April 6, 2025
Creating Harmony and Understanding Requires a Change of Consciousness
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 2, Looking at Oneself and Others, pp. 43-44This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/04/04/creating-harmony-and-understanding-requires-a-change-of-consciousness/
Video presentations,interviews and podcast episodes are all available 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
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,800
The mental consciousness
believes, first of all, that the
2
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:09,080
particular viewpoint held by an
individual is correct and that
3
00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:13,760
other viewpoints are wrong.
The vital nature wants to assert
4
00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:18,160
itself and gain dominance.
The limited and linear framework
5
00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,440
of the normal human
consciousness ensures that there
6
00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:26,280
will be disagreement, dispute,
and eventually a state of
7
00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:30,760
gridlock where opposing ideas
contend with each other and no
8
00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:35,280
one is willing or able to
compromise because they hold
9
00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,200
their own view to be the correct
one.
10
00:00:38,160 --> 00:00:43,560
We see this dynamic everywhere.
People who are mentally oriented
11
00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,080
believe that they can gather
facts, organize logical
12
00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,800
arguments, and thereby convince
people.
13
00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,560
People who are more emotion
centered believe that by a
14
00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:57,600
simple expression of goodwill or
empathy that people will come
15
00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,320
together and agree.
Others who are centered in the
16
00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:06,040
vital nature primarily believe
that through exercise of power
17
00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:10,240
and domination they will be able
to get people to agree with them
18
00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,920
using various forms of bullying
or pressure.
19
00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:19,640
None of these approaches has
shown success in actual practice
20
00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:25,120
throughout all of human history.
We can look on the resolution of
21
00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,960
disagreements, whether
interpersonal or on a larger
22
00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:33,000
scale, in society and its
institutions as a form of
23
00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,280
negotiation.
The various approaches to
24
00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:41,400
negotiation as set forth above,
each have their limitations,
25
00:01:41,960 --> 00:01:45,280
primarily due to the fact that
there is no comprehensive
26
00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,880
understanding that can
incorporate all sides of the
27
00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:52,000
misunderstanding.
Take into account the different
28
00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,960
viewpoints and needs of the
various parties to the
29
00:01:54,960 --> 00:02:00,280
misunderstanding, and thereby
find ways to develop a synthesis
30
00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,480
that resolves concerns each
party is holding.
31
00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:10,240
The game of chess, as played by
most casual players, is a game
32
00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,560
of strategy that offers people
the opportunity to explore
33
00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,160
different ways of approaching
mutual problems.
34
00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:20,360
There is the problem of attack
in the form of checkmating the
35
00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:25,160
opposing king, and there is the
problem of defence in the form
36
00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:29,640
of protecting one's king.
Those who are overly fixated on
37
00:02:29,640 --> 00:02:33,320
their own viewpoint and solution
will frequently try to implement
38
00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:37,200
an attack without fully
appreciating or understanding
39
00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,000
the other party's similar
attempt to launch an attack.
40
00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:46,280
Thus, one may easily find that
the attack winds up falling into
41
00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:50,720
a trap and losing to the
opposing player by failing to
42
00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,800
see the position and plans of
the other party.
43
00:02:54,920 --> 00:02:59,280
Chess players are therefore
encouraged to occasionally turn
44
00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:03,480
the board around, so to speak,
and look at things from the
45
00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:08,360
other player's viewpoint.
A useful exercise helpful in
46
00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:12,040
negotiations and wider harmony
of understanding.
47
00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,520
Which brings us to the art of
negotiation and the role of
48
00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,200
shifting to a new consciousness
in order to achieve what we call
49
00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:25,880
win win resolutions.
The new consciousness embodies
50
00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:29,680
not only one's own particular
viewpoint, but takes a more
51
00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:34,120
global view that can see,
understand and incorporate in
52
00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,360
its more complete picture the
viewpoints of other individuals
53
00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:41,760
and concerns that need to be
resolved.
54
00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:48,080
Things are not either or in this
consciousness, they are rather
55
00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:52,840
nuanced to appreciate not only
differing viewpoints but also
56
00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:57,480
differing needs, desired
outcomes and ways of seeing and
57
00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,960
responding.
A person embedded deeply in a
58
00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,960
mental framework will have a
hard time understanding the
59
00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,720
emotion centered person.
The person who only sees the
60
00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:12,480
exercise of raw vital dominance
and exertion of power cannot
61
00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:16,480
understand the concerns raised
by the mental or the emotion
62
00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,959
oriented individual.
Name calling and finger pointing
63
00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:25,640
are not strategies for
successful resolution but
64
00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:30,320
express a basic insecurity in
the power dynamic and thus
65
00:04:30,840 --> 00:04:33,920
cannot bring about a fair and
balanced resolution.
66
00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,520
A new consciousness is one that
can walk in the shoes of another
67
00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:43,920
individual, appreciate the core
validity of that viewpoint from
68
00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:47,760
the other perspective, and work
toward a solution that can
69
00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:52,560
address the basic needs,
concerns, and views of the other
70
00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,960
party.
It is useful to spend some time
71
00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,000
reflecting on different
viewpoints and trying to
72
00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:03,640
appreciate where the other party
is coming from Before 1 simply
73
00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:08,360
reacts with the normal mental,
emotional or vital or even
74
00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:12,320
physical approaches.
The resultant solution tends to
75
00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:18,240
be more harmonious, more
satisfying and more stable, as
76
00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,920
it does not breed resentment of
having had to either bow down to
77
00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:26,360
a form of vital pressure in a
power dynamic or compromise
78
00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,440
serious beliefs simply to get
along.
79
00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,520
Eventually, the party who feels
oppressed will use any
80
00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:38,640
opportunity given in the future
to overturn or disrupt the
81
00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:44,040
artificial harmony of the
compromise, Sriorabindo notes
82
00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:48,280
quote.
This misunderstanding between
83
00:05:48,280 --> 00:05:52,640
two minds can only be cured by a
change of consciousness.
84
00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:57,440
For when one goes into a deeper
consciousness first one sees the
85
00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,680
cause of these things and is not
troubled.
86
00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:05,240
One acquires an understanding,
patience and tolerance that
87
00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,560
makes one free from vexation and
other reactions.
88
00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,680
If both or all grow in
consciousness, then there arises
89
00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,320
a mental understanding of each
other's viewpoints which makes
90
00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,480
it easier to bring in harmony
and smooth working.
91
00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,280
It is this that should be sought
by the change within.
92
00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:29,320
To create the same harmony from
outside by exterior means is not
93
00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:34,440
so easy, as the human mind is
stiff in its perceptions and the
94
00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,960
human vital insistent on its own
way of action.
95
00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:44,440
Let this be your main will to
grow yourself within, and let
96
00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,120
the clearer and deeper
consciousness come, and have a
97
00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:52,440
goodwill for the same change to
come in others, so that charity
98
00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,720
and harmony may come in the
place of friction and
99
00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:01,240
misunderstanding.
End Quote Reference.
100
00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,640
Srioro Bindo and the Mother.
Looking from Within, Chapter 2.
101
00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:10,360
Looking at Oneself and Others,
pages 43 to 44.
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,800
The mental consciousness
believes, first of all, that the
2
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:09,080
particular viewpoint held by an
individual is correct and that
3
00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:13,760
other viewpoints are wrong.
The vital nature wants to assert
4
00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:18,160
itself and gain dominance.
The limited and linear framework
5
00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,440
of the normal human
consciousness ensures that there
6
00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:26,280
will be disagreement, dispute,
and eventually a state of
7
00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:30,760
gridlock where opposing ideas
contend with each other and no
8
00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:35,280
one is willing or able to
compromise because they hold
9
00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,200
their own view to be the correct
one.
10
00:00:38,160 --> 00:00:43,560
We see this dynamic everywhere.
People who are mentally oriented
11
00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,080
believe that they can gather
facts, organize logical
12
00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,800
arguments, and thereby convince
people.
13
00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,560
People who are more emotion
centered believe that by a
14
00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:57,600
simple expression of goodwill or
empathy that people will come
15
00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,320
together and agree.
Others who are centered in the
16
00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:06,040
vital nature primarily believe
that through exercise of power
17
00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:10,240
and domination they will be able
to get people to agree with them
18
00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,920
using various forms of bullying
or pressure.
19
00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:19,640
None of these approaches has
shown success in actual practice
20
00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:25,120
throughout all of human history.
We can look on the resolution of
21
00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,960
disagreements, whether
interpersonal or on a larger
22
00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:33,000
scale, in society and its
institutions as a form of
23
00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,280
negotiation.
The various approaches to
24
00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:41,400
negotiation as set forth above,
each have their limitations,
25
00:01:41,960 --> 00:01:45,280
primarily due to the fact that
there is no comprehensive
26
00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,880
understanding that can
incorporate all sides of the
27
00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:52,000
misunderstanding.
Take into account the different
28
00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,960
viewpoints and needs of the
various parties to the
29
00:01:54,960 --> 00:02:00,280
misunderstanding, and thereby
find ways to develop a synthesis
30
00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,480
that resolves concerns each
party is holding.
31
00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:10,240
The game of chess, as played by
most casual players, is a game
32
00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,560
of strategy that offers people
the opportunity to explore
33
00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,160
different ways of approaching
mutual problems.
34
00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:20,360
There is the problem of attack
in the form of checkmating the
35
00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:25,160
opposing king, and there is the
problem of defence in the form
36
00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:29,640
of protecting one's king.
Those who are overly fixated on
37
00:02:29,640 --> 00:02:33,320
their own viewpoint and solution
will frequently try to implement
38
00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:37,200
an attack without fully
appreciating or understanding
39
00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,000
the other party's similar
attempt to launch an attack.
40
00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:46,280
Thus, one may easily find that
the attack winds up falling into
41
00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:50,720
a trap and losing to the
opposing player by failing to
42
00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,800
see the position and plans of
the other party.
43
00:02:54,920 --> 00:02:59,280
Chess players are therefore
encouraged to occasionally turn
44
00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:03,480
the board around, so to speak,
and look at things from the
45
00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:08,360
other player's viewpoint.
A useful exercise helpful in
46
00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:12,040
negotiations and wider harmony
of understanding.
47
00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,520
Which brings us to the art of
negotiation and the role of
48
00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,200
shifting to a new consciousness
in order to achieve what we call
49
00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:25,880
win win resolutions.
The new consciousness embodies
50
00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:29,680
not only one's own particular
viewpoint, but takes a more
51
00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:34,120
global view that can see,
understand and incorporate in
52
00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,360
its more complete picture the
viewpoints of other individuals
53
00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:41,760
and concerns that need to be
resolved.
54
00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:48,080
Things are not either or in this
consciousness, they are rather
55
00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:52,840
nuanced to appreciate not only
differing viewpoints but also
56
00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:57,480
differing needs, desired
outcomes and ways of seeing and
57
00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,960
responding.
A person embedded deeply in a
58
00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,960
mental framework will have a
hard time understanding the
59
00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,720
emotion centered person.
The person who only sees the
60
00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:12,480
exercise of raw vital dominance
and exertion of power cannot
61
00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:16,480
understand the concerns raised
by the mental or the emotion
62
00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,959
oriented individual.
Name calling and finger pointing
63
00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:25,640
are not strategies for
successful resolution but
64
00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:30,320
express a basic insecurity in
the power dynamic and thus
65
00:04:30,840 --> 00:04:33,920
cannot bring about a fair and
balanced resolution.
66
00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,520
A new consciousness is one that
can walk in the shoes of another
67
00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:43,920
individual, appreciate the core
validity of that viewpoint from
68
00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:47,760
the other perspective, and work
toward a solution that can
69
00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:52,560
address the basic needs,
concerns, and views of the other
70
00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,960
party.
It is useful to spend some time
71
00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,000
reflecting on different
viewpoints and trying to
72
00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:03,640
appreciate where the other party
is coming from Before 1 simply
73
00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:08,360
reacts with the normal mental,
emotional or vital or even
74
00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:12,320
physical approaches.
The resultant solution tends to
75
00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:18,240
be more harmonious, more
satisfying and more stable, as
76
00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,920
it does not breed resentment of
having had to either bow down to
77
00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:26,360
a form of vital pressure in a
power dynamic or compromise
78
00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,440
serious beliefs simply to get
along.
79
00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,520
Eventually, the party who feels
oppressed will use any
80
00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:38,640
opportunity given in the future
to overturn or disrupt the
81
00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:44,040
artificial harmony of the
compromise, Sriorabindo notes
82
00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:48,280
quote.
This misunderstanding between
83
00:05:48,280 --> 00:05:52,640
two minds can only be cured by a
change of consciousness.
84
00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:57,440
For when one goes into a deeper
consciousness first one sees the
85
00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,680
cause of these things and is not
troubled.
86
00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:05,240
One acquires an understanding,
patience and tolerance that
87
00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,560
makes one free from vexation and
other reactions.
88
00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,680
If both or all grow in
consciousness, then there arises
89
00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,320
a mental understanding of each
other's viewpoints which makes
90
00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,480
it easier to bring in harmony
and smooth working.
91
00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,280
It is this that should be sought
by the change within.
92
00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:29,320
To create the same harmony from
outside by exterior means is not
93
00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:34,440
so easy, as the human mind is
stiff in its perceptions and the
94
00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,960
human vital insistent on its own
way of action.
95
00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:44,440
Let this be your main will to
grow yourself within, and let
96
00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,120
the clearer and deeper
consciousness come, and have a
97
00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:52,440
goodwill for the same change to
come in others, so that charity
98
00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,720
and harmony may come in the
place of friction and
99
00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:01,240
misunderstanding.
End Quote Reference.
100
00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,640
Srioro Bindo and the Mother.
Looking from Within, Chapter 2.
101
00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:10,360
Looking at Oneself and Others,
pages 43 to 44.