Agustina Thorgilsson is The Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to "Spiritual Growth". You can find complete information on Agustina Thorgilsson and her products by visiting www.lifenavigation.com.
Spiritual experience and progress can be confusing. In many cases the seeker is misled or misunderstands what is actually taking place, and the significance of it. Spiritual paths generally recommend the seeker find an experienced guide, or Guru, among other reasons, to help mitigate confusion ... Views: 99
Practising non-attachment is essential to experience inner peace and contentment. When we are dependent on external factors such as relationships, jobs, finances, material delights etc. for our sense of well-being, for our personal happiness and pleasure, we will naturally develop a strong ... Views: 70
With the development of the mental being in evolution, we can observe the central leadership role that the mind plays in dealing with the vital and physical levels of our existence. The mental being, however, is limited by its strict framework and sequential process, and thus, is something like ... Views: 90
Each new evolutionary stage of consciousness takes place within the framework of the previously evolved stages and over a course of time as adaptation of that framework must occur to ‘prepare the ground’ for the new action of consciousness. For example, physical matter, rock, ocean, volcanic ... Views: 90
Most people associate yoga with a series of physical exercises and breathing routines. Yoga, however, is more than such physical activities, although they can help to regulate energy flow and enhance stability and provide benefits to the body, life energy and mind. Sri Aurobindo has more broadly ... Views: 92
If human nature can be changed, it has to be at the place where motives and impulsions affect the understanding and the action. The sadhana thus entails a review of the wellsprings of thought and action, and a refusal of the drives and motives of the desire soul of the vital nature. Many times ... Views: 88
Sri Aurobindo emphasizes the need for the psychic transformation, which is the coming forward of the soul or psychic being in man to provide the central focus, and overcome the promptings of the ego-consciousness as it normally acts in the mind, life and body. Spiritual experiences, on their ... Views: 97
The first of the three major transformations of consciousness that Sri Aurobindo describes as required to actually effect the needed change in human nature, is the psychic transformation. With this transformation, the soul comes forward, takes control of the mind, life and body and turns them ... Views: 94
As the seeker traverses the unknown realms of the inner being, the various worlds of the physical, vital and mental planes and the spiritual heights and widenesses, he is confronted with many circumstances, events, beings, and actions which he simply does not have any reference point to ... Views: 100
Sri Aurobindo describes a goal for humanity which involves a change of consciousness and the transformation of human nature. There is considerable debate about whether it is possible to change human nature, or whether we are doomed to be stuck in our animal nature for all times. Sri Aurobindo ... Views: 130
It is a well-known occurrence. We have a wonderful experience in meditation and come back filled with light, a feeling of joy or bliss, an open heart and a sense of realisation. Then we go out to act in the world and all the old impulses arise, the feelings of desire, the drive of control, ... Views: 107
Have you heard of the 3 letter word which seems exceptionally ‘Immortal, Impregnable, Infinite’, and is living and breathing in every life?
Dear readers, if you are thinking about the omniscient and omnipotent ‘GOD’, then indeed it is quite not the case here, as our beloved Almighty is ... Views: 71
When the protective walls of the surface being give way as the seeker enters the inner planes, access to the vital planes may occur, with all of the beings, powers and forces at work there having suddenly direct interchange with the seeker. Sometimes these forces are intimidating, sometimes, ... Views: 112
For most of human existence, there has been a deep divergence between those who seek spiritual development and those who are focused on the material life in the world. In The Life Divine, Sri Aurobindo describes the two paths as ‘the refusal of the ascetic’ and ‘the materialist denial’. It would ... Views: 96
One of the most common understandings we have of the journey towards moksha (the ultimate liberation from cycle of birth and death), is that one must leave everything behind and live a life of renunciation. Well, such an understanding is not altogether wrong, and renunciation is an important, if ... Views: 75
The importance of preparation of the nature for the spiritual quest, the development of a solid and unshakable aspiration and devotion, and growth of both an understanding and the ability to distinguish what one is seeing and experiencing, cannot be overstated. As the seeker moves into the inner ... Views: 107
The operation of the Gunas of nature, Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas is noticeable in the spiritual quest as in everything else. The result is that when something new or exciting occurs, it tends to provoke the rising of Rajas and an attempt to grasp and enhance the ego-gratification of the event. ... Views: 97
Yes of course! If at the final moment, a person remains in Samadhi, he shall be joyous and balanced at the time of death. Also, his loved ones and everyone near him will experience enormous peace and bliss within, despite this person having died!
Death in Samadhi
Samadhi death means at the ... Views: 66
Dreams have kept researchers awake for the entire history of mankind. Where do dreams come from? Of what substance are they made? What significance do they have? The ancient Greek culture had oracles who interpreted dreams. The Old Testament of the Bible recounts the rise of Joseph in the land ... Views: 91
During daytime, we see the sun, the atmosphere and the world around us, and our thoughts and activities, for the most part, are focused on the life of the world. At night, we see the vast ranges of space and the myriad of stars, and can thereby recognise that our world is a small part of a much ... Views: 90
We spend a large percentage of our lives in the realm of sleep, and the dreams that accompany the sleep state. We have very little actual knowledge of what takes place during our period of sleep, although scientists do extensive studies on the electrical activity in the brain during sleep and ... Views: 94
A Spiritual Seeker Needs a Master who has the Right Knowledge to Guide
Master is the Guide!
Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan, an enlightened being explains:
If you want to go to the station from here and get lost on the way, will you not have to ask someone for help? Whom would you ask?
The one ... Views: 92
The transcription of inner events and experiences into our mental framework will generally utilize symbols, images and personalities which fit into our background, education, and experience, so as to build a link and acceptance through use of familiar images. We frequently find recounted the ... Views: 106
What is Ego?
Ego is the basic recognition you have of yourself in the world. People often misunderstand Ego to be a characteristic that demands self importance or self esteem; but really speaking, it is something that goes deeper. We have been living in the vast expanse of this world, ... Views: 86
As the seeker begins to enter and experience the inner and higher realms of consciousness, he comes into contact with beings, forces, planes and worlds that transcribe experiences into his awareness, yet do not generally function under the same methods and laws that are operative in the normal ... Views: 116
In March 2020 downtown Victoria in British Columbia looked like a deserted town. The noise had stopped. The air became cleaner and the Olympic Mountains and many others suddenly and stunningly came into better view.
Similiarly, water became clearer and strangely, everything seemed alive ... Views: 120
Everything that exists in the universe has an energy signature or frequency which is manifested by light, colour and sound, whether perceived by our limited sense capabilities or outside their range. As the seeker begins to shift awareness inwards, he is no longer totally reliant on the external ... Views: 100
As the seeker interacts more with the inner levels of consciousness, there are often various types of visions and symbols which are perceived. These visions, however, are not all from the same source, and do not all carry the same weight or significance. It is another element of the research and ... Views: 106
Independence generally means...
not depending upon another. Independence means there is no superior over us. Independence is when no one interferes. Independence is when one feels fearless that, ‘Nothing can cause any harm to me!’ Independence is experienced when one is totally free and ... Views: 69
If we accept the idea that supraphysical sight is a latent power of humanity, and not some kind of illusion or otherwise some miraculous special power, then we can seek to understand the conditions under which this power manifests, and show, first, that it is something that is reproducible and ... Views: 143
The lure of occult powers represents one of the temptations to be faced by the spiritual seeker who begins to access the inner and higher realms of consciousness. These powers may be developed through systematic efforts, following the protocols and laws of action under which these powers exist. ... Views: 115
Seeking visions has been a part of what has been called a “spiritual journey” by countless individuals around the world throughout history and in all religious and spiritual traditions. The “vision quest” is a well known and accepted activity among seekers. Christian mystics, for instance, chose ... Views: 107
Thoughts get Created from Opinions
Thoughts are coming from mind.
When one gives any opinion, accordingly karmic atoms get charged. These charged karmas represent themselves in the form of mind in one’s next life.
Mind is Nothing but a Collection of All our Past Life’s Opinions.
In our ... Views: 86
It is human nature to want to be able to explain away events, circumstances or experiences that are not understood. For much of human existence, the rising and setting of the sun and moon, the existence of the stars, the power of the oceans, the wind or the storms were described as actions of ... Views: 101
Let’s take the second question first, ‘How useful it is to live life?’
Not at all, provided you want to live a happy and peaceful life. This is a fact! If we believe, jealousy and greed are useful to live life, such wrong understanding would only boost these weaknesses further. Our ... Views: 85
There are many who seek after various powers, and study occultism and mysticism with the purpose of achieving unique ‘super powers’. Traditional practices of yoga, while acknowledging that certain powers may result from the practices, make it clear that they are not the object and, indeed, ... Views: 102
The lure of occult powers and experiences can be a considerable obstacle for the spiritual seeker who becomes enmeshed in the idea of developing these capacities. There is a reason why traditional paths of spiritual development eschew the use of the occult powers that arise naturally as one goes ... Views: 97
We see something with our eyes or hear something with our ears and we believe that we know that it is an external reality, which we all perceive and can agree upon. We put in a separate category those things that we perceive through forms of knowing that do not depend on sense perception, and ... Views: 103
Sri Aurobindo distinguishes between what he terms the ‘intermediate zone’ and a number of intermediate stages in the development of consciousness. The distinction is important. The intermediate zone is a transitional phase as the normal human mind-life-body begins to experience the influx of ... Views: 96
The vital nature of the human being craves the type of excitement that comes with extraordinary experiences. True spiritual progress, however, requires that a balance be maintained between what the human instrument can hold effectively, and how much Force is brought to bear from the higher ... Views: 135
Whenever an individual enters into a new situation or circumstance, there is a period of disorientation, which may involve misinterpretation of what is being experienced, as well as failure to understand the rules, laws or protocols that may apply in that new situation. In society this may lead ... Views: 105
The Isha Upanishad describes the dual aspects of Reality, the Ignorance and the Knowledge: “Into a blind darkness they enter who follow after the Ignorance, they as if into a greater darkness who devote themselves to the Knowledge alone. Other, verily it is said, is that which comes by the ... Views: 118
The inner You is the Self, your real Self. It is made up of Gnan (knowledge).
Gnan means light!
If you have light, you will not stumble in life; you will not be affected if something valuable of yours gets broken or even if something really terrible happens. Right now, do you get affected ... Views: 79
How can anyone describe or comprehend an experience of consciousness so foreign to our normal human individual experience? Sages and seers have used many illustrative images to try to provide the mind some vague notion of the significance of the shift in standpoint that is represented by the ... Views: 108
Many people can identify the experience of suddenly receiving an intuition or inspired or illumined knowledge on occasion. Some experience such things relatively frequently. Where does this sudden illumination come from? How does it act upon us? Generally, the occasional intuition is recognised ... Views: 106
Without experience, it is difficult to comprehend the difference between the normal human ego-consciousness and the cosmic consciousness. Those who have had the experience try to disclose the type and quality of their experience, but using human words that relate to our normal body-life-mind way ... Views: 103
Our normal human consciousness revolves around the standpoint and awareness of our ego-personality. We look at things from our own viewpoint, and determine our relation to everything that takes place based on how we perceive these things to impact the ego. We tend to treat the universal creation ... Views: 98
No!
Gnani, the Enlightened one, specifies, that one who is virtuous never curses anybody and one who curses is not virtuous. So curse, etc. is all a fallacy, especially in today’s times.
Yes, on our part, we should not behave badly towards anyone such that one feels like cursing us, nor ... Views: 76
The ego-personality actually can be a form of protection for the unprepared soul in the world, as it limits the range and power of action. If a person breaks out of the framework provided by the small ego-personality, and comes into contact with and active conscious interaction with the larger ... Views: 109
When an individual begins the spiritual quest, there can be considerable confusion about different directions, objectives and methods of attainment. In many cases, divergent goals are lumped together, while in other instances, there can be confusion about the sequence of the steps. Sri Aurobindo ... Views: 124