Savitri belongs to a class of scriptures that are considered Mantric in nature, for example, the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Gita. Being mantric in nature, if we meditate upon the lines, these books open the doors to the consciousness that the book embodies. Since Savitri embodies the supramental consciousness and truth, therefore by reading Savitri, we automatically come in contact with the truth, the consciousness that Savitri embodies. Instead of teaching or giving us practices, it simply acts like a key to bring us in contact with the consciousness of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother as embodied by Savitri. Thus, reading Savitri itself becomes a meditation. If done in the right state, the state of inner aspiration and faith, then the lines are taken up within, they resonate within us, become a means to unlock an inner gate and bring us in some touch of oneness with the vast and infinite consciousness of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother in their Divine Truth. It is this that transforms our lives.Ā
Reading Savitri itself is Yoga. To quote a passage from Savitri itself.
‘As when the mantra sinks in Yoga’s ear,
Its message enters stirringĀ theĀ blind brain
And keeps inĀ theĀ dim ignorant cells its sound;
TheĀ hearer understands a form of words
And, musing onĀ theĀ index thought it holds,
He strives to read it withĀ theĀ labouring mind,
But finds bright hints, notĀ theĀ embodied truth:
Then, falling silent in himself to know
He meetsĀ theĀ deeper listening of his soul:
TheĀ Word repeats itself in rhythmic strains:
Thought, vision, feeling, sense,Ā theĀ body’s self
Are seized unutterably and he endures
An ecstasy and an immortal change;
He feels a Wideness and becomes a Power,
All knowledge rushes on him like a sea:
Transmuted byĀ theĀ white spiritual ray
He walks in naked heavens of joy and calm,
SeesĀ theĀ God-face and hears transcendent speech:’
(Ref. https://incarnateword.in/cwsa/34/the-call-to-the-quest#p57)
This is not to say that one doesn’t need to do anything else. Well, there is a summary program given in Savitri for her yoga. What we have to do is, however, mainly found in the numerous letters of Sri Aurobindo and in the conversations of The Mother with various disciples. You may read them and apply them as per your stage and need. But the core of the practice is to be found in Sri Aurobindo’s book The Mother. The main thrust of the Yoga practice is to open to the Mother by whatever means, by Naam Japa, by working for Her, thinking of Her, reading Her Works, love for Her. It is embodied succinctly in these few letters of Sri Aurobindo.
‘AllĀ canĀ beĀ doneĀ byĀ theĀ Divine,Ā theĀ heart and nature purified,Ā theĀ inner consciousness awakened,Ā theĀ veils removed, if one gives oneself toĀ theĀ Divine with trust and confidenceāand even if oneĀ cannot do so fully at once, yetĀ theĀ more one does so,Ā theĀ moreĀ theĀ inner help and guidance comes andĀ theĀ contact andĀ theĀ experience ofĀ theĀ Divine grows within. IfĀ theĀ questioning mindĀ becomes less active and humility andĀ theĀ will to surrender grow in you, this ought toĀ beĀ perfectly possible. No other strength and tapasya areĀ then needed, but this alone.
Surrender cannot be made at onceāit is not so easy; for there is much in the being that resists. But one must have the will to surrender. It is the same with becoming an instrument. If one has the will and calls on the Mother and opens oneself as much as possible to her, then gradually these things develop in the nature.
If the difficulties that arise are in the nature itself, it is inevitable that they should rise and manifest themselves. Surrender is not easy, it is resisted by a large part of the nature. If the mind forms the will to surrender, all these inner obstacles are bound to show themselves; the sadhak has then to observe them and detach himself from them, reject them from his nature and overcome. This may take a very long time but it has to be done.’
(Ref. https://incarnateword.in/cwsa/29/surrender)
Affectionately,
Alok Da
