Sept. 9, 2024
Mental Formations and Their Application
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter II Power of Thought, pp. 10-11 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/09/05/mental-formations-and-their-application/
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
00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:05,840
There's an occult tradition that
is practitioner of certain arts
2
00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:09,720
can create a formation, send it
out to act upon another
3
00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:14,280
individual, and thereby succeed
in achieving his objective with
4
00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:18,040
that other person.
The stories mostly revolve
5
00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:21,880
around sending forces to harm
another individual, and they
6
00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:26,760
point out clearly that the
formation so developed goes to
7
00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:31,480
do its work, but if it fails and
gets rejected by the intended
8
00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,400
victim, it comes back on the
originator with considerable
9
00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,040
force.
It is a cautionary tale on using
10
00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,800
this type of formation, whether
a mental formation or harnessing
11
00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,520
of a vital force or being to
inflict harm on someone.
12
00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,480
There are tales of tantrics who
have carried out certain
13
00:00:51,480 --> 00:00:55,000
practices to undermine
individuals in a similar manner.
14
00:00:55,920 --> 00:01:00,360
A respected elder told the tale
how someone decided to take down
15
00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:05,280
his company and steal away the
business and in order to do so,
16
00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,720
their perpetrator hired a
tantric practitioner of the
17
00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:12,280
black arts to do so.
This elder was himself a
18
00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:16,680
spiritual practitioner and well
trained and under general
19
00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,760
protection of his Guru, so he
was able to avoid the worst
20
00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:25,120
consequences but nevertheless
could feel the pressure
21
00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,640
involved.
Another individual reported that
22
00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,680
while he was engaged in a
litigation matter with a large
23
00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,000
corporation, he would go into
the courtroom ahead of the
24
00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:39,880
proceeding and with full
devotion and concentration, he
25
00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:44,080
would pay homage to the Divine
Mother and chant the Devi
26
00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,760
Mahatmyam to create an
atmosphere for the truth to come
27
00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,840
out.
In one such instance, he
28
00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,920
reported that the witness for
the other side actually broke
29
00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,880
down on the witness stand and
admitted to the actual facts
30
00:01:57,880 --> 00:01:59,920
which the corporation had been
hiding.
31
00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,680
The atmosphere in the room was
palpable and the result was
32
00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:08,759
clear.
For most people, things do not
33
00:02:08,759 --> 00:02:12,120
approach the type of focus and
intention that is evidenced in
34
00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:16,080
the above examples.
Passing thoughts generally have
35
00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:20,880
little impact, but if someone
becomes angry or holds a grudge
36
00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:25,480
and decides to focus on
inflicting harm to someone, then
37
00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,720
the formation can be created.
And when that happens, it moves
38
00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:33,520
out into either the mental
sphere or the vital sphere,
39
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,760
depending on the type of
formation.
40
00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:40,440
And the vibration is set loose
in the world and is at that
41
00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:44,520
point no longer tied to the
individual who focused on it,
42
00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:47,520
but becomes an independent
vibration.
43
00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,200
We can understand this with the
concept of tossing a stone into
44
00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,200
a pond.
Once the stone leaves one's
45
00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:59,560
hand, it is independent and
creates whatever ripples may
46
00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,640
ensue without further
involvement or action of the
47
00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:08,200
person who released it.
Because there is time and change
48
00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,200
of focus involved from the
moment of the formation being
49
00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,400
released and the realization of
its results.
50
00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:18,760
And because most people do not
see the cause and effect
51
00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,200
relationship of creating a
formation that leads to a later
52
00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,280
result somewhere else with
another individual.
53
00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:30,440
And because people tend not to
fixate for long periods of time
54
00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,960
on a specific formation going to
work, the occult action that
55
00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:39,800
takes place behind the scenes is
for the most part not recognized
56
00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:44,560
nor acknowledged, and therefore
not generally consciously
57
00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:49,320
wielded for good or I'll.
People are mostly oblivious to
58
00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,360
the power of mental formations
as a result, and they do not
59
00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,400
generally therefore undertake to
learn the techniques, make the
60
00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,360
efforts, and practice them until
they can manage the formation
61
00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:06,560
process in an effective way.
Some people have a natural
62
00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,400
talent, OR perhaps it is the
fruit of practice in past
63
00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:15,360
lifetimes to create such
formations, and in some cases
64
00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:19,800
they use it to either succeed in
what they are doing, possibly to
65
00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:24,440
help others, and in some cases
to exercise power over others,
66
00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,200
inculcate fear, and dominate
their energies.
67
00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,000
Cult leaders frequently fall
into this category.
68
00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,040
Some individuals who have
limited or very little of such
69
00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:41,320
power pretend to wield those
powers in order to achieve fame
70
00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,840
or notoriety, and they tend to
eventually have their pretence
71
00:04:45,840 --> 00:04:50,360
exposed.
Of course, not all formations
72
00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,120
are negative or hostile, so a
similar approach to send
73
00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:58,640
blessings or support or healing
to others can have a similar
74
00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,120
result or impact.
This is perhaps one of the
75
00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:06,520
methods used by those who have
the power to bestow blessings or
76
00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,720
to carry out healing on others.
A mental formation may be
77
00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:15,040
created that carries healing and
protective vibrations to the
78
00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,720
individual who is the intended
recipient, and this shores up
79
00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,560
the individual and helps him
withstand whatever force is
80
00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:28,080
trying to disrupt his energy.
The Tibetan Buddhist practice of
81
00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:33,080
the Kala chakra mandala involves
a collective effort to build
82
00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:38,320
both a sand mandala of intricate
detail accompanied by many days
83
00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:42,040
of chanting and prayers, and the
creation of a collective
84
00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:47,960
formation that generates
considerable force, the mother
85
00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:49,240
observes.
Quote.
86
00:05:50,280 --> 00:05:54,600
When you have a thought, a well
made mental formation which goes
87
00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,920
out of you, it becomes an
independent entity and continues
88
00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,480
on its way, and it does that for
which it was made.
89
00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,920
It continues to act
independently of you.
90
00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,040
That is why you must be on your
guard.
91
00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:13,200
If you have made such a
formation and it has gone out.
92
00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:19,000
It has gone out to do its work,
and after a time you find out
93
00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,680
that it was perhaps not a very
happy thing to have a thought
94
00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,600
like that, that this formation
was not very beneficial.
95
00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,960
Now that it has gone out, it is
very difficult for you to get
96
00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,280
hold of it again.
You must have considerable
97
00:06:34,280 --> 00:06:38,240
occult knowledge.
It has gone out and is moving on
98
00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,720
its way.
Supposing in a moment of great
99
00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:47,280
anger, I do not say that you do
so, but still, when you were in
100
00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:50,840
quite a Rage Against someone,
you said, ah, couldn't some
101
00:06:50,840 --> 00:06:55,000
misfortune befall him?
Your formation has gone on its
102
00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,960
way.
It has gone out and you have no
103
00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:02,760
longer any control over it, and
it goes and organizes some
104
00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:07,400
misfortune or other.
It is going to do its work and
105
00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,640
after some time the misfortune
arrives.
106
00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:13,320
Happily.
You do not usually have
107
00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:18,160
sufficient knowledge to tell
yourself, oh, it is I who am
108
00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:22,200
responsible, but that is the
truth.
109
00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:27,000
End Quote.
Reference Sri Orobindo and the
110
00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,080
Mother, Powers within, Chapter
2.
111
00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,360
Power of Thought, pages 10:50.
00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:05,840
There's an occult tradition that
is practitioner of certain arts
2
00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:09,720
can create a formation, send it
out to act upon another
3
00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:14,280
individual, and thereby succeed
in achieving his objective with
4
00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:18,040
that other person.
The stories mostly revolve
5
00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:21,880
around sending forces to harm
another individual, and they
6
00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:26,760
point out clearly that the
formation so developed goes to
7
00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:31,480
do its work, but if it fails and
gets rejected by the intended
8
00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,400
victim, it comes back on the
originator with considerable
9
00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,040
force.
It is a cautionary tale on using
10
00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,800
this type of formation, whether
a mental formation or harnessing
11
00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,520
of a vital force or being to
inflict harm on someone.
12
00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,480
There are tales of tantrics who
have carried out certain
13
00:00:51,480 --> 00:00:55,000
practices to undermine
individuals in a similar manner.
14
00:00:55,920 --> 00:01:00,360
A respected elder told the tale
how someone decided to take down
15
00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:05,280
his company and steal away the
business and in order to do so,
16
00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,720
their perpetrator hired a
tantric practitioner of the
17
00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:12,280
black arts to do so.
This elder was himself a
18
00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:16,680
spiritual practitioner and well
trained and under general
19
00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,760
protection of his Guru, so he
was able to avoid the worst
20
00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:25,120
consequences but nevertheless
could feel the pressure
21
00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,640
involved.
Another individual reported that
22
00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,680
while he was engaged in a
litigation matter with a large
23
00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,000
corporation, he would go into
the courtroom ahead of the
24
00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:39,880
proceeding and with full
devotion and concentration, he
25
00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:44,080
would pay homage to the Divine
Mother and chant the Devi
26
00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,760
Mahatmyam to create an
atmosphere for the truth to come
27
00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,840
out.
In one such instance, he
28
00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,920
reported that the witness for
the other side actually broke
29
00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,880
down on the witness stand and
admitted to the actual facts
30
00:01:57,880 --> 00:01:59,920
which the corporation had been
hiding.
31
00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,680
The atmosphere in the room was
palpable and the result was
32
00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:08,759
clear.
For most people, things do not
33
00:02:08,759 --> 00:02:12,120
approach the type of focus and
intention that is evidenced in
34
00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:16,080
the above examples.
Passing thoughts generally have
35
00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:20,880
little impact, but if someone
becomes angry or holds a grudge
36
00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:25,480
and decides to focus on
inflicting harm to someone, then
37
00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,720
the formation can be created.
And when that happens, it moves
38
00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:33,520
out into either the mental
sphere or the vital sphere,
39
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,760
depending on the type of
formation.
40
00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:40,440
And the vibration is set loose
in the world and is at that
41
00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:44,520
point no longer tied to the
individual who focused on it,
42
00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:47,520
but becomes an independent
vibration.
43
00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,200
We can understand this with the
concept of tossing a stone into
44
00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,200
a pond.
Once the stone leaves one's
45
00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:59,560
hand, it is independent and
creates whatever ripples may
46
00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,640
ensue without further
involvement or action of the
47
00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:08,200
person who released it.
Because there is time and change
48
00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,200
of focus involved from the
moment of the formation being
49
00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,400
released and the realization of
its results.
50
00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:18,760
And because most people do not
see the cause and effect
51
00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,200
relationship of creating a
formation that leads to a later
52
00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,280
result somewhere else with
another individual.
53
00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:30,440
And because people tend not to
fixate for long periods of time
54
00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,960
on a specific formation going to
work, the occult action that
55
00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:39,800
takes place behind the scenes is
for the most part not recognized
56
00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:44,560
nor acknowledged, and therefore
not generally consciously
57
00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:49,320
wielded for good or I'll.
People are mostly oblivious to
58
00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,360
the power of mental formations
as a result, and they do not
59
00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,400
generally therefore undertake to
learn the techniques, make the
60
00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,360
efforts, and practice them until
they can manage the formation
61
00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:06,560
process in an effective way.
Some people have a natural
62
00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,400
talent, OR perhaps it is the
fruit of practice in past
63
00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:15,360
lifetimes to create such
formations, and in some cases
64
00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:19,800
they use it to either succeed in
what they are doing, possibly to
65
00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:24,440
help others, and in some cases
to exercise power over others,
66
00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,200
inculcate fear, and dominate
their energies.
67
00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,000
Cult leaders frequently fall
into this category.
68
00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,040
Some individuals who have
limited or very little of such
69
00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:41,320
power pretend to wield those
powers in order to achieve fame
70
00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,840
or notoriety, and they tend to
eventually have their pretence
71
00:04:45,840 --> 00:04:50,360
exposed.
Of course, not all formations
72
00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,120
are negative or hostile, so a
similar approach to send
73
00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:58,640
blessings or support or healing
to others can have a similar
74
00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,120
result or impact.
This is perhaps one of the
75
00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:06,520
methods used by those who have
the power to bestow blessings or
76
00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,720
to carry out healing on others.
A mental formation may be
77
00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:15,040
created that carries healing and
protective vibrations to the
78
00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,720
individual who is the intended
recipient, and this shores up
79
00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,560
the individual and helps him
withstand whatever force is
80
00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:28,080
trying to disrupt his energy.
The Tibetan Buddhist practice of
81
00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:33,080
the Kala chakra mandala involves
a collective effort to build
82
00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:38,320
both a sand mandala of intricate
detail accompanied by many days
83
00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:42,040
of chanting and prayers, and the
creation of a collective
84
00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:47,960
formation that generates
considerable force, the mother
85
00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:49,240
observes.
Quote.
86
00:05:50,280 --> 00:05:54,600
When you have a thought, a well
made mental formation which goes
87
00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,920
out of you, it becomes an
independent entity and continues
88
00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,480
on its way, and it does that for
which it was made.
89
00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,920
It continues to act
independently of you.
90
00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,040
That is why you must be on your
guard.
91
00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:13,200
If you have made such a
formation and it has gone out.
92
00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:19,000
It has gone out to do its work,
and after a time you find out
93
00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,680
that it was perhaps not a very
happy thing to have a thought
94
00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,600
like that, that this formation
was not very beneficial.
95
00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,960
Now that it has gone out, it is
very difficult for you to get
96
00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,280
hold of it again.
You must have considerable
97
00:06:34,280 --> 00:06:38,240
occult knowledge.
It has gone out and is moving on
98
00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,720
its way.
Supposing in a moment of great
99
00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:47,280
anger, I do not say that you do
so, but still, when you were in
100
00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:50,840
quite a Rage Against someone,
you said, ah, couldn't some
101
00:06:50,840 --> 00:06:55,000
misfortune befall him?
Your formation has gone on its
102
00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,960
way.
It has gone out and you have no
103
00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:02,760
longer any control over it, and
it goes and organizes some
104
00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:07,400
misfortune or other.
It is going to do its work and
105
00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,640
after some time the misfortune
arrives.
106
00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:13,320
Happily.
You do not usually have
107
00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:18,160
sufficient knowledge to tell
yourself, oh, it is I who am
108
00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:22,200
responsible, but that is the
truth.
109
00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:27,000
End Quote.
Reference Sri Orobindo and the
110
00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,080
Mother, Powers within, Chapter
2.
111
00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,360
Power of Thought, pages 10:50.