May 20, 2025
Developing a Strong Power of Knowledge and Will to Manage and Control the Vital Nature
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within , Chapter 4, Ordeals and Difficulties, pp.80-81
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/05/18/developing-a-strong-power-of-knowledge-and-will-to-manage-and-control-the-vital-nature/
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
00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:06,200
While a reaction may seem to be
taking place instantaneously, it
2
00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:10,800
is always conditioned by prior
acts or events, the chain of
3
00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,560
cause and effect dependent or
origination, or the law of
4
00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:19,920
karma, however one wants to term
it by adopting the standpoint of
5
00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:24,080
the witness consciousness,
observing the external nature of
6
00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:29,360
the body, life, mind Complex 1
creates a space of distance that
7
00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,520
allows one to not be so absorbed
in the motion that one cannot
8
00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,480
see the links and the
antecedents.
9
00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,760
Once we can observe the
potential causes that lead to
10
00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:45,680
these instant reactions, we can
begin to defuse them before they
11
00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:50,880
erupt, anticipate their eruption
when we see the signs, and work
12
00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:55,400
to prevent their manifestation
at that time, or change the
13
00:00:55,400 --> 00:01:00,880
situation entirely using
processes such as visualization.
14
00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:06,480
It should be noted that top
athletes have in recent years
15
00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,880
recognized that preparing
themselves by mentally
16
00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:14,800
visualizing the event and one's
participation in it helps them
17
00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:20,120
to prepare and thereby succeed.
A similar process can be
18
00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:24,120
utilized to visualize the path
that these reactions tend to
19
00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:28,160
follow and determine how one
would change one's reaction from
20
00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:32,240
a new standpoint.
Thus, the reaction pattern can
21
00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:36,760
be rewired when the actual
situations arise that would
22
00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,920
ordinarily trigger such a
reaction.
23
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:43,760
The new rewired response would
be waiting to replace the
24
00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,440
otherwise expected habit of the
past.
25
00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:50,480
It is through such actions, as
noted here, that the higher
26
00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:54,480
force of consciousness is able
to be brought to bear on the
27
00:01:54,480 --> 00:02:00,040
habits of body, life and mind.
What this does not cover is the
28
00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,560
influence of beings or forces
that occupy other planes of
29
00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:08,680
existence, but pressure us to
move in specific directions as
30
00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,720
they tend to feed off of the
energy and emotions thus
31
00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,000
released by us.
Resisting their influence
32
00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,160
requires a strong and focused
aspiration, a connection to the
33
00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:24,480
higher force, and a will to
carry out the divine intention
34
00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,200
and not that of any other being
or force.
35
00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:34,000
A disciple asks mother, there
are mistakes.
36
00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,920
One knows there are mistakes,
but still it is as though one
37
00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:44,120
were pushed into making them.
Then the mother observes quote.
38
00:02:44,920 --> 00:02:48,920
Pushed by what?
Ah, this is exactly what
39
00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:52,160
happens.
It is the lower nature, the
40
00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:56,200
instincts of the subconscient,
which govern you and make you do
41
00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:00,400
things you should not do.
And so it is a choice between
42
00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,680
your will and accepting
submission.
43
00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,560
There's always a moment when one
can decide.
44
00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,360
It goes to the point where there
is even a moment when one can
45
00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:13,720
decide to be ill or not to be
ill.
46
00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:18,360
It even goes so far that a
moment comes when one can decide
47
00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:22,160
to die or not to die.
But for that one must have an
48
00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,640
extremely awakened
consciousness, because this
49
00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:30,160
speck is infinitesimal in time
and like the 100th part of a
50
00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:35,560
second, and because before it
can do nothing and after it can
51
00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:39,360
do nothing.
But at the moment one can.
52
00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:45,840
If one is absolutely awake, one
can at that moment take the
53
00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:50,200
decision.
But for ordinary things, As for
54
00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,520
example, giving way before an
impulse or refusing it, it is
55
00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,360
not a space, not even the space
of a second.
56
00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:02,280
One has plenty of time before
him, one certainly has several
57
00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,240
minutes.
And it is a choice between weak
58
00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,400
submission and a controlling
will.
59
00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:14,080
And if the will is clear, if it
is based on truth, it, if truly
60
00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,560
it obeys the truth and is clear,
it always has the power to
61
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:22,800
refuse the wrong movement.
It is an excuse you give
62
00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:24,920
yourself when you say I could
not.
63
00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:29,480
It is not true.
It is that truly you have not
64
00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:33,720
wanted it in the right way.
For there is always the choice
65
00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,720
between saying yes and saying
no.
66
00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:42,040
But one chooses to be weak and
later gives oneself this excuse,
67
00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:47,320
saying it is not my fault it was
stronger than I, It is your
68
00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:51,440
fault if the thing was stronger
than you, because you are not
69
00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,800
these impulses.
You are a conscious soul and an
70
00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:59,960
intelligent will, and your duty
is to see that this is what
71
00:04:59,960 --> 00:05:03,520
governs you and not the impulses
from below.
72
00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:08,360
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
73
00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:12,440
Mother, Looking from Within,
Chapter 4, Ordeals and
74
00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,440
Difficulties, pages 80 to 81.
00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:06,200
While a reaction may seem to be
taking place instantaneously, it
2
00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:10,800
is always conditioned by prior
acts or events, the chain of
3
00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,560
cause and effect dependent or
origination, or the law of
4
00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:19,920
karma, however one wants to term
it by adopting the standpoint of
5
00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:24,080
the witness consciousness,
observing the external nature of
6
00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:29,360
the body, life, mind Complex 1
creates a space of distance that
7
00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,520
allows one to not be so absorbed
in the motion that one cannot
8
00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,480
see the links and the
antecedents.
9
00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,760
Once we can observe the
potential causes that lead to
10
00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:45,680
these instant reactions, we can
begin to defuse them before they
11
00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:50,880
erupt, anticipate their eruption
when we see the signs, and work
12
00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:55,400
to prevent their manifestation
at that time, or change the
13
00:00:55,400 --> 00:01:00,880
situation entirely using
processes such as visualization.
14
00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:06,480
It should be noted that top
athletes have in recent years
15
00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,880
recognized that preparing
themselves by mentally
16
00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:14,800
visualizing the event and one's
participation in it helps them
17
00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:20,120
to prepare and thereby succeed.
A similar process can be
18
00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:24,120
utilized to visualize the path
that these reactions tend to
19
00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:28,160
follow and determine how one
would change one's reaction from
20
00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:32,240
a new standpoint.
Thus, the reaction pattern can
21
00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:36,760
be rewired when the actual
situations arise that would
22
00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,920
ordinarily trigger such a
reaction.
23
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:43,760
The new rewired response would
be waiting to replace the
24
00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,440
otherwise expected habit of the
past.
25
00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:50,480
It is through such actions, as
noted here, that the higher
26
00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:54,480
force of consciousness is able
to be brought to bear on the
27
00:01:54,480 --> 00:02:00,040
habits of body, life and mind.
What this does not cover is the
28
00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,560
influence of beings or forces
that occupy other planes of
29
00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:08,680
existence, but pressure us to
move in specific directions as
30
00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,720
they tend to feed off of the
energy and emotions thus
31
00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,000
released by us.
Resisting their influence
32
00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,160
requires a strong and focused
aspiration, a connection to the
33
00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:24,480
higher force, and a will to
carry out the divine intention
34
00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,200
and not that of any other being
or force.
35
00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:34,000
A disciple asks mother, there
are mistakes.
36
00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,920
One knows there are mistakes,
but still it is as though one
37
00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:44,120
were pushed into making them.
Then the mother observes quote.
38
00:02:44,920 --> 00:02:48,920
Pushed by what?
Ah, this is exactly what
39
00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:52,160
happens.
It is the lower nature, the
40
00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:56,200
instincts of the subconscient,
which govern you and make you do
41
00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:00,400
things you should not do.
And so it is a choice between
42
00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,680
your will and accepting
submission.
43
00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,560
There's always a moment when one
can decide.
44
00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,360
It goes to the point where there
is even a moment when one can
45
00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:13,720
decide to be ill or not to be
ill.
46
00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:18,360
It even goes so far that a
moment comes when one can decide
47
00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:22,160
to die or not to die.
But for that one must have an
48
00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,640
extremely awakened
consciousness, because this
49
00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:30,160
speck is infinitesimal in time
and like the 100th part of a
50
00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:35,560
second, and because before it
can do nothing and after it can
51
00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:39,360
do nothing.
But at the moment one can.
52
00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:45,840
If one is absolutely awake, one
can at that moment take the
53
00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:50,200
decision.
But for ordinary things, As for
54
00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,520
example, giving way before an
impulse or refusing it, it is
55
00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,360
not a space, not even the space
of a second.
56
00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:02,280
One has plenty of time before
him, one certainly has several
57
00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,240
minutes.
And it is a choice between weak
58
00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,400
submission and a controlling
will.
59
00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:14,080
And if the will is clear, if it
is based on truth, it, if truly
60
00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,560
it obeys the truth and is clear,
it always has the power to
61
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:22,800
refuse the wrong movement.
It is an excuse you give
62
00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:24,920
yourself when you say I could
not.
63
00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:29,480
It is not true.
It is that truly you have not
64
00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:33,720
wanted it in the right way.
For there is always the choice
65
00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,720
between saying yes and saying
no.
66
00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:42,040
But one chooses to be weak and
later gives oneself this excuse,
67
00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:47,320
saying it is not my fault it was
stronger than I, It is your
68
00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:51,440
fault if the thing was stronger
than you, because you are not
69
00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,800
these impulses.
You are a conscious soul and an
70
00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:59,960
intelligent will, and your duty
is to see that this is what
71
00:04:59,960 --> 00:05:03,520
governs you and not the impulses
from below.
72
00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:08,360
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
73
00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:12,440
Mother, Looking from Within,
Chapter 4, Ordeals and
74
00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:15,440
Difficulties, pages 80 to 81.