Aug. 29, 2024
The Practice of Yoga and the Development and Use of Psychic Powers
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Introduction, pp. xi-xii This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/08/24/the-practice-of-yoga-and-the-development-and-use-of-psychic-powers/
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
00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,400
When an individual undertakes
tapasia, the concentration of
2
00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:10,720
conscious force, in any manner,
it is certain that the results
3
00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:14,640
will bring about new powers for
that individual, whether an
4
00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,560
accentuation of powers that the
individual already possessed and
5
00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:23,920
exercised to some degree, or the
development and expression of
6
00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:28,680
new powers that were latent but
not actively present for that
7
00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:32,200
individual.
The concentration may be in the
8
00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:36,640
physical realm, the vital realm,
the mental realm, the psychic
9
00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:41,240
and spiritual realm, and the
impact may manifest powers at
10
00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:45,960
any level of the being.
The focus need not fall upon the
11
00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:51,080
rubric of yoga.
When we see an athlete
12
00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,680
practicing to improve his
physical, vital and mental
13
00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:59,840
conditioning, or we see an
individual learning a new skill
14
00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:03,800
or science, or an artist
perfecting his ability to
15
00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:08,440
observe and represent what he is
observing, we are witnessing
16
00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:12,480
such a concentration of
conscious force and results
17
00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:18,040
become obvious over time.
The practice of yoga is a
18
00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,800
focused effort that has as its
basis the turning of the
19
00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:26,040
individual concentration from
pursuits that increase skills
20
00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,920
for external action to the
focusing of the attention on
21
00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:31,720
spiritual growth and
development.
22
00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:38,000
In his Yoga Sutras, Patanjali
describes the 8 limbs of yoga
23
00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,760
practice and points out that as
a result of carrying out these
24
00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:47,360
steps, various powers can and do
manifest.
25
00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,520
Traditional yoga teachings
discourage the use of these
26
00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:55,840
powers, as they tend to distract
the seeker from the goal of
27
00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:00,200
liberation, from the illusion of
the outer world and the
28
00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,520
attainment of oneness with the
ultimate divine reality.
29
00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:10,479
Yet we can see that in the very
practice of the yoga, the seeker
30
00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:14,440
is putting powers to work and
concentrating on them, whether
31
00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:18,400
through the use of physical
asanas, specialized breathing
32
00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:23,200
techniques, or use of powers of
the mind to detach itself from
33
00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:27,440
the flow of thought and
concentrate. 1 Pointedly on a
34
00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:32,560
specific subject or object.
The evolution of consciousness
35
00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,920
and its progressive
manifestation in ever more
36
00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:41,400
powerful forms implies that new
powers of consciousness can and
37
00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,560
will manifest.
Yoga acts as a concentrator of
38
00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:50,280
that evolutionary impetus.
The development of new powers is
39
00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,600
a natural outgrowth of this
evolution.
40
00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:57,680
Just as the mental power of the
reasoning intellect manifested
41
00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:01,360
with the advent of the true
mental force in the evolutionary
42
00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,640
cycle, so the next phase of
evolution will clearly bring
43
00:03:05,640 --> 00:03:08,840
forth new forms of knowing and
acting.
44
00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,400
The question then comes down to
whether these powers act as a
45
00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:18,440
distraction or as a fulfillment
of the evolutionary purpose.
46
00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,640
For those who see liberation or
escape from the cycle of birth
47
00:03:23,640 --> 00:03:28,280
and death as the purpose, taking
up, perfecting, and utilizing
48
00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:31,920
these powers is going to be seen
as a distraction.
49
00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,120
For those dedicated to the
perfection of life and the
50
00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,640
carrying out of the divine
intention in the manifestation,
51
00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:45,640
accepting and using new powers
of consciousness that emerge is
52
00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:50,240
part of the process.
What needs to be avoided is the
53
00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,360
sense of personal
aggrandizement, the growth of
54
00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,840
the ego and the development of
any sense of personal ownership
55
00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,440
in the evolutionary process that
is occurring.
56
00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:06,360
The powers need to be exercised,
as with any power, at any level,
57
00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:11,080
with insight, discretion and
right use.
58
00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,800
This is one of the messages
delivered by Sri Krishna to
59
00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:21,880
Arjuna in the Bhagwad Gita.
Observing the right time, place,
60
00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:27,680
circumstance and use of any
power is part of the mastery
61
00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:32,200
that is asked of the seeker, Dr.
Dalal observes.
62
00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:37,080
Quote In the East, most people
have tended to consider
63
00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:42,000
supernormal powers or cities
perfections, as they are called
64
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,640
in India to be marks of
spiritual attainment.
65
00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:50,760
However, spiritual teachers of a
high order have regarded occult
66
00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:55,280
powers as inferior and unrelated
to spiritual attainment.
67
00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:00,680
One who seeks occult powers,
remarked Ramakrishna, is like
68
00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:05,320
someone who, being offered a
boon by a king, asks for a
69
00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,320
pumpkin.
Some even hold that on the
70
00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:12,560
spiritual path one must desist
not only from seeking occult
71
00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:16,440
powers but also from using them,
if one has acquired them.
72
00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:22,120
Regarding such an attitude, Sri
Ovindo writes quote.
73
00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:27,080
The idea that yogans do not or
ought not to use these powers.
74
00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:32,200
Having consciousness of things
at a distance and intervening, I
75
00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,360
regard as an ascetic
superstition.
76
00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:39,800
I believe that all Yogans who
have these powers do use them
77
00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,400
whenever they find that they are
called from within to do so.
78
00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:49,240
They may refrain if they think
the use of a particular case is
79
00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:53,880
contrary to the divine will, or
see that preventing 1 evil may
80
00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:58,000
be opening the door to a worse
or for any other valid reason,
81
00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,640
but not from any general
prohibitory rule.
82
00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:07,560
What is forbidden to everyone
with a strong spiritual sense is
83
00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:11,280
to be a miracle monger,
performing extraordinary things
84
00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:16,520
for show, for gain, for fame,
out of vanity or pride.
85
00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:21,560
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindo and the
86
00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:25,800
Mother Powers within
Introduction pages Roman 11:00
87
00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:26,560
to 12:00.
00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:05,400
When an individual undertakes
tapasia, the concentration of
2
00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:10,720
conscious force, in any manner,
it is certain that the results
3
00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:14,640
will bring about new powers for
that individual, whether an
4
00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,560
accentuation of powers that the
individual already possessed and
5
00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:23,920
exercised to some degree, or the
development and expression of
6
00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:28,680
new powers that were latent but
not actively present for that
7
00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:32,200
individual.
The concentration may be in the
8
00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:36,640
physical realm, the vital realm,
the mental realm, the psychic
9
00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:41,240
and spiritual realm, and the
impact may manifest powers at
10
00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:45,960
any level of the being.
The focus need not fall upon the
11
00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:51,080
rubric of yoga.
When we see an athlete
12
00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,680
practicing to improve his
physical, vital and mental
13
00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:59,840
conditioning, or we see an
individual learning a new skill
14
00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:03,800
or science, or an artist
perfecting his ability to
15
00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:08,440
observe and represent what he is
observing, we are witnessing
16
00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:12,480
such a concentration of
conscious force and results
17
00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:18,040
become obvious over time.
The practice of yoga is a
18
00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,800
focused effort that has as its
basis the turning of the
19
00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:26,040
individual concentration from
pursuits that increase skills
20
00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,920
for external action to the
focusing of the attention on
21
00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:31,720
spiritual growth and
development.
22
00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:38,000
In his Yoga Sutras, Patanjali
describes the 8 limbs of yoga
23
00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,760
practice and points out that as
a result of carrying out these
24
00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:47,360
steps, various powers can and do
manifest.
25
00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,520
Traditional yoga teachings
discourage the use of these
26
00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:55,840
powers, as they tend to distract
the seeker from the goal of
27
00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:00,200
liberation, from the illusion of
the outer world and the
28
00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,520
attainment of oneness with the
ultimate divine reality.
29
00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:10,479
Yet we can see that in the very
practice of the yoga, the seeker
30
00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:14,440
is putting powers to work and
concentrating on them, whether
31
00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:18,400
through the use of physical
asanas, specialized breathing
32
00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:23,200
techniques, or use of powers of
the mind to detach itself from
33
00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:27,440
the flow of thought and
concentrate. 1 Pointedly on a
34
00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:32,560
specific subject or object.
The evolution of consciousness
35
00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,920
and its progressive
manifestation in ever more
36
00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:41,400
powerful forms implies that new
powers of consciousness can and
37
00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,560
will manifest.
Yoga acts as a concentrator of
38
00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:50,280
that evolutionary impetus.
The development of new powers is
39
00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,600
a natural outgrowth of this
evolution.
40
00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:57,680
Just as the mental power of the
reasoning intellect manifested
41
00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:01,360
with the advent of the true
mental force in the evolutionary
42
00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,640
cycle, so the next phase of
evolution will clearly bring
43
00:03:05,640 --> 00:03:08,840
forth new forms of knowing and
acting.
44
00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,400
The question then comes down to
whether these powers act as a
45
00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:18,440
distraction or as a fulfillment
of the evolutionary purpose.
46
00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,640
For those who see liberation or
escape from the cycle of birth
47
00:03:23,640 --> 00:03:28,280
and death as the purpose, taking
up, perfecting, and utilizing
48
00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:31,920
these powers is going to be seen
as a distraction.
49
00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,120
For those dedicated to the
perfection of life and the
50
00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,640
carrying out of the divine
intention in the manifestation,
51
00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:45,640
accepting and using new powers
of consciousness that emerge is
52
00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:50,240
part of the process.
What needs to be avoided is the
53
00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,360
sense of personal
aggrandizement, the growth of
54
00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,840
the ego and the development of
any sense of personal ownership
55
00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,440
in the evolutionary process that
is occurring.
56
00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:06,360
The powers need to be exercised,
as with any power, at any level,
57
00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:11,080
with insight, discretion and
right use.
58
00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,800
This is one of the messages
delivered by Sri Krishna to
59
00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:21,880
Arjuna in the Bhagwad Gita.
Observing the right time, place,
60
00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:27,680
circumstance and use of any
power is part of the mastery
61
00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:32,200
that is asked of the seeker, Dr.
Dalal observes.
62
00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:37,080
Quote In the East, most people
have tended to consider
63
00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:42,000
supernormal powers or cities
perfections, as they are called
64
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,640
in India to be marks of
spiritual attainment.
65
00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:50,760
However, spiritual teachers of a
high order have regarded occult
66
00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:55,280
powers as inferior and unrelated
to spiritual attainment.
67
00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:00,680
One who seeks occult powers,
remarked Ramakrishna, is like
68
00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:05,320
someone who, being offered a
boon by a king, asks for a
69
00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,320
pumpkin.
Some even hold that on the
70
00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:12,560
spiritual path one must desist
not only from seeking occult
71
00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:16,440
powers but also from using them,
if one has acquired them.
72
00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:22,120
Regarding such an attitude, Sri
Ovindo writes quote.
73
00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:27,080
The idea that yogans do not or
ought not to use these powers.
74
00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:32,200
Having consciousness of things
at a distance and intervening, I
75
00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,360
regard as an ascetic
superstition.
76
00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:39,800
I believe that all Yogans who
have these powers do use them
77
00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,400
whenever they find that they are
called from within to do so.
78
00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:49,240
They may refrain if they think
the use of a particular case is
79
00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:53,880
contrary to the divine will, or
see that preventing 1 evil may
80
00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:58,000
be opening the door to a worse
or for any other valid reason,
81
00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,640
but not from any general
prohibitory rule.
82
00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:07,560
What is forbidden to everyone
with a strong spiritual sense is
83
00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:11,280
to be a miracle monger,
performing extraordinary things
84
00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:16,520
for show, for gain, for fame,
out of vanity or pride.
85
00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:21,560
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindo and the
86
00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:25,800
Mother Powers within
Introduction pages Roman 11:00
87
00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:26,560
to 12:00.