May 1, 2024
Illness and the Vital Sheath
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch. 3 Hidden Forces Around, pp. 73-74
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/05/01/illness-and-the-vital-sheath/
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
00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:05,560
There are historical examples of
individuals who were caught in
2
00:00:05,560 --> 00:00:10,560
the middle of a major epidemic,
such as the plague who worked
3
00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,680
daily among the infected
populace yet failed to become
4
00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,760
I'll.
Invariably, we can see that they
5
00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,640
maintained a strong vital
envelope or aura around
6
00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:26,240
themselves and never accepted
the suggestion of the contagious
7
00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:29,280
illness.
There are also examples of those
8
00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:34,160
who maintain this strength for
some time, but got worn down and
9
00:00:34,160 --> 00:00:37,960
through stress and exhaustion
weakened their vital sheath
10
00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,720
sufficiently to eventually
succumb to the disease.
11
00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:45,960
There are numerous ways to
either weaken or strengthen the
12
00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,720
vital sheath.
Physical causes include lack of
13
00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:55,120
proper diet, lack of proper
sleep, overindulgence in sex, or
14
00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,880
otherwise overstraining of the
physical body.
15
00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:03,360
Vital causes include desire,
ambition, fear, worry or
16
00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:08,600
anxiety, anger, lust, greed,
jealousy, or other strong vital
17
00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,800
or emotional reactions which,
although they may in some cases
18
00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,760
temporarily cause an apparent
increase in the force of the
19
00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:21,760
vital sheath, eventually rebound
as the individual falls back
20
00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:24,360
into some form of exhaustion or
despair.
21
00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,280
Mental causes may include
acceptance of suggestions about
22
00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,800
the virulence of a disease or
epidemic, thoughts of
23
00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,200
hopelessness, suicide, or
depression.
24
00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,760
The vital sheath can be
strengthened through providing
25
00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:44,200
the antidotes to the above.
One way that yogic practitioners
26
00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,560
have found to increase the
strength of the vital envelope
27
00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:53,200
is to chant various mantras,
devotional songs, development of
28
00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:57,440
calm and peace in the being
concentrated attention all may
29
00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,840
help.
A researcher in Jipmer Hospital
30
00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,920
in South India tried an
experiment on a visitor to the
31
00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:08,280
facility whereby he photographed
with Kerlian photography the
32
00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:12,880
normal aura of the individual
and then had that person
33
00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:17,320
undertake some chanting for a
few minutes, at which time a new
34
00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,000
Kerlian photograph showed a
vibrant, much expanded and
35
00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,400
strengthened aura exuding from
the individual.
36
00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,440
One of the most important issues
remains the acceptance of the
37
00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,560
suggestion.
The suggestion is sometimes
38
00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:36,400
coming in through the mind when
an individual hears about a
39
00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,760
particular illness in the
vicinity and its virulence, or
40
00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,280
about an epidemic that is
predicted and takes in this
41
00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:48,000
suggestion as something that
will potentially impact him.
42
00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,800
Sometimes it comes through a
vibration penetrating through
43
00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,840
the vital sheath by taking
advantage of various holes or
44
00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,640
weaknesses that show up in the
aura as noted above.
45
00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:04,400
Sometimes it comes as a
suggestion, subconscious to our
46
00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:09,080
waking awareness of a vibration
by a medium of communication
47
00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:15,160
such as bacteria or virus that
once inside the body begins to
48
00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:19,480
vibrate its unique force and
communicates this directly to
49
00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:23,680
the cells of the body.
It should be noted, however,
50
00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,480
that many individuals have
reported that they can sense the
51
00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:31,600
vibratory attack on the vital
sheath or the penetration of
52
00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:35,520
that sheath, and they are able
to set up a counter vibration
53
00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:40,040
and essentially overcome the
suggestion and avoid the illness
54
00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:46,440
entirely or minimize its impact.
Sometimes they use a supplement
55
00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:50,120
or pharmaceutical drug to act as
the carrier to the body of the
56
00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,000
suggestion of strength and
immune support.
57
00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,240
Sometimes they do it through
will or through enhancing the
58
00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:02,360
vital envelope immediately,
Shriorobindo observes, Quote
59
00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,680
This is how illnesses try to
come from one person to another.
60
00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:12,160
They attack by a suggestion like
this or otherwise the nervous
61
00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:17,480
being and try to come in even if
the illness is not contagious.
62
00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:21,200
This often happens, but it comes
more easily.
63
00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:25,600
In contagious illnesses, the
suggestion or touch has to be
64
00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:29,960
thrown off at once.
There is a sort of protection
65
00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,600
round the body, which we call
the nervous envelope.
66
00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:37,440
If this remains strong and
refuses entrance to the illness
67
00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,680
force, then one can remain well
even in the midst of plague or
68
00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,480
other epidemics.
If the envelope is pierced or
69
00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,400
weak, then the illness can come
in.
70
00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,880
What you felt attacked was not
really the physical body, but
71
00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,920
this nervous envelope and the
nervous body.
72
00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:01,160
Prana kosha of which it is an
extension or cover.
73
00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:06,400
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother, The
74
00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:11,760
Hidden Forces of Life, Chapter
3, Hidden Forces around pages 73
75
00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:12,800
to 74.
00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:05,560
There are historical examples of
individuals who were caught in
2
00:00:05,560 --> 00:00:10,560
the middle of a major epidemic,
such as the plague who worked
3
00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,680
daily among the infected
populace yet failed to become
4
00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,760
I'll.
Invariably, we can see that they
5
00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,640
maintained a strong vital
envelope or aura around
6
00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:26,240
themselves and never accepted
the suggestion of the contagious
7
00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:29,280
illness.
There are also examples of those
8
00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:34,160
who maintain this strength for
some time, but got worn down and
9
00:00:34,160 --> 00:00:37,960
through stress and exhaustion
weakened their vital sheath
10
00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,720
sufficiently to eventually
succumb to the disease.
11
00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:45,960
There are numerous ways to
either weaken or strengthen the
12
00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,720
vital sheath.
Physical causes include lack of
13
00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:55,120
proper diet, lack of proper
sleep, overindulgence in sex, or
14
00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,880
otherwise overstraining of the
physical body.
15
00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:03,360
Vital causes include desire,
ambition, fear, worry or
16
00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:08,600
anxiety, anger, lust, greed,
jealousy, or other strong vital
17
00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,800
or emotional reactions which,
although they may in some cases
18
00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,760
temporarily cause an apparent
increase in the force of the
19
00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:21,760
vital sheath, eventually rebound
as the individual falls back
20
00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:24,360
into some form of exhaustion or
despair.
21
00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,280
Mental causes may include
acceptance of suggestions about
22
00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,800
the virulence of a disease or
epidemic, thoughts of
23
00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,200
hopelessness, suicide, or
depression.
24
00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,760
The vital sheath can be
strengthened through providing
25
00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:44,200
the antidotes to the above.
One way that yogic practitioners
26
00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,560
have found to increase the
strength of the vital envelope
27
00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:53,200
is to chant various mantras,
devotional songs, development of
28
00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:57,440
calm and peace in the being
concentrated attention all may
29
00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,840
help.
A researcher in Jipmer Hospital
30
00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,920
in South India tried an
experiment on a visitor to the
31
00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:08,280
facility whereby he photographed
with Kerlian photography the
32
00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:12,880
normal aura of the individual
and then had that person
33
00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:17,320
undertake some chanting for a
few minutes, at which time a new
34
00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,000
Kerlian photograph showed a
vibrant, much expanded and
35
00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,400
strengthened aura exuding from
the individual.
36
00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,440
One of the most important issues
remains the acceptance of the
37
00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,560
suggestion.
The suggestion is sometimes
38
00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:36,400
coming in through the mind when
an individual hears about a
39
00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,760
particular illness in the
vicinity and its virulence, or
40
00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,280
about an epidemic that is
predicted and takes in this
41
00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:48,000
suggestion as something that
will potentially impact him.
42
00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,800
Sometimes it comes through a
vibration penetrating through
43
00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,840
the vital sheath by taking
advantage of various holes or
44
00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,640
weaknesses that show up in the
aura as noted above.
45
00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:04,400
Sometimes it comes as a
suggestion, subconscious to our
46
00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:09,080
waking awareness of a vibration
by a medium of communication
47
00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:15,160
such as bacteria or virus that
once inside the body begins to
48
00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:19,480
vibrate its unique force and
communicates this directly to
49
00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:23,680
the cells of the body.
It should be noted, however,
50
00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,480
that many individuals have
reported that they can sense the
51
00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:31,600
vibratory attack on the vital
sheath or the penetration of
52
00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:35,520
that sheath, and they are able
to set up a counter vibration
53
00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:40,040
and essentially overcome the
suggestion and avoid the illness
54
00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:46,440
entirely or minimize its impact.
Sometimes they use a supplement
55
00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:50,120
or pharmaceutical drug to act as
the carrier to the body of the
56
00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,000
suggestion of strength and
immune support.
57
00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,240
Sometimes they do it through
will or through enhancing the
58
00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:02,360
vital envelope immediately,
Shriorobindo observes, Quote
59
00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,680
This is how illnesses try to
come from one person to another.
60
00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:12,160
They attack by a suggestion like
this or otherwise the nervous
61
00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:17,480
being and try to come in even if
the illness is not contagious.
62
00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:21,200
This often happens, but it comes
more easily.
63
00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:25,600
In contagious illnesses, the
suggestion or touch has to be
64
00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:29,960
thrown off at once.
There is a sort of protection
65
00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,600
round the body, which we call
the nervous envelope.
66
00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:37,440
If this remains strong and
refuses entrance to the illness
67
00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,680
force, then one can remain well
even in the midst of plague or
68
00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,480
other epidemics.
If the envelope is pierced or
69
00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,400
weak, then the illness can come
in.
70
00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,880
What you felt attacked was not
really the physical body, but
71
00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,920
this nervous envelope and the
nervous body.
72
00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:01,160
Prana kosha of which it is an
extension or cover.
73
00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:06,400
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother, The
74
00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:11,760
Hidden Forces of Life, Chapter
3, Hidden Forces around pages 73
75
00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:12,800
to 74.