May 27, 2024
Increasing Lifespan and Wellness Is the Trajectory of Human Development
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch. 4 Cosmic and Universal Forces, pg. 94 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/05/24/increasing-lifespan-and-wellness-is-the-trajectory-of-human-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
00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:06,120
If we observe the trajectory of
human development, we can see a
2
00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:10,720
very clear direction taking
shape as we have become more
3
00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:15,440
conscious of the stages of life
and the processes that accompany
4
00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:19,200
those stages, including the
increasing weakness and
5
00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:23,320
deterioration of the body and
the life energy and the eventual
6
00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:27,600
breakdown and thus the movement
toward the death of the body.
7
00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:32,000
We also have taken steps to
learn how to increase health,
8
00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:37,320
Wellness and longevity.
Some of the means employed
9
00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,160
relate to developing an
understanding of the factors
10
00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:44,040
that lead to the breakdown of
the systems of the body, the
11
00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:48,480
increasing focus on hygiene and
sanitation, the improvement in
12
00:00:48,480 --> 00:00:53,280
dietary understanding and the
need for exercise, etcetera.
13
00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,080
We thus see a dramatic
improvement over the last
14
00:00:57,080 --> 00:01:01,520
century in both average lifespan
other than that caused through
15
00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:06,560
war, poverty, drought or famine
or floods, et cetera, and with
16
00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:10,760
advances in medical science,
definite improvements in the
17
00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,840
possibility of maintaining a
general state of Wellness
18
00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,680
commensurate to the increased
lifespan.
19
00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:22,880
Of course, factors such as poor
dietary habits, alcoholism,
20
00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:27,800
stressful work environments, and
other lifestyle and diet issues
21
00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:32,320
can, for individuals, work
against the general trend of
22
00:01:32,320 --> 00:01:36,480
humanity's enhancements.
Here, we are focusing on the
23
00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:41,880
general trend, not the specific
fate of any specific individual.
24
00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,920
This trajectory also has moved
into the fields of vital and
25
00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:51,240
mental factors and the need for
techniques of stress reduction.
26
00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:56,720
Life satisfaction and mental
stimulation and purpose become
27
00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:59,320
relevant as the lifespan
continues.
28
00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,960
We are beginning to recognize
that a vegetarian or vegan diet
29
00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,400
can actually provide benefits
not only physically but also
30
00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:14,680
vitally and mentally, and we see
an increasing trend in this
31
00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,760
direction as well.
The real question that then
32
00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,320
begins to limit longevity and
Wellness is whether the
33
00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,720
increased life represents a
benefit to an individual or is
34
00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:30,800
seen as a burden.
In this sense, the mother's
35
00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:35,760
statement that an aimless life
is a meaningless life becomes
36
00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:39,560
centrally relevant.
Increased life and health will
37
00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:44,160
be dependent on the attitude of
the individual toward having a
38
00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:48,320
meaningful life.
If we follow this trajectory
39
00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:53,160
further, we find that humanity
is now beginning to explore more
40
00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:58,040
seriously what heretofore has
been a random circumstance to
41
00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,560
explore, ways to actually
develop more inward relation to
42
00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:05,840
the body and its processes and
its ability to receive and
43
00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,360
utilize energy.
And thus there is
44
00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,400
experimentation with breath
control techniques, the use of
45
00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:18,040
sound vibrational therapy, and
the use of deep meditation
46
00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,680
techniques to begin to
positively impact what have
47
00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,400
generally been thought to be
subconscious and automatic
48
00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,120
functionings of the various
bodily systems.
49
00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,240
We also recognize that various
animals have the ability to
50
00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,480
regenerate parts of their body
that become injured.
51
00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,720
The genetic coding for this lies
hidden deep within the human
52
00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:46,640
being, and cutting edge research
is exploring the details of the
53
00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,720
human genome and experimenting
with the idea of actually
54
00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:56,360
turning on or off various code
sequences that govern issues
55
00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:00,760
that confront us in extending
lifespan and Wellness.
56
00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,880
The fields of spiritual
development in Western science
57
00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:08,920
are both converging toward an
understanding that our past and
58
00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,840
even our current view of human
life and Wellness is based
59
00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,600
almost entirely on physical
anatomy and Physiology.
60
00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,120
But given the trends we see, we
can begin to open our minds to a
61
00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,240
time when, through One Direction
or another, or through a
62
00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:31,280
combined impact, we can begin to
replace or regenerate worn out
63
00:04:31,280 --> 00:04:34,280
organs.
We can learn to optimize the
64
00:04:34,280 --> 00:04:38,400
care and feeding of the human
body's machinery and thereby
65
00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:44,600
find ways to extend considerably
more human life while at the
66
00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:49,040
same time providing a higher
quality of that extended life.
67
00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,120
Are there individuals who
already have some of the
68
00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:58,680
capacity?
The mother writes quote.
69
00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:04,680
But those who know instinctively
or who have learnt to receive
70
00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:09,200
and accumulate the universal
vital forces, these can last
71
00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:13,040
almost indefinitely.
The wear and tear is very
72
00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:17,760
little, especially if they know
how to do it and do it with
73
00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:22,760
knowledge and method.
Then here it can reach a certain
74
00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:27,920
degree of perfection.
When one knows, sometimes just
75
00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,880
two or three minutes are
sufficient to recuperate the
76
00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,800
energies spent over a long
period.
77
00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:42,320
Only one must know how to do it.
End Quote Reference Sri
78
00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,760
Aurobindo and the Mother, The
Hidden Forces of Life, Chapter
79
00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:50,320
4, Cosmic and Universal Forces,
page 94.
00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:06,120
If we observe the trajectory of
human development, we can see a
2
00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:10,720
very clear direction taking
shape as we have become more
3
00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:15,440
conscious of the stages of life
and the processes that accompany
4
00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:19,200
those stages, including the
increasing weakness and
5
00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:23,320
deterioration of the body and
the life energy and the eventual
6
00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:27,600
breakdown and thus the movement
toward the death of the body.
7
00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:32,000
We also have taken steps to
learn how to increase health,
8
00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:37,320
Wellness and longevity.
Some of the means employed
9
00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,160
relate to developing an
understanding of the factors
10
00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:44,040
that lead to the breakdown of
the systems of the body, the
11
00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:48,480
increasing focus on hygiene and
sanitation, the improvement in
12
00:00:48,480 --> 00:00:53,280
dietary understanding and the
need for exercise, etcetera.
13
00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,080
We thus see a dramatic
improvement over the last
14
00:00:57,080 --> 00:01:01,520
century in both average lifespan
other than that caused through
15
00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:06,560
war, poverty, drought or famine
or floods, et cetera, and with
16
00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:10,760
advances in medical science,
definite improvements in the
17
00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,840
possibility of maintaining a
general state of Wellness
18
00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,680
commensurate to the increased
lifespan.
19
00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:22,880
Of course, factors such as poor
dietary habits, alcoholism,
20
00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:27,800
stressful work environments, and
other lifestyle and diet issues
21
00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:32,320
can, for individuals, work
against the general trend of
22
00:01:32,320 --> 00:01:36,480
humanity's enhancements.
Here, we are focusing on the
23
00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:41,880
general trend, not the specific
fate of any specific individual.
24
00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,920
This trajectory also has moved
into the fields of vital and
25
00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:51,240
mental factors and the need for
techniques of stress reduction.
26
00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:56,720
Life satisfaction and mental
stimulation and purpose become
27
00:01:56,720 --> 00:01:59,320
relevant as the lifespan
continues.
28
00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,960
We are beginning to recognize
that a vegetarian or vegan diet
29
00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,400
can actually provide benefits
not only physically but also
30
00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:14,680
vitally and mentally, and we see
an increasing trend in this
31
00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,760
direction as well.
The real question that then
32
00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,320
begins to limit longevity and
Wellness is whether the
33
00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,720
increased life represents a
benefit to an individual or is
34
00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:30,800
seen as a burden.
In this sense, the mother's
35
00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:35,760
statement that an aimless life
is a meaningless life becomes
36
00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:39,560
centrally relevant.
Increased life and health will
37
00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:44,160
be dependent on the attitude of
the individual toward having a
38
00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:48,320
meaningful life.
If we follow this trajectory
39
00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:53,160
further, we find that humanity
is now beginning to explore more
40
00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:58,040
seriously what heretofore has
been a random circumstance to
41
00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,560
explore, ways to actually
develop more inward relation to
42
00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:05,840
the body and its processes and
its ability to receive and
43
00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,360
utilize energy.
And thus there is
44
00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,400
experimentation with breath
control techniques, the use of
45
00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:18,040
sound vibrational therapy, and
the use of deep meditation
46
00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,680
techniques to begin to
positively impact what have
47
00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,400
generally been thought to be
subconscious and automatic
48
00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,120
functionings of the various
bodily systems.
49
00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,240
We also recognize that various
animals have the ability to
50
00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,480
regenerate parts of their body
that become injured.
51
00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,720
The genetic coding for this lies
hidden deep within the human
52
00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:46,640
being, and cutting edge research
is exploring the details of the
53
00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,720
human genome and experimenting
with the idea of actually
54
00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:56,360
turning on or off various code
sequences that govern issues
55
00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:00,760
that confront us in extending
lifespan and Wellness.
56
00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,880
The fields of spiritual
development in Western science
57
00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:08,920
are both converging toward an
understanding that our past and
58
00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,840
even our current view of human
life and Wellness is based
59
00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,600
almost entirely on physical
anatomy and Physiology.
60
00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,120
But given the trends we see, we
can begin to open our minds to a
61
00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,240
time when, through One Direction
or another, or through a
62
00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:31,280
combined impact, we can begin to
replace or regenerate worn out
63
00:04:31,280 --> 00:04:34,280
organs.
We can learn to optimize the
64
00:04:34,280 --> 00:04:38,400
care and feeding of the human
body's machinery and thereby
65
00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:44,600
find ways to extend considerably
more human life while at the
66
00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:49,040
same time providing a higher
quality of that extended life.
67
00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,120
Are there individuals who
already have some of the
68
00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:58,680
capacity?
The mother writes quote.
69
00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:04,680
But those who know instinctively
or who have learnt to receive
70
00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:09,200
and accumulate the universal
vital forces, these can last
71
00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:13,040
almost indefinitely.
The wear and tear is very
72
00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:17,760
little, especially if they know
how to do it and do it with
73
00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:22,760
knowledge and method.
Then here it can reach a certain
74
00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:27,920
degree of perfection.
When one knows, sometimes just
75
00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,880
two or three minutes are
sufficient to recuperate the
76
00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,800
energies spent over a long
period.
77
00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:42,320
Only one must know how to do it.
End Quote Reference Sri
78
00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,760
Aurobindo and the Mother, The
Hidden Forces of Life, Chapter
79
00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:50,320
4, Cosmic and Universal Forces,
page 94.