Sept. 3, 2025
The Purusha, the Master of the Nature, Sanctions, Upholds, Directs and Changes the Nature
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pp. 164-165
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/09/01/the-purusha-the-master-of-the-nature-sanctions-upholds-directs-and-changes-the-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
1
00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:05,080
We are not destined to be the
puppet or plaything of the
2
00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:09,880
external nature property through
the working of the three gunas
3
00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:14,160
or qualities of nature.
When we shift our standpoint to
4
00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:18,120
that of the Divine, when we
recognize our Oneness with the
5
00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:22,880
creative force, we can
participate in the ordering and
6
00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,200
the ordaining of the Divine
manifestation.
7
00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,120
We may be immersed in the play
of procrity.
8
00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,160
When we shift to the standpoint
of the Purusha, the witness
9
00:00:34,160 --> 00:00:39,120
consciousness, we begin by
observing at a certain stage.
10
00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:43,480
When we recognize our Oneness
with the Eternal, then we can
11
00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:48,280
identify as the giver of the
sanction for that existence to
12
00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:52,320
manifest.
Sri Aurobindo translates verse
13
00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:59,320
16 of the Ishu Upanishad.
O Foster, O soul seer, O
14
00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:04,519
Ordainer, O illumining son, O
power of the Father of
15
00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:10,040
creatures, Marshall thy rays
draw together thy light, the
16
00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,920
luster which is thy most blessed
form of all.
17
00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:19,400
That in thee I behold the
Purusha There, and there he am
18
00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:25,680
I.
The Mundaka Upanishad affirms he
19
00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:31,240
verily, who knows that Supreme
Brahman becomes himself Brahman.
20
00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,040
The Titiri Upanishad makes the
oneness quite clear.
21
00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,480
The spirit who is here in a man,
and the spirit who is there in
22
00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:46,520
the sun, It is one spirit and
there is no other.
23
00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:54,200
And I am he that moveth the tree
of the universe, and my glory is
24
00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:56,200
like the shoulders of a high
mountain.
25
00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,240
And I am He who maketh
scripture.
26
00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:06,040
I am the first born of the law,
before the gods were.
27
00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:10,320
I am, Yeah, at the very heart of
immortality.
28
00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:16,640
Thus the seers of the Upanishad
saw the basis for the Purusha
29
00:02:16,640 --> 00:02:22,120
taking an active organizing and
manifesting role in managing and
30
00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,200
directing the actions of
Prakriti.
31
00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,560
We are subject to the
possibility of self delusion.
32
00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,920
We may believe we have shifted
the standpoint and thus have
33
00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:36,200
gained the necessary perspective
and freedom to act.
34
00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,520
The Titiriopanishad has a simple
test for this.
35
00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,280
But when the Spirit that is
within us maketh for himself
36
00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:50,040
even a little difference in the
Eternal, then he hath fear.
37
00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:55,280
Yeah, the Eternal Himself
becometh a terror to such a
38
00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:01,400
knower who thinketh not.
The universal manifestation
39
00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,800
creates modes of action which
become fixed as habitual
40
00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:09,280
patterns for a time.
So long as we are immersed in
41
00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,520
the external actions of nature,
we are moved by the forces and
42
00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:16,840
patterns.
Yet none of these habits are
43
00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:21,280
immutable for all time.
When we shift to the standpoint
44
00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:26,920
of the Creator, the Divine, the
Eternal, we can participate
45
00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:31,760
actively in providing the
sanction or withdrawing it from
46
00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:36,240
accepting the habitual pattern,
or working to bring about change
47
00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,560
through the application of
consciousness force.
48
00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:46,440
Shrioro Bindu observes quote.
Finally the mind will come to
49
00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:50,760
know the Purusha in the mind as
the Master of nature, whose
50
00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,600
sanction is necessary to her
movements.
51
00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,840
It will find that as the giver
of the sanction he can withdraw
52
00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:02,200
the original Fiat from the
previous habits of nature, and
53
00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,960
that eventually the habit will
cease or change in the direction
54
00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,120
indicated by the will of the
Purusha.
55
00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,200
Not at once, for the old
sanction persists as an
56
00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:18,560
obstinate consequence of the
past karma of nature until that
57
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:22,280
is exhausted.
And a good deal also depends on
58
00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:26,600
the force of the habit and the
idea of fundamental necessity
59
00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,600
which the mind had previously
attached to it.
60
00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,920
But if it is not one of the
fundamental habits nature has
61
00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:39,440
established for the relation of
the mind, life and body, and if
62
00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,840
the old sanction is not renewed
by the mind or the habit
63
00:04:42,840 --> 00:04:47,440
willingly indulged, then
eventually the change will come.
64
00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,680
Even the habit of hunger and
thirst can be minimized,
65
00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:56,200
inhibited, put away.
The habit of disease can be
66
00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,800
similarly minimized and
gradually eliminated.
67
00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,040
And in the meantime, the power
of the mind to set right the
68
00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:08,080
disorders of the body, whether
by conscious manipulation of
69
00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:13,960
vital force or by simple mental
Fiat, will immensely increase.
70
00:05:14,840 --> 00:05:18,600
By a similar process, the habit
by which the bodily nature
71
00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:23,720
associates certain forms and
degrees of activity with strain,
72
00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:28,320
fatigue, incapacity, can be
rectified.
73
00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:34,080
And the power, freedom,
swiftness, effectiveness of the
74
00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,680
work, whether physical or
mental, which can be done with
75
00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:42,480
this bodily instrument,
marvellously increased, doubled,
76
00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,480
tripled, decoupled.
End Quote.
77
00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:50,960
Reference.
Srioro Bindu and the Mother
78
00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:58,000
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, pages 164
79
00:05:58,000 --> 00:05:59,320
to 165.
00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:05,080
We are not destined to be the
puppet or plaything of the
2
00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:09,880
external nature property through
the working of the three gunas
3
00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:14,160
or qualities of nature.
When we shift our standpoint to
4
00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:18,120
that of the Divine, when we
recognize our Oneness with the
5
00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:22,880
creative force, we can
participate in the ordering and
6
00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,200
the ordaining of the Divine
manifestation.
7
00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,120
We may be immersed in the play
of procrity.
8
00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,160
When we shift to the standpoint
of the Purusha, the witness
9
00:00:34,160 --> 00:00:39,120
consciousness, we begin by
observing at a certain stage.
10
00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:43,480
When we recognize our Oneness
with the Eternal, then we can
11
00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:48,280
identify as the giver of the
sanction for that existence to
12
00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:52,320
manifest.
Sri Aurobindo translates verse
13
00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:59,320
16 of the Ishu Upanishad.
O Foster, O soul seer, O
14
00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:04,519
Ordainer, O illumining son, O
power of the Father of
15
00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:10,040
creatures, Marshall thy rays
draw together thy light, the
16
00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,920
luster which is thy most blessed
form of all.
17
00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:19,400
That in thee I behold the
Purusha There, and there he am
18
00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:25,680
I.
The Mundaka Upanishad affirms he
19
00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:31,240
verily, who knows that Supreme
Brahman becomes himself Brahman.
20
00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,040
The Titiri Upanishad makes the
oneness quite clear.
21
00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,480
The spirit who is here in a man,
and the spirit who is there in
22
00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:46,520
the sun, It is one spirit and
there is no other.
23
00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:54,200
And I am he that moveth the tree
of the universe, and my glory is
24
00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:56,200
like the shoulders of a high
mountain.
25
00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,240
And I am He who maketh
scripture.
26
00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:06,040
I am the first born of the law,
before the gods were.
27
00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:10,320
I am, Yeah, at the very heart of
immortality.
28
00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:16,640
Thus the seers of the Upanishad
saw the basis for the Purusha
29
00:02:16,640 --> 00:02:22,120
taking an active organizing and
manifesting role in managing and
30
00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,200
directing the actions of
Prakriti.
31
00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,560
We are subject to the
possibility of self delusion.
32
00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,920
We may believe we have shifted
the standpoint and thus have
33
00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:36,200
gained the necessary perspective
and freedom to act.
34
00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,520
The Titiriopanishad has a simple
test for this.
35
00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,280
But when the Spirit that is
within us maketh for himself
36
00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:50,040
even a little difference in the
Eternal, then he hath fear.
37
00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:55,280
Yeah, the Eternal Himself
becometh a terror to such a
38
00:02:55,280 --> 00:03:01,400
knower who thinketh not.
The universal manifestation
39
00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,800
creates modes of action which
become fixed as habitual
40
00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:09,280
patterns for a time.
So long as we are immersed in
41
00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,520
the external actions of nature,
we are moved by the forces and
42
00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:16,840
patterns.
Yet none of these habits are
43
00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:21,280
immutable for all time.
When we shift to the standpoint
44
00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:26,920
of the Creator, the Divine, the
Eternal, we can participate
45
00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:31,760
actively in providing the
sanction or withdrawing it from
46
00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:36,240
accepting the habitual pattern,
or working to bring about change
47
00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,560
through the application of
consciousness force.
48
00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:46,440
Shrioro Bindu observes quote.
Finally the mind will come to
49
00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:50,760
know the Purusha in the mind as
the Master of nature, whose
50
00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,600
sanction is necessary to her
movements.
51
00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,840
It will find that as the giver
of the sanction he can withdraw
52
00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:02,200
the original Fiat from the
previous habits of nature, and
53
00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,960
that eventually the habit will
cease or change in the direction
54
00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,120
indicated by the will of the
Purusha.
55
00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,200
Not at once, for the old
sanction persists as an
56
00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:18,560
obstinate consequence of the
past karma of nature until that
57
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:22,280
is exhausted.
And a good deal also depends on
58
00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:26,600
the force of the habit and the
idea of fundamental necessity
59
00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,600
which the mind had previously
attached to it.
60
00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,920
But if it is not one of the
fundamental habits nature has
61
00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:39,440
established for the relation of
the mind, life and body, and if
62
00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,840
the old sanction is not renewed
by the mind or the habit
63
00:04:42,840 --> 00:04:47,440
willingly indulged, then
eventually the change will come.
64
00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,680
Even the habit of hunger and
thirst can be minimized,
65
00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:56,200
inhibited, put away.
The habit of disease can be
66
00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,800
similarly minimized and
gradually eliminated.
67
00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,040
And in the meantime, the power
of the mind to set right the
68
00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:08,080
disorders of the body, whether
by conscious manipulation of
69
00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:13,960
vital force or by simple mental
Fiat, will immensely increase.
70
00:05:14,840 --> 00:05:18,600
By a similar process, the habit
by which the bodily nature
71
00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:23,720
associates certain forms and
degrees of activity with strain,
72
00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:28,320
fatigue, incapacity, can be
rectified.
73
00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:34,080
And the power, freedom,
swiftness, effectiveness of the
74
00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,680
work, whether physical or
mental, which can be done with
75
00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:42,480
this bodily instrument,
marvellously increased, doubled,
76
00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,480
tripled, decoupled.
End Quote.
77
00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:50,960
Reference.
Srioro Bindu and the Mother
78
00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:58,000
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, pages 164
79
00:05:58,000 --> 00:05:59,320
to 165.