June 26, 2025
The Quality of Rajas and Its Impact on the Spiritual Sadhana
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 114
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/06/24/the-quality-of-rajas-and-its-impact-on-the-spiritual-sadhana/
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
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,720
The quality of rajas, when it
predominates in the action of
2
00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:08,760
the individual seeking spiritual
growth, can have quite
3
00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:12,720
disruptive effects.
A certain amount of focus and
4
00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:16,120
energy is required for any
spiritually endeavour, to be
5
00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:21,000
sure, but there is a fine line
between too little energy and
6
00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:25,080
too much.
Rajas is the guna that prods the
7
00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:29,160
vital nature and can raise up
desire as a motive force.
8
00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:33,560
Desire in the sada can take the
form of an attempt to attain
9
00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:38,400
spiritual experiences or
realizations with an emphasis on
10
00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:42,400
doing it quickly and
successfully from the standpoint
11
00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:47,560
of the ego personality.
If we examine how Rajas works,
12
00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,440
it first lures the seeker into
establishing a particular desire
13
00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,120
as the purpose or result to be
attained.
14
00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:59,280
It tends to act with abandoned,
without planning, without due
15
00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:04,280
consideration for the right
manner, right time, right place
16
00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,200
and right circumstance.
Which considerations are the
17
00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:10,320
province of the Suttwick
quality.
18
00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:15,080
This can lead to considerable
waste of energy, increase of
19
00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:20,320
friction, development of
unintended consequences or an
20
00:01:20,320 --> 00:01:24,960
energetic atmosphere that is
chaotic, pressured were overly
21
00:01:24,960 --> 00:01:27,880
demanding.
In fact, just the opposite of
22
00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:33,040
what is needed by the spiritual
force as it seeks for aspiration
23
00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:38,440
and receptivity as the basis it
needs to accomplish its purpose.
24
00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:44,200
On the other side, when Rajas
fails to achieve its desires, it
25
00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:48,280
tends to fall back into a state
of Thomas, characterized by
26
00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:52,720
torpor, despondency, depression
and fatigue.
27
00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,800
This oscillation between rajas
and Thomas is well known and
28
00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:02,160
characteristic.
Even if the rajasic effort bears
29
00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:06,320
some fruit, it tends to have
some serious potential negative
30
00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:10,560
effects due to the energy that
was deployed and the manner in
31
00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:14,640
which it was deployed.
There are seekers who attempt to
32
00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:18,760
storm the gates of heaven.
They may actually call forth
33
00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:24,080
various forces, but at the risk
of ill health, disharmony,
34
00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,560
mental disturbances, or even
death.
35
00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:31,720
They frequently discover that
calling forth the power into the
36
00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,920
limited ego personality can be
A2 edged sword.
37
00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,640
On the one side, they acquire,
at least temporarily, a new
38
00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:44,280
power, a new great experience, a
new energetic level.
39
00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,880
On the other side, the human
frame is not capable of holding
40
00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:54,280
and managing that energy and may
breakdown or spill the energy.
41
00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:59,160
Goethe explored the issue of
calling forth powerful forces
42
00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,800
without the requisite readiness
in Faust.
43
00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:06,760
Doctor Faust uses various spells
and formulae to bring forth a
44
00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,520
great vital power.
When the being embodying that
45
00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:14,840
power actually appears, Faust is
distressed to learn that he
46
00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:19,440
cannot control that power, that
it far exceeds the scope of his
47
00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:23,000
human personality, and he quakes
with fear.
48
00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,480
He later accepts the guidance
and leadership of
49
00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,720
Mephistopheles, who opens the
path to the fulfillment of his
50
00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:35,680
desires, including his sexual
exploitation of a young maiden,
51
00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:40,160
his seeking for power and
influence as he also undertook
52
00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,560
to expand his knowledge and
powers of action in the world.
53
00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:48,080
Faust struggled with the forces
he called forth through his
54
00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:53,080
rajasic desire filled energy and
only at the end, through the
55
00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,640
strength of his soul was he able
to be redeemed.
56
00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:02,600
At the point of his death, many
people, lured by the desire for
57
00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,160
great new power, practice
extremes of pranayam or other
58
00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:11,040
methods and are thereby able to
experience the influx of great
59
00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,840
force.
There are numerous cases of
60
00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,320
hidden, unfulfilled desires
rising up from the depths of the
61
00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:21,320
subconscious when these forces
come and shake the being to its
62
00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,400
core.
One of the characteristics of
63
00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:30,520
rajas is the push to gain power,
wealth or sexual dominance.
64
00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:35,320
There are instances of mental or
emotional imbalance, vital
65
00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:39,800
disruptions and even physical
imbalances and disturbances.
66
00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,000
One of the reasons it is
considered to be essential to
67
00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:48,880
have an experienced guide or
guru when 1 undertakes practices
68
00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,720
of this sort is to help the
seeker find and maintain a
69
00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,720
suitable balance to integrate
the new force and energy
70
00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:01,240
effectively without this type of
potentially harmful effects
71
00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:05,680
ruining the individual's life
and spiritual practice.
72
00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:09,960
There are cases where people
suddenly start hearing voices
73
00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,960
that they believe are divine.
As they begin to carry out the
74
00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:18,320
guidance or direction provided
by these voices, they may soon
75
00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:22,000
find out that they were
listening to deceptive beings
76
00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:26,080
who are controlling them and
feeding off their energy.
77
00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,040
There are other cases where
individuals find their nervous
78
00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:34,760
being shaken and disrupted and
they develop tremors or other
79
00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,600
characteristics that speak to
the inability to hold the energy
80
00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:42,400
they are receiving.
In other cases, there can be
81
00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:47,240
mental or emotional breakdowns,
mood swings, schizophrenic
82
00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:51,920
episodes, emergence of multiple
personalities, development of
83
00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:55,000
feelings of dominance or
greatness that mislead the
84
00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,040
seeker into arrogating to his
personal being.
85
00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,280
A sense of some kind of destiny,
of pre eminence or leadership,
86
00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,920
or other manifestations of some
kind of lack of integration in
87
00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,480
the being and the corresponding
lack of balance.
88
00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:16,280
In some instances, lower
impulses, including bullying,
89
00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:22,560
sexual exploitation, exercising
domination over others, anger
90
00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,560
can come to the fore,
particularly if the sodic has
91
00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:31,080
left certain impulses
unfulfilled or suppressed prior
92
00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:35,800
to beginning the practice, Sri
Aurobindo writes.
93
00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,760
Quote.
Desire often leads either to
94
00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:44,520
excessive effort, meaning often
much labor and a limited fruit,
95
00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:49,640
with strain, exhaustion, and in
case of difficulty or failure,
96
00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:55,600
despondence, disbelief, or
revolt, or else it leads to
97
00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:59,040
pulling down the force.
That can be done.
98
00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,000
But except for the yogically
strong and experienced, it is
99
00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:07,120
not always safe, though it may
be often very effective.
100
00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:12,640
Not safe first because it may
lead to violent reactions, or it
101
00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:17,360
brings down contrary or wrong or
mixed forces which the sodic is
102
00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,600
not experienced enough to
distinguish from the true ones.
103
00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:25,520
Or else it may substitute the
Sodic's own limited power of
104
00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:29,960
experience, or his mental and
vital constructions for the free
105
00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:33,560
gift and true leading of the
Divine.
106
00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,280
End Quote.
Reference.
107
00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:42,160
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother,
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
108
00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,880
Attitudes on the Path, page 114.
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,720
The quality of rajas, when it
predominates in the action of
2
00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:08,760
the individual seeking spiritual
growth, can have quite
3
00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:12,720
disruptive effects.
A certain amount of focus and
4
00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:16,120
energy is required for any
spiritually endeavour, to be
5
00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:21,000
sure, but there is a fine line
between too little energy and
6
00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:25,080
too much.
Rajas is the guna that prods the
7
00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:29,160
vital nature and can raise up
desire as a motive force.
8
00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:33,560
Desire in the sada can take the
form of an attempt to attain
9
00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:38,400
spiritual experiences or
realizations with an emphasis on
10
00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:42,400
doing it quickly and
successfully from the standpoint
11
00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:47,560
of the ego personality.
If we examine how Rajas works,
12
00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,440
it first lures the seeker into
establishing a particular desire
13
00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,120
as the purpose or result to be
attained.
14
00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:59,280
It tends to act with abandoned,
without planning, without due
15
00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:04,280
consideration for the right
manner, right time, right place
16
00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,200
and right circumstance.
Which considerations are the
17
00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:10,320
province of the Suttwick
quality.
18
00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:15,080
This can lead to considerable
waste of energy, increase of
19
00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:20,320
friction, development of
unintended consequences or an
20
00:01:20,320 --> 00:01:24,960
energetic atmosphere that is
chaotic, pressured were overly
21
00:01:24,960 --> 00:01:27,880
demanding.
In fact, just the opposite of
22
00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:33,040
what is needed by the spiritual
force as it seeks for aspiration
23
00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:38,440
and receptivity as the basis it
needs to accomplish its purpose.
24
00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:44,200
On the other side, when Rajas
fails to achieve its desires, it
25
00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:48,280
tends to fall back into a state
of Thomas, characterized by
26
00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:52,720
torpor, despondency, depression
and fatigue.
27
00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,800
This oscillation between rajas
and Thomas is well known and
28
00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:02,160
characteristic.
Even if the rajasic effort bears
29
00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:06,320
some fruit, it tends to have
some serious potential negative
30
00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:10,560
effects due to the energy that
was deployed and the manner in
31
00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:14,640
which it was deployed.
There are seekers who attempt to
32
00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:18,760
storm the gates of heaven.
They may actually call forth
33
00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:24,080
various forces, but at the risk
of ill health, disharmony,
34
00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,560
mental disturbances, or even
death.
35
00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:31,720
They frequently discover that
calling forth the power into the
36
00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,920
limited ego personality can be
A2 edged sword.
37
00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,640
On the one side, they acquire,
at least temporarily, a new
38
00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:44,280
power, a new great experience, a
new energetic level.
39
00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,880
On the other side, the human
frame is not capable of holding
40
00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:54,280
and managing that energy and may
breakdown or spill the energy.
41
00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:59,160
Goethe explored the issue of
calling forth powerful forces
42
00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,800
without the requisite readiness
in Faust.
43
00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:06,760
Doctor Faust uses various spells
and formulae to bring forth a
44
00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,520
great vital power.
When the being embodying that
45
00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:14,840
power actually appears, Faust is
distressed to learn that he
46
00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:19,440
cannot control that power, that
it far exceeds the scope of his
47
00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:23,000
human personality, and he quakes
with fear.
48
00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,480
He later accepts the guidance
and leadership of
49
00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,720
Mephistopheles, who opens the
path to the fulfillment of his
50
00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:35,680
desires, including his sexual
exploitation of a young maiden,
51
00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:40,160
his seeking for power and
influence as he also undertook
52
00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,560
to expand his knowledge and
powers of action in the world.
53
00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:48,080
Faust struggled with the forces
he called forth through his
54
00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:53,080
rajasic desire filled energy and
only at the end, through the
55
00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,640
strength of his soul was he able
to be redeemed.
56
00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:02,600
At the point of his death, many
people, lured by the desire for
57
00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,160
great new power, practice
extremes of pranayam or other
58
00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:11,040
methods and are thereby able to
experience the influx of great
59
00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,840
force.
There are numerous cases of
60
00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,320
hidden, unfulfilled desires
rising up from the depths of the
61
00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:21,320
subconscious when these forces
come and shake the being to its
62
00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,400
core.
One of the characteristics of
63
00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:30,520
rajas is the push to gain power,
wealth or sexual dominance.
64
00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:35,320
There are instances of mental or
emotional imbalance, vital
65
00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:39,800
disruptions and even physical
imbalances and disturbances.
66
00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,000
One of the reasons it is
considered to be essential to
67
00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:48,880
have an experienced guide or
guru when 1 undertakes practices
68
00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,720
of this sort is to help the
seeker find and maintain a
69
00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,720
suitable balance to integrate
the new force and energy
70
00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:01,240
effectively without this type of
potentially harmful effects
71
00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:05,680
ruining the individual's life
and spiritual practice.
72
00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:09,960
There are cases where people
suddenly start hearing voices
73
00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,960
that they believe are divine.
As they begin to carry out the
74
00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:18,320
guidance or direction provided
by these voices, they may soon
75
00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:22,000
find out that they were
listening to deceptive beings
76
00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:26,080
who are controlling them and
feeding off their energy.
77
00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,040
There are other cases where
individuals find their nervous
78
00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:34,760
being shaken and disrupted and
they develop tremors or other
79
00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,600
characteristics that speak to
the inability to hold the energy
80
00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:42,400
they are receiving.
In other cases, there can be
81
00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:47,240
mental or emotional breakdowns,
mood swings, schizophrenic
82
00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:51,920
episodes, emergence of multiple
personalities, development of
83
00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:55,000
feelings of dominance or
greatness that mislead the
84
00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,040
seeker into arrogating to his
personal being.
85
00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,280
A sense of some kind of destiny,
of pre eminence or leadership,
86
00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,920
or other manifestations of some
kind of lack of integration in
87
00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,480
the being and the corresponding
lack of balance.
88
00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:16,280
In some instances, lower
impulses, including bullying,
89
00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:22,560
sexual exploitation, exercising
domination over others, anger
90
00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,560
can come to the fore,
particularly if the sodic has
91
00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:31,080
left certain impulses
unfulfilled or suppressed prior
92
00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:35,800
to beginning the practice, Sri
Aurobindo writes.
93
00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,760
Quote.
Desire often leads either to
94
00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:44,520
excessive effort, meaning often
much labor and a limited fruit,
95
00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:49,640
with strain, exhaustion, and in
case of difficulty or failure,
96
00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:55,600
despondence, disbelief, or
revolt, or else it leads to
97
00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:59,040
pulling down the force.
That can be done.
98
00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,000
But except for the yogically
strong and experienced, it is
99
00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:07,120
not always safe, though it may
be often very effective.
100
00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:12,640
Not safe first because it may
lead to violent reactions, or it
101
00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:17,360
brings down contrary or wrong or
mixed forces which the sodic is
102
00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,600
not experienced enough to
distinguish from the true ones.
103
00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:25,520
Or else it may substitute the
Sodic's own limited power of
104
00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:29,960
experience, or his mental and
vital constructions for the free
105
00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:33,560
gift and true leading of the
Divine.
106
00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,280
End Quote.
Reference.
107
00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:42,160
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother,
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
108
00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,880
Attitudes on the Path, page 114.