March 15, 2024
The Seeker and the Influence of Vital Forces in Social Interchange
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch. 1 Life Through the Eyes of the Yogin, pg. 18 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/03/13/the-seeker-and-the-influence-of-vital-forces-in-social-interchange/
YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at http://www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at http://www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:05,000
It is common for spiritual
aspirants to be advised to
2
00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,600
isolate themselves, or at least
limit their contact with others
3
00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:12,560
in a social setting, with the
ostensible reason to aid the
4
00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,160
seeker in focusing on the
spiritual effort and avoid
5
00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:21,360
distraction and the possibility
of being diverted or diluted in
6
00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,920
the energy through vital forces
affecting the life.
7
00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:30,120
Many are told to cut off the
influence of family and friends
8
00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:34,600
for similar reasons.
Some require devotees to avoid
9
00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:39,160
any interaction with money as
well, since it carries its own
10
00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,960
occult power.
All of this presupposes that
11
00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:47,240
there is an enormous vital force
at work through these contacts
12
00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:51,840
that can work to minimize or
destroy the seeker's efforts.
13
00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,760
It is true that there can be a
considerable impediment that
14
00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:01,360
arises through both the external
impacts and the subtle internal
15
00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:03,960
operation of vital interchange
that occurs.
16
00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:09,960
It is not, however, as automatic
and as serious as it seems.
17
00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,720
When we learn about all the
restrictions and separations.
18
00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:18,560
There are multiple factors that
can determine the actual impact.
19
00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:23,360
First, there is the closeness of
the bond between individuals,
20
00:01:23,960 --> 00:01:27,840
with the bonds of family, loved
ones and close friends having
21
00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:33,240
potentially a greater impact due
to the greater expected
22
00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,600
receptivity the seeker would
have to such influences.
23
00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:42,440
Second, there is the intensity
of the force that is trying to
24
00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:46,040
act.
Most social interactions have a
25
00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:51,240
relatively weak force and thus
tend to potentially create small
26
00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,480
waves in the being without
having the impact of a vital
27
00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,720
tsunami.
Third, there is the awareness
28
00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,120
and receptivity of the seeker
himself.
29
00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,360
To the extent that he is
focused, dedicated, and
30
00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:10,759
conscious, even a powerful vital
force can be held at Bay.
31
00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,600
The seeker, therefore, should
avoid fear of vital interaction
32
00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:21,520
and exercise conscious awareness
and a focused aspiration towards
33
00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,480
achievement of the spiritual
goals, and thereby not be too
34
00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:30,640
concerned about the influences.
When a strong or hostile
35
00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:34,400
influence shows up, of course,
it must then be seen and
36
00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,680
resisted, but this is a much
less common occurrence.
37
00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:44,640
In fact, a good deal of the talk
of isolation and separation is
38
00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:48,920
intended to gain control over
the individual by those in
39
00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:53,760
charge of the cloister,
monastery, ashram, or other type
40
00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:58,720
of organization, rather than a
real concern about the spiritual
41
00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:03,760
impact of social interaction.
And it must be noted that any
42
00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:08,480
progress that depends entirely
on isolation is put into
43
00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,520
question when the individual
eventually has to have
44
00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:16,400
interactions, as there has been
no opportunity to strengthen and
45
00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,640
prepare the seeker for the
forces at work in the world.
46
00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,320
There are numerous anecdotal
examples of dramatic failures
47
00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:29,080
when the eventual confrontation
with the world comes about in
48
00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:33,760
the life of the seeker, who has
not had the seasoning that comes
49
00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,520
with learning about and
addressing the impact of vital
50
00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,480
influences and forces along the
way.
51
00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:47,680
Sri Aurobindo notes Quote It is
not necessary to be so careful
52
00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:52,680
as all that ordinary vital
interchanges are of a slight
53
00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,760
character.
Nobody can take away another's
54
00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:59,800
vital for the very good reason
that if that happened, the
55
00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,200
person from whom it was taken
would die.
56
00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,720
It is possible, of course, for
one person to drain another's
57
00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:12,040
vital forces so as to leave him
limp or weak or dry, but it is
58
00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,360
only the vampire kind that do
that.
59
00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,320
It is possible also for one to
give out too much of one's vital
60
00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:24,520
forces, so as to weaken oneself
or exhaust of energy, a thing
61
00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,400
which should not be done.
It is only those who know how to
62
00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:33,120
draw or can draw freely from the
universal vital force and
63
00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:36,640
replenish their life energies
that can give out freely.
64
00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:41,560
All of course draw to some
extent, otherwise they would not
65
00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,840
remain alive.
For expenditure of vital energy
66
00:04:44,840 --> 00:04:48,440
is always going on and one has
to replace it.
67
00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:54,000
But for the most the capacity
for drawing is limited and the
68
00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,840
capacity for giving without
exhaustion is also limited.
69
00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,520
But the ordinary movements of
interchange are harmless,
70
00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,200
provided they are kept within
moderate limits.
71
00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:12,280
End Quote Reference Shrioro,
Bindo and the Mother, The Hidden
72
00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:16,200
Forces of Life, Chapter One,
Life Through the Eyes of the
73
00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:17,920
Yogin, page 18.
00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:05,000
It is common for spiritual
aspirants to be advised to
2
00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,600
isolate themselves, or at least
limit their contact with others
3
00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:12,560
in a social setting, with the
ostensible reason to aid the
4
00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,160
seeker in focusing on the
spiritual effort and avoid
5
00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:21,360
distraction and the possibility
of being diverted or diluted in
6
00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,920
the energy through vital forces
affecting the life.
7
00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:30,120
Many are told to cut off the
influence of family and friends
8
00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:34,600
for similar reasons.
Some require devotees to avoid
9
00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:39,160
any interaction with money as
well, since it carries its own
10
00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,960
occult power.
All of this presupposes that
11
00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:47,240
there is an enormous vital force
at work through these contacts
12
00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:51,840
that can work to minimize or
destroy the seeker's efforts.
13
00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,760
It is true that there can be a
considerable impediment that
14
00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:01,360
arises through both the external
impacts and the subtle internal
15
00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:03,960
operation of vital interchange
that occurs.
16
00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:09,960
It is not, however, as automatic
and as serious as it seems.
17
00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,720
When we learn about all the
restrictions and separations.
18
00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:18,560
There are multiple factors that
can determine the actual impact.
19
00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:23,360
First, there is the closeness of
the bond between individuals,
20
00:01:23,960 --> 00:01:27,840
with the bonds of family, loved
ones and close friends having
21
00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:33,240
potentially a greater impact due
to the greater expected
22
00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,600
receptivity the seeker would
have to such influences.
23
00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:42,440
Second, there is the intensity
of the force that is trying to
24
00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:46,040
act.
Most social interactions have a
25
00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:51,240
relatively weak force and thus
tend to potentially create small
26
00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,480
waves in the being without
having the impact of a vital
27
00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,720
tsunami.
Third, there is the awareness
28
00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,120
and receptivity of the seeker
himself.
29
00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,360
To the extent that he is
focused, dedicated, and
30
00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:10,759
conscious, even a powerful vital
force can be held at Bay.
31
00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,600
The seeker, therefore, should
avoid fear of vital interaction
32
00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:21,520
and exercise conscious awareness
and a focused aspiration towards
33
00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,480
achievement of the spiritual
goals, and thereby not be too
34
00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:30,640
concerned about the influences.
When a strong or hostile
35
00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:34,400
influence shows up, of course,
it must then be seen and
36
00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,680
resisted, but this is a much
less common occurrence.
37
00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:44,640
In fact, a good deal of the talk
of isolation and separation is
38
00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:48,920
intended to gain control over
the individual by those in
39
00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:53,760
charge of the cloister,
monastery, ashram, or other type
40
00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:58,720
of organization, rather than a
real concern about the spiritual
41
00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:03,760
impact of social interaction.
And it must be noted that any
42
00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:08,480
progress that depends entirely
on isolation is put into
43
00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,520
question when the individual
eventually has to have
44
00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:16,400
interactions, as there has been
no opportunity to strengthen and
45
00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,640
prepare the seeker for the
forces at work in the world.
46
00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,320
There are numerous anecdotal
examples of dramatic failures
47
00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:29,080
when the eventual confrontation
with the world comes about in
48
00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:33,760
the life of the seeker, who has
not had the seasoning that comes
49
00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,520
with learning about and
addressing the impact of vital
50
00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,480
influences and forces along the
way.
51
00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:47,680
Sri Aurobindo notes Quote It is
not necessary to be so careful
52
00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:52,680
as all that ordinary vital
interchanges are of a slight
53
00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,760
character.
Nobody can take away another's
54
00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:59,800
vital for the very good reason
that if that happened, the
55
00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,200
person from whom it was taken
would die.
56
00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,720
It is possible, of course, for
one person to drain another's
57
00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:12,040
vital forces so as to leave him
limp or weak or dry, but it is
58
00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,360
only the vampire kind that do
that.
59
00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,320
It is possible also for one to
give out too much of one's vital
60
00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:24,520
forces, so as to weaken oneself
or exhaust of energy, a thing
61
00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,400
which should not be done.
It is only those who know how to
62
00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:33,120
draw or can draw freely from the
universal vital force and
63
00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:36,640
replenish their life energies
that can give out freely.
64
00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:41,560
All of course draw to some
extent, otherwise they would not
65
00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,840
remain alive.
For expenditure of vital energy
66
00:04:44,840 --> 00:04:48,440
is always going on and one has
to replace it.
67
00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:54,000
But for the most the capacity
for drawing is limited and the
68
00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,840
capacity for giving without
exhaustion is also limited.
69
00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,520
But the ordinary movements of
interchange are harmless,
70
00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,200
provided they are kept within
moderate limits.
71
00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:12,280
End Quote Reference Shrioro,
Bindo and the Mother, The Hidden
72
00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:16,200
Forces of Life, Chapter One,
Life Through the Eyes of the
73
00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:17,920
Yogin, page 18.