The Ascent of Sight in Sri Aurobindo's Savitri

3. Inner Vision:

Its Necessity and Value:

The faculty of subtle sight is a great aid to the aspirant who has the necessary intelligence and clarity of mind and a power of intuitive discrimination. Visions are one key to unlock the doors of the other worlds of cosmic manifestation that lie beyond and behind the physical. Visions can offer the Sadhaka a first contact with the Divine in his forms and powers. Vision is often a first door of entrance into the

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inner planes of one's own being and consciousness. Visions can be full of meaningful indications that may help one to acquire greater self-knowledge and knowledge of things or people or events. There are veridical visions that may lead to authentic prophecies and premonitions.

Such being the multiple benefits that supraphysical visions may offer us, Sri Aurobindo recommends us to "look into the depths" and "stare upward measuring the Unknown", to develop our "spiritual gaze" and "plunge our gaze into the siege of mist". Indeed, we should not stop with only one level of visionary sight; we should see to it that our vision "grow within" and we acquire the privilege of "visions of higher realms" and of "supernal Powers".

We give below some illustrative verses from Sri Aurobindo's Savitri indicating the progressive march of the power of vision and the happy results that may come out of it:

(1) "A progress leap from sight to greater sight" (177) (2) "On our road from Matter to eternal Self" (166)

(3)"Ever his consciousness and vision grew" (31)

(4)"A sight opened upon the invisible

And sensed the shapes that mortal eyes see not"

(540)

(5)"And called to its mounting vision peaks divine"

(87)

(6)"And vision climbs beyond the reach of Time"

(299)

(7)"His sight surpassed creation's head and base"

(300)

(8)"An eye has opened upon timelessness" (311)

(9) "A wide power of vision whence all could be seen"

(514)

(10)"A sight opened upon the invisible" (540)

(11)"He opens that third mysterious eye in man,

The Unseen's eye that looks at the unseen" (665)

(12) "Realm upon realm received her soaring view"

(676)

(13)"The inconscient's seal is lifted from our eyes"

(108)

(14)"Man's eyes could look into the inner realms"

(361)

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