Savitri

 SECTION C

      'THE BOOK OF THE DIVINE MOTHER'

 I

      THE PURSUIT OF THE UNKNOWABLE'

      The whole adventure of Evolution, the long weary climb of man himself up the steps of civilisation and culture, the castles of achievement and the inns of tranquillity on the way, all have made Aswapati what he is—the spearhead of the advance of the human race, humanity's worthiest representative and leader. Through yoga he has perfected himself, and it has helped him to gather in himself all the potentialities of the evolutionary adventure and make an ascent to the highest possible heights. He has surveyed the past, present and future—not in space and time alone, but also, and more particularly, beyond space and time. He has journeyed in the occult worlds of Night, Twilight, and Day, and he has traversed the heady stairs of Descent and Ascent. He is greatly enriched by all this experience, and he learns to aspire endlessly, to press on and on, to resist successfully the attacks of Falsehood and Ignorance.

      But Aswapati is dissatisfied still. Whatever the fruits of yogic aspiration and striving, they affect the yogin, but not the world as a whole. Terrestrial life remains what it has always been. The badges of human imperfection retain their shape and colour and character. A Presence, a Glory is lacking, "like Love when the Beloved's face is gone". There is indeed a tantalising quality about the Essence, the Cause, the Truth; from a distance it lures the searcher, but when he approaches it, it retreats and flies. Aswapati must seek out again—he will not accept defeat. The dim Possibility alone is not enough; it must be realised here on earth. The Power that alone can bring about this transformation must be sought out, and the way should be opened

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for the descent of the Power and the change of earth nature into supernature.

      Aswapati will now make a third yogic climb into the realms above and seek out the ultimate Power and plead for its descent into this world so that the desired transformation may be brought about. For a time the ascent is made "invincibly.. .without pause"; but presently he is confronted by "a tremendous choice". The horizon of known forms ends, the cloud-capped palaces of Nescience collapse without a trace:

      In an abysmal lapse of all things built

      Transcending every perishable support

      And joining at last its mighty origin,

      The separate self must melt or be reborn

      Into a Truth beyond the mind's appeal.¹³⁷

Aswapati sees extending before him a universe that defies every attempt at comprehension:

      Only a formless Form of self was left,

      A tenuous ghost of something that had been,

      The last experience of a lapsing wave

      Before it sinks into a bourneless sea,—...¹³⁸

But at last Something responds to Aswapati's passionate call; nor form nor motion nor word, it has nor mind nor heart nor passion; only a Being "formless, featureless and mute...uncreating, uncreated and unborn"...

      A silent Cause occult, impenetrable,—

      Infinite, eternal, unthinkable, alone.¹³⁹

Aswapati has cantered across the manifested worlds and has reached the threshold of the White Radiance, the throne of the transcendent Divine; he is before the great Unknowable who faces him "with its dumb tremendous calm".

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