Nov. 12, 2025
Finding the Poise of the Consciousness Needed for the Practice of the Integral Yoga
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 2, Faith — Aspiration — Surrender, pg. 35
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/finding-the-poise-of-the-consciousness-needed-for-the-practice-of-the-integral-yoga/
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 #yoga #integral yoga #Gunas #Rajas #Tamas
1
00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:04,400
The spiritual seeker, starting
from the ego consciousness,
2
00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:09,960
wants to identify progress and
success in the sadhana, the
3
00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:14,800
operation of the three gunas.
The qualities of nature impact
4
00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,440
the seeker's view and
orientation towards this
5
00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,600
process.
There is a distinct difference
6
00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:25,160
between a psychic aspiration and
the consequent receptivity and
7
00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:30,000
acceptance of what the Divine
grace brings to the seeker and
8
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,160
the working of any form of vital
desire or ambition.
9
00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,000
Desire and ambition arise
primarily through the operation
10
00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,560
of rajas.
The secret strives, makes
11
00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:45,960
effort, strains for results,
tries to storm the gates of
12
00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:50,640
heaven, so to speak.
The results of a rajasic effort
13
00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,080
are rarely satisfactory for the
long term.
14
00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,520
Progress.
Spiritual growth is not intended
15
00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,920
to be carried out as a means of
gratifying the ego, nor can it
16
00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:05,200
be seen as a short term effort.
The changes required at all
17
00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:09,640
levels of human nature, the
mental being, the vital being,
18
00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:14,920
the physical being, are so far
reaching and profound that they
19
00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,680
cannot reasonably be encompassed
in some kind of Sprint to a
20
00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:22,280
goal.
There is a considerable amount
21
00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:27,120
of preparation needed, and each
change involves unraveling the
22
00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:32,680
knots of human nature and
essentially rewiring the entire
23
00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:36,880
human psychology.
Short term straining efforts are
24
00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:41,360
more likely to create obstacles
and setbacks than to actually
25
00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:43,680
further the real progress
needed.
26
00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:49,000
The first obstacle is the rising
up of rajas and its distortion
27
00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,440
of the focus and intent of the
process.
28
00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,720
When the emphasis is placed on
palpable experiences and
29
00:01:55,720 --> 00:02:00,080
results, much of the real work
gets minimized or pushed aside.
30
00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:05,280
Rajas creates ripples that
disturb the needed calm, peace
31
00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:09,440
and equality.
When it is rebuffed, it tends to
32
00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:13,880
fall into a state of Thomas,
which leads to depression or
33
00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,800
dissatisfaction.
Expressed in a variety of ways,
34
00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:24,120
Rajasic energy also can easily
bring in all manner of passions,
35
00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:28,960
demands and aggressive forces
that are not helpful for the
36
00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,560
Sadhna.
One of the early practices for
37
00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,600
the spiritual seeker is to
achieve a state of calm and
38
00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:40,680
inner peace and from there to
aspire without impatience.
39
00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,480
Such a balanced state eventually
provides support for the long
40
00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:51,120
term objectives involved in
tackling the distortions of the
41
00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:55,600
physical, vital and mental
energies that need to be brought
42
00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:00,160
into balance and harmony,
Sriorabindo writes.
43
00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,680
Quote.
As for working, it depends on
44
00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:08,160
what you mean by the word.
Desire often leads either to
45
00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:13,320
excessive effort, meaning often
much labour and a limited fruit,
46
00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:18,080
with strain, exhaustion, and in
case of difficulty or failure,
47
00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:24,200
despondence, disbelief or
revolt, or else it leads to
48
00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:29,160
pulling down the force.
That can be done, but except for
49
00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:33,040
the yogically strong and
experienced, it is not always
50
00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,760
safe, though it may be often
very effective.
51
00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:41,400
Not safe first, because it may
lead to violent reactions, or it
52
00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:46,400
brings down contrary or wrong or
mixed forces which this sodic is
53
00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,680
not experienced enough to
distinguish from the true ones,
54
00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:55,280
or else that may substitute the
sodic's own limited power of
55
00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:59,560
experience or his mental and
vital constructions for the free
56
00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,640
gift and true leading of the
divine.
57
00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:08,040
Cases differ.
Each has his own way of sadhna.
58
00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,920
But for you, what I would
recommend is constant openness,
59
00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:20,120
a quiet steady aspiration, no
over eagerness, A cheerful trust
60
00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:25,240
and patience.
End Quote Reference Sri
61
00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,520
Aurobindo Faces of Yoga Chapter
2.
62
00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:33,120
Faith, Aspiration, Surrender,
page 35.
00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:04,400
The spiritual seeker, starting
from the ego consciousness,
2
00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:09,960
wants to identify progress and
success in the sadhana, the
3
00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:14,800
operation of the three gunas.
The qualities of nature impact
4
00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,440
the seeker's view and
orientation towards this
5
00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,600
process.
There is a distinct difference
6
00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:25,160
between a psychic aspiration and
the consequent receptivity and
7
00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:30,000
acceptance of what the Divine
grace brings to the seeker and
8
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,160
the working of any form of vital
desire or ambition.
9
00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,000
Desire and ambition arise
primarily through the operation
10
00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,560
of rajas.
The secret strives, makes
11
00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:45,960
effort, strains for results,
tries to storm the gates of
12
00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:50,640
heaven, so to speak.
The results of a rajasic effort
13
00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,080
are rarely satisfactory for the
long term.
14
00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,520
Progress.
Spiritual growth is not intended
15
00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,920
to be carried out as a means of
gratifying the ego, nor can it
16
00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:05,200
be seen as a short term effort.
The changes required at all
17
00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:09,640
levels of human nature, the
mental being, the vital being,
18
00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:14,920
the physical being, are so far
reaching and profound that they
19
00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,680
cannot reasonably be encompassed
in some kind of Sprint to a
20
00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:22,280
goal.
There is a considerable amount
21
00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:27,120
of preparation needed, and each
change involves unraveling the
22
00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:32,680
knots of human nature and
essentially rewiring the entire
23
00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:36,880
human psychology.
Short term straining efforts are
24
00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:41,360
more likely to create obstacles
and setbacks than to actually
25
00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:43,680
further the real progress
needed.
26
00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:49,000
The first obstacle is the rising
up of rajas and its distortion
27
00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,440
of the focus and intent of the
process.
28
00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,720
When the emphasis is placed on
palpable experiences and
29
00:01:55,720 --> 00:02:00,080
results, much of the real work
gets minimized or pushed aside.
30
00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:05,280
Rajas creates ripples that
disturb the needed calm, peace
31
00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:09,440
and equality.
When it is rebuffed, it tends to
32
00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:13,880
fall into a state of Thomas,
which leads to depression or
33
00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,800
dissatisfaction.
Expressed in a variety of ways,
34
00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:24,120
Rajasic energy also can easily
bring in all manner of passions,
35
00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:28,960
demands and aggressive forces
that are not helpful for the
36
00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,560
Sadhna.
One of the early practices for
37
00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,600
the spiritual seeker is to
achieve a state of calm and
38
00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:40,680
inner peace and from there to
aspire without impatience.
39
00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,480
Such a balanced state eventually
provides support for the long
40
00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:51,120
term objectives involved in
tackling the distortions of the
41
00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:55,600
physical, vital and mental
energies that need to be brought
42
00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:00,160
into balance and harmony,
Sriorabindo writes.
43
00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,680
Quote.
As for working, it depends on
44
00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:08,160
what you mean by the word.
Desire often leads either to
45
00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:13,320
excessive effort, meaning often
much labour and a limited fruit,
46
00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:18,080
with strain, exhaustion, and in
case of difficulty or failure,
47
00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:24,200
despondence, disbelief or
revolt, or else it leads to
48
00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:29,160
pulling down the force.
That can be done, but except for
49
00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:33,040
the yogically strong and
experienced, it is not always
50
00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,760
safe, though it may be often
very effective.
51
00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:41,400
Not safe first, because it may
lead to violent reactions, or it
52
00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:46,400
brings down contrary or wrong or
mixed forces which this sodic is
53
00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,680
not experienced enough to
distinguish from the true ones,
54
00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:55,280
or else that may substitute the
sodic's own limited power of
55
00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:59,560
experience or his mental and
vital constructions for the free
56
00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,640
gift and true leading of the
divine.
57
00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:08,040
Cases differ.
Each has his own way of sadhna.
58
00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,920
But for you, what I would
recommend is constant openness,
59
00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:20,120
a quiet steady aspiration, no
over eagerness, A cheerful trust
60
00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:25,240
and patience.
End Quote Reference Sri
61
00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,520
Aurobindo Faces of Yoga Chapter
2.
62
00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:33,120
Faith, Aspiration, Surrender,
page 35.
