Jan. 5, 2026
Perspective of Time and Stages in the Process of Transformation of Human Life
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 4, Desire — Food — Sex, pp. 68-69This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/01/03/perspective-of-time-and-stages-in-the-process-of-transformation-of-human-life/
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#Sri Aurobindo #yoga #integral yoga #transformation #fasting #spirituality
1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,320
When we consider the objective
of the transformation of human
2
00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:08,640
nature, we begin to understand
that it is not a simple or quick
3
00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:12,560
process.
We carry within us the physical,
4
00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:17,520
vital and mental habits of life
on earth, including instincts,
5
00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:22,280
set modes of action and
response, and the result of the
6
00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,520
training and socialization we
have received in the current
7
00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:30,280
lifetime, which represents the
combined force of the past
8
00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,760
development of human society
acting in the present.
9
00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,800
We can appreciate that the
solidity of matter adapts more
10
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,600
slowly than vital energy or
mental energy.
11
00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:47,560
This sets up the process of the
transformation, starting with
12
00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,400
adjustments to the mental
substance, moving subsequently
13
00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:55,920
to changing aspects of the vital
nature, and only afterwards
14
00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:00,520
tackling the physical body along
the way.
15
00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,959
The physical body provides the
foundation for the work on the
16
00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,320
more malleable elements of the
being.
17
00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,480
If the physical body
deteriorates or is weakened, it
18
00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,920
reduces the amount of the divine
force that can be effectively
19
00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:20,600
held and utilized.
Thus, a dual process needs to be
20
00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,880
adopted.
On the one side, the secret
21
00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:29,160
tunes the focus through
aspiration and widens the
22
00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,320
receptivity for the descent of
the higher force.
23
00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,400
On the other side, the
foundation of the physical,
24
00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,400
vital and mental nature has to
be strengthened to hold this
25
00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,640
increase of force, while also
widened to be able to
26
00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:50,320
accommodate the needed changes.
As the process proceeds, the
27
00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:54,360
force can eventually begin to
effectuate changes in the
28
00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:59,280
physical material substance of
the body itself, infusing the
29
00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,360
very cells with the higher
energy.
30
00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:06,560
In the meantime, the body must
be properly maintained and
31
00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:11,400
sustenance provided to ensure it
is a fit vessel for the energies
32
00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:16,200
it is receiving, Sriorbindo
notes quote.
33
00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:21,880
The transformation to which we
aspire is too vast and complex
34
00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,560
to come at one stroke.
It must be allowed to come by
35
00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,600
stages.
The physical change is the last
36
00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,920
of these stages and is itself a
progressive process.
37
00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,680
The inner transformation cannot
be brought about by physical
38
00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:42,320
means, either of a positive or a
negative nature.
39
00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:47,000
On the contrary, the physical
change itself can only be
40
00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:50,560
brought about by a descent of
the greater super mental
41
00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:53,800
consciousness into the cells of
the body.
42
00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:59,200
Till then at least, the body and
its supporting energies have to
43
00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:04,480
be maintained in part by the
ordinary means, food, sleep, et
44
00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,480
cetera.
Food has to be taken in the
45
00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:10,440
right spirit, with the right
consciousness.
46
00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,560
Sleep has to be gradually
transformed into the yogic
47
00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,080
repose.
A premature and excessive
48
00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:22,840
physical austerity to Pasia may
endanger the process of the
49
00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:27,560
Sadhna by establishing a
disturbance and abnormality of
50
00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:29,960
the forces in the different
parts of the system.
51
00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:35,320
A great energy may pour into the
mental and vital parts, but the
52
00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,840
nerves and the body may be
overstrained and lose the
53
00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,600
strength to support the play of
these higher energies.
54
00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,560
This is the reason why an
extreme physical austerity is
55
00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:51,720
not included here as a
substantive part of the sadhna.
56
00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:57,000
There is no harm in fasting from
time to time for a day or two,
57
00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,640
or in reducing the food taken to
a small but sufficient modicum,
58
00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:07,160
but entire abstinence for a long
period is not advisable.
59
00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:13,400
End Quote reference.
Shvuro Bindo, Bases of Yoga,
60
00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:20,160
Chapter 4 Desire Food Sex, pages
68 to 69.
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,320
When we consider the objective
of the transformation of human
2
00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:08,640
nature, we begin to understand
that it is not a simple or quick
3
00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:12,560
process.
We carry within us the physical,
4
00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:17,520
vital and mental habits of life
on earth, including instincts,
5
00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:22,280
set modes of action and
response, and the result of the
6
00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,520
training and socialization we
have received in the current
7
00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:30,280
lifetime, which represents the
combined force of the past
8
00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,760
development of human society
acting in the present.
9
00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,800
We can appreciate that the
solidity of matter adapts more
10
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,600
slowly than vital energy or
mental energy.
11
00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:47,560
This sets up the process of the
transformation, starting with
12
00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,400
adjustments to the mental
substance, moving subsequently
13
00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:55,920
to changing aspects of the vital
nature, and only afterwards
14
00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:00,520
tackling the physical body along
the way.
15
00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,959
The physical body provides the
foundation for the work on the
16
00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,320
more malleable elements of the
being.
17
00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,480
If the physical body
deteriorates or is weakened, it
18
00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,920
reduces the amount of the divine
force that can be effectively
19
00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:20,600
held and utilized.
Thus, a dual process needs to be
20
00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,880
adopted.
On the one side, the secret
21
00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:29,160
tunes the focus through
aspiration and widens the
22
00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,320
receptivity for the descent of
the higher force.
23
00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:36,400
On the other side, the
foundation of the physical,
24
00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,400
vital and mental nature has to
be strengthened to hold this
25
00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,640
increase of force, while also
widened to be able to
26
00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:50,320
accommodate the needed changes.
As the process proceeds, the
27
00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:54,360
force can eventually begin to
effectuate changes in the
28
00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:59,280
physical material substance of
the body itself, infusing the
29
00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,360
very cells with the higher
energy.
30
00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:06,560
In the meantime, the body must
be properly maintained and
31
00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:11,400
sustenance provided to ensure it
is a fit vessel for the energies
32
00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:16,200
it is receiving, Sriorbindo
notes quote.
33
00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:21,880
The transformation to which we
aspire is too vast and complex
34
00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,560
to come at one stroke.
It must be allowed to come by
35
00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,600
stages.
The physical change is the last
36
00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,920
of these stages and is itself a
progressive process.
37
00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,680
The inner transformation cannot
be brought about by physical
38
00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:42,320
means, either of a positive or a
negative nature.
39
00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:47,000
On the contrary, the physical
change itself can only be
40
00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:50,560
brought about by a descent of
the greater super mental
41
00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:53,800
consciousness into the cells of
the body.
42
00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:59,200
Till then at least, the body and
its supporting energies have to
43
00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:04,480
be maintained in part by the
ordinary means, food, sleep, et
44
00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,480
cetera.
Food has to be taken in the
45
00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:10,440
right spirit, with the right
consciousness.
46
00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,560
Sleep has to be gradually
transformed into the yogic
47
00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,080
repose.
A premature and excessive
48
00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:22,840
physical austerity to Pasia may
endanger the process of the
49
00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:27,560
Sadhna by establishing a
disturbance and abnormality of
50
00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:29,960
the forces in the different
parts of the system.
51
00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:35,320
A great energy may pour into the
mental and vital parts, but the
52
00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,840
nerves and the body may be
overstrained and lose the
53
00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,600
strength to support the play of
these higher energies.
54
00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,560
This is the reason why an
extreme physical austerity is
55
00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:51,720
not included here as a
substantive part of the sadhna.
56
00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:57,000
There is no harm in fasting from
time to time for a day or two,
57
00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,640
or in reducing the food taken to
a small but sufficient modicum,
58
00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:07,160
but entire abstinence for a long
period is not advisable.
59
00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:13,400
End Quote reference.
Shvuro Bindo, Bases of Yoga,
60
00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:20,160
Chapter 4 Desire Food Sex, pages
68 to 69.
