Jan. 25, 2026
The Physical Consciousness and Its Functions
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 5, Physical Consciousness — Subconscient — Sleep and Dream — Illness, pg. 83This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/01/23/the-physical-consciousness-and-its-functions/
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 #physical consciousness
1
00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,760
Most people, when asked,
attribute consciousness to the
2
00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:09,480
mind and centered in the brain.
But consciousness does not stop
3
00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:13,880
there, and indeed there are
various types of consciousness
4
00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,480
associated with different
aspects of the being.
5
00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:21,840
There is a mental consciousness,
an emotional consciousness, A
6
00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:26,040
vital consciousness, and even a
physical consciousness.
7
00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,760
People do not generally
recognize the physical
8
00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,400
consciousness for what it is,
and therefore they tend to
9
00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:37,800
underestimate it and its
potential as an aid in the
10
00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:42,360
spiritual development.
The physical consciousness acts
11
00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,760
independent of conscious control
by the mental consciousness.
12
00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,400
The mind and the vital
consciousness can impact the
13
00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,960
physical consciousness and help
to build up its capacity and
14
00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:59,120
awareness, or they can interfere
with its action, causing severe
15
00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,640
disruptions.
We understand the power of
16
00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:06,760
training the body to undertake
certain tasks, developing what
17
00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:11,720
is called muscle memory.
If we reflect closely, however,
18
00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:16,320
we see that the body functions
best if the mind and vital are
19
00:01:16,320 --> 00:01:19,240
not actively trying to
micromanage it.
20
00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,760
There's a well known phenomenon
in sports such as elite
21
00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:28,320
gymnastics that is called in
that event the twisties.
22
00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:33,760
Essentially the body is trained,
tuned and brought to a peak of
23
00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,920
capacity and certain complex
gymnastic skills.
24
00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,040
At the top world competitive
level, such as the Olympic
25
00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:45,040
Games, there is considerable
mental and emotional pressure to
26
00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:50,080
perform, and at a certain point,
if the gymnast starts trying to
27
00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,200
manage or control the body
through thought, willpower or
28
00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:59,360
vital force, the body becomes
confused and serious injuries,
29
00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:05,200
including fatalities, can occur.
In a recent Olympic Games, the
30
00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:09,800
top woman's gymnast withdrew
when she noted that she could no
31
00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:14,040
longer simply let her body carry
out what it knew how to do
32
00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,120
because of these mental and
vital pressures and
33
00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:21,040
interventions.
It is clear from this example
34
00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,240
that the body has its own
consciousness and can and does
35
00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:30,800
function best when it is allowed
to do that without admixture
36
00:02:30,920 --> 00:02:35,360
from outside, beyond it being
given the understanding and the
37
00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,120
training needed to carry out
those tasks.
38
00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:44,120
If we delve deeper, however, we
see that the physical
39
00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:48,120
consciousness carries out
instinctive behaviors and even
40
00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:52,360
automatic responses that allow
the body to function in the 1st
41
00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:56,640
place and respond to pressures
and threats to health and
42
00:02:56,640 --> 00:02:59,920
well-being.
This consciousness carries out
43
00:02:59,920 --> 00:03:04,160
the breath function, the immune
system function, the operation
44
00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,880
of all the internal organs at a
level of detail and efficiency
45
00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,720
that we cannot even fully
mentally understand.
46
00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:15,360
Just imagine if we had to
mentally try to control the
47
00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,800
working of the kidneys, the
liver, the pancreas, the thyroid
48
00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:25,160
or any other internal organ, the
heart, the lungs, the movement
49
00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:27,920
of impulses through the physical
nerves, et cetera.
50
00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,880
Everything would break down and
nothing would work properly.
51
00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,640
One of the risks of undertaking
various forms of Hata yoga or
52
00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:42,240
Kundalini yoga practices is just
that they represent an
53
00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:46,760
interference with the normal
automatic function to some
54
00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,640
degree.
With guidance and patience,
55
00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:55,360
enhancements can be made, but
the risk of imbalance is always
56
00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:59,280
there.
The cells of the body also store
57
00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:02,480
memories.
Traumatic events frequently get
58
00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,720
embedded in various parts of the
body and can lead to chronic
59
00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:10,400
tension in the shoulders and
neck or other forms of pain that
60
00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:14,600
manifest when triggered.
Some of the impulses that come
61
00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,560
to the body actually also act as
triggers for awareness that has
62
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,040
been stored at the cellular
level.
63
00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,400
Thus we see the physical
consciousness is both real and
64
00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:31,080
far more subtle and complex than
we ordinarily consider it to be.
65
00:04:32,280 --> 00:04:36,840
At a certain point in time, the
evolutionary force has to begin
66
00:04:36,840 --> 00:04:41,160
to adapt and change this level
of the being so that it can
67
00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:45,680
receive and hold the new forms
of consciousness that are in the
68
00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:50,480
process of manifesting.
There is also a process of
69
00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:56,080
evolution of forms, as noted by
Charles Darwin, that represents
70
00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:01,240
the slow evolutionary response
of the physical consciousness to
71
00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:05,920
new demands and needs as higher
levels of awareness manifest
72
00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,560
through time, Sri Orobindo
observes.
73
00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:13,920
Quote.
Our object is the Super mental
74
00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:18,960
realization and we have to do
whatever is necessary for that
75
00:05:19,280 --> 00:05:23,080
or towards that under the
conditions of each stage.
76
00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,920
At present, the necessity is to
prepare the physical
77
00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:33,040
consciousness for that.
A complete equality and peace
78
00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:37,440
and a complete dedication free
from personal demand or desire
79
00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,840
in the physical and the lower
vital parts are the things to be
80
00:05:41,840 --> 00:05:45,120
established.
Other things can come in their
81
00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,640
proper time.
What is needed now is the
82
00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,680
psychic opening in the physical
consciousness and the constant
83
00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:59,680
presence and guidance there.
End Quote Reference Sri
84
00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,760
Aurobindo Bases of Yoga, Chapter
5.
85
00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:07,240
Physical consciousness,
subconscious sleep and dream
86
00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,320
illness.
Page 83.
00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,760
Most people, when asked,
attribute consciousness to the
2
00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:09,480
mind and centered in the brain.
But consciousness does not stop
3
00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:13,880
there, and indeed there are
various types of consciousness
4
00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,480
associated with different
aspects of the being.
5
00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:21,840
There is a mental consciousness,
an emotional consciousness, A
6
00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:26,040
vital consciousness, and even a
physical consciousness.
7
00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,760
People do not generally
recognize the physical
8
00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,400
consciousness for what it is,
and therefore they tend to
9
00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:37,800
underestimate it and its
potential as an aid in the
10
00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:42,360
spiritual development.
The physical consciousness acts
11
00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,760
independent of conscious control
by the mental consciousness.
12
00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,400
The mind and the vital
consciousness can impact the
13
00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,960
physical consciousness and help
to build up its capacity and
14
00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:59,120
awareness, or they can interfere
with its action, causing severe
15
00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,640
disruptions.
We understand the power of
16
00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:06,760
training the body to undertake
certain tasks, developing what
17
00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:11,720
is called muscle memory.
If we reflect closely, however,
18
00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:16,320
we see that the body functions
best if the mind and vital are
19
00:01:16,320 --> 00:01:19,240
not actively trying to
micromanage it.
20
00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,760
There's a well known phenomenon
in sports such as elite
21
00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:28,320
gymnastics that is called in
that event the twisties.
22
00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:33,760
Essentially the body is trained,
tuned and brought to a peak of
23
00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,920
capacity and certain complex
gymnastic skills.
24
00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,040
At the top world competitive
level, such as the Olympic
25
00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:45,040
Games, there is considerable
mental and emotional pressure to
26
00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:50,080
perform, and at a certain point,
if the gymnast starts trying to
27
00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,200
manage or control the body
through thought, willpower or
28
00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:59,360
vital force, the body becomes
confused and serious injuries,
29
00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:05,200
including fatalities, can occur.
In a recent Olympic Games, the
30
00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:09,800
top woman's gymnast withdrew
when she noted that she could no
31
00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:14,040
longer simply let her body carry
out what it knew how to do
32
00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,120
because of these mental and
vital pressures and
33
00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:21,040
interventions.
It is clear from this example
34
00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,240
that the body has its own
consciousness and can and does
35
00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:30,800
function best when it is allowed
to do that without admixture
36
00:02:30,920 --> 00:02:35,360
from outside, beyond it being
given the understanding and the
37
00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,120
training needed to carry out
those tasks.
38
00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:44,120
If we delve deeper, however, we
see that the physical
39
00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:48,120
consciousness carries out
instinctive behaviors and even
40
00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:52,360
automatic responses that allow
the body to function in the 1st
41
00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:56,640
place and respond to pressures
and threats to health and
42
00:02:56,640 --> 00:02:59,920
well-being.
This consciousness carries out
43
00:02:59,920 --> 00:03:04,160
the breath function, the immune
system function, the operation
44
00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,880
of all the internal organs at a
level of detail and efficiency
45
00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,720
that we cannot even fully
mentally understand.
46
00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:15,360
Just imagine if we had to
mentally try to control the
47
00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,800
working of the kidneys, the
liver, the pancreas, the thyroid
48
00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:25,160
or any other internal organ, the
heart, the lungs, the movement
49
00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:27,920
of impulses through the physical
nerves, et cetera.
50
00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,880
Everything would break down and
nothing would work properly.
51
00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,640
One of the risks of undertaking
various forms of Hata yoga or
52
00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:42,240
Kundalini yoga practices is just
that they represent an
53
00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:46,760
interference with the normal
automatic function to some
54
00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,640
degree.
With guidance and patience,
55
00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:55,360
enhancements can be made, but
the risk of imbalance is always
56
00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:59,280
there.
The cells of the body also store
57
00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:02,480
memories.
Traumatic events frequently get
58
00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,720
embedded in various parts of the
body and can lead to chronic
59
00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:10,400
tension in the shoulders and
neck or other forms of pain that
60
00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:14,600
manifest when triggered.
Some of the impulses that come
61
00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,560
to the body actually also act as
triggers for awareness that has
62
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,040
been stored at the cellular
level.
63
00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,400
Thus we see the physical
consciousness is both real and
64
00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:31,080
far more subtle and complex than
we ordinarily consider it to be.
65
00:04:32,280 --> 00:04:36,840
At a certain point in time, the
evolutionary force has to begin
66
00:04:36,840 --> 00:04:41,160
to adapt and change this level
of the being so that it can
67
00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:45,680
receive and hold the new forms
of consciousness that are in the
68
00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:50,480
process of manifesting.
There is also a process of
69
00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:56,080
evolution of forms, as noted by
Charles Darwin, that represents
70
00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:01,240
the slow evolutionary response
of the physical consciousness to
71
00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:05,920
new demands and needs as higher
levels of awareness manifest
72
00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,560
through time, Sri Orobindo
observes.
73
00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:13,920
Quote.
Our object is the Super mental
74
00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:18,960
realization and we have to do
whatever is necessary for that
75
00:05:19,280 --> 00:05:23,080
or towards that under the
conditions of each stage.
76
00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,920
At present, the necessity is to
prepare the physical
77
00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:33,040
consciousness for that.
A complete equality and peace
78
00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:37,440
and a complete dedication free
from personal demand or desire
79
00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,840
in the physical and the lower
vital parts are the things to be
80
00:05:41,840 --> 00:05:45,120
established.
Other things can come in their
81
00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,640
proper time.
What is needed now is the
82
00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,680
psychic opening in the physical
consciousness and the constant
83
00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:59,680
presence and guidance there.
End Quote Reference Sri
84
00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,760
Aurobindo Bases of Yoga, Chapter
5.
85
00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:07,240
Physical consciousness,
subconscious sleep and dream
86
00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,320
illness.
Page 83.
