A Podcast Featuring Sri Aurobindo Studies
Nov. 5, 2025

The Principal Thing in the Practice of Integral Yoga

The Principal Thing in the Practice of Integral Yoga
The Principal Thing in the Practice of Integral Yoga
Sri Aurobindo Studies
The Principal Thing in the Practice of Integral Yoga

reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 2, Faith — Aspiration — Surrender, pg. 32This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/the-principal-thing-in-the-practice-of-integral-yoga/


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0:00 In his book The Mother, Sri Robindo provides a detailed road map for understanding the relatively simple idea that one must have the will to overcome all attachments etcetera. In order to do this, we need to be able to appreciate what is meant by attachments. Most people would associate this with external things or with external relationships, and they of course need to be looked at. But Tria Robindo goes much deeper into the psychological web of the mind, the emotions, the vital being and even the physical body as he describes the issue of what needs to be rejected to create the needed psychological framework for the higher force to be received and to act with power in the being. Quote rejection of the movements of the lower nature. Rejection of the mind's ideas, opinions, preferences, habits, constructions, so that the true knowledge may find free room in a silent mind.

1:10 Rejection of the vital nature's desires, demands, cravings, sensations, passions, selfishness, pride, arrogance, lust, greed, jealousy, envy, hostility to the truth, so that the true power and joy may pour from above into a calm, large, strong, and consecrated vital being. Rejection of the physical nature. Stupidity, doubt, disbelief, obscurity, obstinacy, pettiness, laziness, unwillingness to change Thomas so that the truth, stability of light power Ananda may establish itself in a body growing always more divine. End Quote.

2:05 Eventually, through tuning of the being, through aspiration, the removal of the static from the connection that is thus formed, through rejection of those things with which distract and create static, and the subsequent acceptance of the higher power as it begins to act, there comes a time when the experience of that higher force working within the being and carrying out the practice takes over from the sense of the limited individual struggling to make the needed changes. Sriora Bindu notes quote to practice yoga implies the will to overcome all attachments and turn to the divine alone.

2:50 The principal thing in the yoga is to trust in the divine grace at every step, to direct the thought continually to the divine and to offer oneself till the being opens and the Mother's force can be felt working in the adhar. End Quote. Srioro Bindo Bases of Yoga Chapter 2. Faith, Aspiration, Surrender, page 32.