Refining of Senses Summary
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Read more about Refining of Senses from the works of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. |
How Can One Refine One’s Senses?
To deprive oneself of sensations is therefore as harmful as depriving oneself of food. But just as the choice of food must be made wisely and solely for the growth and proper functioning of the body, so too the choice of sensations and their control should be made with a very scientific austerity and solely for the growth and perfection of the vital, of this highly dynamic instrument, which is as essential for progress as all the other parts of the being. [1]
By Intent and Discipline
The first method is to want it, to begin with, that is, to take a decision. Then you are given a description of all these senses and how they work—that takes some time. You take one sense or several, or the one which is easiest for you to start with, and you decide. Then you follow the discipline. But for each one of these things you must practise for months with patience, with a kind of obstinacy. [2]
By Detachment
The working of the senses is warped: one does not see, hear, taste, feel things as they are in reality as long as one has a preference. So long as you are attracted by certain things, and repulsed by others, you cannot see things in their reality; you see them through your reaction, your preference or your repulsion. The senses are instruments which get out of order, in the same way as sensations, feelings and thoughts. Therefore, to be sure of what you see, what you feel, what you experience and think, you must have a complete detachment; and this is obviously not an easy task. But until then your perception cannot be wholly true, and so it is not sincere. [3]
By Offering to the Divine
Ask yourself, "Did I feel this as an offering to the Divine?..." If you recall this every moment of your life, the attitude becomes quite different from what it was before. sensations become very wide. [4]
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Read more about Refining of Senses from the works of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. |