The Gnostic Being in Sri Aurobindo's philosophy refers to the supramental state of divinised humanity, which (as described in the final chapters of The Life Divine) will emerge as a spirit-oriented future existence.
In this highest form of social or collective life, the domination of the ordinary mind — of surface preoccupation, of partial knowledge, as well as the lower physical and vital life is replaced with a mind and life dominated by the spirit.
The divinised or gnostic being is described as living a spiritual existence in an integral way; integral in his own being, and integral and one with the world around him. He has integrated and elevated the physical, vital/emotional, and mental planes of his existence to its greatest heights and fulfillment by finding the spirit within himself and applying and elevating these planes of life with the spiritual. He also discovers that the spirit is everywhere in the world and in every other person, eliminating the separation between himself and life and himself and others around him. In other words he is whole and integrated individually and universally.
"To be in the being of all and to include all in one's being, to be conscious of the consciousness of all, to be integrated in force with the universal force, to carry all action and experience in oneself and feel it as one's own action and experience, to feel all selves as one's own self, to feel all delight of being as one's own delight of being is a necessary condition of the integral divine living."
— Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine
In addition to integrating the planes and sublevels of one's being (individualization), and becoming one with others and the world (universalization), the individuals who will be the harbingers of this divine life will also be united with the transcendent Divine. These individuals will have found the transcendent spirit within, the spiritual force, God, the Divine in the cosmos, and feel, know, act with complete reference to its divine force, power, knowledge, and bliss.
In this context a number of individuals, integrated individually, universally, and transcendently, can work together, near or apart, aware or unaware of one another, to create a new common life, superior to the present individual and common existence. A critical mass of such "gnostic individuals" could create the foundation of a new social life and order; a divine life on earth.
The purpose of this divine life would be a greater unity, mutuality, and harmony.
"...a greater identity of being and consciousness between individual and individual unified in their spiritual substance, feeling themselves to be self and self of one self-existence, acting in a greater unitarian force of knowledge, a greater power of being. There must be an inner and direct mutual knowledge, based upon a consciousness of oneness and identity, a consciousness of each other's being, thought, feeling, inner and outer movements...."
---Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine ...........from Wikipedia
4 comments:
Very encouraging. :)
Thanks, Thomas. My favorite post here so far.
During the "Woodstock" years, we felt this energy of Love that permeated throughout the youth, at that time.. We knew that we would be welcomed within a group of strangers with Love.. This was the feeling of that time... I slowly saw this feeling of selflessness and Love turn into selfishness and greed.. this is the time that we find ourselves at now.. But, those that lived through this time of Love will never forget this experience...........namaste, thomas
I read this comment of yours earlier yesterday and then later was reminded of it when a t.v. commercial about Woodstock was on the t.v. my husband was watching.
Some times in the past I have imagined myself living during such time. It seems a nice time. It is a good memory for you to have. I wish I could know why things changed so much.
Thanks for sharing this memory.
Things changed so dramatically because of the strength of the individual ego.........namaste, thomas
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