Aug. 18, 2025
Changing Human Nature Rather Than Abandoning the External Life
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 152
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/08/16/changing-human-nature-rather-than-abandoning-the-external-life/
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
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,040
Our mental process tends to take
us to extremes.
2
00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:08,440
We want simple answers without a
lot of nuance.
3
00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:13,720
Thus, when we seek spiritual
liberation, we tend to take the
4
00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:18,080
concept of renunciation or
rejection to mean that we
5
00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:22,800
abandoned the external life to
focus on our spiritual pursuits.
6
00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:27,800
If our vital nature does not
cooperate with this, we try to
7
00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:32,560
suppress it, and if that does
not succeed, we even try to
8
00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:37,720
punish or torture our physical
or vital being or create a sense
9
00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,360
of anguish in our emotional or
mental being.
10
00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:45,080
There arises A considerable
struggle as the human nature
11
00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:48,720
tries to achieve its
fulfillment, while our spiritual
12
00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:52,760
seeking tries to cast it aside
or even destroy it.
13
00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,160
Sriorobindo takes a different
approach to the matter.
14
00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:02,400
The rejection needed is not a
stifling of the human being in
15
00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:07,320
all its parts, but rather a
rejection of the deformations,
16
00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:12,720
distortions, or bad habits
developed across many millennia
17
00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:17,280
of evolutionary history in order
to create a harmonious,
18
00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:22,920
energetic and unified focus for
the life, guided and directed by
19
00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:27,160
the psychic being and the
spiritual consciousness in
20
00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,400
harmony with the divine
manifestation of which we are
21
00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:34,200
apart.
Adjusting and changing these
22
00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:39,240
deeply embedded drives,
cravings, desires, and habits of
23
00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:44,120
reaction is not an easy task,
nor one that is accomplished
24
00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,760
quickly.
Rather than cutting the knot of
25
00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:52,880
human nature, the seeker is
asked to untie the knot and
26
00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,840
bring the nature in line with
the deeper aspiration.
27
00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:01,160
In his book The Mother, Sri
Aurobindo describes the nature
28
00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:05,440
of the rejection needed to
accomplish the objective of
29
00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,400
becoming a conscious instrument
of the divine.
30
00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:12,320
Quote.
Rejection of the movements of
31
00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,200
the lower nature.
Rejection of the mind's ideas,
32
00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:21,880
opinions, preferences, habits,
constructions, so that the true
33
00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,920
knowledge may find free form in
a silent mind.
34
00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:30,120
Rejection of the vital nature's
desires, demands, cravings,
35
00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:35,840
sensations, passions,
selfishness, pride, arrogance,
36
00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:41,800
lust, greed, jealousy, envy,
hostility to the truth, so that
37
00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:47,080
the true power and joy may pour
from above into a calm, large,
38
00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,640
strong and consecrated vital
being.
39
00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:52,920
Rejection of the physical
nature.
40
00:02:52,920 --> 00:02:59,840
Stupidity, doubt, disbelief,
obscurity, obstinacy, pettiness,
41
00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:05,680
laziness, unwillingness to
change Thomas, so that the true
42
00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:11,840
stability of light, power Ananda
may establish itself in a body
43
00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:15,560
growing always more divine.
End Quote.
44
00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:21,120
It is not easy.
We have all, at one time or
45
00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,720
another, tried to change an
embedded habit.
46
00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:28,040
Whether we have tried to lose
weight through a diet, change
47
00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:32,920
our eating preferences, develop
a consistent exercise regimen,
48
00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,360
undertake a serious course of
study or personal development.
49
00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,240
Or try to avoid the reactions
that occur in various
50
00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:45,840
circumstances that bring us to
an instant expression of anger,
51
00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:50,760
frustration, or fear, Or even
change a habit of jumping to
52
00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,880
conclusions.
We're trying to judge others,
53
00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,840
pressuring others to adopt one's
own ideologies or convictions,
54
00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,320
arguing.
We're gossiping about others.
55
00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:07,000
When we undertake to consciously
bring about a change in some
56
00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:13,000
area, we find that the work
requires observation, patience,
57
00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:18,440
and persistent efforts to 1st
withdraw any positive sanction
58
00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:23,040
for that response.
And then to begin to guide the
59
00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,800
nature to alternatives that more
closely align with our
60
00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:32,400
aspiration, Sriorwindo writes
Quote.
61
00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:38,480
Unfortunately, there is the
resistance, a very obscure and
62
00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:43,000
obstinate resistance that
necessitates a negative element
63
00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,880
in the yoga, an element of
rejection of things that stand
64
00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:51,080
in the way and of pressure upon
those forms that are crude and
65
00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:56,240
useless to disappear on those
that are useful but imperfect or
66
00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,840
have been perverted to retain or
to recover their true movement
67
00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:05,080
to the vital.
This pressure is painful, first
68
00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:09,440
because it is obscure and does
not understand, and secondly
69
00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,280
because there are parts of it
that want to be left to their
70
00:05:13,280 --> 00:05:18,480
crude motions and not to change.
That is why the intervention of
71
00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,960
a psychic attitude is so
helpful, for the psychic has the
72
00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:28,120
happy confidence, the ready
understanding and response, the
73
00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,600
spontaneous surrender.
End Quote.
74
00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,360
Reference.
Srioro Bindu and the Mother.
75
00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:41,640
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, page 152.
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,040
Our mental process tends to take
us to extremes.
2
00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:08,440
We want simple answers without a
lot of nuance.
3
00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:13,720
Thus, when we seek spiritual
liberation, we tend to take the
4
00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:18,080
concept of renunciation or
rejection to mean that we
5
00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:22,800
abandoned the external life to
focus on our spiritual pursuits.
6
00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:27,800
If our vital nature does not
cooperate with this, we try to
7
00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:32,560
suppress it, and if that does
not succeed, we even try to
8
00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:37,720
punish or torture our physical
or vital being or create a sense
9
00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,360
of anguish in our emotional or
mental being.
10
00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:45,080
There arises A considerable
struggle as the human nature
11
00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:48,720
tries to achieve its
fulfillment, while our spiritual
12
00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:52,760
seeking tries to cast it aside
or even destroy it.
13
00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,160
Sriorobindo takes a different
approach to the matter.
14
00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:02,400
The rejection needed is not a
stifling of the human being in
15
00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:07,320
all its parts, but rather a
rejection of the deformations,
16
00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:12,720
distortions, or bad habits
developed across many millennia
17
00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:17,280
of evolutionary history in order
to create a harmonious,
18
00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:22,920
energetic and unified focus for
the life, guided and directed by
19
00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:27,160
the psychic being and the
spiritual consciousness in
20
00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,400
harmony with the divine
manifestation of which we are
21
00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:34,200
apart.
Adjusting and changing these
22
00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:39,240
deeply embedded drives,
cravings, desires, and habits of
23
00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:44,120
reaction is not an easy task,
nor one that is accomplished
24
00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,760
quickly.
Rather than cutting the knot of
25
00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:52,880
human nature, the seeker is
asked to untie the knot and
26
00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,840
bring the nature in line with
the deeper aspiration.
27
00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:01,160
In his book The Mother, Sri
Aurobindo describes the nature
28
00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:05,440
of the rejection needed to
accomplish the objective of
29
00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,400
becoming a conscious instrument
of the divine.
30
00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:12,320
Quote.
Rejection of the movements of
31
00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:16,200
the lower nature.
Rejection of the mind's ideas,
32
00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:21,880
opinions, preferences, habits,
constructions, so that the true
33
00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,920
knowledge may find free form in
a silent mind.
34
00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:30,120
Rejection of the vital nature's
desires, demands, cravings,
35
00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:35,840
sensations, passions,
selfishness, pride, arrogance,
36
00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:41,800
lust, greed, jealousy, envy,
hostility to the truth, so that
37
00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:47,080
the true power and joy may pour
from above into a calm, large,
38
00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,640
strong and consecrated vital
being.
39
00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:52,920
Rejection of the physical
nature.
40
00:02:52,920 --> 00:02:59,840
Stupidity, doubt, disbelief,
obscurity, obstinacy, pettiness,
41
00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:05,680
laziness, unwillingness to
change Thomas, so that the true
42
00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:11,840
stability of light, power Ananda
may establish itself in a body
43
00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:15,560
growing always more divine.
End Quote.
44
00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:21,120
It is not easy.
We have all, at one time or
45
00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,720
another, tried to change an
embedded habit.
46
00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:28,040
Whether we have tried to lose
weight through a diet, change
47
00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:32,920
our eating preferences, develop
a consistent exercise regimen,
48
00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,360
undertake a serious course of
study or personal development.
49
00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,240
Or try to avoid the reactions
that occur in various
50
00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:45,840
circumstances that bring us to
an instant expression of anger,
51
00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:50,760
frustration, or fear, Or even
change a habit of jumping to
52
00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,880
conclusions.
We're trying to judge others,
53
00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,840
pressuring others to adopt one's
own ideologies or convictions,
54
00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,320
arguing.
We're gossiping about others.
55
00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:07,000
When we undertake to consciously
bring about a change in some
56
00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:13,000
area, we find that the work
requires observation, patience,
57
00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:18,440
and persistent efforts to 1st
withdraw any positive sanction
58
00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:23,040
for that response.
And then to begin to guide the
59
00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,800
nature to alternatives that more
closely align with our
60
00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:32,400
aspiration, Sriorwindo writes
Quote.
61
00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:38,480
Unfortunately, there is the
resistance, a very obscure and
62
00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:43,000
obstinate resistance that
necessitates a negative element
63
00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,880
in the yoga, an element of
rejection of things that stand
64
00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:51,080
in the way and of pressure upon
those forms that are crude and
65
00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:56,240
useless to disappear on those
that are useful but imperfect or
66
00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,840
have been perverted to retain or
to recover their true movement
67
00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:05,080
to the vital.
This pressure is painful, first
68
00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:09,440
because it is obscure and does
not understand, and secondly
69
00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,280
because there are parts of it
that want to be left to their
70
00:05:13,280 --> 00:05:18,480
crude motions and not to change.
That is why the intervention of
71
00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,960
a psychic attitude is so
helpful, for the psychic has the
72
00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:28,120
happy confidence, the ready
understanding and response, the
73
00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,600
spontaneous surrender.
End Quote.
74
00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,360
Reference.
Srioro Bindu and the Mother.
75
00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:41,640
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, page 152.