June 5, 2026
The Psychic Being and the Mechanism of Choosing Its Next Birth
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Psychic Being — Soul: Its Nature, Mission and Evolution, Section 3 Growth and Development of the Psychic, pp. 79-80This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/06/03/the-psychic-being-and-the-mechanism-of-choosing-its-next-birth/
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 #rebirth #Dalai Lama
1
00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:05,160
Nothing can evolve that has not
previously been involved.
2
00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,680
A tree grows from an acorn
because the essence of the tree,
3
00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:14,000
in the form of its genetic code,
is already in place.
4
00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:18,320
Within that acorn.
The entire creation, from the
5
00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,600
most material to the most
subtle, contains an involved
6
00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:26,000
consciousness.
If we look at the atomic
7
00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,800
structure of a rock, we will see
the complex detail involved in
8
00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:33,600
its existence.
Metals and crystals represent a
9
00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,080
higher expression of the
material consciousness, with
10
00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,280
more specific alignments
involved than in the oldest,
11
00:00:40,480 --> 00:00:46,920
least organized rock materials.
Similarly, as plants evolve, and
12
00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:51,160
later as animals evolve, there
is an ascending power of
13
00:00:51,160 --> 00:00:55,400
expression of the involved
consciousness coincident with an
14
00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,640
increased complexity of the
formation of that plant or
15
00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,920
animal.
Up through all these stages, the
16
00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,960
evolutionary principle is
collective, related to the type
17
00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,240
rather than to any specific
individual in that form.
18
00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,280
We begin to see a certain amount
of individuation when we get to
19
00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,920
the more advanced animal forms,
including the higher primates
20
00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,520
and humans.
At this level, we begin to
21
00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:26,120
appreciate different
personalities of various
22
00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:30,400
individuals, although most of
their lives remain fixed within
23
00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:35,680
the basic framework of the type.
As the individuation process
24
00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:41,320
advances, we begin to recognize
an ego personality which is much
25
00:01:41,320 --> 00:01:43,840
more highly developed in the
human being.
26
00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,840
Throughout each stage of
external development, the
27
00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,520
psychic presence continues to
develop and express itself more
28
00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:56,040
and more.
Eventually a fully formed
29
00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,680
psychic being appears which can
begin to direct and control the
30
00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:04,560
outer nature and turn it towards
fulfillment of the spiritual
31
00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:11,200
force that creates, constitutes,
maintains and develops the
32
00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:15,320
universal creation.
This does not occur within a
33
00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,520
single lifetime, rather it takes
innumerable lifetimes of
34
00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:24,680
development across all the
stages of manifestation for such
35
00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,120
a fully formed and conscious
psychic being to come forward.
36
00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:34,720
In order for this to take place,
a process of continuity through
37
00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:39,720
the action of rebirth is
necessary, Otherwise there is no
38
00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,200
progression possible for the
individual.
39
00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:47,280
Most of the process takes place
rather automatically such that
40
00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:52,240
matter, plants, animals and even
human beings do not insert
41
00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:56,000
individual conscious focus or
energy into that process.
42
00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:00,880
When the being reaches the human
stage and has a certain amount
43
00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:05,400
of self-awareness and have
formed individuality, a more
44
00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:10,000
specific process begins to occur
in order to aid the psychic
45
00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,160
being in its development through
collecting the essence of
46
00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,200
experience from diverse
lifetimes.
47
00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,600
The Tibetan Book of the Dead
describes in considerable detail
48
00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,840
the process and timing involved
in the transition of the being
49
00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:30,840
from death in one body through a
transitional phase, eventually
50
00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,560
leading to birth in a new body
and lifetime.
51
00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,120
The process described there is
one that carries itself out
52
00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:41,760
through the energetic focus of
the individual in the lifetime
53
00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,120
and the preparation that
individual has had for the
54
00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,080
choices of a new birth available
to it.
55
00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:53,160
This process is driven through
the energetic forces, not by
56
00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:55,360
some conscious individual
choice.
57
00:03:55,840 --> 00:04:01,600
For most people behind these
energetic forces, the psychic
58
00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:06,120
being remains focused to ensure
the being gets the experience it
59
00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:11,360
needs in the next lifetime.
What is not specifically covered
60
00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:15,640
here are instances where there
is a fully awake and active
61
00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:17,720
psychic being directing the
life.
62
00:04:18,519 --> 00:04:22,720
When such a being departs the
body, it is possible for him to
63
00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:26,440
make conscious choices and
direct the energetic flow to
64
00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:30,040
create specific forward choices
and conditions.
65
00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,800
The rebirth of lamas, for
instance the continuous line of
66
00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:39,480
births of the Dalai Lamas or the
Panchen Lamas, are examples of
67
00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,040
such a directed and controlled
process.
68
00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,200
They generally leave behind some
clues as to their future
69
00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:50,880
rebirth, and afterwards a
process of search takes place
70
00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,520
until the successor birth has
been identified.
71
00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:58,560
The child is then put through a
series of tests to Florida State
72
00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,840
identify specific items that had
been used by the prior
73
00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:06,280
incarnation.
This process has been carried
74
00:05:06,280 --> 00:05:10,680
out numerous times and provides
us with a model for what we may
75
00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:15,480
call conscious directed rebirth
by an awake psychic being.
76
00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:22,640
The Mother notes quote.
Let us take a divine spark which
77
00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:27,120
through attraction, through
affinity and selection, gathers
78
00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,480
around it a beginning of psychic
consciousness.
79
00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,520
This work is already very
perceptible in animals.
80
00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,840
Don't think you are exceptional
beings, that you alone have a
81
00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:41,000
psychic being and the rest of
creation hasn't.
82
00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:45,080
It begins in the mineral.
It is a little more developed in
83
00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:49,640
the plant and in the animal.
There is a first glimmer of the
84
00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:54,120
psychic presence.
Then there comes a moment when
85
00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,000
this psychic being is
sufficiently developed to have
86
00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,360
an independent consciousness and
a personal will.
87
00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:04,680
And then, after innumerable
lives, more or less
88
00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:09,160
individualized, it becomes
conscious of itself, of its
89
00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,360
movements, and of the
environment that's chosen for
90
00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,560
its growth.
Arriving at a certain state of
91
00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:20,080
perception, it decides generally
at the last minute, of the life
92
00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:24,200
it has just finished upon earth
the conditions in which its next
93
00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:28,000
life will be passed.
Here I must tell you a very
94
00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:32,200
important thing.
The psychic being can progress
95
00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:35,800
and form itself only in the
physical life and upon earth.
96
00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:41,280
As soon as it leaves a body, it
enters into a rest which lasts
97
00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:45,280
for a more or less long time,
according to its own choice and
98
00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:49,800
its degree of development.
A rest for assimilation, for a
99
00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:54,160
passive progress, so to say, a
rest for passive growth, which
100
00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:58,040
will allow this same psychic
being to pass on the new
101
00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,880
experiences and make a more
active progress.
102
00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:07,160
But after having finished one
life, which usually ends only
103
00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:11,280
when it is done what it wanted
to do, it will have chosen the
104
00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,920
environment where it will be
born, the approximate place
105
00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,360
where it will be born, the
conditions and the kind of life
106
00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:22,640
in which it will be born, and a
very precise program of the
107
00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:27,160
experiences through which it
will have to pass to be able to
108
00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,480
make the progress it wants to
make.
109
00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:34,760
End Quote reference.
Srioro Bindu and the Mother, the
110
00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:38,800
psychic being soul, its nature,
mission and evolution.
111
00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,600
Section 3.
Growth and Development of the
112
00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,080
Psychic, pages 79 to 80.
00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:05,160
Nothing can evolve that has not
previously been involved.
2
00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,680
A tree grows from an acorn
because the essence of the tree,
3
00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:14,000
in the form of its genetic code,
is already in place.
4
00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:18,320
Within that acorn.
The entire creation, from the
5
00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,600
most material to the most
subtle, contains an involved
6
00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:26,000
consciousness.
If we look at the atomic
7
00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,800
structure of a rock, we will see
the complex detail involved in
8
00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:33,600
its existence.
Metals and crystals represent a
9
00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,080
higher expression of the
material consciousness, with
10
00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,280
more specific alignments
involved than in the oldest,
11
00:00:40,480 --> 00:00:46,920
least organized rock materials.
Similarly, as plants evolve, and
12
00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:51,160
later as animals evolve, there
is an ascending power of
13
00:00:51,160 --> 00:00:55,400
expression of the involved
consciousness coincident with an
14
00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,640
increased complexity of the
formation of that plant or
15
00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,920
animal.
Up through all these stages, the
16
00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,960
evolutionary principle is
collective, related to the type
17
00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,240
rather than to any specific
individual in that form.
18
00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,280
We begin to see a certain amount
of individuation when we get to
19
00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,920
the more advanced animal forms,
including the higher primates
20
00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,520
and humans.
At this level, we begin to
21
00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:26,120
appreciate different
personalities of various
22
00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:30,400
individuals, although most of
their lives remain fixed within
23
00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:35,680
the basic framework of the type.
As the individuation process
24
00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:41,320
advances, we begin to recognize
an ego personality which is much
25
00:01:41,320 --> 00:01:43,840
more highly developed in the
human being.
26
00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,840
Throughout each stage of
external development, the
27
00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,520
psychic presence continues to
develop and express itself more
28
00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:56,040
and more.
Eventually a fully formed
29
00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,680
psychic being appears which can
begin to direct and control the
30
00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:04,560
outer nature and turn it towards
fulfillment of the spiritual
31
00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:11,200
force that creates, constitutes,
maintains and develops the
32
00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:15,320
universal creation.
This does not occur within a
33
00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,520
single lifetime, rather it takes
innumerable lifetimes of
34
00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:24,680
development across all the
stages of manifestation for such
35
00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,120
a fully formed and conscious
psychic being to come forward.
36
00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:34,720
In order for this to take place,
a process of continuity through
37
00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:39,720
the action of rebirth is
necessary, Otherwise there is no
38
00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,200
progression possible for the
individual.
39
00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:47,280
Most of the process takes place
rather automatically such that
40
00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:52,240
matter, plants, animals and even
human beings do not insert
41
00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:56,000
individual conscious focus or
energy into that process.
42
00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:00,880
When the being reaches the human
stage and has a certain amount
43
00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:05,400
of self-awareness and have
formed individuality, a more
44
00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:10,000
specific process begins to occur
in order to aid the psychic
45
00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,160
being in its development through
collecting the essence of
46
00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,200
experience from diverse
lifetimes.
47
00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,600
The Tibetan Book of the Dead
describes in considerable detail
48
00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,840
the process and timing involved
in the transition of the being
49
00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:30,840
from death in one body through a
transitional phase, eventually
50
00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,560
leading to birth in a new body
and lifetime.
51
00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,120
The process described there is
one that carries itself out
52
00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:41,760
through the energetic focus of
the individual in the lifetime
53
00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,120
and the preparation that
individual has had for the
54
00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,080
choices of a new birth available
to it.
55
00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:53,160
This process is driven through
the energetic forces, not by
56
00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:55,360
some conscious individual
choice.
57
00:03:55,840 --> 00:04:01,600
For most people behind these
energetic forces, the psychic
58
00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:06,120
being remains focused to ensure
the being gets the experience it
59
00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:11,360
needs in the next lifetime.
What is not specifically covered
60
00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:15,640
here are instances where there
is a fully awake and active
61
00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:17,720
psychic being directing the
life.
62
00:04:18,519 --> 00:04:22,720
When such a being departs the
body, it is possible for him to
63
00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:26,440
make conscious choices and
direct the energetic flow to
64
00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:30,040
create specific forward choices
and conditions.
65
00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,800
The rebirth of lamas, for
instance the continuous line of
66
00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:39,480
births of the Dalai Lamas or the
Panchen Lamas, are examples of
67
00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,040
such a directed and controlled
process.
68
00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,200
They generally leave behind some
clues as to their future
69
00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:50,880
rebirth, and afterwards a
process of search takes place
70
00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,520
until the successor birth has
been identified.
71
00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:58,560
The child is then put through a
series of tests to Florida State
72
00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,840
identify specific items that had
been used by the prior
73
00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:06,280
incarnation.
This process has been carried
74
00:05:06,280 --> 00:05:10,680
out numerous times and provides
us with a model for what we may
75
00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:15,480
call conscious directed rebirth
by an awake psychic being.
76
00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:22,640
The Mother notes quote.
Let us take a divine spark which
77
00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:27,120
through attraction, through
affinity and selection, gathers
78
00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,480
around it a beginning of psychic
consciousness.
79
00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,520
This work is already very
perceptible in animals.
80
00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,840
Don't think you are exceptional
beings, that you alone have a
81
00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:41,000
psychic being and the rest of
creation hasn't.
82
00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:45,080
It begins in the mineral.
It is a little more developed in
83
00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:49,640
the plant and in the animal.
There is a first glimmer of the
84
00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:54,120
psychic presence.
Then there comes a moment when
85
00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,000
this psychic being is
sufficiently developed to have
86
00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,360
an independent consciousness and
a personal will.
87
00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:04,680
And then, after innumerable
lives, more or less
88
00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:09,160
individualized, it becomes
conscious of itself, of its
89
00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,360
movements, and of the
environment that's chosen for
90
00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,560
its growth.
Arriving at a certain state of
91
00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:20,080
perception, it decides generally
at the last minute, of the life
92
00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:24,200
it has just finished upon earth
the conditions in which its next
93
00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:28,000
life will be passed.
Here I must tell you a very
94
00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:32,200
important thing.
The psychic being can progress
95
00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:35,800
and form itself only in the
physical life and upon earth.
96
00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:41,280
As soon as it leaves a body, it
enters into a rest which lasts
97
00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:45,280
for a more or less long time,
according to its own choice and
98
00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:49,800
its degree of development.
A rest for assimilation, for a
99
00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:54,160
passive progress, so to say, a
rest for passive growth, which
100
00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:58,040
will allow this same psychic
being to pass on the new
101
00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,880
experiences and make a more
active progress.
102
00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:07,160
But after having finished one
life, which usually ends only
103
00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:11,280
when it is done what it wanted
to do, it will have chosen the
104
00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,920
environment where it will be
born, the approximate place
105
00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,360
where it will be born, the
conditions and the kind of life
106
00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:22,640
in which it will be born, and a
very precise program of the
107
00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:27,160
experiences through which it
will have to pass to be able to
108
00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,480
make the progress it wants to
make.
109
00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:34,760
End Quote reference.
Srioro Bindu and the Mother, the
110
00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:38,800
psychic being soul, its nature,
mission and evolution.
111
00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,600
Section 3.
Growth and Development of the
112
00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,080
Psychic, pages 79 to 80.