Nov 2019 Newsletter

November 2019 SRI AUROBINDO SOCIETY VOL 33.11 Singapore NEWSLETTER Mind Part II: The Mind Proper Integral Mental Purity ilent, attentive, receptive, concentrated on the Divine-such is the path of purity. Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Flore-pleno' Crape jasmine, Crape gardenia, Pinwheel flower, East Indian rosebay Medium-sized slightly fragrant semi-double white salverform flower with curling slightly crinkled petal-like lobes. A medium-sized shrub with glossy leaves. A mystic motive drives the stars and suns. In this passage from a deaf unknowing Force To struggling consciousness and transient breath A mighty Supernature waits on Time. The world is other than we now think and see, Our lives a deeper mystery than we have dreamed; Our minds are starters in the race to God, Our souls deputed selves of the Supreme. (Savitri Canto V)

Mind Part III: The Mind Proper Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. November 2019. Guiding Light of the Month ONE day, O Lord, Thou didst teach my mind that it could act fully as an instrument of manifestation of Thy divine truth, as an intermediary of Thy eternal will, without being limited in its realising constructions by the narrow field of possibilities of the external being. May 24, 1915 Prayers and Meditations, The Mother From the Editor’s Desk We continue with the exploration of that part of our reason, or the ability to learn or understand or deal with being we call The Mind. We have noted that according new or trying situations”; “the ability to apply to its function and traits, the mind can be divided into 5 knowledge to manipulate one’s environment or to categories. This issue throws some light into that part think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (such of the Mind known as the Mental Mind, the Thought as tests), mental awareness and the act of understanding” amongst others. Mind or the Mind Proper. Sri Aurobindo defines this mind as that part which “has Sri Aurobindo states that the truest function of the to do with cognition and intelligence, with ideas, with mental mind or mind proper is to, “observe, mental and thought perceptions, the reaction of thought understand, judge with dispassionate delight in to things, with the truly mental movements and knowledge and open itself to messages and formations, mental vision and will, etc., that are part of illuminations playing upon all that it observes and his intelligence.” The mental mind, in its true working, upon all that is yet hidden from it but must appears to be quite remote from the mix of the vital progressively be revealed, messages and illuminations mind. It is far developed than the physical mind we that secretly flash down to us from the divine Oracle looked at earlier. This mind makes sense of things and concealed in light above our mentality whether they events around us through reasoning, logical deduction seem to descend through the intuitive mind or arise and inference. Though the physical mind also reasons, from the seeing heart.” its reasoning is based on mainly external information or on how things or objects are perceived by the outer The greatest challenge we face, once the being is set mind and senses, influenced by its own habitual ways on the path towards self-exceeding and self-discovery of perceiving these external objects or phenomena. Its is the fact that in nature, this mind proper does not understanding is based on external knowledge only. purely work upon its own merits but is very much Furthermore, the physical mind has the propensity of “shot through with the threads and. currents of this observing things/objects as a matter of habit with or Prana, this life energy that strives and limits, grasps and misses, desires and suffers..” So how does one without a use for itself, mechanically. allow this mind to perform its truest function? Sri Now this needs some reflecting upon. Let us spend Aurobindo’s suggestion is through mental purity some time understanding each word that describes the attained through an opening to that Light that shines mental mind or the mind proper and know exactly what from above; to allow that Light to descend. And so is meant by the description relative to the workings of begins another stage in our preparation towards our our own mind. Cognition, according to the Merriam- self-finding. Webster Online Dictionary, relates to an intellectual activity such as thinking, reasoning, or remembering. This month of November is another occasion to Thinking refers to the production of thoughts which are celebrate the opportunity afforded us to contemplate “a developed intention or plan”; “an opinion or belief further on the forward journey before us; it marks the in the mind”; “the intellectual product or the organised anniversary of the descent of the Overmind views and principles of a period or place or group or an Consciousness into the earth plane on the 24th of individual”. Intelligence refers to “the skilled use of November 1926, as experienced by Sri Aurobindo. www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 2 Mind Part III: The Mind Proper

Mind Part III: The Mind Proper Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. November 2019. Savitri The soul must soar sovereign above the form And climb to summits beyond mind’s half-sleep; Our hearts we must inform with heavenly strength, Surprise the animal with the occult god. Then kindling the gold tongue of sacrifice, Calling the powers of a bright hemisphere, We shall shed the discredit of our mortal state, Make the abysm a road for Heaven’s descent, Acquaint our depths with the supernal Ray And cleave the darkness with the mystic Fire. There is a deeper seeing from within And, when we have left these small purlieus of mind, A greater vision meets us on the heights In the luminous wideness of the spirit’s gaze. At last there wakes in us a witness Soul That looks at truths unseen and scans the Unknown; Then all assumes a new and marvellous face Savitri, Sri Aurobindo The Mind Proper Above the physical mind and the vital mind is the mental intelligence, the mind proper. Beyond the ordinary thinking mind or intellect is the higher mind; beyond the higher mind is the illumined mind and beyond that is the intuitive mind. Above the intuitive mind are the Intuition and the Overmind. * The Mind proper is divided into three parts — thinking Mind, dynamic Mind, externalising Mind— the former concerned with ideas and knowledge in their own right, the second with the putting out of mental forces for realisation of the idea, the third with the expression of them in life (not only by speech, but by any form it can give). The word “physical mind” is rather ambiguous, because it can mean this externalising mind and the mental in the physical taken together. Vital mind proper is a sort of mediator between vital emotion, desire, impulsion etc. and the mental proper. It expresses the desires, feelings, emotions, passions, ambitions, possessive and active tendencies of the vital and throws them into mental forms (the pure imaginations or dreams of greatness, happiness etc. in which men indulge are one peculiar form of the vital mind activity). There is a still lower stage of the mental in the vital which merely expresses the vital stuff without www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 3 Mind Part III: The Mind Proper

Mind Part III: The Mind Proper Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. November 2019. subjecting it to any play of intelligence. It is through this mental vital that the vital passions, impulses, desires rise up and get into the Buddhi and either cloud or distort it. As the vital Mind is limited by the vital view and feeling of things (while the dynamic Intelligence is not, for it acts by the idea and reason), so the mind in the physical or mental physical is limited by the physical view and experience of things, it mentalises the experience brought by the contacts of outward life and things and does not go beyond that (though it can do that much very cleverly), unlike the externalising mind which deals with them more from the reason and its higher intelligence. But in practice these two usually get mixed together. The mechanical mind is a much lower action of the mental physical which, left to itself, would only repeat customary ideas and record the natural reflexes of the physical consciousness to the contacts of outward life and things. The lower vital as distinguished from the higher is concerned only with the small greeds, small desires, small passions etc. which make up the daily stuff of life for the ordinary sensational man — while the vital physical proper is the nervous being giving vital reflexes to contacts of things with the physical consciousness. * It is quite usual for the dynamic and formative part of the mind to be more quick to action than the reflective and discriminative part to control it. It is a question of getting a kind of balance and harmony between them. (Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga pp. 177-78) The Thinking Mind and the Vital Mind The thinking mind does not lead men, does not influence them the most — it is the vital propensities and the vital mind that predominate. The thinking mind with most men is, in matters of life, only an instrument of the vital. * Vital thought expresses vital movements, the play of vital forces. It does not think freely and independently of them as the thinking mind can do. The true thinking mind can stand above the vital movements, watch and observe and judge them freely as it would observe and judge outside things. In most men however the thinking mind (reason) is invaded by the vital mind and not free. The Thinking Mind and the Physical Mind The true thinking mind does not belong to the physical, it is a separate power. The physical mind is that part of the mind which is concerned with the physical things only — it depends on the sense mind, sees only objects, external actions, draws its ideas from the data given by external things, infers from them only and knows no other Truth — until it is enlightened from above. * The physical mind can deal only with outward things. One has to think and decide in other things with the mind itself (buddhi), not with the physical part of it. www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 4 Mind Part III: The Mind Proper

Mind Part III: The Mind Proper Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. November 2019. The Doctrine of Minds (Esoteric Psychology) in Sri Aurobindo's Teachings The mind proper is divided into three parts - thinking Mind, dynamic Mind, externalising Mind - the former concerned with ideas and knowledge in their own right, the second with the putting out of mental forces for realisation of the idea, the third with the expression of them in life (not only by speech, but by any form it can give). (Sri Aurobindo Letters on Yoga vol. I pp.325, 326) The mind proper is subdivided by Sri Aurobindo into five clearly distinct sub-planes that represent different types of mental consciousness. The first is: o the ordinary mind. Sri Aurobindo further subdivides the ordinary mind on different occasions in different ways using slightly different categories. For example (LY — I, p. 177): o The expressive externalizing mind is the part of the mind that mainly deals with externalizing of mental stuff into the physical world. There is a considerable overlap with the physical mind as discussed earlier. o The dynamic mind is the aspect of the mind discussed in the quote from the Mother given earlier. It deals with planning and the will. o The thinking mind, as has been seen, is also called the mind proper. (Overview of Sri Aurobindo’s Terminology, ipi.org) September – October Sunday Activities at the Centre - A glimpse October 6th - Passages from All India Magazine- Discovery of Our True Self- June 2012 Issue The passage - The First Thing to Do was chosen by Jayanthy. Sri Aurobindo awakens us to the awareness of the inner being in us, which should be the light and the force to guide our outer life. We should not be caught in the ills of mundane life acting from the surface mind, life and body. So the first step in the yoga is to disengage oneself from the involvements arising from ties of blood, of interests of all kinds - physical, vital and mental - not subject to their currents and cross currents but to be able o watch them from a space within that does not react. October 13th - Synthesis of Yoga by Sri Aurobindo Mr Rakesh took the lead with the continuation of reading the passages. The discussion to understand the passages was quite interesting and made us engaged. Mother Nature has formed a progression in evolution from single celled organisms to vegetable kingdom to animal kingdom to man whose mind is all set to go higher in the consciousness level with self-effort and sadhana. She makes sure with the persistent repetition of the form, the idea of form is permanent in the consciousness. www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 5 Mind Part III: The Mind Proper

Mind Part III: The Mind Proper Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. November 2019. Unlike the bodily energy, characteristic energy of pure Mind is elastic enough for self-elevation and self-enlargement. Mind gets the Intellect which has the borrowed capacity to ‘Know’ because of the more unveiled consciousness in it. It makes man to progress in ever enlarging spirals. The characteristic law of Sprit is the witness, all pervading, complete, one, free, consciousness, inactive, unattached, without desires, peaceful, even when it revolves or wanders in the cycle of births and deaths. The glory of spiritual life is when one gets in union with this Spirit. October 20th – Continuation of Synthesis of Yoga The Threefold Life. Mr Rakesh took the lead and continued reading the passages dealing with Nature’s action both individually and collectively. Sri Aurobindo’s seeing of how Nature has Her hand on the world’s progress from past to present is really an eye opener for us to meditate upon the passages and to go deeper to reach our spirit to bring light to the mental perception of all the world we see! It was an interesting session to listen to the comments on these passages by members present as to how they see it. Spiritual change in the individual can transform communal spirit at a global level. All the material opulence and religious obedience has not brought about in communal level connection to the Soul-force which connects with the Infinite and which eliminates the factor of control. Brahamokkate Parabrahmamokkate This telugu Keertana by Saint Annamayya is such a beautiful composition that any time and everytime I listen to this song by Sooryagayathri & Rahul Vellal, my soul stirs and tears flow. This song describes the oneness of God, He has no distinction, He dwells in all beings, The land is the same, the sensual pleasure is the same, the Sun shines on everything under Him through a rich king or a poorest of poor. He is the Sri Hari, the Supreme God. So we are blessed that our Saints and Seers have paved the path to connect us with the soul which is so much veiled by our interest in our physical and mental workings. As Sri Aurobindo says our future generation is not bound by any rules of religious and ritualistic life. They are ready to accept the changes for further progress unlike the past generation which is still stuck in the hard clutches of past customary routine inherited. I see in my family itself, a few who don’t do the prayers sitting at the altar but working to help the less fortunate to get education and jobs. Others becoming vegans in being sympathetic to animals being treated cruelly for man’s vital pleasure. Yesterday after the Center activity went to Perumal temple where devotees in hundreds getting ready for the fire walks fasting for days and walking the distance to South bridge Mariamman temple to walk on fire. www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 6 Mind Part III: The Mind Proper

Mind Part III: The Mind Proper Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. November 2019. These things amaze me how the devotees for their religious pursuit have the epicurean discipline and stoic mind to offer their prayers to God. According to Sri Aurobindo these things can also lead man kind to that ideal of truth, beauty, justice righteousness when done with selfless or egoless mindset. “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu” should be the heart beat and thought wave in every action of the individual, community and human race as whole! Sri Aurobindo and The Mother’s Sadhana has brought down the Supramental on the Earth Consciousness to hasten the above process. - Jayalakshmi PROGRAMME FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2019 DATE TIME DETAILS 8 AM Monthly Morning Walk * 3 Nov 2019 Sunday 6 PM AIM Magazine Reading and Discussion 10 Nov 2019 6 PM Thematic Study Circle: Sunday The Synthesis of Yoga Anniversary of the Mother Leaving Her Body 17 Nov 2019 9 AM Sunday 6 PM Anniversary of the Mother Leaving Her Body 9 AM Siddhi Day www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 7 Mind Part III: The Mind Proper

Mind Part III: The Mind Proper Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. November 2019. 24 Nov 2019 4 PM Youth Programme Sunday 6 PM Siddhi Day * Please see below for details. November 2019 MORNING WALK – NO. 411 Date: Sunday, 3rd November 2019 Time: 8:00 A.M. sharp for warm up exercise. Walk Venue: Jurong Lake Gardens North Meeting Point: Clusia Cove Water Play Area just near Jurong Lake Gardens North Car Park Public transport Nearest MRT Lakeside MRT Station. Take Exit A and walk in the sheltered pathway to the North Entrance of Lakeside Garden. By car. Turn in at Chinese garden road, location map given below Contact No: Mr SN Venkat (9668 3658) Hosts: Mr. Kiranchandra Vasant Sule and Family, Yew Mei Green Condo, #02-30, Block 56, Choa Chu Kang North 6 Mobile: 93896094 (Mrs Preethi Sule) (RSVP Email ID: [email protected] or [email protected]) Directions to the Hosts’ Residence A) Car: KJE from PIE, left turn at Choa Chu Kang drive and right turn at Choa Chu Kang North 5, all the way straight till reach condo on left. After entry turn right to blk 56. Those coming by car KJE from BKE, turn right at Choa Chu Kang drive and then follow as above. B) MRT/Bus: Bus 307, 307E from Yew Tee MRT. Alight at 3rd bus stop opp blk 634. Cross the road and enter through the side gate. Can follow the residents entering. Otherwise, press 0230 and bell. Once received call, push the gate inside. The condo is also accessible from Yew Tee MRT --it is around 8 minutes’ walk to the side gate following Choa Chu Kang North 6 and walk straight till you see the condo on the right. www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 8 Mind Part III: The Mind Proper

Mind Part III: The Mind Proper Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. November 2019. Note: All are encouraged to attend the Walk. Those, however, who are not able to join the Walk, the hosts would be very happy that they directly come and join in the brunch by 10:15 AM. Prayers and meditation will commence sharp at 10.30 A.M. All are requested to be punctual. PREVIEW OF FORTHCOMING SUNDAY MORNING WALKS WALK NO DATE PLACE HOST 412 01/12/19 Coney Island Mr Ritesh Thacker and Family 413 05/1/20 West Coast Park 414 02/02/20 East Coast Park Mr Kiran Kumar & Swati 415 01/03/20 Mrs Nisha Maheswary & Family Pasir Ris Mr Anand K Venkat & Family www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 9 Mind Part III: The Mind Proper

Mind Part III: The Mind Proper Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. November 2019. Along the Way… October Walk Review (walk no 410) Sunday, 6th Oct dawned as a partly cloudy day, just right for a long walk in the company of good friends. Haze had been the bane of Singapore in the past few weeks and it appeared that finally nature would allow us the pleasure of outdoor activity. Over a dozen enthusiasts gathered at the appointed time. Our younger participants were conspicuous by their absence this month, being busy with examinations. We spread out into a large circle to allow enough space between ourselves for a short warm-up before the walk. As some curious bystanders watched us, we stretched our limbs, bent forward and backward, turned this side and that side in synchronization with the breath or prana. We loosened up the upper neck muscles by bending the head forward and backward after a couple of neck rotations to the left and right direction. As we stretched the head back and looked up, we saw a beautiful whorl pattern created by the clouds in the sky! An unparalleled painting in white and hues of blue on the wide canvas that only nature can afford. We commenced our walk to the Marina Barrage, at a brisk or leisurely pace as preferred by the walkers. In the azure waters of the bay, we saw many dragon race teams at practice. In a fine example of good team work, each boat had a leader urging the oarsmen to row their boats frenetically forward in total rhythm and harmony in a bid to outdo the others. Along the waters, bloomed beautiful bougainvillea in rich assorted colours – red, yellow, orange, pink, magenta surrounded by lush green leaves and plants. What a feast for the eyes and an invitation for photographers! The sun soon started to warm up the surroundings. We walked across the barrage to the park on the other side and as usual the wide green lawns covering the roof did not fail to impress. On our way back we saw the point from where ‘boats seem to fly’ into the bay. Quite interesting. A wide array of cool drinks, hot tea and snacks were laid out by our hostess temptingly to welcome the tired and thirsty walkers on arrival. Meditation commenced at the scheduled time in a warm and spiritual ambience of the Kashyap home. Being the eighth day of Navratri, it was the auspicious day of Mahashtami and also the birthday of Shashi Kashyap ji. www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 10 Mind Part III: The Mind Proper

Mind Part III: The Mind Proper Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. November 2019. We enjoyed the melodious renditions by our hosts accompanied by their guru on the harmonium. Although Shashiji and Urmilji are now no more, they seemed to be “invisibly present” in the happy environment. We thank Mr. Praveen and family for their warmth and hospitality. Mrs. Ramni took special care to prepare ‘Navratri ashtami prasad’ for the expansive spread laid out at the brunch. All the members enjoyed the delicious food, camaraderie and fellowship. - Anju Aditya Printed and Published by The Sri Aurobindo Society of Singapore 2A Starlight Road 01-07, Singapore 217755. Saurab: 86559940 or [email protected]; Sanjay: 98750767 or [email protected]; Email: [email protected] Visit our website at: www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 11 Mind Part III: The Mind Proper