Thoughts and Aphorisms 24

24. When I pine at misfortune and call it evil, or am jealous and disappointed, then I know that there is awake in me again the eternal fool. [Sri Aurobindo: Thoughts and Aphorisms]    When the consequence of some of our actions is not as expected, or when there is some setback, we consider it to be a misfortune. And also we call it an evil.   Further, often, as a reaction of the said misfortune, we find in ourselves jealousy and misfortune. When our interest is not felt or fulfilled, there is 'disappointment' in us and also often there is 'jealousy' in some of us, when others are found to be 'fortunate'.   These are all reactions of the vital being — the lower vital. And our judgment is then covered and influenced by the vital impulse. Often, however, it may so happen that what may seem to be a misfortune today, may later on be proved to be a bringer of good results. But the vital reactions use our intelligence and reduce us to be less intelligent, of a limited intelligence, of a dwarf ego — we become examples of 'the eternal fool'. We are then limited by Ignorance, and Inconscience and a half-conscious egoism.   The Mother says: "… whatever happens to us is always for our good, if we take the point of view of the spirit in the unfolding of time."   And Sri Aurobindo has said: But human mind clings to its ignorance And to its littleness the human heart And to its right to grief the earthly life. Only when Eternity takes Time by the hand, Only when infinity weds the finite's thought, Can man be free from himself and live with God.                                   [Sri Aurobindo: Savitri : Bk VII, Co IV]     Barindranath Chaki 08-10-2009 [Simultaneously published in Sulekha, All choice and ASPIRATION   Barindranath Chaki 08-10-2009