Dec. 23, 2025
Suppression or Rejection of the Force of Desire
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 4, Desire — Food — Sex, pp. 61-62This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/12/21/suppression-or-rejection-of-the-force-of-desire/
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
#Sri Aurobindo #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #desire #aspiration
1
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:04,200
When an individual takes up
religious or spiritual
2
00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:09,240
practices, he becomes aware of
the force of desire and the need
3
00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,480
to curb it.
In some cases, particularly in
4
00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,840
religious pursuits, there are a
set of moral rules or monastic
5
00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,560
rules that provide set
guidelines for the practitioner.
6
00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,160
Usually these things revolve
around control of the impulse
7
00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:30,200
for sex in some manner,
including potentially complete
8
00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:34,080
abstinence.
In other cases there are vows of
9
00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:38,800
silence, vows of poverty,
reliance on divine Providence
10
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,760
through the practice of eating
just what comes into the begging
11
00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:46,800
bowl that day, as well as in
many cases, rules about fasting
12
00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,760
or taking meals only at certain
times under certain conditions,
13
00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,680
et cetera.
Each religious order has its own
14
00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:58,440
unique set of rules for
followers to carry out.
15
00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:03,320
In some cases, particularly in
some of the more austere
16
00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:08,400
monastic orders, the desires of
the flesh lead to emotional and
17
00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:13,120
mental distress, and various
self torture methods are used to
18
00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,600
discipline the body for its
continued cravings.
19
00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:23,000
The general practice is to use
willpower, mental control, or
20
00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,120
some kind of vital practice to
suppress the desire.
21
00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:31,240
This can however lead to
unintended and unexpected
22
00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:35,640
consequences as suppression does
not get to the true solution of
23
00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:39,440
the issue, but simply hides the
issue for the time being.
24
00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:44,720
The sexual abuse scandals
rocking so many churches are
25
00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:50,040
evidence that moral rules and
suppression of desire simply do
26
00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:55,600
not work for most people.
When the seeker begins to
27
00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:59,000
understand the universal nature
of the forces that provoke the
28
00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:03,760
rising of desire and they see
that the desires are external to
29
00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:08,800
them, simply being admitted and
accepted by habit or by the
30
00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,240
normal and trained responses 1
gets in the society.
31
00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:16,480
As one grows and develops, the
issue becomes somewhat simpler
32
00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:20,720
to resolve, although serious
effort must still be made to
33
00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:26,600
reject the desire as or even
before it arises and begins to
34
00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:31,840
move the body, vital energy and
mind to realize itself in an
35
00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,920
overt action.
One of the most effective
36
00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:39,120
methods turns out to be shifting
the attention away from the
37
00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,560
energy center that is receiving
the vibration that is
38
00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:46,480
interpreted as a desire.
The individual takes the
39
00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:50,600
standpoint of the witness of the
nature and rather than give in
40
00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:54,040
to the force that is trying to
move him, he shifts his
41
00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:58,440
attention to his spiritual
pursuits or to his deepest
42
00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:04,440
aspiration.
Sri Aurobindo observes quote The
43
00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,560
rejection of desire is
essentially the rejection of the
44
00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,320
element of craving, putting that
out from the consciousness
45
00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:16,080
itself as a foreign element not
belonging to the true self and
46
00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,600
the inner nature.
But refusal to indulge the
47
00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:23,800
suggestions of desire is also a
part of the rejection.
48
00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:28,480
To abstain from the action
suggested if it is not the right
49
00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:32,200
action must be included in the
yogic discipline.
50
00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:37,160
It is only when this is done in
the wrong way, by a mental
51
00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:41,720
ascetic principle or a hard
moral rule, that it can be
52
00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,240
called suppression.
The difference between
53
00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:49,480
suppression and an inward
essential rejection is the
54
00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:53,760
difference between mental or
moral control and a spiritual
55
00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,640
purification.
When one lives in the true
56
00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:01,600
consciousness, 1 feels the
desires outside oneself entering
57
00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:07,120
from outside, from the universal
lower procrity into the mind and
58
00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:11,240
the vital parts.
In the ordinary human condition
59
00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,200
this is not felt.
Men become aware of the desire
60
00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:19,160
only when it is there, when it
is come inside and found a
61
00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,240
lodging or a habitual
harbourage, and so they think it
62
00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,960
is their own and a part of
themselves.
63
00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:31,400
The first condition for getting
rid of desire is therefore to
64
00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,200
become conscious with the true
consciousness, for then it
65
00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,560
becomes much easier to dismiss
it than when one has to struggle
66
00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:43,560
with it as if it were a
constituent part of oneself to
67
00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:47,840
be thrown out from the being.
It is easier to cast off an
68
00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:51,880
accretion than to excise what is
felt as a parcel of our
69
00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:56,000
substance.
When the psychic being is in
70
00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:00,720
front, then also to get rid of
desire becomes easy, for the
71
00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:05,800
psychic being has in itself no
desires, it has only aspirations
72
00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:10,080
and of seeking in love for the
divine in all things that are or
73
00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:15,120
tend towards the divine.
The constant prominence of the
74
00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,880
psychic being tends of itself to
bring out the true consciousness
75
00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:23,760
and set right almost
automatically the movements of
76
00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:28,400
the nature.
End Quote Reference Sri
77
00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:36,000
Aurobindo Bases of Yoga, Chapter
4 Desire Food Sex pages 61 to
78
00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:36,840
62.
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:04,200
When an individual takes up
religious or spiritual
2
00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:09,240
practices, he becomes aware of
the force of desire and the need
3
00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,480
to curb it.
In some cases, particularly in
4
00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:17,840
religious pursuits, there are a
set of moral rules or monastic
5
00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,560
rules that provide set
guidelines for the practitioner.
6
00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,160
Usually these things revolve
around control of the impulse
7
00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:30,200
for sex in some manner,
including potentially complete
8
00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:34,080
abstinence.
In other cases there are vows of
9
00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:38,800
silence, vows of poverty,
reliance on divine Providence
10
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,760
through the practice of eating
just what comes into the begging
11
00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:46,800
bowl that day, as well as in
many cases, rules about fasting
12
00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,760
or taking meals only at certain
times under certain conditions,
13
00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,680
et cetera.
Each religious order has its own
14
00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:58,440
unique set of rules for
followers to carry out.
15
00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:03,320
In some cases, particularly in
some of the more austere
16
00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:08,400
monastic orders, the desires of
the flesh lead to emotional and
17
00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:13,120
mental distress, and various
self torture methods are used to
18
00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,600
discipline the body for its
continued cravings.
19
00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:23,000
The general practice is to use
willpower, mental control, or
20
00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,120
some kind of vital practice to
suppress the desire.
21
00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:31,240
This can however lead to
unintended and unexpected
22
00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:35,640
consequences as suppression does
not get to the true solution of
23
00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:39,440
the issue, but simply hides the
issue for the time being.
24
00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:44,720
The sexual abuse scandals
rocking so many churches are
25
00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:50,040
evidence that moral rules and
suppression of desire simply do
26
00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:55,600
not work for most people.
When the seeker begins to
27
00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:59,000
understand the universal nature
of the forces that provoke the
28
00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:03,760
rising of desire and they see
that the desires are external to
29
00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:08,800
them, simply being admitted and
accepted by habit or by the
30
00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,240
normal and trained responses 1
gets in the society.
31
00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:16,480
As one grows and develops, the
issue becomes somewhat simpler
32
00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:20,720
to resolve, although serious
effort must still be made to
33
00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:26,600
reject the desire as or even
before it arises and begins to
34
00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:31,840
move the body, vital energy and
mind to realize itself in an
35
00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,920
overt action.
One of the most effective
36
00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:39,120
methods turns out to be shifting
the attention away from the
37
00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,560
energy center that is receiving
the vibration that is
38
00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:46,480
interpreted as a desire.
The individual takes the
39
00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:50,600
standpoint of the witness of the
nature and rather than give in
40
00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:54,040
to the force that is trying to
move him, he shifts his
41
00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:58,440
attention to his spiritual
pursuits or to his deepest
42
00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:04,440
aspiration.
Sri Aurobindo observes quote The
43
00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,560
rejection of desire is
essentially the rejection of the
44
00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,320
element of craving, putting that
out from the consciousness
45
00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:16,080
itself as a foreign element not
belonging to the true self and
46
00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,600
the inner nature.
But refusal to indulge the
47
00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:23,800
suggestions of desire is also a
part of the rejection.
48
00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:28,480
To abstain from the action
suggested if it is not the right
49
00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:32,200
action must be included in the
yogic discipline.
50
00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:37,160
It is only when this is done in
the wrong way, by a mental
51
00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:41,720
ascetic principle or a hard
moral rule, that it can be
52
00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:45,240
called suppression.
The difference between
53
00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:49,480
suppression and an inward
essential rejection is the
54
00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:53,760
difference between mental or
moral control and a spiritual
55
00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,640
purification.
When one lives in the true
56
00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:01,600
consciousness, 1 feels the
desires outside oneself entering
57
00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:07,120
from outside, from the universal
lower procrity into the mind and
58
00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:11,240
the vital parts.
In the ordinary human condition
59
00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,200
this is not felt.
Men become aware of the desire
60
00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:19,160
only when it is there, when it
is come inside and found a
61
00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,240
lodging or a habitual
harbourage, and so they think it
62
00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,960
is their own and a part of
themselves.
63
00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:31,400
The first condition for getting
rid of desire is therefore to
64
00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,200
become conscious with the true
consciousness, for then it
65
00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,560
becomes much easier to dismiss
it than when one has to struggle
66
00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:43,560
with it as if it were a
constituent part of oneself to
67
00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:47,840
be thrown out from the being.
It is easier to cast off an
68
00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:51,880
accretion than to excise what is
felt as a parcel of our
69
00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:56,000
substance.
When the psychic being is in
70
00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:00,720
front, then also to get rid of
desire becomes easy, for the
71
00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:05,800
psychic being has in itself no
desires, it has only aspirations
72
00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:10,080
and of seeking in love for the
divine in all things that are or
73
00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:15,120
tend towards the divine.
The constant prominence of the
74
00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,880
psychic being tends of itself to
bring out the true consciousness
75
00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:23,760
and set right almost
automatically the movements of
76
00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:28,400
the nature.
End Quote Reference Sri
77
00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:36,000
Aurobindo Bases of Yoga, Chapter
4 Desire Food Sex pages 61 to
78
00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:36,840
62.
