Prosperity Day Message - August 1, 2012

Prosperity is a material ideal, even as idealism is a spiritual efficiency. Efficiency is the means by which the goal of prosperity is realized. The word signifies plenty and abundance and can be extended to mean creation of such plenty. Starting from the very first principles, we start in energy. To be able to produce more by releasing greater energy and achieving higher results by determination and organisation and skills is prosperity.  Generation of greater energy in volume of higher energy in quality is achieved by espousing higher ideals. To know that the whole cycle between results and energy is one of self-conception is the highest possible philosophical knowledge. We need a corresponding understanding of the strategy that it is self-initiated and self-sustaining. Philosophy tells us that there is only one substance that is spiritual substance which appears to mind viewed through its senses as Matter. If that is true, basically there is only one prosperity variously understood. It proceeds further in its discrimination of its substance into two parts, one subtle and the other gross, one above and the other below. The occasion for this article is generated by two statements, one by The Mother and the other by Sri Aurobindo. 1) Sri Aurobindo has realized the Absolute in his body. 2) The Westerner has realized Brahman (Absolute) in Matter. In our own spiritual tradition, realization means to rise to a height of spirit - e.g. Self, immutable self, mutable self, Sat, Absolute, Non-Being etc. - and know it fully or possess it partially or fully. Sri Aurobindo calls it ascent to the Spirit. Up above there are dozens of spiritual statuses that can be realized. Yogis were most enamoured of different states of Ananda and when realizing that called themselves by that name. Thus, Naren became Vivekananda, meaning he had realized the Ananda of knowledge, as ‘viveka' means knowledge. To realize something higher up, the yogi must discover a corresponding inner spot in his being - e.g. manomaya purusha, Jivatma, etc.  For them, to move towards spirituality, to discover the greater treasures of life, they need to do the following: 1) Agree to study LIFE as they have studied MATTER. 2) See the truth of life in their past discoveries of matter. 3) Consider the laws of life subtle civilisations have developed long, long ago. 4) Put their practical discoveries on a sound theoretical basis. 5) Examine the direction of their enquiries form the points of view of a) unfailing success as well as b) the real source of energy. 6) Understand their other external successes in terms of their inner disposition. They have succeeded in organising material life. They had better discover that the material life has its own in-built organisation as a consciousness base. When material life is to be organised further, it must be only on this basis and no other. Every historical event will confirm this view as well as episodes in great literature. I would want them to take a great look at all theories of creation before they proceed further. To extend the thought of Sri Aurobindo to the Westerner, we can very well say that they who have discovered Brahman in matter now must come to discover Brahman in life.    Mother's statement that Indians have knowledge implies that what knowledge the Westerner has to discover in the future, the Indians now have. If they have this knowledge, it is now not being used to increase their material comforts, but only to defend themselves negatively and to build up their cherished superstitions.  Our efforts must lie in the direction of recognizing the deeper spiritual potentials of every culture and organising life in such a fashion that they will fully blossom. For example, we know women are neglected, illiterate and treated as objects. Spiritually, through such neglect, characters like Aouda are born. In her, we see the strength of delicacy instead of fear of weakness. This is an example of spirit organising itself into higher values even in apparently cruel circumstances, the spiritual truth here being, "In spite of appearances, the potentials everywhere are the same." - From  the article Prosperity – Spiritual & Material by Karmayogi Avarkal Thanks,    AuroMere Meditation Center (Sri Mother & Sri Aurobindo Center) (ஸ்ரீ அன்னை அரவிந்தர் தியான மையம்) Pallikaranai, Chennai. TN, India. Tags: Prosperity Day Message Aravindar Annai Centre Sprituality Karmayogi Message AuroMere Meditation Center Sri Mother Aurobindo