How Do We Determine Our Destined Role in the World? — Part 4

It is only in still waters that we can see our reflection. Swami Vivekananda in his lectures on Raja Yoga, describes the mind-stuff (chitta), and how impressions, desires, observations and thoughts all disturb the stillness of the mind-stuff. He also describes methods of bringing it to a status of stillness, in which the individual can step away from the call of the vital desire nature or the mental processes, and thus, be receptive to higher forces and levels of interfacing with the universal reality.

Our inability to see and understand our destined role in the manifestation and in our lives is very much due to the turbulence caused by desire, ambition, and other vital and mental perturbations. As we learn how to shift ourselves to a different standpoint, separate from the ego-personality, it becomes much easier to understand our role and focus as our lives develop before us. This involves giving up excessive self-importance, the basis of vanity, as well as excessive artificial humility, which can actually be another form of vanity, or else a type of face-saving device in our dealings with the world around us. A simple and receptive, positive expression of our being, with the sincerity and based on the deeper aspiration, can provide us with the best guidance.

The Mother writes: “But we have a sure pointer to guide us.”

“Above all, whatever we undertake should not be done for the purpose of self-assertion. If we are attached to fame and glory, to the esteem of our peers, we are soon led to make concessions to them; and if we seek any opportunity to admire ourselves, it becomes easy to make ourselves out to be what we are not, and nothing more obscures the ideal within us.”

“We should never tell ourselves, openly or indirectly, ‘I want to be great, what vocation can I find for myself in order to become great?’ “

“On the contrary, we should tell ourselves, ‘There must certainly be something I can do better than anyone else, since each one of us is a special mode of manifestation of the divine power which, in its essence, is one in all. However humble and modest it may be, this is precisely the thing to which I should devote myself, and in order to find it, I shall observe and analyse my tastes, tendencies and preferences, and I shall do it without pride or excessive humility, whatever others may think I shall do it just as I breathe, just as the flower smells sweet, quite simply, quite naturally, because I cannot do otherwise.’ “

“As soon as we have abolished within us, even for a moment, all egoistic desires, all personal and selfish aims, we can surrender to this inner spontaneity, this deep inspiration which will enable us to commune with the living and progressive forces of the universe.”

“The conception of our work will inevitably grow more perfect as we grow more perfect ourselves; and to realise this growing perfection, no effort to exceed ourselves should be neglected, but the work we perform must become always more and more joyful and spontaneous, like water welling from a pure spring.”

Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 3, Action and Work, pp. 58-61