June 6, 2024
Occultism and Hypnotism
Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
Amazon Music 
RSS Feed 
Castro 
RadioPublic 
PocketCasts 
YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch. 5 Occult Forces, pp 107-108 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/06/02/occultism-and-hypnotism/
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
00:00:02,280 --> 00:00:04,920
Scientists and medical
practitioners have studied
2
00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:09,040
hypnotism and even applied it in
various situations.
3
00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,720
They raised some doubts due to
studies that did not completely
4
00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,240
follow the highest double-blind
standards used in medical
5
00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:20,880
research.
Nevertheless, hypnotism has been
6
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:25,400
found to have some very clear
practical uses and benefits and
7
00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,960
is utilized in a variety of
situations including treatment
8
00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:33,760
of anxiety, stress, helping to
overcome addictions such as
9
00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:38,840
smoking, sleep disorders and
chronic pain, as well as
10
00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,400
providing benefits to reduce
pain in acute situations.
11
00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:47,240
Given the serious potential side
effects of pharmaceutical drugs
12
00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,680
for pain relief, such as the use
of highly addictive opioids,
13
00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:56,240
more practitioners in fact are
turning to the use of hypnosis
14
00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:01,080
in an increasing number of
situations to reduce or avoid
15
00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:05,920
the need for opioids.
Hypnosis provides insight into
16
00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:10,320
the link between the mind and
the body and the ability to gain
17
00:01:10,320 --> 00:01:13,360
a measure of control over the
body and its functions,
18
00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,360
including some of the autonomic
functions.
19
00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:21,320
Through use of non physical
techniques, a state related to
20
00:01:21,320 --> 00:01:25,920
trance is created in which the
active control exercised by the
21
00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,880
conscious mind is reduced.
The individual becomes more
22
00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:34,440
suggestible and is able to
dissociate himself from anxiety,
23
00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,760
pain or fear reactions that
otherwise would have a great
24
00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:42,960
impact on him.
We know that certain yogins in
25
00:01:42,960 --> 00:01:47,800
the state of Samadi, a spiritual
trance state, are not actively
26
00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,000
attending to the circumstances
in the external world.
27
00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,440
They are able in some cases, to
pass days at a time without
28
00:01:55,440 --> 00:02:00,920
experiencing hunger or thirst.
They can sit on beds of nails or
29
00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:05,000
walk across nails or hot coals
without any sensation of pain.
30
00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,880
Legend has it that some ancient
yogic practitioners would sit in
31
00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:14,400
such a deep state of samadhi
that they had anthills grow up
32
00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,920
on and around them without
noticing.
33
00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:21,680
They have successfully moved
their conscious awareness away
34
00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:26,840
from the body, vital being and
mind into an entirely different
35
00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:31,280
realm of awareness.
The experience of yogic
36
00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,800
practitioners in samadhi shed
some light on the experience of
37
00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,600
individuals undergoing treatment
with hypnotism.
38
00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,200
A similar state of separation
from the external body and its
39
00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:46,800
senses and the nervous system
reactions and the response of
40
00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,360
the active mentality takes
place.
41
00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,240
We are normally aware of and
involved in the events and
42
00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,240
circumstances in the world
around us and our reactions to
43
00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,040
them.
In the hypnotic state, the
44
00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:04,000
awareness must be withdrawn from
active reaction and response to
45
00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,360
such things.
The interactive functioning of
46
00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:11,400
the senses, the nervous system
and the mind must be suspended
47
00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:15,800
and the patient must be in a
state where suggestions can be
48
00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:20,120
made that operate on certain
parts of the brain without first
49
00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:24,320
being filtered through the
analyzing and deciding parts of
50
00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:27,960
the mental consciousness.
Most people have had an
51
00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,160
experience where they were so
deeply absorbed in something
52
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:35,680
that they lost track of the
passage of time, did not feel
53
00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,400
hunger or thirst or any
discomfort at all.
54
00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:43,280
This is a brief taste of the
deeper status of hypnotic
55
00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:48,800
immersion or yogic trance, the
Mother notes quote.
56
00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:53,040
Now they are finding out that
they can replace anesthetics by
57
00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,320
hypnotism with infinitely better
results.
58
00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:01,520
Well, hypnotism is a form, a
form modernized in its
59
00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:07,960
expression of occultism, a very
limited, very small form of a
60
00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:10,840
very tiny power compared with
occult power.
61
00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:16,040
But still it is a form of
occultism which has been put in
62
00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,279
modern terms to make the thing
modern.
63
00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,560
And I don't know if you have
heard about these things, but
64
00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,160
they are very interesting from a
certain point of view.
65
00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:29,080
For instance, this process of
hypnotism has been tried on
66
00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,800
someone who had to have a skin
graft on a wound.
67
00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,600
I don't remember all the details
now, but the arm had to remain
68
00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:38,760
attached to the leg for a
fortnight.
69
00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,440
If the person were immobilized
by plaster and bandages and all
70
00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:47,000
sorts of things, at the end of
the fortnight he wouldn't be
71
00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:51,080
able to move, everything would
become stiff and he would need
72
00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,080
weeks of treatment to recover
the free use of his arm.
73
00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:59,840
In this case, nothing was tied
up, nothing was physically
74
00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:04,560
immobilized, No plaster, no
bandages, nothing.
75
00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,760
The person was just hypnotized
and told to keep his arm in that
76
00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,800
position.
He kept it for a fortnight
77
00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:15,600
without any effort, any
difficulty, without any
78
00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:19,080
intervention from his will.
It was the will of the
79
00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:23,560
hypnotizer which intervened.
It was perfectly successful.
80
00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,760
The arm remained in the required
position.
81
00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:31,240
And when the fortnight was over
and the hypnotism removed and
82
00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:35,680
the person was told, now you may
move, he began to move.
83
00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:41,240
Well, that's a step forward.
They are soon going to meet.
84
00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,280
It will be nothing more than a
question of words.
85
00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:49,640
Then if they are not too rigid,
they can agree on the value
86
00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:55,280
given to the words.
End Quote Reference Shriuru
87
00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:59,680
Bindu and the Mother The Hidden
Forces of Life Chapter 5 Occult
88
00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,800
Forces pages one O 7 to one O 8.
00:00:02,280 --> 00:00:04,920
Scientists and medical
practitioners have studied
2
00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:09,040
hypnotism and even applied it in
various situations.
3
00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,720
They raised some doubts due to
studies that did not completely
4
00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,240
follow the highest double-blind
standards used in medical
5
00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:20,880
research.
Nevertheless, hypnotism has been
6
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:25,400
found to have some very clear
practical uses and benefits and
7
00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,960
is utilized in a variety of
situations including treatment
8
00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:33,760
of anxiety, stress, helping to
overcome addictions such as
9
00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:38,840
smoking, sleep disorders and
chronic pain, as well as
10
00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,400
providing benefits to reduce
pain in acute situations.
11
00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:47,240
Given the serious potential side
effects of pharmaceutical drugs
12
00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,680
for pain relief, such as the use
of highly addictive opioids,
13
00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:56,240
more practitioners in fact are
turning to the use of hypnosis
14
00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:01,080
in an increasing number of
situations to reduce or avoid
15
00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:05,920
the need for opioids.
Hypnosis provides insight into
16
00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:10,320
the link between the mind and
the body and the ability to gain
17
00:01:10,320 --> 00:01:13,360
a measure of control over the
body and its functions,
18
00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,360
including some of the autonomic
functions.
19
00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:21,320
Through use of non physical
techniques, a state related to
20
00:01:21,320 --> 00:01:25,920
trance is created in which the
active control exercised by the
21
00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,880
conscious mind is reduced.
The individual becomes more
22
00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:34,440
suggestible and is able to
dissociate himself from anxiety,
23
00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,760
pain or fear reactions that
otherwise would have a great
24
00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:42,960
impact on him.
We know that certain yogins in
25
00:01:42,960 --> 00:01:47,800
the state of Samadi, a spiritual
trance state, are not actively
26
00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,000
attending to the circumstances
in the external world.
27
00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,440
They are able in some cases, to
pass days at a time without
28
00:01:55,440 --> 00:02:00,920
experiencing hunger or thirst.
They can sit on beds of nails or
29
00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:05,000
walk across nails or hot coals
without any sensation of pain.
30
00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,880
Legend has it that some ancient
yogic practitioners would sit in
31
00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:14,400
such a deep state of samadhi
that they had anthills grow up
32
00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,920
on and around them without
noticing.
33
00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:21,680
They have successfully moved
their conscious awareness away
34
00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:26,840
from the body, vital being and
mind into an entirely different
35
00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:31,280
realm of awareness.
The experience of yogic
36
00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,800
practitioners in samadhi shed
some light on the experience of
37
00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,600
individuals undergoing treatment
with hypnotism.
38
00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,200
A similar state of separation
from the external body and its
39
00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:46,800
senses and the nervous system
reactions and the response of
40
00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,360
the active mentality takes
place.
41
00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,240
We are normally aware of and
involved in the events and
42
00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,240
circumstances in the world
around us and our reactions to
43
00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,040
them.
In the hypnotic state, the
44
00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:04,000
awareness must be withdrawn from
active reaction and response to
45
00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,360
such things.
The interactive functioning of
46
00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:11,400
the senses, the nervous system
and the mind must be suspended
47
00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:15,800
and the patient must be in a
state where suggestions can be
48
00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:20,120
made that operate on certain
parts of the brain without first
49
00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:24,320
being filtered through the
analyzing and deciding parts of
50
00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:27,960
the mental consciousness.
Most people have had an
51
00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,160
experience where they were so
deeply absorbed in something
52
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:35,680
that they lost track of the
passage of time, did not feel
53
00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,400
hunger or thirst or any
discomfort at all.
54
00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:43,280
This is a brief taste of the
deeper status of hypnotic
55
00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:48,800
immersion or yogic trance, the
Mother notes quote.
56
00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:53,040
Now they are finding out that
they can replace anesthetics by
57
00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,320
hypnotism with infinitely better
results.
58
00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:01,520
Well, hypnotism is a form, a
form modernized in its
59
00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:07,960
expression of occultism, a very
limited, very small form of a
60
00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:10,840
very tiny power compared with
occult power.
61
00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:16,040
But still it is a form of
occultism which has been put in
62
00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,279
modern terms to make the thing
modern.
63
00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,560
And I don't know if you have
heard about these things, but
64
00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,160
they are very interesting from a
certain point of view.
65
00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:29,080
For instance, this process of
hypnotism has been tried on
66
00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,800
someone who had to have a skin
graft on a wound.
67
00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,600
I don't remember all the details
now, but the arm had to remain
68
00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:38,760
attached to the leg for a
fortnight.
69
00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,440
If the person were immobilized
by plaster and bandages and all
70
00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:47,000
sorts of things, at the end of
the fortnight he wouldn't be
71
00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:51,080
able to move, everything would
become stiff and he would need
72
00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,080
weeks of treatment to recover
the free use of his arm.
73
00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:59,840
In this case, nothing was tied
up, nothing was physically
74
00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:04,560
immobilized, No plaster, no
bandages, nothing.
75
00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,760
The person was just hypnotized
and told to keep his arm in that
76
00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,800
position.
He kept it for a fortnight
77
00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:15,600
without any effort, any
difficulty, without any
78
00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:19,080
intervention from his will.
It was the will of the
79
00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:23,560
hypnotizer which intervened.
It was perfectly successful.
80
00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,760
The arm remained in the required
position.
81
00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:31,240
And when the fortnight was over
and the hypnotism removed and
82
00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:35,680
the person was told, now you may
move, he began to move.
83
00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:41,240
Well, that's a step forward.
They are soon going to meet.
84
00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,280
It will be nothing more than a
question of words.
85
00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:49,640
Then if they are not too rigid,
they can agree on the value
86
00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:55,280
given to the words.
End Quote Reference Shriuru
87
00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:59,680
Bindu and the Mother The Hidden
Forces of Life Chapter 5 Occult
88
00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,800
Forces pages one O 7 to one O 8.