Jan. 16, 2025
Observing the Influences and Suggestions That Shape Our Responses in Life
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter XIX Occult Powers of the Subliminal, pp. 149-150 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/01/14/observing-the-influences-and-suggestions-that-shape-our-responses-in-life/
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
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,160
If one practices a simple
exercise, even just for a short
2
00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:09,520
time, one becomes aware of the
numerous forces that are acting
3
00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:14,600
upon us, shaping our thoughts,
emotions, feelings, and
4
00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:18,320
reactions.
The practice is to sit quietly
5
00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,920
and observe the various thoughts
and feelings that arise while
6
00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:27,240
one is sitting there, and then
trace back where that thought or
7
00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:31,920
feeling came from and how it
arose within one's awareness.
8
00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,640
The first thing one generally
notices is that we become
9
00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:41,040
acutely aware of small
discomforts of the body signals
10
00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,360
that cause us to move slightly
to try to find a comfortable
11
00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:48,280
position.
Then we begin to acutely tune to
12
00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:53,040
the senses such that we hear
sounds, feel the breeze,
13
00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,520
etcetera.
If we work to bring the mind
14
00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:01,680
stuff to a state of stillness,
like a lake without a ripple, we
15
00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,960
may then be able to observe how
various thoughts, feelings, et
16
00:01:05,960 --> 00:01:10,520
cetera enter and create ripples
at this moment.
17
00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,280
If we trace them back, we can
observe their source.
18
00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:18,520
Sometimes it is a force that is
active in our environment.
19
00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:23,880
At other times it may be a
rising of a memory, and it's
20
00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:26,520
still others.
It may be the body or the vital
21
00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,680
being asking for attention in
some way.
22
00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,920
With the advent and
pervasiveness of electronic
23
00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:40,240
media, social media, radio, TV,
loud speakers, we will often
24
00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,960
find that impressions we have
received consciously or
25
00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:48,560
subliminally rise up in times of
quiet reflection.
26
00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,840
Possibly it will be a mental
activity related to some
27
00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,800
unresolved issue or problem we
are trying to solve.
28
00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:00,880
One way or the other, we can
begin to see how impressions
29
00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:05,040
work.
Forces are constantly at work to
30
00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:09,639
try to influence us, to direct
our thoughts, to raise up
31
00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:14,840
emotions, to inflamed our vital
nature, to motivate our physical
32
00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:18,920
being into action.
Some of these are consciously
33
00:02:18,920 --> 00:02:21,920
directed by those seeking for
power and control.
34
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,600
Others are available to us to
support our growth and
35
00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,680
development and protect from
hostile influences.
36
00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,840
In many instances, our choices
remain subconscious.
37
00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,520
With this simple exercise, we
can begin to recognize and then
38
00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:45,240
consciously choose which
influences to permit in our
39
00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,480
lives.
Once we see how this works, we
40
00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,520
will understand that we are
constantly inundated with
41
00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:57,120
suggestions and that we tend to
act almost automatically under
42
00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:00,560
the influence of these waves of
energy and their direction and
43
00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:04,320
impulsion.
So long as we are unconscious of
44
00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,640
these influences, there is very
little we can do to choose and
45
00:03:08,640 --> 00:03:13,640
direct our responses.
Once we become aware, we can
46
00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:18,080
choose to limit our direct
exposure, to resist those
47
00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,720
influences that we find to be
out of harmony with our basic
48
00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:26,560
goals and aspirations, and to
support those in our lives that
49
00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,560
are there to help us grow and
thrive.
50
00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:34,440
We can tune our being to respond
to specific frequencies and
51
00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:41,240
energies and to deny others,
Shriorabindo notes quote.
52
00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,800
There are powers of the mind and
the life force which have not
53
00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,960
been included in Nature's
present systematization of mind
54
00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:55,440
and life in matter, but our
potential and can be brought to
55
00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:59,800
bear upon material things and
happenings, or even brought in
56
00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:04,280
and added to the present
systematization so as to enlarge
57
00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:09,160
the control of mind over our own
life and body, or to act on the
58
00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:14,760
minds, lives, bodies of others,
or on the movements of cosmic
59
00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,600
forces.
The modern admission of
60
00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:21,800
hypnotism is an example of such
a discovery and systematized
61
00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:26,600
application, though still narrow
and limited, limited by its
62
00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:31,440
method and formula of occult
powers which otherwise touch us
63
00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:36,200
only by a casual or a hidden
action whose process is unknown
64
00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,480
to us or imperfectly caught by a
few.
65
00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,480
For we are all the time
undergoing a battery of
66
00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,880
suggestions, thought
suggestions, impulse
67
00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:51,480
suggestions, will suggestions,
emotional and sensational
68
00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:57,440
suggestions, thought waves, life
waves that come on us or into us
69
00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:01,280
from others or from the
universal energy, but act and
70
00:05:01,280 --> 00:05:04,160
produce their effects without
our knowledge.
71
00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:09,680
A systematized endeavour to know
these movements and their law
72
00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:15,000
and possibilities, to master and
use the power or nature force
73
00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:19,920
behind them, or to protect
ourselves from them, would fall
74
00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:24,120
within one province of
occultism, but it would only be
75
00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:28,720
a small part even of that
province, for wide and multiple
76
00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:35,200
are the possible fields, uses,
processes of this vast range of
77
00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:41,000
little explored knowledge.
End Quote Reference Sri Oro
78
00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:46,200
Bindu and the Mother Powers
within Chapter 19, Occult Powers
79
00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,560
of the Subliminal, pages 149 to
150.
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,160
If one practices a simple
exercise, even just for a short
2
00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:09,520
time, one becomes aware of the
numerous forces that are acting
3
00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:14,600
upon us, shaping our thoughts,
emotions, feelings, and
4
00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:18,320
reactions.
The practice is to sit quietly
5
00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,920
and observe the various thoughts
and feelings that arise while
6
00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:27,240
one is sitting there, and then
trace back where that thought or
7
00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:31,920
feeling came from and how it
arose within one's awareness.
8
00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,640
The first thing one generally
notices is that we become
9
00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:41,040
acutely aware of small
discomforts of the body signals
10
00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,360
that cause us to move slightly
to try to find a comfortable
11
00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:48,280
position.
Then we begin to acutely tune to
12
00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:53,040
the senses such that we hear
sounds, feel the breeze,
13
00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,520
etcetera.
If we work to bring the mind
14
00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:01,680
stuff to a state of stillness,
like a lake without a ripple, we
15
00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,960
may then be able to observe how
various thoughts, feelings, et
16
00:01:05,960 --> 00:01:10,520
cetera enter and create ripples
at this moment.
17
00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,280
If we trace them back, we can
observe their source.
18
00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:18,520
Sometimes it is a force that is
active in our environment.
19
00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:23,880
At other times it may be a
rising of a memory, and it's
20
00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:26,520
still others.
It may be the body or the vital
21
00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,680
being asking for attention in
some way.
22
00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,920
With the advent and
pervasiveness of electronic
23
00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:40,240
media, social media, radio, TV,
loud speakers, we will often
24
00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,960
find that impressions we have
received consciously or
25
00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:48,560
subliminally rise up in times of
quiet reflection.
26
00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,840
Possibly it will be a mental
activity related to some
27
00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,800
unresolved issue or problem we
are trying to solve.
28
00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:00,880
One way or the other, we can
begin to see how impressions
29
00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:05,040
work.
Forces are constantly at work to
30
00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:09,639
try to influence us, to direct
our thoughts, to raise up
31
00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:14,840
emotions, to inflamed our vital
nature, to motivate our physical
32
00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:18,920
being into action.
Some of these are consciously
33
00:02:18,920 --> 00:02:21,920
directed by those seeking for
power and control.
34
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,600
Others are available to us to
support our growth and
35
00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,680
development and protect from
hostile influences.
36
00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,840
In many instances, our choices
remain subconscious.
37
00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,520
With this simple exercise, we
can begin to recognize and then
38
00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:45,240
consciously choose which
influences to permit in our
39
00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,480
lives.
Once we see how this works, we
40
00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,520
will understand that we are
constantly inundated with
41
00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:57,120
suggestions and that we tend to
act almost automatically under
42
00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:00,560
the influence of these waves of
energy and their direction and
43
00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:04,320
impulsion.
So long as we are unconscious of
44
00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,640
these influences, there is very
little we can do to choose and
45
00:03:08,640 --> 00:03:13,640
direct our responses.
Once we become aware, we can
46
00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:18,080
choose to limit our direct
exposure, to resist those
47
00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,720
influences that we find to be
out of harmony with our basic
48
00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:26,560
goals and aspirations, and to
support those in our lives that
49
00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,560
are there to help us grow and
thrive.
50
00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:34,440
We can tune our being to respond
to specific frequencies and
51
00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:41,240
energies and to deny others,
Shriorabindo notes quote.
52
00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,800
There are powers of the mind and
the life force which have not
53
00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,960
been included in Nature's
present systematization of mind
54
00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:55,440
and life in matter, but our
potential and can be brought to
55
00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:59,800
bear upon material things and
happenings, or even brought in
56
00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:04,280
and added to the present
systematization so as to enlarge
57
00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:09,160
the control of mind over our own
life and body, or to act on the
58
00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:14,760
minds, lives, bodies of others,
or on the movements of cosmic
59
00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,600
forces.
The modern admission of
60
00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:21,800
hypnotism is an example of such
a discovery and systematized
61
00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:26,600
application, though still narrow
and limited, limited by its
62
00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:31,440
method and formula of occult
powers which otherwise touch us
63
00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:36,200
only by a casual or a hidden
action whose process is unknown
64
00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,480
to us or imperfectly caught by a
few.
65
00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,480
For we are all the time
undergoing a battery of
66
00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,880
suggestions, thought
suggestions, impulse
67
00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:51,480
suggestions, will suggestions,
emotional and sensational
68
00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:57,440
suggestions, thought waves, life
waves that come on us or into us
69
00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:01,280
from others or from the
universal energy, but act and
70
00:05:01,280 --> 00:05:04,160
produce their effects without
our knowledge.
71
00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:09,680
A systematized endeavour to know
these movements and their law
72
00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:15,000
and possibilities, to master and
use the power or nature force
73
00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:19,920
behind them, or to protect
ourselves from them, would fall
74
00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:24,120
within one province of
occultism, but it would only be
75
00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:28,720
a small part even of that
province, for wide and multiple
76
00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:35,200
are the possible fields, uses,
processes of this vast range of
77
00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:41,000
little explored knowledge.
End Quote Reference Sri Oro
78
00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:46,200
Bindu and the Mother Powers
within Chapter 19, Occult Powers
79
00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,560
of the Subliminal, pages 149 to
150.