The Life Divine

1. The Divine is Both Stillness and Action

The silent and the active Brahman are not different, opposite and irreconcilable entities, the one denying, the other affirming a cosmic illusion; they are one Brahman in two aspects, positive and negative, and each is necessary to the other.

Two sides of the same coin. The Divine, or Brahman, is not limited to a single state of being. It encompasses both the stillness of pure, unchanging existence and the dynamic energy of creation and action. These are not opposing forces but complementary aspects of the same ultimate reality.

The Silence and the Word. The silence of Brahman is the source of all creation, the unmanifest from which the manifest emerges. The Word, the creative energy, is the expression of that silence, the force that brings forth the universe. Both are essential for a complete understanding of the Divine.

• The Silence is the eternal passivity that allows for the freedom of divine activity.
• The Word is the eternal activity that expresses the self-hidden in the Silence.

Human reflection. The perfect human being embodies both the stillness of the spirit and the dynamic energy of action. We must find within ourselves that absolute calm and passivity of the Brahman and support by it a free and inexhaustible activity.

2. Matter is Spirit in Disguise

Matter also is Brahman.

Beyond the material. The material world, often seen as separate from or even opposed to the spiritual, is in fact a manifestation of the Divine. Matter is not an inert, unconscious substance but a form of veiled Life, a form of veiled Consciousness, a form of veiled Spirit.

Ascending terms. Between Spirit and Matter, there is a series of ascending terms: Life, Mind, Supermind, and the grades that link Mind to Supermind. These terms are not separate entities but different expressions of the same underlying reality.

• Life is a form of veiled consciousness.
• Mind is a form of veiled consciousness.
• Supermind is a form of unveiled consciousness.

Reconciliation. To truly understand the universe, we must recognize the identity in essence of Spirit and Matter. This understanding is crucial for overcoming the dualistic view that separates the material from the spiritual.

3. The Ego is a Necessary Illusion

The individual is a centre of the whole universal consciousness; the universe is a form and definition which is occupied by the entire immanence of the Formless and Indefinable.

A tool for experience. The ego, the sense of a separate self, is not an ultimate reality but a necessary tool for the experience of the universe. It is a temporary construct that allows us to engage with the world as individuals.

Limitations of the ego. The ego creates a sense of separation, leading to a limited and distorted view of reality. It is the source of our dualities, our sense of "I" versus "other," and our attachment to our own limited perspectives.

• It is a self-limitation of consciousness by a willed ignorance of the rest of its play.
• It is an exclusive absorption in one form, one combination of tendencies, one field of the movement of energies.

Transcending the ego. To achieve a higher state of consciousness, we must transcend the ego and realize our true nature as part of the universal consciousness. This does not mean the annihilation of individuality but its transformation into a center of the divine.

4. Knowledge is a Journey from Ignorance to Truth

By the Ignorance they cross beyond Death and by the Knowledge enjoy Immortality.

The nature of Ignorance. Ignorance is not a complete absence of knowledge but a limited and distorted form of it. It is a state of division and separation, where we perceive the world as a collection of separate entities rather than a unified whole.

The path to Knowledge. The journey from Ignorance to Knowledge involves a progressive expansion of consciousness. This journey includes:

• The use of reason to correct the errors of the senses.
• The development of supraphysical senses to perceive realities beyond the material world.
• The expansion of consciousness from the individual to the cosmic.
• The attainment of a world-transcending consciousness.

Agnosticism as a step. A certain kind of Agnosticism is the final truth of all knowledge. For when we come to the end of whatever path, the universe appears as only a symbol or an appearance of an unknowable Reality.

5. Life is a Bridge Between Matter and Spirit

Life exists in Brahman in order to discover Brahman in itself.

Life as a dynamic force. Life is not merely a biological phenomenon but a dynamic force that connects Matter and Spirit. It is a conscious energy that seeks to express itself in ever-new forms and activities.

The role of Life. Life is the intermediary between the inertness of Matter and the pure consciousness of Spirit. It is the force that animates the material world and allows for the emergence of consciousness.

• It is a bridge between the subconscient and the superconscient.
• It is a means for the self-figuration of the Divine in ever-new forms.

Humanity's purpose. Man's importance in the world is that he gives to it that development of consciousness in which its transfiguration by a perfect self-discovery becomes possible. To fulfill God in life is man’s manhood.

6. Rebirth is a Tool for Spiritual Evolution

By the Non-Birth they cross beyond Death and by the Birth enjoy Immortality.

The cycle of birth and death. Rebirth is not a mere repetition of the same life but a process of spiritual evolution. It is a means for the soul to gather experience, learn from its mistakes, and progress towards its ultimate goal.

Beyond the physical. The soul is not limited to the physical body but continues its journey through various planes of existence. Death is not an end but a transition to another state of being.

• The soul can enter into a state of pure spirit.
• The soul can enter into a state of cosmic consciousness.
• The soul can enter into a state of subtle existence.

The purpose of rebirth. Rebirth is a tool for the soul to manifest its full potential. It is a means for the soul to experience the universe in all its diversity and to ultimately realize its unity with the Divine.

7. Supermind is the Key to Transformation

The Supermind as Creator.

Beyond Mind. Supermind is a principle of consciousness that transcends the limitations of the human mind. It is a power of knowledge that is one with being, a force of will that is one with consciousness, and a source of delight that is one with existence.

The role of Supermind. Supermind is the key to the transformation of our nature. It is the power that can bridge the gap between the Ignorance and the Knowledge, between the finite and the infinite, between the human and the divine.

• It is the link between Spirit and Matter.
• It is the power that can transform our limited mental consciousness into a plenary supramental illumination.
• It is the force that can establish a divine life on earth.

The gnostic being. The gnostic being is the embodiment of the supramental consciousness. It is a being of knowledge, power, and delight, free from the limitations of the ego and the dualities of the Ignorance.

8. The Goal is a Divine Life on Earth

Thus the eternal paradox and eternal truth of a divine life in an animal body, an immortal aspiration or reality inhabiting a mortal tenement, a single and universal consciousness representing itself in limited minds and divided egos, a transcendent, indefinable, timeless and spaceless Being who alone renders time and space and cosmos possible, and in all these the higher truth realisable by the lower term, justify themselves to the deliberate reason as well as to the persistent instinct or intuition of mankind.

A new vision. The ultimate goal of human existence is not merely to escape from the world but to transform it. It is to create a divine life on earth, where the principles of the Spirit are fully manifested in all aspects of our being.

The integral transformation. This transformation involves a change not only in our consciousness but also in our nature, our actions, and our relationships with others. It is a process of integrating all aspects of our being into a harmonious whole.

• It is a transformation of the individual.
• It is a transformation of the collective.
• It is a transformation of the world.

The divine life. The divine life is a life of knowledge, power, and delight. It is a life of unity, harmony, and love. It is a life where the human and the divine are no longer separate but are one.

Last updated: January 26, 2025