This is an interesting question that the Mother and Sri Aurobindo have addressed at different levels.
Certainly if the yoga is done only for individual progress then it would be yet another selfish activity pursued for one’s own benefit. Such an effort will be contrary to any true spiritual life that seeks to discover the Divine and His workings not only in oneself but also in the world. A solitary and isolated transformation, even if it were possible, would not serve the Divine Purpose in the world. The Gita insists that the spiritual man works for the good of all mankind and to fulfil the Divine Will in oneself and in the world. We may add that the more we align ourselves to the Divine Will in ourselves and in our dealings with the world the more we help mankind advance towards its great divine consummation. On the other hand the more we live by the ignorant ego-self and for the satisfaction of our desires the more we create confusion and disorder in the world. Even when we do apparently good things with seemingly good intentions, yet unless we have the true knowledge about the real problems of humanity and the true solutions we will only move in endless circles of rise and fall. That is why the first thing necessary is to find the Divine and discover the Wisdom behind creation. It is then that one can know the right law of each thing and be empowered to change. It is somewhat like learning medicine in the medical school before one can start healing. In an apparently paradoxical yet perfectly logical way we can say that only those who have saved themselves can save others.
This does not mean that our focus on spiritual growth should detract us from helping others in whatever capacity or station we occupy as ordained by destiny and dictated by our swadharma or true nature. Only it should not mean a reversal of value and priorities in favour of all these outer activities through which mankind has tried to emancipate the human race. One must be aware of their relative place and limited value and undertake them in the spirit of service to the Divine rather than as a means of pushing an ideological agenda or expansion of the empire of the ego and name and fame. It should be done in a spirit of equanimity with as total a surrender to the Divine Will as possible with a readiness to change the field and the work if such be the demand of the Divine upon our nature.
Affectionately
Alok da
Source: The True Solution (RE 162)
YT Link: https://youtu.be/pURgJJZIAWA
