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Underdeveloped and Unevolved Powers of Consciousness · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  As the evolution of consciousness unfolds, we see
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  the development and expression of ever increasing powers of
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  knowledge and action. There are powers of perception,
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  there are powers of thought and reflection, there are powers of
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  vital expression, emotion, and there are physical powers.
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  Because evolution of consciousness is progressive and
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  reveals itself over time, we also find that not all powers
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  reveal themselves at the same time, nor perfectly in all
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  individuals at once. Rather, we find that some of
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  these powers appear first in isolated individuals and then
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  later may find a more general expression.
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  Further, we must conclude that additional unexpected powers lie
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  in the future, waiting for their time to develop and manifest
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  actively. Some powers, as they manifest,
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  appear to be spontaneous in their action, while others seem
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  to require a substantial effort of training, practice, and
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  systematic attempts at use. We see that some powers may show
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  just an inkling of their potential until they are focused
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  on and systematically perfected in their action.
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  Athletes may have a natural ability, for instance, but it is
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  through constant exercise and training that the optimal impact
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  of that ability can be recognized.
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  There is a somewhat long continuum between an individual
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  who runs or jumps for the first time and the Olympic runner or
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  high jump competitor. Similarly, powers of emotional
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  expression, powers of empathy, compassion, consecration,
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  aspiration can be developed and turned into a strength for those
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  who are prepared to take up those powers on the mental
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  level. Powers of observation, memory,
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  reasoning, logical inference, planning, imagination, etcetera,
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  all may appear variously across different individuals and may
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  develop over time with repeated use and focus of the individual.
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  While we cannot predict entirely what further powers lie in
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  humanity's future, we can easily accept the idea that such powers
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  will manifest. Given the historical trend of
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  the development and expression of consciousness that we can
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  already observe, we may find that some powers that are rare
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  or incipient in certain individuals actually represent
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  more generalized powers that will be more widely available to
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  humanity as a whole in the future.
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  This brings in the question as to whether power such as remote
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  viewing, overcoming the force of gravity, applying powers to the
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  healing and regeneration of the body, etcetera, can be part of
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  humanity's future. Doctor Delal observes quote two
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  types of latent powers may be distinguished.
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  There are powers within us that are yet unevolved and for the
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  most part unsuspected if not disbelieved, such as
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  clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy, and other occult
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  powers spoken of in the latter part of the book.
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  There are other powers that we already possess and use, but are
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  latent in the sense of existing in quite a rudimentary or
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  undeveloped form. We do not regard these latter as
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  powers, because there seems to be nothing extraordinary about
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  them. Such are the powers of thought,
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  imagination, will, concentration, intuition and the
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  like, which in their present state in most human beings are
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  quite undeveloped in relation to what they could be at their
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  highest potential. What we see in a genius is
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  simply the flowering of powers which are either undeveloped or
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  totally latent in us. As the Mother remarks, there is
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  a genius within every one of us. The possibility of developing
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  one's potential to a remarkable degree exists also with physical
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  powers and abilities pertaining to the body.
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  An Olympic athlete has simply developed abilities which are
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  present in some degree in everyone.
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  The Mother gives examples of how even our sensory abilities such
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  as sight and hearing can be heightened to a miraculous
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  degree and remarks we can do infinitely more than we actually
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  do End Quote reference. Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
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  Powers within Introduction page Roman 10.