May 30, 2024
The Need to Prepare the Being to Receive, Hold and Utilize the Influx of the Higher Forces
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch. 4 Cosmic and Universal Forces, pg 96 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/05/27/the-need-to-prepare-the-being-to-receive-hold-and-utilize-the-influx-of-the-higher-forces/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are all available 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 Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:06,120
The raw power generated by an
electricity power plant is far
2
00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:09,320
greater than any single house
can sustain.
3
00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,600
Thus, the utility company
utilizes step down Transformers
4
00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,240
to systematically bring the
power down to a level that the
5
00:00:18,240 --> 00:00:21,880
homes and the wiring to the
homes can sustain.
6
00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,600
A similar principle is at work
with regard to the universal
7
00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:30,960
forces and the ability of any
individual to receive and hold
8
00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,800
those forces.
This is the reason that much of
9
00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:39,320
the work done in any yogic
practice is to prepare the being
10
00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,920
to receive and utilize the force
that descends.
11
00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:46,880
Raja Yoga provides a great
example.
12
00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:52,480
The 1st 2 steps, Yama and
Niyama, include various vital
13
00:00:52,480 --> 00:00:56,400
purifications and control and
management of the vital forces
14
00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:01,360
active in the being such as non
injury, non stealing,
15
00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,920
truthfulness, contentment, et
cetera.
16
00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:10,000
If any of these vital
predilections is active, it can
17
00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,960
either misuse the energy coming
in or waste it without
18
00:01:13,960 --> 00:01:16,520
accomplishing the spiritual
objective.
19
00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,400
The next stage includes asana in
terms of maintaining a solid
20
00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,760
physical frame and capacity to
hold and move energy.
21
00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,840
While this is mostly associated
with the physical frame,
22
00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:35,920
actually the term asana can
signify the entire being at all
23
00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:39,400
its levels.
The goal of a solid seat,
24
00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:43,600
therefore, is to have a
framework, physical, vital and
25
00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:48,120
mental, that can hold the yogic
forces when they enter and are
26
00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:53,640
activated in the being.
The next step is pranayam, which
27
00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:58,280
is the management of the prana,
or the vital force that
28
00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,840
activates and operates within
the physical body.
29
00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:07,000
The prana is also the link
between the external forces and
30
00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,600
the physical frame and is
usually controlled through
31
00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:12,680
management of the breathing
process.
32
00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,600
There is a direct link also
between the management of the
33
00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,240
thoughts and the management of
the breath.
34
00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:23,680
So it is an essential step to
gain control of the breath,
35
00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,760
purify the channels through
which the various forms of prana
36
00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:32,640
move, and bring the thoughts
also under control, eventually
37
00:02:32,640 --> 00:02:35,840
leading to a quieting of the
mental process.
38
00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:40,560
It is only after these four
preliminary stages are
39
00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:45,120
accomplished that Raja Yoga
moves on to the deeper practices
40
00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:49,120
that bring direct connection to
the spiritual reality and the
41
00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,720
forces that are at work at those
levels.
42
00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:58,520
A disciple asks, quote, sweet
mother, do the universal vital
43
00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:00,640
forces have any limits?
End Quote.
44
00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,040
The mother answers, quote.
I don't think that forces have a
45
00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,680
limit because in comparison with
us they are certainly unlimited,
46
00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,520
but it's our capacity of
reception that is limited.
47
00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:19,120
We cannot absorb them beyond a
certain measure, and then we
48
00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:23,560
must keep a balance between the
expenditure and the capacity to
49
00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:27,720
receive.
If one spends suddenly in a kind
50
00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:32,760
of impulse, for example in an
impulsive movement, if one
51
00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,640
spends much more than one has
received, one needs a brief
52
00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:42,680
moment of concentration, calm
receptivity, to absorb universal
53
00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,520
forces.
You must put yourself in a
54
00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:50,200
certain condition to receive
them, and then they last for a
55
00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,680
certain time and once you have
spent them, you must begin again
56
00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,960
to receive them.
It is in this sense that there
57
00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,840
are limits.
It isn't the forces that are
58
00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:09,120
limited, it is the receptivity.
End Quote reference Shriyaro
59
00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:13,320
Bindu and the Mother, The Hidden
Forces of life, Chapter 4.
60
00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,240
Cosmic and Universal Forces,
page 96.
00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:06,120
The raw power generated by an
electricity power plant is far
2
00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:09,320
greater than any single house
can sustain.
3
00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,600
Thus, the utility company
utilizes step down Transformers
4
00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,240
to systematically bring the
power down to a level that the
5
00:00:18,240 --> 00:00:21,880
homes and the wiring to the
homes can sustain.
6
00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,600
A similar principle is at work
with regard to the universal
7
00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:30,960
forces and the ability of any
individual to receive and hold
8
00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,800
those forces.
This is the reason that much of
9
00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:39,320
the work done in any yogic
practice is to prepare the being
10
00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,920
to receive and utilize the force
that descends.
11
00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:46,880
Raja Yoga provides a great
example.
12
00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:52,480
The 1st 2 steps, Yama and
Niyama, include various vital
13
00:00:52,480 --> 00:00:56,400
purifications and control and
management of the vital forces
14
00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:01,360
active in the being such as non
injury, non stealing,
15
00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,920
truthfulness, contentment, et
cetera.
16
00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:10,000
If any of these vital
predilections is active, it can
17
00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,960
either misuse the energy coming
in or waste it without
18
00:01:13,960 --> 00:01:16,520
accomplishing the spiritual
objective.
19
00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,400
The next stage includes asana in
terms of maintaining a solid
20
00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,760
physical frame and capacity to
hold and move energy.
21
00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,840
While this is mostly associated
with the physical frame,
22
00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:35,920
actually the term asana can
signify the entire being at all
23
00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:39,400
its levels.
The goal of a solid seat,
24
00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:43,600
therefore, is to have a
framework, physical, vital and
25
00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:48,120
mental, that can hold the yogic
forces when they enter and are
26
00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:53,640
activated in the being.
The next step is pranayam, which
27
00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:58,280
is the management of the prana,
or the vital force that
28
00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,840
activates and operates within
the physical body.
29
00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:07,000
The prana is also the link
between the external forces and
30
00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,600
the physical frame and is
usually controlled through
31
00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:12,680
management of the breathing
process.
32
00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,600
There is a direct link also
between the management of the
33
00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,240
thoughts and the management of
the breath.
34
00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:23,680
So it is an essential step to
gain control of the breath,
35
00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,760
purify the channels through
which the various forms of prana
36
00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:32,640
move, and bring the thoughts
also under control, eventually
37
00:02:32,640 --> 00:02:35,840
leading to a quieting of the
mental process.
38
00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:40,560
It is only after these four
preliminary stages are
39
00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:45,120
accomplished that Raja Yoga
moves on to the deeper practices
40
00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:49,120
that bring direct connection to
the spiritual reality and the
41
00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,720
forces that are at work at those
levels.
42
00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:58,520
A disciple asks, quote, sweet
mother, do the universal vital
43
00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:00,640
forces have any limits?
End Quote.
44
00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,040
The mother answers, quote.
I don't think that forces have a
45
00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,680
limit because in comparison with
us they are certainly unlimited,
46
00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,520
but it's our capacity of
reception that is limited.
47
00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:19,120
We cannot absorb them beyond a
certain measure, and then we
48
00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:23,560
must keep a balance between the
expenditure and the capacity to
49
00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:27,720
receive.
If one spends suddenly in a kind
50
00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:32,760
of impulse, for example in an
impulsive movement, if one
51
00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,640
spends much more than one has
received, one needs a brief
52
00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:42,680
moment of concentration, calm
receptivity, to absorb universal
53
00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,520
forces.
You must put yourself in a
54
00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:50,200
certain condition to receive
them, and then they last for a
55
00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,680
certain time and once you have
spent them, you must begin again
56
00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,960
to receive them.
It is in this sense that there
57
00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,840
are limits.
It isn't the forces that are
58
00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:09,120
limited, it is the receptivity.
End Quote reference Shriyaro
59
00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:13,320
Bindu and the Mother, The Hidden
Forces of life, Chapter 4.
60
00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:18,240
Cosmic and Universal Forces,
page 96.