Jan. 19, 2025
The Reality of Subjective Visions and Objective Sight
Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
Amazon Music 
RSS Feed 
Castro 
RadioPublic 
PocketCasts 
YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter XIX Occult Powers of the Subliminal, pg. 151 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/01/17/the-reality-of-subjective-visions-and-objective-sight/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are all available 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 Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:04,720
Modern society, influenced
heavily by the scientific
2
00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:09,480
technical focus of the West,
puts a premium on the concept of
3
00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:13,920
objectivity versus anything that
can be considered subjective,
4
00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:18,240
which is then treated with
suspicion and largely dismissed.
5
00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,720
This implies several things.
First, it implies that the
6
00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:28,600
objectivity is itself truly
objective and not subject to the
7
00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:33,280
influence of the observer.
This, however, is being debunked
8
00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:38,120
as we delve deeper into quantum
mechanics and the research being
9
00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:42,840
done in that field.
Second, it implies that only the
10
00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:47,120
external physical plane and its
objects are real, and that
11
00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:51,360
internal reality and other
domains or planes of existence
12
00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:55,600
are somehow less real and
therefore of a lesser level of
13
00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:00,440
credence and acceptance.
It is interesting to note that
14
00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:04,319
traditional understanding in
other cultures, and certainly in
15
00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,200
that of India with its long
history in the field of
16
00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:12,280
philosophy, yoga and spiritual
science, actually treats the
17
00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,880
physical object as the result of
the action of more subtle
18
00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:21,920
domains and thus less real than
the originating planes and their
19
00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:26,160
native action and power.
The Titiria Upanishad in
20
00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:29,680
particular takes us through the
development of understanding of
21
00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:34,720
a young disciple, Brugu, who
undertakes to learn the cause
22
00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:39,560
and nature of existence.
He starts, as did Western
23
00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:44,520
science, with the external
physical reality, but soon comes
24
00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,600
to understand that this is a
result of a prior cause, the
25
00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:53,560
vital level of existence, the
prana of the universal energy.
26
00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:59,960
With further reflection he
recognizes mind as the causative
27
00:01:59,960 --> 00:02:04,600
agent of the existence, but even
this is not the conclusion.
28
00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:09,360
He then moves to the formative
causative power of the creation
29
00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:15,320
and eventually concludes that
Ananda or Bliss, which is Co
30
00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:20,120
equal with sut existence and
chit consciousness, is the
31
00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:24,720
ultimate cause.
We see a similar progression in
32
00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:28,080
Western science now taking place
before our eyes.
33
00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:33,040
Scientists now claim that matter
is a form of condensed energy
34
00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:37,920
and by certain means they have
shown they can liberate enormous
35
00:02:37,920 --> 00:02:41,640
amounts of energy from limited
amounts of matter.
36
00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,880
Now they are moving to the next
rung of the ladder of
37
00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:50,080
understanding, and scientists
are now recognizing more and
38
00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:54,320
more that consciousness is
actually the root cause of
39
00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,960
energy and thus material
substance.
40
00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:03,520
Eventually, once we recognize
the reality and the priority of
41
00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:08,000
these more subtle domains of
existence, we need to redefine
42
00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,800
our sense of subjective versus
objective, since objective facts
43
00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:16,480
placed before the external
senses are necessarily
44
00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,680
derivative and not primary
facts.
45
00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:24,320
And it is the subjective reality
of the realms of consciousness
46
00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:29,240
that determine this external
world we see around us and
47
00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,240
respond with our external
surface consciousness.
48
00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,240
As consciousness continues to
evolve and develop, we can
49
00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,480
expect that things we cannot
currently perceive with our
50
00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:45,040
external senses will become
sensible to us in other ways.
51
00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:50,680
This is an ongoing process and
some individuals may develop
52
00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,000
these capacities earlier than
others.
53
00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:58,280
This does not mean that they are
not real, it simply means that
54
00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,680
not everyone will be able to
validate them at the same time.
55
00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:05,840
We need to adjust our view of
these matters from a static,
56
00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:10,240
fixed view to a more fluid,
dynamic, evolving view.
57
00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:16,720
Srioro Bindo notes quote
Subjective visions can be as
58
00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:21,040
real as objective sight.
The only difference is that one
59
00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:26,760
is of real things in material
space while the others are of
60
00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,440
real things belonging to other
planes down to the subtle
61
00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:34,200
physical.
Even symbolic visions are real
62
00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,840
in so far as they are symbols of
realities.
63
00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,760
Even dreams can have a reality
in the subtle domain.
64
00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,120
Visions are unreal only when
these are merely imaginative
65
00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,760
mental formations, not
representing anything that is
66
00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:53,160
true or was true or is going to
be true.
67
00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:58,320
This power of vision is
sometimes inborn and habitual
68
00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,560
even without any effort of
development.
69
00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:06,320
Sometimes it wakes up of itself
and becomes abundant or needs
70
00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:08,360
only a little practice to
develop.
71
00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:14,160
It is not necessarily a sign of
spiritual attainment, but
72
00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:18,640
usually when by practice of yoga
one begins to go inside or live
73
00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:22,880
within, the power of subtle
vision awakes to a greater or
74
00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,920
lesser extent.
But this does not always happen
75
00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:32,040
easily, especially if one has
been habituated to live much in
76
00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:36,400
the intellect or in an outward
vital consciousness.
77
00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:43,080
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindu
and the Mother Powers within
78
00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:47,360
Chapter 19.
Occult Powers of the Subliminal,
79
00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:49,760
page 151.
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:04,720
Modern society, influenced
heavily by the scientific
2
00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:09,480
technical focus of the West,
puts a premium on the concept of
3
00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:13,920
objectivity versus anything that
can be considered subjective,
4
00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:18,240
which is then treated with
suspicion and largely dismissed.
5
00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,720
This implies several things.
First, it implies that the
6
00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:28,600
objectivity is itself truly
objective and not subject to the
7
00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:33,280
influence of the observer.
This, however, is being debunked
8
00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:38,120
as we delve deeper into quantum
mechanics and the research being
9
00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:42,840
done in that field.
Second, it implies that only the
10
00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:47,120
external physical plane and its
objects are real, and that
11
00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:51,360
internal reality and other
domains or planes of existence
12
00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:55,600
are somehow less real and
therefore of a lesser level of
13
00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:00,440
credence and acceptance.
It is interesting to note that
14
00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:04,319
traditional understanding in
other cultures, and certainly in
15
00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,200
that of India with its long
history in the field of
16
00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:12,280
philosophy, yoga and spiritual
science, actually treats the
17
00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,880
physical object as the result of
the action of more subtle
18
00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:21,920
domains and thus less real than
the originating planes and their
19
00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:26,160
native action and power.
The Titiria Upanishad in
20
00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:29,680
particular takes us through the
development of understanding of
21
00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:34,720
a young disciple, Brugu, who
undertakes to learn the cause
22
00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:39,560
and nature of existence.
He starts, as did Western
23
00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:44,520
science, with the external
physical reality, but soon comes
24
00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,600
to understand that this is a
result of a prior cause, the
25
00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:53,560
vital level of existence, the
prana of the universal energy.
26
00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:59,960
With further reflection he
recognizes mind as the causative
27
00:01:59,960 --> 00:02:04,600
agent of the existence, but even
this is not the conclusion.
28
00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:09,360
He then moves to the formative
causative power of the creation
29
00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:15,320
and eventually concludes that
Ananda or Bliss, which is Co
30
00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:20,120
equal with sut existence and
chit consciousness, is the
31
00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:24,720
ultimate cause.
We see a similar progression in
32
00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:28,080
Western science now taking place
before our eyes.
33
00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:33,040
Scientists now claim that matter
is a form of condensed energy
34
00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:37,920
and by certain means they have
shown they can liberate enormous
35
00:02:37,920 --> 00:02:41,640
amounts of energy from limited
amounts of matter.
36
00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,880
Now they are moving to the next
rung of the ladder of
37
00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:50,080
understanding, and scientists
are now recognizing more and
38
00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:54,320
more that consciousness is
actually the root cause of
39
00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,960
energy and thus material
substance.
40
00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:03,520
Eventually, once we recognize
the reality and the priority of
41
00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:08,000
these more subtle domains of
existence, we need to redefine
42
00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:12,800
our sense of subjective versus
objective, since objective facts
43
00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:16,480
placed before the external
senses are necessarily
44
00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,680
derivative and not primary
facts.
45
00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:24,320
And it is the subjective reality
of the realms of consciousness
46
00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:29,240
that determine this external
world we see around us and
47
00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,240
respond with our external
surface consciousness.
48
00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,240
As consciousness continues to
evolve and develop, we can
49
00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,480
expect that things we cannot
currently perceive with our
50
00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:45,040
external senses will become
sensible to us in other ways.
51
00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:50,680
This is an ongoing process and
some individuals may develop
52
00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,000
these capacities earlier than
others.
53
00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:58,280
This does not mean that they are
not real, it simply means that
54
00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,680
not everyone will be able to
validate them at the same time.
55
00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:05,840
We need to adjust our view of
these matters from a static,
56
00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:10,240
fixed view to a more fluid,
dynamic, evolving view.
57
00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:16,720
Srioro Bindo notes quote
Subjective visions can be as
58
00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:21,040
real as objective sight.
The only difference is that one
59
00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:26,760
is of real things in material
space while the others are of
60
00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,440
real things belonging to other
planes down to the subtle
61
00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:34,200
physical.
Even symbolic visions are real
62
00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,840
in so far as they are symbols of
realities.
63
00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,760
Even dreams can have a reality
in the subtle domain.
64
00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,120
Visions are unreal only when
these are merely imaginative
65
00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,760
mental formations, not
representing anything that is
66
00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:53,160
true or was true or is going to
be true.
67
00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:58,320
This power of vision is
sometimes inborn and habitual
68
00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,560
even without any effort of
development.
69
00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:06,320
Sometimes it wakes up of itself
and becomes abundant or needs
70
00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:08,360
only a little practice to
develop.
71
00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:14,160
It is not necessarily a sign of
spiritual attainment, but
72
00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:18,640
usually when by practice of yoga
one begins to go inside or live
73
00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:22,880
within, the power of subtle
vision awakes to a greater or
74
00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,920
lesser extent.
But this does not always happen
75
00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:32,040
easily, especially if one has
been habituated to live much in
76
00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:36,400
the intellect or in an outward
vital consciousness.
77
00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:43,080
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindu
and the Mother Powers within
78
00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:47,360
Chapter 19.
Occult Powers of the Subliminal,
79
00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:49,760
page 151.