Jan. 9, 2026
Converting Primal Physical-Vital Force Into Spiritual Force
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 4, Desire — Food — Sex, pg. 71This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/01/07/converting-primal-physical-vital-force-into-spiritual-force/
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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 #kundalini yoga #Muladhara Chakra #Sahasrara Chakra #spirituality #retas #ojas #sexual energy #tantra
1
00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:04,040
There is a well known and widely
described concept in the
2
00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:08,720
spiritual traditions of India
whereby the basic force of the
3
00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:12,640
first chakra that manifests in
the ordinary course through that
4
00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:16,480
center as sexual energy is
converted through various
5
00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:21,760
processes of Tapasya yogic
concentration into a force that
6
00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,680
can join the seeker to the
spiritual consciousness.
7
00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:31,600
This process, known as
converting raitas into ojas, is
8
00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:36,400
the basis for various actions of
Hathi Yoga, Pranayam and the
9
00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:41,200
well known Kundalini Yoga.
The basic force is envisioned as
10
00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,400
a serpent coiled at the base of
the spine, the Mulladhara
11
00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,600
chakra.
These practices are intended to
12
00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:52,040
concentrate the raw energy of
the first chakra, and instead of
13
00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:56,040
the energy going outwards in
sexual activity, it is driven
14
00:00:56,040 --> 00:01:00,000
upwards through the subtle nerve
channels, energizing the higher
15
00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:04,519
chakras and bursting forth at
the crown of the head through
16
00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:08,680
the 1000 pedal Lotus of the
Sahasrara Chakra, where it
17
00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:13,280
liberates the being from bondage
to the lower nature and joins
18
00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,760
with the divine consciousness
above.
19
00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,960
We understand both from the
ancient Vedic tradition and from
20
00:01:21,960 --> 00:01:26,440
modern science, that an enormous
power is locked up in matter.
21
00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:32,120
In the Vedas this power is Agni,
the Mystic fire which is
22
00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,520
released from matter.
In modern science, atomic
23
00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:40,880
fission and fusion illustrate
the convertibility of matter
24
00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:46,760
into energy, enormous energy.
A similar principle is at work
25
00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,240
in the liberation of the bound
energy held in the first chakra
26
00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,640
so that it can be channelled and
succeeds in liberating the being
27
00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:57,160
into pure spiritual
consciousness.
28
00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:03,480
In the Integral Yoga, Sri
Aurobindo recognizes this power,
29
00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,920
but he also describes a
different process which has less
30
00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,880
potential for negative
consequences to the being,
31
00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:16,520
whereby the aspiration calls
down the force from above, which
32
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:21,240
successively opens the chakras,
purifying and releasing their
33
00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:26,480
energy from the top down.
This avoids potential imbalances
34
00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:31,360
of the physical body, the vital
nature, the nerve framework, and
35
00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:35,880
the mind that can occur when the
primal power of the first chakra
36
00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:40,760
is released without proper
preparation of the being to hold
37
00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:46,360
and channel it effectively.
There is considerable confusion
38
00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,000
about whether the sexual drive
itself is to be used during this
39
00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:54,520
conversion process.
Even if outward sexual activity
40
00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:59,600
is not present, the very action
of inward concentration and
41
00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,760
indulgence creates vibratory
patterns that disseminate the
42
00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:08,560
sexual energy and which do not
therefore provide the needed
43
00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:10,240
energy.
At the higher levels.
44
00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,840
Some seekers are tempted to
engage in occult forms of sexual
45
00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:19,120
satisfaction, thinking that it
is harmless and invisible.
46
00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,120
Yet this is clearly not the
case.
47
00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,960
Others pick up on the vibrations
so created.
48
00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:30,000
People feel the sexual tension
and the pressure in the
49
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,680
atmosphere, and it evokes
whatever sympathetic vibrations
50
00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,880
potentially exist in the others
nearby.
51
00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:44,680
Occult sex, like other forms of
occult actions, has real and
52
00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,920
palpable impacts in the external
world.
53
00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:55,680
Sri Robindo writes quote to
master the sex impulse to become
54
00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:59,240
so much master of the sex center
that the sexual energy would be
55
00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,920
drawn upwards, not thrown
outwards and wasted.
56
00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,520
It is so indeed that the force
in the seed can be turned into a
57
00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:11,440
primal physical energy
supporting all the others Raytas
58
00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,920
into ojas.
But no error can be more
59
00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:20,120
perilous than to accept the in
mixture of the sexual desire and
60
00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:24,440
some kind of subtle satisfaction
of it, and look on this as part
61
00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,600
of the sadhna.
It would be the most effective
62
00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:31,640
way to head straight towards
spiritual downfall and throw
63
00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,720
into the atmosphere forces that
would block the supermental
64
00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:40,280
descent, bringing instead the
descent of adverse vital powers
65
00:04:40,280 --> 00:04:43,040
to disseminate disturbance and
disaster.
66
00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:48,760
This deviation must be
absolutely thrown out should it
67
00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:53,920
try to occur and expunge from
the consciousness, if the truth
68
00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,440
is to be brought down and the
work is to be done.
69
00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:04,920
End Quote Reference Shrioro
Bindo Bases of Yoga Chapter 4
70
00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,680
Desire food, sex age 71.
00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:04,040
There is a well known and widely
described concept in the
2
00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:08,720
spiritual traditions of India
whereby the basic force of the
3
00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:12,640
first chakra that manifests in
the ordinary course through that
4
00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:16,480
center as sexual energy is
converted through various
5
00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:21,760
processes of Tapasya yogic
concentration into a force that
6
00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,680
can join the seeker to the
spiritual consciousness.
7
00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:31,600
This process, known as
converting raitas into ojas, is
8
00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:36,400
the basis for various actions of
Hathi Yoga, Pranayam and the
9
00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:41,200
well known Kundalini Yoga.
The basic force is envisioned as
10
00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,400
a serpent coiled at the base of
the spine, the Mulladhara
11
00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,600
chakra.
These practices are intended to
12
00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:52,040
concentrate the raw energy of
the first chakra, and instead of
13
00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:56,040
the energy going outwards in
sexual activity, it is driven
14
00:00:56,040 --> 00:01:00,000
upwards through the subtle nerve
channels, energizing the higher
15
00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:04,519
chakras and bursting forth at
the crown of the head through
16
00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:08,680
the 1000 pedal Lotus of the
Sahasrara Chakra, where it
17
00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:13,280
liberates the being from bondage
to the lower nature and joins
18
00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,760
with the divine consciousness
above.
19
00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,960
We understand both from the
ancient Vedic tradition and from
20
00:01:21,960 --> 00:01:26,440
modern science, that an enormous
power is locked up in matter.
21
00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:32,120
In the Vedas this power is Agni,
the Mystic fire which is
22
00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,520
released from matter.
In modern science, atomic
23
00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:40,880
fission and fusion illustrate
the convertibility of matter
24
00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:46,760
into energy, enormous energy.
A similar principle is at work
25
00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,240
in the liberation of the bound
energy held in the first chakra
26
00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,640
so that it can be channelled and
succeeds in liberating the being
27
00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:57,160
into pure spiritual
consciousness.
28
00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:03,480
In the Integral Yoga, Sri
Aurobindo recognizes this power,
29
00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,920
but he also describes a
different process which has less
30
00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,880
potential for negative
consequences to the being,
31
00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:16,520
whereby the aspiration calls
down the force from above, which
32
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:21,240
successively opens the chakras,
purifying and releasing their
33
00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:26,480
energy from the top down.
This avoids potential imbalances
34
00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:31,360
of the physical body, the vital
nature, the nerve framework, and
35
00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:35,880
the mind that can occur when the
primal power of the first chakra
36
00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:40,760
is released without proper
preparation of the being to hold
37
00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:46,360
and channel it effectively.
There is considerable confusion
38
00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,000
about whether the sexual drive
itself is to be used during this
39
00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:54,520
conversion process.
Even if outward sexual activity
40
00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:59,600
is not present, the very action
of inward concentration and
41
00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,760
indulgence creates vibratory
patterns that disseminate the
42
00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:08,560
sexual energy and which do not
therefore provide the needed
43
00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:10,240
energy.
At the higher levels.
44
00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,840
Some seekers are tempted to
engage in occult forms of sexual
45
00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:19,120
satisfaction, thinking that it
is harmless and invisible.
46
00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,120
Yet this is clearly not the
case.
47
00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,960
Others pick up on the vibrations
so created.
48
00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:30,000
People feel the sexual tension
and the pressure in the
49
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,680
atmosphere, and it evokes
whatever sympathetic vibrations
50
00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,880
potentially exist in the others
nearby.
51
00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:44,680
Occult sex, like other forms of
occult actions, has real and
52
00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,920
palpable impacts in the external
world.
53
00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:55,680
Sri Robindo writes quote to
master the sex impulse to become
54
00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:59,240
so much master of the sex center
that the sexual energy would be
55
00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,920
drawn upwards, not thrown
outwards and wasted.
56
00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,520
It is so indeed that the force
in the seed can be turned into a
57
00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:11,440
primal physical energy
supporting all the others Raytas
58
00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,920
into ojas.
But no error can be more
59
00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:20,120
perilous than to accept the in
mixture of the sexual desire and
60
00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:24,440
some kind of subtle satisfaction
of it, and look on this as part
61
00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,600
of the sadhna.
It would be the most effective
62
00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:31,640
way to head straight towards
spiritual downfall and throw
63
00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,720
into the atmosphere forces that
would block the supermental
64
00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:40,280
descent, bringing instead the
descent of adverse vital powers
65
00:04:40,280 --> 00:04:43,040
to disseminate disturbance and
disaster.
66
00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:48,760
This deviation must be
absolutely thrown out should it
67
00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:53,920
try to occur and expunge from
the consciousness, if the truth
68
00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,440
is to be brought down and the
work is to be done.
69
00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:04,920
End Quote Reference Shrioro
Bindo Bases of Yoga Chapter 4
70
00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,680
Desire food, sex age 71.
