Oct. 15, 2024
Focusing the Will on the Physical Body and Its Development
Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
Amazon Music 
RSS Feed 
Castro 
RadioPublic 
PocketCasts 
YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter V Will-Power, pp. 50-51
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/10/13/focusing-the-will-on-the-physical-body-and-its-development/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are all available 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 Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,520
The mind has a tremendous power
to influence the physical body
2
00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:09,480
for good or I'll in some cases.
Mental ideas can lead to
3
00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:13,840
extraordinary imbalances in the
body which can lead to weakness,
4
00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:16,840
illness, and even the death of
the body.
5
00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,640
Many times we will push the body
beyond its limits without
6
00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,760
concern for the effects this
will have or even how we go
7
00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:29,280
about doing this.
We also can put the body into
8
00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:33,480
extremely precarious situations
with extremes of environment
9
00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,120
that can tax the body's
resources.
10
00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,880
There is even a saying that
whatever does not kill you makes
11
00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,800
you stronger.
Unfortunately, while this is a
12
00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:49,080
mental conception that is widely
accepted, it does not always
13
00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:53,480
bear itself out in practice.
Sometimes pushing beyond and
14
00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:57,360
into the extremes does not
immediately kill the body, but
15
00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:02,680
it may cause lasting harm and
injury that has long term
16
00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:06,680
consequences.
Recently, a friend recounted her
17
00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,640
experience that illustrated this
concern precisely.
18
00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,800
She was an advanced practitioner
and teacher of Hata Yoga.
19
00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,840
Under the guidance of a well
known Hata Yoga master, he
20
00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,000
instructed the advanced students
to undertake a particularly
21
00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:26,200
strenuous exercise of splits
suspended on ropes without any
22
00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,640
warm up or preparation or
guidance on how to do it.
23
00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,640
As she attempted this practice
and followed the normal protocol
24
00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:39,280
of relaxing into the pose, she
experienced a serious pull on
25
00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:43,320
her hamstring muscle.
This so weak in the muscle that
26
00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:47,480
some years later, when she went
to step over a short obstacle,
27
00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,760
the muscle detached from the
bone and she spent over a year
28
00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:56,680
recuperating without being able
to exercise or otherwise strain
29
00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:01,040
the affected tissue.
We frequently impose upon the
30
00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,920
body with extreme diets and
pressures, including extreme
31
00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,560
sports, challenging the body to
exceed itself.
32
00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:13,680
If not done with proper
preparation, attention, focus,
33
00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:18,760
and discipline, the results can
be harmful over time.
34
00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:23,080
However, humanity has found that
the mind can also provide
35
00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:27,000
tremendous benefits to the
development of the body, aiding
36
00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,480
it in the healing process when
it is imbalanced or
37
00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:34,320
systematically developing its
capacities beyond its existing
38
00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:37,760
limitations with disciplines
that have been worked out
39
00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:42,480
through time and experience.
When the will is focused on the
40
00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:46,120
development of the body,
therefore, it must be combined
41
00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:50,520
with an approach that takes into
account the circumstances, the
42
00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,960
current status of the body, the
intended development and the
43
00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,880
steps that it will take to
accomplish that, as well as an
44
00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,920
appraisal of the time needed so
as to allow the development
45
00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:05,040
without breaking down the
process.
46
00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,720
The will may start as a mental
focus or intention, or it may
47
00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:15,360
channel higher energy still, and
this provides us an insight into
48
00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,440
the future evolution of the body
as the forces that reside in
49
00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:23,400
domains above the mind begin to
make themselves felt and
50
00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:28,240
undertake to remake the body to
be able to hold those forces and
51
00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,760
pressures.
Just as the mind has changed the
52
00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:37,080
body and its functioning to meet
its own needs, the mother
53
00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:41,640
observes quote.
The basis of all these methods
54
00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:46,120
of physical culture is the power
exercised by the conscious will
55
00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,640
over matter.
Usually it is a method which
56
00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,640
someone has used fairly
successfully and set up as a
57
00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:56,680
principle of action, which he
has taught to others, who in
58
00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,560
turn have continued and
perfected it until it is taken a
59
00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,080
somewhat fixed form of one kind
of discipline or another.
60
00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:08,520
But the whole basis is the
action of the conscious will on
61
00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,640
the body.
The exact form of the method is
62
00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:16,399
not of primary importance.
In various countries at various
63
00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:22,160
times one method or another has
been used, but always behind it
64
00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:26,440
there is a canalised mental
power which acts methodically.
65
00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:31,880
Of course, some methods try to
use a higher power, which would
66
00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:35,200
in its turn transmit its
capacity to the mental power.
67
00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,280
If a power of a higher order is
infused into the mental method,
68
00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:44,160
this method naturally becomes
more effective and powerful.
69
00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:49,440
But essentially all these
disciplines depend above all on
70
00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:53,200
the person who practices them
and the way he uses them.
71
00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:58,080
One can, even in the most
material ordinary processes,
72
00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,440
make use of this altogether
external basis to infuse into
73
00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:07,840
them powers of a higher order,
and all methods, whatever they
74
00:05:07,840 --> 00:05:11,600
may be, depend almost
exclusively on the person who
75
00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,680
uses them, on what he puts into
them.
76
00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:19,800
And quote reference Srioro Bindu
and the Mother.
77
00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:25,520
Powers Within Chapter 5
Willpower, pages 50 to 51.
00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,520
The mind has a tremendous power
to influence the physical body
2
00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:09,480
for good or I'll in some cases.
Mental ideas can lead to
3
00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:13,840
extraordinary imbalances in the
body which can lead to weakness,
4
00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:16,840
illness, and even the death of
the body.
5
00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,640
Many times we will push the body
beyond its limits without
6
00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,760
concern for the effects this
will have or even how we go
7
00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:29,280
about doing this.
We also can put the body into
8
00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:33,480
extremely precarious situations
with extremes of environment
9
00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,120
that can tax the body's
resources.
10
00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,880
There is even a saying that
whatever does not kill you makes
11
00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,800
you stronger.
Unfortunately, while this is a
12
00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:49,080
mental conception that is widely
accepted, it does not always
13
00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:53,480
bear itself out in practice.
Sometimes pushing beyond and
14
00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:57,360
into the extremes does not
immediately kill the body, but
15
00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:02,680
it may cause lasting harm and
injury that has long term
16
00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:06,680
consequences.
Recently, a friend recounted her
17
00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,640
experience that illustrated this
concern precisely.
18
00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,800
She was an advanced practitioner
and teacher of Hata Yoga.
19
00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,840
Under the guidance of a well
known Hata Yoga master, he
20
00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,000
instructed the advanced students
to undertake a particularly
21
00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:26,200
strenuous exercise of splits
suspended on ropes without any
22
00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,640
warm up or preparation or
guidance on how to do it.
23
00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,640
As she attempted this practice
and followed the normal protocol
24
00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:39,280
of relaxing into the pose, she
experienced a serious pull on
25
00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:43,320
her hamstring muscle.
This so weak in the muscle that
26
00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:47,480
some years later, when she went
to step over a short obstacle,
27
00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,760
the muscle detached from the
bone and she spent over a year
28
00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:56,680
recuperating without being able
to exercise or otherwise strain
29
00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:01,040
the affected tissue.
We frequently impose upon the
30
00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,920
body with extreme diets and
pressures, including extreme
31
00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,560
sports, challenging the body to
exceed itself.
32
00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:13,680
If not done with proper
preparation, attention, focus,
33
00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:18,760
and discipline, the results can
be harmful over time.
34
00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:23,080
However, humanity has found that
the mind can also provide
35
00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:27,000
tremendous benefits to the
development of the body, aiding
36
00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,480
it in the healing process when
it is imbalanced or
37
00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:34,320
systematically developing its
capacities beyond its existing
38
00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:37,760
limitations with disciplines
that have been worked out
39
00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:42,480
through time and experience.
When the will is focused on the
40
00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:46,120
development of the body,
therefore, it must be combined
41
00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:50,520
with an approach that takes into
account the circumstances, the
42
00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,960
current status of the body, the
intended development and the
43
00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,880
steps that it will take to
accomplish that, as well as an
44
00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,920
appraisal of the time needed so
as to allow the development
45
00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:05,040
without breaking down the
process.
46
00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,720
The will may start as a mental
focus or intention, or it may
47
00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:15,360
channel higher energy still, and
this provides us an insight into
48
00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,440
the future evolution of the body
as the forces that reside in
49
00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:23,400
domains above the mind begin to
make themselves felt and
50
00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:28,240
undertake to remake the body to
be able to hold those forces and
51
00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,760
pressures.
Just as the mind has changed the
52
00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:37,080
body and its functioning to meet
its own needs, the mother
53
00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:41,640
observes quote.
The basis of all these methods
54
00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:46,120
of physical culture is the power
exercised by the conscious will
55
00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,640
over matter.
Usually it is a method which
56
00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,640
someone has used fairly
successfully and set up as a
57
00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:56,680
principle of action, which he
has taught to others, who in
58
00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,560
turn have continued and
perfected it until it is taken a
59
00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,080
somewhat fixed form of one kind
of discipline or another.
60
00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:08,520
But the whole basis is the
action of the conscious will on
61
00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,640
the body.
The exact form of the method is
62
00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:16,399
not of primary importance.
In various countries at various
63
00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:22,160
times one method or another has
been used, but always behind it
64
00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:26,440
there is a canalised mental
power which acts methodically.
65
00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:31,880
Of course, some methods try to
use a higher power, which would
66
00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:35,200
in its turn transmit its
capacity to the mental power.
67
00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,280
If a power of a higher order is
infused into the mental method,
68
00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:44,160
this method naturally becomes
more effective and powerful.
69
00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:49,440
But essentially all these
disciplines depend above all on
70
00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:53,200
the person who practices them
and the way he uses them.
71
00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:58,080
One can, even in the most
material ordinary processes,
72
00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,440
make use of this altogether
external basis to infuse into
73
00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:07,840
them powers of a higher order,
and all methods, whatever they
74
00:05:07,840 --> 00:05:11,600
may be, depend almost
exclusively on the person who
75
00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,680
uses them, on what he puts into
them.
76
00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:19,800
And quote reference Srioro Bindu
and the Mother.
77
00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:25,520
Powers Within Chapter 5
Willpower, pages 50 to 51.