June 20, 2025
Addressing the Issue of Overactive Nervous System Response to Circumstances
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 4, Ordeals and Difficulties, pg. 109
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/06/18/addressing-the-issue-of-overactive-nervous-system-response-to-circumstances
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
00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,240
Whenever anything happens in the
world, the senses capture the
2
00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:07,600
vibrations and send them up the
nervous channels to the brain,
3
00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,200
where they are interpreted and
responded to.
4
00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,760
When the nervous system is
sensitive and overly responsive,
5
00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,400
it may vibrate continuously and
not let up.
6
00:00:19,080 --> 00:00:21,840
This creates an uncomfortable
feeling that makes the
7
00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:26,800
individual nervous or jumpy,
wound up or overly reactive.
8
00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:32,000
This makes it difficult, if not
impossible, to calmly view
9
00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:36,600
whatever the circumstance is and
respond to it calmly and in the
10
00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:40,600
most effective manner.
This is at some point a closed
11
00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:45,600
loop where the individual feels
trapped and under pressure and
12
00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:50,480
cannot find any way out.
The first step to freeing
13
00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:53,280
oneself from this over
excitement of the nerves is to
14
00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,600
become aware of it.
And then to take steps to
15
00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:02,120
distance oneself from it and
eventually bring it to a state
16
00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:06,040
of quiet or calm.
The separation of the witness
17
00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,600
consciousness from the external
being is a powerful option to
18
00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,880
accomplish this.
There are also specific interim
19
00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,760
methods that can be employed to
aid the seeker in calming the
20
00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,040
nerves to break the cycle of
disturbance.
21
00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:27,120
For instance, taking deep
breaths, reciting A mantra,
22
00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:32,480
concentrating on some other
point or issue, spending time in
23
00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:36,240
nature, perhaps a forest or
along a seashore.
24
00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,720
Some people find it useful to do
hata, yoga, asanas or some form
25
00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:47,440
of martial arts, or even just
sit quietly, read and drink tea.
26
00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:52,120
Whatever works to bring the
nervous energy back into balance
27
00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,120
will help the seeker get to a
place where it becomes
28
00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:58,440
manageable.
Once the seeker works out a
29
00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:02,320
procedure that succeeds in
calming the nerves, he can begin
30
00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:06,040
to develop the insight to
hopefully avoid or at least
31
00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:10,400
reduce the nervous excitement
when future provocations come
32
00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,880
along.
The key is to appreciate that
33
00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,880
one is not the external
personality but the psychic
34
00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:22,920
being, the sole entity, so that
whatever occurs to the external
35
00:02:22,920 --> 00:02:27,040
being is not to be accepted if
it interferes with the sadhna.
36
00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:33,680
Srioro Bindu observes quote.
The main difficulty seems to be
37
00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,640
that you are too subject to an
excitement of the nerves.
38
00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,720
It is only by bringing quietude
and calm into the whole being
39
00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,200
that a steady progress in the
Sadhna can be assured.
40
00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,440
The first thing to be done in
order to recover is to stop
41
00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:50,640
yielding to the attack of the
nerves.
42
00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:55,480
The more you yield and identify
yourself with these ideas and
43
00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,360
feelings, the more they
increase.
44
00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:03,400
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
45
00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,360
Mother, looking from Within,
Chapter 4.
46
00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,960
Ordeals and Difficulties, page
one O 9.
00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,240
Whenever anything happens in the
world, the senses capture the
2
00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:07,600
vibrations and send them up the
nervous channels to the brain,
3
00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,200
where they are interpreted and
responded to.
4
00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,760
When the nervous system is
sensitive and overly responsive,
5
00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,400
it may vibrate continuously and
not let up.
6
00:00:19,080 --> 00:00:21,840
This creates an uncomfortable
feeling that makes the
7
00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:26,800
individual nervous or jumpy,
wound up or overly reactive.
8
00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:32,000
This makes it difficult, if not
impossible, to calmly view
9
00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:36,600
whatever the circumstance is and
respond to it calmly and in the
10
00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:40,600
most effective manner.
This is at some point a closed
11
00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:45,600
loop where the individual feels
trapped and under pressure and
12
00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:50,480
cannot find any way out.
The first step to freeing
13
00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:53,280
oneself from this over
excitement of the nerves is to
14
00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,600
become aware of it.
And then to take steps to
15
00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:02,120
distance oneself from it and
eventually bring it to a state
16
00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:06,040
of quiet or calm.
The separation of the witness
17
00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,600
consciousness from the external
being is a powerful option to
18
00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,880
accomplish this.
There are also specific interim
19
00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,760
methods that can be employed to
aid the seeker in calming the
20
00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,040
nerves to break the cycle of
disturbance.
21
00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:27,120
For instance, taking deep
breaths, reciting A mantra,
22
00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:32,480
concentrating on some other
point or issue, spending time in
23
00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:36,240
nature, perhaps a forest or
along a seashore.
24
00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,720
Some people find it useful to do
hata, yoga, asanas or some form
25
00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:47,440
of martial arts, or even just
sit quietly, read and drink tea.
26
00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:52,120
Whatever works to bring the
nervous energy back into balance
27
00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,120
will help the seeker get to a
place where it becomes
28
00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:58,440
manageable.
Once the seeker works out a
29
00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:02,320
procedure that succeeds in
calming the nerves, he can begin
30
00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:06,040
to develop the insight to
hopefully avoid or at least
31
00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:10,400
reduce the nervous excitement
when future provocations come
32
00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,880
along.
The key is to appreciate that
33
00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,880
one is not the external
personality but the psychic
34
00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:22,920
being, the sole entity, so that
whatever occurs to the external
35
00:02:22,920 --> 00:02:27,040
being is not to be accepted if
it interferes with the sadhna.
36
00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:33,680
Srioro Bindu observes quote.
The main difficulty seems to be
37
00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,640
that you are too subject to an
excitement of the nerves.
38
00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,720
It is only by bringing quietude
and calm into the whole being
39
00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,200
that a steady progress in the
Sadhna can be assured.
40
00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,440
The first thing to be done in
order to recover is to stop
41
00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:50,640
yielding to the attack of the
nerves.
42
00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:55,480
The more you yield and identify
yourself with these ideas and
43
00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,360
feelings, the more they
increase.
44
00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:03,400
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
45
00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,360
Mother, looking from Within,
Chapter 4.
46
00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,960
Ordeals and Difficulties, page
one O 9.