Sept. 15, 2025
Bases of Yoga -- Introduction
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, IntroductionThis episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/09/13/bases-of-yoga-introduction/
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
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,880
As one begins the actual
practice of yoga, one becomes
2
00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:08,240
aware of the various forms of
difficulties in gaining the
3
00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:13,160
cooperation of and control over
the various parts of our
4
00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,280
internal being.
The mind races.
5
00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,920
When we try to sit for
meditation, we become aware of
6
00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,360
desires and compulsions that
formerly were hidden to our
7
00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:27,000
view.
The physical body presents its
8
00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,960
difficulties and limitations.
We are faced with a complex and
9
00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:36,480
interdependent web of powers and
parts of the being which are not
10
00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:40,000
at all in harmony with the
central aspiration that is
11
00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,680
driving the practice.
It is relatively hard, if not
12
00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:48,440
virtually impossible, to work
through this confusion and
13
00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:53,280
complexity without assistance.
In response to numerous specific
14
00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,160
questions raised by his
disciples, Shrioro Bindo wrote
15
00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:03,280
thousands of letters clarifying,
analyzing and guiding, and in
16
00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:06,440
other ways helping practitioners
of the yoga to find their
17
00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:08,960
direction through this mass of
difficulty.
18
00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,880
The Basis of Yoga represents a
compilation from those letters,
19
00:01:14,320 --> 00:01:18,280
organized so as to provide a
practical handbook for the
20
00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:23,000
beginning aspirant just starting
on the path of yoga, as well as
21
00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,840
to the more experienced who are
beginning to grapple with issues
22
00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,440
that were not evident at the
start of the process.
23
00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,360
Even individuals long engage
with the yogic practice find
24
00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:40,040
value in coming back to core
principles and issues from time
25
00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:43,720
to time.
This book has been a valued
26
00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,480
companion to many thousands of
disciples over the years.
27
00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:52,720
It is intended for anyone who
aspires to undertake the process
28
00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:57,640
of gaining mastery over their
minds, emotions, vital energies
29
00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,720
and bodies in the discipline of
yoga.
30
00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,040
Added insights and commentary
are provided to put the
31
00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:10,000
comments, initially directed in
response to a specific disciple
32
00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:15,520
with a specific set of concerns,
into some kind of context for
33
00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,920
the lives we lead today in our
modern society.
34
00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:24,720
They are intended to engage and
hopefully address concerns that
35
00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:28,400
aid the seeker in associating
Sri Aurobindo's responses in a
36
00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,920
meaningful way in their own
lives, circumstances and inner
37
00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:35,840
growth.
Needs reference.
38
00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,920
Sri Aurobindo basis of yoga.
Introduction.
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,880
As one begins the actual
practice of yoga, one becomes
2
00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:08,240
aware of the various forms of
difficulties in gaining the
3
00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:13,160
cooperation of and control over
the various parts of our
4
00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,280
internal being.
The mind races.
5
00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,920
When we try to sit for
meditation, we become aware of
6
00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,360
desires and compulsions that
formerly were hidden to our
7
00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:27,000
view.
The physical body presents its
8
00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,960
difficulties and limitations.
We are faced with a complex and
9
00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:36,480
interdependent web of powers and
parts of the being which are not
10
00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:40,000
at all in harmony with the
central aspiration that is
11
00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,680
driving the practice.
It is relatively hard, if not
12
00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:48,440
virtually impossible, to work
through this confusion and
13
00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:53,280
complexity without assistance.
In response to numerous specific
14
00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,160
questions raised by his
disciples, Shrioro Bindo wrote
15
00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:03,280
thousands of letters clarifying,
analyzing and guiding, and in
16
00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:06,440
other ways helping practitioners
of the yoga to find their
17
00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:08,960
direction through this mass of
difficulty.
18
00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,880
The Basis of Yoga represents a
compilation from those letters,
19
00:01:14,320 --> 00:01:18,280
organized so as to provide a
practical handbook for the
20
00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:23,000
beginning aspirant just starting
on the path of yoga, as well as
21
00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,840
to the more experienced who are
beginning to grapple with issues
22
00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,440
that were not evident at the
start of the process.
23
00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,360
Even individuals long engage
with the yogic practice find
24
00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:40,040
value in coming back to core
principles and issues from time
25
00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:43,720
to time.
This book has been a valued
26
00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,480
companion to many thousands of
disciples over the years.
27
00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:52,720
It is intended for anyone who
aspires to undertake the process
28
00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:57,640
of gaining mastery over their
minds, emotions, vital energies
29
00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,720
and bodies in the discipline of
yoga.
30
00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,040
Added insights and commentary
are provided to put the
31
00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:10,000
comments, initially directed in
response to a specific disciple
32
00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:15,520
with a specific set of concerns,
into some kind of context for
33
00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,920
the lives we lead today in our
modern society.
34
00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:24,720
They are intended to engage and
hopefully address concerns that
35
00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:28,400
aid the seeker in associating
Sri Aurobindo's responses in a
36
00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,920
meaningful way in their own
lives, circumstances and inner
37
00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:35,840
growth.
Needs reference.
38
00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,920
Sri Aurobindo basis of yoga.
Introduction.
