March 26, 2026
The Higher Nature and the Lower Nature Seen From the Divine Standpoint and the Human Standpoint
reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Psychic Being — Soul: Its Nature, Mission and Evolution, Section 1 Meaning and Nature of the Psychic Being, pp. 15-16This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/03/24/the-higher-nature-and-the-lower-nature-seen-from-the-divine-standpoint-and-the-human-standpoint/
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 #Dr. Dalal #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #para prakriti #apara prakriti #jiva #jivatman #sarva bhutani #supreme nature
1
00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:04,200
Evolution of forms is the
machinery for the manifestation
2
00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:07,480
of the universe.
Evolution of consciousness
3
00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,040
provides the significance and
inner direction.
4
00:00:12,120 --> 00:00:17,280
Similarly, we can look at the
lower nature of Para Prakruti as
5
00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,880
the mechanism and Para prakruti
the higher nature as the cause
6
00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:24,680
and conscious creator and
upholder of the mechanism.
7
00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,440
We find it difficult to hold
multiple standpoints at the same
8
00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,200
time.
This is a limitation of the
9
00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,920
mental consciousness, which is
linear in nature and attempts to
10
00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:40,880
reduce everything to either or
rather than see the different
11
00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:46,920
standpoints, aspects and parts
and their interrelationship and
12
00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,080
interaction.
A simple example is the
13
00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:54,200
phenomenon of light.
We see light as a unified whole,
14
00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,440
but if we pass it through a
prism, different wavelengths get
15
00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:03,600
refracted out and we then see a
range of colors representing
16
00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:08,840
those varying wavelengths.
The light is 1, but it can be
17
00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:13,400
also divided into segments and
appear as many from one
18
00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,760
standpoint.
It is seen as one from another
19
00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:21,400
as an amalgamation of many.
Both observations can be
20
00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:25,520
validated from their respective
standpoints without conflict
21
00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:29,800
between the views.
From the divine standpoint, the
22
00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,560
consciousness is 1 and the
entire creation is 1.
23
00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,040
For purposes of the
manifestation, the Oneness is
24
00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,120
refracted into multiple
formations.
25
00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,400
In the higher nature this is
represented by multiple
26
00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:49,880
individual formations of the one
consciousness, the individual G
27
00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,400
Vatman.
In the lower nature this is
28
00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:57,640
represented by multiple external
forms and the consciousness that
29
00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:02,240
informs them all, that is, all
creatures that together make up
30
00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:07,360
the manifested creation.
For those who experience their
31
00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:11,000
lives from the ego standpoint,
it looks like everything is
32
00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:15,720
fragmented, separate and
distinct, when in reality it is
33
00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:21,080
still one, both in consciousness
and in forms simply
34
00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,520
distinguished for purposes of
the manifestation.
35
00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:31,800
Sri Aurogindo observes quote the
lower nature, a Para Prakriti,
36
00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,080
is this external, objective and
superficial, subjective,
37
00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:40,400
apparent nature which manifests
all these minds, lives and
38
00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,960
bodies.
The Supreme Nature, Para
39
00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:49,360
Prakriti, concealed behind it is
the very nature of the Divine, a
40
00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:53,520
supreme consciousness force
which manifests the multiple
41
00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,360
Divine as the many.
These many are in themselves
42
00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,480
eternal selves of the Supreme in
His Supreme Nature, Para
43
00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,840
Prakriti.
Here, in relation to this world,
44
00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,680
they appear as the Jivatmas
supporting the evolution of the
45
00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:13,440
natural existences.
Sarva Bhutani in the mutable
46
00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:18,000
becoming which is the life of
the Kshara, Mobile or mutable
47
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:24,960
Purusha, the Jiva or Jivatma and
the creatures Sarva Bhutani are
48
00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,800
not the same thing.
The jivatmas really stand above
49
00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:32,920
the creation even though
concerned in it the natural
50
00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:36,960
existences.
Sarva Bhutani are the creatures
51
00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:41,520
of nature.
Man, bird, beast, reptile are
52
00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:46,000
natural existences, but the
individual self in them is not
53
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,120
even for a moment
characteristically man, bird,
54
00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:55,000
beast or reptile in its
evolution it's the same through
55
00:03:55,000 --> 00:04:00,480
all these changes, a spiritual
being that consents to the play
56
00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:06,880
of nature and quote reference
Srio robindo and the mother, the
57
00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:12,640
psychic being soul, its nature,
mission and evolution Section 1
58
00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:17,240
meaning and nature of the
psychic being, pages 15 to 16.
00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:04,200
Evolution of forms is the
machinery for the manifestation
2
00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:07,480
of the universe.
Evolution of consciousness
3
00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,040
provides the significance and
inner direction.
4
00:00:12,120 --> 00:00:17,280
Similarly, we can look at the
lower nature of Para Prakruti as
5
00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,880
the mechanism and Para prakruti
the higher nature as the cause
6
00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:24,680
and conscious creator and
upholder of the mechanism.
7
00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,440
We find it difficult to hold
multiple standpoints at the same
8
00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,200
time.
This is a limitation of the
9
00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,920
mental consciousness, which is
linear in nature and attempts to
10
00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:40,880
reduce everything to either or
rather than see the different
11
00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:46,920
standpoints, aspects and parts
and their interrelationship and
12
00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,080
interaction.
A simple example is the
13
00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:54,200
phenomenon of light.
We see light as a unified whole,
14
00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,440
but if we pass it through a
prism, different wavelengths get
15
00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:03,600
refracted out and we then see a
range of colors representing
16
00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:08,840
those varying wavelengths.
The light is 1, but it can be
17
00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:13,400
also divided into segments and
appear as many from one
18
00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,760
standpoint.
It is seen as one from another
19
00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:21,400
as an amalgamation of many.
Both observations can be
20
00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:25,520
validated from their respective
standpoints without conflict
21
00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:29,800
between the views.
From the divine standpoint, the
22
00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,560
consciousness is 1 and the
entire creation is 1.
23
00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,040
For purposes of the
manifestation, the Oneness is
24
00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,120
refracted into multiple
formations.
25
00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,400
In the higher nature this is
represented by multiple
26
00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:49,880
individual formations of the one
consciousness, the individual G
27
00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,400
Vatman.
In the lower nature this is
28
00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:57,640
represented by multiple external
forms and the consciousness that
29
00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:02,240
informs them all, that is, all
creatures that together make up
30
00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:07,360
the manifested creation.
For those who experience their
31
00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:11,000
lives from the ego standpoint,
it looks like everything is
32
00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:15,720
fragmented, separate and
distinct, when in reality it is
33
00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:21,080
still one, both in consciousness
and in forms simply
34
00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,520
distinguished for purposes of
the manifestation.
35
00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:31,800
Sri Aurogindo observes quote the
lower nature, a Para Prakriti,
36
00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,080
is this external, objective and
superficial, subjective,
37
00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:40,400
apparent nature which manifests
all these minds, lives and
38
00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,960
bodies.
The Supreme Nature, Para
39
00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:49,360
Prakriti, concealed behind it is
the very nature of the Divine, a
40
00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:53,520
supreme consciousness force
which manifests the multiple
41
00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,360
Divine as the many.
These many are in themselves
42
00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,480
eternal selves of the Supreme in
His Supreme Nature, Para
43
00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,840
Prakriti.
Here, in relation to this world,
44
00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,680
they appear as the Jivatmas
supporting the evolution of the
45
00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:13,440
natural existences.
Sarva Bhutani in the mutable
46
00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:18,000
becoming which is the life of
the Kshara, Mobile or mutable
47
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:24,960
Purusha, the Jiva or Jivatma and
the creatures Sarva Bhutani are
48
00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,800
not the same thing.
The jivatmas really stand above
49
00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:32,920
the creation even though
concerned in it the natural
50
00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:36,960
existences.
Sarva Bhutani are the creatures
51
00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:41,520
of nature.
Man, bird, beast, reptile are
52
00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:46,000
natural existences, but the
individual self in them is not
53
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,120
even for a moment
characteristically man, bird,
54
00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:55,000
beast or reptile in its
evolution it's the same through
55
00:03:55,000 --> 00:04:00,480
all these changes, a spiritual
being that consents to the play
56
00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:06,880
of nature and quote reference
Srio robindo and the mother, the
57
00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:12,640
psychic being soul, its nature,
mission and evolution Section 1
58
00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:17,240
meaning and nature of the
psychic being, pages 15 to 16.
