Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Second Series

Fragment ID: 20825

Buddhism is the turning away from dukkha and its causes to the attracting face of Nirvana. The dukkhavada did not exist in India, except in the theory of the Vaishnava viraha; otherwise it was not considered as a means or even a stage of the sadhana. But that does not mean that dukkha does not come in the sadhana; it comes and has to be rejected and overcome, overpassed – excepting the psychic sorrow which does not disturb or depress but rather liberates the vital. To make a vada or gospel of sorrow is dangerous because sorrow, if indulged becomes a habit, sticks and few things, if once they stick, can be more sticky.