Oct. 12, 2025
Insights About the Need for Strength and Flexibility in the Practice of the Integral Yoga
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 1, Calm — Peace — Equality, pg. 18
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/10/10/insights-about-the-need-for-strength-and-flexibility-in-the-practice-of-the-integral-yoga/
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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
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,280
Shrioro Bindo makes several
essential points here that bear
2
00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:08,600
some reflection.
First, the need for strength in
3
00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:13,080
all parts of the being until it
actually begins to happen to an
4
00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,440
individual.
He has no idea about the power
5
00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:20,880
of the divine force descending
into the being and what impacts
6
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,720
it has on the mind, the vital
being, and the body.
7
00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,640
There are warnings in some of
the traditional yogic paths
8
00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,920
about the potential imbalances
that can occur when the yogic
9
00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,880
power awakens in an individual
who is not properly prepared.
10
00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:42,880
An unprepared mind can become
imbalanced or subject to chaotic
11
00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:48,320
and uncontrollable thoughts and
ideas, or receive suggestions
12
00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:50,720
that can lead to negative
consequences.
13
00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:55,840
An unprepared nerve channel can
lead to nervous breakdowns and
14
00:00:55,840 --> 00:01:00,640
uncontrolled vital reactions,
roller coaster emotions, mood
15
00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,720
swings, and trembling or
twitching of the body.
16
00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:09,040
An unprepared physical body can
become ill or breakdown in
17
00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:15,320
various ways, up to and
including incapacitation or even
18
00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:18,800
death.
Triorobindo therefore stresses
19
00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,960
the need for the preparation,
the development of strength and
20
00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:28,480
solidity in all the parts of the
being, an unshakable force of
21
00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:33,840
peace that widens the being and
thereby creates a vessel that
22
00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,760
can hold the force without
spilling it.
23
00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:41,600
The second essential point
Trioro Window makes here relates
24
00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:45,840
to the need for intelligent
insight, flexibility and
25
00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,480
receptivity as the yogic process
progresses.
26
00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:54,720
Yogic practice is not a road map
or a cookbook of fixed recipes.
27
00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:59,120
The practitioners start from
various stages of development
28
00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,440
and each one has unique
challenges and situations to
29
00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,800
work out.
Yoga is a form of applied
30
00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:12,480
psychology rather than a fixed
methodology that is 1 size fits
31
00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:17,400
all.
Observation, insight, reflection
32
00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:22,160
and a flexible approach while
maintaining the core aspiration
33
00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:26,440
and focus are the necessary
powers to be employed in the
34
00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:33,520
practice of the integral yoga.
Sri Aurobindo notes quote A
35
00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:37,440
strong mind and body and life
force are needed in the Sadhna.
36
00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:42,560
Especially steps should be taken
to throw out Thomas and bring
37
00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:46,080
strength and force into the
frame of the nature.
38
00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:51,760
The way of yoga must be a living
thing, not a mental principle or
39
00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:55,280
a set method to be stuck to
against all necessary
40
00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:00,480
variations.
End Quote Reference Srioro
41
00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:06,920
Bindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 1.
Calm, Peace and Equality, page
42
00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:07,680
18.
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,280
Shrioro Bindo makes several
essential points here that bear
2
00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:08,600
some reflection.
First, the need for strength in
3
00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:13,080
all parts of the being until it
actually begins to happen to an
4
00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,440
individual.
He has no idea about the power
5
00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:20,880
of the divine force descending
into the being and what impacts
6
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,720
it has on the mind, the vital
being, and the body.
7
00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,640
There are warnings in some of
the traditional yogic paths
8
00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,920
about the potential imbalances
that can occur when the yogic
9
00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,880
power awakens in an individual
who is not properly prepared.
10
00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:42,880
An unprepared mind can become
imbalanced or subject to chaotic
11
00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:48,320
and uncontrollable thoughts and
ideas, or receive suggestions
12
00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:50,720
that can lead to negative
consequences.
13
00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:55,840
An unprepared nerve channel can
lead to nervous breakdowns and
14
00:00:55,840 --> 00:01:00,640
uncontrolled vital reactions,
roller coaster emotions, mood
15
00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,720
swings, and trembling or
twitching of the body.
16
00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:09,040
An unprepared physical body can
become ill or breakdown in
17
00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:15,320
various ways, up to and
including incapacitation or even
18
00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:18,800
death.
Triorobindo therefore stresses
19
00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,960
the need for the preparation,
the development of strength and
20
00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:28,480
solidity in all the parts of the
being, an unshakable force of
21
00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:33,840
peace that widens the being and
thereby creates a vessel that
22
00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,760
can hold the force without
spilling it.
23
00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:41,600
The second essential point
Trioro Window makes here relates
24
00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:45,840
to the need for intelligent
insight, flexibility and
25
00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,480
receptivity as the yogic process
progresses.
26
00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:54,720
Yogic practice is not a road map
or a cookbook of fixed recipes.
27
00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:59,120
The practitioners start from
various stages of development
28
00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,440
and each one has unique
challenges and situations to
29
00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,800
work out.
Yoga is a form of applied
30
00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:12,480
psychology rather than a fixed
methodology that is 1 size fits
31
00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:17,400
all.
Observation, insight, reflection
32
00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:22,160
and a flexible approach while
maintaining the core aspiration
33
00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:26,440
and focus are the necessary
powers to be employed in the
34
00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:33,520
practice of the integral yoga.
Sri Aurobindo notes quote A
35
00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:37,440
strong mind and body and life
force are needed in the Sadhna.
36
00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:42,560
Especially steps should be taken
to throw out Thomas and bring
37
00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:46,080
strength and force into the
frame of the nature.
38
00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:51,760
The way of yoga must be a living
thing, not a mental principle or
39
00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:55,280
a set method to be stuck to
against all necessary
40
00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:00,480
variations.
End Quote Reference Srioro
41
00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:06,920
Bindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 1.
Calm, Peace and Equality, page
42
00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:07,680
18.
