Feb. 10, 2026
The Awakening of the Yoga-Shakti in the Inner Being
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 5, Physical Consciousness — Subconscient — Sleep and Dream — Illness, pg. 92This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/02/08/the-awakening-of-the-yoga-shakti-in-the-inner-being/
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 #kundalini yoga #chakras #Yoga-Shakti #spirituality
1
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,800
The chakras are subtle energy
centres, not physical centres in
2
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:09,320
the body, although they
generally correspond to various
3
00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:13,520
physical capacities ranged along
the external body.
4
00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,840
They essentially act as
vibrational receptors and
5
00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:22,000
transmitters of energies.
When they are closed or very
6
00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,800
much shut down, the energy that
would normally work through them
7
00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,480
tends to be weak or missing in
the manifestation of any being.
8
00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,600
Evolution of consciousness and
its expression in the external
9
00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:39,720
being involves the systematic
development and opening of the
10
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:44,600
higher subtle energy centers.
Thus, animal beings tend to
11
00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:47,480
function mostly through the
energetic action of the lower
12
00:00:47,480 --> 00:00:52,600
chakras involving sex and
procreation, lower vital drives
13
00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:58,280
such as craving, hunger, thirst,
acquisition, and then power and
14
00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:03,000
domination.
As the 4th chakra opens, there
15
00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:06,400
comes an emotional vital force
that begins to operate more
16
00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:11,240
fully in the being. 5th chakra
governs expression and powers of
17
00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:17,000
communication, 6th chakra the
willpower, and 7th chakra the
18
00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,600
direct connection to higher
spiritual forces and energies.
19
00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,600
We can observe within ourselves
where we experience different
20
00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:29,720
forces.
For example, the sexual force
21
00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,760
tends to be a pressure in the
lower regions of the groin,
22
00:01:33,320 --> 00:01:36,560
which is an external mapping to
the subtle energy centre called
23
00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:41,400
the mulladhar or first chakra.
When we experience various sorts
24
00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:45,920
of cravings or movements of an
acquisitive nature, we may
25
00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,880
experience it somewhat higher in
our physical body and when we
26
00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,280
are trying to exercise and
develop power and domination.
27
00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,520
This is generally aligned with
the third chakra.
28
00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:02,240
The body provides us a general
map of which chakras are active.
29
00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:06,440
There is a considerable body of
yogic information about the
30
00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:10,840
practices of Kundalini yoga.
The concept of the first chakra
31
00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:15,040
energy, rather than being spilt
in its normal restricted
32
00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:19,160
functions, being directed
upwards through the subtle
33
00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:24,160
energy centres, awakening each
one and eventually rising to
34
00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:26,920
join the 7th chakra at the top
of the head.
35
00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,760
Creating a fully awakened human
individual powering all the
36
00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:37,000
various potentialities of the
being, joining him to the divine
37
00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:41,760
consciousness above.
What an individual does with the
38
00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,680
energy that gets released of
course is something else.
39
00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,560
There are both potential dangers
and potential benefits from
40
00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:54,920
opening any of the chakras to a
larger action if the individual
41
00:02:54,920 --> 00:03:00,240
is not ready to hold direct and
utilize that energy effectively.
42
00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:05,760
And thus the practice of things
such as Kundalini yoga without
43
00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:10,480
proper guidance can lead to
physical, vital, emotional and
44
00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:15,800
mental imbalances, disharmonies,
and even injuries or death.
45
00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,960
While proper implementation can
lead to higher stages of
46
00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:25,080
realization and awareness.
At a certain stage in the yogic
47
00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,880
practice, some of these openings
and developments may begin to
48
00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:33,200
take place naturally.
Human aspiration for the Divine
49
00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,320
brings about an upward flow of
energy.
50
00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:41,120
While the divine response from
above answers Sri Aurobindo
51
00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:46,960
notes quote, there is a Yoga
Shakti lying coiled or asleep in
52
00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:51,520
the inner body, not active.
When one does yoga, this force
53
00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:56,320
uncoils itself and rises upward
to meet the divine consciousness
54
00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:58,920
and force that are waiting above
us.
55
00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:04,760
When this happens, when the
awakened yoga Shakti arises, it
56
00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:08,120
is often felt like a snake
uncoiling and standing up
57
00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,800
straight and lifting itself more
and more upwards.
58
00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:16,120
When it meets the divine
consciousness above, then the
59
00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,040
force of the divine
consciousness canmore easily
60
00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:23,120
descend into the body and be
felt, working there to change
61
00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,600
the nature.
The feeling of your body and
62
00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,440
eyes being drawn upwards is part
of the same movement.
63
00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:35,160
It is the inner consciousness in
the body and the inner subtle
64
00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,440
sight in the body that are
looking and moving upward and
65
00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:44,280
trying to meet the divine
consciousness and divine seeing
66
00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:49,640
above.
End Quote Reference Srioro Vindo
67
00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:54,040
Bases of Yoga, Chapter 5.
Physical consciousness,
68
00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,720
subcontinent Sleep and Dream
Illness.
69
00:04:58,240 --> 00:04:59,280
Page 92.
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,800
The chakras are subtle energy
centres, not physical centres in
2
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:09,320
the body, although they
generally correspond to various
3
00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:13,520
physical capacities ranged along
the external body.
4
00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,840
They essentially act as
vibrational receptors and
5
00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:22,000
transmitters of energies.
When they are closed or very
6
00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,800
much shut down, the energy that
would normally work through them
7
00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,480
tends to be weak or missing in
the manifestation of any being.
8
00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,600
Evolution of consciousness and
its expression in the external
9
00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:39,720
being involves the systematic
development and opening of the
10
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:44,600
higher subtle energy centers.
Thus, animal beings tend to
11
00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:47,480
function mostly through the
energetic action of the lower
12
00:00:47,480 --> 00:00:52,600
chakras involving sex and
procreation, lower vital drives
13
00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:58,280
such as craving, hunger, thirst,
acquisition, and then power and
14
00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:03,000
domination.
As the 4th chakra opens, there
15
00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:06,400
comes an emotional vital force
that begins to operate more
16
00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:11,240
fully in the being. 5th chakra
governs expression and powers of
17
00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:17,000
communication, 6th chakra the
willpower, and 7th chakra the
18
00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,600
direct connection to higher
spiritual forces and energies.
19
00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,600
We can observe within ourselves
where we experience different
20
00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:29,720
forces.
For example, the sexual force
21
00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,760
tends to be a pressure in the
lower regions of the groin,
22
00:01:33,320 --> 00:01:36,560
which is an external mapping to
the subtle energy centre called
23
00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:41,400
the mulladhar or first chakra.
When we experience various sorts
24
00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:45,920
of cravings or movements of an
acquisitive nature, we may
25
00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,880
experience it somewhat higher in
our physical body and when we
26
00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,280
are trying to exercise and
develop power and domination.
27
00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,520
This is generally aligned with
the third chakra.
28
00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:02,240
The body provides us a general
map of which chakras are active.
29
00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:06,440
There is a considerable body of
yogic information about the
30
00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:10,840
practices of Kundalini yoga.
The concept of the first chakra
31
00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:15,040
energy, rather than being spilt
in its normal restricted
32
00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:19,160
functions, being directed
upwards through the subtle
33
00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:24,160
energy centres, awakening each
one and eventually rising to
34
00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:26,920
join the 7th chakra at the top
of the head.
35
00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,760
Creating a fully awakened human
individual powering all the
36
00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:37,000
various potentialities of the
being, joining him to the divine
37
00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:41,760
consciousness above.
What an individual does with the
38
00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,680
energy that gets released of
course is something else.
39
00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,560
There are both potential dangers
and potential benefits from
40
00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:54,920
opening any of the chakras to a
larger action if the individual
41
00:02:54,920 --> 00:03:00,240
is not ready to hold direct and
utilize that energy effectively.
42
00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:05,760
And thus the practice of things
such as Kundalini yoga without
43
00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:10,480
proper guidance can lead to
physical, vital, emotional and
44
00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:15,800
mental imbalances, disharmonies,
and even injuries or death.
45
00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,960
While proper implementation can
lead to higher stages of
46
00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:25,080
realization and awareness.
At a certain stage in the yogic
47
00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,880
practice, some of these openings
and developments may begin to
48
00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:33,200
take place naturally.
Human aspiration for the Divine
49
00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,320
brings about an upward flow of
energy.
50
00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:41,120
While the divine response from
above answers Sri Aurobindo
51
00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:46,960
notes quote, there is a Yoga
Shakti lying coiled or asleep in
52
00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:51,520
the inner body, not active.
When one does yoga, this force
53
00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:56,320
uncoils itself and rises upward
to meet the divine consciousness
54
00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:58,920
and force that are waiting above
us.
55
00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:04,760
When this happens, when the
awakened yoga Shakti arises, it
56
00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:08,120
is often felt like a snake
uncoiling and standing up
57
00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,800
straight and lifting itself more
and more upwards.
58
00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:16,120
When it meets the divine
consciousness above, then the
59
00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,040
force of the divine
consciousness canmore easily
60
00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:23,120
descend into the body and be
felt, working there to change
61
00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,600
the nature.
The feeling of your body and
62
00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,440
eyes being drawn upwards is part
of the same movement.
63
00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:35,160
It is the inner consciousness in
the body and the inner subtle
64
00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,440
sight in the body that are
looking and moving upward and
65
00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:44,280
trying to meet the divine
consciousness and divine seeing
66
00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:49,640
above.
End Quote Reference Srioro Vindo
67
00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:54,040
Bases of Yoga, Chapter 5.
Physical consciousness,
68
00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,720
subcontinent Sleep and Dream
Illness.
69
00:04:58,240 --> 00:04:59,280
Page 92.
