Record of Yoga

Sri Aurobindo symbol
Sri Aurobindo

Sri Aurobindo's diary of his yogic practice between 1909 and 1927. This two-volume record of sadhana contains fairly regular entries between 1912 and 1920 and a few entries in 1909, 1911 and 1927. It also contains related materials Sri Aurobindo wrote about his practice of yoga during this period, including descriptions of the seven 'chatusthayas' (groups of four elements), which are the basis of the yoga of the 'Record'.

The Complete Works of Sri Aurobindo (CWSA) Record of Yoga Vols. 10,11 1515 pages 2001 Edition
English
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7 - 22 April 1927

7 April 1927

There must be an entire submission to the transforming Power and the transforming process. However tedious it may [seem], each step, each recoil is inevitable; nothing is done unwisely or vainly in the economy of the supreme processes.

There is a sure means of distinguishing the truth from the falsehood. Pause and refer to the Light of the gnosis.

The truth that comes may not be all the truth, but it is that which is needed and effective at the moment.


Entire passivity first, a passive surrender.

Entire equanimity next, an absolute samata.

An entire and harmonised strength of the divine nature

An entire faith in the Supreme and his Divine Power, in the process and the result of the process. These are the four conditions of the rapid and decisive change.

8 April 1927

The conditions are satisfied to a sufficient degree. The next steps are now possible which will make them perfect.

First the decisive T², the exact T³, the perfect thought in the gnosis or at least in the supramental gnosis—ie the three degrees intuition, supermind, gnostic supermind, if not yet in the fourth or supreme degree of divine gnosis.

Second, the consciousness gnostic in all the body and all the environmental atmosphere.

Third, the gnostic Power in the body for the transformation of the body.

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9 April 1927

Passivity is now practically complete; surrender in the physical consciousness a little less, but still almost complete.

Equanimity is moving towards automatic completeness but is still imperfect.

Faith is limited and poor.

Strength is there, but neither harmonised nor complete


[Three pages with other writing (probably written earlier) intervene here.]

9 April 1927

The first gradation of the Gnosis, ie the intuitivity, is being now securely organised in a universal and automatic action.

It is still mixed with mental stuff, imperfect therefore, limited in scope, insecure in decisive T²; but it is there.

It has to be perfected. Meanwhile the others will be made ready.


Exact T³ and perfect thought in the intuition. This is ready to be perfect. Perfect it.

Decisive T² is ready to be founded in the intuition. Found it.

Press on the elimination of illness undeterred by the resistance till it disappears for ever.

These three things are now possible.

10 April 1927

The equanimity is almost entire.

Faith has greatly increased, but is not absolute.

Strength is harmonised and in a way completed, but in a form that is still mediocre.


The forms of the gnosis are in final preparation. The three things required yesterday are being done, but as yet there is nothing

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definite. The truth thought is however becoming easy and automatic.

Let the T³ grow swiftly.


There is a commencement of the automatic external Ananda. Fix it.

12 April 1927

A still more perfect equanimity.

Faith more settled, more complete, but still not absolute, awaiting knowledge.

Strength confirmed, but vague and formless.

Passivity complete


T³ has begun to be automatic; but is still imperfect.


The three things demanded are still in a very initial stage.

13 April 1927

After a brief attack briefly successful, passivity, equanimity, faith, strength are established stronger and completer than before.


Thought is almost perfected in the intuition and in the other forms so far as they can be supported on the narrow intuitive basis.

T³ is growing swiftly and moving towards a large development, T² begins to develop a limited but automatic accuracy.


Automatic external Ananda has begun to be fixed. Only memory is necessary.

14 April 1927

Only mechanical movements contrary to passivity, equanimity and faith occur; usually they are thin and without substance.

Strength is still not continuous except in the old lesser form.

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There is still a lack of the guiding Power; except at times all seems to be done by the mechanism of the forces with only an intervention of the smaller physical godheads and voices.


The supramental development and organisation of jagrat and swapna samadhi is trying to begin in earnest.

All the thought instruments have been taken up into the movement. Lipi and identity knowledge are most developed.

Automatic external ananda in its first fixity is beginning a preliminary organisation.

15 April 1927

Much obstruction today.

Strength seems in the end to be more firmly founded


Internal physical Ananda is beginning to be founded.

There are signs that drishya (with open eyes) is about to develop stability in the forms which till now were fugitive. It is increasing in the others.

Samadhi organisation proceeds, but is still initial and obscure.

Vishaya started last night, but does not as yet progress.


Tonight. Completeness of third chatusthaya to be initially founded

Fourth chatusthaya (half) to be thoroughly founded.

The rest to be prepared in essence.


Note—This last prediction or order does not seem to have been fulfilled even in part. The condition was clouded, ineffective and obscure.

16 April 1927

Progress has been mostly in the external physical Ananda. There was a recovery of gnostic thought and T³ which had been almost suspended yesterday, but this came late in the afternoon.

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Strength seems to be founded, but the attack on faith and samata has been all day heavy and fierce.

17 April 1927

Samadhi. First initial organisation of thought, trikaldrishti, lipi, event and drishya up to the sushupta swapna.

Farther purification of thought, T³ and control including Vani.

Harmonisation of shakti with surrender and samata. Preparation of a harmony of these things with gnostic knowledge.

Vishaya. Persistent and stably visible vision of birds (small dark figures, jivanta, on the horizon[)]. For the first time liberty of this siddhi.

18 April 1927

All the movements are being reduced to gnosis, first those that were intellectual.

Remarkable movements of tapasic T³.

Samadhi and Drishya continue to develop.

The rest are maintained but not in progress.


Passivity, surrender, faith, strength are constantly growing more perfect and harmonious with each other.


The third chatusthaya must be and will be rapidly completed and perfected.

The fourth must be finally undertaken before the end of the month.

The fifth, sixth and seventh will progress with the progress of the third and fourth chatushtayas.

19-21 April 1927

Three days strong obstruction.

Perfect founding of sukham and hasyam along with calm and samata.

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Firm founding of the virya and shakti along with the daivi prakriti and sraddha.

These foundations seem now to be integral siddhis. Both are being tested but resist attack. Only the deha-shakti is seriously overcome at times, but this is due to the defect of utthapana and belongs less to the second than the fourth [chatusthaya].1

22 April 1927

First experience of entire gnostic intuition and supramental reason with supramental observation and a supramental recipient in the physical nature.


Intuition and supramental reason (all the grades except supreme supermind) are being steadily founded in a first integral movement.

Supreme supermind has also commenced its integral foundation.


All this in the thought chiefly. T³ however has begun to be taken into the movement.

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