Oct. 18, 2025
The Complete Dedication and Consecration Required by the Integral Yoga
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 2, Faith — Aspiration — Surrender, pg. 22This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/10/16/the-complete-dedication-and-consecration-required-by-the-integral-yoga/
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
1
00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:06,640
The integral yoga is not a hobby
or a pastime to be taken up when
2
00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:10,280
convenient.
It requires an intensity of
3
00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,600
dedication and focus, and a
depth of aspiration and
4
00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:19,240
consecration that is both rare
and difficult to achieve.
5
00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,840
An individual needs to be fully
immersed in the yoga and its
6
00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,000
processes in order to obtain the
result.
7
00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,920
First, there is a recognition
that the result to be obtained
8
00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,480
is not personal liberation or
salvation.
9
00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:39,120
While this may be a step along
the way, it is not the goal, so
10
00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,280
to speak.
The objective for the Integral
11
00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:46,200
Yoga is nothing less than the
bringing down and fixing in the
12
00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:51,640
earth nature the consciousness
of the Divine to convert earthly
13
00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:57,640
life into a divine life.
Second, the seeker must be able
14
00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,400
to identify and systematically
root out the normal human
15
00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,080
wellsprings or impulses to
action.
16
00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:09,680
The normal desires, ambitions
and mental, vital or physical
17
00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:15,160
objectives have to be put aside.
This is not to say that one is
18
00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,280
forced to abandon life and
action.
19
00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:22,600
However, what makes this more
difficult is the very fact that
20
00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:27,800
the external life itself and the
powers of the mind, life, energy
21
00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:32,360
and the physical body all need
to be transformed and utilized,
22
00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:39,240
not suppressed or denied.
In the Bhagwad Gita, Sri Krishna
23
00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:43,760
advises Arjuna that one cannot
tell the man dedicated to the
24
00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,600
Infinite by outward actions,
since the outward actions
25
00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:51,480
continue and may look the same
to the external eye.
26
00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,680
Rather, the truth of the spirit
is determined by the motivation,
27
00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:02,120
the consecration, the
aspiration, the dedication that
28
00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:06,920
arises from within.
Thus the seeker needs to observe
29
00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,199
the wellsprings of action with a
clear vision of the forces at
30
00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:14,680
work and the impulses that are
moving his mind, life and body.
31
00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:19,880
To the extent that he is acting
out a desire for some specific
32
00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:25,360
external result or an ambition
of any sort, or out of the
33
00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:31,680
forces of jealousy, envy, anger,
hatred, lust or greed, he is
34
00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:36,840
clearly not at that point fully
immersed in the yogic process
35
00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:42,480
and has some work to be done.
Distinguishing between the
36
00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:46,680
subtle promptings of the ego and
the guidance and way shown by
37
00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:52,000
the Divine force requires not
only self examination, but a
38
00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,400
dedication to the truth that is
unwavering and willing to look
39
00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,880
in the mirror and recognize what
is truly at work in the being.
40
00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,160
There are many forms of good
works in the world.
41
00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:10,440
Feeding people, caring for the
sick or weak are noble aims and
42
00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,760
certainly can be encouraged and
supported in general.
43
00:03:14,640 --> 00:03:18,960
For the yogic practitioner,
however, this type of lofty aim
44
00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,720
of action is not the fulfillment
being sought.
45
00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:27,960
He may do these things or not.
He needs to follow the guidance
46
00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,600
of the higher divine wisdom and
truth to know what his action in
47
00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:36,560
the world should be.
Glory, fame, recognition,
48
00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:42,560
adulation, wealth, or popularity
are not the objects to be
49
00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,320
sought.
Dedication to 1's society,
50
00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:51,600
religion, country, or any other
external form that represents
51
00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:56,400
simply an extension of the ego
is also not the objective.
52
00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:01,720
The fulfillment is inward and
distant from any of these highly
53
00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,680
praised and encouraged
activities.
54
00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:11,880
Sri Aurobindo notes quote this
yoga demands a total dedication
55
00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:16,480
of the life to the aspiration
for the discovery and embodiment
56
00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,680
of the Divine truth and to
nothing else whatever.
57
00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,640
To divide your life between the
divine and some outward aim and
58
00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:30,240
activity that has nothing to do
with the search for the truth is
59
00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,880
inadmissible.
The least thing of that kind
60
00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,480
would make success in the yoga
impossible.
61
00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:42,760
You must go inside yourself and
enter into a complete dedication
62
00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,720
to the spiritual life.
All clinging to mental
63
00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,720
preferences must fall away from
you.
64
00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:54,320
All insistence on vital aims and
interests and attachments must
65
00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:58,160
be put away.
All egoistic clinging to family,
66
00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:03,600
friends, country must disappear
if you want to succeed in yoga.
67
00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:09,360
Whatever has to come as outgoing
energy or action must proceed
68
00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:13,680
from the truth once discovered,
and not from the lower mental or
69
00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:18,320
vital motives, from the divine
will, and not from personal
70
00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,760
choice or the preferences of the
ego.
71
00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:29,840
End Quote reference Srioro Vindo
Bases of Yoga Chapter 2.
72
00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,680
Faith, aspiration, and
surrender.
73
00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:34,400
Age 22.
00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:06,640
The integral yoga is not a hobby
or a pastime to be taken up when
2
00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:10,280
convenient.
It requires an intensity of
3
00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,600
dedication and focus, and a
depth of aspiration and
4
00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:19,240
consecration that is both rare
and difficult to achieve.
5
00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,840
An individual needs to be fully
immersed in the yoga and its
6
00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,000
processes in order to obtain the
result.
7
00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,920
First, there is a recognition
that the result to be obtained
8
00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,480
is not personal liberation or
salvation.
9
00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:39,120
While this may be a step along
the way, it is not the goal, so
10
00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,280
to speak.
The objective for the Integral
11
00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:46,200
Yoga is nothing less than the
bringing down and fixing in the
12
00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:51,640
earth nature the consciousness
of the Divine to convert earthly
13
00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:57,640
life into a divine life.
Second, the seeker must be able
14
00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,400
to identify and systematically
root out the normal human
15
00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,080
wellsprings or impulses to
action.
16
00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:09,680
The normal desires, ambitions
and mental, vital or physical
17
00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:15,160
objectives have to be put aside.
This is not to say that one is
18
00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,280
forced to abandon life and
action.
19
00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:22,600
However, what makes this more
difficult is the very fact that
20
00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:27,800
the external life itself and the
powers of the mind, life, energy
21
00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:32,360
and the physical body all need
to be transformed and utilized,
22
00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:39,240
not suppressed or denied.
In the Bhagwad Gita, Sri Krishna
23
00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:43,760
advises Arjuna that one cannot
tell the man dedicated to the
24
00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,600
Infinite by outward actions,
since the outward actions
25
00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:51,480
continue and may look the same
to the external eye.
26
00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,680
Rather, the truth of the spirit
is determined by the motivation,
27
00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:02,120
the consecration, the
aspiration, the dedication that
28
00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:06,920
arises from within.
Thus the seeker needs to observe
29
00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,199
the wellsprings of action with a
clear vision of the forces at
30
00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:14,680
work and the impulses that are
moving his mind, life and body.
31
00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:19,880
To the extent that he is acting
out a desire for some specific
32
00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:25,360
external result or an ambition
of any sort, or out of the
33
00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:31,680
forces of jealousy, envy, anger,
hatred, lust or greed, he is
34
00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:36,840
clearly not at that point fully
immersed in the yogic process
35
00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:42,480
and has some work to be done.
Distinguishing between the
36
00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:46,680
subtle promptings of the ego and
the guidance and way shown by
37
00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:52,000
the Divine force requires not
only self examination, but a
38
00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,400
dedication to the truth that is
unwavering and willing to look
39
00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,880
in the mirror and recognize what
is truly at work in the being.
40
00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,160
There are many forms of good
works in the world.
41
00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:10,440
Feeding people, caring for the
sick or weak are noble aims and
42
00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,760
certainly can be encouraged and
supported in general.
43
00:03:14,640 --> 00:03:18,960
For the yogic practitioner,
however, this type of lofty aim
44
00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,720
of action is not the fulfillment
being sought.
45
00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:27,960
He may do these things or not.
He needs to follow the guidance
46
00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,600
of the higher divine wisdom and
truth to know what his action in
47
00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:36,560
the world should be.
Glory, fame, recognition,
48
00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:42,560
adulation, wealth, or popularity
are not the objects to be
49
00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,320
sought.
Dedication to 1's society,
50
00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:51,600
religion, country, or any other
external form that represents
51
00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:56,400
simply an extension of the ego
is also not the objective.
52
00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:01,720
The fulfillment is inward and
distant from any of these highly
53
00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,680
praised and encouraged
activities.
54
00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:11,880
Sri Aurobindo notes quote this
yoga demands a total dedication
55
00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:16,480
of the life to the aspiration
for the discovery and embodiment
56
00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,680
of the Divine truth and to
nothing else whatever.
57
00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,640
To divide your life between the
divine and some outward aim and
58
00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:30,240
activity that has nothing to do
with the search for the truth is
59
00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,880
inadmissible.
The least thing of that kind
60
00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,480
would make success in the yoga
impossible.
61
00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:42,760
You must go inside yourself and
enter into a complete dedication
62
00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,720
to the spiritual life.
All clinging to mental
63
00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,720
preferences must fall away from
you.
64
00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:54,320
All insistence on vital aims and
interests and attachments must
65
00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:58,160
be put away.
All egoistic clinging to family,
66
00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:03,600
friends, country must disappear
if you want to succeed in yoga.
67
00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:09,360
Whatever has to come as outgoing
energy or action must proceed
68
00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:13,680
from the truth once discovered,
and not from the lower mental or
69
00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:18,320
vital motives, from the divine
will, and not from personal
70
00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,760
choice or the preferences of the
ego.
71
00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:29,840
End Quote reference Srioro Vindo
Bases of Yoga Chapter 2.
72
00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,680
Faith, aspiration, and
surrender.
73
00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:34,400
Age 22.
