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New Race Archives

August 2008
Volume IX, Issue 3

Contents

• From the editor's desk

• Excerpts from
  Sri Aurobindo's message
  

• Integral Yoga Psychology:
  Equality
  
  
• Integral Yoga Psychology:
  Object of Knowledge
  
  
• Integral Yoga Psychology:
  Concentration
  
  
• News and Events

COURSE: INTEGRAL YOGA PSYCHOLOGY
COURSE FACILITATOR: LS
LEARNERS: NJ, MD, JT

Editor’s Note: We have done some reorganization, reordering and editing of online class postings in order to maintain an appropriate reading flow. Discussion on a particular topic or sub-topic is grouped according to different questions posed by the course facilitator.

TOPIC FOR WEEK 6

MEANING, ROLE, AND DEVELOPMENT OF EQUALITY IN INTEGRAL YOGA

DISCUSSION QUESTION 1

How does equality support the development and fulfillment of the yogas of works, knowledge, and devotion?

Response by Learner NJ

Equality supports the development and fulfillment of the yoga of works, knowledge & devotion. Renunciation of attachment to work and the fruits of work is recognition of the Master of works who is within us, in all things and in all beings. Equality is to make no distinction in the opposites. He is more or less manifested in all, revealed or disguised, or distorted: it is as per his will and knowledge of what is best. As child grows in adult similarly karmayogin is able to drop the likes and dislikes (raga dwesha). Even when we have to ignore / reject / destroy something stupid /wrong / evil, there is no bitterness, enmity or complaint. It is understood as just a disguised or temporary movement of Eternal. An equal eye is able to see all things in their real character and right place of appointment.

All indeed is to be changed, 1) but there is need to do it with spiritual understanding and knowledge, and 2) replace by divine beauty, perfection, good and pleasure and not by human, or else we have a danger of replacing one imperfection with another imperfection. All things have some element of truth, there are always two sides (and in fact many more sides) to each thing. There is some potential of divine energy in each object. We are here to discover and seek that truth behind all the transitory experiences. Then we can worship Divine undeterred by appearances and expressions.

Equality is not blindness, ignorance, meek submission or convenience of irresponsibility. It is to know, feel or at least trust in wise purpose and divine necessity of particular manifestation irrespective of how it appears to our limited human standard. We have mental equality to all pleasure, pain, defeat, success, honor or humiliation.