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The Value and Rationale for the Yoga of Works — Karma Yoga · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  The vital nature of man is a core existential element of our
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  existence. In the past, those who took up
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  serious, spiritual practice frequently recognized, both the
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  power of the vital and the difficulty of bringing it under
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  some kind of managed and focused control.
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  And thus, they attempted to abandon it to whatever extent
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  possible. And focus on meditation to the
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  exclusion of an outer life. This limited approach helped
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  individuals succeed in their attempt to achieve Liberation
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  from the illusory status of action in the world.
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  It did nothing to bring about any kind of change or
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  transformation in the outer existence.
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  And it left a large and essential portion of human
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  nature essentially untouched. There are frequent apocryphal
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  Tales of Yogi's who spent long periods of time in meditation.
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  But when they came out and had to interact with the
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  circumstances of the outer life were unprepared and who, then
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  reacted, with anger, lust jealousy, greed, envy and other
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  forms of Desire. Clearly, they had achieved some
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  serious advancement in the mental realm and could achieve
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  states of concentrated. One pointed focus on the
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  spiritual goal, they set before themselves, but this was done at
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  the expense of any transforming. Focus on the outer life.
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  Changing the vital nature is hard some liken it to trying to
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  straighten out a dog's tail, which will simply go back to its
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  former State. Once, the controlling pressure
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  is removed, it is understandable, why those who
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  are deeply involved in meditation will generally resist
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  taking up the outer nature and its endless difficulties and
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  snares. Yet, eventually the outer nature
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  needs to be dealt with. If you Manatee is to progress
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  and if we are to finally Solve the Riddle of our existence, the
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  integral yoga of Sri aurobindo and the mother specifically
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  acknowledges this task and works to take up and transform the
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  vital nature and its relationship to the wider Divine
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  manifestation, And they recognize that, not everyone can
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  achieve spiritual fulfillment through meditation.
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  Thus they Embrace not only The Path of Knowledge, but also that
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  of devotion bhakti, yoga and that of Works, Karma, Yoga, SRI
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  aurobindo writes quote. There are some people who are
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  not cut out for meditation and it is only by work that they can
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  prepare themselves. Are also those who are the
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  opposite, the including of the outer Consciousness in the
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  transformation is of supreme importance in this yoga
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  meditation, cannot do it. Meditation can deal only with
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  the inner being. So work is of primary Ain't
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  only, it must be done with the right attitude and in the right
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  Consciousness, then it is as fruitful as any meditation can
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  be. That is one great utility of
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  work that it tests, the nature, and puts the Sadiq in front of
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  the defects of his outer being, which might otherwise Escape
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  him. End quote, reference SRI
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  aurobindo in the mother growing within the psychology of inner
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  development. Chapter 5 growth of
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  Consciousness means and methods page 93.