Spirituality : between morality and immorality

In the world, we generally find two kinds of people: there are those whose minds are so entangled in a complex web of moral laws that they are afraid of sin and live in awe of God; and there are those who derisively mock any notion of morality and  flamboyantly engage in unrestrained hedonism.   In the spiritual path, one has to anchor oneself in the narrow pathway  between these two extremes – between morality and immorality.   One has to adopt an inner discipline which is conducive to growth of one’s consciousness but which may or may not adhere to any moral laws.  To convey this difference, the Mother Mirra Alfassa made contradictory observations on this topic.

Why are artists irregular in their conduct?

Artists who create ethereal works that require stupendous effort and imagination can often to be irregular in private life.  Such contradictions stem from a trifurcation in the human personality between the ethical, aesthetic and logical aspects.   Those who are mature in one aspect may be partially developed in the other two aspects.  Legal scholars may have  a strong ethical personality but lack any aesthetic abilities.  Artists can have an intensely refined aesthetic sense but may be undeveloped ethically or logically.  Scientists who possess acute logical clarity can be emotionally frigid.   In the couple of dialogues given below, the Mother Mirra Alfassa expatiates on the irregularities seen in the lives of great personalities.

Why one should not hate the sinner?

Sri Aurobindo once said, “To hate the sinner is the worst sin, for it is hating God; yet he who commits it glories in his superior virtue”.  Mahatma Gandhi is known to have said “hate the sin; love the sinner”.  This post discusses the psycho-spiritual reasons why one may not want to hate the sinner.