Article

How Does an Individual Acquire the Higher Form of Spontaneity?

Topic: Spiritual GrowthBy Santosh KrinskyPublished Recently added

Legacy signals

Legacy popularity: 314 legacy views

Once we distinguish the lower forms of spontaneity that stem from the vital nature and its instincts and desires, from the higher form of spontaneity that is linked to unification of the being with the higher spiritual purpose, the question arises as to how the individual can develop this higher spiritual form of spontaneity rather than simply falling back to the vital form which the development of the mind was intended to control and counteract. The answer comes by shifting the standpoint of the being away from the ego-personality that inhabits and controls the body-life-mind complex. This is done through unification with the higher divine intention, which in turn is accomplished by bringing the being into contact with and under the control of the psychic being, which provides the permanent link to the Divine.

A disciple inquires: ”Does spontaneity come spontaneously or does one have to follow a discipline to obtain it?”

The Mother writes: ”Spontaneity in feelings and action comes from a permanent contact with the psychic, which brings order into the thoughts and automatically controls the vital impulses.”

Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Our Many Selves: Practical Yogic Psychology, Chapter 6, Some Answers and Explanations, pg. 196

Article author

About the Author

Santosh has been studying Sri Aurobindo's writings since 1971 and has a daily blog at http://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com and podcast at https://anchor.fm/santosh-krinsky He is author of 19 books and is editor-in-chief at Lotus Press. He is president of Institute for Wholistic Education, a non-profit focused on integrating spirituality into daily life.

Further reading

Further Reading

4 total

Article

To answer your question, let’s study the following words of Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan, an Enlightened being, very carefully. He says: “This puzzle has come about on its own, governed by the laws of science. I am telling you that this world is run only by Scientific Circumstantial Evidences. In Gujarati, I call it 'Vyavasthit Shakti'... It is all run by scientific circumstantial evidences. The whole world is run by this energy. These words are not easy to understand, unless

March 9, 2026

Article

How Srimad Bhagavatam Guides Daily Spiritual Living In the modern world, people often search for meaning, balance, and inner peace while navigating the pressures of daily life. Many struggle to find guidance that goes beyond temporary solutions and touches the deeper aspects of human existence. Ancient spiritual texts provide insights that address these concerns, and among the most revered of these texts is the ISKCON Srimad Bhagavatam . The Srimad Bhagavatam, also known as t

March 4, 2026

Article

Introduction: The Radiance of Krishna’s Wisdom In a fast-paced, often chaotic world, we all seek clarity, inspiration, and inner light. The Gita Glow represents the transformative power of Krishna’s wisdom—the kind that illuminates life from within. Derived from the Gita Saar , this glow is not physical but spiritual and mental, guiding one to live with purpose, balance, and joy.rnKrishna’s teachings are timeless, applying to students, professionals, parents, and seek

October 24, 2025

Article

It has been more than 5000 years now since the Lord Krishna’s existence. Yet, even today people worship him with utter reverence and take his name with so much of adoration in their heart. Why? He had sixteen thousand queens and He lived a royal and luxurious worldly life. Yet, He is worshipped as God. Lord Krishna is worthy of worship and that is why He is respected. One should not respect anyone who is not worthy of worship. Lord Krishna should be worshipped with respectf

August 14, 2025