May 30, 2025
The Individual Sadhak and His Relation to the Movement of Universal Forces
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within , Chapter 4, Ordeals and Difficulties, pp.92-93
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/05/28/the-individual-sadhak-and-his-relation-to-the-movement-of-universal-forces/
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
00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:05,280
Forces that operate in the world
are not necessarily hostile,
2
00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:09,920
even if their effect on any
particular individual appears to
3
00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:13,800
be extremely negative.
These forces operate on a large
4
00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,760
scale to carry out their own
role and fulfillment without
5
00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,960
specific regard to whom may be
impacted.
6
00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,960
When an earthquake or a tsunami
strikes, for instance, it is not
7
00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,160
aimed at a particular person who
happens to be among those
8
00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:33,120
affected.
Similarly, large scale vital
9
00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:37,240
forces such as the fear that
spreads as part of a pandemic,
10
00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:42,720
are also not generally directed
at specific individuals, but are
11
00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,720
simply vibrating at their own
frequency and spreading out.
12
00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,640
Those who are receptive to the
vibration then feel it, and in
13
00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:55,840
many cases they take up and
resonate with that vibration.
14
00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:01,040
Because we tend to identify
ourselves with the specific ego
15
00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:05,680
personality within which we are
living and acting, we take the
16
00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:10,360
impacts personally.
In many cases, if we are unable
17
00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:14,240
to observe the movement of these
energies from outside, we
18
00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,240
attribute them to something that
belongs to us that we create
19
00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,680
within ourselves.
When we try to address the
20
00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:26,240
consequences and impacts of
these energies, we then struggle
21
00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,360
with them as we treat them as
somehow part of ourselves,
22
00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,720
rather than recognizing that
they are part of a much larger
23
00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,720
play of forces that are
constantly moving through the
24
00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:42,200
manifested creation.
There are of course also highly
25
00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:46,000
conscious beings who live and
act primarily at different
26
00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,640
frequency levels than we are
capable of within our human
27
00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:54,120
range of perception.
In some cases they can overlap
28
00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:58,400
our frequencies and create
energies and harvest energies
29
00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,800
that ordinarily are part of our
range of perception and action.
30
00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:08,680
In some cases they have a
specific agenda, sometimes to
31
00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:13,040
harvest energy that they use for
their sustenance, and even in
32
00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:17,360
some cases they may exercise
purely constructive or
33
00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:22,160
destructive energies for their
own enjoyment or to carry out
34
00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,640
their agenda.
This is not dissimilar to the
35
00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:30,360
way humans capture other species
and hold them captive and make
36
00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,920
them perform for our enjoyment.
The harm we cause to these
37
00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:39,040
species and the restriction of
their lives is rarely a concern
38
00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:41,760
for us when we undertake these
acts.
39
00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:46,800
Similarly, conscious beings at a
different level of manifestation
40
00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:52,560
may find their enjoyment in
making us react and respond to
41
00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:57,040
their prodding.
From a practical standpoint, for
42
00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,160
the sodic attempting to make
progress in his spiritual
43
00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:05,400
pursuit, it is always best to
distance oneself from whatever
44
00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:10,160
forces or energies arise, so as
to not struggle as if it is an
45
00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:14,840
embedded part of oneself.
Thus, we see the benefit of
46
00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,320
attaining the poise associated
with the witness consciousness,
47
00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,800
observing the external nature
even at the level of the
48
00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:27,320
individual, whether or not one
can observe the movement of the
49
00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:32,520
force from outside oneself.
From this standpoint, all active
50
00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:39,520
energies are treated as outside
oneself, A disciple asks, do
51
00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:44,200
these hostile forces generally
come from outside or inside?
52
00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:49,160
The Mother observes.
If you think or feel that they
53
00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,560
come from inside, you have
possibly opened yourself to them
54
00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:55,160
and they have settled in you
unnoticed.
55
00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:59,600
The true nature of things is one
of harmony, but there is a
56
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,920
distortion in certain worlds
that brings in perversion and
57
00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:06,320
hostility.
If you have a strong affinity
58
00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:10,240
for these worlds of distortion,
you can become friends with the
59
00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,960
beings that are there and answer
fully to them.
60
00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:17,839
That happens, but it is not a
very happy condition.
61
00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,240
The consciousness is at once
blinded, and you cannot
62
00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,400
distinguish the true from the
false.
63
00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,280
You cannot even tell what is a
lie and what is not.
64
00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:33,680
In any case, when an attack
comes, the wisest attitude is to
65
00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:38,200
consider that it comes from
outside, and to say this is not
66
00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,560
myself and I will have nothing
to do with it.
67
00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:45,040
You have to deal in the same way
with all lower impulses and
68
00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,720
desires and all doubts and
questionings in the mind.
69
00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,640
If you identify yourself with
them, the difficulty in fighting
70
00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,720
them becomes all the greater,
for then you have the feeling
71
00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:02,120
that you're facing the never
easy task of overcoming your own
72
00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,560
nature.
But once you are able to say,
73
00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:11,000
no, this is not myself, I will
have nothing to do with it, it
74
00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,200
becomes much easier to disperse
them.
75
00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,760
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
76
00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:22,200
Mother Looking from within.
Chapter 4, Ordeals and
77
00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,600
Difficulties, pages 92 to 93.
00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:05,280
Forces that operate in the world
are not necessarily hostile,
2
00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:09,920
even if their effect on any
particular individual appears to
3
00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:13,800
be extremely negative.
These forces operate on a large
4
00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,760
scale to carry out their own
role and fulfillment without
5
00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,960
specific regard to whom may be
impacted.
6
00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:25,960
When an earthquake or a tsunami
strikes, for instance, it is not
7
00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,160
aimed at a particular person who
happens to be among those
8
00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:33,120
affected.
Similarly, large scale vital
9
00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:37,240
forces such as the fear that
spreads as part of a pandemic,
10
00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:42,720
are also not generally directed
at specific individuals, but are
11
00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,720
simply vibrating at their own
frequency and spreading out.
12
00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,640
Those who are receptive to the
vibration then feel it, and in
13
00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:55,840
many cases they take up and
resonate with that vibration.
14
00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:01,040
Because we tend to identify
ourselves with the specific ego
15
00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:05,680
personality within which we are
living and acting, we take the
16
00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:10,360
impacts personally.
In many cases, if we are unable
17
00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:14,240
to observe the movement of these
energies from outside, we
18
00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,240
attribute them to something that
belongs to us that we create
19
00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,680
within ourselves.
When we try to address the
20
00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:26,240
consequences and impacts of
these energies, we then struggle
21
00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,360
with them as we treat them as
somehow part of ourselves,
22
00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,720
rather than recognizing that
they are part of a much larger
23
00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,720
play of forces that are
constantly moving through the
24
00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:42,200
manifested creation.
There are of course also highly
25
00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:46,000
conscious beings who live and
act primarily at different
26
00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,640
frequency levels than we are
capable of within our human
27
00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:54,120
range of perception.
In some cases they can overlap
28
00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:58,400
our frequencies and create
energies and harvest energies
29
00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,800
that ordinarily are part of our
range of perception and action.
30
00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:08,680
In some cases they have a
specific agenda, sometimes to
31
00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:13,040
harvest energy that they use for
their sustenance, and even in
32
00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:17,360
some cases they may exercise
purely constructive or
33
00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:22,160
destructive energies for their
own enjoyment or to carry out
34
00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,640
their agenda.
This is not dissimilar to the
35
00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:30,360
way humans capture other species
and hold them captive and make
36
00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,920
them perform for our enjoyment.
The harm we cause to these
37
00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:39,040
species and the restriction of
their lives is rarely a concern
38
00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:41,760
for us when we undertake these
acts.
39
00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:46,800
Similarly, conscious beings at a
different level of manifestation
40
00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:52,560
may find their enjoyment in
making us react and respond to
41
00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:57,040
their prodding.
From a practical standpoint, for
42
00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,160
the sodic attempting to make
progress in his spiritual
43
00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:05,400
pursuit, it is always best to
distance oneself from whatever
44
00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:10,160
forces or energies arise, so as
to not struggle as if it is an
45
00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:14,840
embedded part of oneself.
Thus, we see the benefit of
46
00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,320
attaining the poise associated
with the witness consciousness,
47
00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,800
observing the external nature
even at the level of the
48
00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:27,320
individual, whether or not one
can observe the movement of the
49
00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:32,520
force from outside oneself.
From this standpoint, all active
50
00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:39,520
energies are treated as outside
oneself, A disciple asks, do
51
00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:44,200
these hostile forces generally
come from outside or inside?
52
00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:49,160
The Mother observes.
If you think or feel that they
53
00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,560
come from inside, you have
possibly opened yourself to them
54
00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:55,160
and they have settled in you
unnoticed.
55
00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:59,600
The true nature of things is one
of harmony, but there is a
56
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,920
distortion in certain worlds
that brings in perversion and
57
00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:06,320
hostility.
If you have a strong affinity
58
00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:10,240
for these worlds of distortion,
you can become friends with the
59
00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,960
beings that are there and answer
fully to them.
60
00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:17,839
That happens, but it is not a
very happy condition.
61
00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,240
The consciousness is at once
blinded, and you cannot
62
00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,400
distinguish the true from the
false.
63
00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,280
You cannot even tell what is a
lie and what is not.
64
00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:33,680
In any case, when an attack
comes, the wisest attitude is to
65
00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:38,200
consider that it comes from
outside, and to say this is not
66
00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,560
myself and I will have nothing
to do with it.
67
00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:45,040
You have to deal in the same way
with all lower impulses and
68
00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,720
desires and all doubts and
questionings in the mind.
69
00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,640
If you identify yourself with
them, the difficulty in fighting
70
00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,720
them becomes all the greater,
for then you have the feeling
71
00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:02,120
that you're facing the never
easy task of overcoming your own
72
00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,560
nature.
But once you are able to say,
73
00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:11,000
no, this is not myself, I will
have nothing to do with it, it
74
00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,200
becomes much easier to disperse
them.
75
00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,760
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
76
00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:22,200
Mother Looking from within.
Chapter 4, Ordeals and
77
00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,600
Difficulties, pages 92 to 93.