May 18, 2026
The Psychic Being and the Management of the External Being and Its Action
reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Psychic Being — Soul: Its Nature, Mission and Evolution, Section 2 Role, Function and Action of the Psychic, pg. 60This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/05/16/the-psychic-being-and-the-management-of-the-external-being-and-its-action/
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 #The Mother #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #soul #psychic being #management theory
1
00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,840
There are a number of different
management strategies we see in
2
00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,320
the world today.
They range from attempts at
3
00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:12,400
total control, what we can call
micromanagement, to total
4
00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:16,360
laissez faire release to permit
individuals to do whatever they
5
00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:20,720
decide at each moment.
Both of these extremes have
6
00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,520
their limitations.
Micromanagement tends towards
7
00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:29,240
inflexibility and eventually
fails to address changing facts
8
00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:34,760
and situations as they occur,
while it also reduces initiative
9
00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:40,560
for the individual participants.
Laissez faire freedom tends to a
10
00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,920
somewhat chaotic implementation
without the central guiding
11
00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:48,560
principle or focus to Orient the
action towards the intended
12
00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,400
goal.
In a complex interaction.
13
00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,600
One can see the failure of the
laissez faire approach in the
14
00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:00,120
idea of simply turning a
Symphony Orchestra over to that
15
00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,920
method and hearing the
mismatched sounds and timing
16
00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:07,480
that inevitably occur on the
other side.
17
00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:12,440
Micromanagement suppresses the
free will so entirely that those
18
00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:16,480
subjected to it tend to act
mechanically and without
19
00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:20,680
thought, insight or
consideration, as these have
20
00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,280
been taken away from them by the
central manager.
21
00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,800
It is interesting to note that
the Berlin Philharmonic
22
00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,440
Orchestra, one of the world's
premier elite Symphony
23
00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:35,080
orchestras, is known for its
unique and powerful
24
00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,320
performances.
Because they have, through their
25
00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:42,320
intimate knowledge of the other
members and their long rapport
26
00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:46,960
with each other, gone beyond
being purely dominated by the
27
00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:51,040
strict control of the conductor
and have found a way to blend
28
00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:55,480
their individual expression and
personality into their
29
00:01:55,480 --> 00:02:00,560
orchestral performances.
Management theories continue to
30
00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,080
work toward achieving something
of an ideal balance between a
31
00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:08,560
central organizing and guiding
principle and the flexibility
32
00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,600
needed in the implementation to
address facts on the ground.
33
00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,200
One can see this play out in
various military organizations.
34
00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,360
Some are extremely rigid and
hold command and control within
35
00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,600
a centralized team.
If communication is broken down,
36
00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:30,680
or if unexpected things occur in
the operation, things can go
37
00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:35,640
wrong very quickly, leading in
some cases to absolute disaster.
38
00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,240
One of the attempts to overcome
this limitation is to have the
39
00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,960
leadership set specific
objectives and goals, Set
40
00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,840
general boundaries and
guidelines such as rules of
41
00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:52,400
engagement, but train the team
that has to actually implement
42
00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:57,240
the plan to be resourceful and
free within those boundaries.
43
00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:02,960
Some of the most elite military
units in the world utilize this
44
00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:07,360
general approach.
The balance between free will
45
00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:11,960
and destiny also partakes of a
similar concern when applied to
46
00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,920
spiritual development.
Some people hold that everything
47
00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:20,600
has been predestined down to the
individual detail level in what
48
00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,240
is called the block universe
theory.
49
00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,520
In this approach, free will is
purely an illusion.
50
00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:32,440
If, however, the universal
consciousness is evolving within
51
00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:37,040
a general framework, free will
and destiny could actually
52
00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,800
coexist.
The question about the guidance
53
00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:44,280
of the external being and its
development in life to fulfill
54
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:49,280
the spiritual aspiration of the
psychic being revolves around
55
00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,840
these issues.
If we assume that there is a
56
00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,880
complete control over every
detail, we find that the
57
00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:02,280
external being, the body, the
life energy and the mind tend to
58
00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:07,480
lose their initiative and in
some cases actually rebel or go
59
00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,000
on strike when they feel like
their needs and expectations are
60
00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,160
not being met.
On the other hand, a flexible
61
00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:19,160
approach focused on a central
aspiration and framework, but
62
00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,040
leaving the details to be worked
out by the external instruments
63
00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:28,080
allows them a measure of
development and growth that both
64
00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:33,000
makes them more effective over
the long term and ensures that
65
00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:37,440
the acceptance is not grudging
or withheld by the external
66
00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,240
being.
This approach may take longer
67
00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,800
and may lead to divergences,
errors or failures along the
68
00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:51,240
way, but in the end it brings
about a stronger, more stable
69
00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,680
change in the consciousness and
action of the external being
70
00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:59,840
that is supporting and aligned
with the psychic beings intended
71
00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:05,600
direction.
A disciple inquires Mother, is
72
00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,520
the orientation of an
individual's life directed by
73
00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:13,840
the psychic?
The mother responds, quote Yes,
74
00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:19,800
absolutely unconsciously for the
individual most of the time, but
75
00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:24,280
it is the psychic which
organizes his existence only in
76
00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:26,520
what may be called the main
lines.
77
00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,240
Because for intervening in the
details they would have to be a
78
00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:35,120
conscious union between the
outer being, that is, the vital
79
00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,960
and physical being, and the
psychic being.
80
00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:44,480
But usually this does not exist
so externally in the details.
81
00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:49,200
For example, there was someone
who in deep perplexity said to
82
00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:54,120
me, Well, if it is the psychic
being or rather the divine in
83
00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:58,200
the psychic who directs our
life, is it he who decides the
84
00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,120
number of pieces of sugar I put
in my teacup?
85
00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:08,160
That was the question verbatim.
So the answer had to be no,
86
00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,000
because it is not a detailed
intervention of this kind.
87
00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:18,560
End Quote reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother, the
88
00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:23,400
psychic being soul, its nature,
mission and evolution.
89
00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,840
Section 2.
Role, function and Action of the
90
00:06:26,840 --> 00:06:29,960
Psychic.
Pages 60 to 62.
00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,840
There are a number of different
management strategies we see in
2
00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,320
the world today.
They range from attempts at
3
00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:12,400
total control, what we can call
micromanagement, to total
4
00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:16,360
laissez faire release to permit
individuals to do whatever they
5
00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:20,720
decide at each moment.
Both of these extremes have
6
00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,520
their limitations.
Micromanagement tends towards
7
00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:29,240
inflexibility and eventually
fails to address changing facts
8
00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:34,760
and situations as they occur,
while it also reduces initiative
9
00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:40,560
for the individual participants.
Laissez faire freedom tends to a
10
00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,920
somewhat chaotic implementation
without the central guiding
11
00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:48,560
principle or focus to Orient the
action towards the intended
12
00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,400
goal.
In a complex interaction.
13
00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,600
One can see the failure of the
laissez faire approach in the
14
00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:00,120
idea of simply turning a
Symphony Orchestra over to that
15
00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,920
method and hearing the
mismatched sounds and timing
16
00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:07,480
that inevitably occur on the
other side.
17
00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:12,440
Micromanagement suppresses the
free will so entirely that those
18
00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:16,480
subjected to it tend to act
mechanically and without
19
00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:20,680
thought, insight or
consideration, as these have
20
00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,280
been taken away from them by the
central manager.
21
00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,800
It is interesting to note that
the Berlin Philharmonic
22
00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,440
Orchestra, one of the world's
premier elite Symphony
23
00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:35,080
orchestras, is known for its
unique and powerful
24
00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,320
performances.
Because they have, through their
25
00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:42,320
intimate knowledge of the other
members and their long rapport
26
00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:46,960
with each other, gone beyond
being purely dominated by the
27
00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:51,040
strict control of the conductor
and have found a way to blend
28
00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:55,480
their individual expression and
personality into their
29
00:01:55,480 --> 00:02:00,560
orchestral performances.
Management theories continue to
30
00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,080
work toward achieving something
of an ideal balance between a
31
00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:08,560
central organizing and guiding
principle and the flexibility
32
00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,600
needed in the implementation to
address facts on the ground.
33
00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,200
One can see this play out in
various military organizations.
34
00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,360
Some are extremely rigid and
hold command and control within
35
00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,600
a centralized team.
If communication is broken down,
36
00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:30,680
or if unexpected things occur in
the operation, things can go
37
00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:35,640
wrong very quickly, leading in
some cases to absolute disaster.
38
00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,240
One of the attempts to overcome
this limitation is to have the
39
00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,960
leadership set specific
objectives and goals, Set
40
00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,840
general boundaries and
guidelines such as rules of
41
00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:52,400
engagement, but train the team
that has to actually implement
42
00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:57,240
the plan to be resourceful and
free within those boundaries.
43
00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:02,960
Some of the most elite military
units in the world utilize this
44
00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:07,360
general approach.
The balance between free will
45
00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:11,960
and destiny also partakes of a
similar concern when applied to
46
00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,920
spiritual development.
Some people hold that everything
47
00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:20,600
has been predestined down to the
individual detail level in what
48
00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,240
is called the block universe
theory.
49
00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,520
In this approach, free will is
purely an illusion.
50
00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:32,440
If, however, the universal
consciousness is evolving within
51
00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:37,040
a general framework, free will
and destiny could actually
52
00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,800
coexist.
The question about the guidance
53
00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:44,280
of the external being and its
development in life to fulfill
54
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:49,280
the spiritual aspiration of the
psychic being revolves around
55
00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,840
these issues.
If we assume that there is a
56
00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,880
complete control over every
detail, we find that the
57
00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:02,280
external being, the body, the
life energy and the mind tend to
58
00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:07,480
lose their initiative and in
some cases actually rebel or go
59
00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,000
on strike when they feel like
their needs and expectations are
60
00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,160
not being met.
On the other hand, a flexible
61
00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:19,160
approach focused on a central
aspiration and framework, but
62
00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,040
leaving the details to be worked
out by the external instruments
63
00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:28,080
allows them a measure of
development and growth that both
64
00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:33,000
makes them more effective over
the long term and ensures that
65
00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:37,440
the acceptance is not grudging
or withheld by the external
66
00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,240
being.
This approach may take longer
67
00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,800
and may lead to divergences,
errors or failures along the
68
00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:51,240
way, but in the end it brings
about a stronger, more stable
69
00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,680
change in the consciousness and
action of the external being
70
00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:59,840
that is supporting and aligned
with the psychic beings intended
71
00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:05,600
direction.
A disciple inquires Mother, is
72
00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,520
the orientation of an
individual's life directed by
73
00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:13,840
the psychic?
The mother responds, quote Yes,
74
00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:19,800
absolutely unconsciously for the
individual most of the time, but
75
00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:24,280
it is the psychic which
organizes his existence only in
76
00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:26,520
what may be called the main
lines.
77
00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,240
Because for intervening in the
details they would have to be a
78
00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:35,120
conscious union between the
outer being, that is, the vital
79
00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,960
and physical being, and the
psychic being.
80
00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:44,480
But usually this does not exist
so externally in the details.
81
00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:49,200
For example, there was someone
who in deep perplexity said to
82
00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:54,120
me, Well, if it is the psychic
being or rather the divine in
83
00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:58,200
the psychic who directs our
life, is it he who decides the
84
00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,120
number of pieces of sugar I put
in my teacup?
85
00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:08,160
That was the question verbatim.
So the answer had to be no,
86
00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,000
because it is not a detailed
intervention of this kind.
87
00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:18,560
End Quote reference Sri
Aurobindo and the Mother, the
88
00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:23,400
psychic being soul, its nature,
mission and evolution.
89
00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,840
Section 2.
Role, function and Action of the
90
00:06:26,840 --> 00:06:29,960
Psychic.
Pages 60 to 62.
