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The Spiritual Aspirant's Opening to the Action of the Spiritual Force · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  There are many things in the world that we cannot directly
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  observe with our senses, yet which we otherwise believe to be
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  real based on the noticeable and palpable effects they have.
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  We cannot see gravity, but we feel its effects.
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  Similarly, we cannot see electricity, but we not only can
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  experience the effects, but we have learned how to channel it,
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  amplify it, and reduce its force to manageable levels for our
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  intended uses. Radioactivity, similarly, is
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  unseen but able to be measured and its effects recognized in
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  the changes that occur within the individual subjected to it.
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  There are any number of similar things that we know, but which
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  are not visible to our sight. The spiritual force is not
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  recognized by those who have not had the actual experience.
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  The experience may be palpable as many individuals relate the
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  sense of an overpowering energy or force coming down through the
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  crown of the head, in some cases with a sensation of drilling or
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  some kind of pressure. Others relate the activation of
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  the various chakras, the subtle energy centers and new powers
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  awakening within them when that happens.
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  Still others describe the rising of the sleeping energy from the
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  base of the being up through the subtle spinal channels to meet
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  the energy centre above the head, what is called the rising
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  of the Kundalini force, the coiled serpent power awakening
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  and rising to energize the awareness and join with the
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  divine consciousness. For others, the experience can
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  be more subtle but nevertheless real to the seeker who
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  experiences it. As we have learned with regard
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  to material forces such as electricity, the spiritual force
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  can also be called channelled and activated in various ways by
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  the experienced yogic practitioner, Srioro Bindo
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  writes quote. In this yoga the whole principle
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  is to open oneself to the divine influence.
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  It is there above you, and if you can once become conscious of
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  it, you have then to call it down into you.
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  It descends into the mind and into the body as peace, as a
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  light, as a force that works, as the presence of the Divine, with
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  or without form, as Ananda. Before one has this
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  consciousness one has to have faith and aspire for the
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  opening. Aspiration, call, prayer are
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  forms of 1 and the same thing and are all effective.
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  You can take the form that comes to you or is easiest to you.
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  The other way is concentration. You concentrate your
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  consciousness in the heart. Some do it in the head or above
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  the head and meditate on the mother in the heart and call her
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  in there. One can do either and both at
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  different times. Whatever comes naturally to you
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  or you are moved to do at the moment.
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  Especially in the beginning, the one great necessity is to get
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  the mind quiet. Reject at the time of meditation
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  all thoughts and movements that are foreign to the sadhna.
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  In the quiet mind there will be a progressive preparation for
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  the experience. But you must not become
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  impatient if all is not done at once.
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  It takes time to bring entire quiet into the mind.
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  You have to go on till the consciousness is ready.
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  End Quote Reference Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga,
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  Chapter 2. Faith, Aspiration, Surrender,
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  page 32.