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Aspiration, Desire and the Action of the Divine Force · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  Aspiration is frequently confused with the form of vital
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  desire that wants some kind of spiritual development,
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  experience or result. Aspiration, however, originates
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  in the psychic being, while desire stems from the vital
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  being. The characteristics of the two
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  are therefore dramatically different from one another.
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  It is human nature that we start by concentrating on the external
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  personality and its wants, needs, desires and
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  predilections. It is thus virtually inevitable
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  that even when a true aspiration arises, initially it is mixed
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  with the vital desire to attain, to accomplish, to succeed.
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  Aspiration, however, does not demand, does not push, but opens
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  itself, becomes receptive to the higher force and invites it to
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  transform the nature. It is in the nature of a pure
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  flame in the heart, and it does not expect or want anything, but
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  makes itself ready for the divine force to work in the
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  being, taking whatever time is needed as well as accepting
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  whatever circumstances take place along the way.
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  There is an apocryphal tale of the divine singer Narod, who is
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  travelling the world. He came across a Yogi deeply
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  concentrated in severe austerities, able to go into
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  deep meditation and overcome the pull of the body, life and mind.
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  As he concentrated 1 pointedly on liberation, he asked Nara to
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  tell him how long it would take for him to achieve liberation.
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  Nara replied that it would be just four more lifetimes.
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  The Yogi became disconsolate and bemoaned his fate that he worked
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  so hard but failed to achieve his liberation promptly as a
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  result of his efforts. We see here the admixture of
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  desire in his efforts. As Norad continued on his way,
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  he came across a devotee singing and dancing ecstatically.
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  In his feeling for the divine, he too asked Norad when he would
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  achieve liberation. Narod pointed to a large tree
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  and indicated that as many leaves as were on that tree
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  would be the number of lifetimes for his liberation.
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  Hearing this, the devotee burst out into song, ecstatic dance
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  and weeping for joy, exclaiming, After such a short time, I will
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  see my divine lover, a celestial voice proclaimed.
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  You are liberated now. This devotee had a true
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  aspiration not tainted by desire for immediate results.
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  Sri Orobindo reminds us that it is the Divine which carries out
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  the Sadhna. When we are able to shift to the
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  Divine standpoint, we leave the ego, its ambitions, desires and
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  wishes behind, and we allow the pure flame of aspiration to rise
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  up and invite the Divine to carry out its intention in the
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  being, Trior Ovindo notes quote. Aspiration should be not a form
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  of desire, but the feeling of an inner soul's need and a quiet,
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  settled will to turn towards the Divine and seek the Divine.
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  It is certainly not easy to get rid of this mixture of desire
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  entirely, not easy for anyone, but when one has the will to do
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  it, this also can be affected by the help of the sustaining
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  Force. End Quote.
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  Reference Sri Aurogindo and the Mother, Looking from Within,
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  Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, page 114.