May 21, 2025
The Need to Employ the Searchlight on Every Aspect of One's Being
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within , Chapter 4, Ordeals and Difficulties, pp.81-83
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/05/19/the-need-to-employ-the-searchlight-on-every-aspect-of-ones-being/
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
00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:05,400
In its essence, yoga is a form
of applied psychology.
2
00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,280
The practitioner of yoga is
attempting to redirect the
3
00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:14,720
focus, the responses and the
reactions of the being, in many
4
00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:19,280
cases having to overcome deeply
rooted and embedded instincts,
5
00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:24,960
habits and trained responses, as
well as the forces of desire,
6
00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,720
physical sensations, cravings
and mental predilections.
7
00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,040
The development takes place by a
refocusing the being on the
8
00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:39,320
higher principles or forces and
then by a systematic rejection
9
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:44,800
of the uprising of lower forces
which try to distract, distort
10
00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,280
or dilute the action of the
higher force.
11
00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,920
The review of the normal and
obscure reactions of the lower
12
00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:57,040
being becomes an important part
of the sadhna as the seeker
13
00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:01,320
grapples with the realities of
changing human nature within his
14
00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:05,680
own being.
The mother advises of the need
15
00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:10,040
to turn the inner Searchlight on
to all the hidden, obscure and
16
00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:14,240
dark places in the nature.
This is sometimes compared to
17
00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:19,080
the process of psychotherapy in
the West, but in reality it is a
18
00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:23,320
vastly different process with
dramatically different leverage
19
00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:27,040
and outcomes.
Psychotherapy does not start
20
00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,480
from the principle of radically
changing and upgrading human
21
00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:33,920
nature.
Rather, it tries to help an
22
00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:38,200
individual cope with forces
within the context of the normal
23
00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:40,600
expectations of living in
society.
24
00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:45,840
Second, psychotherapy does not
first develop the connection and
25
00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:51,160
link to the psychic being or the
spiritual force, so as it
26
00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,680
explores the inner obscure
depths, it does not have a power
27
00:01:55,680 --> 00:02:00,200
already developed to deal with
these forces and the uprisings
28
00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:04,960
they precipitate.
In many cases, psychotherapy is
29
00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,960
stirring up things that can lead
to serious confusion or setbacks
30
00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:14,200
for an individual, whereas the
systematic inner Searchlight is
31
00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:18,960
based first and foremost on the
ground of the separation of the
32
00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:23,400
witness consciousness from the
external nature, a place of
33
00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:28,320
detachment and observation.
This provides enormous leverage
34
00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:32,000
for dealing with the reactions
that arise during this review.
35
00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:38,280
The mother notes quote.
There is one part of the being
36
00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:42,240
which has an aspiration, there
is one part of the being which
37
00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:47,280
gives itself, and there are
other parts, sometimes a small
38
00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:52,720
part, sometimes a big one, which
hides nicely right at the bottom
39
00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:57,440
and keeps absolutely quiet, so
that it may not be found out,
40
00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:03,360
but which resists with all its
might so as not to change.
41
00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:08,400
Hidden somewhere there is a tiny
something which is well coiled
42
00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:15,000
up in there, doubled up, turned
in upon itself and well hidden
43
00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:20,880
right at the bottom as at the
bottom of a box which refuses to
44
00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,840
stir.
Mother speaks very softly.
45
00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:32,640
So when the effort, the
aspiration wave, die down, this
46
00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:38,160
springs up like that, gently,
and then it wants to impose its
47
00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:42,880
will and makes you do exactly
what you did not want to do,
48
00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:48,280
what you had decided you would
not do, and which you do without
49
00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:52,160
knowing how or why.
Because that thing was there.
50
00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:57,400
It had its turn for small
things, big things, for the
51
00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,200
details, even for the direction
of life.
52
00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:06,600
There are people who see
clearly, who know so well what
53
00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,920
they ought to do, and who feel
that they can't.
54
00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:14,400
They don't know why.
It is nothing else but that
55
00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:18,079
there is a little spot which
doesn't want to change, and this
56
00:04:18,079 --> 00:04:21,320
little spot awaits its hour and
the day.
57
00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:27,520
It is allowed through laxity,
fatigue, somnolence, through a
58
00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,800
little inertia, allowed to show
itself.
59
00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,040
It will show itself with all
concentrated, accumulated
60
00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:40,400
energy, and will make you do,
will make you say, will make you
61
00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,400
feel, make you act.
Exactly.
62
00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,960
Contrary to what you had decided
to do.
63
00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:54,400
And you will stand there.
Ah, how discouraging this is
64
00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:57,800
then.
Some people say fate.
65
00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,280
They think it is their fate.
It is not fate, it is
66
00:05:02,280 --> 00:05:05,400
themselves.
It is that they don't have
67
00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:08,920
haven't used the light, the
Searchlight.
68
00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,520
They have not turned the
Searchlight into the small
69
00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:16,360
hidden corners of our being.
They haven't discovered what was
70
00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,040
well hidden.
They have left it there, and
71
00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:24,720
they have done this.
Mother turns away her head so as
72
00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,360
not to see it.
How many times one suddenly
73
00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,840
feels 1 is on the point of
catching something.
74
00:05:32,280 --> 00:05:34,920
It hurts a little.
It is troublesome.
75
00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:39,040
So one thinks of something else
and that's all.
76
00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:44,600
The opportunity has gone.
One must wait for another
77
00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:49,640
occasion again, commit a few
stupidities before being able to
78
00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:55,280
find an opportunity to catch the
thing by the tail like this, or
79
00:05:55,280 --> 00:06:01,840
by the ear or the nose, and hold
it firmly and say no, you won't
80
00:06:01,840 --> 00:06:06,400
hide any longer.
Now I see you as you are, and
81
00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,040
you must either get out or
change.
82
00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:15,440
End Quote Reference Crioro,
Bindu and the Mother Looking
83
00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:21,440
from Within, Chapter 4, Ordeals
and Difficulties, pages 81 to
84
00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:22,240
83.
00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:05,400
In its essence, yoga is a form
of applied psychology.
2
00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,280
The practitioner of yoga is
attempting to redirect the
3
00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:14,720
focus, the responses and the
reactions of the being, in many
4
00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:19,280
cases having to overcome deeply
rooted and embedded instincts,
5
00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:24,960
habits and trained responses, as
well as the forces of desire,
6
00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,720
physical sensations, cravings
and mental predilections.
7
00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,040
The development takes place by a
refocusing the being on the
8
00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:39,320
higher principles or forces and
then by a systematic rejection
9
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:44,800
of the uprising of lower forces
which try to distract, distort
10
00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,280
or dilute the action of the
higher force.
11
00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,920
The review of the normal and
obscure reactions of the lower
12
00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:57,040
being becomes an important part
of the sadhna as the seeker
13
00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:01,320
grapples with the realities of
changing human nature within his
14
00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:05,680
own being.
The mother advises of the need
15
00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:10,040
to turn the inner Searchlight on
to all the hidden, obscure and
16
00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:14,240
dark places in the nature.
This is sometimes compared to
17
00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:19,080
the process of psychotherapy in
the West, but in reality it is a
18
00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:23,320
vastly different process with
dramatically different leverage
19
00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:27,040
and outcomes.
Psychotherapy does not start
20
00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,480
from the principle of radically
changing and upgrading human
21
00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:33,920
nature.
Rather, it tries to help an
22
00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:38,200
individual cope with forces
within the context of the normal
23
00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:40,600
expectations of living in
society.
24
00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:45,840
Second, psychotherapy does not
first develop the connection and
25
00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:51,160
link to the psychic being or the
spiritual force, so as it
26
00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,680
explores the inner obscure
depths, it does not have a power
27
00:01:55,680 --> 00:02:00,200
already developed to deal with
these forces and the uprisings
28
00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:04,960
they precipitate.
In many cases, psychotherapy is
29
00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,960
stirring up things that can lead
to serious confusion or setbacks
30
00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:14,200
for an individual, whereas the
systematic inner Searchlight is
31
00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:18,960
based first and foremost on the
ground of the separation of the
32
00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:23,400
witness consciousness from the
external nature, a place of
33
00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:28,320
detachment and observation.
This provides enormous leverage
34
00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:32,000
for dealing with the reactions
that arise during this review.
35
00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:38,280
The mother notes quote.
There is one part of the being
36
00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:42,240
which has an aspiration, there
is one part of the being which
37
00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:47,280
gives itself, and there are
other parts, sometimes a small
38
00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:52,720
part, sometimes a big one, which
hides nicely right at the bottom
39
00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:57,440
and keeps absolutely quiet, so
that it may not be found out,
40
00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:03,360
but which resists with all its
might so as not to change.
41
00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:08,400
Hidden somewhere there is a tiny
something which is well coiled
42
00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:15,000
up in there, doubled up, turned
in upon itself and well hidden
43
00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:20,880
right at the bottom as at the
bottom of a box which refuses to
44
00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,840
stir.
Mother speaks very softly.
45
00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:32,640
So when the effort, the
aspiration wave, die down, this
46
00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:38,160
springs up like that, gently,
and then it wants to impose its
47
00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:42,880
will and makes you do exactly
what you did not want to do,
48
00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:48,280
what you had decided you would
not do, and which you do without
49
00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:52,160
knowing how or why.
Because that thing was there.
50
00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:57,400
It had its turn for small
things, big things, for the
51
00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:01,200
details, even for the direction
of life.
52
00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:06,600
There are people who see
clearly, who know so well what
53
00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,920
they ought to do, and who feel
that they can't.
54
00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:14,400
They don't know why.
It is nothing else but that
55
00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:18,079
there is a little spot which
doesn't want to change, and this
56
00:04:18,079 --> 00:04:21,320
little spot awaits its hour and
the day.
57
00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:27,520
It is allowed through laxity,
fatigue, somnolence, through a
58
00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,800
little inertia, allowed to show
itself.
59
00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,040
It will show itself with all
concentrated, accumulated
60
00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:40,400
energy, and will make you do,
will make you say, will make you
61
00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,400
feel, make you act.
Exactly.
62
00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,960
Contrary to what you had decided
to do.
63
00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:54,400
And you will stand there.
Ah, how discouraging this is
64
00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:57,800
then.
Some people say fate.
65
00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,280
They think it is their fate.
It is not fate, it is
66
00:05:02,280 --> 00:05:05,400
themselves.
It is that they don't have
67
00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:08,920
haven't used the light, the
Searchlight.
68
00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,520
They have not turned the
Searchlight into the small
69
00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:16,360
hidden corners of our being.
They haven't discovered what was
70
00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,040
well hidden.
They have left it there, and
71
00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:24,720
they have done this.
Mother turns away her head so as
72
00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,360
not to see it.
How many times one suddenly
73
00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,840
feels 1 is on the point of
catching something.
74
00:05:32,280 --> 00:05:34,920
It hurts a little.
It is troublesome.
75
00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:39,040
So one thinks of something else
and that's all.
76
00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:44,600
The opportunity has gone.
One must wait for another
77
00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:49,640
occasion again, commit a few
stupidities before being able to
78
00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:55,280
find an opportunity to catch the
thing by the tail like this, or
79
00:05:55,280 --> 00:06:01,840
by the ear or the nose, and hold
it firmly and say no, you won't
80
00:06:01,840 --> 00:06:06,400
hide any longer.
Now I see you as you are, and
81
00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,040
you must either get out or
change.
82
00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:15,440
End Quote Reference Crioro,
Bindu and the Mother Looking
83
00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:21,440
from Within, Chapter 4, Ordeals
and Difficulties, pages 81 to
84
00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:22,240
83.