April 7, 2025
The Link Between Attitude and Digestion
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 2, Looking at Oneself and Others, pp. 44-45
This episode is also available as a blog post at The Link Between Attitude and Digestion | Sri Aurobindo StudiesVideo 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 SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,440
The mother provides simple yet
powerful guidance about the
2
00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:07,920
connection between one's
attitude and his digestive
3
00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:11,040
system.
If we consider for a moment the
4
00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:16,160
times when we are out of sorts,
feeling angry or bitter or
5
00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,880
somewhat sharp and biting in our
reactions to others, we can see
6
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,560
that in many cases there is a
reaction that knots up the
7
00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:28,000
digestive system.
We experience various
8
00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,640
disturbances of the digestion
and we feel generally out of
9
00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,000
sorts.
Many people who suffer chronic
10
00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,760
digestive upsets have a
generally negative attitude
11
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,520
towards life.
The connection works in both
12
00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,240
directions.
A bitter frame of mind can cause
13
00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:52,280
digestive disturbance, but also
the digestive system is capable
14
00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:56,440
of sending back signals to the
brain when there is some organic
15
00:00:56,440 --> 00:01:00,680
cause of disturbance there,
leading to a sour mental
16
00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,120
attitude.
This relationship between the
17
00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:07,640
digestive system and the mind
has been in recent years
18
00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,880
extensively studied by medical
researchers.
19
00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:15,920
They validated the signal
pathway and the result and
20
00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:20,760
conclude that states of worry or
anxiety in particular can upset
21
00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:24,240
the digestion.
The development of stomach or
22
00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,600
duodenal ulcers is just one
manifestation of the power of
23
00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,120
the attitude to harm the
digestive tract.
24
00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:36,280
Studies actually have shown that
about 50% of digestive issues
25
00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:41,160
are caused by the disturbed
mental attitude, while the other
26
00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:46,840
50% show that digestive issues
have caused the mental attitude.
27
00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,880
This tight interrelation between
the two systems provides a clue
28
00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:56,600
for managing the situation.
As an individual becomes more
29
00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,480
aware, he can begin to
consciously undertake steps to
30
00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,800
bring calm, peace, contentment
to the being.
31
00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:09,440
These actions, whether through
development of an attitude of
32
00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:14,080
harmlessness and kindness,
emotional goodwill, conscious
33
00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:20,040
attention, breathing techniques,
meditation, chanting, music, or
34
00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:24,920
other modes of action, can
reduce anxiety and begin to
35
00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:29,840
create a positive feedback loop
that aids both the mind and the
36
00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,560
digestive system, the mother
writes.
37
00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:39,480
Quote Always be kind and you
will be free from suffering.
38
00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:45,240
Always be contented and happy
and you will radiate your quiet
39
00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,440
happiness.
It is particularly noticeable
40
00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,520
that all the digestive functions
are extremely sensitive to an
41
00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:59,360
attitude that is critical,
bitter, full of ill will to a
42
00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:03,240
sour judgement.
Nothing disturbs the functioning
43
00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:07,560
of the digestion more than that,
and it is a vicious circle.
44
00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:12,720
The more the digestive function
is disturbed, the more unkind
45
00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,720
you become.
Critical, dissatisfied with life
46
00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,920
and things and people.
So you can't find any way out.
47
00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:26,200
And there is only one cure.
To deliberately drop this
48
00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:31,480
attitude, to absolutely forbid
yourself to have it, and to
49
00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:37,040
impose upon yourself by constant
self-control a deliberate
50
00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,880
attitude of all comprehending
kindness.
51
00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:44,920
Just try and you will see that
you feel much better.
52
00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:50,440
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother,
53
00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:55,360
Looking from within, Chapter 2.
Looking at Oneself and Others,
54
00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,400
pages 44 to 45.
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,440
The mother provides simple yet
powerful guidance about the
2
00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:07,920
connection between one's
attitude and his digestive
3
00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:11,040
system.
If we consider for a moment the
4
00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:16,160
times when we are out of sorts,
feeling angry or bitter or
5
00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,880
somewhat sharp and biting in our
reactions to others, we can see
6
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,560
that in many cases there is a
reaction that knots up the
7
00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:28,000
digestive system.
We experience various
8
00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,640
disturbances of the digestion
and we feel generally out of
9
00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,000
sorts.
Many people who suffer chronic
10
00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,760
digestive upsets have a
generally negative attitude
11
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,520
towards life.
The connection works in both
12
00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,240
directions.
A bitter frame of mind can cause
13
00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:52,280
digestive disturbance, but also
the digestive system is capable
14
00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:56,440
of sending back signals to the
brain when there is some organic
15
00:00:56,440 --> 00:01:00,680
cause of disturbance there,
leading to a sour mental
16
00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,120
attitude.
This relationship between the
17
00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:07,640
digestive system and the mind
has been in recent years
18
00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,880
extensively studied by medical
researchers.
19
00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:15,920
They validated the signal
pathway and the result and
20
00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:20,760
conclude that states of worry or
anxiety in particular can upset
21
00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:24,240
the digestion.
The development of stomach or
22
00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,600
duodenal ulcers is just one
manifestation of the power of
23
00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,120
the attitude to harm the
digestive tract.
24
00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:36,280
Studies actually have shown that
about 50% of digestive issues
25
00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:41,160
are caused by the disturbed
mental attitude, while the other
26
00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:46,840
50% show that digestive issues
have caused the mental attitude.
27
00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,880
This tight interrelation between
the two systems provides a clue
28
00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:56,600
for managing the situation.
As an individual becomes more
29
00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,480
aware, he can begin to
consciously undertake steps to
30
00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,800
bring calm, peace, contentment
to the being.
31
00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:09,440
These actions, whether through
development of an attitude of
32
00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:14,080
harmlessness and kindness,
emotional goodwill, conscious
33
00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:20,040
attention, breathing techniques,
meditation, chanting, music, or
34
00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:24,920
other modes of action, can
reduce anxiety and begin to
35
00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:29,840
create a positive feedback loop
that aids both the mind and the
36
00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,560
digestive system, the mother
writes.
37
00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:39,480
Quote Always be kind and you
will be free from suffering.
38
00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:45,240
Always be contented and happy
and you will radiate your quiet
39
00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,440
happiness.
It is particularly noticeable
40
00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,520
that all the digestive functions
are extremely sensitive to an
41
00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:59,360
attitude that is critical,
bitter, full of ill will to a
42
00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:03,240
sour judgement.
Nothing disturbs the functioning
43
00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:07,560
of the digestion more than that,
and it is a vicious circle.
44
00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:12,720
The more the digestive function
is disturbed, the more unkind
45
00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,720
you become.
Critical, dissatisfied with life
46
00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,920
and things and people.
So you can't find any way out.
47
00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:26,200
And there is only one cure.
To deliberately drop this
48
00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:31,480
attitude, to absolutely forbid
yourself to have it, and to
49
00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:37,040
impose upon yourself by constant
self-control a deliberate
50
00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,880
attitude of all comprehending
kindness.
51
00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:44,920
Just try and you will see that
you feel much better.
52
00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:50,440
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother,
53
00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:55,360
Looking from within, Chapter 2.
Looking at Oneself and Others,
54
00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,400
pages 44 to 45.