche to mind, to life, life to psyche, psyche to mind, mind to higher mind, higher mind to mind to higher mind, higher mind to illumined mind, illumined mind to illumined mind, illumined mind to intuitive mind, intuitive mind to over intuitive mind, intuitive mind to over mind ad over mind to Truthmind ad over mind to Truth

the Super-mind. To quote Sri Aurobindo the Super-mind. To quote Sri Aurobindo here: “ For each successive level of here: “ For each successive level of descent to the Divine is to man a stage descent to the Divine is to man a stage in the ascent; each veil that hides the in the ascent; each veil that hides the unknown god becomes for the God-lover unknown god becomes for the God-lover and God-seeker an instrument for His and God-seeker an instrument for His unveiling.” Why is that there is a process unveiling.” Why is that there is a process of involution and evolution? He calls it “ of involution and evolution? He calls it “ a game or a game or LilaLila of God”. But a game has of God”. But a game has a a

has an object to be achieved. What is has an object to be achieved. What is achieved in the process of evolution is a achieved in the process of evolution is a triple process of “ heightening, widening triple process of “ heightening, widening and integration.” This is the most original and integration.” This is the most original contribution of Sri Aurobindo. The contribution of Sri Aurobindo. The process of heightening takes us from process of heightening takes us from lower levels of existence to higher levels lower levels of existence to higher levels and to the highest level. The process of and to the highest level. The process of widening a new quality is acquired. Thus widening a new quality is acquired. Thus something something

new emerges. In the process of new emerges. In the process of integration the lower forms of existence integration the lower forms of existence get integrated with the higher forms. To get integrated with the higher forms. To quote Sri Aurobindo here: “ Our mental, quote Sri Aurobindo here: “ Our mental, physical, vital existence need not be physical, vital existence need not be destroyed by our self-exceeding , nor destroyed by our self-exceeding , nor they lessened and impaired by being they lessened and impaired by being spiritualized; they can and do become spiritualized; they can and do become much richer, greater, more powerful much richer, greater, more powerful and and

more perfect.” The triple process of more perfect.” The triple process of evolution leads to cosmic salvation. evolution leads to cosmic salvation. But what is the role of individual in the But what is the role of individual in the process of evolution? The role of process of evolution? The role of individual cannot be ignored. The individual cannot be ignored. The evolution can be hastened by evolution can be hastened by individual effort. The transformation individual effort. The transformation can be hastened by spiritul awakening. can be hastened by spiritul awakening. This is the essence of spiritualThis is the essence of spiritual

evolution. Sri Aurobindo’s evolution evolution. Sri Aurobindo’s evolution can be called purposive for it goes can be called purposive for it goes back to the level of matter. This is back to the level of matter. This is unavoidable. At the same time it is unavoidable. At the same time it is treated as emergent for the supra-treated as emergent for the supra-mental consciousness is a sudden mental consciousness is a sudden and uncertain occurence. Also the and uncertain occurence. Also the effect is already there in the cause. effect is already there in the cause. Thus he subscribes to Thus he subscribes to satkaryavada. satkaryavada.

Social PhilosophySocial Philosophy

Sri Aurobindo advocated Sri Aurobindo advocated karmayogakarmayoga. . The The BhagavadgitaBhagavadgita advocates the advocates the philosophy of action. As humans we philosophy of action. As humans we cannot remain idle for all the births cannot remain idle for all the births human birth is more precious. To act is human birth is more precious. To act is to act in accordance with to act in accordance with dharmadharma. . Therefore one should not shirk one’s Therefore one should not shirk one’s responsibilities as a citizen of the responsibilities as a citizen of the society. society.

It is mistake to think that the spiritual It is mistake to think that the spiritual philosophy has no relevance to society. philosophy has no relevance to society. Often we think that spiritualists, Often we think that spiritualists, metaphysicians and mystics have no role metaphysicians and mystics have no role to play in social reconstruction. We need to play in social reconstruction. We need to segregate religion and spirituality first to segregate religion and spirituality first of all. To be spiritual does not mean to of all. To be spiritual does not mean to be religious. The former is only a be religious. The former is only a doctrinaire and denomination interested doctrinaire and denomination interested in spreading in spreading

a belief system of its own , and the latter a belief system of its own , and the latter is a kind of disposition, a disciplined way is a kind of disposition, a disciplined way of life through which one can attain of life through which one can attain spiritual awakening. In this sense to be spiritual awakening. In this sense to be spiritual is to be symbol of purity. spiritual is to be symbol of purity.

Like any other social philosopher, Sri Like any other social philosopher, Sri Aurobindo tries to analyze the basic Aurobindo tries to analyze the basic human nature, ad the place, status, and human nature, ad the place, status, and role of man in society. role of man in society.

Man’s being has inner and outer Man’s being has inner and outer dimensions. The inner being is dimensions. The inner being is represented by the spiritual element represented by the spiritual element and the outer the materialistic. They are and the outer the materialistic. They are integrated into one single being. Both integrated into one single being. Both these components have to be given these components have to be given equal importance for a total equal importance for a total development of human personality. The development of human personality. The control over inner being is to prepare control over inner being is to prepare oneself for the new ssoneself for the new ss

society or social order. He observes: ‘ society or social order. He observes: ‘ The erring race of human beings dream The erring race of human beings dream always of perfecting their environment always of perfecting their environment by the machinery of government and by the machinery of government and society; but it is only by the perfection of society; but it is only by the perfection of the soul within that the outer the soul within that the outer environment can be perfected.” Sri environment can be perfected.” Sri Aurobindo says that there is no historical Aurobindo says that there is no historical evidence to show that there is man evidence to show that there is man without society. without society.

Man and society are interdependent. Man and society are interdependent. They are the self-expressions of the They are the self-expressions of the Supreme Reality. The entire universe, Supreme Reality. The entire universe, humankind, and society are all humankind, and society are all manifestations that single Reality. Every manifestations that single Reality. Every individual is born in a society and needs individual is born in a society and needs the support of society for developing the support of society for developing his/her physical, mental, and vital being. his/her physical, mental, and vital being. There should be perfect equilibrium There should be perfect equilibrium among these three aspects among these three aspects

that are responsible for healthy human that are responsible for healthy human development. The concept of ‘unity’ is development. The concept of ‘unity’ is very important in showing the very important in showing the relationship between man and society. relationship between man and society. The question of unity arises only when The question of unity arises only when there is diversity. Te polarity between there is diversity. Te polarity between these concepts need not be over these concepts need not be over emphasized for they are not antithetical emphasized for they are not antithetical to each other. The rich diversity that we to each other. The rich diversity that we see in society certainly see in society certainly

allows unity. Of course men are often allows unity. Of course men are often driven by intellectual urges and driven by intellectual urges and impulses that make them act selfishly. impulses that make them act selfishly. This is the starting point of all social This is the starting point of all social evils. To contain these social evils evils. To contain these social evils governments and states use their governments and states use their discretion in framing laws and rules. Do discretion in framing laws and rules. Do they really work? Thus the government they really work? Thus the government machinery is used as an external force. machinery is used as an external force. The genuine unity lies in The genuine unity lies in

the very nature of Spirit. The social the very nature of Spirit. The social cohesion achieved through external cohesion achieved through external means is only temporary. It becomes means is only temporary. It becomes permanent only when it is achieved permanent only when it is achieved through spiritual means. The primary through spiritual means. The primary objective of all social, political, and objective of all social, political, and other human organizations is to help other human organizations is to help each other to evolve suramental each other to evolve suramental consciousness. consciousness.