Sept. 18, 2025
A Quiet Mind
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 1, Calm — Peace — Equality, pg. 2This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/09/16/a-quiet-mind/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:04,680
Normally the mind is something
of a chaotic marketplace.
2
00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:10,960
Sensations come in.
Feelings, emotions, ideas, all
3
00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,520
kinds of distractions arise, and
the mind reacts and follows them
4
00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,360
Willy nilly until the next
impulse moves it in another
5
00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,960
direction.
The past arises as we review
6
00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:26,320
things that have occurred to us
and ruminate over what that
7
00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,600
means.
In some cases, we obsess over
8
00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:34,360
something someone has said or
done and we repeat thoughts over
9
00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:38,280
and over again.
The future enters our minds as
10
00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:43,000
we focus on something we would
like to do, intend to do, or on
11
00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,200
some possible outcome that we
fear or hope for.
12
00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,920
The present impinges on us with
the constant flow of sensations
13
00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,560
and impressions that demand our
minds attention.
14
00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,400
Even when we are relatively
focused on a project or tasked.
15
00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,880
Oftentimes thoughts intervene to
reflect on something in the
16
00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:07,000
past, or we may get distracted
by sounds or sights in our
17
00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:11,240
environment, or we may
experience a pang of hunger or
18
00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:15,680
feeling of thirst and interrupt
our concentration on the task.
19
00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:20,080
To attend to these feelings, we
may be carrying with us the
20
00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,320
residue of a discussion or
argument we had with someone
21
00:01:23,320 --> 00:01:28,560
earlier, the remembrance of a
dream we had while sleeping, or
22
00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,040
a fantasy we build about
something we would like to see
23
00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,400
happen in the future.
We do not normally even pay
24
00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,440
attention to all the mind's
activity because it is just the
25
00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:43,600
normal way things function for
the seeker.
26
00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:47,600
However, when he attempts to sit
for meditation, he becomes
27
00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:51,880
acutely aware of these things.
This can lead to considerable
28
00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:56,040
discouragement and a sense that
one cannot succeed in quieting
29
00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,320
the mind.
Many simply believe that these
30
00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:03,800
distractions only arise when one
tries to meditate, but the
31
00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:08,199
underlying reality is that they
are always present, but the
32
00:02:08,199 --> 00:02:10,520
individual does not pay
attention to them.
33
00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:15,160
Another issue arises when the
seeker begins to grapple with
34
00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:19,040
physical and vital impediments
that need to be addressed in the
35
00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:23,000
spiritual development process
and sees that they are not
36
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,320
changing quickly or easily.
This can lead to mental
37
00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:31,680
perturbations and can act as a
further source of anxiety,
38
00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:35,120
worry, or constant mental
processing.
39
00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,800
Even as he tries to solve the
embedded issues and habits of
40
00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:44,840
human nature in what turns out
to be unrealistic time frames
41
00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:49,360
and methods, Eventually the
seeker can, through repeated
42
00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:53,600
attempts, bring a measure of
quietness to the mental process.
43
00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:58,000
There are a number of different
methods that have been tried and
44
00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,240
it is up to the seeker to
determine which method is
45
00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:06,040
suitable for him.
Swami Vivekananda in Raja Yoga
46
00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,400
describes the link between the
breath and the flow of mental
47
00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:14,760
ripples in the mind stuff.
Sri Aurobindo describes in
48
00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,040
various places the shifting of
the standpoint to the witness
49
00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:22,000
awareness and the rejection of
the thoughts before they enter
50
00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:27,400
the being, as well as describing
the psychic aspiration and
51
00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:31,520
corresponding receptivity to the
higher force that can bring the
52
00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,320
mind to a state of quiet
awareness.
53
00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:39,440
Seekers also find that the force
can bring with it a state of
54
00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:43,680
solid peace, even a state of
silence of the mind.
55
00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:48,960
The experience of the spiritual
force descending and overriding
56
00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:53,040
the normal mental process is
reported by many who practice
57
00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,800
the integral yoga.
While this experience does not
58
00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:01,920
generally last indefinitely, it
shows the practitioner that such
59
00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,200
a state of awareness is
possible.
60
00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:11,760
Sri Orbindo notes quote, Silence
is always good, but I do not
61
00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:15,360
mean by quietness of mind entire
silence.
62
00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:20,360
I mean a mind free from
disturbance and trouble, steady,
63
00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:25,080
light and glad, so as to open to
the Force that will change the
64
00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,600
nature.
The important thing is to get
65
00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:32,240
rid of the habit of the invasion
of troubling thoughts, wrong
66
00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:36,640
feelings, confusion of ideas,
unhappy movements.
67
00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,000
These disturb the nature and
cloud it and make it difficult
68
00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:45,040
for the Force to work.
When the mind is quiet and at
69
00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,000
peace, the force can work more
easily.
70
00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:51,960
It should be possible to see
things that have to be changed
71
00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,440
in you without being upset or
depressed.
72
00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,000
The change is the more easily
done.
73
00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:04,040
End Quote reference Sri
Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga,
74
00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,920
chapter 1.
Calm, Peace and Equality, page
75
00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:08,280
2.
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:04,680
Normally the mind is something
of a chaotic marketplace.
2
00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:10,960
Sensations come in.
Feelings, emotions, ideas, all
3
00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,520
kinds of distractions arise, and
the mind reacts and follows them
4
00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,360
Willy nilly until the next
impulse moves it in another
5
00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,960
direction.
The past arises as we review
6
00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:26,320
things that have occurred to us
and ruminate over what that
7
00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,600
means.
In some cases, we obsess over
8
00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:34,360
something someone has said or
done and we repeat thoughts over
9
00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:38,280
and over again.
The future enters our minds as
10
00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:43,000
we focus on something we would
like to do, intend to do, or on
11
00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,200
some possible outcome that we
fear or hope for.
12
00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,920
The present impinges on us with
the constant flow of sensations
13
00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,560
and impressions that demand our
minds attention.
14
00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,400
Even when we are relatively
focused on a project or tasked.
15
00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,880
Oftentimes thoughts intervene to
reflect on something in the
16
00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:07,000
past, or we may get distracted
by sounds or sights in our
17
00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:11,240
environment, or we may
experience a pang of hunger or
18
00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:15,680
feeling of thirst and interrupt
our concentration on the task.
19
00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:20,080
To attend to these feelings, we
may be carrying with us the
20
00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,320
residue of a discussion or
argument we had with someone
21
00:01:23,320 --> 00:01:28,560
earlier, the remembrance of a
dream we had while sleeping, or
22
00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,040
a fantasy we build about
something we would like to see
23
00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,400
happen in the future.
We do not normally even pay
24
00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,440
attention to all the mind's
activity because it is just the
25
00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:43,600
normal way things function for
the seeker.
26
00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:47,600
However, when he attempts to sit
for meditation, he becomes
27
00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:51,880
acutely aware of these things.
This can lead to considerable
28
00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:56,040
discouragement and a sense that
one cannot succeed in quieting
29
00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,320
the mind.
Many simply believe that these
30
00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:03,800
distractions only arise when one
tries to meditate, but the
31
00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:08,199
underlying reality is that they
are always present, but the
32
00:02:08,199 --> 00:02:10,520
individual does not pay
attention to them.
33
00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:15,160
Another issue arises when the
seeker begins to grapple with
34
00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:19,040
physical and vital impediments
that need to be addressed in the
35
00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:23,000
spiritual development process
and sees that they are not
36
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,320
changing quickly or easily.
This can lead to mental
37
00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:31,680
perturbations and can act as a
further source of anxiety,
38
00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:35,120
worry, or constant mental
processing.
39
00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,800
Even as he tries to solve the
embedded issues and habits of
40
00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:44,840
human nature in what turns out
to be unrealistic time frames
41
00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:49,360
and methods, Eventually the
seeker can, through repeated
42
00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:53,600
attempts, bring a measure of
quietness to the mental process.
43
00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:58,000
There are a number of different
methods that have been tried and
44
00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,240
it is up to the seeker to
determine which method is
45
00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:06,040
suitable for him.
Swami Vivekananda in Raja Yoga
46
00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,400
describes the link between the
breath and the flow of mental
47
00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:14,760
ripples in the mind stuff.
Sri Aurobindo describes in
48
00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,040
various places the shifting of
the standpoint to the witness
49
00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:22,000
awareness and the rejection of
the thoughts before they enter
50
00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:27,400
the being, as well as describing
the psychic aspiration and
51
00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:31,520
corresponding receptivity to the
higher force that can bring the
52
00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,320
mind to a state of quiet
awareness.
53
00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:39,440
Seekers also find that the force
can bring with it a state of
54
00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:43,680
solid peace, even a state of
silence of the mind.
55
00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:48,960
The experience of the spiritual
force descending and overriding
56
00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:53,040
the normal mental process is
reported by many who practice
57
00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,800
the integral yoga.
While this experience does not
58
00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:01,920
generally last indefinitely, it
shows the practitioner that such
59
00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,200
a state of awareness is
possible.
60
00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:11,760
Sri Orbindo notes quote, Silence
is always good, but I do not
61
00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:15,360
mean by quietness of mind entire
silence.
62
00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:20,360
I mean a mind free from
disturbance and trouble, steady,
63
00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:25,080
light and glad, so as to open to
the Force that will change the
64
00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,600
nature.
The important thing is to get
65
00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:32,240
rid of the habit of the invasion
of troubling thoughts, wrong
66
00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:36,640
feelings, confusion of ideas,
unhappy movements.
67
00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,000
These disturb the nature and
cloud it and make it difficult
68
00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:45,040
for the Force to work.
When the mind is quiet and at
69
00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,000
peace, the force can work more
easily.
70
00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:51,960
It should be possible to see
things that have to be changed
71
00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,440
in you without being upset or
depressed.
72
00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,000
The change is the more easily
done.
73
00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:04,040
End Quote reference Sri
Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga,
74
00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,920
chapter 1.
Calm, Peace and Equality, page
75
00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:08,280
2.
