Dec. 25, 2024
The Potential for Transformation of the Human Body
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter XVI Body, pp. 128-130
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/12/23/the-potential-for-transformation-of-the-human-body/
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
00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:04,760
We can look at the idea of a
transformation of the body from
2
00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:08,680
several viewpoints. 1 viewpoint
accepts the basic current
3
00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,000
structure and function of the
body and simply enhances,
4
00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:17,960
protects, extends the life and
capacity, or removes limitations
5
00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,240
and failures to which the body
is currently prone.
6
00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:26,720
Many scientific researchers are
following ideas of developing an
7
00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:31,240
ideal diet and lifestyle
regimen, or working toward
8
00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:34,880
increasing the body's current
capacity for regeneration of
9
00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:40,960
cells to extend to full scale
organ replacement, or developing
10
00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:46,240
microscopic nanobots that would
correct body biochemistry and
11
00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:48,920
fix anything that goes out of
the normal range.
12
00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,040
This is not so much a program
for transformation as one of
13
00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:57,760
simply enhancing functionality
that we already have.
14
00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,400
A somewhat more radical approach
is to recognize that
15
00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:07,280
evolutionary change over long
periods of time already
16
00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:11,200
undertakes to revise organ
systems and functionality.
17
00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,880
When animals first emerge from
the oceans, for instance, they
18
00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:20,560
eventually wound up replacing
gills with lungs for purpose of
19
00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,200
oxygen and carbon dioxide
exchange.
20
00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,040
Webbing on feet and hands was
changed into fully independent
21
00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:32,800
fingers and toes, and eventually
the development of the opposable
22
00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,600
thumb.
Genetic changes induced by
23
00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,120
varying environmental conditions
led to adjustments of skin
24
00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,720
colour to adapt to more or less
intense sunlight.
25
00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:49,360
Adaptations in lung capacity,
heart function, and endurance
26
00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,880
resulted from other
environmental conditions.
27
00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,880
There is, however, another line
of development that may
28
00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:01,640
incorporate capacities we see in
nature, but which are not active
29
00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,320
or no longer active in human
beings, or which represent
30
00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:10,320
entirely new developments of a
truly transformative nature.
31
00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,640
Plants, for instance, have the
capacity of direct conversion of
32
00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:18,760
the energy of the sun into
matter and biological energy,
33
00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:23,120
taking up elements from the
earth and using them as building
34
00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:27,520
blocks for the plant structures.
We may ask ourselves whether
35
00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:31,280
such capacities may be
incorporated into some future
36
00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:36,200
human species, such that we no
longer need to eat food and
37
00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:40,480
manage all the organ systems
related to eating, digesting,
38
00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,040
and illuminating waste
materials.
39
00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:47,400
In order to build the body and
operate it effectively, the
40
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,960
human body maintained some
amount of regenerative capacity.
41
00:02:51,640 --> 00:02:54,560
Some other species, however,
have virtually complete
42
00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:59,520
regeneration capabilities.
We could envision biochemical or
43
00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:04,040
genetic processes that would
open up complete regeneration
44
00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:09,120
capacity for the human being,
ensuring virtual biological
45
00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,880
immortality.
The system of chakras represents
46
00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:17,240
an energetic approach to life
that may be a harbinger of such
47
00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,880
a change.
Under such a system, we could
48
00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,480
foresee the elimination of
virtually all organ systems that
49
00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,840
relate to digestion from a
future humanity.
50
00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:31,800
There are many possible
directions for the future
51
00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:35,800
evolution of the human body, and
not all of it needs to be looked
52
00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,960
at in terms of the time scale of
past evolution.
53
00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,640
With the advent of new powers of
consciousness, there is no
54
00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:47,520
reason to believe that changes
need to occur over time spans of
55
00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,840
hundreds of thousands or
millions of years.
56
00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:58,120
Srioro Bindo writes in The Mind
of Light quote Perfection is the
57
00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:02,160
true aim of all culture, the
spiritual and psychic, the
58
00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:07,000
mental, the vital, and it must
be the aim of our physical
59
00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,800
culture also.
If our seeking is for a total
60
00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,600
perfection of the being, the
physical part of it cannot be
61
00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,600
left aside, for the body is the
material basis.
62
00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,680
The body is the instrument which
we have to use.
63
00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:29,760
Shariram Kalu Dharmasad Nam,
says the old Sanskrit adage.
64
00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:34,880
The body is the means of
fulfilment of Dharma, and Dharma
65
00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:39,560
means every ideal which we can
propose to ourselves and the law
66
00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:41,720
of its working out and its
action.
67
00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,080
A total perfection is the
ultimate aim which we set before
68
00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:50,200
us.
For our ideal is the divine life
69
00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,840
which we wish to create here,
the life of the Spirit fulfilled
70
00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:59,400
on earth, life accomplishing its
own spiritual transformation
71
00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:03,360
even here on earth in the
conditions of the material
72
00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:07,480
universe.
That cannot be unless the body
73
00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:11,720
too undergoes a transformation,
unless its action and
74
00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,720
functioning attained to a
supreme capacity and the
75
00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,920
perfection which is possible to
it or which can be made
76
00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,000
possible.
End Quote.
77
00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:28,240
A disciple asks Mother, how can
the functioning of the body
78
00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:34,040
attain to a supreme capacity?
The Mother responds quote
79
00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,840
precisely by transformation.
This implies a total
80
00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:43,360
transformation.
Sri Arrobindo speaks about it
81
00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,520
later in what follows.
For the moment, our body is
82
00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:51,920
simply a doubtful improvement on
the animal body, for if we have
83
00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:56,000
gained from a certain point of
view, we have lost from another.
84
00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:59,920
It is certain that from the
point of view of purely physical
85
00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:05,280
capacities, many animals are
superior to us, unless by a
86
00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:08,760
special culture and
transformation we succeed in
87
00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,080
really transforming our
capacities.
88
00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,400
It could be said that from the
point of view of strength and
89
00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:19,320
muscular power, a tiger or a
lion is far superior to us.
90
00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,240
From the point of view of
agility, a monkey is far
91
00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:27,200
superior to us.
And, for instance, a bird can
92
00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:30,640
travel without needing any
exterior mechanism or plane,
93
00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,880
which is not yet possible for
us, and so on.
94
00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,840
And we are bound by the animal
necessities of the functioning
95
00:06:38,840 --> 00:06:42,080
of our organs.
So long as we depend, for
96
00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:46,560
instance, on material food, on
absorbing matter in such a crude
97
00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:51,040
form, we shall be quite inferior
animals.
98
00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:55,280
Therefore, I don't want to
anticipate what we are going to
99
00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:59,680
read, but all this purely animal
functioning of our body, all
100
00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:04,880
this part which is exactly the
same as in animal life, that we
101
00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,000
depend for life on the
circulation of the blood, and to
102
00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,800
have blood we need to eat and so
on and all that.
103
00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:16,360
This implies these are terrible
limitations and bondages.
104
00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:22,080
As long as material life depends
on that, it is obvious that we
105
00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,520
won't be able to divinize our
life.
106
00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:30,280
So we must assume that animality
in the human being should be
107
00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:32,480
replaced by another source of
life.
108
00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:38,120
And this is quite conceivable.
Not only conceivable, but
109
00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:42,160
partially realizable.
And this is obviously the aim we
110
00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:46,600
ought to set before ourselves if
we want to transform matter and
111
00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,200
make it capable of expressing
divine qualities.
112
00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:55,200
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
113
00:07:55,200 --> 00:08:02,000
Mother Powers within Chapter 16
body pages 1:28 to 1:30.
00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:04,760
We can look at the idea of a
transformation of the body from
2
00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:08,680
several viewpoints. 1 viewpoint
accepts the basic current
3
00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,000
structure and function of the
body and simply enhances,
4
00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:17,960
protects, extends the life and
capacity, or removes limitations
5
00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,240
and failures to which the body
is currently prone.
6
00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:26,720
Many scientific researchers are
following ideas of developing an
7
00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:31,240
ideal diet and lifestyle
regimen, or working toward
8
00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:34,880
increasing the body's current
capacity for regeneration of
9
00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:40,960
cells to extend to full scale
organ replacement, or developing
10
00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:46,240
microscopic nanobots that would
correct body biochemistry and
11
00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:48,920
fix anything that goes out of
the normal range.
12
00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,040
This is not so much a program
for transformation as one of
13
00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:57,760
simply enhancing functionality
that we already have.
14
00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,400
A somewhat more radical approach
is to recognize that
15
00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:07,280
evolutionary change over long
periods of time already
16
00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:11,200
undertakes to revise organ
systems and functionality.
17
00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,880
When animals first emerge from
the oceans, for instance, they
18
00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:20,560
eventually wound up replacing
gills with lungs for purpose of
19
00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,200
oxygen and carbon dioxide
exchange.
20
00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,040
Webbing on feet and hands was
changed into fully independent
21
00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:32,800
fingers and toes, and eventually
the development of the opposable
22
00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,600
thumb.
Genetic changes induced by
23
00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,120
varying environmental conditions
led to adjustments of skin
24
00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,720
colour to adapt to more or less
intense sunlight.
25
00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:49,360
Adaptations in lung capacity,
heart function, and endurance
26
00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,880
resulted from other
environmental conditions.
27
00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,880
There is, however, another line
of development that may
28
00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:01,640
incorporate capacities we see in
nature, but which are not active
29
00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,320
or no longer active in human
beings, or which represent
30
00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:10,320
entirely new developments of a
truly transformative nature.
31
00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,640
Plants, for instance, have the
capacity of direct conversion of
32
00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:18,760
the energy of the sun into
matter and biological energy,
33
00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:23,120
taking up elements from the
earth and using them as building
34
00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:27,520
blocks for the plant structures.
We may ask ourselves whether
35
00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:31,280
such capacities may be
incorporated into some future
36
00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:36,200
human species, such that we no
longer need to eat food and
37
00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:40,480
manage all the organ systems
related to eating, digesting,
38
00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,040
and illuminating waste
materials.
39
00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:47,400
In order to build the body and
operate it effectively, the
40
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,960
human body maintained some
amount of regenerative capacity.
41
00:02:51,640 --> 00:02:54,560
Some other species, however,
have virtually complete
42
00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:59,520
regeneration capabilities.
We could envision biochemical or
43
00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:04,040
genetic processes that would
open up complete regeneration
44
00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:09,120
capacity for the human being,
ensuring virtual biological
45
00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,880
immortality.
The system of chakras represents
46
00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:17,240
an energetic approach to life
that may be a harbinger of such
47
00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,880
a change.
Under such a system, we could
48
00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,480
foresee the elimination of
virtually all organ systems that
49
00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,840
relate to digestion from a
future humanity.
50
00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:31,800
There are many possible
directions for the future
51
00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:35,800
evolution of the human body, and
not all of it needs to be looked
52
00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,960
at in terms of the time scale of
past evolution.
53
00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,640
With the advent of new powers of
consciousness, there is no
54
00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:47,520
reason to believe that changes
need to occur over time spans of
55
00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,840
hundreds of thousands or
millions of years.
56
00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:58,120
Srioro Bindo writes in The Mind
of Light quote Perfection is the
57
00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:02,160
true aim of all culture, the
spiritual and psychic, the
58
00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:07,000
mental, the vital, and it must
be the aim of our physical
59
00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,800
culture also.
If our seeking is for a total
60
00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,600
perfection of the being, the
physical part of it cannot be
61
00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,600
left aside, for the body is the
material basis.
62
00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,680
The body is the instrument which
we have to use.
63
00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:29,760
Shariram Kalu Dharmasad Nam,
says the old Sanskrit adage.
64
00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:34,880
The body is the means of
fulfilment of Dharma, and Dharma
65
00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:39,560
means every ideal which we can
propose to ourselves and the law
66
00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:41,720
of its working out and its
action.
67
00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,080
A total perfection is the
ultimate aim which we set before
68
00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:50,200
us.
For our ideal is the divine life
69
00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,840
which we wish to create here,
the life of the Spirit fulfilled
70
00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:59,400
on earth, life accomplishing its
own spiritual transformation
71
00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:03,360
even here on earth in the
conditions of the material
72
00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:07,480
universe.
That cannot be unless the body
73
00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:11,720
too undergoes a transformation,
unless its action and
74
00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,720
functioning attained to a
supreme capacity and the
75
00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,920
perfection which is possible to
it or which can be made
76
00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,000
possible.
End Quote.
77
00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:28,240
A disciple asks Mother, how can
the functioning of the body
78
00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:34,040
attain to a supreme capacity?
The Mother responds quote
79
00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,840
precisely by transformation.
This implies a total
80
00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:43,360
transformation.
Sri Arrobindo speaks about it
81
00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,520
later in what follows.
For the moment, our body is
82
00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:51,920
simply a doubtful improvement on
the animal body, for if we have
83
00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:56,000
gained from a certain point of
view, we have lost from another.
84
00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:59,920
It is certain that from the
point of view of purely physical
85
00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:05,280
capacities, many animals are
superior to us, unless by a
86
00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:08,760
special culture and
transformation we succeed in
87
00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,080
really transforming our
capacities.
88
00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,400
It could be said that from the
point of view of strength and
89
00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:19,320
muscular power, a tiger or a
lion is far superior to us.
90
00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,240
From the point of view of
agility, a monkey is far
91
00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:27,200
superior to us.
And, for instance, a bird can
92
00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:30,640
travel without needing any
exterior mechanism or plane,
93
00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,880
which is not yet possible for
us, and so on.
94
00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,840
And we are bound by the animal
necessities of the functioning
95
00:06:38,840 --> 00:06:42,080
of our organs.
So long as we depend, for
96
00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:46,560
instance, on material food, on
absorbing matter in such a crude
97
00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:51,040
form, we shall be quite inferior
animals.
98
00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:55,280
Therefore, I don't want to
anticipate what we are going to
99
00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:59,680
read, but all this purely animal
functioning of our body, all
100
00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:04,880
this part which is exactly the
same as in animal life, that we
101
00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,000
depend for life on the
circulation of the blood, and to
102
00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,800
have blood we need to eat and so
on and all that.
103
00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:16,360
This implies these are terrible
limitations and bondages.
104
00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:22,080
As long as material life depends
on that, it is obvious that we
105
00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,520
won't be able to divinize our
life.
106
00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:30,280
So we must assume that animality
in the human being should be
107
00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:32,480
replaced by another source of
life.
108
00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:38,120
And this is quite conceivable.
Not only conceivable, but
109
00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:42,160
partially realizable.
And this is obviously the aim we
110
00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:46,600
ought to set before ourselves if
we want to transform matter and
111
00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,200
make it capable of expressing
divine qualities.
112
00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:55,200
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
113
00:07:55,200 --> 00:08:02,000
Mother Powers within Chapter 16
body pages 1:28 to 1:30.