May 10, 2026
The External Being Filters and Can Distort the Guidance of the Soul
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Psychic Being — Soul: Its Nature, Mission and Evolution, Section 2 Role, Function and Action of the Psychic, pp. 53-54This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/05/08/the-external-being-filters-and-can-distort-the-guidance-of-the-soul/
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 #The Mother #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #soul #psychic being
1
00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,600
The promptings of the soul work
through the instrumentality of
2
00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:08,600
the external being, the mind,
the life force, and the physical
3
00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:12,080
body.
Thus, they are restricted by the
4
00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:16,760
limitations of the work of those
external parts, as well as
5
00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:22,200
subject to being modified,
hijacked, or manipulated based
6
00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:26,320
on the external being's own
predilections and normal focus.
7
00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:31,800
Thus, when the soul provides its
guidance to the mind, it is
8
00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:33,880
filtered and modified by the
mind.
9
00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:38,440
In some cases, this leads to the
development of a creed,
10
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:43,920
ideology, fixed teaching, or
doctrine that formalizes the
11
00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:49,040
guidance, but also creates a
fixed framework that turns a
12
00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:54,040
living insight or prompt into
something rigid and narrow in
13
00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:59,360
its real application, limited in
its ability to adapt or change
14
00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:03,560
with changing circumstances or
natural growth and development.
15
00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:09,040
It may also be made to fit into
a preconceived mindset, thereby
16
00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,000
deforming it right from the
start.
17
00:01:11,960 --> 00:01:15,920
In the most extreme cases, this
can also lead to an attempt to
18
00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,000
convert others to a doctrine
that has not come to those
19
00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:23,360
others, simply because the mind
has turned this into some kind
20
00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:28,440
of universal truth that must be
imposed everywhere rather than
21
00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:32,680
taken as the soul's direction
for that individual at the
22
00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,600
current stage of their
development.
23
00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:40,840
Similarly, the life force may
seize upon the soul's guidance
24
00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:45,240
and try to turn it to its own
advantage by using the force for
25
00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:49,640
self aggrandizement, gaining
power or control over others,
26
00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:55,320
gaining wealth, taking sexual
advantage, flaunting itself with
27
00:01:55,320 --> 00:02:00,040
vanity for the force that is
active, or any number of other
28
00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,800
deformations of the purity of
the soul's intended result.
29
00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,919
Sometimes an element of
performance comes in when the
30
00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:12,880
expression takes place in a
public setting such that the
31
00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,760
purity of the intention is
distorted by the desire of the
32
00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:21,680
external nature to attract,
gain, recognition or adulation
33
00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:26,160
of some sort, etcetera.
There can be an emphasis on
34
00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:30,760
extraordinary experiences at the
expense of the type of
35
00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:34,600
substantive change.
At a more subtle level, that is
36
00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,320
the objective that the soul is
seeking.
37
00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:43,560
Shrioro Bindo writes quote.
But this psychic influence or
38
00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,640
action does not come up to the
surface quite pure or does not
39
00:02:47,640 --> 00:02:52,960
remain distinct in its purity.
If it did, we would be able to
40
00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:56,720
distinguish clearly the sole
element in US and follow
41
00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,040
consciously and fully its
dictates.
42
00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:02,920
An occult mental and vital and
subtle physical action
43
00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:08,000
intervenes, mixes with it, tries
to use it and turns it to its
44
00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:13,080
own profit, dwarfs its divinity,
distorts or diminishes its
45
00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:18,480
self-expression, even causes it
to deviate and stumble, or
46
00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:23,680
stains it with the impurity,
smallness and error of mind and
47
00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,320
life and body.
After it reaches the surface,
48
00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:31,600
thus alloyed and diminished, it
is taken hold of by the surface
49
00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:36,000
nature in an obscure reception
and ignorant formation.
50
00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:42,000
And there is, or can be by this
cause, a still further deviation
51
00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,200
and mixture.
A twist is given, a wrong
52
00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:50,920
direction is imparted, a wrong
application, a wrong formation,
53
00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:56,200
an erroneous result of what is
in itself pure stuff and action
54
00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:00,200
of our spiritual being.
A formation of consciousness is
55
00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,920
accordingly made, which is a
mixture of the psychic influence
56
00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:08,520
and its intimations, jumbled
with mental ideas and opinions,
57
00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:13,480
vital desires and urges,
habitual physical tendencies.
58
00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,480
These coalesce too with the
obscured soul influence, the
59
00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,160
ignorant, the well-intentioned
efforts of these external parts
60
00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:27,200
towards a higher direction, a
mental ideation of a very mixed
61
00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:32,920
character, often obscure even in
its idealism, sometimes even
62
00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:37,520
disastrously mistaken of fervor
and passion of the emotional
63
00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:42,080
being, throwing up its spray and
foam of feelings, sentiments,
64
00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:47,240
sentimentalisms, a dynamic
enthusiasm of the life parts,
65
00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:51,720
eager responses of the physical,
the thrills and excitements of
66
00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:56,720
nerve and body.
All these influences coalesce in
67
00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:01,840
a composite formation which is
frequently taken as the soul and
68
00:05:01,840 --> 00:05:06,480
its mixed and confused action
for the soul stir for a psychic
69
00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:10,800
development and action or a
realized inner influence.
70
00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:15,400
The psychic entity is itself
free from staying our mixture,
71
00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:20,040
but what comes up from it is not
protected by that immunity.
72
00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:24,120
Therefore this confusion becomes
possible.
73
00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,920
End Quote.
Reference Sri Oru Bindu and the
74
00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,920
Mother, the psychic being soul,
its nature, mission and
75
00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,120
evolution.
Section 2.
76
00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,800
Role, function and Action of the
Psychic.
77
00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,080
Pages 53 to 54.
00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,600
The promptings of the soul work
through the instrumentality of
2
00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:08,600
the external being, the mind,
the life force, and the physical
3
00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:12,080
body.
Thus, they are restricted by the
4
00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:16,760
limitations of the work of those
external parts, as well as
5
00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:22,200
subject to being modified,
hijacked, or manipulated based
6
00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:26,320
on the external being's own
predilections and normal focus.
7
00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:31,800
Thus, when the soul provides its
guidance to the mind, it is
8
00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:33,880
filtered and modified by the
mind.
9
00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:38,440
In some cases, this leads to the
development of a creed,
10
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:43,920
ideology, fixed teaching, or
doctrine that formalizes the
11
00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:49,040
guidance, but also creates a
fixed framework that turns a
12
00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:54,040
living insight or prompt into
something rigid and narrow in
13
00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:59,360
its real application, limited in
its ability to adapt or change
14
00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:03,560
with changing circumstances or
natural growth and development.
15
00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:09,040
It may also be made to fit into
a preconceived mindset, thereby
16
00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,000
deforming it right from the
start.
17
00:01:11,960 --> 00:01:15,920
In the most extreme cases, this
can also lead to an attempt to
18
00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,000
convert others to a doctrine
that has not come to those
19
00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:23,360
others, simply because the mind
has turned this into some kind
20
00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:28,440
of universal truth that must be
imposed everywhere rather than
21
00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:32,680
taken as the soul's direction
for that individual at the
22
00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,600
current stage of their
development.
23
00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:40,840
Similarly, the life force may
seize upon the soul's guidance
24
00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:45,240
and try to turn it to its own
advantage by using the force for
25
00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:49,640
self aggrandizement, gaining
power or control over others,
26
00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:55,320
gaining wealth, taking sexual
advantage, flaunting itself with
27
00:01:55,320 --> 00:02:00,040
vanity for the force that is
active, or any number of other
28
00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,800
deformations of the purity of
the soul's intended result.
29
00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,919
Sometimes an element of
performance comes in when the
30
00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:12,880
expression takes place in a
public setting such that the
31
00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,760
purity of the intention is
distorted by the desire of the
32
00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:21,680
external nature to attract,
gain, recognition or adulation
33
00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:26,160
of some sort, etcetera.
There can be an emphasis on
34
00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:30,760
extraordinary experiences at the
expense of the type of
35
00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:34,600
substantive change.
At a more subtle level, that is
36
00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,320
the objective that the soul is
seeking.
37
00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:43,560
Shrioro Bindo writes quote.
But this psychic influence or
38
00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,640
action does not come up to the
surface quite pure or does not
39
00:02:47,640 --> 00:02:52,960
remain distinct in its purity.
If it did, we would be able to
40
00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:56,720
distinguish clearly the sole
element in US and follow
41
00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,040
consciously and fully its
dictates.
42
00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:02,920
An occult mental and vital and
subtle physical action
43
00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:08,000
intervenes, mixes with it, tries
to use it and turns it to its
44
00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:13,080
own profit, dwarfs its divinity,
distorts or diminishes its
45
00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:18,480
self-expression, even causes it
to deviate and stumble, or
46
00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:23,680
stains it with the impurity,
smallness and error of mind and
47
00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,320
life and body.
After it reaches the surface,
48
00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:31,600
thus alloyed and diminished, it
is taken hold of by the surface
49
00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:36,000
nature in an obscure reception
and ignorant formation.
50
00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:42,000
And there is, or can be by this
cause, a still further deviation
51
00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,200
and mixture.
A twist is given, a wrong
52
00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:50,920
direction is imparted, a wrong
application, a wrong formation,
53
00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:56,200
an erroneous result of what is
in itself pure stuff and action
54
00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:00,200
of our spiritual being.
A formation of consciousness is
55
00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,920
accordingly made, which is a
mixture of the psychic influence
56
00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:08,520
and its intimations, jumbled
with mental ideas and opinions,
57
00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:13,480
vital desires and urges,
habitual physical tendencies.
58
00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,480
These coalesce too with the
obscured soul influence, the
59
00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,160
ignorant, the well-intentioned
efforts of these external parts
60
00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:27,200
towards a higher direction, a
mental ideation of a very mixed
61
00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:32,920
character, often obscure even in
its idealism, sometimes even
62
00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:37,520
disastrously mistaken of fervor
and passion of the emotional
63
00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:42,080
being, throwing up its spray and
foam of feelings, sentiments,
64
00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:47,240
sentimentalisms, a dynamic
enthusiasm of the life parts,
65
00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:51,720
eager responses of the physical,
the thrills and excitements of
66
00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:56,720
nerve and body.
All these influences coalesce in
67
00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:01,840
a composite formation which is
frequently taken as the soul and
68
00:05:01,840 --> 00:05:06,480
its mixed and confused action
for the soul stir for a psychic
69
00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:10,800
development and action or a
realized inner influence.
70
00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:15,400
The psychic entity is itself
free from staying our mixture,
71
00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:20,040
but what comes up from it is not
protected by that immunity.
72
00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:24,120
Therefore this confusion becomes
possible.
73
00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,920
End Quote.
Reference Sri Oru Bindu and the
74
00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,920
Mother, the psychic being soul,
its nature, mission and
75
00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,120
evolution.
Section 2.
76
00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,800
Role, function and Action of the
Psychic.
77
00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,080
Pages 53 to 54.