May 28, 2025
How to Deal With Hostile Forces
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within , Chapter 4, Ordeals and Difficulties, pp.91-92This episode is also available as a blog post at How To Deal With Hostile Forces | Sri Aurobindo Studies
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
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,640
Forces at work in the world try
to effectuate themselves and
2
00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:09,160
perpetuate their action.
They seek for receptive vessels
3
00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,840
to manifest and carry out their
line of action.
4
00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:16,960
As these waves of energy, these
vibrations, move out into the
5
00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,880
world, they naturally come
across elements and beings that
6
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:25,120
are not subject to vibration
within that range and thus do
7
00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:29,040
not react.
They also come across those that
8
00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:33,480
are able to vibrate to the force
that is moving and this sets up
9
00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:39,520
a sympathetic vibratory pattern
or if passed along, a repeater
10
00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:44,400
or signal booster that enhances
the impact of that vibration as
11
00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:49,600
it continues to move.
If we look within ourselves, we
12
00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,160
can see what occurs.
Someone comes and starts
13
00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:56,480
shouting in anger about
something we may or may not have
14
00:00:56,480 --> 00:01:01,000
done that they are upset about.
Or someone has their feelings
15
00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,400
hurt and a conversation gets out
of hand.
16
00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,640
Soon there is a shouting match
where even blows can be
17
00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,760
exchanged.
We have responded to the
18
00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,160
vibration of anger with the
sympathetic vibration of anger.
19
00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:19,040
Similarly, most people have been
in situations where fear is
20
00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,760
being systematically
promulgated, perhaps through the
21
00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:26,880
news media reporting or through
armed confrontations.
22
00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:32,320
In the early 1970s, there were
protests against the Vietnam War
23
00:01:32,320 --> 00:01:34,400
that took place in Washington,
DC.
24
00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,440
The response of the government
was to send highly armed and
25
00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:42,600
shielded police into the area to
break up the crowds, arrest
26
00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,920
people, and put an end to the
peaceful protests.
27
00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,400
The same thing took place in the
late 1960s in other parts of the
28
00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,080
country.
Many of the participants who
29
00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:58,080
were peaceful, law abiding and
concerned citizens trying to let
30
00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,800
their government know about
their concerns about the war
31
00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:07,280
experienced extreme instances of
fear as the intimidation factor
32
00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,840
raised up the fear vibration
within them.
33
00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,480
Various vital beings provoke
responses in order to feed off
34
00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,840
of the energy released.
Pandemic diseases tend to send
35
00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,640
out a wave of fear across broad
swaths of the population.
36
00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:29,080
Similarly, an accident in a
venue such as a stadium or club
37
00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:33,800
tends to spark a panic rush for
the exits, and many people are
38
00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:39,960
injured in the ensuing crush.
It is a quite common experience
39
00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,720
that is illustrated by these
extreme examples, but which
40
00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,720
occurs daily in most lives.
We can observe ourselves
41
00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:51,680
vibrating along with the energy
that is coming at us, seen or
42
00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,280
unseen.
We are, however, not meant to be
43
00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:00,040
puppets, playthings or victims
to every force that moves in the
44
00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,240
world.
We have certain capacities we
45
00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:06,880
can cultivate to reduce or even
eliminate the corresponding
46
00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,440
sympathetic vibration within
ourselves.
47
00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,840
This is the cultivation of
equanimity which the Mother
48
00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:19,080
speaks about, the development of
calm, peace and equality which
49
00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:23,880
Rio Robindo often references.
As long as we are capable of
50
00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,800
receiving the vibration and
allow ourselves to be captured
51
00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,840
by that vibration, we can
recognize that we harbour that
52
00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:36,600
energy within ourselves.
Otherwise we would be
53
00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:40,080
unshakeable and the vibration
would simply pass us by.
54
00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,480
It is not by our human strength
that we can overcome all these
55
00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:48,320
powerful forces.
We need to be able to shift our
56
00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:53,120
focus and energy to a higher
force that will vibrate within
57
00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:58,240
us at a level that neutralizes,
rejects and in some cases even
58
00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,840
transforms the vibration as it
reaches us.
59
00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:09,240
A disciple asks how is 1 to meet
adverse forces, forces that are
60
00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,000
invisible and yet quite living
and tangible?
61
00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:17,399
The mother writes quote.
A great deal depends on the
62
00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:19,920
stage of development of your
consciousness.
63
00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:24,440
At the beginning, if you have no
special occult knowledge and
64
00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:29,200
power, the best you can do is to
keep as quiet and peaceful as
65
00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,800
possible.
If the attack takes the form of
66
00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:37,440
adverse suggestions, try quietly
to push them away as you would
67
00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,720
some material object.
The quieter you are, the
68
00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:46,040
stronger you become.
The firm basis of all spiritual
69
00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:50,680
power is equanimity.
You must not allow anything to
70
00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,840
disturb your poise.
You can then resist every kind
71
00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:58,960
of attack.
If, besides, you possess
72
00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,800
sufficient discernment and can
see and catch the evil
73
00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:07,480
suggestions as they come to you,
it becomes all the more easy for
74
00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:11,320
you to push them away.
But sometimes they come
75
00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:15,240
unnoticed and then it is more
difficult to fight them.
76
00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:20,320
When that happens, you must sit
quiet and call down peace and a
77
00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:25,600
deep inner quietness.
Hold yourself firm and call with
78
00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,880
confidence and faith.
If your aspiration is pure and
79
00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,800
steady, you are sure to receive
help.
80
00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,640
Attacks from adverse forces are
inevitable.
81
00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:41,240
You have to take them as tests
on your way and go courageously
82
00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:45,560
through the ordeal.
The struggle may be hard, but
83
00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:49,120
when you come out of it, you
have gained something, you have
84
00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,120
advanced a step.
There's even a necessity for the
85
00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:57,440
existence of the hostile forces.
They make your determination
86
00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,320
stronger, your aspiration
clearer.
87
00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:05,200
It is true, however, that they
exist because you gave them
88
00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,920
reason to exist.
So long as there is something in
89
00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,720
you which answers to them, their
intervention is perfectly
90
00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:17,040
legitimate.
If nothing in you responded, if
91
00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,840
they had no hold upon any part
of your nature, they would
92
00:06:20,840 --> 00:06:25,720
retire and leave you.
In any case, they need not stop
93
00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,240
or hamper your spiritual
progress.
94
00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:33,280
The only way to fail in your
battle with the hostile forces
95
00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,760
is not to have a true confidence
in the Divine help.
96
00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:42,560
Sincerity in the aspiration
always brings down the required
97
00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,680
succour.
A quiet call, a conviction that
98
00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:51,160
in this ascension towards the
realization you are never
99
00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:55,360
walking all alone, and a faith
that whenever help is needed, it
100
00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,080
is there.
We'll lead you through easily
101
00:06:59,280 --> 00:07:05,600
and securely and quote reference
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
102
00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,920
looking from within.
Chapter 4, Ordeals and
103
00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:12,280
Difficulties, pages 91 to 92.
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,640
Forces at work in the world try
to effectuate themselves and
2
00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:09,160
perpetuate their action.
They seek for receptive vessels
3
00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,840
to manifest and carry out their
line of action.
4
00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:16,960
As these waves of energy, these
vibrations, move out into the
5
00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,880
world, they naturally come
across elements and beings that
6
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:25,120
are not subject to vibration
within that range and thus do
7
00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:29,040
not react.
They also come across those that
8
00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:33,480
are able to vibrate to the force
that is moving and this sets up
9
00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:39,520
a sympathetic vibratory pattern
or if passed along, a repeater
10
00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:44,400
or signal booster that enhances
the impact of that vibration as
11
00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:49,600
it continues to move.
If we look within ourselves, we
12
00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,160
can see what occurs.
Someone comes and starts
13
00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:56,480
shouting in anger about
something we may or may not have
14
00:00:56,480 --> 00:01:01,000
done that they are upset about.
Or someone has their feelings
15
00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,400
hurt and a conversation gets out
of hand.
16
00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,640
Soon there is a shouting match
where even blows can be
17
00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,760
exchanged.
We have responded to the
18
00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,160
vibration of anger with the
sympathetic vibration of anger.
19
00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:19,040
Similarly, most people have been
in situations where fear is
20
00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,760
being systematically
promulgated, perhaps through the
21
00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:26,880
news media reporting or through
armed confrontations.
22
00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:32,320
In the early 1970s, there were
protests against the Vietnam War
23
00:01:32,320 --> 00:01:34,400
that took place in Washington,
DC.
24
00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,440
The response of the government
was to send highly armed and
25
00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:42,600
shielded police into the area to
break up the crowds, arrest
26
00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,920
people, and put an end to the
peaceful protests.
27
00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,400
The same thing took place in the
late 1960s in other parts of the
28
00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,080
country.
Many of the participants who
29
00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:58,080
were peaceful, law abiding and
concerned citizens trying to let
30
00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,800
their government know about
their concerns about the war
31
00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:07,280
experienced extreme instances of
fear as the intimidation factor
32
00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,840
raised up the fear vibration
within them.
33
00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,480
Various vital beings provoke
responses in order to feed off
34
00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,840
of the energy released.
Pandemic diseases tend to send
35
00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,640
out a wave of fear across broad
swaths of the population.
36
00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:29,080
Similarly, an accident in a
venue such as a stadium or club
37
00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:33,800
tends to spark a panic rush for
the exits, and many people are
38
00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:39,960
injured in the ensuing crush.
It is a quite common experience
39
00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,720
that is illustrated by these
extreme examples, but which
40
00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,720
occurs daily in most lives.
We can observe ourselves
41
00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:51,680
vibrating along with the energy
that is coming at us, seen or
42
00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,280
unseen.
We are, however, not meant to be
43
00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:00,040
puppets, playthings or victims
to every force that moves in the
44
00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,240
world.
We have certain capacities we
45
00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:06,880
can cultivate to reduce or even
eliminate the corresponding
46
00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,440
sympathetic vibration within
ourselves.
47
00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,840
This is the cultivation of
equanimity which the Mother
48
00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:19,080
speaks about, the development of
calm, peace and equality which
49
00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:23,880
Rio Robindo often references.
As long as we are capable of
50
00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,800
receiving the vibration and
allow ourselves to be captured
51
00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,840
by that vibration, we can
recognize that we harbour that
52
00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:36,600
energy within ourselves.
Otherwise we would be
53
00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:40,080
unshakeable and the vibration
would simply pass us by.
54
00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,480
It is not by our human strength
that we can overcome all these
55
00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:48,320
powerful forces.
We need to be able to shift our
56
00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:53,120
focus and energy to a higher
force that will vibrate within
57
00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:58,240
us at a level that neutralizes,
rejects and in some cases even
58
00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,840
transforms the vibration as it
reaches us.
59
00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:09,240
A disciple asks how is 1 to meet
adverse forces, forces that are
60
00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,000
invisible and yet quite living
and tangible?
61
00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:17,399
The mother writes quote.
A great deal depends on the
62
00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:19,920
stage of development of your
consciousness.
63
00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:24,440
At the beginning, if you have no
special occult knowledge and
64
00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:29,200
power, the best you can do is to
keep as quiet and peaceful as
65
00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,800
possible.
If the attack takes the form of
66
00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:37,440
adverse suggestions, try quietly
to push them away as you would
67
00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,720
some material object.
The quieter you are, the
68
00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:46,040
stronger you become.
The firm basis of all spiritual
69
00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:50,680
power is equanimity.
You must not allow anything to
70
00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,840
disturb your poise.
You can then resist every kind
71
00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:58,960
of attack.
If, besides, you possess
72
00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,800
sufficient discernment and can
see and catch the evil
73
00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:07,480
suggestions as they come to you,
it becomes all the more easy for
74
00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:11,320
you to push them away.
But sometimes they come
75
00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:15,240
unnoticed and then it is more
difficult to fight them.
76
00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:20,320
When that happens, you must sit
quiet and call down peace and a
77
00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:25,600
deep inner quietness.
Hold yourself firm and call with
78
00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,880
confidence and faith.
If your aspiration is pure and
79
00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,800
steady, you are sure to receive
help.
80
00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,640
Attacks from adverse forces are
inevitable.
81
00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:41,240
You have to take them as tests
on your way and go courageously
82
00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:45,560
through the ordeal.
The struggle may be hard, but
83
00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:49,120
when you come out of it, you
have gained something, you have
84
00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,120
advanced a step.
There's even a necessity for the
85
00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:57,440
existence of the hostile forces.
They make your determination
86
00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,320
stronger, your aspiration
clearer.
87
00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:05,200
It is true, however, that they
exist because you gave them
88
00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,920
reason to exist.
So long as there is something in
89
00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,720
you which answers to them, their
intervention is perfectly
90
00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:17,040
legitimate.
If nothing in you responded, if
91
00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,840
they had no hold upon any part
of your nature, they would
92
00:06:20,840 --> 00:06:25,720
retire and leave you.
In any case, they need not stop
93
00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,240
or hamper your spiritual
progress.
94
00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:33,280
The only way to fail in your
battle with the hostile forces
95
00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,760
is not to have a true confidence
in the Divine help.
96
00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:42,560
Sincerity in the aspiration
always brings down the required
97
00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,680
succour.
A quiet call, a conviction that
98
00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:51,160
in this ascension towards the
realization you are never
99
00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:55,360
walking all alone, and a faith
that whenever help is needed, it
100
00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,080
is there.
We'll lead you through easily
101
00:06:59,280 --> 00:07:05,600
and securely and quote reference
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
102
00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,920
looking from within.
Chapter 4, Ordeals and
103
00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:12,280
Difficulties, pages 91 to 92.