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To Read, or Not to Read, That is the Question for the Spiritual Seeker · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  Intellectual development is not the same as spiritual
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  realization. The essence of Spiritual
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  Development lies in the living experience of the truths of the
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  spirit. Not in the mental understanding
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  of Concepts. Thus, preeminence is placed on
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  experience. Not reading the sages of The
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  Vedic and punish attic times provided spiritual guidance
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  through creation. In of an environment through
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  example, and through guidance, for the thoughts emotions, vital
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  energies, and physical development of the body with the
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  focus on realization of the spiritual truths in their lives.
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  Reading was not a focus for the disciples living in those times.
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  As we advance into more recent times, we find that the
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  development of the mental faculties and the general
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  requirement for literacy with education focused on processes
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  that require reading means that the conditions of Spiritual
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  Development. Have also changed the entire
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  idea of abandoning life in the world, to seek a spiritual guide
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  in the forest. Where to spend a life in
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  meditation in the caves has also been discarded.
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  As a realization has come about. That spirituality is not about
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  individual salvation solely, but also for transformation of one's
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  life in society. And in the life of the world,
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  some Seekers hold that reading is neither necessary nor
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  beneficial And in some cases, they actually look down upon
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  those who invest time in Reading.
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  Other speakers, hold that reading is an extremely valuable
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  Aid in achieving spiritual focus.
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  And they in turn may look down upon those who have not
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  developed their intellectual capacities in this direction.
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  As with all things there's a truth within each.
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  Standpoint reading can be useful.
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  If it helps to tune the Consciousness toward the
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  spiritual realizations, that are needed, and focuses the effort
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  it can stand in the way of the Seeker.
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  If it either distract from the need to realize the spirit in
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  one's life, or if it creates an illusory form of Spiritual
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  Development, that is based on the minds ability to create
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  ideas. Some forms and convince itself
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  that these are the true experiences.
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  Similarly, those who deny the use of reading may be correct in
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  their own sadhna to the extent, they are actually experiencing
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  the deeper truths of the spirit and that is guiding them
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  completely. But it is also possible that
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  these Seekers may be caught up in an illusory world of Their
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  Own. And without guidance May wander
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  far away from the path by following after experiences,
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  without in some cases, understanding the source and
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  intention behind those experiences reading May and such
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  cases, help to ground the individual and provide certain
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  Guidance. The mother writes, quote always
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  the most interesting cases for me have been those of People who
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  had read nothing but who had a very Ardent aspiration and came
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  to me saying, something funny as happened to me, I had this
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  extraordinary experience. What could it mean truly?
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  And then they describe a movement of vibration of force a
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  light. Whatever.
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  It might be, it depends on each one and they describe this, that
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  it happened like that. And it came like that.
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  And then this happened and then that and what it all mean, all
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  this Then here one is on the right side when knows?
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  That it is not an imagined experience that it is a sincere
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  spontaneous one. And this always has a power of
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  transformation much greater than the experience that was brought
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  about by a mental knowledge. Disciple ass then mother.
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  This means that it is better not to read.
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  Mother responds on condition. That one truly has within
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  himself, the order of aspiration.
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  If you are born for this, for the yoga, and this is the thing,
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  which dominates all your existence that you feel, yes,
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  before knowing anything that you need to find something, which is
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  in you. Then sometimes a word is enough,
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  the conversation, which simply Orient you, it is enough.
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  But for those who are seeking to grope, who are not absolutely
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  sure who are pulled this way in that, have many interests in
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  life, are not steady stabilized in their will for realization.
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  It is very good to read because it puts them in touch with the
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  subject, it gives them some interest in the thing.
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  In quote, reference SRI, aurobindo in the mother growing.
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  Within the psychology of inner development.
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  Chapter 3 growth of Consciousness basic requirements
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  Pages, 49 to 50. Within the psychology of inner
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  development. Chapter 3 growth of
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  Consciousness basic requirements Pages, 49 to 50.