Aug. 8, 2025
The Need for a Sleepless Vigilance in the Yogic Sadhana
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 146This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/08/06/the-need-for-a-sleepless-vigilance-in-the-yogic-sadhana/
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
00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:04,800
Virtually everyone has had the
experience at some point or
2
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:09,320
another of finally overcoming a
particularly difficult internal
3
00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:14,560
issue, whether it is the force
of desire or not, responding
4
00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:19,480
with anger to things that do not
go as anticipated, or any number
5
00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,480
of other activities that take
place in the physical, the vital
6
00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:25,880
or the mental elements of the
being.
7
00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,800
And then, when one is feeling
satisfied that a real progress
8
00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:34,880
has been made, there is a
circumstance that demolishes
9
00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,960
that sense of accomplishment
with a recognition that one has
10
00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:44,120
once again given in to the
impulsion or the provocation and
11
00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,720
repeated what one thought was
done and gone.
12
00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:52,800
We frequently forget that our
inner psychology is not uniform
13
00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:57,360
and stable, rather it is made-up
of different parts of the being
14
00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:02,400
which have their own different
needs, desires, enjoyments and
15
00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:05,640
responses.
While at the same time there is
16
00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:10,040
the constant play of the three
gunas of nature, Thomas, Rajas
17
00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:15,720
and Sapwa that influence the
responses when Thomas is in the
18
00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,400
ascendant.
We can open ourselves at those
19
00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:23,560
times through inattention,
tiredness, carelessness, or
20
00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,720
through a low energy state that
is easily pushed into a
21
00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,400
response.
When rajas is in the ascendant,
22
00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:35,640
we may respond through desire or
a form of ambition, or some
23
00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:40,920
attitude of pride, of vanity,
and through our overconfidence,
24
00:01:41,320 --> 00:01:45,600
our rajasic arrogance.
We believe we can control and
25
00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:50,120
overpower what comes and thus do
not see how we are being
26
00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:54,800
manipulated to respond when
Suttwa is in the ascendant.
27
00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,280
We may respond through a belief
that we have overcome the
28
00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:02,320
influence of certain forces, or
we may have a response of the
29
00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,200
Suttwick ego that believes it is
passed.
30
00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:10,120
Beyond all of these issues,
these are simply examples of the
31
00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:15,080
ways we can be ensnared and
experience a return of movements
32
00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,440
that we had previously succeeded
in overcoming.
33
00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:23,160
Another important factor is the
way the work of transformation
34
00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,320
tends to take place.
The process is somewhat
35
00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,600
cyclical.
A progress is made in one area,
36
00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,920
which opens up the opportunity
for a next step in another part
37
00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:37,320
of the being.
The progress is not complete or
38
00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:41,160
definitive, but simply
sufficient to allow the
39
00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:45,680
development to take place.
Once the new capacity or energy
40
00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:49,840
has been stabilized, the focus
comes around again in a new
41
00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:54,120
cycle to further upgrade the
area that was initially changed.
42
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,640
The cyclical process ensures
that each element of the being
43
00:02:58,640 --> 00:03:03,440
is addressed at each succeeding
stage of progress comes forward.
44
00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,000
But it also means that what we
may have thought were
45
00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,840
accomplished changes were really
only partial adjustments.
46
00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:16,840
Until everything is completed,
nothing is truly completed.
47
00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:22,320
The same type of process takes
place at the societal level,
48
00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,320
such that any new level of
consciousness or action of force
49
00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,560
has to 1st have a prepared
general level of consciousness.
50
00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,600
Once it enters into the
mainstream of human activity and
51
00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:38,920
expands its action and
influence, a next stage becomes
52
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,600
possible for a further widening,
deepening and expanding of the
53
00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,560
new consciousness.
Thus change at the level of
54
00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:52,160
humanity is also partial,
progressive and cyclical in
55
00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:56,680
nature, and it must be
remembered that as long as a
56
00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:01,080
force is active somewhere in the
environment, in the generality
57
00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,840
of humanity, it maintains A
standpoint from which to
58
00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:10,120
infiltrate and affect any
specific individual if and when
59
00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,440
they are ever open to that
energy or vibration.
60
00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,320
It is this complex set of
interactions that makes the
61
00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:21,440
transformation process so
difficult and time consuming,
62
00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,480
and which then requires the
sleepless vigilance that
63
00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:32,200
Shriorovindo describes.
Shriorovindo notes quote only.
64
00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:36,720
You must remain vigilant always,
for when the condition is good,
65
00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,280
the lower movements have a habit
of subsiding and becoming
66
00:04:40,280 --> 00:04:44,640
quiescent, hiding as it were, or
they go out of the nature and
67
00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:48,760
remain at a distance.
But if they see that the sodic
68
00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:53,040
is losing vigilance, then they
slowly begin to rise or draw
69
00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:58,200
near, most often unseen, and
when he is quite off his guard,
70
00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,320
surge up suddenly or make a
sudden eruption.
71
00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:07,000
This continues until the whole
nature, mental, vital, physical,
72
00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:12,800
down to the very subconscious,
is enlightened, conscious, full
73
00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,600
of the Divine.
Till that happens, one must
74
00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:20,600
always remain watchful in a
sleepless vigilance.
75
00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:25,320
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
76
00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:28,440
Mother looking from within,
Chapter 5.
77
00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:32,200
Attitudes on the Path, page 146.
00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:04,800
Virtually everyone has had the
experience at some point or
2
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:09,320
another of finally overcoming a
particularly difficult internal
3
00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:14,560
issue, whether it is the force
of desire or not, responding
4
00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:19,480
with anger to things that do not
go as anticipated, or any number
5
00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,480
of other activities that take
place in the physical, the vital
6
00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:25,880
or the mental elements of the
being.
7
00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,800
And then, when one is feeling
satisfied that a real progress
8
00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:34,880
has been made, there is a
circumstance that demolishes
9
00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,960
that sense of accomplishment
with a recognition that one has
10
00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:44,120
once again given in to the
impulsion or the provocation and
11
00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,720
repeated what one thought was
done and gone.
12
00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:52,800
We frequently forget that our
inner psychology is not uniform
13
00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:57,360
and stable, rather it is made-up
of different parts of the being
14
00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:02,400
which have their own different
needs, desires, enjoyments and
15
00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:05,640
responses.
While at the same time there is
16
00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:10,040
the constant play of the three
gunas of nature, Thomas, Rajas
17
00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:15,720
and Sapwa that influence the
responses when Thomas is in the
18
00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,400
ascendant.
We can open ourselves at those
19
00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:23,560
times through inattention,
tiredness, carelessness, or
20
00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,720
through a low energy state that
is easily pushed into a
21
00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,400
response.
When rajas is in the ascendant,
22
00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:35,640
we may respond through desire or
a form of ambition, or some
23
00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:40,920
attitude of pride, of vanity,
and through our overconfidence,
24
00:01:41,320 --> 00:01:45,600
our rajasic arrogance.
We believe we can control and
25
00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:50,120
overpower what comes and thus do
not see how we are being
26
00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:54,800
manipulated to respond when
Suttwa is in the ascendant.
27
00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,280
We may respond through a belief
that we have overcome the
28
00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:02,320
influence of certain forces, or
we may have a response of the
29
00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,200
Suttwick ego that believes it is
passed.
30
00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:10,120
Beyond all of these issues,
these are simply examples of the
31
00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:15,080
ways we can be ensnared and
experience a return of movements
32
00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,440
that we had previously succeeded
in overcoming.
33
00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:23,160
Another important factor is the
way the work of transformation
34
00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,320
tends to take place.
The process is somewhat
35
00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,600
cyclical.
A progress is made in one area,
36
00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,920
which opens up the opportunity
for a next step in another part
37
00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:37,320
of the being.
The progress is not complete or
38
00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:41,160
definitive, but simply
sufficient to allow the
39
00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:45,680
development to take place.
Once the new capacity or energy
40
00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:49,840
has been stabilized, the focus
comes around again in a new
41
00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:54,120
cycle to further upgrade the
area that was initially changed.
42
00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,640
The cyclical process ensures
that each element of the being
43
00:02:58,640 --> 00:03:03,440
is addressed at each succeeding
stage of progress comes forward.
44
00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,000
But it also means that what we
may have thought were
45
00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,840
accomplished changes were really
only partial adjustments.
46
00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:16,840
Until everything is completed,
nothing is truly completed.
47
00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:22,320
The same type of process takes
place at the societal level,
48
00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,320
such that any new level of
consciousness or action of force
49
00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,560
has to 1st have a prepared
general level of consciousness.
50
00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,600
Once it enters into the
mainstream of human activity and
51
00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:38,920
expands its action and
influence, a next stage becomes
52
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,600
possible for a further widening,
deepening and expanding of the
53
00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,560
new consciousness.
Thus change at the level of
54
00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:52,160
humanity is also partial,
progressive and cyclical in
55
00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:56,680
nature, and it must be
remembered that as long as a
56
00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:01,080
force is active somewhere in the
environment, in the generality
57
00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,840
of humanity, it maintains A
standpoint from which to
58
00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:10,120
infiltrate and affect any
specific individual if and when
59
00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,440
they are ever open to that
energy or vibration.
60
00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,320
It is this complex set of
interactions that makes the
61
00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:21,440
transformation process so
difficult and time consuming,
62
00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,480
and which then requires the
sleepless vigilance that
63
00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:32,200
Shriorovindo describes.
Shriorovindo notes quote only.
64
00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:36,720
You must remain vigilant always,
for when the condition is good,
65
00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,280
the lower movements have a habit
of subsiding and becoming
66
00:04:40,280 --> 00:04:44,640
quiescent, hiding as it were, or
they go out of the nature and
67
00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:48,760
remain at a distance.
But if they see that the sodic
68
00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:53,040
is losing vigilance, then they
slowly begin to rise or draw
69
00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:58,200
near, most often unseen, and
when he is quite off his guard,
70
00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,320
surge up suddenly or make a
sudden eruption.
71
00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:07,000
This continues until the whole
nature, mental, vital, physical,
72
00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:12,800
down to the very subconscious,
is enlightened, conscious, full
73
00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,600
of the Divine.
Till that happens, one must
74
00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:20,600
always remain watchful in a
sleepless vigilance.
75
00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:25,320
End Quote.
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
76
00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:28,440
Mother looking from within,
Chapter 5.
77
00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:32,200
Attitudes on the Path, page 146.