Understanding the Yogic Process and Its Developments Through the Action of Time

We frequently overlook the element of time in any inner review of progress toward spiritual fulfillment, surrender to the Divine, or any other aspect of our spiritual path. We want and expect instant results, and thus, when we once take up spiritual practice, we want it to be immediately fulfilled, and, indeed, we frequently overlook the weaknesses or failures of the external nature by simply believing that accepting the Divine in our hearts or minds means that we have accomplished the objective.

When we recognise that the complete surrender to the Divine has not occurred instantly, we tend to become anxious about our ‘failures’ or ‘weaknesses’, which creates, in many cases, totally unnecessary worry and disruption to our thoughts and emotions. This in turn creates friction in the being which actually disperses energy that otherwise could be used to aid the progress.

Once we understand the process of the yogic sadhana and the time it takes, we can focus our attention on the actual steps of aspiration, opening to the Divine Force; rejection, the identification and refusal to provide any support for contrary movements; and surrender, the acceptance and integration of the Divine Force into our lives to carry out the transformations needed. These steps are described in Sri Aurobindo’s book The Mother.

Human nature has evolved over many millennia, and it is based on the underlying vital and physical nature that preceded human evolution. Evolutionary change looked at through this lens is a process of many thousands, or even millions of years. It is vain to expect that the complete transformation of human nature can take place at once, or even within the framework of a single lifetime, generally. While one cannot exclude some kind of miraculous transformative event, we see that Nature tends to work patiently and, to the human vision, slowly, as it works out the issues and puts in place modifications, upgrades and changes that are beneficial to the overall evolutionary development. Once things are prepared, there may indeed be some kind of evolutionary ‘leap’ but that does not occur without long preparation behind the scenes.

This process can happen in multiple stages, with the will in each part of the being developing the requisite intention, and then, over time, working out the needed details in each aspect of human existence.

This is not an excuse for procrastination. There should be the focus and energy to achieve these changes immediately, while combined with the patience, and perseverance, for the process to take many lifetimes. What makes this difficult for most people is the element of impatience and the expectation that they will see radical change right away, rather than having to labour away for long periods of time to see even modest results in the external being.

Sri Aurobindo notes: “It [the attitude of surrender] cannot be absolutely complete in the beginning but it can be true — if the central will is sincere and there is the faith and the Bhakti. There may be contrary movements, but these will be unable to stand for long and the imperfection of the surrender in the lower part will not seriously interfere.”

Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 124