March 23, 2026
Jivatman and Psychic Being
reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Psychic Being — Soul: Its Nature, Mission and Evolution, Section 1 Meaning and Nature of the Psychic Being, pp. 13-14
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/03/21/jivatman-and-psychic-being/
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
#Sri Aurobindo #Dr. Dalal #spirituality #yoga #integral yoga #Jivatman #psychic being #soul #jnana yoga #bhakti yoga
1
00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:04,440
Spiritual seekers have differing
affinities and capacities from
2
00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:07,160
which they begin their conscious
spiritual focus.
3
00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:12,520
Some of them take up the seeking
for the self, the Jivatman, with
4
00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,760
liberation from the illusion of
the external world and its
5
00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,720
temptations.
As a primary objective.
6
00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:24,200
They practice Nyana Yoga, the
Yoga of knowledge, and the path
7
00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:29,560
can be austere as they tend to
not want to be actively involved
8
00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,680
in the usual occupations of
society.
9
00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,280
They seek the divine and tend to
follow the path of the
10
00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:41,520
renunciate or ascetic.
Srioro Binda describes this in
11
00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:45,440
The Life Divine when he delves
into what he calls the refusal
12
00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,880
of the ascetic.
He also devotes an entire
13
00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,760
section of the synthesis of Yoga
to the practices of the Yoga of
14
00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:57,440
Knowledge.
There are also seekers who begin
15
00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:02,040
with the upwelling of a deep
sense of devotion, consecration,
16
00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:07,720
bhakti, the way of love.
This path is described in detail
17
00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,920
by Sri Aurobindo in the section
of the synthesis of Yoga called
18
00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:17,240
the Yoga of Love.
Each of these paths takes up one
19
00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,960
of the natural starting points
for an individual who has moved
20
00:01:20,960 --> 00:01:23,360
to devote himself to the
spiritual life.
21
00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:29,000
Each can attain the objective of
union with the Divine as the
22
00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:34,400
Self above and distant from the
individual life, as well as the
23
00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:38,640
psychic being guiding and
developing from within the
24
00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:44,680
manifestation and participating
in that way in the individual
25
00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:49,800
life, are both focused on
conscious union with the Divine
26
00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:55,320
in the one aspect or the other.
Sri Robindo mentions the issue
27
00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:59,920
which we have ourselves seen on
several occasions of individuals
28
00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:04,120
who have a deep or intense
spiritual experience or even a
29
00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,040
major change in their
understanding and perspective
30
00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:11,880
based on spiritual experience,
and then allow the vital ego to
31
00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,760
more or less hijack the
realization through the sense of
32
00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:21,360
superiority or uniqueness.
In some cases, the individual
33
00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,240
may believe he is the Divine
without the corresponding
34
00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:29,160
recognition of the Divine
imminent in all beings.
35
00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:34,280
Or they may believe they are an
incarnation of a great spiritual
36
00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,240
teacher of the past or divinely
moved to lead others on the
37
00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,760
spiritual path without a
recognition of the Divine
38
00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:46,000
presence active in others.
In some cases, an individual
39
00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,920
believes he has a special role
to play and act as gatekeeper to
40
00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,400
an individual with a
transformative divine
41
00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,880
experience, as Srioro Bindo
briefly notes in the case of
42
00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:03,920
Ramakrishna and Hrudaya.
Here Srioro Bindo observes quote
43
00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,000
The phrase central being in our
yoga is usually applied to the
44
00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:12,920
portion of the divine in us
which supports all the rest and
45
00:03:12,920 --> 00:03:14,920
survives through death and
birth.
46
00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:21,160
This central being has 2 forms
Above it is Jeevatman, our true
47
00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:25,120
being of which we become aware
when the higher self knowledge
48
00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:30,120
comes below.
It is the psychic being which
49
00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,240
stands behind mind, body and
life.
50
00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,320
The Jeevatman is above the
manifestation in life and
51
00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:41,440
presides over it.
The psychic being stands behind
52
00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:44,400
the manifestation in life and
supports it.
53
00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,840
The natural attitude of the
psychic being is to feel itself
54
00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,400
as the Child, the Son of God,
the bhakta.
55
00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,440
It is a portion of the Divine
one in essence.
56
00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,960
But in the dynamics of the
manifestation there is always,
57
00:03:59,960 --> 00:04:05,240
even in identity, a difference.
The Jivatman, On the contrary,
58
00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,840
lives in the essence and can
merge itself in identity with
59
00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:13,560
the divine.
But it too, the moment it
60
00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:18,240
presides over the dynamics of
the manifestation, knows itself
61
00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:22,800
as one centre of the multiple
Divine, not as the Parameshwara.
62
00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:28,200
It is important to remember the
distinction, for otherwise, if
63
00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:32,240
there is the least vital egoism,
one may begin to think of
64
00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:36,960
oneself as an avatar or lose
balance like Hrudaya with
65
00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:41,840
Ramakrishna.
End Quote Reference Sri
66
00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:46,680
Aurobindo and the Mother The
psychic being soul, its nature,
67
00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,800
Mission and evolution.
Section 1.
68
00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,280
Meaning and Nature of the
Psychic Being, pages 13 to 14.
00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:04,440
Spiritual seekers have differing
affinities and capacities from
2
00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:07,160
which they begin their conscious
spiritual focus.
3
00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:12,520
Some of them take up the seeking
for the self, the Jivatman, with
4
00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,760
liberation from the illusion of
the external world and its
5
00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,720
temptations.
As a primary objective.
6
00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:24,200
They practice Nyana Yoga, the
Yoga of knowledge, and the path
7
00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:29,560
can be austere as they tend to
not want to be actively involved
8
00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,680
in the usual occupations of
society.
9
00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,280
They seek the divine and tend to
follow the path of the
10
00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:41,520
renunciate or ascetic.
Srioro Binda describes this in
11
00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:45,440
The Life Divine when he delves
into what he calls the refusal
12
00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,880
of the ascetic.
He also devotes an entire
13
00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,760
section of the synthesis of Yoga
to the practices of the Yoga of
14
00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:57,440
Knowledge.
There are also seekers who begin
15
00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:02,040
with the upwelling of a deep
sense of devotion, consecration,
16
00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:07,720
bhakti, the way of love.
This path is described in detail
17
00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,920
by Sri Aurobindo in the section
of the synthesis of Yoga called
18
00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:17,240
the Yoga of Love.
Each of these paths takes up one
19
00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,960
of the natural starting points
for an individual who has moved
20
00:01:20,960 --> 00:01:23,360
to devote himself to the
spiritual life.
21
00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:29,000
Each can attain the objective of
union with the Divine as the
22
00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:34,400
Self above and distant from the
individual life, as well as the
23
00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:38,640
psychic being guiding and
developing from within the
24
00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:44,680
manifestation and participating
in that way in the individual
25
00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:49,800
life, are both focused on
conscious union with the Divine
26
00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:55,320
in the one aspect or the other.
Sri Robindo mentions the issue
27
00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:59,920
which we have ourselves seen on
several occasions of individuals
28
00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:04,120
who have a deep or intense
spiritual experience or even a
29
00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,040
major change in their
understanding and perspective
30
00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:11,880
based on spiritual experience,
and then allow the vital ego to
31
00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,760
more or less hijack the
realization through the sense of
32
00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:21,360
superiority or uniqueness.
In some cases, the individual
33
00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,240
may believe he is the Divine
without the corresponding
34
00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:29,160
recognition of the Divine
imminent in all beings.
35
00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:34,280
Or they may believe they are an
incarnation of a great spiritual
36
00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,240
teacher of the past or divinely
moved to lead others on the
37
00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,760
spiritual path without a
recognition of the Divine
38
00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:46,000
presence active in others.
In some cases, an individual
39
00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,920
believes he has a special role
to play and act as gatekeeper to
40
00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,400
an individual with a
transformative divine
41
00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,880
experience, as Srioro Bindo
briefly notes in the case of
42
00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:03,920
Ramakrishna and Hrudaya.
Here Srioro Bindo observes quote
43
00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,000
The phrase central being in our
yoga is usually applied to the
44
00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:12,920
portion of the divine in us
which supports all the rest and
45
00:03:12,920 --> 00:03:14,920
survives through death and
birth.
46
00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:21,160
This central being has 2 forms
Above it is Jeevatman, our true
47
00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:25,120
being of which we become aware
when the higher self knowledge
48
00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:30,120
comes below.
It is the psychic being which
49
00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,240
stands behind mind, body and
life.
50
00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,320
The Jeevatman is above the
manifestation in life and
51
00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:41,440
presides over it.
The psychic being stands behind
52
00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:44,400
the manifestation in life and
supports it.
53
00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,840
The natural attitude of the
psychic being is to feel itself
54
00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,400
as the Child, the Son of God,
the bhakta.
55
00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,440
It is a portion of the Divine
one in essence.
56
00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,960
But in the dynamics of the
manifestation there is always,
57
00:03:59,960 --> 00:04:05,240
even in identity, a difference.
The Jivatman, On the contrary,
58
00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,840
lives in the essence and can
merge itself in identity with
59
00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:13,560
the divine.
But it too, the moment it
60
00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:18,240
presides over the dynamics of
the manifestation, knows itself
61
00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:22,800
as one centre of the multiple
Divine, not as the Parameshwara.
62
00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:28,200
It is important to remember the
distinction, for otherwise, if
63
00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:32,240
there is the least vital egoism,
one may begin to think of
64
00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:36,960
oneself as an avatar or lose
balance like Hrudaya with
65
00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:41,840
Ramakrishna.
End Quote Reference Sri
66
00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:46,680
Aurobindo and the Mother The
psychic being soul, its nature,
67
00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,800
Mission and evolution.
Section 1.
68
00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,280
Meaning and Nature of the
Psychic Being, pages 13 to 14.
