Guidance from Sri Aurobindo - Volume 1

The Purusha and the Prakriti

The year 1933

      Can a beginner get a distinct answer from the Purusha?

      The Purusha does not talk. It is a movement of consciousness— a movement of consent or refusal.

      Has not each of our beings — mental, vital and physical—its own Purusha, which observes all the movements without identifying itself with them and is quite indifferent and impersonal?

      By itself the Purusha is impersonal, but by mixing itself with the movements of Prakriti it makes for itself a surface ego or personality. When it appears in its own separate nature then it is seen to be detached and observing.

      Is the Purusha above us?

      It is behind, not above — you have to become aware of it.

      It is said that the mental control has to be replaced by a divine control. Between these two there is a period of transition when there is no control at all. How is one then to deal with the activities of life?

Page 97

      You have to call down the higher control in such a case. But the withdrawal of mental control need not be sudden and complete — it can be replaced as it goes by the action of the Purusha — his consent or refusal.

      You have said, "Everything which belongs to Prakrit! can be rejected by the Purusha." But when the Purusha itself has become one with Prakriti', what is one to do?

      There is no need of rejection when the Purusha is one with the Prakriti — but that happens only on a higher plane. Here the Purusha is not one, it is only subjected to Prakriti as long as it remains inert.

      Today the leaning towards the ordinary nature seems to be reducing to a great extent. Is it a sign of my Purusha separating itself from the Prakrita?

      If it does one knows it. When it separates there is an imperturable calm inside and a feeling of all the movements as not being oneself or one's own.

      How fine would it be if we remembered that everything in us comes from Nature! There will be little difficulty then in pushing out the undesirable things.

      It does not follow. It depends on whether the Purusha part in you is passive or active with the light and Will in it.

      The Purusha in men is normally passive not active. It is the Prakriti that is active. By development of the inner will it (the Purusha) can become active.

      When I asked you about the part in me which had begun to observe the movements and to warn me

Page 98

sometimes, whether it was the Purusha or not, you replied, "Yes." Could I then conclude that my Purusha is coming out from its identification with the Prakriti?

      It has begun to separate itself.

The year 1934

      In the silent state, who is it that guards our being and witnesses it?

      The Self or Purusha is the witness.

      There was a vital disturbance. I know quite well of its irrational character and yet cannot get out of it. This is my normal defect and weakness. But this time somehow I tried to persevere in coming out of the disturbance. After some time, my consciousness entered a state where it could not only detach itself from the vital and its revolt but force it to throw away its selfish and unsatisfied feelings by the Mother's Force which was there. During that time I felt as if I were neither mind, vital nor physical, but something else.

      What was that experience?

      What experience? The separation from mind, physical and vital? That is the separate Purusha consciousness. The Purusha separated from the instruments can control them — when there is an identification, he cannot.

      Now I am attempting to save myself from the identification with mind, vital and physical. How does

Page 99

the inner Purusha deal with these instruments?

      It observes their movements and gives or withdraws its consent according to their nature. Or else it quiets them all down so as to receive only from above.

      How shall I make the Purusha consciouness concentrated and receptive?

      When you are in the Purusha consciousness, that itself implies a state of concentration and receptivity.

      At present how far is my Purusha in direct touch with the Divine?

      At present it is the Purusha in the mind that you feel—when you become aware of the Purusha on the spiritual plane then there is more chance of its getting into direct touch with the Divine.

      P believes that the Purusha can remain withdrawn and allow the lower nature (the Prakriti) to satisfy its desires. For he is not bothered whether the nature is satisfied or not so long as he is not identified with it.

      That is the old Vedantic idea — to be free and detached within and leave the Prakriti to itself. When you die, the Purusha will go to glory and the Prakriti drop off — perhaps into Hell. This theory is a source of any amount of self-deception and wilful self-indulgence.

      The Purusha consciousness is becoming separate from the Prakriti. If Prakriti does not obey, has not the Purusha to become severe and harsh to her?

      No. The Purusha always remains calm and always goes on putting its will till it succeeds.

Page 100

      Even when the Purusha does not lose its separate-ness and wants the Prakriti to be calm, the Prakriti does not care to listen to it at all. Why so?

      As you have indulged the Prakriti for the last ten thousand lives or so, it has been accustomed to impose its own way on the Purusha. To be separate is only the first step. Also I fancy the Purusha in you is still very mental in its will.

      The Purusha's action is more effective when it is spiritual. But that comes afterwards.

      It is the will of the Purusha that ought to meet action —will is a silent force put upon the thing to be changed.

      It is only by developing the habit of will or command in the Purusha consciousness that that can be done. Left to himself the Purusha is either inactive in Prakriti, controlled by her or separate and a witness.

      You were using a mental control. When the silence came the mind stopped its action, so the mental control ceased. It has to be replaced by a spiritual control, the silent Purusha will.

Page 101