If it was so easy to give up all attachments wouldn’t one already be able to establish contact with the Psychic?
Giving up vital attachment is not such a big thing as we believe. All who seek for a higher ideal do that, let alone spiritual life and more so the yoga of transformation. Vital attachment means the absorbing interest one takes in one’s family which naturally means spending lot of time and energy, emotionally and otherwise, in vital interchanges and pursuit of vital happiness. Nothing worthwhile can be achieved without practice of a certain degree of inner detachment from other things that distract and drain one’s energies. All who have realised anything, even in the most mundane field, have gone this way. What Sri Aurobindo is stating is this general principle applied to the Yoga, in fact any high endeavour, which demands much more concentration upon the goal. Vital attachments are the most common distraction given the time one spends chatting, discussing on things of little consequence.
As to how this is to be done is a different matter. The simplest way is to turn all one’s energies towards the goal, such as service of the Divine. Some chose service to humanity but it keeps us tied to the human consciousness. One can also spend time in swadhyaya, study of books that enrich, in meditation, and such activities that are connected to the goal. Each energy so turned is so much rapid advancement towards the aim provided the spiritual seeking is not merely an intellectual pasttime or an emotional balm which can at best be a preparation awaiting the moment of ignition. That ignition is conscious aspiration. One has to then only feed it more and more. As the aspiration grows, as we seek the Divine sincerely in the heart, all else including attachments drop off. It doesn’t mean becoming indifferent or not doing what one needs to do for the family or staying aloof from everyone. It means that the mind and heart and the vital are inwardly more and more engaged in the seeking and service and love for the Divine which comes first and eventually the most important preoccupation of one’s life.
Yes it doesn’t happen at once except in the rare few who are prepared from the past life. But every little baby step in this direction helps in the eventual release of the spiritual being and the dormant spiritual consciousness in us. If one can open to the Mother’s Grace and gives oneself to Her in love and service then it becomes easier and swifter.
PS: The letter was incidentally written to someone who did not have sufficient faith in the Mother.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
