Thread by @Auro_Mere

Let us go through the सप्त-चतुष्टय (Seven Quartets) sadhana of #SriAurobindo, a spiritual program that was revealed to Him & the practice of which was meticulously recorded by Him in Pondicherry.

The Quartets form the basis of the Yoga of self-perfection.
#InternationalDayOfYoga

1) शान्तिचतुष्टयं (The Quartet of Peace)

#SriAurobindo describes it thus:
समता शान्तिः सुखं हास्यमिति शान्तिचतुष्टयं

(Equality, Peace, Absence of Grief, Active Cheerfulness are the 4 elements of the Quartet of Peace)

1.1.1.1) There are two sides of the first element of the Quartet - Passive समता and Active समता

Passive समता - Equality in reception of the things of the outward world

#SriAurobindo and the Mother have elaborated on the need of this element in their works:

1.1.1.2) Passive समता is described as below:
तितिक्षोदासीनता नतिरिति समता

(Calm Forbearance, Being seated above dualities, Submission to the Divine will are the 3 elements of passive equality)

Both #SriAurobindo & the Mother's yogic records show their importance in the sadhana:

1.1.1.3) Savitri, the epic poem which is another record of #SriAurobindo and the Mother's sadhana, also describes these elements of Passive Equality in King Aswapati's Yoga:

1.1.2.1) The second side of समता is Active or positive समता - Equality in reaction to the things of the outward world

The goal of this discipline of Active side of Equality is to lead to the spiritual Ananda behind all experiences, as #SriAurobindo and the Mother have explained:

1.1.2.2) Active समता is described as:
रस: प्रीतिरानन्द इति सर्वानन्द:

(Appreciative perception of the quality of each विषय, Mental pleasure in all रस, spiritual delight are the 3 elements of the omnipresent delight)

Some comments from #SriAurobindo & the Mother's yogic records:

1.1.2.3) The elements of Active Equality in #SriAurobindo's Savitri (Aswapati's Yoga):

1.2.1) The second element of the first Quartet is शान्ति (Peace & Calm)

#SriAurobindo & the Mother have given so much importance to Peace & Equality since only on that foundation all the rest can be done,
i.e. development of higher consciousness, force, knowledge, love & Ananda:

1.2.2) #SriAurobindo mentions that all our parts: buddhi, manas, heart, prana, even the very bodily case must be subjected to समता to perfect the शान्ति in the system.

That's evident in Their records, where we see how the Mother brought the peace down to even Her physical cells:

1.2.3) The element of Peace in #SriAurobindo's Savitri (Aswapati's Yoga):

1.3.1) The fulfillment of the second element of शान्ति leads to the third element of सुख (complete relief from Grief)

The spiritual ease & contentment comes as a result of our release from the subjection to our self-torturing nature, as #SriAuorbindo & the Mother have explained:

1.3.2) #SriAurobindo mentions that the perfected Yogin has never in himself any touch of sorrow, any tendency of depression, cloud or internal repining & weariness, but is always full of a sattwic light and ease..

As the Gita says, "स ब्रह्मयोगयुक्तात्मा सुखमक्षयमश्नुते" (5.21):

1.3.3) The element of Sukham, a complete relief from grief, in #SriAurobindo's Savitri (Aswapati's Yoga):

1.4.1) The perfection of the passive element of सुख leads to its active side, the 4th element of हास्य (Cheerfulness)

The perfection of the internal state of gladness & laughter by the divine आनंदमय power is the required सिद्धि here, as #SriAurobindo & the Mother have explained:

1.4.2) #SriAurobindo mentioned development of different kinds of हास्य proper to different देवीभाव in His records,
ज्ञान-हास्य (महेश्वरी),
अट्ट-हास्य (महाकाली),
स्नेह-हास्य (महालक्ष्मी),
कौतुक-हास्य (महासरस्वती)

Mother experienced the divine smile even in cellular consciousness:

1.4.3) The element of Hasyam, Cheerfulness & Gladness, in #SriAurobindo's Savitri (Aswapati's Yoga):

2) शक्तिचतुष्टयं (The Quartet of Power)

#SriAurobindo describes it thus:
वीर्यं शक्तिश्चण्डीभाव: श्रद्धेति शक्तिचतुष्टयं

(Soul-force, Power of the Instruments, Divine Power manifest in the temperament, Faith are the 4 elements of the Quartet of Power)

2.1.1.1) वीर्य is the 1st element here with 4 sub-elements (ब्रह्मतेज, क्षत्रतेज, वैश्यशक्ति, शूद्रशक्ति).

By Virya is meant the fundamental soul-force expressing itself in the fourfold type of चातुर्वर्ण्य, with 1st being ब्रह्मतेज, as #SriAurobindo & the Mother have explained:

2.1.1.2) The perfected man develops in himself all the four capacities.

ब्रह्मतेज is described by #SriAurobindo as:
ज्ञानलिप्सा ज्ञानप्रकाशो ब्रह्मवर्चस्यं स्थैर्यमिति ब्रह्मतेजः

(Aspiration & Light & Force & Steadiness of Knowledge are the 4 elements of Brāhmaṇa temperament):

2.1.1.3) The element of the Brāhmaṇa temperament in #SriAurobindo's Savitri (Aswapati's Yoga):

2.1.2.1) The second element of वीर्य or soul-force is क्षत्रतेज, the Kṣatriya temperament/energy..

Unlike the predominance of knowledge in Brāhmaṇa temperament, here the turn of nature is towards the predominance of the will-force, as #SriAurobindo & the Mother have explained:

2.1.2.2) #SriAurobindo gave only the dominant qualities of each type in these definitions..

क्षत्रतेज is described by Him as:
अभयं साहसं यशोलिप्सात्मश्लाघेति क्षत्रतेजः

(Fearlessness, Daring, Aspiration for Victory & Self-confidence are the 4 elements of Kṣatriya temperament):

2.1.2.3) The element of the Kṣatriya temperament in #SriAurobindo's Savitri (Aswapati's Yoga):

2.1.3.1) The 3rd element of वीर्य is वैश्यशक्ति, the Vaiśya temperament/power.

The power here can throw itself out in great utilities of life, & can make possible the equal mutuality & the exchange of soul with soul & life with life, as #SriAurobindo & the Mother have explained:

2.1.3.2) वैश्यशक्ति is described by #SriAurobindo as:
दानं व्ययः कौशलं भोगलिप्सेति वैश्यशक्ति:

(Generous Giving, Capactiy to Spend/Interchange, Skill to Devise/Adapt/Arrange/Perfect, & the Aspiration towards Enjoyment are the 4 elements of Vaiśya temperament/Power):

2.1.3.3) The element of the Vaiśya temperament in #SriAurobindo's Savitri (Aswapati's Yoga):

2.1.4.1) The 4th element of वीर्य is शूद्रशक्ति, the Śūdra temperament/power..

The soul powers that belong to full development of this force in us are of greatest importance in spiritual life—including that of a total self-surrender, as #SriAurobindo & the Mother have explained:

2.1.4.2) शूद्रशक्ति is described as:
कामः प्रेमः दास्यलिप्सात्मसमर्पणमिति शूद्रशक्ति:

(Seeking for Divine manifestation in Matter, Selfless Love, Aspiration to Serve & Self-Surrender are the 4 elements of Śūdra temperament/Power).

#SriAurobindo records multiple levels of दास्य:

2.1.4.3) The element of the Śūdra temperament in #SriAurobindo's Savitri (Aswapati's Yoga):

2.2.1.1) शक्ति is the 2nd element of शक्तिचतुष्टय, denoting the heightened, enlarged, rectified power of our natural instruments.
It has 4 sub-elements (देहशक्ति, प्राणशक्ति, चित्तशक्ति, बुद्धिशक्ति).

1st instrument here is the body, as #SriAurobindo & the Mother have explained:

2.2.1.2) देहशक्ति is described by #SriAurobindo as:
महत्त्वबोधो बलश्लाघा लघुता धारणसामर्थ्यमिति देहशक्ति:

(A sense of Mass & Force, An affirmation of Strength & Energy, An entire Lightness, & A power to contain all workings of energy are the 4 elements of the power of the body):

2.2.1.3) The element of the Power of the Body in #SriAurobindo's Savitri (Aswapati's Yoga):

2.2.2.1) The 2nd शक्ति is the प्राणशक्ति, or the power of the vital instrument.

A full & free working of the Pranic Shakti is required for the free & full operation of mind & supermind & spirit in the instrumentality of human nature, as #SriAurobindo & the Mother have explained:

2.2.2.2) प्राणशक्ति is described by #SriAurobindo as:
पूर्णता प्रसन्नता समता भोगसामर्थ्यमिति प्राणशक्तिः

(Fullness of vital force, Clear purity & gladness, Equality, Capacity for possession & enjoyment are the 4 elements or fourfold perfection of the power of vital instrument):

2.2.2.3) The element of the Power of the Vital Instrument in #SriAurobindo's Savitri (Aswapati's Yoga):

2.2.3.1) The 3rd शक्ति is the चित्तशक्ति, or the power of the emotional & psychical instrument..

This agitated part can be brought to a tranquil intensity by purification, by equality, by light of knowledge, by a harmonising of will, as #SriAurobindo & the Mother have explained:

2.2.3.2) चित्तशक्ति is described by #SriAurobindo as:
स्निग्धता तेजःश्लाघा कल्याणश्रद्धा प्रेमसामर्थ्यमिति चित्तशक्तिः

(Richness/Gladness of feeling, Affirmation of moral power, Faith in Divine grace & Capacity for unbounded love are 4 elements of power of psychical instrument):

2.2.3.3) The element of the Power of the Psychical Instrument in #SriAurobindo's Savitri (Savitri's Yoga):

2.2.4.1) The 4th शक्ति is the बुद्धिशक्ति, or the power of the intellect.

The intelligence must be freed from its defects, so that it can become a pure & serene thing of light, brilliant with all colors of the manifestation of Truth, as #SriAurobindo & the Mother have explained:

2.2.4.2) बुद्धिशक्ति is described by #SriAurobindo as:
विशुद्धता प्रकाशो विचित्रबोधः ज्ञानधारणसामर्थ्यमिति बुद्धिशक्तिः

(Purity, Clear radiance, Rich and Flexible variety and Integral capacity are the 4 elements or the fourfold perfection of the power of thinking intelligence):

2.2.4.3) The element of the Power of the Intellect in #SriAurobindo's Savitri (Aswapati's Yoga):

2.3.1) चंडीभाव (later called देवीभाव or दैवीप्रकृति) is the 3rd element of शक्तिचतुष्टय..

It signifies the manifestation of Divine Force in the temperament in Her various aspects, #SriAurobindo later described the aspects as—
महाकाली - शौर्यमुग्रता युध्दलिप्साट्टहास्यं
(contd.):

2.3.2) (contd.)

महेश्वरी - शांतिः विशालता ऐक्यलिप्सा आत्मप्रसादः
महालक्ष्मी - प्रेम भावसमृध्दिः सौंदर्यलिप्सा स्नेहहास्यं
महासरस्वती - दास्यं बुद्धिचातुर्यं कर्मलिप्सा प्रीतिः

दया ईश्र्वरभावः सर्वकर्मसामर्थ्यं are the elements common to the four, as recorded by #SriAurobindo:

2.3.3) The element of the Working of the Divine Force in #SriAurobindo's Savitri (Aswapati's Yoga):

2.4.1) The last element of शक्तिचतुष्टय is श्रद्धा or Faith.

The perfect faith is an assent of the whole being to one's Truth, and the faith demanded in this Yoga is the faith in the presence & power & working of the Divine Force, as #SriAurobindo and the Mother have explained:

2.4.2) #SriAurobindo defines श्रद्धा as:
शक्त्यां भगवति चेति श्रद्धा

(Faith in the Divine and His Force is Śraddhā)

There must be a faith in the love & wisdom of the Divine fulfilling Himself through us, & also a faith in the Shakti manifested by Him in us for that fulfillment: