Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Volume 2. 1937

Letter ID: 2004

Sri Aurobindo — Nirodbaran Talukdar

July 21, 1937

What’s this devil of a condition I am passing through? No interest in anything – as if the whole world were dead, blank. There is no uprush of sex or desire and all that. But still a negative blank state! Experience of Nirvana? Tamasic vairagya? I am simply inactive, trying to keep myself steady and hoping that it will pass in time. But will it? No active way out?

Well, it may be one of two things. (1) The vital has dropped down and says “if I can’t have what I want in this damned world of yours, alright I non-cooperate and ask for nothing.” Hence the flatness – Result of course, tamasic vairagya. This kind of thing often happens at a certain stage of sadhana.

(2) Drop into the physical – first complete acquaintance with the principle of Inertia proper to the physical when it is moved neither by vital, mind, nor spirit. Lies flat waiting for the breath of God or any breath to stir it, but making no move of its own.

Hold on and call upon the Spirit to breathe.

I think you are exerting a damn lot of pressure, what?

Not so much as that – or if so, it is automatic.