Nov. 21, 2025
The Needed Effort to Resolve the Deformations of the Lower Vital Nature
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 3, In Difficulty, pg. 42This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/11/19/the-needed-effort-to-resolve-the-deformations-of-the-lower-vital-nature/
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#Sri Aurobindo #yoga #integral yoga #lower vital
1
00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:05,000
In his application of yoga as
applied psychology, Sri
2
00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,400
Aurobindo identifies a number of
different planes and parts of
3
00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,360
the being that make up the human
individual.
4
00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,400
There are various levels of
mind, vital being, and physical
5
00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,640
being.
Each level carries out specific
6
00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:24,440
types of functions and responds
to specific vibrational patterns
7
00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,320
and is generally activated
through the energy that flows
8
00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:31,600
through one of the subtle energy
centers or chakras.
9
00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,000
The lower vital being is closely
associated with the energy of
10
00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,720
the second chakra between the
root chakra at the base of the
11
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:44,720
spine and the naval centre.
It is responsible for a wide
12
00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,400
variety of vital movements and
responses in the being.
13
00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,480
In its normal human working it
tends to hold a number of
14
00:00:52,480 --> 00:00:57,720
obscure and deformed energetic
movements that eventually need
15
00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:02,200
to be taken up and transformed.
As the yogic force penetrates
16
00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:07,320
ever deeper into the being, the
lower vital handles the basic
17
00:01:07,320 --> 00:01:11,360
vital drives of the being close
to the physical being and very
18
00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:15,400
much interconnected.
Deformations of the lower vital
19
00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:20,960
include converting these drives
into ego centered desired filled
20
00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:27,640
motivations which might include
jealousy, envy, greed, gluttony,
21
00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,400
irritation and angry reactions
et cetera.
22
00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,480
It is these deformations that
keep the focus on the individual
23
00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:41,200
ego personality and which
distort the true action of the
24
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:45,840
energy that operates through the
2nd chakra, Sri Aurobindo
25
00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,320
writes.
Quote The lower vital in most
26
00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,280
human beings is full of grave
defects and of movements that
27
00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:58,640
respond to hostile forces.
A constant psychic opening, a
28
00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,800
persistent rejection of these
influences, a separation of
29
00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:07,600
oneself from all hostile
suggestions, and the inflow of
30
00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:13,640
the calm, light, peace, purity
of the Mother's power would
31
00:02:13,640 --> 00:02:16,160
eventually free the system from
the siege.
32
00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:21,600
What is needed is to be quiet
and more and more quiet.
33
00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,760
To look on these influences is
something not yourself which has
34
00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:30,000
intruded to separate yourself
from it and deny it, and to
35
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,080
abide in a quiet confidence in
the divine power.
36
00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:39,640
If your psychic being asks for
the divine, and your mind is
37
00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:44,360
sincere and calls for liberation
from the lower nature and from
38
00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:49,320
all hostile forces, and if you
can call the Mother's power into
39
00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:54,200
your heart and rely upon it more
than on your own strength, this
40
00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:58,600
siege will in the end be driven
away from you, and strength and
41
00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:04,600
peace take its place.
End Quote reference Sri
42
00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:10,160
Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga,
Chapter 3 in difficulty, page
43
00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:10,920
42.
00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:05,000
In his application of yoga as
applied psychology, Sri
2
00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,400
Aurobindo identifies a number of
different planes and parts of
3
00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,360
the being that make up the human
individual.
4
00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,400
There are various levels of
mind, vital being, and physical
5
00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,640
being.
Each level carries out specific
6
00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:24,440
types of functions and responds
to specific vibrational patterns
7
00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,320
and is generally activated
through the energy that flows
8
00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:31,600
through one of the subtle energy
centers or chakras.
9
00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,000
The lower vital being is closely
associated with the energy of
10
00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,720
the second chakra between the
root chakra at the base of the
11
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:44,720
spine and the naval centre.
It is responsible for a wide
12
00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,400
variety of vital movements and
responses in the being.
13
00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,480
In its normal human working it
tends to hold a number of
14
00:00:52,480 --> 00:00:57,720
obscure and deformed energetic
movements that eventually need
15
00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:02,200
to be taken up and transformed.
As the yogic force penetrates
16
00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:07,320
ever deeper into the being, the
lower vital handles the basic
17
00:01:07,320 --> 00:01:11,360
vital drives of the being close
to the physical being and very
18
00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:15,400
much interconnected.
Deformations of the lower vital
19
00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:20,960
include converting these drives
into ego centered desired filled
20
00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:27,640
motivations which might include
jealousy, envy, greed, gluttony,
21
00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,400
irritation and angry reactions
et cetera.
22
00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,480
It is these deformations that
keep the focus on the individual
23
00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:41,200
ego personality and which
distort the true action of the
24
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:45,840
energy that operates through the
2nd chakra, Sri Aurobindo
25
00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,320
writes.
Quote The lower vital in most
26
00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,280
human beings is full of grave
defects and of movements that
27
00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:58,640
respond to hostile forces.
A constant psychic opening, a
28
00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,800
persistent rejection of these
influences, a separation of
29
00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:07,600
oneself from all hostile
suggestions, and the inflow of
30
00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:13,640
the calm, light, peace, purity
of the Mother's power would
31
00:02:13,640 --> 00:02:16,160
eventually free the system from
the siege.
32
00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:21,600
What is needed is to be quiet
and more and more quiet.
33
00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,760
To look on these influences is
something not yourself which has
34
00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:30,000
intruded to separate yourself
from it and deny it, and to
35
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,080
abide in a quiet confidence in
the divine power.
36
00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:39,640
If your psychic being asks for
the divine, and your mind is
37
00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:44,360
sincere and calls for liberation
from the lower nature and from
38
00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:49,320
all hostile forces, and if you
can call the Mother's power into
39
00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:54,200
your heart and rely upon it more
than on your own strength, this
40
00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:58,600
siege will in the end be driven
away from you, and strength and
41
00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:04,600
peace take its place.
End Quote reference Sri
42
00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:10,160
Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga,
Chapter 3 in difficulty, page
43
00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:10,920
42.
