Written by Niranjan Guha Roy – Sri Aurobindo Ashram 1977
The Basic Attitude for yoga
There is often confusion or wrong conceptions in our first approach to the yoga, our search for the Divine, then our path could be very uncertain, very mixed, dangerous and even frustrating. Why do we want to do the yoga? Is it from some vital, physical or mental motive? Is it for the realisation of some personal dream, some, ambition, even some sublime altruistic aim? Is it for my material well-being, protection and happiness for me and for my family and my country or the world? Why do I want the Divine, what is my aim? Is it the acquisition of power over elemental forces, people, the world? None of these aims qualify one to do the yoga. The noblest and truest aim of the yoga is the irresistible attraction that one feels somewhere deep in oneself, an attraction for the Mystery, for the Origin, the Source of our existence, God, the Eternal, the Mother who calls us from beyond, a call so irresistible that no price is too high to pay, no attachment too great to break, no undertaking too heavy to undertake. We are ready to do anything and everything, whatever is required from us, however long the journey might be, however difficult and dangerous the path might be. We feel the irresistible urge to leave behind everything, to follow blindly, joyously the supreme Piper of Hameline. Then, we are sure to reach Him. Unless we have heard his call, the strains of his flute playing his music; unless we have felt his intoxication, that mysterious call which goes out to the explorers for the adventures, for the fathomless Infinities; unless we have had a glimpse of his ravishingly beautiful face and limbs molded from the substance of delight; unless we have heard his voice which takes away all smug peace , his command, which is a persecution and a frightful torment unless executed; unless the Eternal has touched us with his magic wand, we cannot be awakened, we cannot pursue the path. So, for this yoga, one has to be absolutely sure that one has been called, that one is predestined, that one has eventually no other work, no other commitment, no other duty except to follow the yoga, to serve the Divine, to become a simple and pure instrument. This must be the goal, whether achieved in a short time, or even in a few lifetimes. Unless one can take this attitude, or more correctly one has this attitude, one cannot be called fit for this yoga. But if one has even in the smallest degree the aspiration to belong to the Divine, to obey and serve the Divine, to surrender to Him his life and works, his past, present and future, a willingness to be broken and gradually remolded by his vision and power, a yearning to be close to Him, to live in his Presence, to serve and love Him, to possess nothing, to be nothing, then also is justified the undertaking of the yoga – for the little submerged aspiration will grow with the true attitude, a glowing fire of self-sacrifice. The path of yoga is extremely difficult and dangerous because all the established world forces in this world or in invisible worlds are against the divine realisation, for it means the end of their domination and sovereignty; but if one has the true call and the right attitude, then the absolute Divine protection is with us, his love and guidance and above all his joy (not that the battles, the encounters or prolonged wars would be completely eliminated, but they will be more as adventures as the odyssey of the soul in company with the Creator, the Divine, the Mother). This right attitude is so important in this yoga that we have to constantly re-establish it in various parts of our being until finally our whole being would be in a state of glad surrender and total submission to the Divine. We must have patience for it is a long and difficult work
The Success is for the one who can endure says the Mother ****
