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<title>The Sunlit Path</title>

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<span
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'><font size="4">The
Sunlit Path</font><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:27.0pt; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span lang=EN-GB
style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>S</span><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>RI AUROBINDO</span><span lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:
EN-GB'> speaks of the sunlit path in Yoga. It is the path of happy progress
where dangers and difficulties, violent ups and downs are reduced to a minimum,
if not altogether obviated. In ideal conditions it is as it were a smooth and
fair – weather sailing, as much of course as it is humanly possible. What are
then these conditions? It is when the sadhaka keeps touch with his inmost
being, his psychic consciousness, when this inner Guide and Helmsman is given
the charge; for then he will be able to pass sovereignly by all shoals and
rocks and storm-racks, through all vicissitudes, gliding on – slow or swift as
needed – Inevitably towards the goal. A doubting mind, an impetuous vital urge,
an inert physical consciousness, though they may be there in any strength, cannot
disturb or upset the even tenor of the forward march. Even outward
circumstances bow down to the pressure of the psychic temperament and bring to
it their happy collaboration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:27.0pt; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>This may not always mean that all is
easy and difficulty is simply not, once the psychic is there. It becomes so
when the psychic is there fully in front; even otherwise when the inner being
is in the background, still sensed and, on the whole, obeyed, although there
are battles, hard battles to be fought and won, then even a little of this
Consciousness saves from a great fear. For, then, in all circumstances, you
will have found a secret joy and cheer and strength that buoy you up and carry
you through.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:27.0pt; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Like the individual, nations too
have their sunlit path and the path of the doldrum as well. So long as a nation
keeps to the truth of its inner being, follows its natural line of development,
remains faithful to its secret godhead, it will have chosen that good part
which will bring it divine blessings and fulfilment<o:p>.&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

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<span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Page-95<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<span lang=EN-GB
style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>But sometimes a nation has the stupidity
to deny its self, to run after an <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>ignis
fatuus</i>, a <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>mayamrga</i>, then grief
and sorrow and frustration lie ahead. We are afraid </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span
  lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>India</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'> did take such a wrong step when she
refused to see the great purpose behind the present war and tried to avoid
contributing her mite to the evolutionary Force at work. On the other hand </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span
  lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Britain</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'> in a moment of supreme crisis, that
meant literally life or death, not only to herself or to other nations, but to
humanity itself, had the good fortune to be led by the right Inspiration, the
whole nation rose as one man and swore allegiance to the cause of humanity and
the gods. That was how she was saved and that was how she acquired a new merit
and a fresh lease of life. Unlike </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span
  lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Britain</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>, </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span
  lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'> bowed down and accepted what should
not have been accepted and cut herself adrift from her inner life and truth,
the result was five years of hell. Fortunately, the hell in the end proved to
be a purgatory, but what a purgatory! For there were souls who were willing to
pay the price and did pay it to the full cash and nett. So </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span
  lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>France</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'> has been given the chance again to
turn round and take up the thread of her life where it snapped.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:27.0pt; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Once more another crisis seems to be
looming before the nations, once more the choice has to be made and acted upon.
In our weakness it is natural and easy to invoke God, to feel the presence of a
higher Guidance, to trust in a heavenly light; but it is in our strength that
we must know whose strength it is, and in whose strength it is that we conquer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:27.0pt; line-height:150%; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>If the present war has any meaning,
as we all declare it has, then we must never lose sight of that meaning. And
our true victory will come only in the process of the realisation of that
meaning. That is the sunlit path we refer to here which the nations have to
follow in their mutual dealings. It is the path of the evolutionary call to
which we say we have responded and to which we must remain loyal and faithful
in thought, in speech and in deed. If we see dark and ominous clouds gathering
round us, dangers and difficulties suddenly raising their heads, then we must
look about and try honestly to find out whether we have not strayed away from
the sunlit path.</span><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

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<span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Page-96<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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