The Playful Self-Involution of Divine Consciousness: Sri Aurobindo’s Evolutionary Cosmopsychism and His Response to the Individuation Problem
The Monist October 16, 2021 Swami Medhananda 33 citations
Sri Aurobindo developed a sophisticated form of cosmopsychism, the view that consciousness is fundamental to reality and the universe itself is conscious. He argued against materialist reductionism, drawing on his spiritual experiences and study of Vedāntic scriptures to formulate a panentheistic philosophy called realistic Advaita. According to his evolutionary cosmopsychism, the Divine Saccidānanda (being-consciousness-bliss) is involved in all matter and gradually manifests through evolution from matter to life to mind, and ultimately to Supermind—a future stage where humans will realize their true divine nature. He solved the individuation problem by proposing that the Divine individuates into distinct consciousnesses through a process of exclusive concentration, playfully limiting itself.