Jan. 27, 2026
The Physical Consciousness and the Method of Effectuating Change in It
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 5, Physical Consciousness — Subconscient — Sleep and Dream — Illness, pg. 84
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/01/25/the-physical-consciousness-and-the-method-of-effectuating-change-in-it/
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 #dark night of the soul
1
00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,200
The integral Yoga operates on
the principle of the Force
2
00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:08,360
descending from above and
working through the mind, the
3
00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:12,920
emotions, the vital, and finally
into the physical nature.
4
00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,640
While some action may take place
in the sadhna out of a specific
5
00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:22,560
order, this is the general case,
as the issue of addressing and
6
00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,240
definitively changing the
embedded habits and
7
00:00:25,240 --> 00:00:30,480
predilections of the physical
nature naturally is easier if
8
00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:34,120
the mind, the heart and the
vital nature are all Co
9
00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:39,080
operating in the process.
It thus frequently occurs that
10
00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:42,240
the seeker is encouraged and
uplifted by experiences of
11
00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:46,400
peace, clarity, wideness,
spiritual insights and
12
00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:51,800
experiences, devotion,
consecration, et cetera, as the
13
00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:56,600
Force opens the higher levels.
It is thus something of a shock
14
00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:00,480
when these things seemingly
disappear and the physical
15
00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:05,040
nature comes to the forefront.
One suddenly appears to lose the
16
00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,600
direct connection to the higher
aspiration and the working of
17
00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:13,360
the force and faces a period
which can be somewhat lengthy.
18
00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:18,200
When everything becomes a chore,
when 1 feels like nothing is
19
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,280
moving, when the seeker
experiences waking, eating,
20
00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:27,800
working, sleeping with nothing
to inspire or uplift him, the
21
00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:32,360
connection withdraws, and many
have described such experiences
22
00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:38,200
as a dark night of the soul, or
they cry out with soulful lament
23
00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,120
about the withdrawal of the
Divine Beloved from immediate
24
00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,880
presence.
It is important for the seeker
25
00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:51,040
to remember that this is a phase
or stage that actually implies
26
00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,600
substantial progress has
occurred.
27
00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,800
The physical nature is only
taken up as a focus once
28
00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,000
preparation has occurred in the
mind and the vital.
29
00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,080
The withdrawal is only apparent,
not real.
30
00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,199
The Divine force continues to
work even though the seeker only
31
00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:14,320
can see the full presence of the
physical nature for the time
32
00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:18,120
being.
Eventually, when enough has been
33
00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:22,040
prepared, the seeker will see a
return of the palpable
34
00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:26,520
connection to the spiritual
force and a progress at the
35
00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,880
level of the physical
consciousness will have been
36
00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,280
made.
This implies the seeker must
37
00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:37,280
continue to have confidence in
the divine, patience for the
38
00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:42,280
time it takes, and peace as the
process works itself out.
39
00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,360
To the extent possible, he
should continue to focus on the
40
00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:52,360
aspiration and receptivity, even
if it seems like it is not
41
00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:56,880
having any effect.
No effort is without effect,
42
00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:02,760
Srioro Bindo writes quote.
It is the most physical
43
00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,000
consciousness of which you have
become aware.
44
00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,400
It is like that in almost
everyone.
45
00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,600
When one gets fully or
exclusively into it, one feels
46
00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,680
it to be like that of an animal,
either obscure and restless or
47
00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:20,560
inert and stupid, and in either
condition not open to the
48
00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,960
divine.
It is only by bringing the Force
49
00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,760
and higher consciousness into it
that it can fundamentally alter.
50
00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,240
When these things show
themselves, do not be upset by
51
00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:35,520
their emergence, but understand
that they are there to be
52
00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:40,240
changed.
Here as elsewhere, quiet is the
53
00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:45,000
first thing needed to keep the
consciousness quiet, not allow
54
00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:50,280
it to get agitated and in
turmoil, then in the quiet to
55
00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:55,160
call for the Force to clear up
all this obscurity and change
56
00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,920
it.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindo
57
00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:04,240
Bases of yoga, Chapter 5.
Physical consciousness,
58
00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,960
subconscious sleep and dream
illness.
59
00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:09,520
Page 84.
00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,200
The integral Yoga operates on
the principle of the Force
2
00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:08,360
descending from above and
working through the mind, the
3
00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:12,920
emotions, the vital, and finally
into the physical nature.
4
00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,640
While some action may take place
in the sadhna out of a specific
5
00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:22,560
order, this is the general case,
as the issue of addressing and
6
00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,240
definitively changing the
embedded habits and
7
00:00:25,240 --> 00:00:30,480
predilections of the physical
nature naturally is easier if
8
00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:34,120
the mind, the heart and the
vital nature are all Co
9
00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:39,080
operating in the process.
It thus frequently occurs that
10
00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:42,240
the seeker is encouraged and
uplifted by experiences of
11
00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:46,400
peace, clarity, wideness,
spiritual insights and
12
00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:51,800
experiences, devotion,
consecration, et cetera, as the
13
00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:56,600
Force opens the higher levels.
It is thus something of a shock
14
00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:00,480
when these things seemingly
disappear and the physical
15
00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:05,040
nature comes to the forefront.
One suddenly appears to lose the
16
00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,600
direct connection to the higher
aspiration and the working of
17
00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:13,360
the force and faces a period
which can be somewhat lengthy.
18
00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:18,200
When everything becomes a chore,
when 1 feels like nothing is
19
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,280
moving, when the seeker
experiences waking, eating,
20
00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:27,800
working, sleeping with nothing
to inspire or uplift him, the
21
00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:32,360
connection withdraws, and many
have described such experiences
22
00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:38,200
as a dark night of the soul, or
they cry out with soulful lament
23
00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,120
about the withdrawal of the
Divine Beloved from immediate
24
00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,880
presence.
It is important for the seeker
25
00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:51,040
to remember that this is a phase
or stage that actually implies
26
00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,600
substantial progress has
occurred.
27
00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,800
The physical nature is only
taken up as a focus once
28
00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,000
preparation has occurred in the
mind and the vital.
29
00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,080
The withdrawal is only apparent,
not real.
30
00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,199
The Divine force continues to
work even though the seeker only
31
00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:14,320
can see the full presence of the
physical nature for the time
32
00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:18,120
being.
Eventually, when enough has been
33
00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:22,040
prepared, the seeker will see a
return of the palpable
34
00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:26,520
connection to the spiritual
force and a progress at the
35
00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,880
level of the physical
consciousness will have been
36
00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,280
made.
This implies the seeker must
37
00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:37,280
continue to have confidence in
the divine, patience for the
38
00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:42,280
time it takes, and peace as the
process works itself out.
39
00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,360
To the extent possible, he
should continue to focus on the
40
00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:52,360
aspiration and receptivity, even
if it seems like it is not
41
00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:56,880
having any effect.
No effort is without effect,
42
00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:02,760
Srioro Bindo writes quote.
It is the most physical
43
00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,000
consciousness of which you have
become aware.
44
00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,400
It is like that in almost
everyone.
45
00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,600
When one gets fully or
exclusively into it, one feels
46
00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,680
it to be like that of an animal,
either obscure and restless or
47
00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:20,560
inert and stupid, and in either
condition not open to the
48
00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,960
divine.
It is only by bringing the Force
49
00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,760
and higher consciousness into it
that it can fundamentally alter.
50
00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,240
When these things show
themselves, do not be upset by
51
00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:35,520
their emergence, but understand
that they are there to be
52
00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:40,240
changed.
Here as elsewhere, quiet is the
53
00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:45,000
first thing needed to keep the
consciousness quiet, not allow
54
00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:50,280
it to get agitated and in
turmoil, then in the quiet to
55
00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:55,160
call for the Force to clear up
all this obscurity and change
56
00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,920
it.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindo
57
00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:04,240
Bases of yoga, Chapter 5.
Physical consciousness,
58
00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,960
subconscious sleep and dream
illness.
59
00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:09,520
Page 84.
