The Mother gave the significances of 880+ flowers as a key to the 'subtle language of flowers', listed here with botanical names, color, comments and photographs.
The Mother: 'Flowers speak to us when we know how to listen to them.. It is a subtle and fragrant language. As if to provide a key to this language, She identified the significances of 880+ flowers. In this book, these flowers and their meanings are presented in the light of her vision and experience. For each flower in Part 1, the following details are given: the Mother's significance, her comment on the significance, the botanical name, and the colour or colours of the flower. Relevant quotations from the works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother accompany many flower-significances as an aid to understanding them. For most flowers there is a colour photograph to facilitate identification. This reference volume contains indexes, glossaries, descriptions of the flowers and other information. There are three indexes : an Index of the Mother's Significances, an Index of Botanical Names and an Index of Common Names.
THEME/S
Chapter 9
The soul of man soars as the Bird, the Hansa, past the shining firmaments of physical and mental consciousness, climbs as the traveller and fighter beyond earth of body and heaven of mind by the ascending path of the Truth to find this Godhead waiting for us, leaning down to us from the secrecy of the highest supreme. . . .
Sri Aurobindo
In the spiritual order of things, the higher we project our view and our aspiration, the greater the Truth that seeks to descend upon us, because it is already there within us and calls for its release from the covering that conceals it in manifested Nature.
By physical liberation (liberation from Karma) one becomes the master of his destiny. By vital liberation (liberation from desires) the personal will gets identified with the Divine Will. By emotional liberation (liberation from suffering) one realises the supramental unity. By mental liberation (liberation from ignorance) one obtains the mind of light and the gnostic consciousness. The Mother
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621 Complexity of the centres Responds to several influences at a time. Canna Xgeneralis. Many colours
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622 Physical centre Occupied mainly with material things, it likes to have an ordered life. Canna Xgeneralis. Orange red
623 Connection between the Supermind and the physical Physical centre open and full of the Supramental Light. On the way to transformation, generous and powerful. Canna Xgeneralis. Orange and red
624 Connection between the Light and the physical Physical centre touched by the Light. Awakens to the necessity of growth and blossoming. Canna Xgeneralis. Yellow and red
625 Ananda in the physical body Purified of all desire and repulsion, with perfect equality and surrender, the physical body is ready to enjoy the Divine Ananda. Canna Xgeneralis. Cream white
626 Vital centre Passionate and strong, it needs to be controlled. Canna Xgeneralis. Dark red
627 Emotional centre Vibrant and sensitive, it needs to be controlled. Canna Xgeneralis. Deep rose pink
628 Psychic centre Luminous and calm, it is meant to govern the human being. Canna Xgeneralis. Salmon pink
629 Illumined mind centre In the peace that comes from the perfect Light. Canna Xgeneralis. Pale yellow
630 Intuitive mind centre The activity of correct perception. Canna Xgeneralis. Yellow
631 Future supramental centre That which is involved in Nature will evolve and become manifest. Canna Xgeneralis. Orange
632 Ananda in the centres This will be one of the benefits resulting from the physical conversion. Canna Xgeneralis. Cream white
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CENTRES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
[The soul] is, according to our psychology, connected with the small outer personality by certain centres of consciousness of which we become aware by yoga. . . . The inner centres are for the most part closed or asleep — to open them and make them awake and active is one aim of yoga. Sri Aurobindo
The centres or Chakras are seven in number: 1. The thousand-petalled lotus on top of the head. 2. In the middle of the forehead — the Ajna Chakra — (will, vision, dynamic thought). 3. Throat centre — externalising mind. 4. Heart-lotus — emotional centre. The psychic is behind it. 5. Navel — higher vital (proper). 6. Below navel — lower vital. 7. Muladhara — physical.
All these centres are in the middle of the body; they are supposed to be attached to the spinal cord; but in fact all these things are in the subtle body, sukshma deha, though one has the feeling of their activities as if in the physical body when the consciousness is awake.
Within us there are two centres of the Purusha, the inner Soul through which he touches us to our awakening; there is the Purusha in the lotus of the heart which opens upward all our powers and the Purusha in the thousand-petalled lotus whence descend through the thought and will, opening the third eye in us, the lightnings of vision and the fire of the divine energy. The bliss existence may come to us through either one of these centres. When the lotus of the heart breaks open, we feel a divine joy, love and peace expanding in us like a flower of light which irradiates the whole being. . . . When the other upper lotus opens, the whole mind becomes full of a divine light, joy and power, behind which is the Divine, the Lord of our being on his throne with our soul beside him or drawn inward into his rays; all the thought and will become then a luminosity, power and ecstasy. . . . Sri Aurobindo
The two most important things ... are the opening of the heart centre and the opening of the mind centres to all that is behind and above them. For the heart opens to the psychic being and the mind centres open to the higher consciousness and the nexus between the psychic being and the higher consciousness is the principal means of the Siddhi. The first opening is effected by a concentration in the heart, a call to the Divine to manifest within us and through the psychic to take up and lead the whole nature. Aspiration, prayer, Bhakti, love, surrender are the main supports of this part of the Sadhana — accompanied by a rejection of all that stands in the way of what we aspire for. The second opening is effected by a concentration of the consciousness in the head (afterwards, above it) and an aspiration and call and a sustained will for the descent of the divine Peace, Power, Light, Knowledge, Ananda into the being — the Peace first or the Peace and Force together. Sri Aurobindo
The two most important things ... are the opening of the heart centre and the opening of the mind centres to all that is behind and above them. For the heart opens to the psychic being and the mind centres open to the higher consciousness and the nexus between the psychic being and the higher consciousness is the principal means of the Siddhi. The first opening is effected by a concentration in the heart, a call to the Divine to manifest within us and through the psychic to take up and lead the whole nature. Aspiration, prayer, Bhakti, love, surrender are the main supports of this part of the Sadhana — accompanied by a rejection of all that stands in the way of what we aspire for. The second opening is effected by a concentration of the consciousness in the head (afterwards, above it) and an aspiration and call and a sustained will for the descent of the divine Peace, Power, Light, Knowledge, Ananda into the being — the Peace first or the Peace and Force together.
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THE SUPRAMENTAL
The supramental by its very definition is the Truth-Consciousness, Truth in possession of itself and fulfilling itself by its own power.
The Supermind is in its very essence a truth-consciousness, a consciousness always free from the Ignorance which is the foundation of our present natural or evolutionary existence and from which nature in us is trying to arrive at self-knowledge and world-knowledge and a right consciousness and the right use of our existence in the universe. The Supermind, because it is a truth-consciousness, has this knowlege inherent in it and this power of true existence; its course is straight and can go direct to its aim, its field is wide and can even be made illimitable. This is because its very nature is knowledge: it has not to acquire knowledge but possesses it in its own right. . . .
633 Supramental influence Innumerable and rapid in its action. Macfadyena unguis-cati. Golden yellow
634 Supramental action An action that is not exclusive but total. Barringtonia asiatica. White
635 Supramental artistic genius It blossoms in the light and knows how to manifest it. Helianthus. Dark brownish red
636 Beginning of the supramental realisation Of charming beauty it is the herald of victory. Butea monosperma. Orange
637 Supramental manifestation It will be welcome. Scadoxus multiflorus. Coral pink
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638 Supramental immortality upon earth This still remains to be realised. Helichrysum bracteatum. Several colours
639 Success in supramental work The result of patient labour and perfect consecration. Cochlospermum religiosum. Golden yellow
640 Realisation of supramental riches Can manifest only after the transformation of human consciousness. Pterospermum acerifolium. White
641 Supramental sun We aspire that its rays may illumine and transform us. Anthocephalus cadamba. Golden yellow
642 Supramental rain Happy are those who receive it. Pyrostegia venusta. Bright orange
643 Supramental bird It remains where it has descended. Strelitzia reginae. Orange yellow
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644 Spiritual aspiration Rises up like an arrow, without caring for obstacles or laggards. Terminalia catappa. White
645 Aspiration for spirituality Conscious of the advantages of spiritualisation. Salvia. Several colours
ASPIRATION FOR SPIRITUALITY
We can, simply by a sincere aspiration, open a sealed door in us and find . . . that Something which will change the whole meaning of life, answer all our questions, solve all our problems and lead us to the perfection we aspire for without knowing it, to that Reality which alone can satisfy us and give us lasting joy, balance, strength, life. All this you have heard many times. You have heard it — oh, there are even some here who are so used to it that for them it seems to be the same as drinking a glass of water or opening a window to let in the sunlight. . . . We have tried a little, but now we are going to try seriously! The starting-point: to want it, truly to want it, to need it. The next step: to think, above all, of that. A day comes very quickly when one is unable to think of anything else. It is the only thing that counts. And then . . . you formulate your aspiration, you let the true prayer spring up from your heart, the prayer that expresses the sincerity of the need. And then . . . well, you will see what happens. The Mother
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646 The vital consenting to be spiritualised A great victory over the lower nature. Salvia leucantha. White to pale mauve
647 Matter consenting to be spiritualised The beginning of wisdom. Salvia splendens. Bright red
SPIRITUALITY
Spirituality can only come by opening of the mind, vital and physical to the inmost soul, to the higher Self, to the Divine, and their subordination to the spiritual forces and instrumentation as channels of the inner Light, the higher Knowledge and Power.
All perfection of which the outer man is capable, is only a realising of the eternal perfection of the Spirit within him. We know the Divine and become the Divine, because we are That already in our secret nature.
648 Spiritual ascension Fearless, regular and uninterrupted. Citharexylum. White
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649 Spiritual atmosphere Light, fluid, clear and transparent, and so clean! Azadirachta indica. White
650 Aspiration for spiritual intensity Bold, elegant, obstinate. Orthosiphon stamineus. Rose purple
651 Spiritual intensity It is an intensity without violence. The ardour it gives you is expressed without grand gestures and big words. Orthosiphon stamineus. White
652 Spiritual success Spiritual success is conscious union with the Divine. Hiptage benghalensis. White
SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHERE A spiritual atmosphere is more important than outer conditions; if one can get that and also create one's own spiritual air to breathe in and live in it, that is the true condition of progress. Sri Aurobindo In all spiritual living the inner life is the thing of first importance; the spiritual man lives always within, and in a world of the Ignorance that refuses to change he has to be in a certain sense separate from it and to guard his inner life against the intrusion and influence of the darker forces of the Ignorance: he is out of the world even when he is within it; if he acts upon it, it is from the fortress of his inner spiritual being where in the inmost sanctuary he is one with the Supreme Existence or the soul and God are alone together. Sri Aurobindo
SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHERE
A spiritual atmosphere is more important than outer conditions; if one can get that and also create one's own spiritual air to breathe in and live in it, that is the true condition of progress.
In all spiritual living the inner life is the thing of first importance; the spiritual man lives always within, and in a world of the Ignorance that refuses to change he has to be in a certain sense separate from it and to guard his inner life against the intrusion and influence of the darker forces of the Ignorance: he is out of the world even when he is within it; if he acts upon it, it is from the fortress of his inner spiritual being where in the inmost sanctuary he is one with the Supreme Existence or the soul and God are alone together. Sri Aurobindo
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653 Spiritual beauty Immaculate whiteness, sweetness and purity, you seem to come from another world. Leontopodium alpinum. White or yellowish white 654 Spiritual happiness Calm and smiling, nothing can disturb it. Pelargonium. Several colours
653 Spiritual beauty
Immaculate whiteness, sweetness and purity, you seem to come from another world.
Leontopodium alpinum. White or yellowish white
654 Spiritual happiness
Calm and smiling, nothing can disturb it.
Pelargonium. Several colours
SPIRITUAL BEAUTY To find highest beauty is to find God; to reveal, to embody, to create, as we say, highest beauty is to bring out of our souls the living image and power of God. Sri Aurobindo Spiritual beauty illumining human sight Lines with its passion and mystery Matter's mask And squanders eternity on a beat of Time. Sri Aurobindo
SPIRITUAL BEAUTY
To find highest beauty is to find God; to reveal, to embody, to create, as we say, highest beauty is to bring out of our souls the living image and power of God.
Spiritual beauty illumining human sight Lines with its passion and mystery Matter's mask And squanders eternity on a beat of Time.
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655 Power of spirituality True spirituality transforms life. Sansevieria. White to dusty white
656 Joy of spirituality The reward of sincere effort. Sansevieria. White to dusty white
657 Spiritual perfume It has an extraordinary power of attraction. Pandanus tectorius. Cream yellow
JOY OF SPIRITUALITY
The spiritual man is one who has discovered his soul: he has found his self and lives in that, is conscious of it, has the joy of it; he needs nothing external for his completeness of existence.
SPIRITUAL PERFUME
The fragrance of flowers is the prayer of physical Nature to the Divine, her most subtle offering.
The Mother
Immortal fragrance packed the quivering breeze.In groves that seemed moved bosoms and trembling depths The million children of the undying spring Bloomed, pure unnumbered stars of hued delight Nestling for shelter in their emerald sky:Faery flower-masses looked with laughing eyes.
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THE PSYCHIC
The psychic being is the soul developing in the evolution.
The true soul of man is ... in the true invisible heart hidden in some luminous cave of the nature: there under some infiltration of the divine Light is our soul, a silent inmost being of which few are even aware; for if all have a soul, few are conscious of their true soul or feel its direct impulse. There dwells the little spark of the Divine which supports this obscure mass of our nature and around it grows the psychic being, the formed soul or the real Man within us. It is as this psychic being in him grows and the movements of the heart reflect its divinations and impulsions that man becomes more and more aware of his soul, ceases to be a superior animal, and, awakening to glimpses of the godhead within him, admits more and more its intimations of a deeper life and consciousness and an impulse towards things divine. It is one of the decisive moments of the integral Yoga when this psychic being liberated, brought out from the veil to the front, can pour the full flood of its divinations, seeings and impulsions on the mind, life and body of man and begin to prepare the upbuilding of divinity in the earthly nature. Sri Aurobindo
It is the very nature of the soul or the psychic being to turn towards the Divine Truth as the sunflower to the sun; it accepts and clings to all that is divine or progressing towards divinity and draws back from all that is a perversion or a denial of it, from all that is false and undivine. Yet the soul is at first but a spark and then a little flame of godhead burning in the midst of a great darkness.... It is only when the life turns towards the Divine that the soul can truly come forward and impose its power on the outer members; for, itself a spark of the Divine, to grow in flame towards the Divine is its true life and its very reason of existence. Sri Aurobindo
658 Psychic work A work governed by harmony. Cassia javanica. Deep pink fading to white
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659 Psychic tranquillity By its very nature the psychic is tranquil.Vallaris solanacea. White
660 Psychic peace It is spontaneous and does not make a fuss. Hollarrhena pubescens. White
661 Psychic influence in the emotions Indispensable for beginning sadhana. Justicia oblongata. Rose pink
662 Thirst for perfection Constant and manifold aspiration. Justicia brandegeana. White or yellow
663 Organisation of the being around the psychic The first stage of transformation. Plumbago indica. Pinkish red
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The first [step of self-realisation] is the discovery of the soul, not the outer soul of thought and emotion and desire, but the secret psychic entity, the divine element within us. When that becomes dominant over the nature, when we are consciously the soul and when mind, life and body take their true place as its instruments, we are aware of a guide within that knows the truth, the good, the true delight and beauty of existence, controls heart and intellect by its luminous law and leads our life and being towards spiritual completeness. Even within the obscure workings of the Ignorance we have then a witness who discerns, a living light that illumines, a will that refuses to be misled and separates the mind's truth from its error, the heart's intimate response from its vibrations to a wrong call and wrong demand upon it, the life's true ardour and plenitude of movement from vital passion and the turbid falsehoods of our vital nature and its dark self-seekings. This is the first step of self-realisation, to enthrone the soul, the divine psychic individual in the place of the ego. Sri Aurobindo
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665 Psychological perfection on the way to fulfilment The state of those who take up the Yoga seriously. Plumeria rubra. Deep rose to purplish red
666 Psychological perfection in Matter The first step towards transformation. Plumeria rubra forma tricolor. White with rosepink
664 Psychological perfection There is not one psychological perfection but five, like the five petals of the flower: sincerity, faith, devotion, aspiration and surrender. Plumeria rubra. White with yellow
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667 Integral psychological perfection One of the conditions indispensable for transformation. Plumeria obtusa. White 668 Perfect psychological perfection Psychological perfection in all the parts of the being. Plumeria obtusa. White
667 Integral psychological perfection
One of the conditions indispensable for transformation.
Plumeria obtusa. White
668 Perfect psychological perfection
Psychological perfection in all the parts of the being.
THE PSYCHIC In order to strengthen the contact with the conscious psychic personality and, if possible, to aid its development, one should, while concentrating, turn towards it, aspire to know it and feel it, open oneself to receive its influence, and take great care, each time that one receives an indication from it, to follow it very scrupulously and sincerely. To live in a great aspiration, to take care to become inwardly calm and remain so always as far as possible, to cultivate a perfect sincerity in all the activities of one's being — these are the essential conditions for the growth of the psychic being. The Mother
In order to strengthen the contact with the conscious psychic personality and, if possible, to aid its development, one should, while concentrating, turn towards it, aspire to know it and feel it, open oneself to receive its influence, and take great care, each time that one receives an indication from it, to follow it very scrupulously and sincerely. To live in a great aspiration, to take care to become inwardly calm and remain so always as far as possible, to cultivate a perfect sincerity in all the activities of one's being — these are the essential conditions for the growth of the psychic being.
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669 Perfect radiating psychology Can only be obtained by acquiring the divine vision. Chonemorpha fragrans. Cream white
670 Supramentalised psychological perfection A psychological perfection aspiring to be divinised. Michelia champaca. Cream yellow to golden orange
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671 Mind Its true value depends on its surrender to the Divine. Thevetia peruviana. Yellow
THE MIND
The "Mind" in the ordinary use of the word covers indiscriminately the whole consciousness, for man is a mental being and mentalises everything; but in the language of this yoga the words "mind" and "mental" are used to connote specially the part of the nature which has to do with cognition and intelligence, with ideas, with mental or thought perceptions, the reactions of thought to things, with the truly mental movements and formations, mental vision and will, etc., that are part of his intelligence. Sri Aurobindo
The mind proper is divided into three parts — thinking Mind, dynamic Mind, externalising Mind — the former concerned with ideas and knowledge in their own right, the second with the putting out of mental forces for realisation of the idea, the third with the expression of them in life (not only by speech, but by any form it can give). Sri Aurobindo
672 Purified mind Mind ready to surrender to the Divine. Thevetia peruviana 'Alba'. "White
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REASON
The first thing that should be taught to every human being as soon as he is able to think, is that he must obey reason, which is a super-instinct of the species. Reason is the master of the nature of the human species. You must obey reason and absolutely refuse to be the slave of instincts. And here I am not talking to you about yoga, I am not talking about spiritual life, not at all; it has nothing to do with that. It is the basic wisdom of human life, purely human life: every human being who obeys anything other than reason is a kind of brute lower than the animal. That's all. And this should be taught everywhere; it is the basic education which should be given to children. The reign of reason should come to an end only with the advent of the psychic law which manifests the Divine Will. The Mother
CLEAR MIND
Ordinarily, the mind reflects the status of mortal nature and the activities of the Force which works under the conditions of the material universe. But if it becomes clear, passive, pure, by the renunciation of these activities and of the characteristic ideas and outlook of mental nature, then as in a clear mirror or like the sky in clear water which is without ripple and unruffled by winds, the divine is reflected. Sri Aurobindo
673 Reason An excellent instrument when it is at the service of the Divine. Artabotrys hexapetalus. Yellow
674 Clear mind The first step on the way to conversion. Artabotrys hexapetalus. Greenish yellow
675 Attentive mind The mind attains its full utility when it knows how to listen to the higher inspiration. Cassia. Yellow
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ASPIRATION FOR SILENCE IN THE MIND
The only way to establish a constant silence in one's mind ... is to open oneself to the higher regions and let this higher consciousness, force and light descend constantly into the lower mind and take possession of it. And then when this happens, the lower mind can remain constantly quiet and silent, because it is this that acts and fills the whole being. One can act, write and speak without the mind being active, with this force coming down from above, penetrating the mind and using it, and the mind itself becomes just a passive instrument. The Mother
There is nothing mind can do that cannot be better done in the mind's immobility and thought-free stillness. When the mind is still, then Truth gets her chance to be heard in the purity of the silence. Sri Aurobindo
676 Awakening in the mind Let it turn to the Light and to the Light alone. Turnera ulmifolia. Yellow
677 Awakening of the physical mind It wants to know and opens itself wide in order to understand. Turnera ulmifolia. Cream white
678 Aspiration for silence in the mind Too noisy to be effective. Eranthemum pulchellum. Sky blue
679 Aspiration for silence in the physical mind Does what it can, but cannot do much. Eranthemum pulchellum. Blue violet
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PHYSICAL MIND
The physical mind is that part of the mind which is concerned with the physical things only — it depends on the sense-mind, sees only objects, external actions, draws its ideas from the data given by external things, infers from them only and knows no other Truth until it is enlightened from above.
[The physical mind] is the instrument of understanding and ordered action on physical things. Only instead of being obscure and ignorant and fumbling as now or else guided only by an external knowledge it has to become conscious of the Divine and to act in accordance with an inner light, will and knowledge putting itself into contact and an understanding unity with the physical world.
680 Physical mind Becomes a good instrument of action when it is content to be that alone. Tecoma Xsmithii. Yellow
681 Higher mind Its superiority lies in its capacity to open to the Divine Light. Tecoma stans. Bright yellow
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HIGHER MIND
Higher mind is one of the planes of the spiritual mind, the first and lowest of them; it is above the normal mental level.
I mean by the Higher Mind a first plane of spiritual consciousness where one becomes constantly and closely aware of the Self, the One everywhere and knows and sees things habitually with that awareness; but it is still very much on the mind level although highly spiritual in its essential substance; and its instrumentation is through an elevated thought-power and comprehensive mental sight — not illumined by any of the intenser upper lights but as if in a large strong and clear daylight. It acts as an intermediate state between the Truth-Light above and the human mind, communicating the higher knowledge in a form that the Mind intensified, broadened, made spiritually supple, can receive without being blinded or dazzled by a Truth beyond it. Sri Aurobindo
682 Voice of the higher mind In quest of Truth. Anemopaegma carrerense. Yellow and cream white
683 Conversion of the higher mind Receives its inspiration from the Divine Consciousness. Lycoris aurea. Bright golden yellow
684 Work of the enlightened mind It is very powerful in leading the being to the Divine. Can be very useful for progress. Crataeva adansonii. White turning cream
685 Perfect working of the mind Can take place when the mind is determined exclusively to fulfil its role. Trachymene coerulea. Blue or light lavender blue
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687 Response of the mind to the Supramental Light Represents an important step towards realisation. Asclepias curassavica. Yellow, with golden crown
688 Response of the physical mind to the Supramental Light The physical mind eager to understand and be transformed. Asclepias curassavica. Orange red, with orange crown
686 Aspiration of the mind for the supramental guidance The mind feels that its complexity is powerless and asks for a greater light to illumine it.Justicia aurea. Yellow
SUPRAMENTALISED MIND
For mind ... is in its origin a principle of light, an instrument put forth from the Supermind and, though set to work within limits and even set to create limits, yet the limits are luminous borders for a special working, voluntary and purposive bounds, a service of the finite ever extending itself under the eye of infinity. It is this character of Mind that will reveal itself under the touch of Supermind and make human mentality an adjunct and a minor instrumentation of the supramental knowledge. Sri Aurobindo
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689 Supramentalised mind Mind has become an instrument for transformation. Thevetia peruviana. Orange
690 Mind of Light acting in Matter A powerful aid to progress. Castanospermum australe. Golden yellow to reddish orange
MIND OF LIGHT
A new humanity means for us the appearance, the development of a type or race of mental beings whose principle of mentality would be no longer a mind in the Ignorance seeking for knowledge but even in its knowledge bound to the Ignorance, a seeker after Light but not its natural possessor, open to the Light but not an inhabitant of the Light, not yet a perfected instrument, truth-conscious and delivered out of the Ignorance. Instead, it would be possessed already of what could be called a mind of Light, a mind capable of living in the truth, capable of being truth-conscious and manifesting in its life a direct in place of an indirect knowledge. Sri Aurobindo
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691 Kind mind The mind prepares itself for conversion. Luffa acutangula. Light yellow
692 Mental simplicity Does not like complications. Thymophylla tenuiloba. Yellow
693 Mental goodwill Likes to show off a little, but is very useful. Mussaenda luteola. Lemon yellow
694 Mental honesty Does not try to deceive others nor to deceive itself. Tristellateia australasiae. Bright yellow
695 Honesty in the physical mind Preliminary condition indispensable for transformation. Galphimia glauca. Yellow
696 Mental sincerity Essential condition for integral honesty. Solidago. Yellow
697 Birth of true mental sincerity With its birth the mind will understand that it is only an intermediary and not an end in itself. Melampodium paludosum. Yellow
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698 Mental purity A mirror that does not distort. Tabernaemontana divaricata. White
699 Integral mental purity Silent, attentive, receptive, concentrated on the Divine — this is the path of purity. Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Flore-pleno'. White
700 Perfect mental purity A spotless mirror turned constantly towards the Divine. Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Flore-pleno'. White
701 Mental chastity Precious and magnificent in its purity. Oncoba spinosa. White
702 Mentalised power (No comment) Abelmoschus esculentus. Bright lemon yellow
703 Formative faculty in the mind It is a natural and very spontaneous gift. Crotalaria juncea. Bright yellow
704 Correct perception A perception that does not deform the Truth. Cananga odorata. Greenish gold
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705 Mental suggestions of organisation Abundant and clustered, a little dull. Aglaia odorata. Yellow
706 Mental spirit of imitation What you cannot find for yourself, you imitate. Dendropthoe falcata. Pale orange yellow
707 Mental voice The mind must learn to express only what is dictated by the Divine. Gmelina philippensis. Bright yellow
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708 Curiosity If we want to be exceptional, let it be through our qualities. Holmskioldia sanguinea. Several colours 709 Mental curiosity Should be strictly controlled so as not to be dangerous. Holmskioldia sanguinea. Lemon yellow 710 Physical curiosity Its value depends on its purpose. Holmskioldia sanguinea. Red
708 Curiosity
If we want to be exceptional, let it be through our qualities.
Holmskioldia sanguinea. Several colours
709 Mental curiosity
Should be strictly controlled so as not to be dangerous.
Holmskioldia sanguinea. Lemon yellow
710 Physical curiosity
Its value depends on its purpose.
Holmskioldia sanguinea. Red
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711 Mental fantasy Disorderly, it too often lacks coordination. Delonix elata. Cream white
IMAGINATION Imagination is a fundamental energy of consciousness, and this marvellous, indomitable energy works on without caring whether she is put to use or misuse or no use at all; she exists merely for the sake of delight in her own existence. Sri Aurobindo
712 Imagination Abundant and varied, may be charming, but must not be substituted for the Truth. Cassia fistula. Canary yellow
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713 Inventions Are useful only when they are controlled by the Divine. Cytisus scoparius. Yellow
714 Inventions Are useful only when they are controlled by the Divine. Cytisus scoparius 'Andreanus'. Yellow
IDEA
There is a power in the idea — a force of which the idea is a shape. Again, behind the idea and force and word there is what is called the spirit, — a consciousness which generates the force.
The idea is the realisation of a truth in Consciousness as the fact is its realisation in Power.
715 Idea Essential for all organisers, on its quality depends the quality of the organisation. Senna alata. Bright golden yellow
716 Fire in the mind An ardour that sets ideas ablaze. Caesalpinia pulcherrima. Golden yellow
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717 Foresight A perception that is under the divine influence. Sanchezia speciosa. Golden yellow
718 Prevision The power of projecting one's consciousness into the future. Clerodendrum minahassae. White
719 Seeking for clarity Likes to say clearly what it says. Gazania. Several colours
720 Logic in thought Likes coherent discourse. Prosopis glandulosa. Greenish yellow
721 Heroic thought To the conquest of the unknown, without fear of difficulty or incomprehension. Ipomoea horsfalliae. Intense magenta
722 Thoughts turned towards the Divine A certitude of beauty. Viola Xwittrockiana. Many colours 723 Integrally pure thoughts An effect of the Divine Grace. Viola Xwittrockiana. Cream yellow
722 Thoughts turned towards the Divine
A certitude of beauty.
Viola Xwittrockiana. Many colours
723 Integrally pure thoughts
An effect of the Divine Grace.
Viola Xwittrockiana. Cream yellow
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724 Sweetness of thought turned exclusively towards the Divine Lovely, joyful, sweet and calm, sheltered from all conflicts. Nerium oleander. Pink fringed pale pink
725 Contemplation of the Divine Occupied exclusively with its joyful contemplation. Nerium oleander. Light pink
726 Quiet mind The best way to learn. Nerium oleander. White
727 Quietness established in the mind The essential condition for its transformation. Nerium oleander. White
728 Perfect quietness in the mind Essential condition for true progress. Nerium oleander. White, double
729 Turning of wrong movements into right movements A supreme goodwill always ready to be transformed. Nerium oleander. Reddish pink
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QUIET MIND
The first step is a quiet mind — silence is a further step, but quietude must be there; and by a quiet mind I mean a mental consciousness within which sees thoughts arrive to it and move about but does not itself feel that it is thinking or identifying itself with the thoughts or call them its own. Thoughts, mental movements may pass through it as wayfarers appear and pass from elsewhere through a silent country — the quiet mind observes them or does not care to observe them, but, in either case, does not become active or lose its quietude. Sri Aurobindo
730 Surrender of all falsehood Let us offer our falsehoods to the Divine so that He may change them into joyous truths. Nerium oleander. Bright rose pink, double
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THE VITAL
The vital has to be carefully distinguished from mind, even though it has a mind element transfused into it; the vital is the Life-nature made up of desires, sensations, feelings, passions, energies of action, will of desire, reactions of the desire-soul in man and of all that play of possessive and other related instincts, anger, fear, greed, lust, etc., that belong to this field of the nature. Sri Aurobindo
The vital proper is the life-force acting in its own nature, impulses, emotions, feelings, desires, ambitions, etc., having at their highest centre what we may call the outer heart of emotion, while there is an inner heart where are the higher or psychic feelings and sensibilities, the emotions or intuitive yearnings and impulses of the soul. The vital part of us is, of course, necessary to our completeness, but it is a true instrument only when its feelings and tendencies have been purified by the psychic touch and taken up and governed by the spiritual light and power.
It is when there is death of desire and this calm equal wideness in the consciousness everywhere, that the true vital being within us comes out from the veil and reveals its own calm, intense and potent presence. For such is the true nature of the vital being, pranamaya purusha; it is a projection of the Divine Purusha into life, — tranquil, strong, luminous, many-energied, obedient to the Divine Will, egoless, yet or rather therefore capable of all action, achievement, highest or largest enterprise. Sri Aurobindo
731 The vital's possibility of perfection The day the vital is converted it will have much to give. Gladiolus callianthus. White
731 The vital's possibility of perfection
The day the vital is converted it will have much to give.
Gladiolus callianthus. White
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VITAL OPENING
What is needed is the path of vastness, widening, relaxation, ease, of blossoming in the vital — not so much a sensorial vital as ... as a gentleness, a sweetness. The vital blossoming into beauty: a sweetness and beauty. I don't want to speak of "sentiments" because . . . oh, that leads us right into a quagmire! No, but... a sweetness, a charm, a beauty — but not there (in the head): here.
VITAL CONSECRATION
If you want a true mastery and transformation of the vital movements, it can be done only on condition you allow your psychic being, the soul in you, to awake fully, to establish its rule and opening all to the permanent touch of the Divine Shakti, impose its own way of pure devotion, whole-hearted aspiration and complete uncompromising urge to all that is divine in the mind and heart and vital nature. There is no other way and it is no use hankering after a more comfortable path. Sri Aurobindo
732 Vital opening The vital is ready to receive the divine influence. Saritaea magnifica. Rose purple
733 Vital consecration Delightfully modest and fragrant, it smiles at life without wanting to draw attention to itself. Heliotropium arborescens. Pale to deep purple
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734 Attempt at vital goodwill An attempt is a small thing but it can be a promise for the future. Jacaranda. Lavender blue
735 Consent of the vital Friendly, smiling, always ready for action, with a great goodwill. Browallia. Light blue
736 Enthusiastic vital consent Here all the resources of its enthusiasm are placed at the service of its consent. Browallia. Pale lilac
737 Correct movement in the vital At once the cause and the result of conversion. Saintpaulia ionantha. Purple
738 Correct movement All movements are under the right inspiration. Saintpaulia ionantha. Several colours
739 Vital honesty Not to allow our sensations and desires to falsify our judgment and determine our actions. Kaempferia rotunda. White
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ENTHUSIASTIC VITAL CONSENT
Energy, strength, enthusiasm, artistic taste, boldness, forcefulness are there [in the vital] too, if we know how to use them in the true way. A vital converted and consecrated to the Divine Will becomes a bold and forceful instrument that can overcome all obstacles. But it first has to be disciplined, and it consents to this only when the Divine is its master. The Mother
The true vital being ... is wide, vast, calm, strong, without limitations, firm and immovable, capable of all power, all knowledge, all Ananda. It is moreover without ego, for it knows itself to be a projection and instrument of the Divine: it is the divine Warrior, pure and perfect; in it is an instrumental Force for all divine realisations.
740 Vital patience Indispensable for all progress. Ageratum houstonianum. Deep lavender
741 Vital contentment (No comment) Bauhinia variegata. White with reddish purple
742 Stability in the vital One of the important results of conversion. Bauhinia purpurea. Light pink to reddish violet
743 Stability in the higher vital (No comment) Bauhinia purpurea. Light mauve
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744 Peace in the vital The result of the abolition of desires. Murraya paniculata. White
745 Silence in the vital A powerful help for inner peace. Achimenes grandiflora. Light violet to red violet
PEACE IN THE VITAL
The one thing that is most needed for this Sadhana is peace, calm, especially in the vital — a peace which depends not on circumstances or surroundings but on the inner contact with a higher consciousness which is the consciousness of the Divine, of the Mother. Sri Aurobindo
If you get peace, then to clean the vital becomes easy. If you simply clean and clean and do nothing else, you go very slowly — for the vital gets dirty again and has to be cleaned a hundred times. The peace is something that is clean in itself, so to get it is a positive way of securing your object. To look for dirt only and clean is the negative way. Sri Aurobindo
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746 Aspiration for vital purity Delicate, modest, insistent. Duranta erecta. Lavender
747 Vital purity It begins with the abolition of desires. Duranta erecta 'Alba'. White
748 Radiating vital purity Is possible only through perfect consecration of the vital. Strophantus gratus. Pale pink
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749 Candid simplicity in the vital One of the most difficult qualities for the vital to acquire. Oxalis. Lavender pink to rose purple
750 Strength in the vital Likes to show its beauty and power. Solenostemon scutellarioides. Multicoloured
751 Quiet strength in the vital Does not like to attract attention. Tradescantia zebrina. Magenta pink
752 Illumined strength in the vital (No comment) Amaranthus caudatus. Off-white
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753 Spiritual aspiration in the vital (No comment) Celosia argentea. Red
754 Spiritual awakening of the vital It soars towards the heights in the hope of reaching them. Solenostemon scutellarioides. Pale lavender
755 Spiritual ascension of the vital It is more fanciful and less regular. Stachytarpheta jamaicensis. Lavender blue
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756 First turning of the vital to the Divine Light The vital prepares itself to be transformed. Rudbeckia hirta 'Gloriosa Daisy'. Yellow
757 Seeking the Light in the lower vital Does more work, makes less fuss. Iochroma cyaneum. Deep purple
There are four parts of the vital being — first, the mental vital which gives a mental expression by thought, speech or otherwise to the emotions, desires, passions, sensations and other movements of the vital being; the emotional vital which is the seat of various feelings, such as love, joy, sorrow, hatred, and the rest; the central vital which is the seat of the stronger vital longings and reactions, e.g. ambition, pride, fear, love of fame, attractions and repulsions, desires and passions of various kinds and the field of many vital energies; last, the lower vital which is occupied with small desires and feelings, such as make the greater part of daily life, e.g. food desire, sexual desire, small likings, dislikings, vanity, quarrels, love of praise, anger at blame, little wishes of all kinds — and a numberless host of other things. Their respective seats are: (1) the regions from the throat to the heart, (2) the heart (it is a double centre, belonging in front to the emotional and vital and behind to the psychic), (3) from the heart to the navel, (4) below the navel.
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LOWER VITAL
The lower vital aspires by offering all its small movements in the fire of purification, by calling for the light and power to descend into it and rid it of its little greeds, jealousies, resistances and revolts over small matters, angers, vanities, sexualities etc. to be replaced by the right movements governed by selflessness, purity, obedience to the urge of the Divine Force in all things. Sri Aurobindo
MATERIAL VITAL
By material vital we mean the vital so involved in Matter as to be bound by its movements and gross physical character; the action is to support and energise the body and keep in it the capacity of life, growth, movement, etc., also of sensitiveness to outside impacts. Sri Aurobindo
758 Success in the most material vital Has value only when it is offered to the Divine. Gossypium arboreum. Dark red
759 Attachment of the material vital to the Divine An attachment that insists on feeling the power of contact. Eranthemum hypocrateriforme. Reddish violet
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760 Vital aspiration for union with the Divine It rises straight up in an intense and concentrated movement. Polygonum. Light pink
761 Opening of the vital to the Divine Love Little by little it is no longer the ego that governs, but the Divine. Euphorbia pulcherrima. Green with red 762 Opening of the vital to the Divine Love Little by little it is no longer the ego that governs, but the Divine. Euphorbia cyathophora. Yellow
761 Opening of the vital to the Divine Love
Little by little it is no longer the ego that governs, but the Divine.
Euphorbia pulcherrima. Green with red
762 Opening of the vital to the Divine Love
Euphorbia cyathophora. Yellow
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OPENING OF THE VITAL TO THE DIVINE LOVE
It is a mistake to believe that if the vital loves, it must be a love that demands and imposes the satisfaction of its desire; it is a mistake to think that it must be either that or else the vital, in order to escape from its "attachment", must draw away altogether from the object of its love. The vital can be as absolute in its unquestioning self-giving as any other part of the nature; nothing can be more generous than its movement when it forgets self for the Beloved. Sri Aurobindo
763 The vital governed by the Presence The vital force made peaceful and disciplined by the Divine Presence. Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart'. Mauve pink
764 Liberation in the vital Another result of conversion. Berrya cordifolia. Greenish brown
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PURITY OF THE EMOTIONS
The insistence on purification [of the emotions] does not mean that I condemn true feeling and emotion any more than the insistence on a purified mind or will means that I condemn thought and will. On the contrary, the deeper the emotion, the more intense the Bhakti, the greater is the force for realisation and transformation. It is oftenest through intensity of emotion that the psychic being awakens and there is an opening of the inner doors to the Divine.
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765 Distinction of the vital Light and graceful, of refined elegance. Melia azedarach. White with mauve
766 Elegance in the emotions Delicate and refined, does not permit itself any vulgarity. Barleria cristata. Lavender
767 Refinement of emotions With progress even the emotions become refined. Brunfelsia australis. Purple
768 Opening of the emotional centre to the Light An important event in human development. Pandorea jasminoides. White and lavender pink
769 Broadening of the emotional centre It opens and widens itself in order to receive better. Gloxinia perennis. Purplish blue
770 Purity in the emotional centre Indispensable for progress. Thunbergia fragrans. White
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THE EMOTIONS AWAKE TO THE FIRST CONTACT WITH THE DIVINE
Emotion is an excellent and indispensable thing in human nature, in spite of all its shortcomings and dangers. . . . [But] our aim is to go beyond emotion to the height and depth and intensity of the Divine Love and there feel through the inner psychic heart an inexhaustible oneness with the Divine which the spasmodic leapings of the vital emotions cannot reach or experience.
771 Collective emotions open to the Divine Crowds responding to the impulsion coming from the Divine. An event that marks the great stages of terrestrial life. Mansoa alliacea. Light purple
772 Emotional abundance Good feelings that give themselves unstintingly. Lagenaria siceraria. White
773 The emotions awake to the first contact with the Divine The Light begins to work in the emotional consciousness. Acanthus montanus. Light purple to purple
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Emotion is a good element in yoga; but emotional desire becomes easily a cause of perturbation and an obstacle. Turn your emotions towards the Divine, aspire for their purification; they will then become a help on the way and no longer a cause of suffering. Not to kill emotion, but to turn it towards the Divine is the right way of the yoga.
But it must become pure, founded upon spiritual peace and joy, capable of being transmuted into Ananda. Equality and calm in the mind and vital parts, an intense psychic emotion in the heart can perfectly go together. Awake by your aspiration the psychic fire in the heart that burns steadily towards the Divine — that is the one way to liberate and fulfil the emotional nature. Sri Aurobindo
774 Refinement of sensations Manifold, complex, perceiving the variety of details. Cassia roxburghii. Pink
775 Purified senses Can only be obtained by a total surrender to the Truth. Clitoria ternatea. White
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776 Organisation of action in life Clustered, compact, its action is irresistible. Combretum fructicosa. Red orange
777 True action in the material vital Gracious and simple in its spontaneity. Combretum coccineum. Bright crimson
778 Vital will manifested in life It is often the cause of the greatest disorders. Episcia reptans. Intense orange red
779 Will manifested in life Concentrated and precise. Episcia cupreata. Bright coral pink
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780 Aspiration for the conquest of enemies in the vital A concentrated and unobtrusive will acting quietly but effectively. Verbena tenuisecta. Light pink
781 Will to conquer vital enemies Indispensable for mastery over desires. Verbena tenuisecta. Rose purple
782 Conquest over vital enemies The appearance is modest, but the power is lasting. Verbena tenuisecta. White
783 Power to reject adverse suggestions The power that comes from conscious union with the Divine. Codiaeum variegatum. Cream white
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784 Perpetual vitality A vitality that is not affected by external influences. Conifers. Green
785 Steadfast vitality The vitality that is based on integral consecration. Areca catechu. White
786 Vital plenitude Can only be obtained through conversion. Pergularia odoratissima. Greenish yellow
787 Formative faculty in the vital Spontaneous but not always happy, it needs to be disciplined. Crotalaria. Light purple
788 Vital impulses Look like nothing at all, but assert themselves and are stubborn. Graptophyllum pictum. Dull reddish purple
789 Vital fantasy Ephemeral and unimportant. Talinum paniculatum. Purple red
790 Vital sensitivity Is excessive if it is not controlled. Mimosa pudica. Pale lavender pink
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791 Pride A great obstacle to progress. Dahlia. Several colours
792 Mental pride (No comment) Dahlia. Yellow
793 Vital pride (No comment) Dahlia. Mauve
794 Vanity One of the most frequent forms of falsehood.Dahlia. All colours
795 Passion It is a force, but it is dangerous and can only be useful if it is perfectly surrendered to the Divine. Spathodea campanulata. Reddish orange
796 Greed for money The surest way to diminish one's consciousness and narrow one's nature. Ochna kirkii. Red
797 A whipping A little brutal but sometimes useful. Capsicum annuum. Off-white or purple
798 Conquest of the armies Brutal and material, brings no joy. Stapelia. Purple brown
GREED FOR MONEY
Money is the visible sign of a universal force, and this force in its manifestation on earth works on the vital and physical planes and is indispensable to the fullness of the outer life. In its origin and its true action it belongs to the Divine.
Money is not meant to make money, money is meant to make the earth ready for the advent of the new creation. The Mother
Money belongs to the one who spends it; that is an absolute law. You may pile up money, but it doesn't belong to you until you spend it. Then you have the merit, the glory, the joy, the pleasure of spending it! . . . Money is not meant to generate money; money should generate an increase in production, an improvement in the conditions of life and a progress in human consciousness. That is its true use. What I call an improvement in consciousness, a progress in consciousness, is everything that education in all its forms can provide . . . from the education of the body, the most material progress, to spiritual education and progress through yoga — the whole spectrum, everything that leads humanity towards its future realisation. Money should be used to increase that and to increase the material base for the earth's progress.
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799 Physical consciousness turned entirely towards the Divine It thirsts for the Divine and wants nothing but Him. Tithonia rotundifolia. Bright reddish orange
800 Spiritual aspiration in the physical Comes in bursts to counteract and overcome resistances which cannot succeed in making it give up. Russelia sarmentosa. Crimson
801 Aspiration in the physical for the Divine Love Manifold, ecstatic, difficult to satisfy. Russelia equisetiformis. Bright coral
802 Opening of the physical to the Divine Love The surest way to find happiness. Ipomoea hederifolia. Orange red
THE PHYSICAL
When I speak of the physical consciousness, I mean the physical mind and the physical vital as well as the body consciousness proper. Sri Aurobindo
In my view the body as well as the mind and life has to be spiritualised or, one may say, divinised so as to be a fit instrument and receptacle for the realisation of the Divine. It has its part in the Divine Lila, even, according to the Vaishnava Sadhana, in the joy and beauty of Divine Love. That does not mean that the body has to be valued for its own separate sake or that the creation of a divine body in a future evolution of the whole being has to be contemplated as an end and not a means — that would be a serious error which would not be admissible. In any case, my speculations about an extreme form of divinisation are something in a far distance and are no part of the preoccupations of the spiritual life in the near future.
803 Love in the physical for the Divine Modest in its appearance, but tenacious and charming; does not make a fuss, but is very faithful. Ipomoea quamoclit. Intense red
804 Humility before the Divine in the physical nature First attitude needed for transformation. Tarenna asiatica. Cream
805 Peace in the physical To want what God wants is the best condition for it. Calophyllum inophyllum. White
806 Integrally equal basis in the physical What you have, I have; what you can do, I can do; what you express, I express — we are all alike. Clerodendrum philippinum. White
807 Light in the blood When the blood becomes receptive to the higher consciousness. Foeniculum vulgare. Greenish yellow
808 Light in the blood When the blood becomes receptive to the higher consciousness. Anethum graveolens. Yellow
809 Purity in the blood Can only be obtained by the absence of desires. Pimpinella major. White
810 Peace in the nervesIndispensable for good health. Guettarda speciosa. White
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811 Peace in the cells The indispensable condition for the body's progress. Ixora thwaitesii. White
812 Radiating peace in the cells A happy contagion. Pavetta indica. White
PEACE IN THE CELLS
Certainly, peace, purity and silence can be felt in all material things — for the Divine Self is there in all. Sri Aurobindo
Peace can be brought down into the physical — to its very cells. It is the active transformation of the physical that cannot be completely done without the supramental descent. Sri Aurobindo
In Sri Aurobindo's yoga, the transformation of the body is indispensable so far as it can be done. Because the aim of this yoga is not an escape from the physical consciousness but a divinisation of that consciousness.
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LIGHT IN THE CELLS
There comes a moment when the body itself finds that there is nothing in the world which is so worth living for as this transformation, that there is nothing which can have as great an interest as this passionate interest of transformation. It is as though all the cells of the body were athirst for this Light which wants to manifest; they cry out for it, they find an intense joy in it and they are sure of the Victory. The Mother
The cells of the body thirst for the Divine Consciousness and when they are brought into contact with It their aspiration becomes very intense. The Mother
At the centre of every cell lies the Divine Consciousness. By aspiration and repeated self-giving, the cells must be made transparent. The Mother
813 Light in the cells The first step towards purity in the cells. Lantana. Yellow
814 Purity in the cells Can only be obtained through the conquest of desires. The true condition for good health. Lantana. White
815 Emotional beauty in the cells Seeking and radiating all the emotions of beauty. Lantana. Mauve
816 Supramental influence in the cells Unexpected variety in colours and qualities. Lantana. Many colours
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817 Peace in the sex centre Indispensable for beginning the Yoga. Morinda citrifolia. White
818 Sex centre aspiring to be purified The awakening of the consciousness to a higher life. Anthurium andreanum. Pink
819 Purified sex centre Is transformed into a force for progress. Anthurium andreanum. White
820 Mastery of sex Instead of being dominated by sexual impulses, one must put them under the control of the highest will. Anthurium andreanum. Red
821 Transformed sex centre No longer has desires and offers itself to the Divine. Caladium. Greenish white
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822 Supramental influence in the sex centre It is the assurance of the coming conquest of desires. Cosmos. Several colours
823 Tranquillity of the sex centre when it is under the influence of the Supramental Light The supramental influence liberates man from all that binds him to the animal. Cosmos bipinnatus. White
824 Supramental Light in the sex centre (No comment) Cosmos sulphureus. Yellow
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CONQUEST OVER THE GREED FOR FOOD
Greed for food has to be overcome, but it has not to be given too much thought. The proper attitude to food is a certain equality. Food is for the maintenance of the body and one should take enough for that — what the body needs; if one gives less the body feels the need and hankers; if you give more, then that is indulging the vital. As for particular foods the palate likes, the attitude of the mind and vital should be, "If I get, I take; if I don't get, I shall not mind." One should not think too much of food either to indulge or unduly to repress — that is the best. Sri Aurobindo
HEALTH
Always be kind, stop engaging in bitter criticism, no longer see evil in anything, obstinately force yourself to see nothing but the benevolent presence of the Divine Grace, and you will see not only within you but also around you an atmosphere of quiet joy, peaceful trust spreading more and more. And not only will you feel quiet and happy, but most of your bodily ailments will disappear. The Mother
Health is the outer expression of a deep harmony; one must be proud of it and not despise it.
830 Repose Opens out in calm relaxation. The true repose is that of perfect surrender to the Divine. Clerodendrum ugandense. Pale blue
REPOSE
It is in action, in effort, in the march forward that repose must be found, the true repose of complete trust in the divine Grace, of the absence of desires, of victory over egoism. True repose comes from the widening, the universalisation of the consciousness. Become as vast as the world and you will always be at rest. In the thick of action, in the very midst of the battle, the effort, you will know the repose of infinity and eternity.
You must know how to rest. There are many ways of doing it. Here is one: first of all, put your body at ease, comfortably stretched out on a bed or in an easy-chair. Then try to relax your nerves, all together or one by one, till you have obtained complete relaxation. This done, and while your body lies limp like a rag on the bed, make your brain silent and immobile, till it is no longer conscious of itself. Then, slowly, imperceptibly, pass from this state into sleep. When you wake up the next morning, you will be full of energy.
The rest must be an ascent into the Light, into perfect Peace, total Silence, a rest which rises up out of the darkness. Then it is true rest, a rest which is an ascent.
DREAMS
If one learns how to interpret, one can get from dreams much knowledge of the secrets of our nature and of other-nature. Sri Aurobindo
Yes, certainly, dream experiences can have a great value in them and convey truths that are not so easy to get in the waking state. Sri Aurobindo
When you practise yoga, the consciousness opens and you become aware — especially in sleep — of things, scenes, beings, happenings of other (not physical) worlds and yourself in sleep go there and act there. Very often these things have an importance for the sadhana. So you need not regret seeing all this when you sleep or meditate. Sri Aurobindo
831 Dreams One can learn much by observing one's dreams. Aloe vera. Light orange
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THE SUBCONSCIENT
As there is a superconscient (something above our present consciousness) above the head from which the higher consciousness comes down into the body, so there is also a subconscient (something below our consciousness) below the feet. Matter is under the control of this power, because it is that out of which it has been created — that is why matter seems to us to be quite unconscious. The material body is very much under the influence of this power for the same reason; it is why we are not conscious of what is going on in the body, for the most part. The outer consciousness goes down into this subconscient when we are asleep, and so it becomes unaware of what is going on in us when we are asleep except for a few dreams. Many of these dreams rise up from the subconscient and are made up of old memories, impressions etc. put together in an incoherent way. For the subconscient receives impressions of all we do or experience in our lives and keeps these impressions in it, sending up often fragments of them in sleep. It is a very important part of the being, but we can do nothing much with it by the conscious will. It is the higher Force working in us that in its natural course will open the subconscient to itself and bring down into it its control and light.
The subconscient is to be penetrated by the light and made a sort of bed-rock of truth, a store of right impressions, right physical responses to the Truth. Strictly speaking, it will not be subconscient at all, but a sort of bank of true values held ready for use.
836 Supramental influence in the Subconscient Under its modest appearance it is a great force of transformation. Crossandra infundibuliformis. Orange
837 Supramental Light in the Subconscient Essential condition for transformation. Crossandra infundibuliformis. Yellow
838 Psychic light in the Subconscient Preliminary condition for progress. Crossandra infundibuliformis. Salmon pink
839 Divine Will acting in the Inconscient Is all-powerful even when we are not aware of it. Clerodendrum. White
840 First appearance of purity in the Inconscient The sign that the Inconscient is on the way to becoming conscious. Plumbago zeylanica. White
841 First response of the Inconscient to the Divine Force The first step towards transformation. Kigelia africana. Dull maroon
THE INCONSCIENT
The base of the material consciousness here is not only the Ignorance, but the Inconscience — that is, the consciousness is involved in form of Matter and energy of Matter. Sri Aurobindo
The Inconscience is an inverse reproduction of the supreme superconsciousness: it has the same absoluteness of being and automatic action, but in a vast involved trance; it is being lost in itself, plunged in its own abyss of infinity. Sri Aurobindo
All evolution is the progressive self-revelation of the One to himself in the terms of the Many out of the Inconscience through the Ignorance towards self-conscient perfection. Sri Aurobindo
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