Jan. 26, 2026
The Material Consciousness and Its Resistance to Change
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 5, Physical Consciousness — Subconscient — Sleep and Dream — Illness, pp. 83-84This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/the-material-consciousness-and-its-resistance-to-change/
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 #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #evolution of consciousness #material consciousness
1
00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:03,720
There is a proverb that says
that changing human nature is
2
00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:05,920
like trying to straighten out a
dog's tail.
3
00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:11,000
As soon as the hold is taken off
of the tail, it reverts to its
4
00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,320
usual shape.
When we reach the level of the
5
00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:18,320
material consciousness, we are
at the point where the solidity
6
00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,680
of matter makes change much more
challenging than in the more
7
00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,160
flexible levels of the mental
consciousness, the vital
8
00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:31,520
consciousness, etcetera.
Another proverb states that you
9
00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,960
cannot teach an old dog new
tricks.
10
00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,760
We all can recognize that
training the body to enhance the
11
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:44,840
capacity or skill set or
overcome some limitation is a
12
00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:49,600
process that takes time and much
consistency in order for it to
13
00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,440
be achieved.
There are, however, embedded
14
00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:56,840
deep in the physical
consciousness, layers of
15
00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:01,040
material consciousness that are
so dense and solid that they do
16
00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:04,920
not respond to our normal mental
and vital methods of exerting
17
00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:09,240
pressure for change.
At this level are what can be
18
00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,320
called reflexes.
The action is virtually
19
00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:15,560
automatic.
When a stimulus is applied in a
20
00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:19,960
certain place, the material
consciousness responds with a
21
00:01:19,960 --> 00:01:25,800
known and predictable response.
Some of these reflexes or
22
00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,560
mechanical reactions are
embedded in what we call
23
00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:32,480
instincts.
They are birds that build a nest
24
00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:36,080
in a very specific manner from
generation to generation.
25
00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:40,640
Salmon are known to return to
the exact location where they
26
00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,680
are born to spawn the next
generation.
27
00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,560
Monarch butterflies migrate
thousands of miles from Mexico
28
00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:53,360
to Canada and back, going and
coming to specific locales from
29
00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:59,080
generation to generation in
migrations that span 4 to 5
30
00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,400
generations of the monarch.
These types of instinctive
31
00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,560
behaviour are illustrative of
the way nature has fixed certain
32
00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,960
routines.
The individuals are replaced,
33
00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:17,280
the formations remain the same.
In a similar way, the human
34
00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,920
being also has some deeply
embedded behaviours that defy
35
00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:26,080
our attempts to modify them.
Alpha male behaviour and the
36
00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:28,760
response to that by others in
the society.
37
00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:34,840
Pecking orders, fight or flight
reactions, responses to trauma,
38
00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,000
the flood of various hormones
and neurotransmitters under
39
00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,680
specific conditions all
represent virtually automatic
40
00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:47,280
reactions.
Then there are the automatic
41
00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:51,080
reactions based in attraction,
repulsion, the survival
42
00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:56,400
instinct, disgust or revulsion,
trust and fear, hunger and
43
00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,280
thirst, all of which can arise
without our conscious
44
00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,160
intervention when certain forces
impinge upon us.
45
00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,160
These and other similar long
established habits of the nature
46
00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:13,560
are part of nature's process to
ensure that change does not
47
00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:18,000
devolve into chaos.
It establishes A conservative
48
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,040
principle to make change take
place through a long period of
49
00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:26,520
modification, testing, and
establishment of a new principle
50
00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,280
of action.
This occurs both at the
51
00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,840
individual level and at the
level of society.
52
00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,320
At a certain point, however,
this conservative principle can
53
00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:41,720
lead to stagnation and decay if
there is no opportunity for
54
00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:46,040
change, growth, development and
modification.
55
00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:51,520
A fixed and unchanging response,
which lacks adaptability and
56
00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,920
flexibility, eventually fails
the test of nature.
57
00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:01,200
Nature thus has developed also
progressive principles that can
58
00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,560
lead to new manifestations and
changes in these deeply embedded
59
00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:09,040
responses.
Changes at this level can seem
60
00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:14,000
to be impossibly slow, but
eventually they take hold.
61
00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,880
The conservative nature and
principle of this mechanical
62
00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:23,480
consciousness will eventually
adopt the modification and then
63
00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:29,280
in its turn make it into a fixed
routine or dogmatic approach
64
00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,600
until the next phase of
development Finally can
65
00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,800
breakthrough the dense temasek
formation that is created.
66
00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:41,520
At that level, we can appreciate
that the vital force has a
67
00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:45,280
limited yet real power to
effectuate change in material
68
00:04:45,280 --> 00:04:48,560
nature.
The mental power has shown a
69
00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:52,280
greater capacity to bring about
change at the level of matter
70
00:04:52,840 --> 00:04:58,520
and the material consciousness.
Although this too is limited, we
71
00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:02,120
can understand that a new higher
power of consciousness and
72
00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:06,040
action, embodying the next phase
of the evolution of
73
00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:10,440
consciousness may be able to
create a faster and more supple
74
00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:14,640
response to understand and
breakthrough the resistance of
75
00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:19,160
the material consciousness.
While at the same time ensuring
76
00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:23,440
that this is not simply wild
change for the sake of change,
77
00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,640
but is actually bringing our
existence to its next level of
78
00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:32,080
fulfillment.
Sri Robindo notes quote.
79
00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,080
What you describe is the
material consciousness.
80
00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:40,880
It is mostly subconscient, but
the part of it that is conscious
81
00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:45,760
is mechanical, inertly moved by
habits or by the forces of the
82
00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:50,600
lower nature, always repeating
the same unintelligent and
83
00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:54,560
unenlightened movements.
It is attached to the routine
84
00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:58,640
and established rule of what
already exists, unwilling to
85
00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:03,760
change, unwilling to receive the
light or obey the higher force,
86
00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,600
Or if it is willing, then it is
unable.
87
00:06:08,280 --> 00:06:12,280
Or if it is able, then it turns
the action given to it by the
88
00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:17,760
light or the force into a new
mechanical routine, and so takes
89
00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:24,000
out of it all soul and life.
It is obscure, stupid, indolent,
90
00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:29,560
full of ignorance and inertia,
darkness and slowness of Thomas.
91
00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,240
It is this material
consciousness into which we are
92
00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:37,160
seeking to bring first the
higher divine or spiritual light
93
00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:42,680
and power and Ananda and then
the Super mental truth which is
94
00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,840
the object of our yoga.
End Quote.
95
00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:51,080
Reference Sri or Bindo Faces of
Yoga Chapter 5.
96
00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:55,520
Physical consciousness,
subconscious sleep and dream
97
00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,040
illness.
Pages 83 to 84.
00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:03,720
There is a proverb that says
that changing human nature is
2
00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:05,920
like trying to straighten out a
dog's tail.
3
00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:11,000
As soon as the hold is taken off
of the tail, it reverts to its
4
00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,320
usual shape.
When we reach the level of the
5
00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:18,320
material consciousness, we are
at the point where the solidity
6
00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,680
of matter makes change much more
challenging than in the more
7
00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,160
flexible levels of the mental
consciousness, the vital
8
00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:31,520
consciousness, etcetera.
Another proverb states that you
9
00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,960
cannot teach an old dog new
tricks.
10
00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,760
We all can recognize that
training the body to enhance the
11
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:44,840
capacity or skill set or
overcome some limitation is a
12
00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:49,600
process that takes time and much
consistency in order for it to
13
00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,440
be achieved.
There are, however, embedded
14
00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:56,840
deep in the physical
consciousness, layers of
15
00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:01,040
material consciousness that are
so dense and solid that they do
16
00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:04,920
not respond to our normal mental
and vital methods of exerting
17
00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:09,240
pressure for change.
At this level are what can be
18
00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,320
called reflexes.
The action is virtually
19
00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:15,560
automatic.
When a stimulus is applied in a
20
00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:19,960
certain place, the material
consciousness responds with a
21
00:01:19,960 --> 00:01:25,800
known and predictable response.
Some of these reflexes or
22
00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,560
mechanical reactions are
embedded in what we call
23
00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:32,480
instincts.
They are birds that build a nest
24
00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:36,080
in a very specific manner from
generation to generation.
25
00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:40,640
Salmon are known to return to
the exact location where they
26
00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,680
are born to spawn the next
generation.
27
00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,560
Monarch butterflies migrate
thousands of miles from Mexico
28
00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:53,360
to Canada and back, going and
coming to specific locales from
29
00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:59,080
generation to generation in
migrations that span 4 to 5
30
00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,400
generations of the monarch.
These types of instinctive
31
00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,560
behaviour are illustrative of
the way nature has fixed certain
32
00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,960
routines.
The individuals are replaced,
33
00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:17,280
the formations remain the same.
In a similar way, the human
34
00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,920
being also has some deeply
embedded behaviours that defy
35
00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:26,080
our attempts to modify them.
Alpha male behaviour and the
36
00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:28,760
response to that by others in
the society.
37
00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:34,840
Pecking orders, fight or flight
reactions, responses to trauma,
38
00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,000
the flood of various hormones
and neurotransmitters under
39
00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,680
specific conditions all
represent virtually automatic
40
00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:47,280
reactions.
Then there are the automatic
41
00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:51,080
reactions based in attraction,
repulsion, the survival
42
00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:56,400
instinct, disgust or revulsion,
trust and fear, hunger and
43
00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,280
thirst, all of which can arise
without our conscious
44
00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,160
intervention when certain forces
impinge upon us.
45
00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,160
These and other similar long
established habits of the nature
46
00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:13,560
are part of nature's process to
ensure that change does not
47
00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:18,000
devolve into chaos.
It establishes A conservative
48
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,040
principle to make change take
place through a long period of
49
00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:26,520
modification, testing, and
establishment of a new principle
50
00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,280
of action.
This occurs both at the
51
00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,840
individual level and at the
level of society.
52
00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,320
At a certain point, however,
this conservative principle can
53
00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:41,720
lead to stagnation and decay if
there is no opportunity for
54
00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:46,040
change, growth, development and
modification.
55
00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:51,520
A fixed and unchanging response,
which lacks adaptability and
56
00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,920
flexibility, eventually fails
the test of nature.
57
00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:01,200
Nature thus has developed also
progressive principles that can
58
00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,560
lead to new manifestations and
changes in these deeply embedded
59
00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:09,040
responses.
Changes at this level can seem
60
00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:14,000
to be impossibly slow, but
eventually they take hold.
61
00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,880
The conservative nature and
principle of this mechanical
62
00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:23,480
consciousness will eventually
adopt the modification and then
63
00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:29,280
in its turn make it into a fixed
routine or dogmatic approach
64
00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,600
until the next phase of
development Finally can
65
00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,800
breakthrough the dense temasek
formation that is created.
66
00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:41,520
At that level, we can appreciate
that the vital force has a
67
00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:45,280
limited yet real power to
effectuate change in material
68
00:04:45,280 --> 00:04:48,560
nature.
The mental power has shown a
69
00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:52,280
greater capacity to bring about
change at the level of matter
70
00:04:52,840 --> 00:04:58,520
and the material consciousness.
Although this too is limited, we
71
00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:02,120
can understand that a new higher
power of consciousness and
72
00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:06,040
action, embodying the next phase
of the evolution of
73
00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:10,440
consciousness may be able to
create a faster and more supple
74
00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:14,640
response to understand and
breakthrough the resistance of
75
00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:19,160
the material consciousness.
While at the same time ensuring
76
00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:23,440
that this is not simply wild
change for the sake of change,
77
00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,640
but is actually bringing our
existence to its next level of
78
00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:32,080
fulfillment.
Sri Robindo notes quote.
79
00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,080
What you describe is the
material consciousness.
80
00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:40,880
It is mostly subconscient, but
the part of it that is conscious
81
00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:45,760
is mechanical, inertly moved by
habits or by the forces of the
82
00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:50,600
lower nature, always repeating
the same unintelligent and
83
00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:54,560
unenlightened movements.
It is attached to the routine
84
00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:58,640
and established rule of what
already exists, unwilling to
85
00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:03,760
change, unwilling to receive the
light or obey the higher force,
86
00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,600
Or if it is willing, then it is
unable.
87
00:06:08,280 --> 00:06:12,280
Or if it is able, then it turns
the action given to it by the
88
00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:17,760
light or the force into a new
mechanical routine, and so takes
89
00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:24,000
out of it all soul and life.
It is obscure, stupid, indolent,
90
00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:29,560
full of ignorance and inertia,
darkness and slowness of Thomas.
91
00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,240
It is this material
consciousness into which we are
92
00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:37,160
seeking to bring first the
higher divine or spiritual light
93
00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:42,680
and power and Ananda and then
the Super mental truth which is
94
00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,840
the object of our yoga.
End Quote.
95
00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:51,080
Reference Sri or Bindo Faces of
Yoga Chapter 5.
96
00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:55,520
Physical consciousness,
subconscious sleep and dream
97
00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,040
illness.
Pages 83 to 84.
