Oct. 19, 2025
Beyond Mental Ideas to Spiritual Experience
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 2, Faith — Aspiration — Surrender, pp. 22-23This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/10/17/beyond-mental-ideas-to-spiritual-experience/
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 --> 00:00:04,920
The human mind is always at work
trying to figure out what life
2
00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:10,400
is all about, where we came
from, why we are here, what we
3
00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,560
are to do, what lies in the
future.
4
00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,880
We have developed a countless
number of ideas, philosophies,
5
00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,320
religious concepts, and we
become adherents to those that
6
00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:28,240
make sense to our minds.
In many cases, we then wield our
7
00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:32,320
various ideas, philosophies and
religious dogmas against each
8
00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:37,200
other and create division,
separation and warfare.
9
00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,200
Much of our thinking is
influenced by the vital needs
10
00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,240
and desires that we experience
in our external lives and
11
00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:49,080
through the impact of others in
our connected life in society,
12
00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:54,920
we come to certain directions,
ways of life, value sets and
13
00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:59,200
goals of living that we then try
to implement in our lives.
14
00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:04,440
All of this vital and mental
review, analysis, and decision
15
00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:10,440
process may impact our external
lives, but for the most part, it
16
00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:15,800
does not answer the ultimate
questions nor respond to our
17
00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:19,520
deeper calling.
When we begin to move beyond
18
00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:23,880
these mental ideas, we begin to
acquire experience.
19
00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:29,080
Experience guides US ever
further beyond what our mental
20
00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:34,240
process can effectuate.
In the Cana Upanishad, the
21
00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:39,400
physical power, the vital power,
and the mental power all felt
22
00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:43,680
like they had some kind of
ultimate power, but each was met
23
00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:48,120
with an unknown presence that
halted and turned away their
24
00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:52,000
native powers.
Only the mental power was able
25
00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,280
to recognize that there was
indeed some reality and a
26
00:01:55,280 --> 00:02:00,280
presence beyond that could not
be grasped by the powers of
27
00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:05,320
body, life, or mind.
Many create a mental dichotomy
28
00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:09,759
between our active existence and
a type of vacuum of space that
29
00:02:09,759 --> 00:02:13,320
essentially represents the
absence of life or activity.
30
00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:19,000
This is however a false
dichotomy as it does not ever
31
00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:24,720
answer the source of the active
existence or how it comes to be.
32
00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:31,960
Within the vast silent wide
expanse of space there is both a
33
00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:38,600
featureless non manifest aspect
and a dynamic active aspect, the
34
00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:42,280
latter of which is the creative
force that brings about all life
35
00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,840
and existence.
The dynamic aspect is a
36
00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:50,240
conscious presence that can be
experienced when an individual
37
00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:55,440
moves beyond the mental ideative
space within which we tend to
38
00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:59,360
enclose ourselves, Srioro Bindo
writes.
39
00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:05,320
Quote Mental theories are of no
fundamental importance for the
40
00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,480
mind forms or accepts the
theories that support the turn
41
00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:12,240
of the being.
What is important is that turn
42
00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:16,520
and the call within you, the
knowledge that there is a
43
00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,480
supreme existence, consciousness
and bliss, which is not merely a
44
00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:25,640
negative Nirvana or a static and
featureless absolute, but
45
00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:28,960
dynamic.
The perception that this divine
46
00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:33,520
consciousness can be realized
not only beyond, but here, and
47
00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:38,080
the consequent acceptance of a
divine life as the aim of yoga
48
00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:43,400
do not belong to the mind.
It is not a question of mental
49
00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,320
theory, even though mentally
this outlook can be as well
50
00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:52,520
supported as any other, if not
better, but of experience, and
51
00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:57,000
before the experience comes of
the soul's faith, bringing with
52
00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,160
it the minds and the life's
adhesion.
53
00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:04,000
One who is in contact with the
higher light and has the
54
00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,480
experience can follow this way,
however difficult it may be for
55
00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:13,880
the lower members to follow.
One who is touched by it without
56
00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:19,040
having the experience but having
the call, the conviction, the
57
00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:23,360
compulsion of the soul's
adherence can also follow it.
58
00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:29,600
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo, Faces
59
00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:34,800
of Yoga, Chapter 2, Faith,
Aspiration and Surrender, pages
60
00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:36,440
22 to 23.
00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,920
The human mind is always at work
trying to figure out what life
2
00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:10,400
is all about, where we came
from, why we are here, what we
3
00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,560
are to do, what lies in the
future.
4
00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,880
We have developed a countless
number of ideas, philosophies,
5
00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,320
religious concepts, and we
become adherents to those that
6
00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:28,240
make sense to our minds.
In many cases, we then wield our
7
00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:32,320
various ideas, philosophies and
religious dogmas against each
8
00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:37,200
other and create division,
separation and warfare.
9
00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,200
Much of our thinking is
influenced by the vital needs
10
00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,240
and desires that we experience
in our external lives and
11
00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:49,080
through the impact of others in
our connected life in society,
12
00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:54,920
we come to certain directions,
ways of life, value sets and
13
00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:59,200
goals of living that we then try
to implement in our lives.
14
00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:04,440
All of this vital and mental
review, analysis, and decision
15
00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:10,440
process may impact our external
lives, but for the most part, it
16
00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:15,800
does not answer the ultimate
questions nor respond to our
17
00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:19,520
deeper calling.
When we begin to move beyond
18
00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:23,880
these mental ideas, we begin to
acquire experience.
19
00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:29,080
Experience guides US ever
further beyond what our mental
20
00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:34,240
process can effectuate.
In the Cana Upanishad, the
21
00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:39,400
physical power, the vital power,
and the mental power all felt
22
00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:43,680
like they had some kind of
ultimate power, but each was met
23
00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:48,120
with an unknown presence that
halted and turned away their
24
00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:52,000
native powers.
Only the mental power was able
25
00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,280
to recognize that there was
indeed some reality and a
26
00:01:55,280 --> 00:02:00,280
presence beyond that could not
be grasped by the powers of
27
00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:05,320
body, life, or mind.
Many create a mental dichotomy
28
00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:09,759
between our active existence and
a type of vacuum of space that
29
00:02:09,759 --> 00:02:13,320
essentially represents the
absence of life or activity.
30
00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:19,000
This is however a false
dichotomy as it does not ever
31
00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:24,720
answer the source of the active
existence or how it comes to be.
32
00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:31,960
Within the vast silent wide
expanse of space there is both a
33
00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:38,600
featureless non manifest aspect
and a dynamic active aspect, the
34
00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:42,280
latter of which is the creative
force that brings about all life
35
00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,840
and existence.
The dynamic aspect is a
36
00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:50,240
conscious presence that can be
experienced when an individual
37
00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:55,440
moves beyond the mental ideative
space within which we tend to
38
00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:59,360
enclose ourselves, Srioro Bindo
writes.
39
00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:05,320
Quote Mental theories are of no
fundamental importance for the
40
00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,480
mind forms or accepts the
theories that support the turn
41
00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:12,240
of the being.
What is important is that turn
42
00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:16,520
and the call within you, the
knowledge that there is a
43
00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,480
supreme existence, consciousness
and bliss, which is not merely a
44
00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:25,640
negative Nirvana or a static and
featureless absolute, but
45
00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:28,960
dynamic.
The perception that this divine
46
00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:33,520
consciousness can be realized
not only beyond, but here, and
47
00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:38,080
the consequent acceptance of a
divine life as the aim of yoga
48
00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:43,400
do not belong to the mind.
It is not a question of mental
49
00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,320
theory, even though mentally
this outlook can be as well
50
00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:52,520
supported as any other, if not
better, but of experience, and
51
00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:57,000
before the experience comes of
the soul's faith, bringing with
52
00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,160
it the minds and the life's
adhesion.
53
00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:04,000
One who is in contact with the
higher light and has the
54
00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,480
experience can follow this way,
however difficult it may be for
55
00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:13,880
the lower members to follow.
One who is touched by it without
56
00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:19,040
having the experience but having
the call, the conviction, the
57
00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:23,360
compulsion of the soul's
adherence can also follow it.
58
00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:29,600
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo, Faces
59
00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:34,800
of Yoga, Chapter 2, Faith,
Aspiration and Surrender, pages
60
00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:36,440
22 to 23.
