Jan. 30, 2026
Changing or Eliminating a Habit of the Physical Consciousness
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 5, Physical Consciousness — Subconscient — Sleep and Dream — Illness, pg. 86This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/01/28/changing-or-eliminating-a-habit-of-the-physical-consciousness/
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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 #physical consciousness #habits
1
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,240
The physical consciousness is
very much driven by habit,
2
00:00:04,520 --> 00:00:07,480
routine, and fixed response
patterns.
3
00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:11,480
We can observe this in our
eating routines, our sleep
4
00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,560
routines, and other habitual
actions.
5
00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:17,920
The mind and the vital can
influence the physical
6
00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,840
consciousness through
programming routines or habits
7
00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:25,360
into it, Essentially training
the physical to respond to
8
00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:30,280
specific stimuli and act in a
certain manner when presented
9
00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:34,680
with the situation.
All forms of physical exercise
10
00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:38,080
and repetitive activity are
building new habits into the
11
00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:42,680
physical consciousness.
When we undertake a diet or
12
00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:47,800
begin fasting or take up
bodybuilding or swimming or any
13
00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,520
other activity that requires
physical training, we are
14
00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:55,760
working to break establish
patterns of caloric intake or
15
00:00:55,760 --> 00:01:00,600
timing of meals, or find ways to
upgrade the responsiveness of
16
00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,480
the physical being to achieve
what it is being called upon to
17
00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:08,760
do, etcetera.
Once we understand both the
18
00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,280
nature and the physical
consciousness with respect to
19
00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:16,320
its habitual patterned action
and the manner in which the mind
20
00:01:16,320 --> 00:01:19,800
and vital can train or retrain
the physical nature to acquire
21
00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:25,240
new habits, we can actually
initiate various changes in the
22
00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:29,360
physical consciousness.
If we look at any form of
23
00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:33,320
training, we understand that it
takes precise instruction from
24
00:01:33,320 --> 00:01:38,560
the mind, repetition of the
action, and time for the body to
25
00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:43,520
form a new habit of response.
Similarly, if we look at
26
00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:48,120
breaking or changing an existing
habit, such as set mealtimes,
27
00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:53,360
snacking routines, or any other
physical habit, we see that this
28
00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:57,920
also takes consistency and time
to bear fruit.
29
00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:03,360
Recognizing this process, we
have both a negative and a
30
00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:05,640
positive method to put into
practice.
31
00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:10,199
To the extent that the mind or
the vital nature approves and
32
00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:14,560
supports the habit, it will
continue and actually be
33
00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:18,400
reinforced.
Even if we give into it time
34
00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:23,640
after time, it should not be
with consent, but with a patient
35
00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:28,320
and quiet will to reduce or
eliminate the unwanted response
36
00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:32,440
or habit.
For example, one has a craving
37
00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:37,720
for some snack, say a piece of
chocolate, 1 feels the urge to
38
00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:42,200
get a piece of chocolate.
The mind observing this impulse
39
00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:47,400
can turn down the request, or at
least can send forth a directive
40
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,160
to the physical that it really
does not want to support this
41
00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,600
request.
If the urge is strong and
42
00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,600
repetitive, it may overpower the
mental will for a time, but
43
00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:04,320
eventually the mental will can
prevail and change the habit.
44
00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:09,360
Many people who formerly
consumed meat diets have
45
00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,680
switched to vegetarian or vegan
diets.
46
00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:16,000
In this way, Even if they gave
in to an impulse or craving at
47
00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:21,160
some point along the way, the
direction and force was set and
48
00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:26,920
eventually they succeeded.
On the positive side, the mind
49
00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:29,800
and vital can send affirmative
statements to the physical
50
00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:34,400
being, encouraging it to do
positive things that support the
51
00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:40,440
aspiration, improve the health
and well-being of the body, and
52
00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,960
make it more capable of
achieving the intended result.
53
00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:48,120
In such case, it is important
for the mind and vital to
54
00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:52,600
recognize the process and the
time and not injure the body
55
00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:57,720
through taking it far beyond its
current limits, rather using the
56
00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:03,480
process of repetition over time
to inculcate a new set of
57
00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:08,560
responses and habits.
Trioro Bindo writes quote.
58
00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,520
You should not allow yourself to
be discouraged by any
59
00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,560
persistence of the movements of
the lower vital nature.
60
00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:20,640
There are some that tend always
to persist and return until the
61
00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,880
whole physical nature is changed
by the transformation of the
62
00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:30,240
most material consciousness.
Till then their pressure recurs,
63
00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,600
sometimes with a revival of
their force, sometimes more
64
00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:40,480
dully, as a mechanical habit
take from them all life force by
65
00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:42,960
refusing any mental or vital
ascent.
66
00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:47,840
Then the mechanical habit will
become powerless to influence
67
00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:53,000
the thoughts and acts and will
finally cease and Quote
68
00:04:54,280 --> 00:04:59,640
reference Sri Aurobindo, Faces
of Yoga chapter 5 Physical
69
00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:06,040
consciousness, subconscious
sleep and dream illness page 86.
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,240
The physical consciousness is
very much driven by habit,
2
00:00:04,520 --> 00:00:07,480
routine, and fixed response
patterns.
3
00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:11,480
We can observe this in our
eating routines, our sleep
4
00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,560
routines, and other habitual
actions.
5
00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:17,920
The mind and the vital can
influence the physical
6
00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,840
consciousness through
programming routines or habits
7
00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:25,360
into it, Essentially training
the physical to respond to
8
00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:30,280
specific stimuli and act in a
certain manner when presented
9
00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:34,680
with the situation.
All forms of physical exercise
10
00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:38,080
and repetitive activity are
building new habits into the
11
00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:42,680
physical consciousness.
When we undertake a diet or
12
00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:47,800
begin fasting or take up
bodybuilding or swimming or any
13
00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,520
other activity that requires
physical training, we are
14
00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:55,760
working to break establish
patterns of caloric intake or
15
00:00:55,760 --> 00:01:00,600
timing of meals, or find ways to
upgrade the responsiveness of
16
00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,480
the physical being to achieve
what it is being called upon to
17
00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:08,760
do, etcetera.
Once we understand both the
18
00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,280
nature and the physical
consciousness with respect to
19
00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:16,320
its habitual patterned action
and the manner in which the mind
20
00:01:16,320 --> 00:01:19,800
and vital can train or retrain
the physical nature to acquire
21
00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:25,240
new habits, we can actually
initiate various changes in the
22
00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:29,360
physical consciousness.
If we look at any form of
23
00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:33,320
training, we understand that it
takes precise instruction from
24
00:01:33,320 --> 00:01:38,560
the mind, repetition of the
action, and time for the body to
25
00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:43,520
form a new habit of response.
Similarly, if we look at
26
00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:48,120
breaking or changing an existing
habit, such as set mealtimes,
27
00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:53,360
snacking routines, or any other
physical habit, we see that this
28
00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:57,920
also takes consistency and time
to bear fruit.
29
00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:03,360
Recognizing this process, we
have both a negative and a
30
00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:05,640
positive method to put into
practice.
31
00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:10,199
To the extent that the mind or
the vital nature approves and
32
00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:14,560
supports the habit, it will
continue and actually be
33
00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:18,400
reinforced.
Even if we give into it time
34
00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:23,640
after time, it should not be
with consent, but with a patient
35
00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:28,320
and quiet will to reduce or
eliminate the unwanted response
36
00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:32,440
or habit.
For example, one has a craving
37
00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:37,720
for some snack, say a piece of
chocolate, 1 feels the urge to
38
00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:42,200
get a piece of chocolate.
The mind observing this impulse
39
00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:47,400
can turn down the request, or at
least can send forth a directive
40
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,160
to the physical that it really
does not want to support this
41
00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,600
request.
If the urge is strong and
42
00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,600
repetitive, it may overpower the
mental will for a time, but
43
00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:04,320
eventually the mental will can
prevail and change the habit.
44
00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:09,360
Many people who formerly
consumed meat diets have
45
00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,680
switched to vegetarian or vegan
diets.
46
00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:16,000
In this way, Even if they gave
in to an impulse or craving at
47
00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:21,160
some point along the way, the
direction and force was set and
48
00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:26,920
eventually they succeeded.
On the positive side, the mind
49
00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:29,800
and vital can send affirmative
statements to the physical
50
00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:34,400
being, encouraging it to do
positive things that support the
51
00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:40,440
aspiration, improve the health
and well-being of the body, and
52
00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,960
make it more capable of
achieving the intended result.
53
00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:48,120
In such case, it is important
for the mind and vital to
54
00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:52,600
recognize the process and the
time and not injure the body
55
00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:57,720
through taking it far beyond its
current limits, rather using the
56
00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:03,480
process of repetition over time
to inculcate a new set of
57
00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:08,560
responses and habits.
Trioro Bindo writes quote.
58
00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:12,520
You should not allow yourself to
be discouraged by any
59
00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,560
persistence of the movements of
the lower vital nature.
60
00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:20,640
There are some that tend always
to persist and return until the
61
00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,880
whole physical nature is changed
by the transformation of the
62
00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:30,240
most material consciousness.
Till then their pressure recurs,
63
00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,600
sometimes with a revival of
their force, sometimes more
64
00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:40,480
dully, as a mechanical habit
take from them all life force by
65
00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:42,960
refusing any mental or vital
ascent.
66
00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:47,840
Then the mechanical habit will
become powerless to influence
67
00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:53,000
the thoughts and acts and will
finally cease and Quote
68
00:04:54,280 --> 00:04:59,640
reference Sri Aurobindo, Faces
of Yoga chapter 5 Physical
69
00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:06,040
consciousness, subconscious
sleep and dream illness page 86.
