Jan. 24, 2026
The Need for Action of the Psychic Being in the Yoga of Transformation of Human Nature
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 4, Desire — Food — Sex, pp. 81-82
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/01/22/the-need-for-action-of-the-psychic-being-in-the-yoga-of-transformation-of-human-nature/
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 #psychic being #soul #Divine Shakti #yoga of transformation #evolution of consciousness
1
00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:05,640
In a certain sense, pursuing one
of the paths that lead to
2
00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:10,240
liberation from human life is
actually simpler and less
3
00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:14,600
complicated than a path that
calls for the total change and
4
00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:19,560
transformation of human nature.
In the first case, the seeker
5
00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,960
can choose to disregard the
external life and the external
6
00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:28,120
nature, focus on the spiritual
objective, and with sufficient
7
00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:32,400
concentration can reach the
objective, whether it is called
8
00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:37,600
liberation, moksha or Nirvana,
or possible attainment of heaven
9
00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,960
after the death of the body.
To the extent that such
10
00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:46,240
realizations depend on a
particular form of concentration
11
00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:51,680
and removal of distractions to
that concentration, there may be
12
00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,360
a similar path for at least some
time as the seeker learns how to
13
00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,880
undertake tapasya concentration
of conscious force.
14
00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:06,040
After some time, however, the
differences begin to appear
15
00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,160
between those who seek
liberation through abandonment
16
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:13,840
of the external world of action
and those who participate in a
17
00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:18,760
process of transformation that
necessarily involve both the
18
00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:23,720
initial need for tapasia and a
new relationship to the external
19
00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:29,240
life and the external world.
The integral yoga clearly
20
00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,240
defines its objective as one of
transformation.
21
00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:37,000
The question arises whether this
can be done through the normal
22
00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:42,200
means of isolation, vital
suppression, mental focus and
23
00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:46,840
concentration of the mental
willpower, prayer, dedication
24
00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:52,320
and devotion, or whether some
new force or power is required
25
00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:57,240
to overcome the deeply embedded
elements of physical, vital and
26
00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,840
mental powers active in the
external being.
27
00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,600
After much review and many
attempts with various methods,
28
00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:11,440
Srioro Bindo has made it clear
that the Yoga of Transformation
29
00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:15,320
that involves the dissent and
action of a next stage of the
30
00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,480
evolution of consciousness is
not something that can be
31
00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,920
achieved solely by the action of
the mental will or the desire
32
00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:27,320
soul or the physical body's
capacities.
33
00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:32,560
The new higher spiritual force
is needed to understand and act
34
00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:37,080
upon the obstructions,
limitations, embedded instincts
35
00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,360
and habits, trained responses of
the nature.
36
00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:45,760
This is called forth through the
action of the psychic being, the
37
00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:50,520
soul within that is in contact
with the higher spiritual powers
38
00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,880
and which can tune, focus and
disseminate the action of the
39
00:02:54,880 --> 00:03:00,760
spiritual power, infusing it
into the mind, the vital energy
40
00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:06,000
and the body.
Sri Orbindo writes quote.
41
00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,760
Your difficulty in getting rid
of the aboriginal in your nature
42
00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:15,040
will remain so long as you try
to change your vital part by the
43
00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:19,600
sole or main strength of your
mind and mental will, calling in
44
00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:24,120
at most an indefinite and
impersonal divine power to aid
45
00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,840
you.
It is an old difficulty which
46
00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,360
has never been radically solved
in life itself, because it has
47
00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:36,280
never been met in the true way.
In many ways of Yoga it does not
48
00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,920
so supremely matter, because the
aim is not a transformed life,
49
00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:45,320
but withdrawal from life.
When that is the object of an
50
00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:49,680
endeavour.
It may be sufficient to keep the
51
00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:54,520
vital down by a mental and moral
compulsion, or else it may be
52
00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:58,320
stilled and kept lying in a kind
of sleep and quiescence.
53
00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:03,000
There are some even who allow it
to run and exhaust itself if it
54
00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:07,840
can, while its possessor
professes to be untouched and
55
00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:13,320
unconcerned by it, For it is
only old nature running on by a
56
00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:18,240
past impetus, and will drop off
with the fall of the body.
57
00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:23,840
When none of these solutions can
be attained, the Sodic sometimes
58
00:04:23,840 --> 00:04:27,880
simply leads a double inner
life, divided between his
59
00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:32,360
spiritual experiences and his
vital weaknesses to the end,
60
00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:37,920
making the most of his better
part, making as little as may be
61
00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:41,920
of the outer being.
But none of these methods will
62
00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:46,360
do for our purpose.
If you want a true mastery and
63
00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:50,480
transformation of the vital
movements, it can be done only
64
00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:55,040
on condition you allow your
psychic being, the soul in you,
65
00:04:55,400 --> 00:05:01,800
to awake fully to establish its
rule and, opening to all the
66
00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:06,200
permanent touch of the Divine
Shakti, impose its own way of
67
00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,640
pure devotion, wholehearted
aspiration and complete
68
00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:17,040
uncompromising urge to all that
is divine on the mind and heart
69
00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:22,520
and vital nature.
There is no other way, and it is
70
00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,640
no use hankering after a more
comfortable path.
71
00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:33,960
Nanya ha panta vigete ianaya.
End Quote, reference.
72
00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:41,160
Srioro Bindo, Bases of Yoga,
Chapter 4 Desire Food Sex, pages
73
00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:42,640
81 to 82.
00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:05,640
In a certain sense, pursuing one
of the paths that lead to
2
00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:10,240
liberation from human life is
actually simpler and less
3
00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:14,600
complicated than a path that
calls for the total change and
4
00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:19,560
transformation of human nature.
In the first case, the seeker
5
00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,960
can choose to disregard the
external life and the external
6
00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:28,120
nature, focus on the spiritual
objective, and with sufficient
7
00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:32,400
concentration can reach the
objective, whether it is called
8
00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:37,600
liberation, moksha or Nirvana,
or possible attainment of heaven
9
00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,960
after the death of the body.
To the extent that such
10
00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:46,240
realizations depend on a
particular form of concentration
11
00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:51,680
and removal of distractions to
that concentration, there may be
12
00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,360
a similar path for at least some
time as the seeker learns how to
13
00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,880
undertake tapasya concentration
of conscious force.
14
00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:06,040
After some time, however, the
differences begin to appear
15
00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,160
between those who seek
liberation through abandonment
16
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:13,840
of the external world of action
and those who participate in a
17
00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:18,760
process of transformation that
necessarily involve both the
18
00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:23,720
initial need for tapasia and a
new relationship to the external
19
00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:29,240
life and the external world.
The integral yoga clearly
20
00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,240
defines its objective as one of
transformation.
21
00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:37,000
The question arises whether this
can be done through the normal
22
00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:42,200
means of isolation, vital
suppression, mental focus and
23
00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:46,840
concentration of the mental
willpower, prayer, dedication
24
00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:52,320
and devotion, or whether some
new force or power is required
25
00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:57,240
to overcome the deeply embedded
elements of physical, vital and
26
00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,840
mental powers active in the
external being.
27
00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,600
After much review and many
attempts with various methods,
28
00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:11,440
Srioro Bindo has made it clear
that the Yoga of Transformation
29
00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:15,320
that involves the dissent and
action of a next stage of the
30
00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,480
evolution of consciousness is
not something that can be
31
00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,920
achieved solely by the action of
the mental will or the desire
32
00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:27,320
soul or the physical body's
capacities.
33
00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:32,560
The new higher spiritual force
is needed to understand and act
34
00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:37,080
upon the obstructions,
limitations, embedded instincts
35
00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,360
and habits, trained responses of
the nature.
36
00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:45,760
This is called forth through the
action of the psychic being, the
37
00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:50,520
soul within that is in contact
with the higher spiritual powers
38
00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,880
and which can tune, focus and
disseminate the action of the
39
00:02:54,880 --> 00:03:00,760
spiritual power, infusing it
into the mind, the vital energy
40
00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:06,000
and the body.
Sri Orbindo writes quote.
41
00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,760
Your difficulty in getting rid
of the aboriginal in your nature
42
00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:15,040
will remain so long as you try
to change your vital part by the
43
00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:19,600
sole or main strength of your
mind and mental will, calling in
44
00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:24,120
at most an indefinite and
impersonal divine power to aid
45
00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,840
you.
It is an old difficulty which
46
00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,360
has never been radically solved
in life itself, because it has
47
00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:36,280
never been met in the true way.
In many ways of Yoga it does not
48
00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,920
so supremely matter, because the
aim is not a transformed life,
49
00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:45,320
but withdrawal from life.
When that is the object of an
50
00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:49,680
endeavour.
It may be sufficient to keep the
51
00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:54,520
vital down by a mental and moral
compulsion, or else it may be
52
00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:58,320
stilled and kept lying in a kind
of sleep and quiescence.
53
00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:03,000
There are some even who allow it
to run and exhaust itself if it
54
00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:07,840
can, while its possessor
professes to be untouched and
55
00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:13,320
unconcerned by it, For it is
only old nature running on by a
56
00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:18,240
past impetus, and will drop off
with the fall of the body.
57
00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:23,840
When none of these solutions can
be attained, the Sodic sometimes
58
00:04:23,840 --> 00:04:27,880
simply leads a double inner
life, divided between his
59
00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:32,360
spiritual experiences and his
vital weaknesses to the end,
60
00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:37,920
making the most of his better
part, making as little as may be
61
00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:41,920
of the outer being.
But none of these methods will
62
00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:46,360
do for our purpose.
If you want a true mastery and
63
00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:50,480
transformation of the vital
movements, it can be done only
64
00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:55,040
on condition you allow your
psychic being, the soul in you,
65
00:04:55,400 --> 00:05:01,800
to awake fully to establish its
rule and, opening to all the
66
00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:06,200
permanent touch of the Divine
Shakti, impose its own way of
67
00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,640
pure devotion, wholehearted
aspiration and complete
68
00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:17,040
uncompromising urge to all that
is divine on the mind and heart
69
00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:22,520
and vital nature.
There is no other way, and it is
70
00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,640
no use hankering after a more
comfortable path.
71
00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:33,960
Nanya ha panta vigete ianaya.
End Quote, reference.
72
00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:41,160
Srioro Bindo, Bases of Yoga,
Chapter 4 Desire Food Sex, pages
73
00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:42,640
81 to 82.
