Aug. 26, 2025
The Cycles and Causes of Recurring Difficulties in Relation to Spiritual Development and Progress
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pp. 156-157This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/08/24/the-cycles-and-causes-of-recurring-difficulties-in-relation-to-spiritual-development-and-progress/
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
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,440
It is a limitation of our normal
mental mode of understanding
2
00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:09,800
that we do not tend to take into
account the impact of time and
3
00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,000
the cyclical nature of
development.
4
00:00:13,120 --> 00:00:15,600
We expect things to move in a
straight line.
5
00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:20,000
We expect progress to be
continuous and in a single
6
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,640
direction.
When we overcome a particular
7
00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:29,240
issue or obstacle, we believe it
is in our past, over and done
8
00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,479
with.
When it recurs at a later stage
9
00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:35,800
of the spiritual journey, we
become concerned or confused
10
00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,720
about whether we have made any
progress at all, since we are
11
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,600
apparently confronted with the
very same issue we already dealt
12
00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:49,080
with and put behind us.
There are several intertwined
13
00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,560
issues involved in the
recurrence of difficulties
14
00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:57,560
already faced and overcome.
First, there's the law of the
15
00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:00,960
minimum.
The human being is a complex
16
00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:05,239
amalgam of a number of different
parts and powers of being which
17
00:01:05,239 --> 00:01:08,160
have been brought together and
found a rough balance for
18
00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:12,680
working to create an individual
lifetime and life experience.
19
00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:17,080
Change does not happen in all
parts of the being at once.
20
00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:23,080
Rather, a modest change in one
part allows the progress to open
21
00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,680
up in other parts of the being.
To some degree.
22
00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:31,400
What was locked in to a way of
doing things now has the
23
00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,920
opportunity to make further
adjustments.
24
00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,440
Thus, a change at the mental
level can lead to progress on
25
00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:43,080
the vital or physical levels.
Facing and overcoming a specific
26
00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:47,440
difficulty thus is not
necessarily addressing it either
27
00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:53,000
for all parts of the being or
for all time, as in some cases
28
00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:58,480
an absolute minimum of progress
needed to be made in one part so
29
00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:04,120
others could begin to adjust.
One then returns to the original
30
00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:08,360
issue with a new foundation and
basis that has developed as a
31
00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:14,040
result of the consequential
development brought about by the
32
00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:18,880
1st minimum change.
The second issue follows from
33
00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:22,040
the first.
We may eliminate a particular
34
00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,120
issue from one part of the
being, but not from the others.
35
00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:30,200
Thus the difficulties maintain a
foothold somewhere in the being.
36
00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:35,080
If removed from any mental
sanction, they can still provide
37
00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:39,720
a vital impulse or a physical
craving, or fall even deeper
38
00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:44,280
into the subconscious realms,
there to remain encapsulated
39
00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,960
until some circumstance triggers
their reappearance.
40
00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,840
This brings us to 1/3 issue,
which is the cycles of
41
00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,120
development.
We do not grow and progress in a
42
00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,960
straight line.
We make some progress, we face a
43
00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:02,800
set back or get redirected to
some degree.
44
00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:08,200
We open up to new forces and
energies, and then we thereby
45
00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:12,880
gain new insight and new powers
of action to address the
46
00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:18,560
recurrent difficulty from a new
place higher in the cycle of our
47
00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:22,960
evolutionary development, but
with the new abilities provided
48
00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,400
by the new insights and powers
of action we have gained in the
49
00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,760
interim.
We come then to the larger
50
00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:35,600
question of the unity of all
existence of all humanity, such
51
00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,760
that as long as a particular
force or activity remains alive
52
00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:44,600
and active anywhere, it has the
potential to invade and impact
53
00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,920
any individual.
Particularly if that individual
54
00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:53,760
is not expecting it, is off his
guard, or is in a state of
55
00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,960
relative non observance, such as
during a sleep state.
56
00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:03,560
We have documented circumstances
of individuals who are deeply
57
00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:08,320
committed to a humanist agenda
who happened to pass by a Nazi
58
00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:12,960
rally in 1930s Germany.
The individual thought he could
59
00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,440
simply observe what was
happening, but found that he
60
00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:22,000
too, despite his abhorrence at
the Nazi agenda, found himself
61
00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,320
shouting and participating in
the hate filled environment.
62
00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:31,840
Which of us is truly so free of
any human responsiveness that we
63
00:04:31,840 --> 00:04:35,560
can withstand powerful vital
forces working and others around
64
00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:42,120
us and impacting our vital
envelope or aura As a result,
65
00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,960
progress is necessarily
something that occurs in stages
66
00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:50,200
and cycles, and we need to
overcome the mental limitation
67
00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,720
that fails to recognize that
there is no final resolution
68
00:04:55,200 --> 00:05:00,360
until the force itself has been
either eliminated or transformed
69
00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:05,040
in its entirety from all of
nature through evolutionary
70
00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:10,720
development and the influx of a
new power of consciousness that
71
00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:15,360
can harmonize and overcome the
limits of the former
72
00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:22,880
evolutionary stages.
Trior Bindo notes quote, It is
73
00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:27,640
quite normal for difficulties to
come back and it is not a proof
74
00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:33,080
that no progress has been made.
The recurrence after one has
75
00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,720
thought one has conquered is not
unaccountable.
76
00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:42,120
I have explained in my writings
what happens when a habitual
77
00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,080
movement long embedded in the
nature is cast out.
78
00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:49,320
It takes refuge in some less
enlightened part of the nature,
79
00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:54,800
and when cast out of the rest of
the nature, it takes refuge in
80
00:05:54,800 --> 00:06:00,000
the subconscious, and from there
surges up when you least expect
81
00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:05,360
it, or comes up in dreams or
sudden inconscient movements.
82
00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,760
Or it goes out and remains in
wait in the environmental being
83
00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,040
through which the universal
nature works, and attacks from
84
00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:18,520
there as a force from outside,
trying to recover its Kingdom by
85
00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:22,640
a suggestion or repetition of
old movements.
86
00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:27,680
One has to stand fast till the
power of return fades away.
87
00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:32,400
These returns or attacks must be
regarded not as parts of
88
00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:37,480
oneself, but as invasions and
rejected without allowing any
89
00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:42,400
depression or discouragement.
If the mind does not sanction
90
00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:47,920
them, if the vital refuses to
welcome them, if the physical
91
00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:52,840
remains steady and refuses to
obey the physical urge, then the
92
00:06:52,840 --> 00:06:57,120
recurrence of the thought, the
vital impulse, the physical
93
00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:00,880
feeling will begin to lose its
last holds.
94
00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:06,360
And finally, they will be too
feeble to cause any trouble.
95
00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:10,120
End Quote.
Reference.
96
00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,440
Shrioro, Bindu and the Mother
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
97
00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:19,360
Attitudes on the Path, pages 156
to 157.
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,440
It is a limitation of our normal
mental mode of understanding
2
00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:09,800
that we do not tend to take into
account the impact of time and
3
00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,000
the cyclical nature of
development.
4
00:00:13,120 --> 00:00:15,600
We expect things to move in a
straight line.
5
00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:20,000
We expect progress to be
continuous and in a single
6
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,640
direction.
When we overcome a particular
7
00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:29,240
issue or obstacle, we believe it
is in our past, over and done
8
00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,479
with.
When it recurs at a later stage
9
00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:35,800
of the spiritual journey, we
become concerned or confused
10
00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,720
about whether we have made any
progress at all, since we are
11
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,600
apparently confronted with the
very same issue we already dealt
12
00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:49,080
with and put behind us.
There are several intertwined
13
00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,560
issues involved in the
recurrence of difficulties
14
00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:57,560
already faced and overcome.
First, there's the law of the
15
00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:00,960
minimum.
The human being is a complex
16
00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:05,239
amalgam of a number of different
parts and powers of being which
17
00:01:05,239 --> 00:01:08,160
have been brought together and
found a rough balance for
18
00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:12,680
working to create an individual
lifetime and life experience.
19
00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:17,080
Change does not happen in all
parts of the being at once.
20
00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:23,080
Rather, a modest change in one
part allows the progress to open
21
00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,680
up in other parts of the being.
To some degree.
22
00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:31,400
What was locked in to a way of
doing things now has the
23
00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,920
opportunity to make further
adjustments.
24
00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,440
Thus, a change at the mental
level can lead to progress on
25
00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:43,080
the vital or physical levels.
Facing and overcoming a specific
26
00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:47,440
difficulty thus is not
necessarily addressing it either
27
00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:53,000
for all parts of the being or
for all time, as in some cases
28
00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:58,480
an absolute minimum of progress
needed to be made in one part so
29
00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:04,120
others could begin to adjust.
One then returns to the original
30
00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:08,360
issue with a new foundation and
basis that has developed as a
31
00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:14,040
result of the consequential
development brought about by the
32
00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:18,880
1st minimum change.
The second issue follows from
33
00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:22,040
the first.
We may eliminate a particular
34
00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,120
issue from one part of the
being, but not from the others.
35
00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:30,200
Thus the difficulties maintain a
foothold somewhere in the being.
36
00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:35,080
If removed from any mental
sanction, they can still provide
37
00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:39,720
a vital impulse or a physical
craving, or fall even deeper
38
00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:44,280
into the subconscious realms,
there to remain encapsulated
39
00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,960
until some circumstance triggers
their reappearance.
40
00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,840
This brings us to 1/3 issue,
which is the cycles of
41
00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,120
development.
We do not grow and progress in a
42
00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,960
straight line.
We make some progress, we face a
43
00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:02,800
set back or get redirected to
some degree.
44
00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:08,200
We open up to new forces and
energies, and then we thereby
45
00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:12,880
gain new insight and new powers
of action to address the
46
00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:18,560
recurrent difficulty from a new
place higher in the cycle of our
47
00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:22,960
evolutionary development, but
with the new abilities provided
48
00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,400
by the new insights and powers
of action we have gained in the
49
00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,760
interim.
We come then to the larger
50
00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:35,600
question of the unity of all
existence of all humanity, such
51
00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,760
that as long as a particular
force or activity remains alive
52
00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:44,600
and active anywhere, it has the
potential to invade and impact
53
00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,920
any individual.
Particularly if that individual
54
00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:53,760
is not expecting it, is off his
guard, or is in a state of
55
00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,960
relative non observance, such as
during a sleep state.
56
00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:03,560
We have documented circumstances
of individuals who are deeply
57
00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:08,320
committed to a humanist agenda
who happened to pass by a Nazi
58
00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:12,960
rally in 1930s Germany.
The individual thought he could
59
00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,440
simply observe what was
happening, but found that he
60
00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:22,000
too, despite his abhorrence at
the Nazi agenda, found himself
61
00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,320
shouting and participating in
the hate filled environment.
62
00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:31,840
Which of us is truly so free of
any human responsiveness that we
63
00:04:31,840 --> 00:04:35,560
can withstand powerful vital
forces working and others around
64
00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:42,120
us and impacting our vital
envelope or aura As a result,
65
00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,960
progress is necessarily
something that occurs in stages
66
00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:50,200
and cycles, and we need to
overcome the mental limitation
67
00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,720
that fails to recognize that
there is no final resolution
68
00:04:55,200 --> 00:05:00,360
until the force itself has been
either eliminated or transformed
69
00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:05,040
in its entirety from all of
nature through evolutionary
70
00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:10,720
development and the influx of a
new power of consciousness that
71
00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:15,360
can harmonize and overcome the
limits of the former
72
00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:22,880
evolutionary stages.
Trior Bindo notes quote, It is
73
00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:27,640
quite normal for difficulties to
come back and it is not a proof
74
00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:33,080
that no progress has been made.
The recurrence after one has
75
00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,720
thought one has conquered is not
unaccountable.
76
00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:42,120
I have explained in my writings
what happens when a habitual
77
00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,080
movement long embedded in the
nature is cast out.
78
00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:49,320
It takes refuge in some less
enlightened part of the nature,
79
00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:54,800
and when cast out of the rest of
the nature, it takes refuge in
80
00:05:54,800 --> 00:06:00,000
the subconscious, and from there
surges up when you least expect
81
00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:05,360
it, or comes up in dreams or
sudden inconscient movements.
82
00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,760
Or it goes out and remains in
wait in the environmental being
83
00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,040
through which the universal
nature works, and attacks from
84
00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:18,520
there as a force from outside,
trying to recover its Kingdom by
85
00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:22,640
a suggestion or repetition of
old movements.
86
00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:27,680
One has to stand fast till the
power of return fades away.
87
00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:32,400
These returns or attacks must be
regarded not as parts of
88
00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:37,480
oneself, but as invasions and
rejected without allowing any
89
00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:42,400
depression or discouragement.
If the mind does not sanction
90
00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:47,920
them, if the vital refuses to
welcome them, if the physical
91
00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:52,840
remains steady and refuses to
obey the physical urge, then the
92
00:06:52,840 --> 00:06:57,120
recurrence of the thought, the
vital impulse, the physical
93
00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:00,880
feeling will begin to lose its
last holds.
94
00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:06,360
And finally, they will be too
feeble to cause any trouble.
95
00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:10,120
End Quote.
Reference.
96
00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,440
Shrioro, Bindu and the Mother
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
97
00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:19,360
Attitudes on the Path, pages 156
to 157.