Aug. 25, 2025
The Nature and Power of Peace
reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 156
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/08/23/the-nature-and-power-of-peace/
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1
00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:05,280
In the context of yogic
psychology, peace is not the
2
00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:11,200
absence of disturbance, just as
in the external World Peace is
3
00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:16,079
not the absence of war.
We generally define peace as a
4
00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,000
negative attribute.
As the seeker gains depth of
5
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:25,360
experience, however, it becomes
clear that peace is ultimately a
6
00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,360
very positive attribute.
The seeker can palpably
7
00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,000
experience peace as it reaches
various parts of his being.
8
00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:37,840
Peace in the mind can be
experienced as a serene,
9
00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:42,760
tranquil receptivity, like a
lake without any ripples in it,
10
00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:47,000
ready to accept the divine
wisdom and power that
11
00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:52,040
illuminates the mind.
Peace in the vital being can be
12
00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,920
experienced as a wide force that
is not shaken by disturbances
13
00:00:55,920 --> 00:01:01,880
from outside, nor the promptings
of desire or any uprushings of
14
00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:08,120
anger, fear, envy, or lust.
Peace in the physical being can
15
00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:12,960
be experienced as a solidity
that is immovable and at the
16
00:01:12,960 --> 00:01:17,240
same time ready and able to
respond to the demands and needs
17
00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:21,920
of the life.
Peace permeates and peace
18
00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,720
radiates.
Peace infuses its power into the
19
00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:30,240
entire being and provides the
Seeker a basis for opening,
20
00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:35,280
widening, accepting and
providing an atmosphere that
21
00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,920
fills.
There are legends of ancient
22
00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:43,080
Rishis who had their Hermitage
in the forest and who radiated
23
00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:48,120
such an atmosphere of peace that
even predators such as tigers
24
00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,600
would not attack any being
within that place.
25
00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,800
We can go look to our own
experience, however, to
26
00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,120
understand the nature of true
peace.
27
00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:05,080
Many people have had a sense
when they enter some locale of a
28
00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,440
deep sense of peace and
acceptance.
29
00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,760
For some it is by entering an
old growth forest.
30
00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,960
Some have that experience when
they feel the solitude of a
31
00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:21,160
desert or a mountain cave.
For others, it may be found in a
32
00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,760
temple or ashram.
They enter and immediately feel
33
00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,960
that whatever was troubling
their minds, their vital
34
00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:33,280
energies or their bodies simply
falls away.
35
00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:38,000
The experience of peace is not
limited to isolation or
36
00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,160
retreats.
Once an individual has the
37
00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,760
experience, it can be
cultivated, developed into a
38
00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:49,520
constant presence and be a
support to the external life one
39
00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,480
leads and the challenges one has
to face.
40
00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:57,840
Many people struggle to overcome
difficulties.
41
00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,680
They try various forms of
willpower or discipline.
42
00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:07,440
Once they have the constant
experience of peace, they find
43
00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,480
the struggle is no longer
needed.
44
00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,840
The difficulties and troubles
recede on their own as they
45
00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:18,320
cannot manifest in the positive
presence of true peace.
46
00:03:19,920 --> 00:03:24,160
Sriorobindu observes.
Quote It would be easier to get
47
00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:27,320
rid of wrong movements when you
bring down a settled peace and
48
00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:29,720
equanimity into that part of the
being.
49
00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:36,040
There will then be more of an
automatic rejection of such
50
00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:39,080
movements and less need of
tapasia.
51
00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:44,560
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
52
00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,560
Mother Looking from Within,
Chapter 5.
53
00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:51,760
Attitudes on the Path, page 156.
00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:05,280
In the context of yogic
psychology, peace is not the
2
00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:11,200
absence of disturbance, just as
in the external World Peace is
3
00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:16,079
not the absence of war.
We generally define peace as a
4
00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,000
negative attribute.
As the seeker gains depth of
5
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:25,360
experience, however, it becomes
clear that peace is ultimately a
6
00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,360
very positive attribute.
The seeker can palpably
7
00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,000
experience peace as it reaches
various parts of his being.
8
00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:37,840
Peace in the mind can be
experienced as a serene,
9
00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:42,760
tranquil receptivity, like a
lake without any ripples in it,
10
00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:47,000
ready to accept the divine
wisdom and power that
11
00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:52,040
illuminates the mind.
Peace in the vital being can be
12
00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,920
experienced as a wide force that
is not shaken by disturbances
13
00:00:55,920 --> 00:01:01,880
from outside, nor the promptings
of desire or any uprushings of
14
00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:08,120
anger, fear, envy, or lust.
Peace in the physical being can
15
00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:12,960
be experienced as a solidity
that is immovable and at the
16
00:01:12,960 --> 00:01:17,240
same time ready and able to
respond to the demands and needs
17
00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:21,920
of the life.
Peace permeates and peace
18
00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,720
radiates.
Peace infuses its power into the
19
00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:30,240
entire being and provides the
Seeker a basis for opening,
20
00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:35,280
widening, accepting and
providing an atmosphere that
21
00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,920
fills.
There are legends of ancient
22
00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:43,080
Rishis who had their Hermitage
in the forest and who radiated
23
00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:48,120
such an atmosphere of peace that
even predators such as tigers
24
00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,600
would not attack any being
within that place.
25
00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,800
We can go look to our own
experience, however, to
26
00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,120
understand the nature of true
peace.
27
00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:05,080
Many people have had a sense
when they enter some locale of a
28
00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,440
deep sense of peace and
acceptance.
29
00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,760
For some it is by entering an
old growth forest.
30
00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,960
Some have that experience when
they feel the solitude of a
31
00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:21,160
desert or a mountain cave.
For others, it may be found in a
32
00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,760
temple or ashram.
They enter and immediately feel
33
00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,960
that whatever was troubling
their minds, their vital
34
00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:33,280
energies or their bodies simply
falls away.
35
00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:38,000
The experience of peace is not
limited to isolation or
36
00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,160
retreats.
Once an individual has the
37
00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,760
experience, it can be
cultivated, developed into a
38
00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:49,520
constant presence and be a
support to the external life one
39
00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,480
leads and the challenges one has
to face.
40
00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:57,840
Many people struggle to overcome
difficulties.
41
00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,680
They try various forms of
willpower or discipline.
42
00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:07,440
Once they have the constant
experience of peace, they find
43
00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,480
the struggle is no longer
needed.
44
00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,840
The difficulties and troubles
recede on their own as they
45
00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:18,320
cannot manifest in the positive
presence of true peace.
46
00:03:19,920 --> 00:03:24,160
Sriorobindu observes.
Quote It would be easier to get
47
00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:27,320
rid of wrong movements when you
bring down a settled peace and
48
00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:29,720
equanimity into that part of the
being.
49
00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:36,040
There will then be more of an
automatic rejection of such
50
00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:39,080
movements and less need of
tapasia.
51
00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:44,560
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
52
00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,560
Mother Looking from Within,
Chapter 5.
53
00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:51,760
Attitudes on the Path, page 156.
