April 7, 2026
Are We There Yet?
reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Psychic Being — Soul: Its Nature, Mission and Evolution, Section 1 Meaning and Nature of the Psychic Being, pp. 22-23This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/04/05/are-we-there-yet-2/
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
#Sri Aurobindo #The Mother #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #soul #psychic being
1
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,960
We tend to start our conscious
spiritual quest from the
2
00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:08,400
external standpoint of our ego,
personality and the mental,
3
00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:12,160
vital and physical complex we
have developed during our lives.
4
00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,920
Something has opened up within
us that causes us to begin the
5
00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,480
process.
As we begin to have various
6
00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,880
experiences that go outside our
normal frame of reference, we
7
00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:27,760
identify them as soul
experiences.
8
00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,240
We find that life begins to
present us with coincidences,
9
00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:36,160
chance meetings that we no
longer interpret as pure chance,
10
00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:41,440
synergies, and what appear to be
in some cases, extraordinary
11
00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:47,400
openings to new insights,
powers, awareness, or visions
12
00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,520
and voices.
We may have revelatory dreams.
13
00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,080
We may enter into states of
spiritual trance.
14
00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:59,880
We we may suddenly feel an
uprush of emotions that support
15
00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:06,520
our aspiration, consecration,
self giving, and present us with
16
00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,200
a widening into a form of
universal or cosmic
17
00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:14,000
consciousness.
Many believe that these
18
00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,200
experiences indicate that they
have shifted to the standpoint
19
00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,560
of the soul, the psychic being.
For the most part, however,
20
00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:26,200
these experiences are very much
mixed with our mental, vital and
21
00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:31,760
physical aspects of being and
represent not a definitive shift
22
00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:36,080
to the sole standpoint, but a
recognition of the influence
23
00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,720
that the psychic being has on
the external being.
24
00:01:41,320 --> 00:01:45,600
At a certain point, however, as
the experiences withdraw for a
25
00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:51,000
time or difficulties arise, the
seeker begins to question and
26
00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,880
ask whether he is truly shifted
to the standpoint of the psychic
27
00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,840
being.
As the mother points out, if you
28
00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,120
have to ask, then you are not
there yet.
29
00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,560
We tend to be impatient and
expect easy solutions, fast
30
00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:13,400
responses and instant results.
Thus our predilection towards
31
00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,080
jumping to the conclusion after
receiving the first signs and
32
00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,840
touches of the psychic
consciousness.
33
00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:25,360
This impatient reigns despite
the long history and recitation
34
00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,280
of realized souls about the
complex issues and the time it
35
00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,800
takes to work through all the
knots, limitations,
36
00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:37,600
obstructions, obscurities and
deformations of the external
37
00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:42,200
nature to truly shift the
standpoint to that of the soul.
38
00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:47,880
The experiences are important
and valuable as they point the
39
00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,680
way and provide us
encouragement.
40
00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,800
They can and should be welcomed
when they come.
41
00:02:55,840 --> 00:03:00,240
They should not be a cause of
any complacency or slacking off
42
00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:07,040
of the spiritual focus.
A disciple asks Sweet Mother,
43
00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:13,200
here Sri Aurobindo has said, if
the inmost soul is awakened, if
44
00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,680
there is a new birth out of the
mere mental, vital and physical
45
00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,840
into the psychic consciousness,
then this yoga can be done.
46
00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:26,760
Why has he said the inmost soul?
Is there a superficial soul?
47
00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:34,800
The Mother responds quote.
It is because this inmost soul
48
00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,400
that is the central psychic
being, influences the
49
00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:42,040
superficial parts of the
consciousness, superficial in
50
00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:47,280
comparison with it, mental
parts, vital parts, the purest
51
00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:51,040
mind, the highest vital, the
emotive being.
52
00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:55,720
The soul influences them,
influences them to an extent
53
00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,560
where one has the impression of
entering into contact with it
54
00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:01,200
through these parts of the
being.
55
00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:06,200
So people take these parts for
the soul, and that is why he
56
00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:11,640
says the inmost soul, that is
the central soul, the real soul.
57
00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,040
For very often when one touches
certain parts of the mind which
58
00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,880
are under the psychic influence
and full of light and the joy of
59
00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:24,480
that light, or when one touches
certain very pure and very high
60
00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,440
parts of the emotive being,
which has the most generous,
61
00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:33,680
most unselfish emotions, one
also has the impression of being
62
00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:38,280
in contact with one's soul.
But this is not the true soul.
63
00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:40,600
It is not the soul in its very
essence.
64
00:04:41,280 --> 00:04:44,520
These are parts of the being
under its influence and
65
00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:50,200
manifesting something of it.
So very often people enter into
66
00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,560
contact with these parts and
this gives them illuminations,
67
00:04:54,880 --> 00:05:00,120
great joy, revelations, and they
feel they have found their soul.
68
00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:04,080
But it is only the part of the
being under its influence, one
69
00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:08,360
part or another.
For exactly what happens is that
70
00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:13,040
one touches these things, has
experiences, and then it gets
71
00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:17,800
veiled, and one wonders how is
it that I touched my soul and
72
00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,760
now have fallen back into this
state of ignorance and in
73
00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:24,320
conscience.
But that's because one had not
74
00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,440
touched one's soul.
One had touched those parts of
75
00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,120
the being which are under the
influence of the soul and
76
00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,960
manifest something of it, but
are not it.
77
00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,600
I have already said many times
that when 1 enters consciously
78
00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:43,320
into contact with one's soul and
the union is established, it is
79
00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:46,000
over.
It can no longer be undone.
80
00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:50,280
It is something permanent,
constant, which resists
81
00:05:50,280 --> 00:05:55,720
everything and which at any
moment whatever, if referred to,
82
00:05:55,720 --> 00:06:01,440
can be found, whereas the other
things one can have very fine
83
00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,600
experiences.
And then it gets veiled again
84
00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,400
and one tells oneself, How does
that happen?
85
00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,000
I saw my soul and now I don't
find it anymore.
86
00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,440
It was not the soul one had
seen.
87
00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,480
And these things are very
beautiful and give you very
88
00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:23,520
impressive experiences.
But this is not the contact with
89
00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:27,680
the psychic being itself.
The contact with the psychic
90
00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:31,520
being is definitive.
And it is about this that I say
91
00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:35,560
when people ask, do I have a
contact with my psychic being?
92
00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:41,200
Your question itself proves that
you don't have it.
93
00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:46,120
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
94
00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:50,920
Mother, the psychic being soul,
its nature, Mission and
95
00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,120
evolution.
Section 1.
96
00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:58,560
Meaning and Nature of the
Psychic Being, pages 22 to 23.
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,960
We tend to start our conscious
spiritual quest from the
2
00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:08,400
external standpoint of our ego,
personality and the mental,
3
00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:12,160
vital and physical complex we
have developed during our lives.
4
00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,920
Something has opened up within
us that causes us to begin the
5
00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,480
process.
As we begin to have various
6
00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,880
experiences that go outside our
normal frame of reference, we
7
00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:27,760
identify them as soul
experiences.
8
00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,240
We find that life begins to
present us with coincidences,
9
00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:36,160
chance meetings that we no
longer interpret as pure chance,
10
00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:41,440
synergies, and what appear to be
in some cases, extraordinary
11
00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:47,400
openings to new insights,
powers, awareness, or visions
12
00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,520
and voices.
We may have revelatory dreams.
13
00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,080
We may enter into states of
spiritual trance.
14
00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:59,880
We we may suddenly feel an
uprush of emotions that support
15
00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:06,520
our aspiration, consecration,
self giving, and present us with
16
00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,200
a widening into a form of
universal or cosmic
17
00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:14,000
consciousness.
Many believe that these
18
00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,200
experiences indicate that they
have shifted to the standpoint
19
00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,560
of the soul, the psychic being.
For the most part, however,
20
00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:26,200
these experiences are very much
mixed with our mental, vital and
21
00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:31,760
physical aspects of being and
represent not a definitive shift
22
00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:36,080
to the sole standpoint, but a
recognition of the influence
23
00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,720
that the psychic being has on
the external being.
24
00:01:41,320 --> 00:01:45,600
At a certain point, however, as
the experiences withdraw for a
25
00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:51,000
time or difficulties arise, the
seeker begins to question and
26
00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,880
ask whether he is truly shifted
to the standpoint of the psychic
27
00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,840
being.
As the mother points out, if you
28
00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,120
have to ask, then you are not
there yet.
29
00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,560
We tend to be impatient and
expect easy solutions, fast
30
00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:13,400
responses and instant results.
Thus our predilection towards
31
00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,080
jumping to the conclusion after
receiving the first signs and
32
00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,840
touches of the psychic
consciousness.
33
00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:25,360
This impatient reigns despite
the long history and recitation
34
00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,280
of realized souls about the
complex issues and the time it
35
00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,800
takes to work through all the
knots, limitations,
36
00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:37,600
obstructions, obscurities and
deformations of the external
37
00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:42,200
nature to truly shift the
standpoint to that of the soul.
38
00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:47,880
The experiences are important
and valuable as they point the
39
00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,680
way and provide us
encouragement.
40
00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,800
They can and should be welcomed
when they come.
41
00:02:55,840 --> 00:03:00,240
They should not be a cause of
any complacency or slacking off
42
00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:07,040
of the spiritual focus.
A disciple asks Sweet Mother,
43
00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:13,200
here Sri Aurobindo has said, if
the inmost soul is awakened, if
44
00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,680
there is a new birth out of the
mere mental, vital and physical
45
00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,840
into the psychic consciousness,
then this yoga can be done.
46
00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:26,760
Why has he said the inmost soul?
Is there a superficial soul?
47
00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:34,800
The Mother responds quote.
It is because this inmost soul
48
00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,400
that is the central psychic
being, influences the
49
00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:42,040
superficial parts of the
consciousness, superficial in
50
00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:47,280
comparison with it, mental
parts, vital parts, the purest
51
00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:51,040
mind, the highest vital, the
emotive being.
52
00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:55,720
The soul influences them,
influences them to an extent
53
00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,560
where one has the impression of
entering into contact with it
54
00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:01,200
through these parts of the
being.
55
00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:06,200
So people take these parts for
the soul, and that is why he
56
00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:11,640
says the inmost soul, that is
the central soul, the real soul.
57
00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,040
For very often when one touches
certain parts of the mind which
58
00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,880
are under the psychic influence
and full of light and the joy of
59
00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:24,480
that light, or when one touches
certain very pure and very high
60
00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,440
parts of the emotive being,
which has the most generous,
61
00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:33,680
most unselfish emotions, one
also has the impression of being
62
00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:38,280
in contact with one's soul.
But this is not the true soul.
63
00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:40,600
It is not the soul in its very
essence.
64
00:04:41,280 --> 00:04:44,520
These are parts of the being
under its influence and
65
00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:50,200
manifesting something of it.
So very often people enter into
66
00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,560
contact with these parts and
this gives them illuminations,
67
00:04:54,880 --> 00:05:00,120
great joy, revelations, and they
feel they have found their soul.
68
00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:04,080
But it is only the part of the
being under its influence, one
69
00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:08,360
part or another.
For exactly what happens is that
70
00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:13,040
one touches these things, has
experiences, and then it gets
71
00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:17,800
veiled, and one wonders how is
it that I touched my soul and
72
00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,760
now have fallen back into this
state of ignorance and in
73
00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:24,320
conscience.
But that's because one had not
74
00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,440
touched one's soul.
One had touched those parts of
75
00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,120
the being which are under the
influence of the soul and
76
00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,960
manifest something of it, but
are not it.
77
00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,600
I have already said many times
that when 1 enters consciously
78
00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:43,320
into contact with one's soul and
the union is established, it is
79
00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:46,000
over.
It can no longer be undone.
80
00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:50,280
It is something permanent,
constant, which resists
81
00:05:50,280 --> 00:05:55,720
everything and which at any
moment whatever, if referred to,
82
00:05:55,720 --> 00:06:01,440
can be found, whereas the other
things one can have very fine
83
00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,600
experiences.
And then it gets veiled again
84
00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,400
and one tells oneself, How does
that happen?
85
00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,000
I saw my soul and now I don't
find it anymore.
86
00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,440
It was not the soul one had
seen.
87
00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,480
And these things are very
beautiful and give you very
88
00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:23,520
impressive experiences.
But this is not the contact with
89
00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:27,680
the psychic being itself.
The contact with the psychic
90
00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:31,520
being is definitive.
And it is about this that I say
91
00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:35,560
when people ask, do I have a
contact with my psychic being?
92
00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:41,200
Your question itself proves that
you don't have it.
93
00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:46,120
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
94
00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:50,920
Mother, the psychic being soul,
its nature, Mission and
95
00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,120
evolution.
Section 1.
96
00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:58,560
Meaning and Nature of the
Psychic Being, pages 22 to 23.
