April 23, 2024
Close Observation Can Identify the Influence of Vital Beings and Forces
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch. 3 Hidden Forces Around, pp. 61-62 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/04/20/close-observation-can-identify-the-influence-of-vital-beings-and-forces/
YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at http://www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at http://www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:02,280 --> 00:00:05,720
One of the key points in any
attempt to change one's actions
2
00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:09,680
or reactions, one's behavior or
characteristic ways of
3
00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:14,120
responding to situations, is to
determine through careful
4
00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:18,200
observation that these things
are not an essential part of
5
00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:23,080
oneself or one's character,
rather that they are external to
6
00:00:23,080 --> 00:00:28,240
oneself and thus can be changed
or dispensed with more easily
7
00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,759
than if one accepts their
centrality in one's own being.
8
00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,640
One of the most powerful methods
is to bifurcate the being
9
00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,840
inwardly and shift the stance of
observation from the surface
10
00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:46,600
nature to what Sri Aurobindo
calls the witness consciousness.
11
00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,600
The standpoint of the Purusha
Observing the actions of the
12
00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:57,360
nature prakruti, the Purusha is
unmoved and does not accept
13
00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:02,000
these actions as its own.
It thus gains the power to deny,
14
00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:08,560
remove, or modify that is not
readily available when one feels
15
00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:13,120
bound up and intimately
connected to the actions of the
16
00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,200
nature as essential components
of one's existence.
17
00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:21,880
Once one attains the standpoint
of the witness, however, even
18
00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,360
further understanding results.
One begins to recognize that
19
00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:30,720
most, if not all, that one takes
as one's own decisions or
20
00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:35,400
reactions actually originate
outside oneself.
21
00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:40,560
A vibration occurs and it
strikes the consciousness,
22
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:46,600
perhaps in a very subtle manner,
enters into the being, sets off
23
00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:51,160
a sympathetic vibration
internally, which then can rise
24
00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,400
to the surface and suddenly we
are reacting based on that
25
00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,440
vibrational pattern.
It is through this means that
26
00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,800
one can begin to recognize the
action of vital forces and
27
00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:07,040
beings as they attempt to take
control of one's reactions.
28
00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:12,920
Sometimes one feels a ripple in
one's vital envelope as the
29
00:02:12,920 --> 00:02:15,400
vibrations work their way into
the being.
30
00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,400
Sometimes it may register as a
feeling of discomfort in the
31
00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:24,840
physical body.
In other cases it may become a
32
00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,640
nagging thought or idea that
pushes 1 into a certain line of
33
00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:33,040
action.
In many cases, the vibration is
34
00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:37,600
contrary to one's own normal
state of being, and thus an
35
00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:43,200
observant witness can spot the
anomaly and recognize the
36
00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:48,040
foreign nature of the pressure.
This understanding may take time
37
00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:52,280
to develop through repeated
inner attempts at observation.
38
00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:59,280
Many people have taken up the
practice of mindfulness or
39
00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,760
vipassana.
This practice requires the
40
00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:06,440
individual to undertake each
action consciously with full
41
00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:10,840
attention.
It also means that every
42
00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:15,480
internal reaction or response
needs to be observed, and thus
43
00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,080
it can potentially aid in
gaining the observational
44
00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:24,080
leverage needed to spot the
influx of the vital influences
45
00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:29,640
the mother observes.
Quote there it is a little
46
00:03:29,640 --> 00:03:32,920
easier to recognize the
influence, for if you are the
47
00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:36,440
least bit attentive, you become
aware of something that has
48
00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:41,800
suddenly awakened within you.
For example, those who are in
49
00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:43,600
the habit of losing their
temper.
50
00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,720
If they have attempted ever so
little to control their anger,
51
00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:52,400
they will find something coming
from outside or rising from
52
00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:56,840
below which actually takes hold
of their consciousness and
53
00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:00,880
arouses anger in them.
I don't mean that everybody is
54
00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:04,760
capable of this discernment.
I am Speaking of those who have
55
00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,320
tried to understand their being
and control it.
56
00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:12,120
These adverse suggestions are
easier to distinguish than, for
57
00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:17,120
instance, your response to the
will or desire of a being who is
58
00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:21,040
of the same nature as yourself,
another human being who
59
00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,320
consequently acts on you without
this giving you a clear
60
00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:26,760
impression of something coming
from outside.
61
00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:32,200
The vibrations are too alike,
too similar in their nature, and
62
00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,120
you have to be much more
attentive and have a much
63
00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,840
sharper discernment to realize
that these movements which seem
64
00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:44,960
to come out from you are not
really yours, but come from
65
00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:48,440
outside, but with the adverse
forces.
66
00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:52,040
If you are in the least sincere
and observe yourself
67
00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:55,720
attentively, you become aware
that it is something in the
68
00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,920
being which is responding to an
influence, an impulse, the
69
00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:05,520
suggestion, even something at
times very concrete, which
70
00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:10,920
enters and produces similar
vibrations in the being there.
71
00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:15,360
Now that is the problem, the
remedy.
72
00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:23,320
It is always the same goodwill,
sincerity, insight, patience,
73
00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:29,600
oh, an untiring patience and a
perseverance which assures you
74
00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:34,560
that what you have not succeeded
in doing today, you will succeed
75
00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:40,080
in doing another time and makes
you go on trying until you do
76
00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,720
succeed.
And this brings us back to Sri
77
00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,920
Aurobindo's sentence.
If this control seems to you
78
00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:52,520
quite impossible today, well,
that means that not only will it
79
00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:56,960
be possible, but it that it will
be realized later.
80
00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,560
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
81
00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:05,640
Mother, The Hidden Forces of
Life, Chapter 3.
82
00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:10,240
Hidden Forces around pages 61 to
62.
00:00:02,280 --> 00:00:05,720
One of the key points in any
attempt to change one's actions
2
00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:09,680
or reactions, one's behavior or
characteristic ways of
3
00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:14,120
responding to situations, is to
determine through careful
4
00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:18,200
observation that these things
are not an essential part of
5
00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:23,080
oneself or one's character,
rather that they are external to
6
00:00:23,080 --> 00:00:28,240
oneself and thus can be changed
or dispensed with more easily
7
00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,759
than if one accepts their
centrality in one's own being.
8
00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,640
One of the most powerful methods
is to bifurcate the being
9
00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,840
inwardly and shift the stance of
observation from the surface
10
00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:46,600
nature to what Sri Aurobindo
calls the witness consciousness.
11
00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,600
The standpoint of the Purusha
Observing the actions of the
12
00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:57,360
nature prakruti, the Purusha is
unmoved and does not accept
13
00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:02,000
these actions as its own.
It thus gains the power to deny,
14
00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:08,560
remove, or modify that is not
readily available when one feels
15
00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:13,120
bound up and intimately
connected to the actions of the
16
00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,200
nature as essential components
of one's existence.
17
00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:21,880
Once one attains the standpoint
of the witness, however, even
18
00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,360
further understanding results.
One begins to recognize that
19
00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:30,720
most, if not all, that one takes
as one's own decisions or
20
00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:35,400
reactions actually originate
outside oneself.
21
00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:40,560
A vibration occurs and it
strikes the consciousness,
22
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:46,600
perhaps in a very subtle manner,
enters into the being, sets off
23
00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:51,160
a sympathetic vibration
internally, which then can rise
24
00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,400
to the surface and suddenly we
are reacting based on that
25
00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,440
vibrational pattern.
It is through this means that
26
00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,800
one can begin to recognize the
action of vital forces and
27
00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:07,040
beings as they attempt to take
control of one's reactions.
28
00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:12,920
Sometimes one feels a ripple in
one's vital envelope as the
29
00:02:12,920 --> 00:02:15,400
vibrations work their way into
the being.
30
00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,400
Sometimes it may register as a
feeling of discomfort in the
31
00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:24,840
physical body.
In other cases it may become a
32
00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,640
nagging thought or idea that
pushes 1 into a certain line of
33
00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:33,040
action.
In many cases, the vibration is
34
00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:37,600
contrary to one's own normal
state of being, and thus an
35
00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:43,200
observant witness can spot the
anomaly and recognize the
36
00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:48,040
foreign nature of the pressure.
This understanding may take time
37
00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:52,280
to develop through repeated
inner attempts at observation.
38
00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:59,280
Many people have taken up the
practice of mindfulness or
39
00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,760
vipassana.
This practice requires the
40
00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:06,440
individual to undertake each
action consciously with full
41
00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:10,840
attention.
It also means that every
42
00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:15,480
internal reaction or response
needs to be observed, and thus
43
00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,080
it can potentially aid in
gaining the observational
44
00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:24,080
leverage needed to spot the
influx of the vital influences
45
00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:29,640
the mother observes.
Quote there it is a little
46
00:03:29,640 --> 00:03:32,920
easier to recognize the
influence, for if you are the
47
00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:36,440
least bit attentive, you become
aware of something that has
48
00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:41,800
suddenly awakened within you.
For example, those who are in
49
00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:43,600
the habit of losing their
temper.
50
00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,720
If they have attempted ever so
little to control their anger,
51
00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:52,400
they will find something coming
from outside or rising from
52
00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:56,840
below which actually takes hold
of their consciousness and
53
00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:00,880
arouses anger in them.
I don't mean that everybody is
54
00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:04,760
capable of this discernment.
I am Speaking of those who have
55
00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,320
tried to understand their being
and control it.
56
00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:12,120
These adverse suggestions are
easier to distinguish than, for
57
00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:17,120
instance, your response to the
will or desire of a being who is
58
00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:21,040
of the same nature as yourself,
another human being who
59
00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,320
consequently acts on you without
this giving you a clear
60
00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:26,760
impression of something coming
from outside.
61
00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:32,200
The vibrations are too alike,
too similar in their nature, and
62
00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,120
you have to be much more
attentive and have a much
63
00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,840
sharper discernment to realize
that these movements which seem
64
00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:44,960
to come out from you are not
really yours, but come from
65
00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:48,440
outside, but with the adverse
forces.
66
00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:52,040
If you are in the least sincere
and observe yourself
67
00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:55,720
attentively, you become aware
that it is something in the
68
00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,920
being which is responding to an
influence, an impulse, the
69
00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:05,520
suggestion, even something at
times very concrete, which
70
00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:10,920
enters and produces similar
vibrations in the being there.
71
00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:15,360
Now that is the problem, the
remedy.
72
00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:23,320
It is always the same goodwill,
sincerity, insight, patience,
73
00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:29,600
oh, an untiring patience and a
perseverance which assures you
74
00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:34,560
that what you have not succeeded
in doing today, you will succeed
75
00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:40,080
in doing another time and makes
you go on trying until you do
76
00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,720
succeed.
And this brings us back to Sri
77
00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,920
Aurobindo's sentence.
If this control seems to you
78
00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:52,520
quite impossible today, well,
that means that not only will it
79
00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:56,960
be possible, but it that it will
be realized later.
80
00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,560
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
81
00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:05,640
Mother, The Hidden Forces of
Life, Chapter 3.
82
00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:10,240
Hidden Forces around pages 61 to
62.