June 16, 2025
Overcoming the Habit of Illness of the Body
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 4, Ordeals and Difficulties, pp..106-107This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/06/14/overcoming-the-habit-of-illness-of-the-body/
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
00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:04,800
The first time we experience
something, it starts to create a
2
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:09,400
groove in our neural network
nerves or responsive centers.
3
00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:14,440
As the experience recurs, the
groove becomes a pathway.
4
00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,640
Eventually, the pathway becomes
an embedded habit.
5
00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,440
When a similar vibration is
experienced, it automatically
6
00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,920
follows the established
patterns, which is why it is
7
00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,680
harder to break a habit than to
avoid starting one to begin
8
00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,600
with.
Many of these habits are
9
00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,760
embedded deeply in human DNA
through many millennia, as well
10
00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,840
as in the patterns we create as
we educate our children and
11
00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:46,280
socialize them into the society
and it's established ways of
12
00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:50,120
doing things.
Illness follows a similar
13
00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,640
pattern as a vibration repeats
itself.
14
00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:58,320
If there is a past experience,
the body immediately knows what
15
00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:02,320
kind of illness it is going to
be, and the very cells of the
16
00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,760
body begin vibrating to that
pattern.
17
00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,320
We see certain individuals seem
to be prone to certain types of
18
00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:13,480
illnesses as they have deeply
entrenched patterns of reaction
19
00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:17,760
in their bodies that convert the
vibration into that form,
20
00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,920
affecting a specific area of the
body.
21
00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:26,280
Thus, some people are prone to
sinus issues, some to lung
22
00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:31,480
issues, some to throat issues,
some to digestive issues, some
23
00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:35,880
to headaches, etcetera.
To overcome these patterns
24
00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:40,440
requires conscious awareness.
First, one establishes the
25
00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:44,440
separate witness consciousness,
observing the nature, including
26
00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:49,200
the reactions of the body.
Then one can observe how these
27
00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:53,160
vibrations arrive, what action
they take to come through the
28
00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:57,960
protective world where they tend
to embed themselves, and how
29
00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,400
they set up their pattern to
create what we then call an
30
00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,960
illness.
Once one can observe these
31
00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,199
various stages, it becomes a
matter of finding methods to
32
00:02:08,199 --> 00:02:12,720
break the chain of the reaction
or pattern at some early point
33
00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,120
in the process.
It is interesting to note that
34
00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:20,120
the action of mind and will can
play a considerable role in
35
00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,960
strengthening and supporting
both the vital envelope and the
36
00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:28,240
physical body.
We have historical instances
37
00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:32,520
where certain doctors had such a
strong will that they entered
38
00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:37,080
fearlessly into areas of
epidemics and treated patients
39
00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,000
without themselves becoming
I'll.
40
00:02:39,920 --> 00:02:43,320
There are also instances where
certain physicians exhibit such
41
00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,680
a strength of healing energy
that by their very presence and
42
00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,880
aura, they help to cure patients
of various types of illnesses.
43
00:02:52,920 --> 00:02:56,840
Shrioro Bindo recounted the
story of how a wandering sanyasi
44
00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,600
cured his brother of a serious
illness.
45
00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:04,600
The Sanyasi requested a glass of
water, cut it with a knife while
46
00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,280
intoning a powerful mantra over
the water.
47
00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,320
After drinking the water, the
brother was quickly cured of the
48
00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:16,000
illness.
In this case, even a full blown
49
00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,760
serious illness could be
reversed through the power of
50
00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,440
consciousness, setting up a new
vibrational pattern in the
51
00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:26,920
patient.
The habit of illness is capable
52
00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:29,880
of being changed.
People who have a history of
53
00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:34,320
certain weakness of the body
have shown that over time they
54
00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:40,040
can transform this weakness into
an indomitable strength, Sri
55
00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:44,560
Aurobindo writes quote.
What I meant was that the body
56
00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,760
consciousness, through old habit
of consciousness, admits the
57
00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:52,400
force of illness and goes
through the experiences which
58
00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:57,280
are associated with it, For
example congestion of phlegm in
59
00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,400
the chest and feeling of
suffocation or difficulty of
60
00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:04,240
breathing etcetera.
To get rid of that one must
61
00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:09,280
awaken a will and consciousness
in the body itself that refuses
62
00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,280
to allow these things to impose
themselves upon it.
63
00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:17,519
But to get that still more, to
get it completely is difficult.
64
00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:22,000
One step towards it is to get
the inner consciousness separate
65
00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,680
from the body, to feel that it
is not you who are ill, but it's
66
00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,960
only something taking place in
the body and affecting your
67
00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,120
consciousness.
It is then possible to see this
68
00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:38,120
separate body consciousness,
what it feels, what are its
69
00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,760
reactions to things, how it
works.
70
00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:45,920
One can then act on it to change
its consciousness and reactions.
71
00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:50,760
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
72
00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,920
Mother looking from within,
Chapter 4.
73
00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:58,640
Ordeals and Difficulties pages
one O 6 to one O 7.
00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:04,800
The first time we experience
something, it starts to create a
2
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:09,400
groove in our neural network
nerves or responsive centers.
3
00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:14,440
As the experience recurs, the
groove becomes a pathway.
4
00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,640
Eventually, the pathway becomes
an embedded habit.
5
00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,440
When a similar vibration is
experienced, it automatically
6
00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,920
follows the established
patterns, which is why it is
7
00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,680
harder to break a habit than to
avoid starting one to begin
8
00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,600
with.
Many of these habits are
9
00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,760
embedded deeply in human DNA
through many millennia, as well
10
00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,840
as in the patterns we create as
we educate our children and
11
00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:46,280
socialize them into the society
and it's established ways of
12
00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:50,120
doing things.
Illness follows a similar
13
00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,640
pattern as a vibration repeats
itself.
14
00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:58,320
If there is a past experience,
the body immediately knows what
15
00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:02,320
kind of illness it is going to
be, and the very cells of the
16
00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,760
body begin vibrating to that
pattern.
17
00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,320
We see certain individuals seem
to be prone to certain types of
18
00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:13,480
illnesses as they have deeply
entrenched patterns of reaction
19
00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:17,760
in their bodies that convert the
vibration into that form,
20
00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,920
affecting a specific area of the
body.
21
00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:26,280
Thus, some people are prone to
sinus issues, some to lung
22
00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:31,480
issues, some to throat issues,
some to digestive issues, some
23
00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:35,880
to headaches, etcetera.
To overcome these patterns
24
00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:40,440
requires conscious awareness.
First, one establishes the
25
00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:44,440
separate witness consciousness,
observing the nature, including
26
00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:49,200
the reactions of the body.
Then one can observe how these
27
00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:53,160
vibrations arrive, what action
they take to come through the
28
00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:57,960
protective world where they tend
to embed themselves, and how
29
00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,400
they set up their pattern to
create what we then call an
30
00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,960
illness.
Once one can observe these
31
00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,199
various stages, it becomes a
matter of finding methods to
32
00:02:08,199 --> 00:02:12,720
break the chain of the reaction
or pattern at some early point
33
00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,120
in the process.
It is interesting to note that
34
00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:20,120
the action of mind and will can
play a considerable role in
35
00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,960
strengthening and supporting
both the vital envelope and the
36
00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:28,240
physical body.
We have historical instances
37
00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:32,520
where certain doctors had such a
strong will that they entered
38
00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:37,080
fearlessly into areas of
epidemics and treated patients
39
00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,000
without themselves becoming
I'll.
40
00:02:39,920 --> 00:02:43,320
There are also instances where
certain physicians exhibit such
41
00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,680
a strength of healing energy
that by their very presence and
42
00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,880
aura, they help to cure patients
of various types of illnesses.
43
00:02:52,920 --> 00:02:56,840
Shrioro Bindo recounted the
story of how a wandering sanyasi
44
00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,600
cured his brother of a serious
illness.
45
00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:04,600
The Sanyasi requested a glass of
water, cut it with a knife while
46
00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,280
intoning a powerful mantra over
the water.
47
00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,320
After drinking the water, the
brother was quickly cured of the
48
00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:16,000
illness.
In this case, even a full blown
49
00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,760
serious illness could be
reversed through the power of
50
00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,440
consciousness, setting up a new
vibrational pattern in the
51
00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:26,920
patient.
The habit of illness is capable
52
00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:29,880
of being changed.
People who have a history of
53
00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:34,320
certain weakness of the body
have shown that over time they
54
00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:40,040
can transform this weakness into
an indomitable strength, Sri
55
00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:44,560
Aurobindo writes quote.
What I meant was that the body
56
00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,760
consciousness, through old habit
of consciousness, admits the
57
00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:52,400
force of illness and goes
through the experiences which
58
00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:57,280
are associated with it, For
example congestion of phlegm in
59
00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,400
the chest and feeling of
suffocation or difficulty of
60
00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:04,240
breathing etcetera.
To get rid of that one must
61
00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:09,280
awaken a will and consciousness
in the body itself that refuses
62
00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,280
to allow these things to impose
themselves upon it.
63
00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:17,519
But to get that still more, to
get it completely is difficult.
64
00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:22,000
One step towards it is to get
the inner consciousness separate
65
00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,680
from the body, to feel that it
is not you who are ill, but it's
66
00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,960
only something taking place in
the body and affecting your
67
00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,120
consciousness.
It is then possible to see this
68
00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:38,120
separate body consciousness,
what it feels, what are its
69
00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,760
reactions to things, how it
works.
70
00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:45,920
One can then act on it to change
its consciousness and reactions.
71
00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:50,760
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
72
00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,920
Mother looking from within,
Chapter 4.
73
00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:58,640
Ordeals and Difficulties pages
one O 6 to one O 7.