Sept. 5, 2024
Overcoming the Limits of Perception of the Physical Sense-Organs
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter I Latent Powers, pp.7-8 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/08/31/overcoming-the-limits-of-perception-of-the-physical-sense-organs/
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
00:00:01,640 --> 00:00:04,960
We tend to accept the
limitations of the sense organs
2
00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:09,440
and the mind as if they are
axioms unable to be altered.
3
00:00:10,120 --> 00:00:14,880
We accept that blind people
cannot see and that deaf people
4
00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,960
cannot hear.
We believe we cannot interact
5
00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:23,120
with using the mind alone to
communicate or to experience
6
00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:27,080
things at a distance.
We tend to believe that the
7
00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:31,240
limits of our sense organs are
fixed, and anything outside
8
00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:35,120
their normal range is simply
imperceptible to us.
9
00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:41,600
What if, however, these limits
which we accept are not the
10
00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:45,440
actual limits?
We can observe that if we try to
11
00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:51,760
run or jump or swim, that with
practice we can increase our
12
00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,800
ability, we can train our
physical bodies to respond, and
13
00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:01,840
we can enhance what was formerly
the natural capacity that we
14
00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:06,800
accepted as our limit of action
at a certain level of training.
15
00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,400
We constantly find that world
records for speed, height of
16
00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:16,120
jumping, distance of throwing,
et cetera, are frequently being
17
00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:21,120
broken as individuals enhance
beyond the limits that
18
00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:27,160
previously set those records.
The widespread reports of out of
19
00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,960
body experiences highlight the
artificial limitations we place
20
00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:34,080
on how we sense or perceive
things.
21
00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:39,200
While we believe that our
ability to see, hear, or
22
00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,840
otherwise sense things is tied
to the physical body and its
23
00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:47,320
sense organs, the experience of
those who have an out of body
24
00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:50,680
event make it clear this cannot
be the case.
25
00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:55,960
The physical body is lying inert
somewhere, while the awareness
26
00:01:55,960 --> 00:02:00,360
of the individual is outside the
body, frequently looking at the
27
00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,000
body from a distance or from
above.
28
00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:08,680
In such cases, the individual,
once he returns to consciousness
29
00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,800
in the body, is able to
accurately report what was
30
00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,000
taking place in the room, who
was there, what they were doing,
31
00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:21,800
what the circumstances were,
from a perspective that makes it
32
00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:26,600
clear that they were outside and
observing the event.
33
00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:32,000
It is thus certain that the
individual can perceive without
34
00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:36,520
use of the physical sense organs
and can do so at a distance from
35
00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:41,640
those physical sense organs.
The phenomenon of remote viewing
36
00:02:41,640 --> 00:02:44,840
also makes it clear that under
certain circumstances,
37
00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:49,480
individuals can experience what
is taking place at distances of
38
00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:54,400
many thousands of miles and
report back on what is being
39
00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,240
viewed.
This power has been widely
40
00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:01,600
researched and utilized by
trained individuals in both a
41
00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:06,280
military and civilian setting,
and courses are available to
42
00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:08,640
train people on how to hone this
skill.
43
00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,840
Once again, there is no reliance
on the sense organs of the
44
00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:18,240
physical body.
Various spiritual practices
45
00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,480
utilize the power of
visualization to create or
46
00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:26,200
recreate the atmosphere and
vibration of a distant location.
47
00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:31,400
For instance, an individual may
place himself in a sacred spot
48
00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:36,120
in his mind to awaken the force
that is active in that location.
49
00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:41,560
There are also instances where
yogic practitioners have been
50
00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:45,920
seen in multiple locations at
the same time or have been
51
00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:50,520
observed in a palpable form and
conversed with someone while at
52
00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:55,160
a physical distance.
Paramount's Yogananda, in his
53
00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,600
Autobiography of a Yogi
describes several such events to
54
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:01,840
which he was personally the
observer.
55
00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:06,560
The great Yogi of Tibet,
Milarepa, was said to have
56
00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,120
appeared to his disciples
concurrently in multiple
57
00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:15,160
locations to provide them a
teaching at the time of his
58
00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,640
physical death, the mother
writes.
59
00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,680
Quote.
The field of our sense
60
00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,240
experience has an absolutely
ridiculous limitation.
61
00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,720
While in the mind, if you think
of someone or something, the
62
00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:35,560
city or a place, you are there
immediately, instantaneously you
63
00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,160
see and you are there.
It is not that you are not
64
00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,880
there.
You are there and you can have
65
00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:47,400
so precise a mental contact that
you can have a conversation, ask
66
00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:52,200
questions and receive answers on
condition that the other person
67
00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,720
is fairly sensitive.
Why?
68
00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:58,280
This is something which happens
constantly, constantly.
69
00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,440
Only you must have a little
knowledge naturally, for
70
00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,120
otherwise you don't even
understand what is happening.
71
00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:11,760
Even physically with this, with
the eyes, the nose, the fingers,
72
00:05:11,840 --> 00:05:15,720
the mouth, the ears.
Oh, it is ridiculous.
73
00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:18,600
One can develop these if one
wants.
74
00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:22,640
One can succeed, for example, in
hearing something which occurs
75
00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:27,200
at a fairly great distance and
hearing it physically, not by
76
00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:31,800
another means than the physical,
but one must have a control over
77
00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,800
his senses and be able to
prolong their vibrations
78
00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:41,080
sufficiently. 1 can see at a
distance also, and not by an
79
00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,440
occult vision.
One can manage to stretch his
80
00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:48,280
vision and if he knows how to
prolong the vibration of his
81
00:05:48,280 --> 00:05:52,360
nerves outside the organ, he can
prolong the contact.
82
00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:58,360
I don't say some kilometers
away, no, but in a certain area,
83
00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:02,400
say for example through a wall,
which is considered something
84
00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:06,480
impossible, one can see what is
going on in a room which is
85
00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:08,680
separated from another by a
wall.
86
00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,520
But a very methodical practice
is necessary.
87
00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,960
Yet this is possible.
Seeing, feeling, hearing.
88
00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,680
If one wants to take the
trouble, one can enlarge his
89
00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,880
field considerably.
But it asks for work, for
90
00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:30,200
perseverance, a kind of
assiduous effort.
91
00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,080
Why?
It has even been found that one
92
00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,920
can develop other visual centres
than the eye.
93
00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,880
It has been tried out with
people who for some reason or
94
00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,200
other, have no vision in the
eye.
95
00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:47,520
One can develop other centres or
another center of vision by a
96
00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:53,200
continuous methodical effort.
Jules Roman has written a book
97
00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:57,040
about it.
He himself conducted experiments
98
00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,080
and obtained very conclusive
results.
99
00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:05,400
This means that we have a number
of possibilities which we let
100
00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:09,600
sleep within us because we don't
take the trouble to develop them
101
00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,080
very much.
We can do infinitely more than
102
00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:18,800
we actually do, but we take
things like that as they come.
103
00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,840
End Quote.
Reference Sri Rabindu and the
104
00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,800
Mother, Powers within, Chapter
1.
105
00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,400
Latent Powers, pages 7:00 to
8:00.
00:00:01,640 --> 00:00:04,960
We tend to accept the
limitations of the sense organs
2
00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:09,440
and the mind as if they are
axioms unable to be altered.
3
00:00:10,120 --> 00:00:14,880
We accept that blind people
cannot see and that deaf people
4
00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,960
cannot hear.
We believe we cannot interact
5
00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:23,120
with using the mind alone to
communicate or to experience
6
00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:27,080
things at a distance.
We tend to believe that the
7
00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:31,240
limits of our sense organs are
fixed, and anything outside
8
00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:35,120
their normal range is simply
imperceptible to us.
9
00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:41,600
What if, however, these limits
which we accept are not the
10
00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:45,440
actual limits?
We can observe that if we try to
11
00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:51,760
run or jump or swim, that with
practice we can increase our
12
00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,800
ability, we can train our
physical bodies to respond, and
13
00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:01,840
we can enhance what was formerly
the natural capacity that we
14
00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:06,800
accepted as our limit of action
at a certain level of training.
15
00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,400
We constantly find that world
records for speed, height of
16
00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:16,120
jumping, distance of throwing,
et cetera, are frequently being
17
00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:21,120
broken as individuals enhance
beyond the limits that
18
00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:27,160
previously set those records.
The widespread reports of out of
19
00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,960
body experiences highlight the
artificial limitations we place
20
00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:34,080
on how we sense or perceive
things.
21
00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:39,200
While we believe that our
ability to see, hear, or
22
00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,840
otherwise sense things is tied
to the physical body and its
23
00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:47,320
sense organs, the experience of
those who have an out of body
24
00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:50,680
event make it clear this cannot
be the case.
25
00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:55,960
The physical body is lying inert
somewhere, while the awareness
26
00:01:55,960 --> 00:02:00,360
of the individual is outside the
body, frequently looking at the
27
00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,000
body from a distance or from
above.
28
00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:08,680
In such cases, the individual,
once he returns to consciousness
29
00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,800
in the body, is able to
accurately report what was
30
00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,000
taking place in the room, who
was there, what they were doing,
31
00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:21,800
what the circumstances were,
from a perspective that makes it
32
00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:26,600
clear that they were outside and
observing the event.
33
00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:32,000
It is thus certain that the
individual can perceive without
34
00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:36,520
use of the physical sense organs
and can do so at a distance from
35
00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:41,640
those physical sense organs.
The phenomenon of remote viewing
36
00:02:41,640 --> 00:02:44,840
also makes it clear that under
certain circumstances,
37
00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:49,480
individuals can experience what
is taking place at distances of
38
00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:54,400
many thousands of miles and
report back on what is being
39
00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,240
viewed.
This power has been widely
40
00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:01,600
researched and utilized by
trained individuals in both a
41
00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:06,280
military and civilian setting,
and courses are available to
42
00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:08,640
train people on how to hone this
skill.
43
00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,840
Once again, there is no reliance
on the sense organs of the
44
00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:18,240
physical body.
Various spiritual practices
45
00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,480
utilize the power of
visualization to create or
46
00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:26,200
recreate the atmosphere and
vibration of a distant location.
47
00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:31,400
For instance, an individual may
place himself in a sacred spot
48
00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:36,120
in his mind to awaken the force
that is active in that location.
49
00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:41,560
There are also instances where
yogic practitioners have been
50
00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:45,920
seen in multiple locations at
the same time or have been
51
00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:50,520
observed in a palpable form and
conversed with someone while at
52
00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:55,160
a physical distance.
Paramount's Yogananda, in his
53
00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,600
Autobiography of a Yogi
describes several such events to
54
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:01,840
which he was personally the
observer.
55
00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:06,560
The great Yogi of Tibet,
Milarepa, was said to have
56
00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,120
appeared to his disciples
concurrently in multiple
57
00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:15,160
locations to provide them a
teaching at the time of his
58
00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,640
physical death, the mother
writes.
59
00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,680
Quote.
The field of our sense
60
00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,240
experience has an absolutely
ridiculous limitation.
61
00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,720
While in the mind, if you think
of someone or something, the
62
00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:35,560
city or a place, you are there
immediately, instantaneously you
63
00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,160
see and you are there.
It is not that you are not
64
00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,880
there.
You are there and you can have
65
00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:47,400
so precise a mental contact that
you can have a conversation, ask
66
00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:52,200
questions and receive answers on
condition that the other person
67
00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,720
is fairly sensitive.
Why?
68
00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:58,280
This is something which happens
constantly, constantly.
69
00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,440
Only you must have a little
knowledge naturally, for
70
00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,120
otherwise you don't even
understand what is happening.
71
00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:11,760
Even physically with this, with
the eyes, the nose, the fingers,
72
00:05:11,840 --> 00:05:15,720
the mouth, the ears.
Oh, it is ridiculous.
73
00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:18,600
One can develop these if one
wants.
74
00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:22,640
One can succeed, for example, in
hearing something which occurs
75
00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:27,200
at a fairly great distance and
hearing it physically, not by
76
00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:31,800
another means than the physical,
but one must have a control over
77
00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,800
his senses and be able to
prolong their vibrations
78
00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:41,080
sufficiently. 1 can see at a
distance also, and not by an
79
00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,440
occult vision.
One can manage to stretch his
80
00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:48,280
vision and if he knows how to
prolong the vibration of his
81
00:05:48,280 --> 00:05:52,360
nerves outside the organ, he can
prolong the contact.
82
00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:58,360
I don't say some kilometers
away, no, but in a certain area,
83
00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:02,400
say for example through a wall,
which is considered something
84
00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:06,480
impossible, one can see what is
going on in a room which is
85
00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:08,680
separated from another by a
wall.
86
00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,520
But a very methodical practice
is necessary.
87
00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,960
Yet this is possible.
Seeing, feeling, hearing.
88
00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,680
If one wants to take the
trouble, one can enlarge his
89
00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,880
field considerably.
But it asks for work, for
90
00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:30,200
perseverance, a kind of
assiduous effort.
91
00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,080
Why?
It has even been found that one
92
00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,920
can develop other visual centres
than the eye.
93
00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,880
It has been tried out with
people who for some reason or
94
00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,200
other, have no vision in the
eye.
95
00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:47,520
One can develop other centres or
another center of vision by a
96
00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:53,200
continuous methodical effort.
Jules Roman has written a book
97
00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:57,040
about it.
He himself conducted experiments
98
00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,080
and obtained very conclusive
results.
99
00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:05,400
This means that we have a number
of possibilities which we let
100
00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:09,600
sleep within us because we don't
take the trouble to develop them
101
00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,080
very much.
We can do infinitely more than
102
00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:18,800
we actually do, but we take
things like that as they come.
103
00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,840
End Quote.
Reference Sri Rabindu and the
104
00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,800
Mother, Powers within, Chapter
1.
105
00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,400
Latent Powers, pages 7:00 to
8:00.