March 5, 2026
Bases of Yoga -- Summary and Conclusions
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Summary and ConclusionsThis episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/03/03/bases-of-yoga-summary-and-conclusions/
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 #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #psychology
1
00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:05,520
In various places, Srioro Bindo
has noted that yoga is applied
2
00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:08,720
psychology.
The practitioner of yoga is
3
00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:12,440
confronted by all of the
instincts, habits, trained
4
00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:17,040
responses and reactions of human
nature and is asked to address
5
00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:20,600
and change these in order to
uplift the human being to the
6
00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:25,640
next stage of the evolutionary
cycle, thereby transforming the
7
00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,120
understanding, the response and
the action of the individual.
8
00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,800
Many paths of religious and
spiritual discipline provide
9
00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,640
what may be seen as a type of
road map whereby the
10
00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,800
practitioner adopts a specific
set of practices, whether
11
00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:47,600
mental, emotional, vital or
physical, and by carrying them
12
00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,720
out systematically he can
achieve the results set forth by
13
00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,800
that path.
Some paths are based on
14
00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,880
attaining deeper knowledge, some
on developing devotion and
15
00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,560
consecration.
Others focus on undertaking
16
00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:04,720
selfless action of various
sorts.
17
00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:09,240
Still others rely on
psychophysical practices such as
18
00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:13,560
pranayama and hatha yoga to
effectuate changes in the
19
00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,600
energetic action of the nature,
open up the subtle energy
20
00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:22,440
centers, and bring liberation
and new levels of understanding
21
00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:26,320
to the seeker.
To carry out any of these
22
00:01:26,320 --> 00:01:30,600
practices, the seeker needs must
address the obstructions,
23
00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:35,880
desires, embedded habits,
memories, traumas, et cetera,
24
00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,280
that he carries with him, along
with any limitations based on
25
00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:45,320
his education and past training.
Thus, whether consciously or
26
00:01:45,320 --> 00:01:49,840
not, he is undertaking a form of
applied psychology.
27
00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,640
For the seeker practicing the
integral yoga with an objective
28
00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,320
of the transformation of human
life rather than a form of
29
00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:03,280
liberation that abandons life or
an immersion in the material
30
00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:07,800
life to the exclusion of higher
purpose, the need for insight
31
00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:12,320
into the aspects of applied
psychology become imperative.
32
00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,560
The basis of yoga directly
addresses this need.
33
00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,160
The first need is to establish
the witness standpoint and not
34
00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,360
be reactive to every
circumstance, event or pressure
35
00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,320
that arises.
Thus, the first chapter focuses
36
00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:35,840
on calm, peace, equality.
The way is long and arduous and
37
00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,720
the progress is many times
unseen or just barely glimpsed.
38
00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:44,160
The being must be fixed in its
focus on the higher divine force
39
00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:48,800
intervening to effectuate the
needed changes and thus the next
40
00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:53,880
chapter is directed to faith,
aspiration, surrender.
41
00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,680
These represent the fundamental
qualities needed to progress
42
00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:03,240
along the way.
The 3rd chapter in difficulty
43
00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:07,000
works to apply the core
principles to actual life
44
00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,840
situations and experiences of
the seeker.
45
00:03:10,920 --> 00:03:14,240
The 4th chapter delves deeper
into the vital drives that are
46
00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:18,280
some of the most difficult to
overcome and redirect, and thus
47
00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:25,400
deals with desire, food, sex.
Finally, Sri Aurobindo outlines
48
00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,880
in the 5th chapter the bedrock
of the embedded nature with
49
00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:33,840
physical consciousness,
subconscious sleep and dream
50
00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,280
illness.
These are some of the last
51
00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,760
things that the seeker can take
up and address, but no
52
00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:44,880
comprehensive and permanent
change can take place until they
53
00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,600
are addressed.
Bases of Yoga is frequently
54
00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,840
referenced as an introductory
book, but it contains a depth of
55
00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,000
understanding that makes it a
practical support along the
56
00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,520
entire path of the yogic
practice.
57
00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:03,880
It is not sectarian in any
degree, focusing on real issues
58
00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,760
of human psychology and
development, that seekers along
59
00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:12,280
any path, religious,
philosophical, scientific,
60
00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,959
spiritual, can both relate to
and find benefit from.
61
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,839
Reference Sri Aurobindo, Bases
of yoga.
62
00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,080
Summary and conclusions.
00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:05,520
In various places, Srioro Bindo
has noted that yoga is applied
2
00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:08,720
psychology.
The practitioner of yoga is
3
00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:12,440
confronted by all of the
instincts, habits, trained
4
00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:17,040
responses and reactions of human
nature and is asked to address
5
00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:20,600
and change these in order to
uplift the human being to the
6
00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:25,640
next stage of the evolutionary
cycle, thereby transforming the
7
00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,120
understanding, the response and
the action of the individual.
8
00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,800
Many paths of religious and
spiritual discipline provide
9
00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,640
what may be seen as a type of
road map whereby the
10
00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,800
practitioner adopts a specific
set of practices, whether
11
00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:47,600
mental, emotional, vital or
physical, and by carrying them
12
00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,720
out systematically he can
achieve the results set forth by
13
00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,800
that path.
Some paths are based on
14
00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,880
attaining deeper knowledge, some
on developing devotion and
15
00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,560
consecration.
Others focus on undertaking
16
00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:04,720
selfless action of various
sorts.
17
00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:09,240
Still others rely on
psychophysical practices such as
18
00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:13,560
pranayama and hatha yoga to
effectuate changes in the
19
00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,600
energetic action of the nature,
open up the subtle energy
20
00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:22,440
centers, and bring liberation
and new levels of understanding
21
00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:26,320
to the seeker.
To carry out any of these
22
00:01:26,320 --> 00:01:30,600
practices, the seeker needs must
address the obstructions,
23
00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:35,880
desires, embedded habits,
memories, traumas, et cetera,
24
00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,280
that he carries with him, along
with any limitations based on
25
00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:45,320
his education and past training.
Thus, whether consciously or
26
00:01:45,320 --> 00:01:49,840
not, he is undertaking a form of
applied psychology.
27
00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,640
For the seeker practicing the
integral yoga with an objective
28
00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,320
of the transformation of human
life rather than a form of
29
00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:03,280
liberation that abandons life or
an immersion in the material
30
00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:07,800
life to the exclusion of higher
purpose, the need for insight
31
00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:12,320
into the aspects of applied
psychology become imperative.
32
00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,560
The basis of yoga directly
addresses this need.
33
00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,160
The first need is to establish
the witness standpoint and not
34
00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,360
be reactive to every
circumstance, event or pressure
35
00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,320
that arises.
Thus, the first chapter focuses
36
00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:35,840
on calm, peace, equality.
The way is long and arduous and
37
00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,720
the progress is many times
unseen or just barely glimpsed.
38
00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:44,160
The being must be fixed in its
focus on the higher divine force
39
00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:48,800
intervening to effectuate the
needed changes and thus the next
40
00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:53,880
chapter is directed to faith,
aspiration, surrender.
41
00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,680
These represent the fundamental
qualities needed to progress
42
00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:03,240
along the way.
The 3rd chapter in difficulty
43
00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:07,000
works to apply the core
principles to actual life
44
00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,840
situations and experiences of
the seeker.
45
00:03:10,920 --> 00:03:14,240
The 4th chapter delves deeper
into the vital drives that are
46
00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:18,280
some of the most difficult to
overcome and redirect, and thus
47
00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:25,400
deals with desire, food, sex.
Finally, Sri Aurobindo outlines
48
00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,880
in the 5th chapter the bedrock
of the embedded nature with
49
00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:33,840
physical consciousness,
subconscious sleep and dream
50
00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,280
illness.
These are some of the last
51
00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,760
things that the seeker can take
up and address, but no
52
00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:44,880
comprehensive and permanent
change can take place until they
53
00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,600
are addressed.
Bases of Yoga is frequently
54
00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,840
referenced as an introductory
book, but it contains a depth of
55
00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,000
understanding that makes it a
practical support along the
56
00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,520
entire path of the yogic
practice.
57
00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:03,880
It is not sectarian in any
degree, focusing on real issues
58
00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,760
of human psychology and
development, that seekers along
59
00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:12,280
any path, religious,
philosophical, scientific,
60
00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,959
spiritual, can both relate to
and find benefit from.
61
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,839
Reference Sri Aurobindo, Bases
of yoga.
62
00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,080
Summary and conclusions.
