May 28, 2026
The 'Psychic Mirror' and Its Power of Transformation of the External Nature
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. 69This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/05/26/the-psychic-mirror-and-its-power-of-transformation-of-the-external-nature/
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 #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #soul #psychic being #psychology #transformation #The Mother #psychic mirror
1
00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:04,840
One of the powerful techniques
which Sri Aurobindo describes
2
00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:08,680
for the spiritual aspirant is
the separation of the witness
3
00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,000
consciousness from the active
external nature.
4
00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:17,360
Creation of a mental witness
awareness is not quite the same
5
00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,560
thing, although it may be a
helpful step along the way.
6
00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,560
This is still the play of the
nature in the mental plane.
7
00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,800
What is intended here is not a
mental approach, but development
8
00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:35,400
of a standpoint that is outside
the normal action of body, life
9
00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,560
and mind, residing in the
spiritual consciousness.
10
00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,640
The Mother has described what
she calls the psychic mirror,
11
00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:48,360
which is a form of witness
awareness that is not mental,
12
00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,800
but which is holding up the
energetic vibrational pattern of
13
00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:57,520
the soul presence, the psychic
being, as a means of determining
14
00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,400
whether any particular aspect of
the external being conforms with
15
00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:07,240
the psychic beings focus or not.
In other words, is there
16
00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,920
coherence between the psychic
being and the activities of
17
00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:16,600
body, life and mind?
Some people think that what is
18
00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:21,520
intended is their conscience.
However this is not the case.
19
00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,480
Conscience is based in moral and
ethical training along
20
00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,720
guidelines set in the social
structure.
21
00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:33,040
What is moral or ethical in one
society may be considered
22
00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:38,640
immoral or unethical in another.
Even if something is considered
23
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:44,040
immoral or unethical in every
society, it is still a rule
24
00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:49,480
based judgment, not the intended
psychic mirror approach the
25
00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:53,880
Mother describes.
For the spiritual seeker
26
00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:57,400
awakened to the stirrings of the
soul, there comes a point in
27
00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:01,360
time when he can recognize the
vibrational field created by the
28
00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,480
psychic being.
He feels the aspiration, the
29
00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:09,880
consecration, the surrender of
the ego, the experience of
30
00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:14,400
bliss, ananda and other
vibrations associated with the
31
00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:18,120
soul.
What the Mother proposes is that
32
00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:24,520
whenever there is a thought and
emotion, a feeling, a need, that
33
00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:28,120
the seeker place that vibration
side by side with the psychic
34
00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:33,520
vibration and see if there is
coherence or whether there is
35
00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,640
distance or disturbance between
the two.
36
00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:42,160
When we are focused on external
activities and we experience
37
00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:48,680
greed, jealousy, anger,
grasping, attachment, these each
38
00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,880
have their own vibrational
signature and wavelength, so to
39
00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,920
speak.
Many people in fact assign
40
00:02:54,920 --> 00:02:58,120
colors to these varying
vibrations such as green with
41
00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:03,080
envy, red with sexual energy,
yellow with fear, etcetera.
42
00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,560
The pure psychic flame is a
flame of white light.
43
00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,280
If you can begin to refer all
the external responses,
44
00:03:12,640 --> 00:03:17,600
reactions and reflections to
this psychic mirror, one quickly
45
00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,600
can distinguish those things
which interfere or disrupt the
46
00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:26,040
psychic vibrational field and
those which enhance and support
47
00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,040
it.
It is not a matter of thought.
48
00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:34,480
It is not a matter of emotion,
It is not a matter of moral
49
00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,600
judgment.
It is simply a reflection of how
50
00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,200
we are vibrating and whether
that energetic field is
51
00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,680
compatible with the true psychic
energy.
52
00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,520
The power of this approach is
that over time we begin to
53
00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,920
adjust our acceptance and
rejection of energies which
54
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,520
approach us as well as those
that trigger something still
55
00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:01,120
within us in seed form.
From past experiences, the
56
00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,480
mother recommends that if one
looks back over time after
57
00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:08,760
adopting this practice, one will
see the substantial difference
58
00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:13,760
in reactions, responses,
thoughts, and feelings that have
59
00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:18,000
taken place.
People frequently ask whether we
60
00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:22,280
can intervene successfully in
our external nature or whether
61
00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:25,240
this will bring about reactions
that are actually going to set
62
00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,640
us back.
This approach comes from the
63
00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:33,160
idea of the abandonment of life
as the goal, the liberation from
64
00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:37,600
the earthly life, whether we
call it moksha, Nirvana,
65
00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:42,000
cessation of birth, ascent to
heaven, or some other
66
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,720
terminology that implies the
same thing.
67
00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,320
For those interested in the
transformation of nature through
68
00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,040
the evolution of consciousness,
a different view must be
69
00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:57,400
considered.
That view is that as
70
00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:01,640
consciousness develops, it can
effectuate changes in the
71
00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:03,920
preceding stages of
consciousness.
72
00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:08,800
Just as the life energy changes
dense matter into living matter,
73
00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:13,680
and just as the mental force
rearranges both the life energy
74
00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:19,080
and matter, so the next stage of
conscious evolution will be able
75
00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:23,560
to modify and change mind, life,
and body.
76
00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,720
In that case, the question then
comes down to method of
77
00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,440
implementation.
Forceful suppression is found to
78
00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:36,520
be counterproductive, but
gaining conscious adherence and
79
00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:40,280
acceptance, willingness to
change through the promptings of
80
00:05:40,280 --> 00:05:44,280
the psychic being, is a
potential mechanism to effect
81
00:05:44,280 --> 00:05:48,240
change.
In his book The Mother, Sri
82
00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:52,280
Aurobindo identifies the role of
the spiritual seeker as one of
83
00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,880
aspiration, rejection,
surrender.
84
00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:00,760
This implies an intervention in
the external nature as the
85
00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,840
psychic being assumes its role
as the guide and organizing
86
00:06:04,840 --> 00:06:09,440
force for the changes that are
intended as the next stage of
87
00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:13,960
evolution takes place.
The Mother notes quote.
88
00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:19,760
There is but one remedy.
That signpost must always be
89
00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,640
there.
A mirror well placed in one's
90
00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:26,360
feelings, impulses, all one's
sensations.
91
00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,880
One sees them in this mirror.
There are some which are not
92
00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:32,880
very beautiful or pleasant to
look at.
93
00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,720
There are others which are
beautiful, pleasant, and must be
94
00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:40,680
kept.
This one does 100 times a day if
95
00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,760
necessary, and it is very
interesting.
96
00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:48,720
One draws a kind of big circle
around the psychic mirror and
97
00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:50,840
arranges all the elements around
it.
98
00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,440
If there's something that is not
all right, it casts a sort of
99
00:06:55,440 --> 00:07:00,000
Gray shadow upon the mirror.
This element must be shifted,
100
00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:03,920
organized.
It must be spoken to, made to
101
00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,360
understand.
One must come out of that
102
00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:10,480
darkness.
If you do that, you never get
103
00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:14,560
bored.
When people are not kind, when
104
00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:19,160
one has a cold in the head, when
1 doesn't know one's lessons and
105
00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,720
so on, one begins to look into
this mirror.
106
00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,960
It is very interesting.
One sees the canker.
107
00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:31,480
I thought I was sincere.
Not at all.
108
00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,600
Not a thing happens in life
which is not interesting.
109
00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,520
This mirror is very, very well
made.
110
00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,400
Do that for two years, 3-4
years.
111
00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:45,600
At times one must do it for 20
years.
112
00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:50,200
Then at the end of a few years,
look back, turn your gaze upon
113
00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,240
what you were three years ago.
How have I changed?
114
00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,680
Was I like that?
It is very entertaining.
115
00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,960
I could speak like that.
I could talk like that, think
116
00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:06,320
like that.
But I was indeed stupid.
117
00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,520
How I have changed, Isn't it
very interesting?
118
00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:16,520
Isn't it?
End Quote Reference Sri
119
00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,920
Aurobindo and the Mother, the
psychic being soul, its nature,
120
00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,400
mission and evolution.
Section 2.
121
00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,400
Role, function and Action of the
Psychic.
122
00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,080
Pages 68 to 69.
00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:04,840
One of the powerful techniques
which Sri Aurobindo describes
2
00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:08,680
for the spiritual aspirant is
the separation of the witness
3
00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,000
consciousness from the active
external nature.
4
00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:17,360
Creation of a mental witness
awareness is not quite the same
5
00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,560
thing, although it may be a
helpful step along the way.
6
00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,560
This is still the play of the
nature in the mental plane.
7
00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,800
What is intended here is not a
mental approach, but development
8
00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:35,400
of a standpoint that is outside
the normal action of body, life
9
00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,560
and mind, residing in the
spiritual consciousness.
10
00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,640
The Mother has described what
she calls the psychic mirror,
11
00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:48,360
which is a form of witness
awareness that is not mental,
12
00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,800
but which is holding up the
energetic vibrational pattern of
13
00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:57,520
the soul presence, the psychic
being, as a means of determining
14
00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,400
whether any particular aspect of
the external being conforms with
15
00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:07,240
the psychic beings focus or not.
In other words, is there
16
00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,920
coherence between the psychic
being and the activities of
17
00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:16,600
body, life and mind?
Some people think that what is
18
00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:21,520
intended is their conscience.
However this is not the case.
19
00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,480
Conscience is based in moral and
ethical training along
20
00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,720
guidelines set in the social
structure.
21
00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:33,040
What is moral or ethical in one
society may be considered
22
00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:38,640
immoral or unethical in another.
Even if something is considered
23
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:44,040
immoral or unethical in every
society, it is still a rule
24
00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:49,480
based judgment, not the intended
psychic mirror approach the
25
00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:53,880
Mother describes.
For the spiritual seeker
26
00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:57,400
awakened to the stirrings of the
soul, there comes a point in
27
00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:01,360
time when he can recognize the
vibrational field created by the
28
00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,480
psychic being.
He feels the aspiration, the
29
00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:09,880
consecration, the surrender of
the ego, the experience of
30
00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:14,400
bliss, ananda and other
vibrations associated with the
31
00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:18,120
soul.
What the Mother proposes is that
32
00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:24,520
whenever there is a thought and
emotion, a feeling, a need, that
33
00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:28,120
the seeker place that vibration
side by side with the psychic
34
00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:33,520
vibration and see if there is
coherence or whether there is
35
00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,640
distance or disturbance between
the two.
36
00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:42,160
When we are focused on external
activities and we experience
37
00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:48,680
greed, jealousy, anger,
grasping, attachment, these each
38
00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,880
have their own vibrational
signature and wavelength, so to
39
00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,920
speak.
Many people in fact assign
40
00:02:54,920 --> 00:02:58,120
colors to these varying
vibrations such as green with
41
00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:03,080
envy, red with sexual energy,
yellow with fear, etcetera.
42
00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,560
The pure psychic flame is a
flame of white light.
43
00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,280
If you can begin to refer all
the external responses,
44
00:03:12,640 --> 00:03:17,600
reactions and reflections to
this psychic mirror, one quickly
45
00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,600
can distinguish those things
which interfere or disrupt the
46
00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:26,040
psychic vibrational field and
those which enhance and support
47
00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,040
it.
It is not a matter of thought.
48
00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:34,480
It is not a matter of emotion,
It is not a matter of moral
49
00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,600
judgment.
It is simply a reflection of how
50
00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,200
we are vibrating and whether
that energetic field is
51
00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,680
compatible with the true psychic
energy.
52
00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,520
The power of this approach is
that over time we begin to
53
00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,920
adjust our acceptance and
rejection of energies which
54
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,520
approach us as well as those
that trigger something still
55
00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:01,120
within us in seed form.
From past experiences, the
56
00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,480
mother recommends that if one
looks back over time after
57
00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:08,760
adopting this practice, one will
see the substantial difference
58
00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:13,760
in reactions, responses,
thoughts, and feelings that have
59
00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:18,000
taken place.
People frequently ask whether we
60
00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:22,280
can intervene successfully in
our external nature or whether
61
00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:25,240
this will bring about reactions
that are actually going to set
62
00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,640
us back.
This approach comes from the
63
00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:33,160
idea of the abandonment of life
as the goal, the liberation from
64
00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:37,600
the earthly life, whether we
call it moksha, Nirvana,
65
00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:42,000
cessation of birth, ascent to
heaven, or some other
66
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,720
terminology that implies the
same thing.
67
00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,320
For those interested in the
transformation of nature through
68
00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,040
the evolution of consciousness,
a different view must be
69
00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:57,400
considered.
That view is that as
70
00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:01,640
consciousness develops, it can
effectuate changes in the
71
00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:03,920
preceding stages of
consciousness.
72
00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:08,800
Just as the life energy changes
dense matter into living matter,
73
00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:13,680
and just as the mental force
rearranges both the life energy
74
00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:19,080
and matter, so the next stage of
conscious evolution will be able
75
00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:23,560
to modify and change mind, life,
and body.
76
00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,720
In that case, the question then
comes down to method of
77
00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,440
implementation.
Forceful suppression is found to
78
00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:36,520
be counterproductive, but
gaining conscious adherence and
79
00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:40,280
acceptance, willingness to
change through the promptings of
80
00:05:40,280 --> 00:05:44,280
the psychic being, is a
potential mechanism to effect
81
00:05:44,280 --> 00:05:48,240
change.
In his book The Mother, Sri
82
00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:52,280
Aurobindo identifies the role of
the spiritual seeker as one of
83
00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,880
aspiration, rejection,
surrender.
84
00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:00,760
This implies an intervention in
the external nature as the
85
00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,840
psychic being assumes its role
as the guide and organizing
86
00:06:04,840 --> 00:06:09,440
force for the changes that are
intended as the next stage of
87
00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:13,960
evolution takes place.
The Mother notes quote.
88
00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:19,760
There is but one remedy.
That signpost must always be
89
00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,640
there.
A mirror well placed in one's
90
00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:26,360
feelings, impulses, all one's
sensations.
91
00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,880
One sees them in this mirror.
There are some which are not
92
00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:32,880
very beautiful or pleasant to
look at.
93
00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,720
There are others which are
beautiful, pleasant, and must be
94
00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:40,680
kept.
This one does 100 times a day if
95
00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,760
necessary, and it is very
interesting.
96
00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:48,720
One draws a kind of big circle
around the psychic mirror and
97
00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:50,840
arranges all the elements around
it.
98
00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,440
If there's something that is not
all right, it casts a sort of
99
00:06:55,440 --> 00:07:00,000
Gray shadow upon the mirror.
This element must be shifted,
100
00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:03,920
organized.
It must be spoken to, made to
101
00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,360
understand.
One must come out of that
102
00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:10,480
darkness.
If you do that, you never get
103
00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:14,560
bored.
When people are not kind, when
104
00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:19,160
one has a cold in the head, when
1 doesn't know one's lessons and
105
00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,720
so on, one begins to look into
this mirror.
106
00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,960
It is very interesting.
One sees the canker.
107
00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:31,480
I thought I was sincere.
Not at all.
108
00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,600
Not a thing happens in life
which is not interesting.
109
00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,520
This mirror is very, very well
made.
110
00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,400
Do that for two years, 3-4
years.
111
00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:45,600
At times one must do it for 20
years.
112
00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:50,200
Then at the end of a few years,
look back, turn your gaze upon
113
00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,240
what you were three years ago.
How have I changed?
114
00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,680
Was I like that?
It is very entertaining.
115
00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,960
I could speak like that.
I could talk like that, think
116
00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:06,320
like that.
But I was indeed stupid.
117
00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,520
How I have changed, Isn't it
very interesting?
118
00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:16,520
Isn't it?
End Quote Reference Sri
119
00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,920
Aurobindo and the Mother, the
psychic being soul, its nature,
120
00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,400
mission and evolution.
Section 2.
121
00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,400
Role, function and Action of the
Psychic.
122
00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,080
Pages 68 to 69.
