An Analysis of Sri Aurobindo's The Life Divine -- CHAPTER OUTLINES

In this chapter Sri Aurobindo begins my asking what is it that determines existence and life in the cosmos; i.e. what is the source of that determination. He says it is the Absolute. He then describes the faculty by which that determination takes place, which he calls "Real Ideas." Real Ideas have an inherent power to fulfill themselves, and are says deployed by Supermind.

He then describes the specific ways the determinants express in the universe, which he calls the cosmic determinants. The specific determinants derive from each of Sat-Chit-and Ananda and include powers of self, witness, creator, knowledge, beauty, and love. Through the comprehending and apprehending capacities of Supermind time and space are created, which allows for the eight determinants to each form triunes of subject-object-experience. E.g. knowledge can now be known by the knower. In essence, Supermind create objects of its own subjective intention.

He concludes that each of us have the free will and to determine our own lives within he determination of the Divine Intent.

-The Absolute (Brahman, the Omnipresent Reality) is the ultimate determinant in existence. That determination is expressed through Its essential Real Ideas, which are deployed in creation through the action of Supermind.

-Real-Ideas are the faculties of the Absolute that have the inherent power to fulfill themselves.

-Supermind deploys the Real Ideas through specific cosmic determinants that come from each of Existence (Sat), Conscious-Force (Chit), and Delight (Ananda). E.g. from Conscious-Force comes the determinant of Knowledge, and from Delight comes the determinant of Love.

-Supermind renders the Real Ideas through these eight determinants in creation through its comprehending power (which turns them into possibilities for manifestation), and then through its Apprehending power, which renders them as real in creation.

-In the Apprehending Process, Supermind creates space and time, and for each of the determinants enables the triune of object-subject-experience. E.g. for the cosmic determinants of Knowledge Supermind renders it into the Knower, that which is Known, and the Knowledge (that is known); or for Love as (the) Lover, (the) Beloved, (the act/experience of) Loving. All of life takes shape this way.

-Every individual has free will to choose as he pleases. And yet he does so within the ultimate determinism of the Absolute. Thus, the individual has a choice to collaborate in the unfolding of the will and determinism of the Absolute in creation.

Chance vs. Necessity, and Free Will
Is existence just random Chance, or is it obediently following rules of Mechanical Necessity in Nature? Sri Aurobindo says that the principle of free variation of the Infinite consciousness (the Absolute) explains what we perceive as Chance in Nature, and the principle of truth powers of the Infinite explains what we see as Mechanical Necessity in Nature. In this way, chance and necessity are explained in Nature. (Such a theory would then give meaning to all of the unexplained processes of Nature.)

In terms of the individual, we can then say that we have ultimate freedom of choice, i.e. free will, within the determination of the Absolute.

In this way, chance and necessity are explained in Nature. (Such a theory would then give meaning to all of the unexplained processes of Nature.)

Paraphrase of MSS: Fate is real. Free will too is real. How do we reconcile these two seemingly opposite views? Philosophically we can say that the determinism of the Infinite is the utter freedom of the Finite. I.e. though the infinite divine enabled this universe, this world, including the hidden spirit in all things that is there just below our field of awareness in all things seen and unseen, we are free in the finite world we live in to discover it. Man always has the choice to either identify himself with the ego, the limitations of time, the finite possibility in the moment, and the dualities of Nature, including pain and suffering; or he can choose to find his inner self, his soul, his oneness with all, the timelessness of the Being, the infinity in the finite moment, and the Reality of the Being; i.e. the indwelling Spirit that arose from the Divine source, and is the source of fate. It is our choice. Now that the spiritual Force is here, and has descended into the earth's atmosphere, it is easier for us to make this choice.

Deployment of the Infinite Power of the Absolute
He then goes on to say that The Absolute, the Infinite Consciousness is not just a Being, but it is a Power, containing not only a quiescence and repose, but an action in of itself, a creation in of itself. The Absolute is then capable of an eternal action and creation; of deploying the Infinite Power. Creation would then be an ordered deployment of the infinite possibilities of the Absolute. The Supreme and Eternal Infinite determines itself to our consciousness in the universe through Supermind by real and fundamental truths, as "Real Ideas" which can be seized by us, especially if we rise to a consciousness of spiritual intuition and beyond.

"The scientists are looking for this ultimate determinant. Others have concluded that mind is the determinant. This false conclusion generates all the conflicting arguments about creation. Sri Aurobindo has shown the determinant is the Supermind and set all arguments at rest." (MSS)

How the Absolute Reflects as Determinants in the Universe
The Absolute is the source of all determination we see in creation. We know that in the involution the Absolute extended itself to the triune Existence, Conscious Force, Delight to enable creation. Each of these three is the source of all determination in Nature in the creation, and manifests specific ways that we express ourselves in life. (These ways are predetermined for us ) From "Existence" comes the determinants of Self, Creator, and Witness; from Consciousness Force comes the determinants of Knowledge and Will. From Delight come the determinants of Love, Joy, and Beauty. Specifically, we in life experience our sense of self in (Self), our ability to create (Creator), a way to stand back and view the creation as Witness; our ability to comprehend and know (Knowledge), our will and drive to see what we create through (Will); to share a relationship with other forms and beings (Love), to experience the satisfaction of that which is created (Joy), and the ability to acknowledge the forms we create (beauty.) These are the predetermined ways we experience life. Within that predetermination we have a choice of how to act.*

Each determinant potentially manifests in any of three ways. E.g. when we live in such a way that is a reflection of the determinant of Knowledge, it can express as the Known, the Known, and the Knowledge; indicating we can express within that determinant as the subject, the object, subject-object (i.e. attribute or energy type or life activity).

*COSMIC DETERMINANTS:
(We would like to thank Mother's Service Society for helping us develop the following information.)

Aspect of Absolute	#	Name	Description of power/ determinant
*Existence*	1	Self (Atman)	As Existence the Absolute moved toward manifesting in the universe by its own awareness of its own existence and its infinite potentials for creation. We call this power/determinant Self.
	2	Witness (Purusha)	Existence also has the capacity to stand back from its creation, i.e. be a detached witness. We call this power/determinant Witness.
	3	Creator (Ishwara)	Existence also has an awareness of the power to express these potentials in creation as forms in an objectified universe. We call this power/determinant Creator.
Consciousness Force	4	Knowledge	As Consciousness the Absolute has the comprehension and knowledge of what has been and what is being created. We call this power/determinant *Knowledge*.
Consciousness Force	5	Will	Consciousness also has the will and drive to see the creation through. This is the power/determinant of *Will*.
*Delight/Bliss*	6	Love	Finally, as Bliss the Absolute seeks in its creation of forms to have those forms be intimately related to other forms, i.e. share a relationship with it. This is a power/determinant *Love*.
	7	Joy	The Absolute also expresses as satisfaction in what is created. This is the power/determinant of Joy.
	8	Beauty	Finally, the Absolute acknowledges the harmony of form of that which has been created. This is the power/determinant of Beauty.

	Subject	Object	Power
Self (Being)	Self as Subject (?)	Self as Object (?)	Existing
Witness	The Witness	That which is Witnessed	Witnessing
Creator	The Creator	That which is Created	Creating
Knowledge	The Knower	The Known	Knowledge (Knowing)
Will	The Lord of the will	The Object of the will	Executive Force
Love	The Lover	The Beloved	Love
Joy	The Enjoyer	The Enjoyed	Delight
Beauty	The Beholder of beauty	That which is Beautiful	Beauty

"Indeterminates and Cosmic Determination" (Book 2 Chapter I)

"Indeterminates and Cosmic Determination"
(Book 2 Chapter I)