Aug. 10, 2025
Isolation, Introspection, Introversion and the Witness Consciousness
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 147
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/08/08/isolation-introspection-introversion-and-the-witness-consciousness/
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
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:05,800
A young person, around 20 years
of age reported an experience he
2
00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:09,480
had while visiting a beer hall
in Munich, Germany with some
3
00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:14,200
friends and acquaintances.
As could be expected, there was
4
00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,960
a lot of noise, clinking of
glasses, singing, laughing,
5
00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:22,800
storytelling among his friends
as well as generally in the pub.
6
00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:28,440
He suddenly felt totally
isolated, alone in the crowd, as
7
00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:32,360
he phrased it.
He felt out of place, like he
8
00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:34,800
could not understand what he was
doing there.
9
00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,200
It brought him to a state of
disorientation about what his
10
00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:44,040
entire life was about.
He indicated he took up a pen
11
00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:48,520
and a napkin and wrote a poem
about his experience.
12
00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,520
What he reported is actually not
an unusual experience.
13
00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,720
Many people have reported on
feeling alone in the crowd.
14
00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:02,680
They have a sense of isolation.
The mood is a depressive one.
15
00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,280
In some cases, it causes the
individual to feel such a deep
16
00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:11,440
sense of isolation that they
feel like they simply don't fit
17
00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:15,200
in.
In other cases, the experience
18
00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,680
causes the individual to look
inside to determine what the
19
00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:22,720
cause and the solution to this
feeling might be.
20
00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:28,360
In such a case, it can be the
first step towards the deeper
21
00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:32,400
seeking that somehow recognizes
that the enjoyments and
22
00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,400
pleasures of the outer existence
hold little relevance for them
23
00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:41,800
and thus they need to undertake
the search for the soul.
24
00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,160
An early stage of this search
leads to what is called
25
00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,840
introspection.
This is an internal review of
26
00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:54,080
1's thoughts and feelings to try
to sort out some sense of what
27
00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:57,080
it is all about and what they
should do about it.
28
00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:01,720
Introspection does not separate
the observer from the object of
29
00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:07,040
observation, but looks on what
is being seen as oneself.
30
00:02:08,759 --> 00:02:11,320
There are people who are
naturally indrawn within
31
00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:17,040
themselves, who find comfort in
quiet times, readings, communing
32
00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:21,680
with nature, gardening rather
than simply running after
33
00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:26,440
external stimulation of crowds,
events and activities.
34
00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,600
These people are called
introverts, as opposed to the
35
00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:34,400
extroverts who tend to thrive in
the active, outgoing
36
00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,440
relationships of life.
These individuals tend to
37
00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:42,680
identify with the ego
personality Nexus and do not
38
00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,440
experience a separation from
their being.
39
00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:51,160
They simply feel more at ease
and secure, with a less outward
40
00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:55,440
orientation.
The experience of the witness
41
00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:59,800
consciousness described in the
yogic texts is not the same as
42
00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:04,400
any of these other experiences.
The witness consciousness is
43
00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:09,760
described as the separation of
the Purusha, the witness from
44
00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:15,280
Prakriti, the active nature.
The active nature does not just
45
00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:19,960
relate to external actions,
events or circumstances, but
46
00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:24,600
includes the individual himself.
There is a stage where
47
00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:28,960
everything, including the
thoughts, feelings, perceptions,
48
00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:33,800
reactions of the individual's
own being, is seen as something
49
00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:38,920
external to himself.
And in some cases it may seem
50
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,960
like the one is observing a film
rather than participating in the
51
00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,560
life.
This is a key difference between
52
00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,960
introspection, where the
individual still feels the
53
00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:55,640
thoughts, responses, etcetera to
be himself, and the witness
54
00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:59,400
consciousness, where they are
experienced as other than
55
00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,440
himself.
The standpoint shift from
56
00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:07,560
participation to pure
disinterested observation is an
57
00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:11,680
essential one.
Shvia Robindo observes quote.
58
00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,240
There is a stage in the sadhna
in which the inner being begins
59
00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:20,560
to awake often.
The 1st result is the condition
60
00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:25,080
made-up of the following
elements. 1A Sort of witness
61
00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,120
attitude in which the inner
consciousness looks at all that
62
00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:32,800
happens as a spectator or
observer, observing things but
63
00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:37,960
taking no active interest or
pleasure in them. 2A State of
64
00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:42,760
neutral equanimity, in which
there is neither joy nor sorrow,
65
00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:48,880
only quietude, and 3A sense of
being something separate from
66
00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:53,160
all that happens, observing it
but not part of it.
67
00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:58,280
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
68
00:04:58,280 --> 00:05:02,840
Mother Looking from Within,
Chapter 5, Attitudes on the
69
00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:05,280
Path, page 147.
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:05,800
A young person, around 20 years
of age reported an experience he
2
00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:09,480
had while visiting a beer hall
in Munich, Germany with some
3
00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:14,200
friends and acquaintances.
As could be expected, there was
4
00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,960
a lot of noise, clinking of
glasses, singing, laughing,
5
00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:22,800
storytelling among his friends
as well as generally in the pub.
6
00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:28,440
He suddenly felt totally
isolated, alone in the crowd, as
7
00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:32,360
he phrased it.
He felt out of place, like he
8
00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:34,800
could not understand what he was
doing there.
9
00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,200
It brought him to a state of
disorientation about what his
10
00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:44,040
entire life was about.
He indicated he took up a pen
11
00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:48,520
and a napkin and wrote a poem
about his experience.
12
00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,520
What he reported is actually not
an unusual experience.
13
00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,720
Many people have reported on
feeling alone in the crowd.
14
00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:02,680
They have a sense of isolation.
The mood is a depressive one.
15
00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,280
In some cases, it causes the
individual to feel such a deep
16
00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:11,440
sense of isolation that they
feel like they simply don't fit
17
00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:15,200
in.
In other cases, the experience
18
00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,680
causes the individual to look
inside to determine what the
19
00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:22,720
cause and the solution to this
feeling might be.
20
00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:28,360
In such a case, it can be the
first step towards the deeper
21
00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:32,400
seeking that somehow recognizes
that the enjoyments and
22
00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,400
pleasures of the outer existence
hold little relevance for them
23
00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:41,800
and thus they need to undertake
the search for the soul.
24
00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,160
An early stage of this search
leads to what is called
25
00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,840
introspection.
This is an internal review of
26
00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:54,080
1's thoughts and feelings to try
to sort out some sense of what
27
00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:57,080
it is all about and what they
should do about it.
28
00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:01,720
Introspection does not separate
the observer from the object of
29
00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:07,040
observation, but looks on what
is being seen as oneself.
30
00:02:08,759 --> 00:02:11,320
There are people who are
naturally indrawn within
31
00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:17,040
themselves, who find comfort in
quiet times, readings, communing
32
00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:21,680
with nature, gardening rather
than simply running after
33
00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:26,440
external stimulation of crowds,
events and activities.
34
00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,600
These people are called
introverts, as opposed to the
35
00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:34,400
extroverts who tend to thrive in
the active, outgoing
36
00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,440
relationships of life.
These individuals tend to
37
00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:42,680
identify with the ego
personality Nexus and do not
38
00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,440
experience a separation from
their being.
39
00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:51,160
They simply feel more at ease
and secure, with a less outward
40
00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:55,440
orientation.
The experience of the witness
41
00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:59,800
consciousness described in the
yogic texts is not the same as
42
00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:04,400
any of these other experiences.
The witness consciousness is
43
00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:09,760
described as the separation of
the Purusha, the witness from
44
00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:15,280
Prakriti, the active nature.
The active nature does not just
45
00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:19,960
relate to external actions,
events or circumstances, but
46
00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:24,600
includes the individual himself.
There is a stage where
47
00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:28,960
everything, including the
thoughts, feelings, perceptions,
48
00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:33,800
reactions of the individual's
own being, is seen as something
49
00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:38,920
external to himself.
And in some cases it may seem
50
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,960
like the one is observing a film
rather than participating in the
51
00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,560
life.
This is a key difference between
52
00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,960
introspection, where the
individual still feels the
53
00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:55,640
thoughts, responses, etcetera to
be himself, and the witness
54
00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:59,400
consciousness, where they are
experienced as other than
55
00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,440
himself.
The standpoint shift from
56
00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:07,560
participation to pure
disinterested observation is an
57
00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:11,680
essential one.
Shvia Robindo observes quote.
58
00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,240
There is a stage in the sadhna
in which the inner being begins
59
00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:20,560
to awake often.
The 1st result is the condition
60
00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:25,080
made-up of the following
elements. 1A Sort of witness
61
00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,120
attitude in which the inner
consciousness looks at all that
62
00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:32,800
happens as a spectator or
observer, observing things but
63
00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:37,960
taking no active interest or
pleasure in them. 2A State of
64
00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:42,760
neutral equanimity, in which
there is neither joy nor sorrow,
65
00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:48,880
only quietude, and 3A sense of
being something separate from
66
00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:53,160
all that happens, observing it
but not part of it.
67
00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:58,280
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
68
00:04:58,280 --> 00:05:02,840
Mother Looking from Within,
Chapter 5, Attitudes on the
69
00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:05,280
Path, page 147.