May 20, 2026
Deciding How to Act Amidst Conflicting Value Sets
reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Psychic Being — Soul: Its Nature, Mission and Evolution, Section 2 Role, Function and Action of the Psychic, pp. 62-63
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/05/18/deciding-how-to-act-amidst-conflicting-value-sets/
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
#Sri Aurobindo #The Mother #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #morality #ethics #knowledge by identity #soul #psychic being
1
00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,120
People frequently have to
wrestle with conflicting
2
00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:07,920
emotions, unclear and confusing
thoughts, and the need to
3
00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:12,880
balance duties, demands or
considerations that appear to be
4
00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:17,960
opposed to one another.
In some cases, we obtain facts
5
00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:22,000
which, if expressed to another
person, will presumably cause
6
00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,360
them suffering.
Yet withholding that information
7
00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:30,520
can have negative consequences.
How frequently we have to deal
8
00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,880
with someone who has a serious
health issue or who has a
9
00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:38,040
relationship issue which we
learn about but feel reticent to
10
00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,880
share.
Is it better to speak with the
11
00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:46,400
individual or to remain quiet?
We see someone being verbally or
12
00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,640
physically abused or bullied on
the street.
13
00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:55,280
Do we intervene or walk by and
not involve ourselves?
14
00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,600
We see an employer wrongfully
browbeating an employee and we
15
00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,160
have to choose whether to
intervene and perhaps endanger
16
00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:09,080
our own employment, or to let
the ire fall on the other person
17
00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:13,600
and remain quiet and hope to not
be noticed.
18
00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,200
We may hear a person being
maligned and undercut behind
19
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,800
their back about things we know
to be untrue.
20
00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,760
Do we respond and counter the
malicious claims being made?
21
00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,560
We see underlying all these
situations a variety of
22
00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:37,560
potential responses, some
dictated by fear, some by a
23
00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:42,520
desire not to cause pain, some
to hide some indiscretion,
24
00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:46,480
etcetera.
We make decisions in all kinds
25
00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:51,320
of situations based on some kind
of internal process, possibly a
26
00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,800
balancing act between
conflicting moral or ethical
27
00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:59,480
requirements, possibly due to
fear or unwillingness to stand
28
00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:04,560
up and oppose an injustice as it
would require getting involved
29
00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,800
when all we want is to have
peace and live and let live.
30
00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:15,000
There may be an element of
physical fear involved, or the
31
00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:19,840
thought that intervention would
not help, or possibly that it is
32
00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,360
not our role to intervene in the
karma of others.
33
00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:29,120
As long as we are acting from
the physical, vital, emotional,
34
00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,880
mental planes or some mix of
them, and the needs,
35
00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:37,760
expectations or fears of the
external being, we find that we
36
00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:42,320
can become paralyzed into
inaction as we cannot decide
37
00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,560
what exactly is the right course
of action.
38
00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:50,800
These levels are not founded in
knowledge as they judge things
39
00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:55,240
from outside and as separate
without a complete sense of what
40
00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:59,800
is really taking place, which
can only be known through a
41
00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:04,920
knowledge by identity.
Knowledge by identity occurs
42
00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,880
through the unification with the
soul consciousness that is
43
00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,960
connected to the one
consciousness that permeates and
44
00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:16,280
manifests the entire created
universe and transcends it.
45
00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:21,320
From this level, the knowledge
of exactly what needs to be said
46
00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:26,160
or done arises and there is no
conflict as it is a truth
47
00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:31,360
awareness that goes beyond all
the moral and ethical codes, all
48
00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:37,600
the fears, emotions, biases,
instinctive behaviors or mental
49
00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,040
logic.
The mother observes.
50
00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:47,040
Quote for example, you are in
contact with someone, you have
51
00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:51,160
very good feelings for this
person, you find yourself in a
52
00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,240
slightly difficult circumstance
and want to do the best
53
00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:59,200
possible.
If you act spontaneously, there
54
00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,640
is no problem before you,
because you act like that one
55
00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:07,680
thing trailing another and
without reflecting and you
56
00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:12,000
consciously want to do the best.
On what will you base your
57
00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,040
judgement?
What knowledge will allow you to
58
00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:22,560
decide I must do this or I must
do that, I must say this or I
59
00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,120
must say that, or I must not say
anything?
60
00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:32,080
All the countless possibilities
which come before you, and on
61
00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:33,840
what will you base your
judgement?
62
00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:39,560
If you look at it sincerely, you
will find out that at each step
63
00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:44,120
you do not know.
It is only if you have been in
64
00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,720
the habit of going within
yourself, of referring to the
65
00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:52,120
inner psychic consciousness and
letting it decide in yourself
66
00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:56,800
what you want to do, that you do
it with certitude, without
67
00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,920
hesitation, without a question,
nothing.
68
00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,040
You know that this is what must
be done, and there is no
69
00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,600
question about it.
But that's the only case.
70
00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,400
Therefore, it is only when you
let your psychic guide you
71
00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:16,920
consciously constantly that you
are able to do consciously and
72
00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:21,320
constantly the right thing.
But that's the only case.
73
00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:26,280
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
74
00:05:26,280 --> 00:05:30,760
Mother, the psychic being soul,
its nature, mission and
75
00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,320
evolution.
Section 2.
76
00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,400
Role, function and Action of the
Psychic.
77
00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,760
Pages 62 to 63.
00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,120
People frequently have to
wrestle with conflicting
2
00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:07,920
emotions, unclear and confusing
thoughts, and the need to
3
00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:12,880
balance duties, demands or
considerations that appear to be
4
00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:17,960
opposed to one another.
In some cases, we obtain facts
5
00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:22,000
which, if expressed to another
person, will presumably cause
6
00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,360
them suffering.
Yet withholding that information
7
00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:30,520
can have negative consequences.
How frequently we have to deal
8
00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,880
with someone who has a serious
health issue or who has a
9
00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:38,040
relationship issue which we
learn about but feel reticent to
10
00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,880
share.
Is it better to speak with the
11
00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:46,400
individual or to remain quiet?
We see someone being verbally or
12
00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,640
physically abused or bullied on
the street.
13
00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:55,280
Do we intervene or walk by and
not involve ourselves?
14
00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,600
We see an employer wrongfully
browbeating an employee and we
15
00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,160
have to choose whether to
intervene and perhaps endanger
16
00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:09,080
our own employment, or to let
the ire fall on the other person
17
00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:13,600
and remain quiet and hope to not
be noticed.
18
00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,200
We may hear a person being
maligned and undercut behind
19
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,800
their back about things we know
to be untrue.
20
00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,760
Do we respond and counter the
malicious claims being made?
21
00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,560
We see underlying all these
situations a variety of
22
00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:37,560
potential responses, some
dictated by fear, some by a
23
00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:42,520
desire not to cause pain, some
to hide some indiscretion,
24
00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:46,480
etcetera.
We make decisions in all kinds
25
00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:51,320
of situations based on some kind
of internal process, possibly a
26
00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,800
balancing act between
conflicting moral or ethical
27
00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:59,480
requirements, possibly due to
fear or unwillingness to stand
28
00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:04,560
up and oppose an injustice as it
would require getting involved
29
00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,800
when all we want is to have
peace and live and let live.
30
00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:15,000
There may be an element of
physical fear involved, or the
31
00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:19,840
thought that intervention would
not help, or possibly that it is
32
00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,360
not our role to intervene in the
karma of others.
33
00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:29,120
As long as we are acting from
the physical, vital, emotional,
34
00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,880
mental planes or some mix of
them, and the needs,
35
00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:37,760
expectations or fears of the
external being, we find that we
36
00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:42,320
can become paralyzed into
inaction as we cannot decide
37
00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,560
what exactly is the right course
of action.
38
00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:50,800
These levels are not founded in
knowledge as they judge things
39
00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:55,240
from outside and as separate
without a complete sense of what
40
00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:59,800
is really taking place, which
can only be known through a
41
00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:04,920
knowledge by identity.
Knowledge by identity occurs
42
00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,880
through the unification with the
soul consciousness that is
43
00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,960
connected to the one
consciousness that permeates and
44
00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:16,280
manifests the entire created
universe and transcends it.
45
00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:21,320
From this level, the knowledge
of exactly what needs to be said
46
00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:26,160
or done arises and there is no
conflict as it is a truth
47
00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:31,360
awareness that goes beyond all
the moral and ethical codes, all
48
00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:37,600
the fears, emotions, biases,
instinctive behaviors or mental
49
00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,040
logic.
The mother observes.
50
00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:47,040
Quote for example, you are in
contact with someone, you have
51
00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:51,160
very good feelings for this
person, you find yourself in a
52
00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,240
slightly difficult circumstance
and want to do the best
53
00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:59,200
possible.
If you act spontaneously, there
54
00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,640
is no problem before you,
because you act like that one
55
00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:07,680
thing trailing another and
without reflecting and you
56
00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:12,000
consciously want to do the best.
On what will you base your
57
00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,040
judgement?
What knowledge will allow you to
58
00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:22,560
decide I must do this or I must
do that, I must say this or I
59
00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,120
must say that, or I must not say
anything?
60
00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:32,080
All the countless possibilities
which come before you, and on
61
00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:33,840
what will you base your
judgement?
62
00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:39,560
If you look at it sincerely, you
will find out that at each step
63
00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:44,120
you do not know.
It is only if you have been in
64
00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,720
the habit of going within
yourself, of referring to the
65
00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:52,120
inner psychic consciousness and
letting it decide in yourself
66
00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:56,800
what you want to do, that you do
it with certitude, without
67
00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,920
hesitation, without a question,
nothing.
68
00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,040
You know that this is what must
be done, and there is no
69
00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,600
question about it.
But that's the only case.
70
00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,400
Therefore, it is only when you
let your psychic guide you
71
00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:16,920
consciously constantly that you
are able to do consciously and
72
00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:21,320
constantly the right thing.
But that's the only case.
73
00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:26,280
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
74
00:05:26,280 --> 00:05:30,760
Mother, the psychic being soul,
its nature, mission and
75
00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,320
evolution.
Section 2.
76
00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,400
Role, function and Action of the
Psychic.
77
00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,760
Pages 62 to 63.
