Jan. 4, 2026
Fasting in the Sadhana of the Integral Yoga: Impact on Vital Energy and Physical Body
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 4, Desire — Food — Sex, pg. 68This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/01/02/fasting-in-the-sadhana-of-the-integral-yoga-impact-on-vital-energy-and-physical-body/
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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 #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #fasting #Vata #Pitta #Kapha #Ayurveda
1
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,400
Fasting has often been utilized
by spiritual and religious
2
00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:08,440
practitioners as a way of
gaining some measure of control
3
00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:13,080
over the vital desires,
cravings, and urges, as well as
4
00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,840
a means for increasing the vital
and mental energy available to
5
00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:20,600
them.
In some cases, it has been used
6
00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:25,000
to induce altered states of
awareness to help achieve vision
7
00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,320
and clarity of purpose by the
seeker.
8
00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,680
At the same time, since much of
the history of spiritual
9
00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:36,720
practice has been focused on
liberation and a virtual
10
00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:40,800
abandonment of life in the
world, not much attention was
11
00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:45,560
being paid to the downsides of
fasting, including weakening of
12
00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:49,800
the body and upsetting of the
nervous, vital and mental
13
00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:53,320
balance of the being.
For a practitioner of the
14
00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:57,240
integral yoga, which aims at
transformation of life rather
15
00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:01,880
than abandonment of life, this
disregard of the negative
16
00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:06,480
aspects of fasting as a means of
sadhna cannot be accepted.
17
00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:12,000
The science of Ayurveda
describes different body types
18
00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,280
that have differing needs in
order to maintain and restore
19
00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,360
their physical balance and
well-being.
20
00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:23,680
Wata, Pitta, and Kappa types
therefore respond differently to
21
00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:27,640
any kind of dietary regimen,
such as fasting.
22
00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:34,320
Kappa types, which tend to hold
more body weight and bulk, may
23
00:01:34,320 --> 00:01:38,400
benefit from moderate fasting,
which may help them increase
24
00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:43,640
energy, burn off excess weight,
and maintain an optimal balance.
25
00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:49,040
On the other hand, Wata types,
who already tend toward less
26
00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:53,320
body weight and a more mobile
nervous energy, are less able to
27
00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:58,200
sustain any form of fasting.
The more they try to implement a
28
00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:02,960
fasting routine, the more chance
they have of becoming imbalanced
29
00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:08,039
and exhibiting nervous reactions
or experiencing an inability to
30
00:02:08,039 --> 00:02:11,920
concentrate.
Pitta types may get caught up in
31
00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:15,840
the process and overpower the
body to achieve some goal or
32
00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:20,480
ambition, thus potentially
harming the body, the nervous
33
00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:24,440
envelope and the mental
stability through excessive
34
00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:28,040
fasting.
For the spiritual seeker, it is
35
00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,360
useful to understand this
dynamic of fasting in relation
36
00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:35,320
to body type and the forms of
response the body and vital
37
00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:40,320
being give when subjected to any
kind of fasting regimen, but
38
00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:44,360
particularly any of the more
extreme forms of fasting.
39
00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:50,520
For all body types, a reasonable
approach is to maintain the
40
00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,800
balance and health of the body
and holding a strong foundation
41
00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,000
as the basis for the spiritual
development.
42
00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,440
Instead of any form of vital
grasping or mental ambition
43
00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,240
around achieving spiritual
results, which may tend to
44
00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,200
accentuate attempts to push the
body, including the use of
45
00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,720
fasting to gain new experiences
and energies.
46
00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,840
A more moderate view that
focuses on the spiritual
47
00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:23,400
aspiration and receptivity and
concurrently creates a solid
48
00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:28,160
basis to hold the energy that
the divine force brings into the
49
00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:32,680
being is a more useful approach
for long term development,
50
00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:40,600
Srioro Bindu observes quote.
It is a fact that by fasting, if
51
00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:44,320
the mind and the nerves are
solid or the will force dynamic,
52
00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,280
one can get for a time into a
state of inner energy and
53
00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,840
receptivity which is alluring to
the mind.
54
00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,520
And the usual reactions of
hunger, weakness, intestinal
55
00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,920
disturbance, et cetera, can be
wholly avoided.
56
00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,080
But the body suffers by
diminution and there can easily
57
00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:09,560
develop in the vital A morbid
over strain condition due to the
58
00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,800
inrush of more vital energy than
the nervous system can
59
00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:17,399
assimilate or coordinate.
Nervous people should avoid the
60
00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:21,240
temptation to fast.
It is often accompanied or
61
00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:26,320
followed by delusions and a loss
of balance, Especially if
62
00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,800
there's a motive of hunger
strike or that element comes in.
63
00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:35,000
Fasting becomes perilous, for it
is then an indulgence of a vital
64
00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:40,200
movement which may easily become
a habit injurious and pernicious
65
00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:44,240
to the sadhna.
Even if all these reactions are
66
00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,960
avoided, still there is no
sufficient utility in fasting,
67
00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:53,320
since the higher energy and
receptivity ought to come not by
68
00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:57,120
artificial or physical means,
but by intensity of the
69
00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,480
consciousness and strong will
for the sadhna.
70
00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:06,080
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga,
71
00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:11,360
Chapter 4.
Desire Food Sex page 68.
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,400
Fasting has often been utilized
by spiritual and religious
2
00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:08,440
practitioners as a way of
gaining some measure of control
3
00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:13,080
over the vital desires,
cravings, and urges, as well as
4
00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,840
a means for increasing the vital
and mental energy available to
5
00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:20,600
them.
In some cases, it has been used
6
00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:25,000
to induce altered states of
awareness to help achieve vision
7
00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,320
and clarity of purpose by the
seeker.
8
00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,680
At the same time, since much of
the history of spiritual
9
00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:36,720
practice has been focused on
liberation and a virtual
10
00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:40,800
abandonment of life in the
world, not much attention was
11
00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:45,560
being paid to the downsides of
fasting, including weakening of
12
00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:49,800
the body and upsetting of the
nervous, vital and mental
13
00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:53,320
balance of the being.
For a practitioner of the
14
00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:57,240
integral yoga, which aims at
transformation of life rather
15
00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:01,880
than abandonment of life, this
disregard of the negative
16
00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:06,480
aspects of fasting as a means of
sadhna cannot be accepted.
17
00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:12,000
The science of Ayurveda
describes different body types
18
00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,280
that have differing needs in
order to maintain and restore
19
00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,360
their physical balance and
well-being.
20
00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:23,680
Wata, Pitta, and Kappa types
therefore respond differently to
21
00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:27,640
any kind of dietary regimen,
such as fasting.
22
00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:34,320
Kappa types, which tend to hold
more body weight and bulk, may
23
00:01:34,320 --> 00:01:38,400
benefit from moderate fasting,
which may help them increase
24
00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:43,640
energy, burn off excess weight,
and maintain an optimal balance.
25
00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:49,040
On the other hand, Wata types,
who already tend toward less
26
00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:53,320
body weight and a more mobile
nervous energy, are less able to
27
00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:58,200
sustain any form of fasting.
The more they try to implement a
28
00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:02,960
fasting routine, the more chance
they have of becoming imbalanced
29
00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:08,039
and exhibiting nervous reactions
or experiencing an inability to
30
00:02:08,039 --> 00:02:11,920
concentrate.
Pitta types may get caught up in
31
00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:15,840
the process and overpower the
body to achieve some goal or
32
00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:20,480
ambition, thus potentially
harming the body, the nervous
33
00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:24,440
envelope and the mental
stability through excessive
34
00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:28,040
fasting.
For the spiritual seeker, it is
35
00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,360
useful to understand this
dynamic of fasting in relation
36
00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:35,320
to body type and the forms of
response the body and vital
37
00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:40,320
being give when subjected to any
kind of fasting regimen, but
38
00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:44,360
particularly any of the more
extreme forms of fasting.
39
00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:50,520
For all body types, a reasonable
approach is to maintain the
40
00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,800
balance and health of the body
and holding a strong foundation
41
00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,000
as the basis for the spiritual
development.
42
00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,440
Instead of any form of vital
grasping or mental ambition
43
00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,240
around achieving spiritual
results, which may tend to
44
00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,200
accentuate attempts to push the
body, including the use of
45
00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,720
fasting to gain new experiences
and energies.
46
00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,840
A more moderate view that
focuses on the spiritual
47
00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:23,400
aspiration and receptivity and
concurrently creates a solid
48
00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:28,160
basis to hold the energy that
the divine force brings into the
49
00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:32,680
being is a more useful approach
for long term development,
50
00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:40,600
Srioro Bindu observes quote.
It is a fact that by fasting, if
51
00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:44,320
the mind and the nerves are
solid or the will force dynamic,
52
00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,280
one can get for a time into a
state of inner energy and
53
00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,840
receptivity which is alluring to
the mind.
54
00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,520
And the usual reactions of
hunger, weakness, intestinal
55
00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,920
disturbance, et cetera, can be
wholly avoided.
56
00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,080
But the body suffers by
diminution and there can easily
57
00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:09,560
develop in the vital A morbid
over strain condition due to the
58
00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,800
inrush of more vital energy than
the nervous system can
59
00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:17,399
assimilate or coordinate.
Nervous people should avoid the
60
00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:21,240
temptation to fast.
It is often accompanied or
61
00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:26,320
followed by delusions and a loss
of balance, Especially if
62
00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,800
there's a motive of hunger
strike or that element comes in.
63
00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:35,000
Fasting becomes perilous, for it
is then an indulgence of a vital
64
00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:40,200
movement which may easily become
a habit injurious and pernicious
65
00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:44,240
to the sadhna.
Even if all these reactions are
66
00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,960
avoided, still there is no
sufficient utility in fasting,
67
00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:53,320
since the higher energy and
receptivity ought to come not by
68
00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:57,120
artificial or physical means,
but by intensity of the
69
00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,480
consciousness and strong will
for the sadhna.
70
00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:06,080
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga,
71
00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:11,360
Chapter 4.
Desire Food Sex page 68.
