Sri Aurobindo, "Letters On Yoga"

[Jyotir]

My review and introduction

The writings which comprise the volumes of "Letters On Yoga" are extracts from letters Sri Aurobindo wrote to his disciples in response to their questions on a vast array of spiritual subjects over many years. The answers were subsequently edited removing personal content and organized by subject. There are indications of this personal content throughout, via miscellaneous direct and indirect personal references, as well as some of the conversational tone having been incidentally preserved. It is due to the relatively more informal style of the personal responses and incremental abbreviated format that many have considered these particular writings more accessible than others by Sri Aurobindo which admittedly can be challenging for those unfamiliar with his style. Yet in spite of the personal tone, the ‘Letters’ remain an important compendium of concise explanation involving some of the most obscure and misunderstood metaphysics along with practical applications as encountered in 'sadhana' (spiritual practice) available to the contemporary seeker.

The "Letters On Yoga" are a holistic and exhaustively thorough exposition revealing numerous spiritual subjects in great depth and detail that are often considered abstruse, inaccessible, even unknowable. The presentation is rational and straightforward - absent of superfluous mystification, condescension, or romanticized patina of the 'enigmatic' so often found in popular and derivative ‘new-age’ discussions of these subjects. These writings are not channeled; not speculative or theoretical abstracts, nor studies based on the work of academic scholars - nor is Sri Aurobindo a scholar. Rather, these writings represent the authoritative practical guidance accumulated from the direct personal experience of a great contemporary Eastern-born, Western-educated God-realized Yogi offered as response within an authentic master-disciple dialogue and given unprecedented access through these texts.

There are numerous chapters self-evident by title that generously represent subjects frequently discussed speculatively, often inconclusively and usually leading to more uncertainty, confusion and frustration - not only on these forums, but by spiritual aspirants everywhere in many paths and traditions. Often, these adamant yet ultimately unproductive arguments are based for the most part on nothing more than ignorant opinion, personal preference, inexperience, and complacency. Meanwhile, for the willing and receptive reader, these writings may consistently provide great potential for clearer, deeper understanding and higher resolution concerning these subjects, especially in the precise definition of terms and complete explanation of concepts presented; but most importantly, in the practical direction and clarification of nascent and emerging experience.

The first volume is devoted to the understanding of context, e.g. ’reality’: components of being; micro, macro and supra-cosmic; structure, organization, life, phenomena, aspects of consciousness; mysteries metaphysical and physical, occult forces, etc. The second volume emphasizes spiritual practice in all its dimensions, difficulties and passages; what seekers encounter, what is essential or to be avoided in spiritual practice; the best ways to approach various problems and conditions.

A note on the term "yoga" for those not familiar:
Yoga is frequently and incorrectly (especially in contemporary Western culture), thought to be synonymous exclusively with the various schools of Hatha Yoga - a discipline of physical postures (asanas) and breathing disciplines (pranayama). In actuality the term 'yoga', which is derived from the Sanskrit 'yoke', means 'union'. Yoga therefore technically refers to any conscious deliberate practice which leads the individual practitioner to union with the Divine Consciousness, also referred to as God-realization, Self-realization, etc. This would include other predominant forms yoga beside Hatha, such as Bhakti (love and devotion), Jnana (wisdom and discrimination), Karma (selfless work or service). Although these are classical Indian terms, they encompass most forms of spiritual practice, many of which, no matter what the tradition or region of origin, functionally involve some combination in some measure of those forms which constitute the major classifications of practice.

It is important to understand that the yoga Sri Aurobindo often references in these writings is the Integral Yoga, the yoga of self-perfection, which he developed as a model for contemporary seekers of which his disciples were the first practitioners. The utilization of this yoga does not invalidate other forms, but rather synthesizes and integrates them - his unique and radical contribution - which is why this material is valuable, because it is generally descriptive and inclusive of components from, and adaptable to many other spiritual practices. For instance, the discussions regarding devotional practice (bhakti) could easily provide valuable insight and be applied to many traditions involving the same approach such as within Christianity, etc. Likewise for sections on Jnana (yoga of wisdom, discrimination, Divine Knowledge) and various contemporary ‘non-dual’ approaches. Sections on Karma yoga could provide new spiritual insights and perspectives on ’work’, or any endeavor which employs a service component.

The origin of these different approaches to yoga (union with the Divine) have a metaphysical basis, in that each approach relies on energetic attributes intrinsic to human nature, any one of which may be, and traditionally has been a viable route to realization according to the specific temperament and personal preference of any individual practitioner. However, in primarily utilizing one, it has implicitly been at the expense of avoiding the other approaches with their distinctive results. In Sri Aurobindo's Integral Yoga, these components have been combined in an effort to deliberately integrate them and not exclude any of these attributes/approaches both as vehicles for achieving more comprehensive realization, but as well in allowing for the fullest possibilities for Earthly manifestation of these attributes in and through the transformed individual as well as collective being. Of course, it was essential for teaching purposes to first define these major approaches with their respective assets, liabilities and characteristic outcomes before combining them, and there is a good deal of material devoted to these delineations here that are very instructive - not only in theory, but in actual practice (see also: Sri Aurobindo‘s, "The Synthesis of Yoga").

It is within "Letters", however, where the interface between theory and practice in parsing the nuances of esoterica are seen as the very origin of the book through the various difficulties and confusions encountered by individual students in their actual practice, yet often representative of issues common to spiritual practice in general. For that reason, it has become evident to many who have set out on any path that the information found in the "Letters" is universal in scope of application, and why these volumes are generally so highly regarded by seekers of many traditions, not just those of the Integral Yoga. My own feeling is that since there is a wealth of material of the highest quality on numerous topics within these texts, it is likely that something will be found that will serve as a valuable asset to any seeker, regardless of their specific path or interest. This particular sentiment seems to be echoed in numerous inspired reviews of Sri Aurobindo’s writings as found on the internet, including ones for these particular books, which I invite those inclined to explore to read. Just google: “sri aurobindo, (book title), reviews”.

In an attempt to make a practical contribution, I wanted to provide for members an introduction to these materials with the possibility that others may find them useful in some way, especially as an authoritative reference for topics often discussed ‘dead-end-lessly‘ everywhere. This resource has been immensely helpful and beneficial for my own purposes, as well as for many aspirants over the decades since its first publishing. Everyone has their own personal evolutionary requirements, and as always, claims and recommendations of any source materials must be evaluated (obviously) on a subjective individual basis for their validity and utility as a potential contribution to anyone's own self-discovery process.


Best wishes to all in their search for Truth,

~ J




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[Jyotir]

Access to Writings

Per my experience the most reliable online resource for this series of texts and the site I now use exclusively as a result, is the one maintained by the Sri Aurobindo Ashram through the link given below (provided it continues to be viable).

The ashram gives open access, completely free of charge for the entire body of his work which is considerable, and this also includes translations in languages other than English. These are provided in secure PDF format readable or downloadable for personal use, which means you can search and annotate the text as you wish. I have found the use of the texts augmented by a search function particularly valuable as a time saver and enhancement to accessibility.

For Letters on Yoga scroll down to
Volumes 28 and 29 after linking here:
The Writings of Sri Aurobindo

For those inclined to explore other writings there,
the most notable texts by consensus often include these major works which are also available:

The Life Divine (Volumes 21-22), philosophical magnum opus.
The Synthesis of Yoga (Volumes 23-24), principal work on spiritual practice.

Other writings at the same site from this author - all under the spiritual umbrella - include various essays, commentary, aphorisms, poetry, and even autobiography.







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[Jyotir]

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As a further assist for those not familiar with Sri Aurobindo, besides having a look at the usual wiki article, the following link provides a very good synopsis of his teaching. As an introduction, this brief description is one of the best, most concise overviews I have seen, and is certainly authoritative as appropriately written by the Master himself. Although this does not appear in the “Letters On Yoga”, I have included it here because it is an excellent basic summary in a few paragraphs of what these books provide for seekers in great depth and detail.

Sri Aurobindo's Teaching, a brief summary

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[Jyotir]

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Unfortunately, one of the great failings of these texts - perhaps the major one considering the sheer number of topics covered, is the absence of any indexing. This deficiency is especially relevant because of the encyclopedic nature, and the probability that one may approach these particular books as an intermittent reference and not necessarily read them from ‘cover-to-cover’. Why this omission persists, when the books have been available now for at least a half century (?) I do not know.

The tables of contents are fairly adequate, assuming one knows the general topic, but are no substitute for a good thorough index of specific locations, and that may still mean looking up many things and having to do a considerable amount of reading to find something specific. The ability to utilize the search function within the PDF format for key-words and phrases makes up for this to some extent, but not entirely for the same reason.

I have therefore attempted over the years to create from notes, my own alphabetical index for each volume which I am offering here, although by no means are they complete. I hope these are helpful in illustrating the scope of topics with the following caveat. So as to avoid any confusion, all page numbers have been removed from my indexes in posts that follow, because mine were made from much earlier edition hard-copy books published years ago, which are different from the current recently reformatted and heavily re-edited version in PDF now available on-line as linked above (and for convenience, below each index).

If you find that you are interested in a particular subject as listed, I recommend entering it in the PDF search field for each volume and seeing first if it comes up in the table of contents. For example, for material on ‘non-dual’, look up ‘Adwaita’, etc.

- - - - - - -

Generally speaking, but not always the case,
Volume I (Vol. 28 on-line) deals with ‘Reality’; cosmic, supra-cosmic, individual and collective, human institutions
Volume II (Vol. 29 on-line) deals with ‘Practice’; theory, problems and solutions to many aspects of spiritual practice

- - - - - - -

Be advised that due to a British formal education, Sri Aurobindo uses British spelling. That means you will need to use the same for looking up certain words in searches. For example, ‘realization’ is spelled realisation, etc.




Hope these and preceding notes, as well as indexes as follows are helpful,


~ J



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[Jyotir]

Volume I - Letters on Yoga (Volume 28 online)
My alphabetical index (see notes in previous post) of subjects covered, including but not limited to:

Ahimsa, Destruction and Violence
Ananda
Animals and the Process of Rebirth
Aspects of the Divine
Assimilation in the Psychic World
Astrology
Asuras, Rakshasas and Other Vital Beings
Asuric Births
Beings of the Higher Planes
Brahman
Buddha as an Avatar
Chit or Consciousness
Clarifications about the Supramental Descent
Classification of the Parts of the Being
Connections from Life to Life
Consciousness and Force or Energy
Death
Death and Grieving
Death and Karma
Death and the Supramental Transformation
Descent and Transformation
Destiny, Karma, Death and Rebirth
Doubt and Yoga
Doubt and Faith
Ethical Rules for the Use of Occult Powers
European Resistance to the Idea of Reincarnation
Evolution, Karma and Ethics
Faith in Spiritual Things
Family, Society, Country and the Divine
Fate, Free Will and Prediction
Force, Energy, Power, Shakti
Fragments of a Dead Person that Reincarnate
Free Will and Determinism
Ghosts
Greatness and Vices
Human Greatness
Human Perfection and Spirituality
Human Judgments of the Divine
Human History and Spiritual Evolution
Humanitarianism
Humility
Idealism and Spirituality
Intellectual Truth and Expression of Spiritual Experience
Intellectual Arguments against Spirituality
Involution and Evolution
Karma, Karma and Heredity
Knowledge and Will in the Supermind
Life on Other Planets
Lines of Sex in Rebirth
Lines of Force and Consciousness
Living in the Physical Consciousness
Magic
Manas and Buddhi
Many Parts, Many Personalities
Matter
Men Do Not Know Themselves
Metaphysical Thinkers, East and West
Metaphysics, Science and Spiritual Experience
Mind in the Integral Yoga and in Other Indian Systems
Miracles
Morality and Yoga
Natural Calamities
No Subconscient Centre
Occult Forces / Powers
Occult Knowledge and Powers or Siddhis
Occult Powers and Health
Occultism and the Supraphysical
Outer Consciousness and Inner Consciousness
Parts of the Vital Being
Personal and Impersonal Sides of the Divine
Philanthropy
Philosophical Thought and Yoga
Physics and Metaphysics
Plants
Poverty
Powers of the Intuitive Consciousness
Prakriti (Nature); Prakriti and Shakti or Chit-Shakti
Predictions and Prophecy
Premature Claims of Possession of the Supermind
Preparatory Steps towards the Supramental Change
Problems of Philosophy, Religion, Science and Society
Purusha, Prakriti and Action; Purusha and Prakriti
Ramakrishna
Rebirth
Reincarnation and Soul Evolution
Religion and Truth, Religion and Yoga; Religion, Idealism, Morality and Yoga
Religious: Ceremonies, Fanaticism
Remembering Past Lives
Sachchidananda: Existence, Consciousness-Force and Bliss
Sacrifice
Sat or Pure Existence
Sattwa and Liberation
Science and the Supernormal; Science and Yoga
Science, Yoga and the Agnostic; Science and Superstition; Science and Spirituality
Seances
Selfishness and Unselfishness
Social Duties and the Divine
Social and Political Activism
Space and Time
Specific Avatars and Vibhutis
Speculating about Past Lives
Speculations about the Supramental Descent
Spirit and Life
Spiritism
Spiritual and Occult Knowledge
Spiritual and Supramental
Spiritual Evolution and the Supramental
Supermind; Supermind and Overmind; Supermind and Sachchidananda; Supermind and Other Planes
The After-Death Sojourn
The Ajnachakra or Forehead Centre
The Atman, the Jivatman and the Psychic; The Atman, the Soul and the Psychic Being
The Avatar or Incarnation ; The Avatar and the Vibhuti; The Avatar: Historicity and Symbols
The Central Vital or Vital Proper
The Central Being after Liberation; The Central Being and the Psychic Being
The Centres and the Planes
The Chakras or Centres of Consciousness; The Chakras in Reference to Yoga
The Collapse of Twentieth-Century Idealism
The Conquest of the Hostile Forces
The Conquest of Death
The Cosmic Spirit or Self
The Cosmos
The Descent of the Supermind
The Disharmonies of Earth
The Dividing Aspect of the Overmind
The Divine; The Divine: One in All; The Divine and the Atman
The Divine Consciousness; The Divine and the Supermind
The Divine and Human Sides of the Avatar;
The Divine and the Hostile Powers
The Dynamic Divine, the Gods, the Asuras
The Earth; The Earth Consciousness
The Emotional Being or Heart
The Environmental Consciousness and the Movements of the Lower Nature; and the Subconscient
The Environmental Consciousness around the Individual
The Evolutionary Process
The Existence of the Hostile Forces
The Form of the Psychic Being
The Functions of the Chakras or Centres
The Gods or Divine Powers
The Gods and the Overmind
The Gross Physical and the Subtle Physical
The Gunas or Qualities of Nature
The Heart Centre
The Higher Planes and Higher Consciousness; The Higher Planes of Mind
The Higher Mind
The Higher Nature and the Lower Nature
The Illumined Mind
The Impersonal Brahman
The Inactive Brahman and the Active Brahman
The Inner Being; The Inner Being, the Antaratma and the Atman; The Inner Being and the Psychic Being
The Inner, the Outer and the Process of Yoga
The Intellect and Yoga
The Jivatman or Individual Self; The Jivatman and the Mental Purusha;
The Jivatman and the Pure “I” of the Adwaita; The Jivatman in a Supramental Creation;
The Jivatman, Spark-Soul and Psychic Being; The Jivatman, the Psychic Being and Prakriti
The Karana Purusha
The Life Heavens
The Limitations of Science
The Lower Nature or Lower Hemisphere
The Lower Vital, the Physical Vital and the Material Vital
The Material Consciousness or Body Consciousness
The Meaning and Purpose of Avatarhood
The Mental Physical or Mechanical Mind
The Mental World of the Individual
The Mental Vital or Vital Mind
The Mental Physical or Mechanical Mind
The Mind; The Mind Centres; The Mind Proper
The Muladhara
The Nature of the Hostile Forces
The Nature and Scope of the Transformation
The Navel and Abdominal Centres
The New Birth
The Opening of the Physical Consciousness
The Organisation of the Being
The Outer Being and the Inner Being; The Outer and the Inner Being and Consciousness
The Overmind; The Overmind and the World; The Overmind, the Intuition and Below
The Overmind and Nirvana; The Overmind and the Cosmic Consciousness
The Overmind and the Supramental; The Overmind and the Supermind Descent
The Parts of the Body in Yoga; The Parts of the Body and the Centres
The Parts of the Being
The Physical Parts of the Mind and Emotional Being
The Physical Mind
The Physical Consciousness and Its Parts
The Physical Mental or Physical Mind
The Physical Nerves and the Subtle Nerves
The Place of Occult Knowledge in Yoga
The Planes and the Body
The Planes of Consciousness; The Planes or Worlds of Consciousness
The Plane of Intuition and the Intuitive Mind
The Planes of the Overmind
The Play of Occult Forces
The Power of Healing
The Problem of Suffering and Evil
The Psychic Being; The Psychic Being and the External Being; The Psychic Being and the Ego
The Psychic Being and the Intuitive Consciousness; The Psychic Being and the Lower Nature;
The Psychic Being and the Vital or Life; The Psychic Being and the Progression from Life to Life
The Psychic Being or Soul
The Psychic World or Plane
The Psychic and the Divine
The Psychic Mind
The Psychic’s Choice at the Time of Death
The Reproductive Method of the Supramental
The Riddle of This World
The Sahasradala or Sahasrara or Crown Centre
The Sattwic Man and the Spiritual Man
The Self or Atman; The Self and Nature or Prakriti; The Self or Spirit and the Psychic or Soul
The Seven Worlds
The Sheaths of the Indian Tradition
The Soul and the Psychic Being; The Soul, the Divine, the Gods, the Asuras
The Spiritual Life and the Ordinary Life
The Subconscient and the Inconscient; The Subconscient and the Subliminal;
The Subconscient and the Superconscient; The Subconscient Memory and Conscious Memory
The Subconscient in Traditional Indian Terminology
The Supermind or Supramental; The Supramental Evolution;
The Supermind and the Lower Creation;
The Supracosmic
The Supramental Influence and Supramentalisation; The Supramental Descent and Transformation
The Supramental Creation; The Supramental Change and the Ananda Plane
The Surrender of the Central Being
The System of Planes or Worlds
The Ten Avatars as a Parable of Evolution
The Thinking Mind and the Physical Mind; The Thinking Mind and the Vital Mind
The Three Planes of the Lower Hemisphere and Their Energies
The Throat Centre; The Throat Centre and the Lower Centres
The Transcendent, Cosmic and Individual Divine
The Transformation of the Body
The True Being
The True Activity of the Senses
The True Consciousness
The True Vital Being and Consciousness
The Valley of the False Glimmer
The Vertical System: Supermind to Subconscient
The Vital; The Vital Being and Vital Consciousness
The Vital Body; The Vital Mind; The Vital Nature; The Vital Physical
The Vital World and the Supramental Descent
The Vital Plane and the Physical Plane
The Words “Soul” and “Psychic”
The Work of the Avatar
The Worlds of the Lower Hemisphere
Thought Reception and Thought Reading
Thought, Philosophy, Science and Yoga
Transformation of Tamas into Śama
Transformation of Rajas and Tamas
Transforming the Body Consciousness
Unimportance of Past-Life Experience in Yoga
Vedic Gods of the Indian Tradition
Vice and Virtue
War and Conquest
Western Ideas of Mind and Spirit
What Survives Death and What Does Not
World-Circumstances and the Divine
Yogic Intuition and Ordinary Intuitions

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for items in this index, scroll down to
Letters on Yoga Vol. I (Volume 28) after linking here:
The Writings of Sri Aurobindo

[Jyotir]

Volume II - Letters on Yoga (Volume 29 online)
My alphabetical index (see notes in post #4) of subjects covered, including but not limited to:


Absorption in Work
Acceptance of the Guru
All Work Equal in the Eyes of the Spirit
Allowing the Divine Force to Act
Asanas and Pranayama
Asceticism and Detachment
Aspiration; Aspiration and Will of Consecration; Aspiration and Desire; Aspiration and Conversion
Avoiding Disturbance; Avoiding Harshness, Severity, Anger; Avoiding Restlessness, Worry and Anxiety
Basic Requisites of the Path
Becoming Conscious in Work
Bhakti or Devotion; Bhakti and Knowledge; Bhakti and Love; Bhakti Yoga
Buddhism; Buddhism and Vedanta; Buddhism, Different Kinds; Buddhist Nirvana
Calm
Capacity for Yoga; Capacity of Westerners for Yoga
Centres for Concentration
Combining Work, Meditation and Bhakti
Coming out of Concentration or Meditation
Complete or Absolute Surrender
Compliments and Criticism
Concentration and Meditation; Concentration on the Idea; Concentration, Meditation and Prayer
Conditions of the Yoga
Consecration; Consecration and Offering
Contact and Union with the Divine
Creative Activity
Dealing with Physical Things
Dedication to the Spiritual Life
Depreciation of the Old Yogas
Different Approaches through Love and Bhakti
Difficulties, Disturbances and Peace
Distinctive Features of the Integral Yoga
Divine Love and Its Manifestation; Divine Love, Psychic Love and Human Love
Divinisation and Transformation
Drawing upon the Force for Energy
Earnestness and Straightforwardness
Emotional Bhakti
Endurance
Enmity to the Divine
Equality; Equality--The Chief Support; Equality and Detachment;
Equality and Ego; Equality and Loyalty to Truth; Equality in Times of Trouble and Difficulty
Equanimity in Work
Faith; Faith and Doubt; Faith and Experience; Faith and Knowledge; Faith, Belief, Confidence, Trust
Faithfulness
Firmness
Fitness for Yoga
Four Necessary Processes
Freedom in Work
Freedom from Thoughts
Grace; Grace and Personal Effort
Harmony
Human Love and Divine Love
Indispensable Qualities
Inertia, Laziness, Tiredness in Meditation
Inner Guidance about Work
Intensity of Aspiration and Vital Impatience
Interest in Work
Joy in Work
Keep Firm Faith
Knowing the Divine Will
Kundalini, the Chakras and the Integral Yoga
Lack of Aspiration
Loss of Inspiration in Work
Love and Bhakti for Krishna
Love for the Divine
Mantra and Japa; Mantras, OM (AUM)
Mayavada and Nirvana
Meditation Not Necessary for All
Meditation, Sleep and Samadhi
Methods of Meditation and Concentration
Motives for Seeking the Divine
Namajapa or Repetition of the Name
No Insistence on the Grace
No Competition between Work and Meditation
No Need of Words in Aspiration
No Vital Demand in Work
Not Liberation But Transformation
Not an Ascetic Path
Offering
Old and New Truth
Opening to the Divine
Order and Rhythm
Ordinary Life
Other Spiritual Paths
Other Gurus
Outer Worship
Overcoming the Instinct of Domination
Painting
Pangs of Separation
Passive or Tamasic Surrender
Passive Meditation and Concentration
Patience; Patience and Perseverance
Peace; Peace and Force; Peace and Inertia
Peace, Calm, Wideness
Peace Comes Little by Little
Peace, Happiness, Joy, Delight, Ananda
Peace in the Inner Being; Peace in the Mind, Vital and Physical
Peace Is Something Positive
Peace Is the First Condition; Peace—The Basis of the Sadhana
Peace, Love and Joy
Perseverance
Persistence
Postures for Concentration or Meditation
Practical Concerns in Work
Prayer
Psychic Love
Purification of the Nature
Purity
Qualities Needed for Sadhana
Quiet, Calm, Peace, Silence
Quiet Mind
Quietude
Ramana Maharshi
Realistic Adwaita
Receiving the Divine Power or Force
Regularity, Length and Other Conditions
Rejection of the Lower Impulses
Relaxation and Concentration
Remembering the Presence in Work
Resolution
Right Attitude in Work
Rules, Discipline, Regularity, Thoroughness
Sadhana, Tapasya, Aradhana, Dhyana
Sadhana through Concentration, Meditation and Japa
Sadhana through Love and Devotion
Sadhana through Work
Seeking the Divine
Service of the Divine
Shankara, Buddhism, Evolution; Shankara’s Mayavada
Silence; Silence and Quietness of Mind
Silence and True Activity; Silence and True Knowledge
Silence, Peace and Calm
Sincerity; Sincerity in Sadhana
Singing
Spiritual Realisation and the Supramental
Spiritual Destiny
Spiritualisation and Transformation
Straining and Concentration
Strength and Grace
Success in Japa
Surface Thoughts and Imaginations
Surrender; Surrender and Personal Effort; Surrender and the Psychic
Surrender and Bhakti Surrender and Transformation; Surrender to the Guru
Surrender and Self-Giving; Surrender and Tapasya
Tantra
Terms and Verses of the Upanishads
The Supramental Yoga
The Action of the Divine Force
The Adwaita of Shankaracharya
The Aim of the Integral Yoga
The Arts and the Spiritual Life
The Attempt at Physical Transformation
The Bhakta and the Disciple
The Call
The Call and the Capacity
The Capacity of the Guru
The Central Processes of the Sadhana
The Central Surrender
The Difficulty of the Mechanical Mind
The Divine Force; The Divine Force in Work; The Divine Force Works under Conditions
The Divine Grace; The Divine Grace and Guidance
The Divine Guidance; The Divine Response; The First Responses of the Divine
The Force and the Peace in Action
The Foundation of the Sadhana
The Gayatri Mantra
The Gita, the Divine Mother; The Gita and the Integral Yoga
The Gospel of Faith
The Guru; The Guru in the Supramental Yoga
The Guru’s Help in Difficulty
The Human Approach to the Divine
The Illusionist Metaphors
The Impersonal Worker
The Importance of Descent in the Yoga
The Inclusiveness of the Yoga
The Inner Surrender
The Karmayoga of the Gita
The Knowledge Given by the Guru
The Meaning of : Aspiration; Concentration and Meditation; Opening; Purity; Sincerity; Surrender; Transformation
The Nature of Spiritual Force
The Necessity of Aspiration
The Need for Plasticity
The Newness of the Integral Yoga
The Object of Aspiration
The Object of Meditation
The Path of the Integral Yoga
The Path and the Goal
The Place of Work in Sadhana
The Role of Concentration and Meditation
The Sunlit Way of Yoga
The Surrender of the Vital
The Synthetic Method of the Integral Yoga
The Teaching of the Gita
The Teachings of Some Modern Indian Yogis
The Time Given to Work and Meditation
The True Object of Spiritual Seeking
The Utility of Work
The Vaishnava Theory and Sadhana;The True Vaishnava Attitude
The Value of Aspiration
The Veda and the Upanishads
The Vedantin
The Vedic Rishis
The Vital and Love for the Divine
The Will to Surrender
The Working of the Force
The World Is Not an Illusion
The Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita
Thinking about Work
This-Worldliness and Other-Worldliness
Thoughts of Sadhana during Work
Towards a Transformation of Earth Life
Transformation; Transformation in the Integral Yoga
Trust in the Divine Grace
Turning the Emotions towards the Divine
Turning towards the Divine
Two Methods of Living in the Supreme
Types of Faith
Universal Love and Psychic Love
Use and Misuse of the Divine Force
Vacant Mind
Vigilance; Vigilance, Discrimination, Control
Vital Bhakti
Withdrawal of Grace
Work and Yoga; Work, Meditation and Bhakti; Work as Part of Sadhana; Work and Meditation
Working with Subordinates and Superiors
Work without Personal Motives
Writing about Spiritual Force
Yoga of Divine Life; Yoga of Knowledge, Works, Bhakti and Self-Perfection; Yoga of Transformation

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for items in this index, scroll down to
Letters on Yoga Vol. II (Volume 29) after linking here:
The Writings of Sri Aurobindo

[Jyotir]

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Hello,

My intentions for this thread were to provide a thorough introduction and access to these teachings. If I can be of any further assistance in either locating material of interest, or you wish to discuss anything from these books, please feel free to add to the thread with comments or questions, or you can PM me as well.

Best regards and best wishes,

~ J



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[Jyotir]

My Index of Topics for Letters on Yoga, Volume III



Ascent to the Higher Planes
Contact with the Above
Ascension or Rising above the Head
Ascent and Return to the Ordinary Consciousness
Ascent and: Dissolution, the Psychic Being, the Body, Going out of the Body
Fixing the Consciousness Above
Ascent and Change of the Lower Nature

Aspects of the Cosmic Consciousness
The Cosmic Ignorance and the Cosmic Truth
The Cosmic Harmony and Discords
The Cosmic Will
Opening to: the Cosmic Mind, the Cosmic Life
The Cosmic Consciousness and the Physical

Conditions of Transformation
Realisation and Transformation
The Three Transformations
Preparation for the Supramental Change

Danger of the Ego and the Need of Purification
Spiritual Experiences and the Ego
Purification and Preparation of the Nature
Mixed and Confused Experiences
Purification and: Positive Experience, and Consecration, Transformation
Conditions for the Coming of Experience

Dangers of Inner and Cosmic Experiences
The Intermediate Zone
The Nature of the Intermediate Zone
The Dangers of the Intermediate Zone
Avoiding the Dangers of the Intermediate Zone

Descent of the Higher Consciousness and Force
The Purpose of the Descent
Calling in the Higher Consciousness
Preparatory Experiences and Descent
The Order of Descent into the Being
The Effect of Descent into the Lower Planes

Descent of the Higher Powers
The Descent of Peace, Force, Light, Ananda
Descent and Experiences of the Inner Being
Peace, Calm, Quiet as a Basis for the Descent
The Descent of: Peace, Silence, Force or Power, Fire, Light, Knowledge, Wideness, Ananda

Descent and the Lower Nature
The Resistance of the Lower Nature
Descent into the Mind and Vital
Descent into the Physical Consciousness and Body
Experiences in the Subtle Body and the Physical Body
Descent into the Subconscient and Inconscient

Difficulties Experienced in the Process of Descent
Alternations in the Intensity of the Force
The Need of Assimilation
Pulling Down the Force
Shaking or Swaying of the Body
Headaches Due to Resistance

Emergence or Coming Forward of the Psychic
The Meaning of “Coming to the Front”
Signs of the Psychic’s Coming Forward
The Psychic and the Relation with the Divine
Means of Bringing Forward the Psychic
Obstacles to the Psychic’s Emergence

Emptiness, Voidness, Blankness and Silence
Periods of Emptiness
Emptiness—A Transitional State
Voidness, Blankness
Emptiness, Blankness and Silence

Experiences on the Higher Planes
The Higher or Spiritual Consciousness
Breaking into the Spiritual Consciousness
Wideness and the Higher Consciousness
Degrees in the Higher Consciousness
The Higher Planes and the Supermind
Levels of the Higher Mind
An Illumined Mind Experience
Overmind Experiences
Overmind Experiences and the Supermind
Reflected Experience of the Higher Planes
Trance and the Higher Planes
Living in a Higher Plane

Experiences on the Inner Planes
Subtle Physical Experiences
Vital Experiences
Influence or Possession by Beings of Other Planes
An Experience on the Mental Plane

Experiences
Experience and Development of Consciousness
The Importance of Small Beginnings

Experiences of the Inner Being and the Inner Consciousness
The Importance of Inner Experiences
Becoming Aware of the Inner Being
Piercing of the Veil
Movement Inward
Inner Consciousness and the Body
Growth of the Inner Being and the Inner Consciousness
Living Within and the External Being
Acting from Within on the Outer Being
Double Consciousness
The Inner Being and: Calmness, Silence, Peace; the Inmost or Psychic Being

Experiences and Realisations
The Difference between Experience and Realisation
The Yogi and the Sadhak
Subordinate and Great Experiences
Feelings as Experiences
Love, Joy and Experience
Imagined Experiences
Mental Knowledge and Spiritual Experience
Mental Realisation and Spiritual Realisation
Spiritual Experience as Substantial Experience

Experiences Associated with the Psychic
The Psychic Touch or Influence
The Psychic Condition
The Psychic Fire
The Psychic Fire and Some Inner Visions
Agni and the Psychic Fire
Psychic Joy
Psychic Sorrow
Psychic Tears or Weeping
Psychic Yearning
Psychic Intensity
The Psychic and Uneasiness

Experiences of the Inner Being
Opening into the Inner Mental Self
The Awakening of the Inner Being in Sleep
Touch of the Inner Self

Experiences of the Cosmic Consciousness
The Universal or Cosmic Consciousness
The Terms “Universal” and “Cosmic”
The Nature of the Cosmic Consciousness
The Cosmic Consciousness and: the Overmind, the Transcendent
Spiritual, Cosmic and Ordinary Consciousness
The Widening of the Consciousness
The Cosmic Consciousness and: the Cosmic Self, Self-Realisation

Fear of the Descending Force
Desires and Descent
Tiredness, Inertia and Sleep
Mixing with the World

Feelings and Sensations in the Process of Descent
Sensations in the Inner Centres: Pressure, Perforation, Vibration, Electricity, Waves, Flow or Stream, Drizzle or Shower, Coolness, Stoniness, Sound

Going Out of the Body
The Experience of Exteriorisation
Going Out in the Vital Body

Inner Experience and Outer Life
Subjective Experience and the Objective Existence
Experience and the Change of One’s Nature
Inner Attitude and Outward Things
The Power of Creative Formation

Inner Voices and Indications
The Nature of Voices
The Danger of Following Inner Voices

Inner Detachment and the Witness Attitude
Inner Detachment
The Witness Attitude
The Witness Purusha or Witness Consciousness

Inner Experiences in the State of Samadhi
Samadhi or Trance
Kinds of Samadhi
Samadhi and: the Waking State, Sleep
The Trance of Mediums

Kinds of Vision
The Inner Vision
Stages in the Development of the Inner Vision
The Diverse Nature and Significance of Visions
Representative and Dynamic Visions
Seeing Forms of the Divine and Other Beings
Cosmic, Inner and Psychic Vision
Subtle Sights, Sounds, Smells and Tastes of Other Planes

Psychic and Spiritual Realisations
The Fundamental Realisations
Four Bases of Realisation
Three Realisations for the Soul
Foundations of the Sadhana
The Central Process of the Yoga

Psychic and Spiritual Transformations
Psychisation and Spiritualisation
The Psychic and the Higher Consciousness
The Psychic and Spiritual Movements
The Psychic Consciousness and the Descent
from Above
The Psychic and the Supermind

Psychic Being and Its Role in Sadhana
The Importance of the Psychic Change
The Role of the Psychic in Sadhana
The Psychic Deep Within
The Psychic and the Mental, Vital and Physical Nature
The Psychic Awakening
Living in the Psychic

Psychic Opening
The Meaning of Psychic Opening
Conditions for the Psychic Opening
An Experience of Psychic Opening
The Psychic Opening and the Inner Centres
“Opening” and “Coming in Front”

Spiritual Transformation: Ascent and Descent
The Meaning of Spiritual Transformation
A Double Movement in the Sadhana
Both Ascent and Descent Necessary
The Order of Ascent and Descent
Ascent and Descent of the Kundalini Shakti
Ascent and Descent and Problems of the Lower Nature
Experiences of Ascent and Descent

Spiritual Experiences and Realisations
Experiences of the Self, the One and the Infinite
Peace, Calm, Silence and the Self
The True Self Within
The Self and the Sense of Individuality
The Disappearance of the “I” Sense
The Self and the Cosmic Consciousness
A Vision of the Universal Self
The Self Experienced on Various Planes
The Self and Time
The Self and Life
Experiences of Infinity, Oneness, Unity
Living in the Divine

Suggestions for Dealing with Experiences
Letting the Experiences Develop Naturally
Thinking about Experiences
Observing Experiences without Attachment, without Fear or Alarm
Speaking about Experiences
The Difficulty of Keeping Experiences

Symbolism of Colours and Light
Seeing Light
Light and the Illumination of the Consciousness
Different Forms of Light

Symbols and Symbolic Visions
Different Kinds of Symbols
The Effect of Symbolic Visions
Symbolic Visions and Dreams

Specific symbols and their meanings:
Sun, Moon, Star, Fire and Burning
Sky, Rain, Snow, Clouds, Lightning, Rainbow, Night and Dawn
Water, Sea or Ocean, Pond, Lake, River
Earth, Mountain
Gods, Goddesses and Semi-Divine Beings
Child, Parents and Relatives, Robbers, Journeying, Running Away, Flying
Ears, Teeth, Flesh, Being Dead
Cow, Bull, Horse, Lion, Tiger, Elephant, Giraffe, Camel, Deer and Antelope, Boar, Buffalo, Goat, Monkey, Dog, Black Cat, Snake or Serpent, Crocodile, Frog, Fish, Bird, Swan, Duck, Crane, Peacock, Dove or Pigeon, Crow, Eagle, Kite, Ostrich, Spider, Ants, Flies
Jungle, Leaves, Fruits, Flowers, Lotus, Flowers
Building, Workshop, Temple, Pyramid and Sphinx
Cross and Shield, Crown, Diamond, Pearl, Flute, Conch, Bells, Vina, Wheel, Disc or Chakra, Bow and Arrow, Key, Book, Mirror, Square, Triangle, Incense, Numbers, Letters

Universal or Cosmic Forces
The Nature of the Universal or Cosmic Forces
The Universal Energies and the Divine Force
The Cosmic Force and the Overmind
The Entry of the Universal Forces
The Universal Forces and the Individual
Time Vision and the Cosmic Movement

Vicissitudes on the Way to Realisation
Variations in the Intensity of Experience
The Up and Down Movement in Yoga
Alternations, Oscillations, Fluctuations of Consciousness
Fluctuations in the Working of the Force
Lulls, Pauses, Interim Periods
Drops or Falls of Consciousness
Fatigue, Inertia and Lowering of the Consciousness
Variations during the Day
The Need for Periods of Assimilation

Visions, Sounds, Smells and Tastes
Vision, Experience and Realisation
Sensing Supraphysical Things
The Importance of Visions
Visions Not the Most Important Thing
No Reason to Fear Visions
Wrong Visions and Voices

--------------------------
for items in this index, scroll down to
Letters on Yoga Vol. III (Volume 30) and open after linking here:
The Writings of Sri Aurobindo

[Jyotir]

Update:

Hello,

I am happy to announce the addition of a new volume to the series of texts under this title, “Letters on Yoga”, which was previously unavailable. As of August 15, 2014, Volume 3 is now published on-line in PDF format free of charge at the same website linked in prior posts, also as indicated here:

For Letters on Yoga Vol III
scroll down to Volume 30 after linking here:
The Writings of Sri Aurobindo

As with other volumes, I have added an alphabetical indexing of topics - which appears in the prior post (reply #8) - this time by general headings followed by the subtopics, as this may help in locating specific areas of interest. Even a casual perusal of this list will reveal numerous subjects frequently discussed by members in most of the forums here at SF.

Note that while
Volume I deals with foundations of ‘Reality‘, and
Volume II deals with issues of spiritual practice/sadhana/yoga, generally
Volume III deals with various experiences, movements and visions seekers are likely to encounter, or have encountered, and the meanings and spiritual significance of those experiences.

I hope this material will be found helpful in that regard.

Once again, I recommend entering key words or phrases of interest in the search field after opening the PDF file in order to locate topics either in the table of contents or in the body of the text.

As always, best regards and best wishes in your search for truth,

~ J

[durgaa]

Volume 4 is now available in pdf format - which can be read through Kindle or iBook.
Thanks for the hard work jyotir.
Many won't appreciate the value of Sri Aurobindo's writings. But these letter's answer every question relating to the Spiritual Path - it doesn't matter which path you follow, you'll find the answer in these letters IMO....