Aspiring Swan

Introduction

One's birthday is a very important day in one's life, not by its social overtones but as a valuable day that can be utilised in the pursuit of the higher consciousness.

The Mother has explained this as an important incident in one's life, using the concept of instrumentality of time and its movement. Sri Aurobindo has said, YOGA SIDDHI, the perfection that comes from the practice of Yoga, can be best attained by the combined working of four great instruments. There is, first, the knowledge of truth, principles, powers and processes that govern the realisation - śāstra. Next comes a patient and persistent action on the lines laid down by the knowledge, the force of our personal effort - utsāha There intervenes, third, uplifting our knowledge and effort into the domain of spiritual experience, the direct suggestion, example and influence of the Teacher - guru. Last comes the instrumentality of Time — kāla; for in ail things there is a cycle of their action and a period of the divine movement..."¹

¹ . The Four Aids - The Synthesis of Yoga, SABCL, Vol. 20, p. 47.

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You see, for the facility of their outer existence, men have divided time more or less arbitrarily, into yeas, months weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds, etc…. it is a rhythm that’s more or less arbitrary, because it has in itself a certain reality, for it corresponds to universal movements…as far as possible. And that is why, by the way, we celebrate the Birthday, for example: because there is a certain rhythm in each one’s existence which is established by this regular return of circumstances analogous to those in which he was born.

And all movements — when you observe them, you become aware that they have a certain rhythm - the movements of inner consciousness, for example, not only from the point of view of understanding but that of Personal reactions, of the ups and downs in progress; of a fairly regular periodic return, at once of advancing and recoiling, of difficulties and of helps. But if each person is attentive he realises that his own rhythm is absolutely particular to him; it is not the same rhythm as his neighbour's. But even as the seasons follow a certain rhythm, regular enough on the whole, so the individual life has its seasons. And when one studies oneself attentively, one finds out that there are even certain repetitions of analogous circumstances at regular intervals. Even, very sensitive people become aware that there are certain days of the week or certain hours of the day when they can do things more easily. Some of them have particular

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difficulties on particular days and at particular hours; some on the contrary have better inspirations at particular moments - but everyone has to find this out in himself by observation. Naturally it is far from being absolute, it is not strict, and if it is troublesome, it can be eliminated very easily simply by a little effort of resolute will. But if it helps, one can make use of it.

And all this, each thing having its own rhythm, well, it makes an extremely complicated criss-crossing of rhythms, which results in what we see; something which seems to have none — because it is too complicated, it is too complex."²

In recent times, similar observations have been made by scientists. It has been observed that ail life on earth is governed by or responds to the natural cycles that influence us also. These may be from within our bodies or from external sources. Some of these are self-evident.

Three discernible rhythms are known to exist — bio- rhythms, which affect our present and future lives with inescapable power. These are the emotional cycle (28 days), the physical cycle (23 days) and the intellectual cycle (33 days). Ail three start at birth from a neutral baseline and continue their individual courses throughout life, ceasing only at death. Ail humans have these

2. The Mother - Questions and Answers 1955, Vol. 7, p. 336.

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rhythms and ail are affected by them, to a greater or lesser extent.³

What is One to Do?

The Mother has said, "Because of the rhythm of the universal forces, a person is supposed to have a special receptivity on his birthday each year. He can therefore take advantage of this receptivity by making good resolutions and fresh progress on the path of his integral development."4

One can utilise this opportunity by examining the whole thing afresh through sincere introspection and deep reflection. The approach to life should be a matter of total attention and not merely an oblique concern. True examination through meditation is possible only if one starts without any prior conclusions, bias, desire for immediate results; and the mind must be stripped clean of ail these. Fresh progress on the path of integrated life and action may not come about through conformity to a pattern. It comes into being through constant efforts at understanding the various influences that impinge on the mind, their inward and outward effects and psychological significance and through being aware of ail these without being caught in them and in the net of the surroundings and society. One must discover what it is that one really

3. The Future Now - Derek and Julia Parker.

4. The Mother - Some Answers from the Mother, Vol. 16, p. 310.

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likes to do. Birthday is "an opportune moment to help him to make some new progress each year."5

Thus, birthday meditations and prayers are not to be viewed as merely an uninteresting and dull part of religious ceremonies; they have a lot of untapped potential that can guide and lead an individual along the right path and action.

As one grows older, not only does the body become weak, one may also lose the charm of life, enthusiasm for it and interest in it. Tensions in the mind, disappointments and boredom in day-to-day life could lead to a lack of harmony between the mind and the vital. This could cause some weakness or disease in the body.

One can renew one's attitude to life that could prevent the downward slide of the mind and the vital and keep them healthy and also bring a freshness that would enable one to look at life from a new angle and in a new light full of far greater possibilities.

On a concrete plane, the special receptivity can raise the consciousness to a high level, bring in peace and put an individual's potential to work and action and awaken the otherwise dormant spirit's force that could achieve positive and amazing accomplishments.

5. The Mother — Some Answers from the Mother, Vol. 16, p. 396.

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What "Bonne Fête" signifies 6

"Yes, it is truly a special day in one's life. It is one of those days in the year when the Supreme descends into us — or when we are face to face with the Eternal - one of those days when our soul comes in contact with the Eternal and, if we remain a little conscious, we can feel His Presence within us. If we make a little effort on this day, we accomplish the work of many lives as in a lightning flash. That is why I give so much importance to the birthday - because what one gains in one day is truly something incomparable. And it is for this that I also work to open the consciousness a little towards what is above so that one may come before the Eternal. My child, it is a very special day, for it is the day of decision, the day one can unite with the Supreme Consciousness. For the Lord lifts us on this day to the highest region possible so that our soul which is a portion of that Eternal Flame, may be united and identified with its origin.

This day is truly an opportunity in life. One is so open and so receptive that one can assimilate all that is given. I can do many things, that is why it is important.

It is one of those days when the Lord Himself opens the doors wide for us. It is as though He were inviting us to rekindle more powerfully the flame of aspiration. It is one of those days which He gives us. We too by our Personal effort, could attain to this, but it would be long,

6. Sweet Mother - Harmonies of Light, p.16 -Mona Sarkar

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hard and not so easy. And this is a real chance in life — the day of the Grace.

It is an occult phenomenon that occurs invariably, without our knowledge, on this particular day of the year. The soul leaves behind the body and journeys up and up till it merges into the Source in order to replenish itself and absorb from the Supreme its Power, Light and Ananda and comes down charged. for a whole year to pass. Then again and again... it continues like this year after year."

How is one to receive this and advance further?

How is it effective on the outer physical and material plane? One way would be to open oneself to this higher consciousness and remain so throughout in deep meditation. One should strive to spread the Light and Ananda deep within and allow it to settle there. Imagination, if any, must be completely set aside for the mind to be free from delusions. The mind must be clear without movement, no longer breeding conflict through its wants and cravings; and when it is silent with understanding, in the light of that silence and peace, the Ananda can come into being. Then, gradually, the inner voice guides more and more and the outer mind forms the movements and actions less and less. The reactions become purified and truthful leading to positive thinking, an attitude for constructive hard work, honesty of thought and action which can reform and re-energise the actions.

A prayer said in right earnest and with an enlightened

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consciousness can then connect an individual to an infinitely greater Force, widen his consciousness and open him to such an extent that even one spark of this Force can spur him to stupendous actions.

Even when one prays sincerely for someone else, it constitutes a two-way flow of vibrations between individuals and also with the universal Force. The vibrations so generated can, through the ripple effect, cause harmonious vibrations of the universal Force (which is full of ail types of vibrations) and set in motion one's love, compassion and similar feelings towards another individual who can actually feel and experience these waves.

Similarly, one can take advantage of the special receptivity in a very creative and constructive way. Most people have within some obscure corner of their nature a wish to live a life of fulfilment, pursue something higher although they might not know exactly the what and how of it. Even in the abstract word thoughts can exist. By remaining receptive, open and adopting and accepting them at the right time, one can crystallise one's own definite thoughts and actions. One can become a channel of the higher Force and Ananda and a willing instrument of their manifestation.

The Mother has said that the birthday should be spent in finding out the purpose of life.

Can a confused mind find out what the purpose of life

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is? If someone were to tell what the purpose of life is, should it be accepted? It would be hard to go to the depths to understand and seek the purpose of life without true humility, as otherwise our conceit would become an obstacle to the removal of the confusion in the mind.

What one normally calls life is the outcome of one's mind, its shallowness, confusion, etc.

Can one separate one part from the whole field of existence?

The totality of life must be perceived and understood by one's own efforts, by remaining always open to the higher consciousness beyond the mind.

We find that life is joy, grief, beauty, ugliness, hope, fear, work, inventiveness, goodness, generosity, jealousy, conceit, love, hate, greed, desire, aspiration for the higher life, birth, death and the search for immortality, the belief in and denial of the Supreme; it is the mind, thought and meditation. It is all these things and much more. What is important is not the nature of life, but our own attitude and approach to it and how we look at it. By identifying oneself with only certain convenient aspects of life, does not one separate oneself from the whole of it? One must move into the vastness and beauty of life in its totality and realise that

"Life now became a sure approach to God,
Existence a divine experiment
And cosmos the soul's opportunity."⁷

7. Savitri, p. 43.

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Having acknowledged all this what can one do? Total eradication of one's continued living in one's past: on that depend our questions and answers. But then, is there a guarantee that satisfactory answers and substitutes would emerge if one tries to die to one's past? True seeking would require one to die totally to ail of the past, make "unreal ail that mind has known," for the unknown to come and be.

"Overpowered were form and memory's limiting line;
The covering mind was seized and tom apart;
It was dissolved and now no more could be,
The one Consciousness that made the world was seen;
All now was luminosity and force."⁸

It could be said that one can make an earnest effort to widen one's consciousness, come out of one's past and its limitations, experience a new type of confidence, develop a new vision and outlook on life, its hopes and promises, surrender one's will and one's being to God, resolve to live in the higher consciousness of the Divine at every moment — even .in daily acts — and live a life that would manifest some aspect of the Divine.

Roshan
Apurva

8. Savitri, p. 319.

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