Aug. 30, 2024
Occultism and Our Daily Lives
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Introduction, pp. xii-xiii This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/08/25/occultism-and-our-daily-lives/
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
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:05,800
We rarely reflect on the occult
powers that we use all the time
2
00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:11,000
automatically including the
various powers of the mind and
3
00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,200
emotions.
Researchers in the field of
4
00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,400
medical science have now
recognized the important role
5
00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,720
that our mental state has on our
health and well-being.
6
00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:26,320
They now admit the mind body
connection and teach us how to
7
00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:31,120
harness the power of positive
affirmation and visualization in
8
00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:35,280
our immune strength and in
recovery from any illness or
9
00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:39,320
injury without thinking about
the implications.
10
00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:44,040
We even rely on what we call the
placebo effect, which is
11
00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,560
factored into the study of any
new pharmaceutical drug under
12
00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,200
review.
The placebo effect is the result
13
00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:55,720
that follows when a subject is
given a fake drug as part of the
14
00:00:55,720 --> 00:01:00,960
study, yet recovers similar to
those who take the real drug.
15
00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:06,160
The placebo effect can be seen
in 25 to 30% of the cases.
16
00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,720
Clearly, the very thought that
one is getting a drug to cure a
17
00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:17,280
condition has real occult power.
How much of the healing power of
18
00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:23,440
the real drug is based on this
same placebo effect, we will
19
00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:27,280
never know.
The power of the mind is also
20
00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:29,800
harnessed to improve athletic
performance.
21
00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:34,160
Indeed, the use of positive
affirmation and visualization
22
00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,160
are an important aspect of
training for advanced athletes.
23
00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:42,240
Spiritual practitioners and
various paths are provided
24
00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:47,280
detailed visualization exercises
in order to develop the power of
25
00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:51,480
concentration and thereby to
advance in their spiritual
26
00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,720
practice.
Most people do not recognize nor
27
00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:59,920
understand the power of thought
forms to impact other people and
28
00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:03,000
results.
Researchers are exploring this
29
00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:07,520
power and harnessing it to, for
instance, aid people who are
30
00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,440
physically paralyzed in
operating a computer, for
31
00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:14,240
instance, through the focused
and concentrated power of
32
00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,640
thought.
Telekinesis is another occult
33
00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:21,720
phenomena that relies on the
power of the thought form to
34
00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,160
move an object in the external
world.
35
00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,920
While these are now visible
results, there is an entire
36
00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:33,120
field of the power of thought to
impact other people and the
37
00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:37,120
ideas they follow and the
feelings they experience.
38
00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,080
Because we generally fail to
appreciate these powers and
39
00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:46,040
their work, we both tend to
underutilize them in relation to
40
00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:50,480
their real potential and to
allow them to act without
41
00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:54,760
conscious intention, under the
impulsion perhaps, of our vital
42
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:59,760
nature, and thus potentially
have negative effects on others.
43
00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:04,720
And in the long term, by taking
up these powers, consciously
44
00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:09,040
exploring and studying them,
working to train ourselves in
45
00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:13,640
the use and application of them,
we can both increase their power
46
00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:18,680
and enhance their ability to
influence people, events and
47
00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:25,960
situations in a positive manner.
Dr. de Lal notes quote Sri
48
00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:30,480
Aurobindo defines occultism as
the knowledge and right use of
49
00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:34,200
the hidden forces of nature,
especially the forces of the
50
00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,960
subtle physical and super
physical planes.
51
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,280
As the Mother points out, in a
way everyone practices occultism
52
00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,640
without knowing it, because
everyone uses the powers of
53
00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:51,240
thought and imagination which
are in fact a cult or hidden,
54
00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:55,360
but which produce visible
effects on oneself and others.
55
00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,800
The effects produced by our
ordinary thought and imagination
56
00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:04,120
are meager compared to what they
could be if the powers were
57
00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:08,480
developed through training.
In fact, most people are not
58
00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,400
even aware of the effects
brought about by thought and
59
00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,800
imagination on our bodies and
our external lives.
60
00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,959
Therefore, these powers are
often used in ways which are
61
00:04:18,959 --> 00:04:24,040
detrimental to us and others.
An important step in developing
62
00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:27,240
the powers within us is to
become more conscious of the
63
00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:32,080
powers we already possess and
use, as also of the effects they
64
00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:36,240
are producing in our daily
lives, so that we may learn to
65
00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,120
use them more deliberately and
beneficially.
66
00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,400
End Quote.
Reference.
67
00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,960
Srioro Bindu and the Mother.
Powers within.
68
00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,760
Introduction pages.
Roman, 12 to 13.
00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:05,800
We rarely reflect on the occult
powers that we use all the time
2
00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:11,000
automatically including the
various powers of the mind and
3
00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,200
emotions.
Researchers in the field of
4
00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,400
medical science have now
recognized the important role
5
00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,720
that our mental state has on our
health and well-being.
6
00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:26,320
They now admit the mind body
connection and teach us how to
7
00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:31,120
harness the power of positive
affirmation and visualization in
8
00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:35,280
our immune strength and in
recovery from any illness or
9
00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:39,320
injury without thinking about
the implications.
10
00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:44,040
We even rely on what we call the
placebo effect, which is
11
00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,560
factored into the study of any
new pharmaceutical drug under
12
00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,200
review.
The placebo effect is the result
13
00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:55,720
that follows when a subject is
given a fake drug as part of the
14
00:00:55,720 --> 00:01:00,960
study, yet recovers similar to
those who take the real drug.
15
00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:06,160
The placebo effect can be seen
in 25 to 30% of the cases.
16
00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,720
Clearly, the very thought that
one is getting a drug to cure a
17
00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:17,280
condition has real occult power.
How much of the healing power of
18
00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:23,440
the real drug is based on this
same placebo effect, we will
19
00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:27,280
never know.
The power of the mind is also
20
00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:29,800
harnessed to improve athletic
performance.
21
00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:34,160
Indeed, the use of positive
affirmation and visualization
22
00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,160
are an important aspect of
training for advanced athletes.
23
00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:42,240
Spiritual practitioners and
various paths are provided
24
00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:47,280
detailed visualization exercises
in order to develop the power of
25
00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:51,480
concentration and thereby to
advance in their spiritual
26
00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,720
practice.
Most people do not recognize nor
27
00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:59,920
understand the power of thought
forms to impact other people and
28
00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:03,000
results.
Researchers are exploring this
29
00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:07,520
power and harnessing it to, for
instance, aid people who are
30
00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,440
physically paralyzed in
operating a computer, for
31
00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:14,240
instance, through the focused
and concentrated power of
32
00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,640
thought.
Telekinesis is another occult
33
00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:21,720
phenomena that relies on the
power of the thought form to
34
00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,160
move an object in the external
world.
35
00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,920
While these are now visible
results, there is an entire
36
00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:33,120
field of the power of thought to
impact other people and the
37
00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:37,120
ideas they follow and the
feelings they experience.
38
00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,080
Because we generally fail to
appreciate these powers and
39
00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:46,040
their work, we both tend to
underutilize them in relation to
40
00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:50,480
their real potential and to
allow them to act without
41
00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:54,760
conscious intention, under the
impulsion perhaps, of our vital
42
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:59,760
nature, and thus potentially
have negative effects on others.
43
00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:04,720
And in the long term, by taking
up these powers, consciously
44
00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:09,040
exploring and studying them,
working to train ourselves in
45
00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:13,640
the use and application of them,
we can both increase their power
46
00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:18,680
and enhance their ability to
influence people, events and
47
00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:25,960
situations in a positive manner.
Dr. de Lal notes quote Sri
48
00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:30,480
Aurobindo defines occultism as
the knowledge and right use of
49
00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:34,200
the hidden forces of nature,
especially the forces of the
50
00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,960
subtle physical and super
physical planes.
51
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,280
As the Mother points out, in a
way everyone practices occultism
52
00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,640
without knowing it, because
everyone uses the powers of
53
00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:51,240
thought and imagination which
are in fact a cult or hidden,
54
00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:55,360
but which produce visible
effects on oneself and others.
55
00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,800
The effects produced by our
ordinary thought and imagination
56
00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:04,120
are meager compared to what they
could be if the powers were
57
00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:08,480
developed through training.
In fact, most people are not
58
00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,400
even aware of the effects
brought about by thought and
59
00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,800
imagination on our bodies and
our external lives.
60
00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,959
Therefore, these powers are
often used in ways which are
61
00:04:18,959 --> 00:04:24,040
detrimental to us and others.
An important step in developing
62
00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:27,240
the powers within us is to
become more conscious of the
63
00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:32,080
powers we already possess and
use, as also of the effects they
64
00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:36,240
are producing in our daily
lives, so that we may learn to
65
00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,120
use them more deliberately and
beneficially.
66
00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,400
End Quote.
Reference.
67
00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,960
Srioro Bindu and the Mother.
Powers within.
68
00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,760
Introduction pages.
Roman, 12 to 13.