April 13, 2025
Is Every Man Capable of 'Sinful Behavior' Under Certain Circumstances?
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 2, Looking at Oneself and Others, pp. 49-50
This episode is also available as a blog post at Is Every Man Capable of ‘Sinful Behavior” Under Certain Circumstances? | Sri Aurobindo Studies
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 SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:05,200
Cultured and educated people
often believe that they could
2
00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:09,440
not stoop to certain actions, or
be guilty of certain motives in
3
00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:14,160
their actions, or simply react
to circumstances in a way other
4
00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,440
than that of their predominant
mental view of themselves.
5
00:00:18,240 --> 00:00:21,400
They may look down on those who
appear to them to be weak,
6
00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:25,520
sinful, or who give in to
impulses that are hateful,
7
00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:30,800
greedy, lustful, or otherwise
exhibit one of the sins that
8
00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:35,120
humanity generally recognizes as
unacceptable behaviour.
9
00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:40,440
Yet there are times and
circumstances when any
10
00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,600
individual becomes capable of
doing things that they would
11
00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:47,240
consider at other times to be
out of character.
12
00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:51,440
There is the famous story of the
educated man who happened to
13
00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,440
attend a fascist rally in 1930s
Europe.
14
00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,600
He was not a believer in the
ideology nor a supporter of the
15
00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,760
cult of personality that had
arisen at that time and in that
16
00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,240
place.
He went as an observer when the
17
00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:12,640
crowd was whipped up and in a
fever pitch of hatred, anger and
18
00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:16,760
directed rage, he suddenly was
screaming with the rest of them.
19
00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:22,000
Afterwards, he reflected on how
he could have given in to that
20
00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,040
impulse.
There was a famous experiment in
21
00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,680
sociology where college students
were split up into two groups,
22
00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:34,840
jailer and prisoner.
These educated and idealistic
23
00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,520
young people were soon, however,
caught up in the abuse and
24
00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,560
humiliation of their prisoners
by virtue of the role they took
25
00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,920
on and the expectations that
came with that role and the
26
00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,800
exercise of their delegated
power to control others.
27
00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:56,520
Afterwards, they were both
amazed and mystified at the
28
00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,560
transformation that they had
undergone by taking on those
29
00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,040
roles.
People of a peaceful and
30
00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,120
understanding nature have been
known to suddenly react with
31
00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,360
extreme violence and anger under
various pressures.
32
00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:15,520
There are cases of monks or
sadhus who undertook years of
33
00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,000
secluded meditation and intense
efforts to bring their vital
34
00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:23,120
natures under control.
Who, believing themselves to be
35
00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:27,480
above such things, go out into
the world and find that the
36
00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:31,600
forces they thought had been
quelled actually rose up with
37
00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,120
more force and move them to
actions they would have never
38
00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:40,240
thought possible for them.
Including acts of rape, child
39
00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:44,480
sexual abuse, and using their
position of influence or power
40
00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:49,480
to gain control or obtain favors
from others who depended and
41
00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:54,160
relied on them.
In his book, The Steppenwolf,
42
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,520
Hermann Hesse explores the
potential for quiet and
43
00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:03,400
thoughtful and introspective
individuals to release forces
44
00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,600
that show the potential and
power of the lower vital nature.
45
00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:12,120
It is an exploration of the
depths which few individuals
46
00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,240
ever undertake in a deliberate
and serious manner.
47
00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:21,200
For the spiritual seeker, such
things are actually quite easily
48
00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,720
understood.
When the seeker recognizes the
49
00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:28,960
oneness of all existence and the
movement of universal forces
50
00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,560
that enter into one and
overpower the basic physical,
51
00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:37,360
vital and mental nature, he can
understand that no individual
52
00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:42,160
can withstand such forces if he
once opens himself to them.
53
00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,920
The power of universal forces is
like trying to withstand a
54
00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,200
tsunami wave when it hits the
shore.
55
00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,680
There are actually experiences
of consciousness where the
56
00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,880
seeker can enter into a status
where he can see the forces at
57
00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:02,480
work, their power and influence,
and see how they move
58
00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:07,000
individuals to actions.
This can be a basis for empathy
59
00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,440
for those who are caught up in
the clutches of those forces.
60
00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,840
It can also be a way for the
seeker to gain new powers and
61
00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:21,160
insights and forms of protection
to militate or prevent those
62
00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:25,560
forces from gaining control over
his being and his actions.
63
00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,880
Pride or vanity about one's
cultured attainments, 1's
64
00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,480
virtue, one's purity are
misplaced.
65
00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:39,600
If one has not had to face down
temptation, withstand forces
66
00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,600
that drive the vital nature, or
distort the mental view.
67
00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,680
What happens to any human
individual could, under the
68
00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:53,000
right circumstances, happen to
any other individual.
69
00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:58,520
No one is exempt from the
pressures, and no one is by
70
00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:03,880
himself, in his individual ego
personality, powerful enough to
71
00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:08,320
withstand those pressures.
It is therefore a cause for
72
00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:12,320
compassion and sympathy, not
pride or vanity.
73
00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:18,800
In his thoughts and aphorism,
Sri Robindo states to hate the
74
00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:23,800
Sinner is the worst sin, for it
is hating God, yet he who
75
00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,800
commits it glories in his
superior virtue.
76
00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,720
A disciple asks.
When we enter into a certain
77
00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,840
state of consciousness, we see
clearly that we are capable of
78
00:05:36,840 --> 00:05:40,960
anything and that in fact there
is not a single sin that is not
79
00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:45,000
potentially our sin.
Is this impression correct?
80
00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:49,200
And yet we revolt against and
feel an aversion for certain
81
00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,760
things.
There is always something
82
00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:53,760
somewhere which we cannot
accept.
83
00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,520
Why?
What is the true attitude, the
84
00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,040
effective attitude in face of
evil?
85
00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:05,480
The Mother writes, There is not
a single sin that is not our
86
00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,960
sin.
You have this experience when,
87
00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:13,000
for some reason or other,
depending on the case, you come
88
00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:17,480
into contact with the universal
state of consciousness, not in
89
00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:21,200
its limitless essence, but on
any level of matter.
90
00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:25,360
There is an atomic
consciousness, there is a purely
91
00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:30,320
material consciousness, and
there is even more, a general
92
00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:36,200
psychological consciousness when
by going within, by a kind of
93
00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:40,280
withdrawal from the ego, you
come into contact with this zone
94
00:06:40,280 --> 00:06:45,480
of consciousness, let us say a
terrestrial or collective human
95
00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:49,360
psychological zone.
There is a difference.
96
00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:53,760
Collective human is restrictive,
whereas terrestrial includes
97
00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,520
many animal movements, even
plant movements.
98
00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:02,200
But as in the present case, the
moral notion of guilt, sin, evil
99
00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:06,360
belongs exclusively to the human
consciousness, we will say
100
00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:10,560
simply the collective human
psychological consciousness.
101
00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,040
When you come into contact with
that through this
102
00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:18,360
identification, naturally you
feel or see or know that you are
103
00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,120
capable of any human movement
anywhere.
104
00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,680
It is, to some extent a truth
consciousness.
105
00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:29,040
This egoistic sense of what
belongs and does not belong to
106
00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:33,960
you, of what you can do and
cannot do, disappears at that
107
00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,480
time.
You become aware that the
108
00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:40,240
fundamental structure of the
human consciousness is such that
109
00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:44,600
any human being is capable of
doing anything at all.
110
00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:50,120
And since you are in a truth
consciousness at the same time,
111
00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,840
you have the feeling that
judgments or aversions or
112
00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:58,320
rejection are absurd.
Everything is potentially there
113
00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:04,080
and of certain currents of force
which you usually cannot trace.
114
00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,240
You see them come and go, but as
a rule their origin and
115
00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:11,000
direction are unknown.
If any one of these currents
116
00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,920
enters into you, it can make you
do anything.
117
00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:19,680
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
118
00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,480
Mother, Looking from within,
Chapter 2.
119
00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:27,320
Looking at Oneself and Others,
pages 49 to 50.
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:05,200
Cultured and educated people
often believe that they could
2
00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:09,440
not stoop to certain actions, or
be guilty of certain motives in
3
00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:14,160
their actions, or simply react
to circumstances in a way other
4
00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,440
than that of their predominant
mental view of themselves.
5
00:00:18,240 --> 00:00:21,400
They may look down on those who
appear to them to be weak,
6
00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:25,520
sinful, or who give in to
impulses that are hateful,
7
00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:30,800
greedy, lustful, or otherwise
exhibit one of the sins that
8
00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:35,120
humanity generally recognizes as
unacceptable behaviour.
9
00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:40,440
Yet there are times and
circumstances when any
10
00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,600
individual becomes capable of
doing things that they would
11
00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:47,240
consider at other times to be
out of character.
12
00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:51,440
There is the famous story of the
educated man who happened to
13
00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,440
attend a fascist rally in 1930s
Europe.
14
00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,600
He was not a believer in the
ideology nor a supporter of the
15
00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,760
cult of personality that had
arisen at that time and in that
16
00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,240
place.
He went as an observer when the
17
00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:12,640
crowd was whipped up and in a
fever pitch of hatred, anger and
18
00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:16,760
directed rage, he suddenly was
screaming with the rest of them.
19
00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:22,000
Afterwards, he reflected on how
he could have given in to that
20
00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,040
impulse.
There was a famous experiment in
21
00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,680
sociology where college students
were split up into two groups,
22
00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:34,840
jailer and prisoner.
These educated and idealistic
23
00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,520
young people were soon, however,
caught up in the abuse and
24
00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,560
humiliation of their prisoners
by virtue of the role they took
25
00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,920
on and the expectations that
came with that role and the
26
00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,800
exercise of their delegated
power to control others.
27
00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:56,520
Afterwards, they were both
amazed and mystified at the
28
00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,560
transformation that they had
undergone by taking on those
29
00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,040
roles.
People of a peaceful and
30
00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,120
understanding nature have been
known to suddenly react with
31
00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,360
extreme violence and anger under
various pressures.
32
00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:15,520
There are cases of monks or
sadhus who undertook years of
33
00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,000
secluded meditation and intense
efforts to bring their vital
34
00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:23,120
natures under control.
Who, believing themselves to be
35
00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:27,480
above such things, go out into
the world and find that the
36
00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:31,600
forces they thought had been
quelled actually rose up with
37
00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,120
more force and move them to
actions they would have never
38
00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:40,240
thought possible for them.
Including acts of rape, child
39
00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:44,480
sexual abuse, and using their
position of influence or power
40
00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:49,480
to gain control or obtain favors
from others who depended and
41
00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:54,160
relied on them.
In his book, The Steppenwolf,
42
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,520
Hermann Hesse explores the
potential for quiet and
43
00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:03,400
thoughtful and introspective
individuals to release forces
44
00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,600
that show the potential and
power of the lower vital nature.
45
00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:12,120
It is an exploration of the
depths which few individuals
46
00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,240
ever undertake in a deliberate
and serious manner.
47
00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:21,200
For the spiritual seeker, such
things are actually quite easily
48
00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,720
understood.
When the seeker recognizes the
49
00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:28,960
oneness of all existence and the
movement of universal forces
50
00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,560
that enter into one and
overpower the basic physical,
51
00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:37,360
vital and mental nature, he can
understand that no individual
52
00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:42,160
can withstand such forces if he
once opens himself to them.
53
00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,920
The power of universal forces is
like trying to withstand a
54
00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,200
tsunami wave when it hits the
shore.
55
00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,680
There are actually experiences
of consciousness where the
56
00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,880
seeker can enter into a status
where he can see the forces at
57
00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:02,480
work, their power and influence,
and see how they move
58
00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:07,000
individuals to actions.
This can be a basis for empathy
59
00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,440
for those who are caught up in
the clutches of those forces.
60
00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,840
It can also be a way for the
seeker to gain new powers and
61
00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:21,160
insights and forms of protection
to militate or prevent those
62
00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:25,560
forces from gaining control over
his being and his actions.
63
00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,880
Pride or vanity about one's
cultured attainments, 1's
64
00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,480
virtue, one's purity are
misplaced.
65
00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:39,600
If one has not had to face down
temptation, withstand forces
66
00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,600
that drive the vital nature, or
distort the mental view.
67
00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,680
What happens to any human
individual could, under the
68
00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:53,000
right circumstances, happen to
any other individual.
69
00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:58,520
No one is exempt from the
pressures, and no one is by
70
00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:03,880
himself, in his individual ego
personality, powerful enough to
71
00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:08,320
withstand those pressures.
It is therefore a cause for
72
00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:12,320
compassion and sympathy, not
pride or vanity.
73
00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:18,800
In his thoughts and aphorism,
Sri Robindo states to hate the
74
00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:23,800
Sinner is the worst sin, for it
is hating God, yet he who
75
00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,800
commits it glories in his
superior virtue.
76
00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,720
A disciple asks.
When we enter into a certain
77
00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,840
state of consciousness, we see
clearly that we are capable of
78
00:05:36,840 --> 00:05:40,960
anything and that in fact there
is not a single sin that is not
79
00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:45,000
potentially our sin.
Is this impression correct?
80
00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:49,200
And yet we revolt against and
feel an aversion for certain
81
00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,760
things.
There is always something
82
00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:53,760
somewhere which we cannot
accept.
83
00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,520
Why?
What is the true attitude, the
84
00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,040
effective attitude in face of
evil?
85
00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:05,480
The Mother writes, There is not
a single sin that is not our
86
00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,960
sin.
You have this experience when,
87
00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:13,000
for some reason or other,
depending on the case, you come
88
00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:17,480
into contact with the universal
state of consciousness, not in
89
00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:21,200
its limitless essence, but on
any level of matter.
90
00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:25,360
There is an atomic
consciousness, there is a purely
91
00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:30,320
material consciousness, and
there is even more, a general
92
00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:36,200
psychological consciousness when
by going within, by a kind of
93
00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:40,280
withdrawal from the ego, you
come into contact with this zone
94
00:06:40,280 --> 00:06:45,480
of consciousness, let us say a
terrestrial or collective human
95
00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:49,360
psychological zone.
There is a difference.
96
00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:53,760
Collective human is restrictive,
whereas terrestrial includes
97
00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,520
many animal movements, even
plant movements.
98
00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:02,200
But as in the present case, the
moral notion of guilt, sin, evil
99
00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:06,360
belongs exclusively to the human
consciousness, we will say
100
00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:10,560
simply the collective human
psychological consciousness.
101
00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,040
When you come into contact with
that through this
102
00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:18,360
identification, naturally you
feel or see or know that you are
103
00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,120
capable of any human movement
anywhere.
104
00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,680
It is, to some extent a truth
consciousness.
105
00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:29,040
This egoistic sense of what
belongs and does not belong to
106
00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:33,960
you, of what you can do and
cannot do, disappears at that
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time.
You become aware that the
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fundamental structure of the
human consciousness is such that
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any human being is capable of
doing anything at all.
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And since you are in a truth
consciousness at the same time,
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you have the feeling that
judgments or aversions or
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rejection are absurd.
Everything is potentially there
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and of certain currents of force
which you usually cannot trace.
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You see them come and go, but as
a rule their origin and
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direction are unknown.
If any one of these currents
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enters into you, it can make you
do anything.
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End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
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Mother, Looking from within,
Chapter 2.
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Looking at Oneself and Others,
pages 49 to 50.