Ascent means that the consciousness begins to operate in a new mode. It is somewhat like a child going from school to graduation, wherein he understands the same subject differently. Thus, with each ascent there comes a new way of looking at everything, a new and higher mode of operating.
But how does one make the ascent? The Vedic rishis too, with the help of the gods who slowly pulled the human consciousness upwards through a living contact with it. The ascent comes through aspiration. It is the fuel that makes the consciousness ready for the ascension. Sri Aurobindo gives us an easier, safer, surer way to begin with. It is the Divine Mother’s Force that descends first and begins to transform the human consciousness in its various modes of functioning. The descent comes through opening and surrender to the Divine Mother and is the key to transformation.
Ascent uplifts us to the higher regions, but it is not easy to stay in those heights. But with the descent there is a reversal, a change of our human operating system automatically and we naturally begin to dwell in higher and higher regions of consciousness due to the inner change. Instead of taking a long, tortuous journey to reach the Divine through successive ascents, the Divine Himself comes and occupies the fields of nature and begins to change us inwardly directly by the pressure of the Divine Force through successive descents.
Once the consciousness is freed and liberated from the hard grip of the mental-vital-physical nature, it ascends naturally and gets the experience of the higher powers, the contact with the gods if necessary; it is even liberated and widens into the cosmic consciousness. But the transformation comes only with the descent. Of course, we can strive and make the ascent first by concentration in the head or above it and come in contact with the Divine Force above us. That would lead to an ascension. Or we can go deep into the heart and contact the Mother’s Presence within by concentrating in the depths of the heart. But the master movement is simply opening to the Mother’s Force above the head or in the heart and giving oneself to Her.
Affectionately
Alok Da
