Jan. 7, 2026
Suppression Without True Rejection of the Sexual Impulse Does Not Solve the Issue for the Spiritual Seeker
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 4, Desire — Food — Sex, pg. 70
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/01/05/supression-without-true-rejection-of-the-sexual-impulse-does-not-solve-the-issue-for-the-spiritual-seeker/
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 #sexual impulse #kundalini #tantra
1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,560
The first impulse of religious
or spiritual paths with respect
2
00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:07,880
to the sex impulse has
frequently been to simply
3
00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:12,000
suppress and deny it.
When any form of energy is
4
00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:16,760
forcefully suppressed, it acts
like a coiled spring, storing
5
00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:21,720
that energy and building up its
potential power until such time
6
00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,440
as it is able to overcome the
force of the suppression, and
7
00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:29,360
then it is released with a
tremendous uprising of that
8
00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,520
energy.
The result can be explosive,
9
00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,360
similar to the eruption of a
volcano.
10
00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,720
Pressures build up until the
cover can no longer contain it
11
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,480
and it bursts forth.
As practitioners struggle with
12
00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:48,560
the force of the sexual impulse,
they undergo mental, vital and
13
00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,840
even physical torture as they
try to contain it.
14
00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:58,080
Self flagellation and the use of
the Solis and the hair shirt
15
00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:02,480
represent techniques used by
those who try to overpower the
16
00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,640
sexual drive by torturing the
body.
17
00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,120
Those who try forceful
suppression frequently find the
18
00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,520
energy turned in other
directions, such as through a
19
00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:18,080
form of gluttony or greed for
food, or through the rising of
20
00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:22,600
uncontrollable anger or an urge
to dominate and control others,
21
00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:27,400
in many cases aggressively and
through bullying behaviour.
22
00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,840
The turn of the nature toward
one option or another depends
23
00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:35,000
highly on which guna is
predominant in the nature.
24
00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,280
Rajas will tend toward the more
aggressive forms and potentially
25
00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:43,600
turn outwards towards judgmental
actions combined with attempts
26
00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:48,440
to control or bully others.
Cuppa may tend towards
27
00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:52,840
substitution with fulfilling a
desire for food or luxuries.
28
00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:58,080
Satwa may try to sublimate the
energy into pursuits of an
29
00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:03,720
artistic or intellectual nature.
Srioro Bindo provides a clue
30
00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,560
toward the solution when he
suggests a substitution of
31
00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,800
focus.
The being rejects the uprising
32
00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,520
of the desire in favor of this
new focus.
33
00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:18,880
Western psychology describes the
concept of sublimation of the
34
00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:23,440
sexual force into other forms,
such as artistic activity or
35
00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:28,440
intellectual pursuits for the
spiritual seeker, However, these
36
00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,360
forms do not fully answer the
seeker's objective.
37
00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:36,000
Certain spiritual paths describe
an alternative where the intense
38
00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:41,440
aspiration combined with certain
psychophysical techniques can
39
00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,840
lead to what they call the
awakening of the Kundalini.
40
00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:49,600
The serpent power coiled at the
base of the spine at the first
41
00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:53,760
chakra, which then mounts up the
subtle channels through the
42
00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:58,320
higher chakras until eventually
it bursts through the 1000
43
00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:02,920
petaled chakra at the top of the
head and joins the physical to
44
00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:06,920
the spiritual.
Some paths attempt to harness
45
00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:11,040
the energy and turn it directly
to a spiritual purpose in what
46
00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,800
are called tantric paths.
While this may certainly be
47
00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,520
possible, there seems to be a
considerable acceptance of
48
00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,400
indulgence of the sexual desire,
which for most practitioners
49
00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:27,800
does not actually lead to the
desired liberation, but rather a
50
00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:32,120
further strengthening of the
sexual force and a form of
51
00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:35,040
justification for indulging in
it.
52
00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,560
Humanity has tried numerous
approaches to this question of
53
00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:44,280
managing the sexual impulse.
A review of these approaches and
54
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,400
what they have or have not
succeeded in accomplishing can
55
00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,520
aid us in finding a solution
that actually succeeds in
56
00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,040
achieving real mastery of the
power active through the
57
00:03:55,040 --> 00:04:00,040
Muladhara first Chakra.
Srioro Bindu observes quote.
58
00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,240
It is true that the mere
suppression or holding down of
59
00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:08,880
desire is not enough, not by
itself truly effective.
60
00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,640
But that does not mean that
desires are to be indulged.
61
00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:17,480
It means that desires have not
merely to be suppressed, but to
62
00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,839
be rejected from the nature.
In place of desire there must be
63
00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,920
a single minded aspiration
towards the Divine.
64
00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:29,800
As for love, the love must be
turned singly towards the
65
00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,800
Divine.
What men call by that name is a
66
00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:37,160
vital interchange for mutual
satisfaction of desire, vital
67
00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:41,320
impulse or physical pleasure.
There must be nothing of this
68
00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,800
interchange between Sadaks, for
to seek for it or indulge this
69
00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,800
kind of impulse only leads away
from the sadhna.
70
00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:55,160
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindo, Bases of
71
00:04:55,160 --> 00:05:00,560
Yoga, Chapter 4.
Desire Food Sex page 70.
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,560
The first impulse of religious
or spiritual paths with respect
2
00:00:04,560 --> 00:00:07,880
to the sex impulse has
frequently been to simply
3
00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:12,000
suppress and deny it.
When any form of energy is
4
00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:16,760
forcefully suppressed, it acts
like a coiled spring, storing
5
00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:21,720
that energy and building up its
potential power until such time
6
00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,440
as it is able to overcome the
force of the suppression, and
7
00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:29,360
then it is released with a
tremendous uprising of that
8
00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,520
energy.
The result can be explosive,
9
00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,360
similar to the eruption of a
volcano.
10
00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,720
Pressures build up until the
cover can no longer contain it
11
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,480
and it bursts forth.
As practitioners struggle with
12
00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:48,560
the force of the sexual impulse,
they undergo mental, vital and
13
00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,840
even physical torture as they
try to contain it.
14
00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:58,080
Self flagellation and the use of
the Solis and the hair shirt
15
00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:02,480
represent techniques used by
those who try to overpower the
16
00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,640
sexual drive by torturing the
body.
17
00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,120
Those who try forceful
suppression frequently find the
18
00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,520
energy turned in other
directions, such as through a
19
00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:18,080
form of gluttony or greed for
food, or through the rising of
20
00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:22,600
uncontrollable anger or an urge
to dominate and control others,
21
00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:27,400
in many cases aggressively and
through bullying behaviour.
22
00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,840
The turn of the nature toward
one option or another depends
23
00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:35,000
highly on which guna is
predominant in the nature.
24
00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,280
Rajas will tend toward the more
aggressive forms and potentially
25
00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:43,600
turn outwards towards judgmental
actions combined with attempts
26
00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:48,440
to control or bully others.
Cuppa may tend towards
27
00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:52,840
substitution with fulfilling a
desire for food or luxuries.
28
00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:58,080
Satwa may try to sublimate the
energy into pursuits of an
29
00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:03,720
artistic or intellectual nature.
Srioro Bindo provides a clue
30
00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,560
toward the solution when he
suggests a substitution of
31
00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,800
focus.
The being rejects the uprising
32
00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,520
of the desire in favor of this
new focus.
33
00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:18,880
Western psychology describes the
concept of sublimation of the
34
00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:23,440
sexual force into other forms,
such as artistic activity or
35
00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:28,440
intellectual pursuits for the
spiritual seeker, However, these
36
00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,360
forms do not fully answer the
seeker's objective.
37
00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:36,000
Certain spiritual paths describe
an alternative where the intense
38
00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:41,440
aspiration combined with certain
psychophysical techniques can
39
00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,840
lead to what they call the
awakening of the Kundalini.
40
00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:49,600
The serpent power coiled at the
base of the spine at the first
41
00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:53,760
chakra, which then mounts up the
subtle channels through the
42
00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:58,320
higher chakras until eventually
it bursts through the 1000
43
00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:02,920
petaled chakra at the top of the
head and joins the physical to
44
00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:06,920
the spiritual.
Some paths attempt to harness
45
00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:11,040
the energy and turn it directly
to a spiritual purpose in what
46
00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,800
are called tantric paths.
While this may certainly be
47
00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,520
possible, there seems to be a
considerable acceptance of
48
00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,400
indulgence of the sexual desire,
which for most practitioners
49
00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:27,800
does not actually lead to the
desired liberation, but rather a
50
00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:32,120
further strengthening of the
sexual force and a form of
51
00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:35,040
justification for indulging in
it.
52
00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,560
Humanity has tried numerous
approaches to this question of
53
00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:44,280
managing the sexual impulse.
A review of these approaches and
54
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,400
what they have or have not
succeeded in accomplishing can
55
00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,520
aid us in finding a solution
that actually succeeds in
56
00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,040
achieving real mastery of the
power active through the
57
00:03:55,040 --> 00:04:00,040
Muladhara first Chakra.
Srioro Bindu observes quote.
58
00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,240
It is true that the mere
suppression or holding down of
59
00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:08,880
desire is not enough, not by
itself truly effective.
60
00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,640
But that does not mean that
desires are to be indulged.
61
00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:17,480
It means that desires have not
merely to be suppressed, but to
62
00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,839
be rejected from the nature.
In place of desire there must be
63
00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,920
a single minded aspiration
towards the Divine.
64
00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:29,800
As for love, the love must be
turned singly towards the
65
00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,800
Divine.
What men call by that name is a
66
00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:37,160
vital interchange for mutual
satisfaction of desire, vital
67
00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:41,320
impulse or physical pleasure.
There must be nothing of this
68
00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,800
interchange between Sadaks, for
to seek for it or indulge this
69
00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,800
kind of impulse only leads away
from the sadhna.
70
00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:55,160
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindo, Bases of
71
00:04:55,160 --> 00:05:00,560
Yoga, Chapter 4.
Desire Food Sex page 70.
