Aug. 14, 2025
Developing a Power to Perceive and Understand Ourselves and Our World by Minimizing the Distortions and Biases That Are Inherent in Our Human INstrumentation and Process
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pp. 149-150This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/08/12/developing-a-power-to-perceive-and-understand-ourselves-and-our-world-by-minimizing-the-distortions-and-biases-that-are-inherent-in-our-human-instrumentation-and-process/
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
1
00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,320
Whenever we try to understand
something, we are met with
2
00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:09,120
various types of inherent biases
that skew the determinations we
3
00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:13,040
make.
Not only our our senses, our
4
00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:16,400
perceptions, and our thoughts
subject to various forms of
5
00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:21,440
filtering, but they are also
skewed by our past experience,
6
00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:26,240
the fact that our minds fill in
missing data based on what we
7
00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:30,840
expect to see, and we interpret
everything through the filter of
8
00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:35,480
our memories, our emotional
framework, and our contextual
9
00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:37,880
relationship to what is being
perceived.
10
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,800
In quantum mechanics, the
Heisenberg uncertainty principle
11
00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:47,400
adds another layer to the entire
process, even beyond our
12
00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:53,720
inherent biases, namely that the
very fact of observation changes
13
00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:59,120
what is being observed in order
to reach the truth of anything.
14
00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,200
We therefore need to undertake
considerable efforts to 1st
15
00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,400
understand what kind of biases
and filters we are employing in
16
00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:12,760
our perception, and 2nd work to
minimize their impact on the
17
00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,560
resulting analysis and
conclusions we draw.
18
00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:21,560
For instance, if we desire a
certain outcome or adhere to a
19
00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:25,640
certain point of view, we will
tend to interpret what we see
20
00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:29,840
based on those filters.
We either get a confirmation of
21
00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,960
what we already believe, or we
get the opposite of it and we
22
00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:38,640
then react with a rejection, an
interpretation that fits our
23
00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:43,320
preconceived notions.
Our senses are subject to being
24
00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:47,480
misled.
What we see, what we hear, what
25
00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:53,280
we feel are all partial and are
also subject to manipulation
26
00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:57,800
based on on our position as an
observer in relation to the
27
00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,800
object of our perception, as
well as through careful
28
00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:05,280
tailoring of information by
those seeking to influence our
29
00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:10,639
perceptions or due to innocent
but nevertheless inaccurate
30
00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:14,800
factual data.
It is not just a matter of
31
00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,960
factual data, however.
We have our own expectations.
32
00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:23,600
Ideas and preconceived notions
that go into how we interpret
33
00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:27,640
and respond to things.
Then we overlay our mental
34
00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:32,760
process, our emotional needs,
our experience and memory, and
35
00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,280
our training and education over
the perceptions.
36
00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:41,120
Desires play a rather large role
in how we respond to things,
37
00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:45,120
whether we are attracted or
repulsed, whether we are
38
00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:49,400
responding out of fear or
antipathy or some kind of
39
00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:54,080
chemistry of attraction.
The idea then, in order to
40
00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,680
approach a more unbiased view of
the world and the situations
41
00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:02,440
that we experience, is to find
ways to systematically abstract
42
00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,360
ourselves from this entire
baggage of the external ego,
43
00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:11,720
personality and the limitations
of the external physical, vital
44
00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:16,920
emotional and mental being.
The practice of shifting to the
45
00:03:16,920 --> 00:03:20,480
standpoint of the witness
consciousness is an important
46
00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:25,400
part of this process, so that we
can identify and minimize the
47
00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,240
influence of these factors on
our perceptions of the reality
48
00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,880
that we interact with.
The Mother notes quote.
49
00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,960
To be perfectly sincere, it is
indispensable not to have any
50
00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:44,440
preference, any desire, any
attraction, any dislike, any
51
00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:49,160
sympathy or antipathy, any
attachment, any repulsion.
52
00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:54,160
One must have a total integral
vision of things in which
53
00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:58,280
everything is in its place and
one has the same attitude
54
00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,800
towards all things, the attitude
of true vision.
55
00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:06,480
This program is obviously very
difficult for a human being to
56
00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,280
realize.
Unless he has decided to
57
00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:13,200
divinize himself.
It seems almost impossible that
58
00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,120
he could be free from all these
contraries within him.
59
00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:22,000
And yet, so long as one carries
them in himself, 1 cannot be
60
00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,800
perfectly sincere.
Automatically the mental, the
61
00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,280
vital, and even the physical
working is falsified.
62
00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,840
I am emphasizing the physical,
for even the working of the
63
00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:41,120
senses is warped. 1 does not
see, hear, taste, feel things as
64
00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,960
they are in reality.
As long as one has a preference,
65
00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,640
so long as there are things
which please you and others
66
00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:53,000
which don't, so long as you are
attracted by certain things and
67
00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:57,240
repulsed by others, you cannot
see things in their reality.
68
00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:02,040
You see them through your
reaction, your preference or
69
00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,440
your repulsion.
The senses are instruments which
70
00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:10,400
get out of order in the same as
sensations, feelings and
71
00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:14,080
thoughts.
Therefore, to be sure of what
72
00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:19,320
you see, what you feel, what you
experience and think, you must
73
00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:23,920
have a complete detachment, and
this is obviously not an easy
74
00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:28,000
task.
But until then, your perception
75
00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:32,160
cannot be wholly true, and so it
is not sincere.
76
00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:37,600
End Quote reference.
Srioro Binduan, The Mother,
77
00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:43,760
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, pages 149
78
00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:44,680
to 150.
00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,320
Whenever we try to understand
something, we are met with
2
00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:09,120
various types of inherent biases
that skew the determinations we
3
00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:13,040
make.
Not only our our senses, our
4
00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:16,400
perceptions, and our thoughts
subject to various forms of
5
00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:21,440
filtering, but they are also
skewed by our past experience,
6
00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:26,240
the fact that our minds fill in
missing data based on what we
7
00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:30,840
expect to see, and we interpret
everything through the filter of
8
00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:35,480
our memories, our emotional
framework, and our contextual
9
00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:37,880
relationship to what is being
perceived.
10
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,800
In quantum mechanics, the
Heisenberg uncertainty principle
11
00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:47,400
adds another layer to the entire
process, even beyond our
12
00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:53,720
inherent biases, namely that the
very fact of observation changes
13
00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:59,120
what is being observed in order
to reach the truth of anything.
14
00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,200
We therefore need to undertake
considerable efforts to 1st
15
00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,400
understand what kind of biases
and filters we are employing in
16
00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:12,760
our perception, and 2nd work to
minimize their impact on the
17
00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,560
resulting analysis and
conclusions we draw.
18
00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:21,560
For instance, if we desire a
certain outcome or adhere to a
19
00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:25,640
certain point of view, we will
tend to interpret what we see
20
00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:29,840
based on those filters.
We either get a confirmation of
21
00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,960
what we already believe, or we
get the opposite of it and we
22
00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:38,640
then react with a rejection, an
interpretation that fits our
23
00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:43,320
preconceived notions.
Our senses are subject to being
24
00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:47,480
misled.
What we see, what we hear, what
25
00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:53,280
we feel are all partial and are
also subject to manipulation
26
00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:57,800
based on on our position as an
observer in relation to the
27
00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,800
object of our perception, as
well as through careful
28
00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:05,280
tailoring of information by
those seeking to influence our
29
00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:10,639
perceptions or due to innocent
but nevertheless inaccurate
30
00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:14,800
factual data.
It is not just a matter of
31
00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,960
factual data, however.
We have our own expectations.
32
00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:23,600
Ideas and preconceived notions
that go into how we interpret
33
00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:27,640
and respond to things.
Then we overlay our mental
34
00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:32,760
process, our emotional needs,
our experience and memory, and
35
00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,280
our training and education over
the perceptions.
36
00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:41,120
Desires play a rather large role
in how we respond to things,
37
00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:45,120
whether we are attracted or
repulsed, whether we are
38
00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:49,400
responding out of fear or
antipathy or some kind of
39
00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:54,080
chemistry of attraction.
The idea then, in order to
40
00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,680
approach a more unbiased view of
the world and the situations
41
00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:02,440
that we experience, is to find
ways to systematically abstract
42
00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,360
ourselves from this entire
baggage of the external ego,
43
00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:11,720
personality and the limitations
of the external physical, vital
44
00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:16,920
emotional and mental being.
The practice of shifting to the
45
00:03:16,920 --> 00:03:20,480
standpoint of the witness
consciousness is an important
46
00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:25,400
part of this process, so that we
can identify and minimize the
47
00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,240
influence of these factors on
our perceptions of the reality
48
00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,880
that we interact with.
The Mother notes quote.
49
00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,960
To be perfectly sincere, it is
indispensable not to have any
50
00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:44,440
preference, any desire, any
attraction, any dislike, any
51
00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:49,160
sympathy or antipathy, any
attachment, any repulsion.
52
00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:54,160
One must have a total integral
vision of things in which
53
00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:58,280
everything is in its place and
one has the same attitude
54
00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,800
towards all things, the attitude
of true vision.
55
00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:06,480
This program is obviously very
difficult for a human being to
56
00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,280
realize.
Unless he has decided to
57
00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:13,200
divinize himself.
It seems almost impossible that
58
00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,120
he could be free from all these
contraries within him.
59
00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:22,000
And yet, so long as one carries
them in himself, 1 cannot be
60
00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,800
perfectly sincere.
Automatically the mental, the
61
00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,280
vital, and even the physical
working is falsified.
62
00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,840
I am emphasizing the physical,
for even the working of the
63
00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:41,120
senses is warped. 1 does not
see, hear, taste, feel things as
64
00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,960
they are in reality.
As long as one has a preference,
65
00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,640
so long as there are things
which please you and others
66
00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:53,000
which don't, so long as you are
attracted by certain things and
67
00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:57,240
repulsed by others, you cannot
see things in their reality.
68
00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:02,040
You see them through your
reaction, your preference or
69
00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,440
your repulsion.
The senses are instruments which
70
00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:10,400
get out of order in the same as
sensations, feelings and
71
00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:14,080
thoughts.
Therefore, to be sure of what
72
00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:19,320
you see, what you feel, what you
experience and think, you must
73
00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:23,920
have a complete detachment, and
this is obviously not an easy
74
00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:28,000
task.
But until then, your perception
75
00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:32,160
cannot be wholly true, and so it
is not sincere.
76
00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:37,600
End Quote reference.
Srioro Binduan, The Mother,
77
00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:43,760
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, pages 149
78
00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:44,680
to 150.