Dec. 4, 2024
Relieving Pain Through the Power of Immobility
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter XII Power of Immobility, pp. 102-103 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/12/01/relieving-pain-through-the-power-of-immobility/
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
00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:05,080
When we are injured or affected
by a disease condition that can
2
00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:09,480
cause pain, we find that the
nerves attached to the injured
3
00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:14,320
area capture a vibration and
transmit it to the brain as a
4
00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:19,400
signal we associate with pain.
This signal is intended to spur
5
00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,880
us to some form of action to
relieve the causative factor.
6
00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:27,680
In some circumstances, however,
we are not in a position to
7
00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:32,240
solve the cause, for instance,
in the case of an acute injury
8
00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,680
or a chronic disease condition,
and the pain becomes
9
00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:41,520
unrelenting, constant and
intense to the point that it
10
00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,920
impacts our ability to
concentrate or function
11
00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:49,400
virtually at all.
In such instances, we obviously
12
00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,760
know there is an issue and thus
the signal has done its job.
13
00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:58,680
We then seek to relieve the pain
so that it is not interfering
14
00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:03,520
with what we need to do.
For most people, pain relief
15
00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:08,280
comes in the form of a drug of
some sort and herb, a relatively
16
00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:13,360
mild painkiller or a powerful
narcotic, or even a sleep
17
00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:18,080
inducing anesthetic such as is
used to perform surgery.
18
00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:23,520
Yet there are other ways one can
achieve pain relief, either by
19
00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:27,200
shifting the concentration away
from the area that is under
20
00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,960
pressure or through a mechanism
that stills the vibration of the
21
00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:36,680
nerves carrying the signal.
Many people have found relief
22
00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:40,400
through non drug methods
including the use of hypnotism,
23
00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,880
acupuncture or if possible deep
meditation that leads to a
24
00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,960
trance like state.
In some instances the
25
00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:54,360
application of a cold pack or a
topical anaesthetic or counter
26
00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:58,160
irritant can deaden the nerve
vibration at the site of an
27
00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:02,000
injury and provide thereby pain
relief.
28
00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:06,320
Some people systematically
habituate themselves to bear
29
00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,960
what would ordinarily be
extremely painful.
30
00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,520
The mother provides yet another
method through the practice and
31
00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,160
perfection of the static power
of immobility.
32
00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:22,440
The mother writes.
Quote, Some people are more or
33
00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:27,000
less what I call coddled, that
is unable to resist any pain, to
34
00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,240
bear it.
They immediately say I can't, it
35
00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:33,880
is unbearable, I can't bear
anymore.
36
00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:38,160
This indeed changes nothing in
the circumstances.
37
00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:42,880
It does not stop the suffering
because it is not by telling it
38
00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,960
that you don't want it that you
make it go away.
39
00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:52,440
But if you can do two things,
either bring into oneself for
40
00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,160
all nervous suffering, for
example, bring into oneself a
41
00:02:56,160 --> 00:03:01,720
kind of immobility as total as
possible at the place of pain,
42
00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,680
this has the effect of an
anesthetic.
43
00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:10,600
If one succeeds in bringing in
inner immobility and immobility
44
00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:15,440
of the inner vibration at the
spot where one is suffering, it
45
00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,320
has exactly the same effect as
an anesthetic.
46
00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,600
It cuts off the contact between
the place of pain and the brain.
47
00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,840
And once you have cut the
contact, if you can keep this
48
00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:31,880
state long enough, the pain will
disappear.
49
00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:37,360
You must form the habit of doing
this, but you have the occasion
50
00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,120
all the time, the opportunity to
do it.
51
00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:45,200
You get a cut, get a knock.
You see, one always gets a
52
00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:50,400
little hurt somewhere,
especially when doing athletics,
53
00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:56,240
gymnastics and all that.
Well, these are opportunities
54
00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,120
given to us.
Instead of sitting there
55
00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:03,480
observing the pain, trying to
analyze it, concentrating upon
56
00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,600
it, which makes it increase
indefinitely.
57
00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,600
There are people who think of
something else, but it does not
58
00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,160
last.
They think of something else and
59
00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,200
then suddenly are drawn back to
the place that hurts.
60
00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:21,600
But if one can do this, you see,
since the pain is there, it
61
00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,760
proves that you are in contact
with the nerve that's
62
00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,240
transmitting the pain, otherwise
you wouldn't feel it.
63
00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,560
Well, once you know that you
were in contact, you try to
64
00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:38,000
accumulate at that point as much
immobility as you can to stop
65
00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,000
the vibration of the pain.
You will perceive then that it
66
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:46,400
has the effect of a limb which
goes to sleep when you are in an
67
00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:51,520
awkward position, and that all
of a sudden you know, don't you?
68
00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:55,920
And then when it stops, it
begins to vibrate again
69
00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,320
terribly.
Well, you deliberately try this
70
00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,960
kind of concentration of
immobility in the painful nerve.
71
00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:08,120
At the painful point you bring
as total an immobility as you
72
00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,960
can.
Well, you will see that it
73
00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:14,200
works, as I told you, like an
anesthetic.
74
00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:20,360
It puts the thing to sleep.
And then if you can add to that
75
00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:24,160
a kind of inner peace and a
trust that the pain will go
76
00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,800
away, well, I tell you that it
will go.
77
00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:33,360
Of all things, that which is
considered the most difficult
78
00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,080
from the yogic point of view is
toothache, because it is very
79
00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,840
close to the brain.
Well, I know that this can be
80
00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:44,360
done truly to the extent of not
feeling the pain at all.
81
00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:47,720
And this does not cure the bad
tooth.
82
00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,680
But there are cases in which one
can succeed in killing the
83
00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:55,120
painful nerve.
Usually in a tooth it is the
84
00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:59,720
nerve which has been attacked by
the carries the disease and
85
00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,400
which begins to protest with all
its strength.
86
00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,880
So if you succeed in
establishing this immobility,
87
00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:12,680
you prevent it from vibrating,
you prevent it from protesting.
88
00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:17,840
And what is remarkable is that
if you do it fairly constantly
89
00:06:18,280 --> 00:06:22,800
with sufficient perseverance,
the sick nerve will die and you
90
00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,120
will not suffer at all anymore,
because it was that which was
91
00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,880
suffering.
And when it is dead, it does not
92
00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:36,680
suffer any longer.
Try End Quote reference Sri
93
00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:41,600
Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers
within Chapter 12, Power of
94
00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:45,160
Immobility, pages 1:02 to 1:03.
00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:05,080
When we are injured or affected
by a disease condition that can
2
00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:09,480
cause pain, we find that the
nerves attached to the injured
3
00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:14,320
area capture a vibration and
transmit it to the brain as a
4
00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:19,400
signal we associate with pain.
This signal is intended to spur
5
00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,880
us to some form of action to
relieve the causative factor.
6
00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:27,680
In some circumstances, however,
we are not in a position to
7
00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:32,240
solve the cause, for instance,
in the case of an acute injury
8
00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,680
or a chronic disease condition,
and the pain becomes
9
00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:41,520
unrelenting, constant and
intense to the point that it
10
00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,920
impacts our ability to
concentrate or function
11
00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:49,400
virtually at all.
In such instances, we obviously
12
00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,760
know there is an issue and thus
the signal has done its job.
13
00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:58,680
We then seek to relieve the pain
so that it is not interfering
14
00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:03,520
with what we need to do.
For most people, pain relief
15
00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:08,280
comes in the form of a drug of
some sort and herb, a relatively
16
00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:13,360
mild painkiller or a powerful
narcotic, or even a sleep
17
00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:18,080
inducing anesthetic such as is
used to perform surgery.
18
00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:23,520
Yet there are other ways one can
achieve pain relief, either by
19
00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:27,200
shifting the concentration away
from the area that is under
20
00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,960
pressure or through a mechanism
that stills the vibration of the
21
00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:36,680
nerves carrying the signal.
Many people have found relief
22
00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:40,400
through non drug methods
including the use of hypnotism,
23
00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,880
acupuncture or if possible deep
meditation that leads to a
24
00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,960
trance like state.
In some instances the
25
00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:54,360
application of a cold pack or a
topical anaesthetic or counter
26
00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:58,160
irritant can deaden the nerve
vibration at the site of an
27
00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:02,000
injury and provide thereby pain
relief.
28
00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:06,320
Some people systematically
habituate themselves to bear
29
00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,960
what would ordinarily be
extremely painful.
30
00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,520
The mother provides yet another
method through the practice and
31
00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,160
perfection of the static power
of immobility.
32
00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:22,440
The mother writes.
Quote, Some people are more or
33
00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:27,000
less what I call coddled, that
is unable to resist any pain, to
34
00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,240
bear it.
They immediately say I can't, it
35
00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:33,880
is unbearable, I can't bear
anymore.
36
00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:38,160
This indeed changes nothing in
the circumstances.
37
00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:42,880
It does not stop the suffering
because it is not by telling it
38
00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,960
that you don't want it that you
make it go away.
39
00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:52,440
But if you can do two things,
either bring into oneself for
40
00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,160
all nervous suffering, for
example, bring into oneself a
41
00:02:56,160 --> 00:03:01,720
kind of immobility as total as
possible at the place of pain,
42
00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,680
this has the effect of an
anesthetic.
43
00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:10,600
If one succeeds in bringing in
inner immobility and immobility
44
00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:15,440
of the inner vibration at the
spot where one is suffering, it
45
00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,320
has exactly the same effect as
an anesthetic.
46
00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,600
It cuts off the contact between
the place of pain and the brain.
47
00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,840
And once you have cut the
contact, if you can keep this
48
00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:31,880
state long enough, the pain will
disappear.
49
00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:37,360
You must form the habit of doing
this, but you have the occasion
50
00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,120
all the time, the opportunity to
do it.
51
00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:45,200
You get a cut, get a knock.
You see, one always gets a
52
00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:50,400
little hurt somewhere,
especially when doing athletics,
53
00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:56,240
gymnastics and all that.
Well, these are opportunities
54
00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,120
given to us.
Instead of sitting there
55
00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:03,480
observing the pain, trying to
analyze it, concentrating upon
56
00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,600
it, which makes it increase
indefinitely.
57
00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,600
There are people who think of
something else, but it does not
58
00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,160
last.
They think of something else and
59
00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,200
then suddenly are drawn back to
the place that hurts.
60
00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:21,600
But if one can do this, you see,
since the pain is there, it
61
00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,760
proves that you are in contact
with the nerve that's
62
00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,240
transmitting the pain, otherwise
you wouldn't feel it.
63
00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,560
Well, once you know that you
were in contact, you try to
64
00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:38,000
accumulate at that point as much
immobility as you can to stop
65
00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,000
the vibration of the pain.
You will perceive then that it
66
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:46,400
has the effect of a limb which
goes to sleep when you are in an
67
00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:51,520
awkward position, and that all
of a sudden you know, don't you?
68
00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:55,920
And then when it stops, it
begins to vibrate again
69
00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,320
terribly.
Well, you deliberately try this
70
00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,960
kind of concentration of
immobility in the painful nerve.
71
00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:08,120
At the painful point you bring
as total an immobility as you
72
00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,960
can.
Well, you will see that it
73
00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:14,200
works, as I told you, like an
anesthetic.
74
00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:20,360
It puts the thing to sleep.
And then if you can add to that
75
00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:24,160
a kind of inner peace and a
trust that the pain will go
76
00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,800
away, well, I tell you that it
will go.
77
00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:33,360
Of all things, that which is
considered the most difficult
78
00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,080
from the yogic point of view is
toothache, because it is very
79
00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,840
close to the brain.
Well, I know that this can be
80
00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:44,360
done truly to the extent of not
feeling the pain at all.
81
00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:47,720
And this does not cure the bad
tooth.
82
00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,680
But there are cases in which one
can succeed in killing the
83
00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:55,120
painful nerve.
Usually in a tooth it is the
84
00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:59,720
nerve which has been attacked by
the carries the disease and
85
00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,400
which begins to protest with all
its strength.
86
00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,880
So if you succeed in
establishing this immobility,
87
00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:12,680
you prevent it from vibrating,
you prevent it from protesting.
88
00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:17,840
And what is remarkable is that
if you do it fairly constantly
89
00:06:18,280 --> 00:06:22,800
with sufficient perseverance,
the sick nerve will die and you
90
00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,120
will not suffer at all anymore,
because it was that which was
91
00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,880
suffering.
And when it is dead, it does not
92
00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:36,680
suffer any longer.
Try End Quote reference Sri
93
00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:41,600
Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers
within Chapter 12, Power of
94
00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:45,160
Immobility, pages 1:02 to 1:03.