The Ascent of Sight in Sri Aurobindo's Savitri

Third Element:

Illuminating Light:

We invite our readers to abandon one more of their well-cherished pre-conceived notions. It is as regards the true and essential nature of the light which illuminates an object and makes it accessible to our sight. Most of us take it for granted without much discussion and deliberation that light is essentially a phenomenon of the physical world. But this is not true. Let us listen to Sri Aurobindo and ponder over the implication of what he has to say in the matter:

"... it must be noted that, contrary to our ordinary conceptions, light is not primarily a material creation and the sense or vision of light accompanying the inner illumination is not merely a subjective visual image or a symbolic phenomenon: light is primarily a spiritual manifestation of the Divine Reality illuminative and creative; material light is a subsequent representation or conversion of it into Matter for the purposes of the material Energy." (The Life Divine, p. 944)

Another interesting point we may note in this connection. Every plane of consciousness has its own characteristic light. Once when a sadhaka asked Sri Aurobindo whether a subtle physical object could be seen in a dark room with Open eyes, the latter replied to the surprise of the disciple:

"... a subtle physical object [such as a flower] (... quite

substantial and material in its own plane)... could be sensed even in a dark room [if one is] able to bring out something of the light of the subtle physical plane to surround it and give it its natural medium." (Letters on Yoga, pp. 949-50)

It is not only that every plane has its own light, every level of consciousness too has its characteristic light which can proceed to the object viewed, in the manner of a flashing torch-light, and illuminate it. Here are some isolated lines from Savitri which may interest the readers in this connection:

"A timeless Light is in his hidden eyes..." (49)

"Some vision seen in the omniscient light..." (Ill)

"Raised into a splendid point of seeing light..." (362)

Let us close our short discussion on the light that illuminates, and pass on to the consideration of the fourth element, "Obstruction".

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