Examine Aurobindo’s Concept of Reality
Introduction
Sri Aurobindo’s concept of reality is rooted in his philosophy of Integral Advaita. He integrates the spiritual insights of Vedanta with a dynamic view of the world, suggesting that reality is not just a transcendent absolute but also immanent in the cosmos. Reality for him is both static and dynamic, eternal and evolving.
Dual Aspect of Reality
Aurobindo views reality as having two aspects—Brahman as the Absolute and Brahman as the Manifest. The Absolute is unchanging, infinite consciousness. However, this consciousness manifests itself through a dynamic process called involution and evolution, giving rise to the universe and all beings.
Supermind as the Creative Principle
The key to Aurobindo’s metaphysics is the concept of the Supermind. This is the divine consciousness that bridges the unmanifest and the manifest. It enables the realization that the world is not illusion (Maya), but a deliberate and divine expression of reality.
Reality as a Journey
For Aurobindo, reality is a process of becoming. Human life is not a meaningless existence but a purposeful evolution towards the divine. The spiritual journey leads from ignorance to knowledge, from ego to universal consciousness, and ultimately to the supramental transformation.
Conclusion
Sri Aurobindo’s concept of reality is both comprehensive and optimistic. It affirms the material world as divine and encourages individuals to transform themselves and the world through conscious evolution. Reality is not a negation of life but a call to spiritual fulfillment within life itself.