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Understanding the Yogic Process and Its Developments Through the Action of Time · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  We frequently overlook the element of time in any inner
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  review of progress towards spiritual fulfillment, surrender
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  to the divine, or any other aspect of our spiritual path.
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  We want and expect instant results, and thus when we once
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  take up spiritual practice, we want it to be immediately
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  fulfilled. And indeed, we frequently
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  overlook the weaknesses or failures of the external nature
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  by simply believing that accepting the Divine in our
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  hearts or minds means that we have accomplished the objective.
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  When we recognize that the complete surrender to the Divine
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  has not occurred instantly, we tend to become anxious about our
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  failures or weaknesses, which creates in many cases totally
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  unnecessary worry and disruption to our thoughts and emotions.
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  This in turn creates friction in the being, which actually
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  disperses energy that otherwise could be used to aid the
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  progress. Once we understand the process
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  of the yogic sadhana and the time it takes, we can focus our
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  attention on the actual steps of aspiration opening to the Divine
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  Force, rejection the identification and refusal to
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  provide any support for contrary movements, and surrender the
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  acceptance and integration of the divine force into our lives
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  to carry out the transformations needed.
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  These steps are described in Trioro Bindo's book The Mother.
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  Human nature has evolved over many millennia, and it is based
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  on the underlying vital and physical nature that preceded
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  human evolution. Evolutionary change, looked at
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  through this lens, is a process of many thousands or even
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  millions of years. It is vain to expect that the
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  complete transformation of human nature can take place at once or
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  even within the framework of a single lifetime.
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  Generally, while one cannot exclude some kind of miraculous
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  transformative event, we see that nature generally tends to
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  work patiently and to the human vision, slowly as it works out
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  the issues and puts in place modifications, upgrades, and
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  changes that are beneficial to the overall evolutionary
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  development. Once things are prepared, there
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  may indeed be some kind of evolutionary leap, but that does
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  not occur without long preparation behind the scenes.
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  This process can happen in multiple stages, with the will
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  in each part of the being developing the requisite
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  intention and then over time, working out the needed details
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  in each aspect of human existence.
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  This is not an excuse for procrastination.
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  There should be the focus and energy to achieve these changes
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  immediately, while combined with the patience and perseverance
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  for the process to take many lifetimes.
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  What makes this difficult for most people is the element of
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  impatience and the expectation that they will see radical
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  change right away, rather than having to labour away for long
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  periods of time to see even modest results in the external
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  being. Shrioro Bindo notes quote it.
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  The attitude of surrender cannot be absolutely complete in the
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  beginning, but it can be true. If the central will is sincere
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  and there is the faith and the bhakti.
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  There may be contrary movements, but these will be unable to
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  stand for long, and the imperfection of the surrender in
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  the lower part will not seriously interfere.
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  End Quote. Reference.
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  Shrioro Bindu and the Mother Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
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  Attitudes on the Path, page 124.