Analysis of Sri Aurobindo's The Life Divine

An Analysis of Sri Aurobindo‘s
The Life Divine
By Roy Posner




GrowthOnline.org author and founder Roy Posner presents chapter-
by-chapter analysis of Sri Aurobindo's metaphysical treatise The Life
Divine, perhaps the most profound book ever written on the nature of
spirit, creation, life, evolution, and human potential.

This is a work in progress, and will be periodically updated.
Last updated: 4/28/2011 9:44 AM


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Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................... vii

BOOK I ............................................................................................... 1
The Human Aspiration ........................................................................ 1
The Two Negations I. THE MATERIALIST DENIAL ........................... 11
The Two Negations II. THE REFUSAL OF THE ASCETIC ................... 15
Reality Omnipresent ......................................................................... 19
The Destiny of the Individual............................................................ 29
Man in the Universe .......................................................................... 33
The Ego and the Dualities ................................................................. 37
The Methods of Vedantic Knowledge ................................................ 43
The Pure Existent ............................................................................. 47
Conscious Force ................................................................................ 53
Delight of Existence: The Problem .................................................... 63
Delight of Existence: The Solution .................................................... 69
The Divine Maya ............................................................................... 77
The Supermind as Creator ................................................................ 83
The Supreme Truth Consciousness ................................................... 91
The Triple Status of Supermind ........................................................ 99
The Divine Soul ............................................................................... 105
Mind and Supermind ....................................................................... 109
Life ................................................................................................. 127
Death, Desire and Incapacity .......................................................... 139
The Ascent of Life ........................................................................... 147
The Problem of Life ........................................................................ 151
The Double Soul of Man .................................................................. 159
Matter ............................................................................................ 163
The Knot of Matter ......................................................................... 169
The Ascending Series of Substance ................................................ 175
The Sevenfold Chord of Being ......................................................... 177
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Supermind, Mind and the Overmind Maya ....................................... 181

BOOK II .......................................................................................... 187
Indeterminates and Cosmic Determination ..................................... 187
Brahma, Purusha, Ishwara .............................................................. 193
The Eternal and the Individual........................................................ 207
The Divine and the Undivine ........................................................... 211
The Cosmic Illusion ......................................................................... 217
Reality and the Cosmic Illusion ....................................................... 221
The Knowledge and the Ignorance .................................................. 227
Memory, Self-Consciousness and the Ignorance ............................. 233
Memory, Ego and Self-Experience ................................................... 237
Knowledge by Identity and Seperative Knowledge ......................... 241
The Boundaries of the Ignorance .................................................... 249
The Origins of the Ignorance .......................................................... 255
Exclusive Concentration and the Ignorance .................................... 257
The Origin and Remedy of Falsehood, Error, Wrong and Evil .......... 261
Reality and the Integral Knowledge ................................................ 273
The Aim of Life; Four Theories of Existence..................................... 279
The Progress to Knowledge -- God, Man and Nature ....................... 285
The Evolutionary Process -- Ascent and Integration ....................... 291
Out of the Sevenfold Ignorance towards the Sevenfold Knowledge
....................................................................................................... 295
The Philosophy of Rebirth ............................................................... 307
The Order of the Worlds ................................................................. 315
Rebirth and Other Worlds; Karma, the Soul and Immortality .......... 323
Man and the Evolution .................................................................... 333
The Evolution of the Spiritual Man .................................................. 339
The Triple Transformation .............................................................. 343
The Ascent towards Supermind ....................................................... 351
The Gnostic Being ........................................................................... 367
The Divine Life ................................................................................ 377

Other Books by Roy Posner ............................................................. 383

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Introduction

An Extraordinary Vision of the Future
In one sense, Sri Aurobindo is the most radical of radicals. He begins
with the extraordinary assertion that we humans might not be the
ultimate form of life to emerge on earth. That we are likely to witness
the emergence of a new type of individual from out of the current
(transitional) human form. In addition, this new being will live his life
from a spiritual poise and perspective -- enabling the infinite powers
of the Divine consciousness to enter his being, which would in turn
transform his nature, release his infinite potential, and give new
meaning and purpose to life in the cosmos.
Sri Aurobindo suggests that we can begin to live this life by centering
our consciousness in a deeper poise within -- instead of living on the
surface of things, where we perceive existence in ignorance, division,
contradiction, suffering, and pain. From this ―witness consciousness,‖
we perceive our life with greater clarity and insight; are more in touch
with the multiplicity of truths unfolding around us; experience greater
harmony and oneness with others; and are generally more aware and
conscious of who we are, and what purpose we serve in the world.
This inner-based poise of self-awareness and self-consciousness is
actually just the starting point for an even greater change: the
evolution and transformation of our being through contact with the
spiritual dimension of life.
In The Life Divine, Sri Aurobindo explains that there are two primary
means by which we connect to and are transformed by the Spirit.
First, he informs us that in the depths of our being there is a True Self
and Spirit -- an evolving Soul that he calls the "Psychic Being" --
which is the primary lever and means of our evolutionary change. By
connecting to our Evolving Soul, we perceive our ultimate purpose in
life, open to the vast array of spiritual insights, forces, and powers in
the universe; feel a sense of oneness with everything and all around
us; and as a result experience ultimate joy and delight in being alive.
Second, he reveals that around us there is also a descending spiritual
Force -- a Supramental truth consciousness -- that we can open to,
allowing Its infinite truth power to enter our being, and uplift, perfect,
and transform it. It turns out that this supramental truth
consciousness is not only the descending spiritual power that can
hasten our progress, evolution, and transformation, but it is in fact
the very force and power that enabled the universe to emerge from a
Divine Source.
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As we take up the call to discover our higher nature; as we come in
touch with our evolving soul; as we open and surrender to the
descending supramental power, we begin to make the decisive
evolutionary and transformational change. Through this reversal of
consciousness, our old nature is transmuted into a new supernature.
Not only are our mental, vital, and physical parts uplifted, and our
capacities dramatically enhanced, but we also feel a deep connection
and oneness with the world around us. In addition, we begin to feel a
profound connection with the cosmic and transcendent spiritual
reality, which helps us perceive life's true purpose, and our own
purpose as instruments of the Higher Power. Finally, out of all of
these inner and outer experiences, we feel a deep and abiding Joy
and Delight in being alive.
As individuals make this decisive change in their nature, as they
infuse all parts of their being with this higher consciousness, there
then gradually emerges a new type of Person -- a Gnostic,
Supramental being, whose existence is organized around the power of
the Spirit. As a number of such individuals make this decisive change,
a new human social existence begins to emerge, culminating in a
Divine Life on earth.
This is the powerful vision that Sri Aurobindo has offered the world.
This is the revelation of a future existence for the individual and the
society that he has captured sp eloquently in his metaphysical treatise
The Life Divine.

The Story of the Universe
In addition to his vision of a new humanity organized around the
spiritual dimension of life, The Life Divine also tells the story of how
the universe came to be from a Divine Source. Throughout the 56
chapters of the book, Sri Aurobindo refers to the process by which
"forms of force" have emerged from an Infinite consciousness --
producing the energy, matter, and life forms in the universe. He also
indicates that through this "involutionary" movement from spirit to
energy, followed by an "evolutionary" movement from matter to
mind, humans emerged as ignorant, divided beings who have lost
connection with the One, Infinite Reality. He also describes how in the
evolution we can evolve ourselves back to the original Higher Nature
of the Original, Infinite consciousness so that we can find our purpose
and fulfill our individual and universal destiny.
Sri Aurobindo describes how an infinite omnipresent Reality extended
Itself into a Being, and then a Conscious Force, and a Delight in the
involutionary process (together collectively called "Sat-Chit-Ananda")
that would lead to a manifest universe. He then goes on to describe
the role played by a fourth aspect -- the Supramental Truth
consciousness -- in converting the Conscious-Force into the energy

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that would become the source of all matter, life forms, and mental
functioning in the cosmos.
Sri Aurobindo also explains the purpose and destiny of life in the
universe -- i.e. why a universe of forms was created from out of a
Divine source. He says that the Infinite Consciousness created this
universe for the purpose of Delight; or more specifically so that It
could extend its own static Delight into a dynamic Delight experienced
by an infinite, multiplicity, and variety of forms (including we humans)
in the manifest universe.
How then do we experience that Delight? He says that when we rise
in consciousness and discover our higher, true nature, we experience
that Joy, Delight, and Bliss (the Ananda of Sat-Chit-Ananda) --
thereby fulfilling the Divine Intent for manifesting a universe of forms
out of Itself.
In essence, we regenerate the consciousness that was lost when the
universe first emerged as unconscious matter from a spiritual Source;
and through our own discovery of our higher individual, cosmic, and
transcendent nature, experience ultimate, dynamic delight and joy,
fulfilling the Divine Intent.
It is indeed a most profound vision that Sri Aurobindo has presented
the world though this 1000+ page revelation of truth and infinite
possibility.
It is also something unprecedented in human history, as he has
actually explained in great detail the nature of the omnipresent
Reality; the process of creation of the universe from a Divine Source;
how life emerged from that source and continues to evolve; the
limitations and potentials of life in the universe, including the limits of
our own human makeup; the means by which we can evolve our
consciousness and overcome our Ignorance and other forms of
limitation born of creation; the power of the Spirit within and above
that can permanently transform our nature; and the possibility of a
new spirit-based existence, culminating in a Divine life on earth.
He only wonders if we will respond to his cosmic offering and take up
his challenge: whether we will hear the call of the Supreme and make
the difficult, yet infinitely rewarding psychological and spiritual effort
to bring about this new consciousness in into our being, and through
us to the world.

Those Who Can Benefit
Though the principles are profound and sublime, anyone can benefit
from the knowledge presented in The Life Divine. Seekers of truth and
the spirit will discover a way to fulfillment and spiritual realization.
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Thinkers will marvel at his evolutionary philosophy. Scientists will
appreciate his insights into the nature of reality. And business leaders,
social scientists, educators, and artists will be heartened by his
insights into the creative process.
Sri Aurobindo has sketched out a new worldview that can be applied
to any field of life, and for any purpose. His insights tell us why there
is difficulty and pain in life, as well as the way out. He provides us
with a deep understanding of our limitations, even as he presents us
with a panorama of our infinite potential. He gives us the tools to
elevate our lives so we can realize our hopes and dreams, and fulfill
our deepest aspirations in life.
Perhaps, most importantly he reveals the power of the Spirit in life to
transform and uplift humanity. He implores us to open ourselves to
the descending spiritual Force so that it can work its magic in our
lives. By opening to the Infinite's Power, we rise in character and
consciousness, and we develop a deep, abiding connection with the
world around us.
Through the extraordinary experiences of spirit in our lives, we
overcome all notions of what is humanly possible; we shed limited
perceptions of causality, and traditional views of space and time.
Through Spirit, we replace the finite with the infinite, and bring the
future into the present. Through Spirit, we accomplish in the extreme,
as we are able to create the greatest results in the shortest period of
time with the least effort. Through Spirit, we attract the universe to
us from within. Through Spirit, we know our deepest purpose in life,
feel a deep connection with everyone and everything, including the
ultimate transcendent Reality. As a result of all such experiences and
realizations, we feel an intense Joy and Delight in being alive.


Overcoming the Obstacles of the Book
Demands on the Reader
And yet despite the powerful vision that Sri Aurobindo has offered the
world, the truth is that most people find The Life Divine a very
difficult, if not impossible book to work their way through; let alone
decipher and understand. Its long, extended passages, though
perfectly logical and impeccably written, are not easily grasped by the
normal human intellect. Its dense prose, unfamiliar terms, and supra-
normal experiences transcend both our knowledge and our
experiences.
Fortunately, there is an extreme logic in every word, sentence,
paragraph, passage, and chapter in the book. There is a perfection of
writing, of philosophy, metaphysics, and insight that can be

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