Nov. 26, 2025
The Practitioner of the Integral Yoga Will Face Difficulties, Obstructions and Challenges With the Support of the Divine Force to Meet Them and Overcome Them
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 3, In Difficulty, pg. 45
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/11/24/the-practitioner-of-the-integral-yoga-will-face-difficulties-obstructions-and-challenges-with-the-support-of-the-divine-force-to-meet-them-and-overcome-them/
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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
1
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:05,680
In Savitri, a legend and a
symbol, Srioro Bindo poses the
2
00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:10,840
question, how shall he cure the
ills he never felt?
3
00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,880
In reference to the World
Redeemer's task, There is a
4
00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,760
truth here that impacts every
disciple and devotee of the
5
00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,720
Integral Yoga.
Srioro Bindo has set the
6
00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:27,840
objective as the transformation
of all of human nature through
7
00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:31,640
the descent and integration of
the next stage of evolution
8
00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:35,760
beyond the mental level.
This power of consciousness
9
00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:40,800
cannot simply accept the ways of
body, life and mind as
10
00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,880
previously developed without
addressing the deformations,
11
00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:49,280
weaknesses and resistance that
they bring with them based on
12
00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:53,240
millennia long habits and
developed ways of seeing,
13
00:00:53,680 --> 00:01:00,240
thinking, acting and reacting.
First, the process implies that
14
00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:04,720
everyone, including of course
all seekers, carry this legacy
15
00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:09,480
mode of acting within themselves
and thus they will be faced with
16
00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:13,480
all kinds of obstructions,
difficulties and limitations.
17
00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:19,040
Second, since the process of the
Yoga is intended to speed up the
18
00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:23,360
normally slower pace of nature,
it requires the conscious
19
00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,560
participation of the yogic
practitioner.
20
00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,600
This in turn implies that the
Sadiq of the yoga will be
21
00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,760
confronted with all these
pre-existing conditions and will
22
00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,440
need to work through them to
reorient the entire ways of
23
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:43,160
responding at each level of
consciousness down to the
24
00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,600
physical and even the
subconscient levels.
25
00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,560
It is therefore not realistic to
assume that the Sodic is not
26
00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:56,160
faced with difficulties and
challenges all along the way, as
27
00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,640
the divine force works through
the mental obstructions, the
28
00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,880
emotional knots, the vital
deformations and the physical
29
00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:08,120
resistance, tackles then the
embedded reactions in the
30
00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:13,280
subcontinent and then carries
out the transformation while
31
00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:17,680
withstanding the impact of the
unreformed general nature of
32
00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,480
humanity.
Trioro Bindo encourages the
33
00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:26,040
SODIC by pointing out elsewhere
that he who chooses the Infinite
34
00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:31,280
has been chosen by the Infinite.
Any soul that is moved to take
35
00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:35,520
up this work has the support and
aid of the evolutionary
36
00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,240
consciousness that is in the
process of manifesting.
37
00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,040
Human doubts and fears are a
result of the sodic still
38
00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,400
responding from the ego
consciousness, which is
39
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:52,000
doubtless going to occur for
quite some time along the way.
40
00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:59,720
Sri Aurobindo notes quote the
existence of imperfections, even
41
00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:04,680
many and serious imperfections
cannot be a permanent bar to
42
00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:05,960
progress.
In the Yoga.
43
00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,320
I do not speak of a recovery of
the former opening, for
44
00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,280
according to my experience, what
comes after a period of
45
00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,880
obstruction or struggle is
usually a new and wider opening,
46
00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,680
some larger consciousness and in
advance on what had been gained
47
00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:27,360
before and seems, but only seems
to be lost for the moment.
48
00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:32,480
The only bar that can be
permanent, but need not be, for
49
00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:38,640
this too can change, is
insincerity, and this does not
50
00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,960
exist in you.
If imperfection were a bar, then
51
00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:47,160
no man could succeed in Yoga,
for all are imperfect.
52
00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,800
And I am not sure from what I
have seen that it is not those
53
00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:56,360
who have the greatest power for
yoga who have two very often, or
54
00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:58,520
have had the greatest
imperfections.
55
00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:03,200
You know, I suppose, the comment
of Socrates on his own character
56
00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,720
that could be said by many great
yogans of their own initial
57
00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,440
human nature.
In yoga the one thing that
58
00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:16,640
counts in the end is sincerity,
and with it the patience to
59
00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:20,360
persist in the path.
Many, even without this
60
00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:24,520
patience, go through, for in
spite of revolt, impatience,
61
00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:29,880
depression, despondency,
fatigue, temporary loss of
62
00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:35,120
faith, a force greater than
one's outer self, the force of
63
00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,520
the spirit, the drive of the
soul's need, pushes them through
64
00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,280
the cloud and the mist to the
goal before them.
65
00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:47,560
Imperfections can be stumbling
blocks and give one a bad fall
66
00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,600
for the moment, but not a
permanent bar.
67
00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:55,320
Obstructions due to some
resistance in the nature can be
68
00:04:55,320 --> 00:05:00,800
more serious causes of delay,
but they too do not last
69
00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:06,000
forever.
End Quote reference Trioro
70
00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:12,880
Bindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 3
in difficulty, page 45.
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:05,680
In Savitri, a legend and a
symbol, Srioro Bindo poses the
2
00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:10,840
question, how shall he cure the
ills he never felt?
3
00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,880
In reference to the World
Redeemer's task, There is a
4
00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,760
truth here that impacts every
disciple and devotee of the
5
00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,720
Integral Yoga.
Srioro Bindo has set the
6
00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:27,840
objective as the transformation
of all of human nature through
7
00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:31,640
the descent and integration of
the next stage of evolution
8
00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:35,760
beyond the mental level.
This power of consciousness
9
00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:40,800
cannot simply accept the ways of
body, life and mind as
10
00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,880
previously developed without
addressing the deformations,
11
00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:49,280
weaknesses and resistance that
they bring with them based on
12
00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:53,240
millennia long habits and
developed ways of seeing,
13
00:00:53,680 --> 00:01:00,240
thinking, acting and reacting.
First, the process implies that
14
00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:04,720
everyone, including of course
all seekers, carry this legacy
15
00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:09,480
mode of acting within themselves
and thus they will be faced with
16
00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:13,480
all kinds of obstructions,
difficulties and limitations.
17
00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:19,040
Second, since the process of the
Yoga is intended to speed up the
18
00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:23,360
normally slower pace of nature,
it requires the conscious
19
00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,560
participation of the yogic
practitioner.
20
00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,600
This in turn implies that the
Sadiq of the yoga will be
21
00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,760
confronted with all these
pre-existing conditions and will
22
00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,440
need to work through them to
reorient the entire ways of
23
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:43,160
responding at each level of
consciousness down to the
24
00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,600
physical and even the
subconscient levels.
25
00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,560
It is therefore not realistic to
assume that the Sodic is not
26
00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:56,160
faced with difficulties and
challenges all along the way, as
27
00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,640
the divine force works through
the mental obstructions, the
28
00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,880
emotional knots, the vital
deformations and the physical
29
00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:08,120
resistance, tackles then the
embedded reactions in the
30
00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:13,280
subcontinent and then carries
out the transformation while
31
00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:17,680
withstanding the impact of the
unreformed general nature of
32
00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,480
humanity.
Trioro Bindo encourages the
33
00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:26,040
SODIC by pointing out elsewhere
that he who chooses the Infinite
34
00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:31,280
has been chosen by the Infinite.
Any soul that is moved to take
35
00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:35,520
up this work has the support and
aid of the evolutionary
36
00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,240
consciousness that is in the
process of manifesting.
37
00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,040
Human doubts and fears are a
result of the sodic still
38
00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,400
responding from the ego
consciousness, which is
39
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:52,000
doubtless going to occur for
quite some time along the way.
40
00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:59,720
Sri Aurobindo notes quote the
existence of imperfections, even
41
00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:04,680
many and serious imperfections
cannot be a permanent bar to
42
00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:05,960
progress.
In the Yoga.
43
00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,320
I do not speak of a recovery of
the former opening, for
44
00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,280
according to my experience, what
comes after a period of
45
00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,880
obstruction or struggle is
usually a new and wider opening,
46
00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,680
some larger consciousness and in
advance on what had been gained
47
00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:27,360
before and seems, but only seems
to be lost for the moment.
48
00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:32,480
The only bar that can be
permanent, but need not be, for
49
00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:38,640
this too can change, is
insincerity, and this does not
50
00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,960
exist in you.
If imperfection were a bar, then
51
00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:47,160
no man could succeed in Yoga,
for all are imperfect.
52
00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,800
And I am not sure from what I
have seen that it is not those
53
00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:56,360
who have the greatest power for
yoga who have two very often, or
54
00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:58,520
have had the greatest
imperfections.
55
00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:03,200
You know, I suppose, the comment
of Socrates on his own character
56
00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,720
that could be said by many great
yogans of their own initial
57
00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,440
human nature.
In yoga the one thing that
58
00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:16,640
counts in the end is sincerity,
and with it the patience to
59
00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:20,360
persist in the path.
Many, even without this
60
00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:24,520
patience, go through, for in
spite of revolt, impatience,
61
00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:29,880
depression, despondency,
fatigue, temporary loss of
62
00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:35,120
faith, a force greater than
one's outer self, the force of
63
00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,520
the spirit, the drive of the
soul's need, pushes them through
64
00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,280
the cloud and the mist to the
goal before them.
65
00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:47,560
Imperfections can be stumbling
blocks and give one a bad fall
66
00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,600
for the moment, but not a
permanent bar.
67
00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:55,320
Obstructions due to some
resistance in the nature can be
68
00:04:55,320 --> 00:05:00,800
more serious causes of delay,
but they too do not last
69
00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:06,000
forever.
End Quote reference Trioro
70
00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:12,880
Bindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 3
in difficulty, page 45.
