Aug. 16, 2024
The Infectious Nature of Vibrations in Our Social Environment
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch.8 Life — A Mass of Vibrations, pp. 182-183 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/08/11/the-infectious-nature-of-vibrations-in-our-social-environment/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are all available 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 Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:04,440
Authoritarian states throughout
history have understood
2
00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:08,320
intuitively the power of
collective vibration and
3
00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:11,640
suggestion.
Nazi Germany created a
4
00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:16,680
propaganda ministry that had as
its goal continuously repeating
5
00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:21,680
certain key phrases to raise up
specific emotions and sentiments
6
00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:26,800
and then to enforce them through
the implicit bullying impact of
7
00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:30,480
their control.
Both of the levers of power, the
8
00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:35,000
police power, the ability to spy
and the ability to control one's
9
00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,960
livelihood, as well as through
the street level bullying that
10
00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,600
occurred through aligned
individuals and groups who use
11
00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:48,160
brute force, if not to obtain
outright support for what they
12
00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:53,360
wanted to do, at least to
suppress any objections out of
13
00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:57,880
fear of repercussions.
The experience of Nazi Germany
14
00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:02,080
was however not unique and
similar tactics have been used
15
00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,680
to harness the power of a
collectivity to either modify or
16
00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,800
coerce the actions of
individuals since true
17
00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:14,200
individuality, true independence
from the collectivity and the
18
00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,480
society and environment is
actually something of an
19
00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:23,880
illusory concept.
In his book 1984, the author
20
00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,640
George Orwell described a ritual
used to inculcate certain
21
00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:32,680
responses and reactions into the
body of the citizenry through
22
00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:38,360
the use of the two-minute hate.
Even mild mannered, thoughtful
23
00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,680
and considerate individuals
found themselves caught up in
24
00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:47,360
the intensity of the moment and
would react with rage and hatred
25
00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:52,520
on cue.
In today's world, we see people
26
00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:56,520
being manipulated in this way
through political discourse and
27
00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,320
social media.
Some groups of individuals,
28
00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,880
generally a minority lacking
strong political power, is
29
00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:08,960
chosen as the object of hatred,
and they are then demonized,
30
00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:13,360
dehumanized, and made into
objects of scorn and hatred,
31
00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,560
with a resultant uprising of
rage and hate crimes that begin
32
00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,440
to tear apart the very fabric of
society.
33
00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,640
This tends to break people into
camps and opposing interests,
34
00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:31,720
and anyone who tries to either
remain neutral or who tries to
35
00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:36,120
bring people together in a more
reasonable manner is castigated
36
00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:40,040
and ostracized.
Fear of losing their friends,
37
00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,240
their jobs, their involvement in
their community.
38
00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:49,240
Many remain quiet and simply try
to weather the storm, while
39
00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:53,960
some, more ambitious perhaps
than others, choose one side or
40
00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,880
the other and engage in the
battle.
41
00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,880
Underlying all of this is the
fact that we are not separate
42
00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,560
islands of consciousness, but
are receivers of vibrations and
43
00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,240
transmitters of vibrations, and
we are thus subject to
44
00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:15,960
responding to intense vibratory
patterns or even less intense
45
00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:20,000
but more persistent patterns
that continually come to us in
46
00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,840
one form or another.
In most instances, we may not
47
00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,760
even be consciously aware that
we are absorbing and responding
48
00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:33,400
to certain vibrations.
This lack of awareness is also
49
00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,760
an element used by those
actively attempting to
50
00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:40,400
manipulate masses of people
without anyone identifying the
51
00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:45,680
source of the manipulation.
Suddenly it arises all around,
52
00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,360
on many sides, with many
different voices and
53
00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:55,440
inflections, and we begin to
slowly respond, to, adopt and
54
00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:59,200
then disseminate the vibrations
that have infected us.
55
00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,000
It is the rare individual who
can stand against this
56
00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,560
bombardment and hold to a
different set of values and
57
00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:12,320
ideas in a society consumed with
the need to conform to widely
58
00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:17,000
held beliefs and emotions in any
societal grouping.
59
00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:22,280
Of course, not all such
vibrational pattern developments
60
00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:26,040
are negative.
That is why sages and spiritual
61
00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:30,320
leaders counsel the benefit of
Satsang, the coming together of
62
00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:34,200
devotees to share the energy and
experience of their spiritual
63
00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:39,000
development and thereby
strengthen the aspiration, the
64
00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:43,200
consecration and the spiritual
receptivity of all.
65
00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:49,080
While we may be able to identify
these forces relatively easily
66
00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:54,080
when they are writ large in
extreme ways in the society, we
67
00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:58,800
do not generally recognize that
in fact, this is the normal
68
00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:04,400
process that makes up on a day
in and day out basis the general
69
00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:10,400
way we develop our ideas,
opinions, emotions and patterns,
70
00:05:11,840 --> 00:05:17,280
the Mother observes.
Quote You must understand that
71
00:05:17,280 --> 00:05:21,640
you are not separate
individualities, that life is a
72
00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:27,000
constant exchange of forces, of
consciousnesses, of vibrations,
73
00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,360
of movements of all kinds.
It is as in a crowd.
74
00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,440
You see, when everyone pushes,
all go forward, and when all
75
00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:39,360
recede, everyone recedes.
It is the same thing in the
76
00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,680
inner world.
In your consciousness there are
77
00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,400
all the time forces and
influences acting and reacting
78
00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,200
upon you.
It is like a gas in the
79
00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:54,280
atmosphere and unless you are
quite awake, these things enter
80
00:05:54,280 --> 00:05:56,800
into you.
And it is only when they have
81
00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:01,560
gone well in and come out as if
they came from you that you
82
00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:05,600
become aware of them.
How many times people meet those
83
00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:11,320
who are nervous, angry, in a bad
mood and themselves become
84
00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:18,440
nervous, angry, Moody, just like
that, without quite knowing why?
85
00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,360
Why is it that when you play
against certain people, you play
86
00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:26,440
very well, but when you play
against others you cannot play?
87
00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:32,520
And those very quiet people, not
at all wicked, who suddenly
88
00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:37,520
become furious when they are in
a furious crowd and no one knows
89
00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,760
who has started it.
It is something that went past
90
00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:45,360
and swept off the consciousness.
There are people who can let out
91
00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,720
vibrations like this, and others
respond without knowing why.
92
00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:55,120
Everything is like that, from
the smallest to the biggest
93
00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:56,840
things.
End Quote.
94
00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,760
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
Mother.
95
00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:05,440
The hidden forces of life.
Chapter Eight Life A Mass of
96
00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:09,280
Vibrations, pages 182 to 183.
00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:04,440
Authoritarian states throughout
history have understood
2
00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:08,320
intuitively the power of
collective vibration and
3
00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:11,640
suggestion.
Nazi Germany created a
4
00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:16,680
propaganda ministry that had as
its goal continuously repeating
5
00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:21,680
certain key phrases to raise up
specific emotions and sentiments
6
00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:26,800
and then to enforce them through
the implicit bullying impact of
7
00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:30,480
their control.
Both of the levers of power, the
8
00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:35,000
police power, the ability to spy
and the ability to control one's
9
00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,960
livelihood, as well as through
the street level bullying that
10
00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,600
occurred through aligned
individuals and groups who use
11
00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:48,160
brute force, if not to obtain
outright support for what they
12
00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:53,360
wanted to do, at least to
suppress any objections out of
13
00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:57,880
fear of repercussions.
The experience of Nazi Germany
14
00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:02,080
was however not unique and
similar tactics have been used
15
00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,680
to harness the power of a
collectivity to either modify or
16
00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,800
coerce the actions of
individuals since true
17
00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:14,200
individuality, true independence
from the collectivity and the
18
00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,480
society and environment is
actually something of an
19
00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:23,880
illusory concept.
In his book 1984, the author
20
00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,640
George Orwell described a ritual
used to inculcate certain
21
00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:32,680
responses and reactions into the
body of the citizenry through
22
00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:38,360
the use of the two-minute hate.
Even mild mannered, thoughtful
23
00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,680
and considerate individuals
found themselves caught up in
24
00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:47,360
the intensity of the moment and
would react with rage and hatred
25
00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:52,520
on cue.
In today's world, we see people
26
00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:56,520
being manipulated in this way
through political discourse and
27
00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,320
social media.
Some groups of individuals,
28
00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,880
generally a minority lacking
strong political power, is
29
00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:08,960
chosen as the object of hatred,
and they are then demonized,
30
00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:13,360
dehumanized, and made into
objects of scorn and hatred,
31
00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,560
with a resultant uprising of
rage and hate crimes that begin
32
00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,440
to tear apart the very fabric of
society.
33
00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,640
This tends to break people into
camps and opposing interests,
34
00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:31,720
and anyone who tries to either
remain neutral or who tries to
35
00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:36,120
bring people together in a more
reasonable manner is castigated
36
00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:40,040
and ostracized.
Fear of losing their friends,
37
00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,240
their jobs, their involvement in
their community.
38
00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:49,240
Many remain quiet and simply try
to weather the storm, while
39
00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:53,960
some, more ambitious perhaps
than others, choose one side or
40
00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,880
the other and engage in the
battle.
41
00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,880
Underlying all of this is the
fact that we are not separate
42
00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,560
islands of consciousness, but
are receivers of vibrations and
43
00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,240
transmitters of vibrations, and
we are thus subject to
44
00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:15,960
responding to intense vibratory
patterns or even less intense
45
00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:20,000
but more persistent patterns
that continually come to us in
46
00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,840
one form or another.
In most instances, we may not
47
00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,760
even be consciously aware that
we are absorbing and responding
48
00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:33,400
to certain vibrations.
This lack of awareness is also
49
00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,760
an element used by those
actively attempting to
50
00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:40,400
manipulate masses of people
without anyone identifying the
51
00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:45,680
source of the manipulation.
Suddenly it arises all around,
52
00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,360
on many sides, with many
different voices and
53
00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:55,440
inflections, and we begin to
slowly respond, to, adopt and
54
00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:59,200
then disseminate the vibrations
that have infected us.
55
00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,000
It is the rare individual who
can stand against this
56
00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,560
bombardment and hold to a
different set of values and
57
00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:12,320
ideas in a society consumed with
the need to conform to widely
58
00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:17,000
held beliefs and emotions in any
societal grouping.
59
00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:22,280
Of course, not all such
vibrational pattern developments
60
00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:26,040
are negative.
That is why sages and spiritual
61
00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:30,320
leaders counsel the benefit of
Satsang, the coming together of
62
00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:34,200
devotees to share the energy and
experience of their spiritual
63
00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:39,000
development and thereby
strengthen the aspiration, the
64
00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:43,200
consecration and the spiritual
receptivity of all.
65
00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:49,080
While we may be able to identify
these forces relatively easily
66
00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:54,080
when they are writ large in
extreme ways in the society, we
67
00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:58,800
do not generally recognize that
in fact, this is the normal
68
00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:04,400
process that makes up on a day
in and day out basis the general
69
00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:10,400
way we develop our ideas,
opinions, emotions and patterns,
70
00:05:11,840 --> 00:05:17,280
the Mother observes.
Quote You must understand that
71
00:05:17,280 --> 00:05:21,640
you are not separate
individualities, that life is a
72
00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:27,000
constant exchange of forces, of
consciousnesses, of vibrations,
73
00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,360
of movements of all kinds.
It is as in a crowd.
74
00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,440
You see, when everyone pushes,
all go forward, and when all
75
00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:39,360
recede, everyone recedes.
It is the same thing in the
76
00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,680
inner world.
In your consciousness there are
77
00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,400
all the time forces and
influences acting and reacting
78
00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,200
upon you.
It is like a gas in the
79
00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:54,280
atmosphere and unless you are
quite awake, these things enter
80
00:05:54,280 --> 00:05:56,800
into you.
And it is only when they have
81
00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:01,560
gone well in and come out as if
they came from you that you
82
00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:05,600
become aware of them.
How many times people meet those
83
00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:11,320
who are nervous, angry, in a bad
mood and themselves become
84
00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:18,440
nervous, angry, Moody, just like
that, without quite knowing why?
85
00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,360
Why is it that when you play
against certain people, you play
86
00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:26,440
very well, but when you play
against others you cannot play?
87
00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:32,520
And those very quiet people, not
at all wicked, who suddenly
88
00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:37,520
become furious when they are in
a furious crowd and no one knows
89
00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,760
who has started it.
It is something that went past
90
00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:45,360
and swept off the consciousness.
There are people who can let out
91
00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,720
vibrations like this, and others
respond without knowing why.
92
00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:55,120
Everything is like that, from
the smallest to the biggest
93
00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:56,840
things.
End Quote.
94
00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,760
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
Mother.
95
00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:05,440
The hidden forces of life.
Chapter Eight Life A Mass of
96
00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:09,280
Vibrations, pages 182 to 183.