May 27, 2026
Factors That Impede Progress on the Spiritual Path
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. 68-69This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/05/25/factors-that-impede-progress-on-the-spiritual-path/
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 #soul #psychic being #Gunas #psychology
1
00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,480
Our human lives are not
developed in a straight line of
2
00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:06,840
progress.
We see forward movement toward
3
00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:11,040
whatever goal we have in front
of us, and then various
4
00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:14,560
retrogressive movements that set
back the progress.
5
00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:18,920
That is the experience of those
who have a focus or objective in
6
00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,080
life.
For those who are not motivated
7
00:00:22,080 --> 00:00:26,360
by some specific overarching
goal, there is simply a series
8
00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:30,600
of events, activities,
relationships, enjoyments and
9
00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:34,360
sufferings that make up the
mixed lives they lead.
10
00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:39,040
There are multiple and complex
interactions that 'cause this
11
00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,560
oscillation to occur.
First, there are the conflicting
12
00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,360
needs, desires and demands of
the various parts of the being.
13
00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:53,080
These are modified by the stage
of life development along with
14
00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:58,760
the training, education, traumas
and societal expectations to
15
00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,160
which the individual has been
exposed.
16
00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,920
Additionally, there's the action
of the three gunas of nature
17
00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,480
which are always moving and
changing their predominance and
18
00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:11,600
balance in all parts of the
nature.
19
00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,440
The combination of the different
intentions of the various parts
20
00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,520
of the being and the
developmental stage of the
21
00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:23,800
individual, with the varying
response due to the alternation
22
00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,720
of the gunas, leads to a
complex, sometimes seemingly
23
00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,120
inexplicable difference in
reaction.
24
00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,880
For the spiritual seeker,
there's an added factor of the
25
00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,320
opening of the psychic being and
its more direct influence.
26
00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:43,200
This influence, however, has to
work through the various parts
27
00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:47,000
of the being, the development of
the instruments and the
28
00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,080
pressures working on the
external nature and the life
29
00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,800
activities.
We thus see that there are
30
00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,240
movements and moments when the
spiritual aspiration is in front
31
00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:03,600
and the being is lit up with a
spiritual glow, when friends or
32
00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:08,520
family enter that space, or when
work or financial circumstances
33
00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:13,920
create added pressures, or when
some past tendency arises based
34
00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:16,480
on a new situation triggering
its action.
35
00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,440
The aspiration, the
consecration, the feeling of
36
00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:26,840
oneness or bliss can easily
recede into the background as
37
00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,440
the external nature takes over
for a time.
38
00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:35,040
The seeker carries with him all
of the tendencies in seed form
39
00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,360
until they are fully and
completely rejected from the
40
00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:43,680
being, and they can lie latent
and dormant until the right
41
00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:47,120
circumstance arises for them to
sprout up suddenly.
42
00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,960
The changing predominance of the
gunas often provides such an
43
00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:56,320
opportunity as he responds
differently when Sattva is in
44
00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:01,480
the ascendant with its more calm
and insightful demeanour than
45
00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:05,760
when Rajas with its desires,
passions and more aggressive
46
00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:11,240
pattern dominates, or when Tamas
with its darkness, fear and
47
00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:16,320
weakness, dullness and torpor
takes its dominant position for
48
00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:20,080
a time.
The mother advises that by
49
00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,720
placing the psychic being at the
core and referring each movement
50
00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:28,360
to it, the seeker, as a witness
of the nature, can immediately
51
00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:32,880
see what forces are in control
at the moment and thereby choose
52
00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:37,280
to support those that advance
the spiritual growth and reject
53
00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,000
those that oppose or weaken that
development.
54
00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:46,000
The mother observes.
Quote You can be a different
55
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,200
person at different moments in
your life.
56
00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,840
I know people who took
decisions, had a strong will,
57
00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,080
know what they wanted and
prepared to do it.
58
00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,240
Then there was a little reversal
in the being.
59
00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:03,600
Another part came up and spoiled
all the work in 10 minutes.
60
00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,600
What had been accomplished in
two months was all undone.
61
00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,400
When the first part comes back,
it is in disarray.
62
00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:15,520
It says what then?
The whole work has to be started
63
00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,320
again slowly.
Hence it is evident that it is
64
00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,400
very important to become aware
of the psychic being.
65
00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,280
One must have a kind of signpost
or a mirror in which all things
66
00:04:27,280 --> 00:04:31,160
are reflected and show
themselves as they truly are.
67
00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:36,520
And then according to what they
are, one puts them in one place
68
00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:40,800
or another.
One begins to explore, to
69
00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,480
organize.
That takes time.
70
00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:48,480
The part comes back three or
four times and every part that
71
00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,560
comes up says put me in the 1st
place.
72
00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:55,040
What the others do is not
important, not at all important.
73
00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,960
It is I who will decide, for I
am the most important.
74
00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,440
I am sure that if you look at
yourself, you will see that
75
00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,640
there's not one among you who
has not had the experience.
76
00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:10,760
You want to become conscious, to
have goodwill.
77
00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:16,080
You have understood, your
aspiration is shining, all is
78
00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:20,200
brilliant, illuminated.
But all of a sudden something
79
00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:26,000
happens, a useless conversation,
some unfortunate reading, and
80
00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,720
that upsets everything.
Then one thinks that it was an
81
00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,600
illusion one lived in, that all
things were seen from a certain
82
00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:38,080
angle.
This is life 1 stumbles and
83
00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:44,000
falls at the first occasion one
tells oneself 01 can't always be
84
00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,560
so serious.
And when the other part returns
85
00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,320
once again, one repents
bitterly.
86
00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,680
I was a fool.
I have wasted my time.
87
00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:58,720
Now I must begin again.
At times there is one part
88
00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:03,320
that's ill humored in revolt,
full of worries, and another
89
00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:06,040
which is progressive, full of
surrender.
90
00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:13,520
All that one after the other.
End Quote Reference Sri
91
00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:17,960
Aurobindo and the Mother, the
psychic being soul, its nature,
92
00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,400
mission and evolution.
Section 2.
93
00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,120
Role, function and Action of the
Psychic.
94
00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,560
Pages 68 to 69.
00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,480
Our human lives are not
developed in a straight line of
2
00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:06,840
progress.
We see forward movement toward
3
00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:11,040
whatever goal we have in front
of us, and then various
4
00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:14,560
retrogressive movements that set
back the progress.
5
00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:18,920
That is the experience of those
who have a focus or objective in
6
00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,080
life.
For those who are not motivated
7
00:00:22,080 --> 00:00:26,360
by some specific overarching
goal, there is simply a series
8
00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:30,600
of events, activities,
relationships, enjoyments and
9
00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:34,360
sufferings that make up the
mixed lives they lead.
10
00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:39,040
There are multiple and complex
interactions that 'cause this
11
00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,560
oscillation to occur.
First, there are the conflicting
12
00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,360
needs, desires and demands of
the various parts of the being.
13
00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:53,080
These are modified by the stage
of life development along with
14
00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:58,760
the training, education, traumas
and societal expectations to
15
00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,160
which the individual has been
exposed.
16
00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,920
Additionally, there's the action
of the three gunas of nature
17
00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,480
which are always moving and
changing their predominance and
18
00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:11,600
balance in all parts of the
nature.
19
00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,440
The combination of the different
intentions of the various parts
20
00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,520
of the being and the
developmental stage of the
21
00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:23,800
individual, with the varying
response due to the alternation
22
00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,720
of the gunas, leads to a
complex, sometimes seemingly
23
00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,120
inexplicable difference in
reaction.
24
00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,880
For the spiritual seeker,
there's an added factor of the
25
00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,320
opening of the psychic being and
its more direct influence.
26
00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:43,200
This influence, however, has to
work through the various parts
27
00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:47,000
of the being, the development of
the instruments and the
28
00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,080
pressures working on the
external nature and the life
29
00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,800
activities.
We thus see that there are
30
00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,240
movements and moments when the
spiritual aspiration is in front
31
00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:03,600
and the being is lit up with a
spiritual glow, when friends or
32
00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:08,520
family enter that space, or when
work or financial circumstances
33
00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:13,920
create added pressures, or when
some past tendency arises based
34
00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:16,480
on a new situation triggering
its action.
35
00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,440
The aspiration, the
consecration, the feeling of
36
00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:26,840
oneness or bliss can easily
recede into the background as
37
00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,440
the external nature takes over
for a time.
38
00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:35,040
The seeker carries with him all
of the tendencies in seed form
39
00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,360
until they are fully and
completely rejected from the
40
00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:43,680
being, and they can lie latent
and dormant until the right
41
00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:47,120
circumstance arises for them to
sprout up suddenly.
42
00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,960
The changing predominance of the
gunas often provides such an
43
00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:56,320
opportunity as he responds
differently when Sattva is in
44
00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:01,480
the ascendant with its more calm
and insightful demeanour than
45
00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:05,760
when Rajas with its desires,
passions and more aggressive
46
00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:11,240
pattern dominates, or when Tamas
with its darkness, fear and
47
00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:16,320
weakness, dullness and torpor
takes its dominant position for
48
00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:20,080
a time.
The mother advises that by
49
00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,720
placing the psychic being at the
core and referring each movement
50
00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:28,360
to it, the seeker, as a witness
of the nature, can immediately
51
00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:32,880
see what forces are in control
at the moment and thereby choose
52
00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:37,280
to support those that advance
the spiritual growth and reject
53
00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,000
those that oppose or weaken that
development.
54
00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:46,000
The mother observes.
Quote You can be a different
55
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,200
person at different moments in
your life.
56
00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,840
I know people who took
decisions, had a strong will,
57
00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:56,080
know what they wanted and
prepared to do it.
58
00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,240
Then there was a little reversal
in the being.
59
00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:03,600
Another part came up and spoiled
all the work in 10 minutes.
60
00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,600
What had been accomplished in
two months was all undone.
61
00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,400
When the first part comes back,
it is in disarray.
62
00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:15,520
It says what then?
The whole work has to be started
63
00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,320
again slowly.
Hence it is evident that it is
64
00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,400
very important to become aware
of the psychic being.
65
00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,280
One must have a kind of signpost
or a mirror in which all things
66
00:04:27,280 --> 00:04:31,160
are reflected and show
themselves as they truly are.
67
00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:36,520
And then according to what they
are, one puts them in one place
68
00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:40,800
or another.
One begins to explore, to
69
00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,480
organize.
That takes time.
70
00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:48,480
The part comes back three or
four times and every part that
71
00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,560
comes up says put me in the 1st
place.
72
00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:55,040
What the others do is not
important, not at all important.
73
00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,960
It is I who will decide, for I
am the most important.
74
00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,440
I am sure that if you look at
yourself, you will see that
75
00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,640
there's not one among you who
has not had the experience.
76
00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:10,760
You want to become conscious, to
have goodwill.
77
00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:16,080
You have understood, your
aspiration is shining, all is
78
00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:20,200
brilliant, illuminated.
But all of a sudden something
79
00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:26,000
happens, a useless conversation,
some unfortunate reading, and
80
00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,720
that upsets everything.
Then one thinks that it was an
81
00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,600
illusion one lived in, that all
things were seen from a certain
82
00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:38,080
angle.
This is life 1 stumbles and
83
00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:44,000
falls at the first occasion one
tells oneself 01 can't always be
84
00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,560
so serious.
And when the other part returns
85
00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,320
once again, one repents
bitterly.
86
00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,680
I was a fool.
I have wasted my time.
87
00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:58,720
Now I must begin again.
At times there is one part
88
00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:03,320
that's ill humored in revolt,
full of worries, and another
89
00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:06,040
which is progressive, full of
surrender.
90
00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:13,520
All that one after the other.
End Quote Reference Sri
91
00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:17,960
Aurobindo and the Mother, the
psychic being soul, its nature,
92
00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,400
mission and evolution.
Section 2.
93
00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,120
Role, function and Action of the
Psychic.
94
00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,560
Pages 68 to 69.
