Aug. 31, 2025
Balancing Detachment, Indifference and Caretaking of the Body
reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pp. 161-163
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/08/29/balancing-detachment-indifference-and-caretaking-of-the-body/
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
00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,120
When we hear that we must
cultivate detachment and
2
00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,960
indifference to the physical
body as the instrument of our
3
00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:12,320
external interactions in the
world, we tend to immediately
4
00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,200
jump to the idea that we must
renounce everything and simply
5
00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:21,000
let the body do whatever happens
without any care or concern for
6
00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,480
its fate.
This is due to the nature of our
7
00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:29,400
minds that want simple black and
white answers without any form
8
00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,760
of nuance involved.
It is much more difficult to
9
00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:36,320
follow a more subtle
understanding and achieve
10
00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:40,800
detachment and indifference
without moving toward neglect
11
00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,160
and disintegration of the body.
The balance to be achieved
12
00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:49,320
requires proper care to be taken
for the instrument, even while
13
00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:53,320
we are willing to accept with
equanimity and a peaceful poise
14
00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,960
all the body's various
situations.
15
00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,640
The key to this more nuanced
approach is similar to the way
16
00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,959
we may handle a delicate musical
instrument or a tool.
17
00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:09,880
We care for it, ensure that it
is maintained in proper working
18
00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:14,400
order and good condition, and
ready for use when it is called
19
00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,920
into action.
Whether that instrument or tool
20
00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:22,360
stays with one or departs or
somehow becomes damaged,
21
00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:26,960
independent of our caretaking
activity, should be the place
22
00:01:26,960 --> 00:01:31,880
where we exercise detachment as
we realize that we do not own
23
00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,240
anything.
Rather, we act more or less as
24
00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:39,440
trustees for a time.
When it is time for the body to
25
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:44,640
go, we let it go.
Until that time, we accept it
26
00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:49,040
for what it is and care for it
in a responsible way.
27
00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:54,240
Sri Orobindo mentions the fact
that much of what we believe are
28
00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,760
necessities for the body are
simply long embedded habits.
29
00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,280
Relying on food for providing
energy to the body is one such
30
00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,360
habit.
It is interesting to note that
31
00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:10,440
in his book Autobiography of a
Yogi, Paraman's Yogananda
32
00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,320
describes a meeting with an
individual who did not eat food
33
00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:19,240
regularly but had extraordinary
vitality and energy, and who
34
00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:23,080
obviously was able to obtain
energy from the universal force
35
00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,040
that is always circulating
around us.
36
00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:30,360
Other such instances have also
been reported elsewhere.
37
00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,480
Whether we are in a position to
change this habit in our own
38
00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:38,920
lifetime, it is good to reflect
on the fact that this is not a
39
00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:43,840
universal requirement for the
manifestation, but simply a way
40
00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:50,240
of interaction that has acquired
A substantial fixed pattern, Sri
41
00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:51,920
Aurobindo observes.
Quote.
42
00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,720
We say then to the mind, this is
a working of prakruti.
43
00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,600
This is neither thyself nor
myself.
44
00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:05,800
Stand back from it.
We shall find, if we try, that
45
00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:10,120
the mind has this power of
detachment and can stand back
46
00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,800
from the body.
Not only an idea, but in act,
47
00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,440
and as it were, physically or
rather vitally.
48
00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:21,520
This detachment of the mind must
be strengthened by a certain
49
00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,440
attitude of indifference to the
things of the body.
50
00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,000
We must not care essentially
about its sleep or its waking,
51
00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:35,880
its movement or its rest, its
pain or its pleasure, its health
52
00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:40,640
or ill health, its vigor or its
fatigue, its comfort or its
53
00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,560
discomfort, or what it eats or
drinks.
54
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,640
This does not mean that we shall
not keep the body in right order
55
00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:51,800
so far as we can.
We have not to fall into violent
56
00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:56,360
asceticisms or a positive
neglect of the physical frame.
57
00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,000
But we have not either to be
affected in mind by hunger or
58
00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:05,640
thirst, or discomfort, or ill
health, or attach the importance
59
00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:09,160
which the physical and vital man
attaches to the things of the
60
00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:14,000
body, or indeed any but a quite
subordinate and purely
61
00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,600
instrumental importance.
Nor must this instrumental
62
00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:22,280
importance be allowed to assume
the proportions of a necessity.
63
00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:26,760
We must not, for instance,
imagine that the purity of the
64
00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:31,320
mind depends on the things we
eat or drink, although during a
65
00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:35,040
certain stage restrictions in
eating and drinking are useful
66
00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:39,480
to our inner progress.
Nor, on the other hand, must we
67
00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,960
continue to think that the
dependence of the mind or even
68
00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:48,040
the life on food and drink is
anything more than a habit, a
69
00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,680
customary relation which nature
has set up between these
70
00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:55,920
principles.
As a matter of fact, the food we
71
00:04:55,920 --> 00:05:00,840
take can be reduced by contrary
habit and new relation to a
72
00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:05,120
minimum without the mental or
vital vigor being in any way
73
00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,200
reduced.
Even On the contrary, with the
74
00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:11,240
judicious development, they can
be trained to a greater
75
00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:15,920
potentiality of vigor by
learning to rely on the secret
76
00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:19,880
fountains of mental and vital
energy with which they are
77
00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:24,200
connected more than upon the
minor aid of physical elements.
78
00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:29,760
This aspect of self-discipline
is, however, more important in
79
00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:34,120
the Yoga of self perfection than
here for our present purpose.
80
00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,280
The important point is the
renunciation by the mind of
81
00:05:38,280 --> 00:05:43,200
attachment to or dependence on
the things of the body.
82
00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:48,240
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
83
00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,320
Mother, Looking from within,
Chapter 5.
84
00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:56,520
Attitudes on the Path, pages 161
to 163.
00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,120
When we hear that we must
cultivate detachment and
2
00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,960
indifference to the physical
body as the instrument of our
3
00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:12,320
external interactions in the
world, we tend to immediately
4
00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,200
jump to the idea that we must
renounce everything and simply
5
00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:21,000
let the body do whatever happens
without any care or concern for
6
00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,480
its fate.
This is due to the nature of our
7
00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:29,400
minds that want simple black and
white answers without any form
8
00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,760
of nuance involved.
It is much more difficult to
9
00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:36,320
follow a more subtle
understanding and achieve
10
00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:40,800
detachment and indifference
without moving toward neglect
11
00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,160
and disintegration of the body.
The balance to be achieved
12
00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:49,320
requires proper care to be taken
for the instrument, even while
13
00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:53,320
we are willing to accept with
equanimity and a peaceful poise
14
00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,960
all the body's various
situations.
15
00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,640
The key to this more nuanced
approach is similar to the way
16
00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,959
we may handle a delicate musical
instrument or a tool.
17
00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:09,880
We care for it, ensure that it
is maintained in proper working
18
00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:14,400
order and good condition, and
ready for use when it is called
19
00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,920
into action.
Whether that instrument or tool
20
00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:22,360
stays with one or departs or
somehow becomes damaged,
21
00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:26,960
independent of our caretaking
activity, should be the place
22
00:01:26,960 --> 00:01:31,880
where we exercise detachment as
we realize that we do not own
23
00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,240
anything.
Rather, we act more or less as
24
00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:39,440
trustees for a time.
When it is time for the body to
25
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:44,640
go, we let it go.
Until that time, we accept it
26
00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:49,040
for what it is and care for it
in a responsible way.
27
00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:54,240
Sri Orobindo mentions the fact
that much of what we believe are
28
00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,760
necessities for the body are
simply long embedded habits.
29
00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,280
Relying on food for providing
energy to the body is one such
30
00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,360
habit.
It is interesting to note that
31
00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:10,440
in his book Autobiography of a
Yogi, Paraman's Yogananda
32
00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,320
describes a meeting with an
individual who did not eat food
33
00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:19,240
regularly but had extraordinary
vitality and energy, and who
34
00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:23,080
obviously was able to obtain
energy from the universal force
35
00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,040
that is always circulating
around us.
36
00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:30,360
Other such instances have also
been reported elsewhere.
37
00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,480
Whether we are in a position to
change this habit in our own
38
00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:38,920
lifetime, it is good to reflect
on the fact that this is not a
39
00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:43,840
universal requirement for the
manifestation, but simply a way
40
00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:50,240
of interaction that has acquired
A substantial fixed pattern, Sri
41
00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:51,920
Aurobindo observes.
Quote.
42
00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,720
We say then to the mind, this is
a working of prakruti.
43
00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,600
This is neither thyself nor
myself.
44
00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:05,800
Stand back from it.
We shall find, if we try, that
45
00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:10,120
the mind has this power of
detachment and can stand back
46
00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,800
from the body.
Not only an idea, but in act,
47
00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,440
and as it were, physically or
rather vitally.
48
00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:21,520
This detachment of the mind must
be strengthened by a certain
49
00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,440
attitude of indifference to the
things of the body.
50
00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,000
We must not care essentially
about its sleep or its waking,
51
00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:35,880
its movement or its rest, its
pain or its pleasure, its health
52
00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:40,640
or ill health, its vigor or its
fatigue, its comfort or its
53
00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,560
discomfort, or what it eats or
drinks.
54
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,640
This does not mean that we shall
not keep the body in right order
55
00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:51,800
so far as we can.
We have not to fall into violent
56
00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:56,360
asceticisms or a positive
neglect of the physical frame.
57
00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,000
But we have not either to be
affected in mind by hunger or
58
00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:05,640
thirst, or discomfort, or ill
health, or attach the importance
59
00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:09,160
which the physical and vital man
attaches to the things of the
60
00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:14,000
body, or indeed any but a quite
subordinate and purely
61
00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,600
instrumental importance.
Nor must this instrumental
62
00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:22,280
importance be allowed to assume
the proportions of a necessity.
63
00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:26,760
We must not, for instance,
imagine that the purity of the
64
00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:31,320
mind depends on the things we
eat or drink, although during a
65
00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:35,040
certain stage restrictions in
eating and drinking are useful
66
00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:39,480
to our inner progress.
Nor, on the other hand, must we
67
00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,960
continue to think that the
dependence of the mind or even
68
00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:48,040
the life on food and drink is
anything more than a habit, a
69
00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,680
customary relation which nature
has set up between these
70
00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:55,920
principles.
As a matter of fact, the food we
71
00:04:55,920 --> 00:05:00,840
take can be reduced by contrary
habit and new relation to a
72
00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:05,120
minimum without the mental or
vital vigor being in any way
73
00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,200
reduced.
Even On the contrary, with the
74
00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:11,240
judicious development, they can
be trained to a greater
75
00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:15,920
potentiality of vigor by
learning to rely on the secret
76
00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:19,880
fountains of mental and vital
energy with which they are
77
00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:24,200
connected more than upon the
minor aid of physical elements.
78
00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:29,760
This aspect of self-discipline
is, however, more important in
79
00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:34,120
the Yoga of self perfection than
here for our present purpose.
80
00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,280
The important point is the
renunciation by the mind of
81
00:05:38,280 --> 00:05:43,200
attachment to or dependence on
the things of the body.
82
00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:48,240
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
83
00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,320
Mother, Looking from within,
Chapter 5.
84
00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:56,520
Attitudes on the Path, pages 161
to 163.
