Purna Yoga: Exploring the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo

Purna Yoga, or Integral Yoga, represents a holistic approach to spirituality that transcends the boundaries of traditional yoga practices.

Developed by the Indian philosopher, yogi, and guru Sri Aurobindo, Integral Yoga (aka Purna Yoga) integrates the essence of various yoga paths with a deep focus on the evolution of consciousness. This guide unveils Sri Aurobindo’s life, his profound spiritual journey, and the pivotal principles of Integral Yoga to reveal the path towards spiritual transformation and divine harmony.

The Philosophical Foundations of Integral Yoga

Born in 1872, Sri Aurobindo’s life was a testament to the pursuit of freedom—both political and spiritual. His early education in England, followed by his return to India and active participation in the independence movement, set the stage for his eventual spiritual awakening. While imprisoned for his political activities, Aurobindo experienced a profound vision of the Divine, prompting him to dedicate his life to spiritual inquiry and the development of Integral Yoga.

Integral Yoga is founded on the principle of a complete or integral approach to spiritual practice. Unlike paths that emphasize a singular aspect of spirituality, such as devotion, knowledge, or meditation, Integral Yoga seeks to harmonize all facets of human existence. Aurobindo’s teachings propose that the ultimate goal of yoga is not just personal liberation but the transformation of our entire being—mind, body, and soul—to manifest a divine life on Earth.

The Spiritual Journey of Sri Aurobindo

Sri Aurobindo’s (1872-1950) journey from a political activist to a spiritual leader exemplifies the transformative potential of Integral Yoga. After his visionary experience in prison, Aurobindo retreated to Pondicherry, where he established an ashram and devoted himself to spiritual research and writing. His extensive works on yoga, philosophy, and poetry offer profound insights into the nature of reality, the evolution of consciousness, and the potential for human divinity.

Core Principles of Integral Yoga

Integral Yoga is based on several key principles:

Synthesis of Yoga Paths: Aurobindo advocated for a yoga that integrates the paths of knowledge (jnana), devotion (bhakti), and action (karma), along with a deep practice of meditation.
Aspiration and Surrender: The practice emphasizes the importance of a sincere aspiration towards the divine and the surrender of one’s ego and personal will to the divine will.
The Role of the Divine Mother: Central to Aurobindo’s teaching is the concept of the Divine Mother, the dynamic aspect of the divine that aids in the spiritual transformation of the practitioner.
Purification of Nature: Integral Yoga involves the purification of the mind, heart, and body to prepare the individual for the descent of higher consciousness.

The Practice of Integral Yoga

The practice of Integral Yoga does not adhere to rigid techniques but encourages aspirants to develop a personal relationship with the divine. This relationship is fostered through aspiration, meditation, and surrender, allowing the divine force to guide the practitioner’s spiritual development. Aurobindo emphasizes the importance of opening oneself to the divine influence, which purifies the nature and facilitates the ascent to higher states of consciousness.

In Integral Yoga, the divine is seen as both immanent and transcendent, present within all of creation and beyond it. The practice aims to reveal the divine presence within the individual, leading to a realization of oneness with all existence. The Divine Mother, or Shakti, plays a crucial role in this process, acting as the force that propels the seeker towards realization and transformation.

Integral Yoga involves a systematic purification of the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of the individual. This purification opens the inner channels to the psychic being, the spiritual essence within each person, facilitating a direct experience of the divine. The stages of this process include confronting and overcoming inner obstacles, such as egoism and ignorance, leading to a gradual transformation of the practitioner’s nature.

The ultimate aim of Integral Yoga is not merely personal enlightenment but the transformation of all aspects of the individual’s being. This transformation involves the descent of higher consciousness into the mind, heart, and body, leading to a life lived in harmony with the divine will. The process is gradual and requires dedication, but it promises the realization of a divine life on Earth.

Exploring the Material, Vital, and Mental Realms

Integral Yoga elucidates three distinct but interconnected planes of human existence: the physical, vital, and mental spheres. The physical or material realm, largely operating below conscious awareness, is characterized by mechanical habits and resistance to change, symbolizing the densest form of divine spirit capable of spiritualization. The vital layer represents our life-force, driving desires, passions, and emotions, which must be harmonized and directed by the higher faculties of the mind. The mental plane, associated with cognition, ideas, and willpower, serves as the medium through which we engage with the world intellectually and spiritually.

The Divine Self and the Psychic Being

At the core of our being lies the Divine Self, or Spirit, also known as Purusha and Jivatman. This eternal, unchanging essence of our individuality transcends the temporal manifestations of the physical, vital, and mental bodies. Awareness of the Jivatman, or our true self, is attained through the elevation of consciousness beyond the ordinary, to what is termed the Supramental Consciousness.

Emerging from this Divine Self is the psychic being, a soul formed to express the Divine in the material world. This evolving aspect of ourselves uses the physical, vital, and mental as instruments for its growth, guiding these outer layers towards the luminous truth of the Supramental Light.

Embracing the Omnipresent Divine

The concept of the Divine, or Brahman, presents an infinite, eternal reality that encompasses all existence, transcending the duality of creation and non-creation. Our journey towards Divine Consciousness involves transcending personal identity to become conduits of Divine Power, living in harmony with the ultimate truth.

Meditative Practices in Integral Yoga

Integral Yoga emphasizes various meditative techniques to transcend the ordinary mind, including observation without attachment, identifying as the detached witness, and actively rejecting external thoughts. These practices aim to still the mind, revealing a deeper, truer consciousness beyond superficial thoughts, centered in either the heart or the head, facilitating a profound inner awakening and alignment with the Divine.

The Journey Inward

The inward journey in Integral Yoga reveals a tranquil, unmoving essence at our core, distinct from the superficial layers of our existence. This inward pull can manifest through diverse experiences, leading to profound states of consciousness, where one transcends the physical limitations, encountering the Divine Force and consciousness in a direct, transformative manner.

Cosmic Consciousness and the Supramental Realization

The attainment of Cosmic Consciousness precedes the realization of the Supramental state, marking a transcendence of ego and personal identity to embrace a universal existence. This expansive awareness, however, demands vigilance against the magnified ego and external adversities, paving the way for the integral transformation envisioned by Sri Aurobindo.

The Path to Transformation

Integral Yoga differentiates itself by viewing enlightenment not as the final goal but as the beginning of a profound transformation that integrates the Supramental Consciousness into all aspects of being. This journey encompasses both the psychic and spiritual metamorphosis, necessitating a harmonious balance between aspiration towards the Divine and the transformation of the mind, vital, and physical components of our existence.

Challenges on the Spiritual Path

The transformational odyssey is fraught with challenges, including the inertia of the physical body, the turbulence of the vital, and the skepticism of the mind. Moreover, the subconscious and unconscious layers of our being harbor deep-seated resistances that Integral Yoga seeks to illuminate and transcend, employing the Divine Force to achieve a state of harmony, enlightenment, and ultimately, a divine life on Earth.