April 14, 2025
Observing, Controlling and Transforming the Forces That Create Our Vital and Mental Actions
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 2, Looking at Oneself and Others, pp. 50-51This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/04/12/observing-controlling-and-transforming-the-forces-that-create-our-vital-and-mental-actions/
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
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:04,720
The physical body and the sense
of separateness that it creates
2
00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:09,920
for us acts both as a limitation
and as a protection from the
3
00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,960
action of the energies and
forces that are constantly
4
00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,960
moving in the universal creation
and setting up vibrational
5
00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,000
patterns to which we may
respond.
6
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,800
The physical body itself has
developed an immune system to
7
00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:29,440
ward off various forces that try
to invade and break down the
8
00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:33,360
body itself.
While not perfect, this immune
9
00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,640
response for the most part helps
keep the physical body healthy
10
00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:42,160
and functioning despite the
presence of endless numbers of
11
00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:47,720
forces that take forms such as
microbes, germs, bacteria and
12
00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:52,680
viruses and use these to enter
into the body and then begin
13
00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:57,120
their vibrational pattern, which
can manifest when they overwhelm
14
00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:02,920
the immune system as an illness,
a disease, or at the very least
15
00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:08,000
a painful reaction.
It is not just the physical body
16
00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,920
that is subjected to the
bombardment of these forces.
17
00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,960
The vital being and the mental
being are also subject to being
18
00:01:15,960 --> 00:01:19,120
attacked and infected with
forces working on those
19
00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:24,040
corresponding levels of energy.
We frequently do not see the
20
00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:28,840
forces as they enter into us,
but suddenly we experience
21
00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:34,400
hunger or lust or anger or any
number of vital responses that
22
00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:39,440
arose as a result of some
external force setting up a
23
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,880
vibrational pattern in our vital
being.
24
00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:49,320
Or we suddenly have ideas arise
that guide us to act in certain
25
00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:55,000
ways and to follow certain lines
of focus for our minds, and we
26
00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:59,560
often have no idea where these
thoughts come from, particularly
27
00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,680
if they're out of the ordinary
line of our everyday thought
28
00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:06,160
patterns.
There is an experience of
29
00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,199
consciousness where one actually
leaves behind the ego.
30
00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:13,840
Consciousness enters into a
wider and more fluid status of
31
00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:19,440
awareness, and one can then see
the action of these forces, how
32
00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:23,000
they create vibrational
patterns, how they find a
33
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,320
correspondence within ourselves
and others, and how they then
34
00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:31,680
develop the vibrational patterns
we then recognize as physical,
35
00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,480
vital, or mental reactions or
responses.
36
00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:41,360
When we manifest any of these
forces, we are simply allowing
37
00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:45,160
their vibrations to take over
some part of our being and
38
00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,760
transmit the vibration into the
world through the Nexus of our
39
00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,320
being.
While these forces are
40
00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:55,360
constantly circulating.
Just as we now understand to
41
00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:59,200
occur with the physical being
and the forces that can cause
42
00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:04,320
disease, we can develop our own
immune system at the vital and
43
00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,160
mental levels once we can see
and understand the action of
44
00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,760
these forces.
And thus, instead of setting up
45
00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,640
the corresponding vibration
within ourselves which we
46
00:03:14,640 --> 00:03:19,920
transmit further, we deadened
that vibratory pattern and don't
47
00:03:19,920 --> 00:03:22,000
allow it further action through
us.
48
00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:27,400
A still further step, as
discussed by the Mother, is to
49
00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:31,720
actually be able to send back a
counteracting vibratory force
50
00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:36,600
that acts to transform the force
rather than simply deny it the
51
00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:41,280
ability to act through us, the
Mother observes.
52
00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,640
Quote.
If you could always remain in
53
00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:50,240
this state of consciousness
after some time, provided you
54
00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,200
maintained within you the flame
of Agni, the flame of
55
00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:57,800
purification and progress, you
would be able not only to
56
00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,720
prevent these movements from
taking an active form in you and
57
00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:05,920
expressing themselves
materially, but also to act on
58
00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,640
the very nature of the movement
and transform it.
59
00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,440
But of course, unless you have
attained a very high degree of
60
00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:17,399
realization, it will be
practically impossible to
61
00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:19,880
maintain this state of
consciousness for long.
62
00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:25,400
Almost immediately you fall back
into the egoistic consciousness
63
00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:30,640
of the separate self, and then
all the difficulties come back,
64
00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:36,200
the disgust, the revolt against
certain things, the horror they
65
00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:41,720
arouse in you, et cetera.
It is probable, it is even
66
00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:46,720
certain, that unless you are
yourself completely transformed,
67
00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:51,360
these movements of disgust and
revolt are needed so that you
68
00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:55,800
can do in yourself what has to
be done to shut the door.
69
00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:00,920
For after all, the problem is
not to allow them to manifest
70
00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,120
themselves.
End Quote.
71
00:05:04,280 --> 00:05:08,200
Reference Srioro Vindu and the
Mother, Looking from Within,
72
00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:12,080
Chapter 2.
Looking at Oneself and Others,
73
00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:14,240
pages 50 to 51.
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:04,720
The physical body and the sense
of separateness that it creates
2
00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:09,920
for us acts both as a limitation
and as a protection from the
3
00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,960
action of the energies and
forces that are constantly
4
00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,960
moving in the universal creation
and setting up vibrational
5
00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,000
patterns to which we may
respond.
6
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,800
The physical body itself has
developed an immune system to
7
00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:29,440
ward off various forces that try
to invade and break down the
8
00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:33,360
body itself.
While not perfect, this immune
9
00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,640
response for the most part helps
keep the physical body healthy
10
00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:42,160
and functioning despite the
presence of endless numbers of
11
00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:47,720
forces that take forms such as
microbes, germs, bacteria and
12
00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:52,680
viruses and use these to enter
into the body and then begin
13
00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:57,120
their vibrational pattern, which
can manifest when they overwhelm
14
00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:02,920
the immune system as an illness,
a disease, or at the very least
15
00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:08,000
a painful reaction.
It is not just the physical body
16
00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,920
that is subjected to the
bombardment of these forces.
17
00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,960
The vital being and the mental
being are also subject to being
18
00:01:15,960 --> 00:01:19,120
attacked and infected with
forces working on those
19
00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:24,040
corresponding levels of energy.
We frequently do not see the
20
00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:28,840
forces as they enter into us,
but suddenly we experience
21
00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:34,400
hunger or lust or anger or any
number of vital responses that
22
00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:39,440
arose as a result of some
external force setting up a
23
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,880
vibrational pattern in our vital
being.
24
00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:49,320
Or we suddenly have ideas arise
that guide us to act in certain
25
00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:55,000
ways and to follow certain lines
of focus for our minds, and we
26
00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:59,560
often have no idea where these
thoughts come from, particularly
27
00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,680
if they're out of the ordinary
line of our everyday thought
28
00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:06,160
patterns.
There is an experience of
29
00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,199
consciousness where one actually
leaves behind the ego.
30
00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:13,840
Consciousness enters into a
wider and more fluid status of
31
00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:19,440
awareness, and one can then see
the action of these forces, how
32
00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:23,000
they create vibrational
patterns, how they find a
33
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,320
correspondence within ourselves
and others, and how they then
34
00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:31,680
develop the vibrational patterns
we then recognize as physical,
35
00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,480
vital, or mental reactions or
responses.
36
00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:41,360
When we manifest any of these
forces, we are simply allowing
37
00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:45,160
their vibrations to take over
some part of our being and
38
00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,760
transmit the vibration into the
world through the Nexus of our
39
00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,320
being.
While these forces are
40
00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:55,360
constantly circulating.
Just as we now understand to
41
00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:59,200
occur with the physical being
and the forces that can cause
42
00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:04,320
disease, we can develop our own
immune system at the vital and
43
00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,160
mental levels once we can see
and understand the action of
44
00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,760
these forces.
And thus, instead of setting up
45
00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,640
the corresponding vibration
within ourselves which we
46
00:03:14,640 --> 00:03:19,920
transmit further, we deadened
that vibratory pattern and don't
47
00:03:19,920 --> 00:03:22,000
allow it further action through
us.
48
00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:27,400
A still further step, as
discussed by the Mother, is to
49
00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:31,720
actually be able to send back a
counteracting vibratory force
50
00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:36,600
that acts to transform the force
rather than simply deny it the
51
00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:41,280
ability to act through us, the
Mother observes.
52
00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,640
Quote.
If you could always remain in
53
00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:50,240
this state of consciousness
after some time, provided you
54
00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,200
maintained within you the flame
of Agni, the flame of
55
00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:57,800
purification and progress, you
would be able not only to
56
00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,720
prevent these movements from
taking an active form in you and
57
00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:05,920
expressing themselves
materially, but also to act on
58
00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,640
the very nature of the movement
and transform it.
59
00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,440
But of course, unless you have
attained a very high degree of
60
00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:17,399
realization, it will be
practically impossible to
61
00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:19,880
maintain this state of
consciousness for long.
62
00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:25,400
Almost immediately you fall back
into the egoistic consciousness
63
00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:30,640
of the separate self, and then
all the difficulties come back,
64
00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:36,200
the disgust, the revolt against
certain things, the horror they
65
00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:41,720
arouse in you, et cetera.
It is probable, it is even
66
00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:46,720
certain, that unless you are
yourself completely transformed,
67
00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:51,360
these movements of disgust and
revolt are needed so that you
68
00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:55,800
can do in yourself what has to
be done to shut the door.
69
00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:00,920
For after all, the problem is
not to allow them to manifest
70
00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,120
themselves.
End Quote.
71
00:05:04,280 --> 00:05:08,200
Reference Srioro Vindu and the
Mother, Looking from Within,
72
00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:12,080
Chapter 2.
Looking at Oneself and Others,
73
00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:14,240
pages 50 to 51.