Jan. 21, 2025
The Soul as the True Central Being
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Chapter XX The Psychic, pg. 153 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/01/19/the-soul-as-the-true-central-being/
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
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,440
In the West, the existence of
the soul has been mainly
2
00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:10,320
perceived either as a matter of
religious belief or scientific
3
00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:15,760
skepticism, neither necessarily
based in actual experience.
4
00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,920
At one point, scientists decided
that if the belief that the soul
5
00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:25,240
departs at the time of death is
to be considered as factual,
6
00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,560
then they should be able to
weigh the body at the moment
7
00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:33,360
before death and the moment
after death, and thereby know
8
00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,400
the weight of the soul that has
now departed.
9
00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,240
This is the ultimate attempt by
the external physical mind to
10
00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:45,360
try to grapple with the reality
of a more subtle aspect of
11
00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:49,160
existence.
Of course, when they could not
12
00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:53,280
ascertain the weight in this
manner, they felt justified in
13
00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:55,440
denying the existence of the
soul.
14
00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:01,600
The idea that we are a soul that
occupies and uses the body, life
15
00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:06,360
and mind for its cumulative
experience, rather than being a
16
00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:11,320
body that happens to have or
acquire a soul, never dawns on
17
00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:14,080
them.
The fact that they could not,
18
00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,800
with the limitations of their
instruments, measure the weight
19
00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:23,200
of thought or measure the weight
of a photon did not deter them
20
00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:27,560
from coming up with any excuse
to justify their lack of
21
00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:33,120
personal experience or at least
a recognition of the soul and
22
00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:38,400
its action in their own lives.
From the side of Western
23
00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,080
religion, followers are simply
asked to believe in the
24
00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,440
existence of the soul despite
having no personal experience of
25
00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:51,640
it that they can recognize.
The reliance on dogmatic demands
26
00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:56,600
rather than developing a path
for personal experience has
27
00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,600
caused many people to leave the
mainstream religious
28
00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:05,960
organizations over the last 50
to 75 years and embraced the
29
00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:10,840
quest for spiritual experience
through a variety of ways.
30
00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:16,520
The failure both the secular and
religious approaches in Western
31
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,320
society have also led many
people to simply try to deny the
32
00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:25,400
deeper truth that underlies all
existence and leads to lives
33
00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:29,320
that are restricted within the
walls of a materialistic,
34
00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:34,760
hedonistic or intellectual
framework without any deeper
35
00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:39,400
significance or meaning.
Many who follow these directions
36
00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,680
wind up depressed,
disillusioned, or with a feeling
37
00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:47,520
of meaninglessness or emptiness
about their lives.
38
00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,240
There are a number of aspects of
our existence that do not appear
39
00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:56,320
to exist until they come forward
and take a visibly active role
40
00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,920
in our lives.
The higher reasoning intellect,
41
00:02:59,920 --> 00:03:04,360
for instance, does not generally
become highly active for years
42
00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:08,520
after a person is born.
For some people, it is difficult
43
00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,640
to discern its action throughout
most of their lives.
44
00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:18,280
Yet we can observe humanity and
see that there is indeed a power
45
00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:23,160
of mental activity that exists
but cannot be weighed, seen,
46
00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:27,600
dissected, or otherwise
discerned other than by its
47
00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:31,880
actual activity and the patterns
it develops in the life of the
48
00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:36,240
individual who has experienced
the activation of that power.
49
00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:41,480
In a somewhat similar way, the
action of the soul is not
50
00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:45,840
immediately apparent in most
people, but when the experience
51
00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,800
comes, those who have that
experience cannot deny its
52
00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:54,680
existence, nor can they deny the
influence it has in their lives.
53
00:03:55,640 --> 00:04:00,080
Sometimes the experience comes
in a very traumatic manner, such
54
00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:04,440
as the conversion of Saul on the
road to Damascus, or through
55
00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:08,120
some kind of near death or other
traumatic event in the life,
56
00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:13,000
such as that recounted by Danny
and Brinkley in his book Saved
57
00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:17,160
by the Light.
At other times it takes the form
58
00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:22,160
of a gradual and natural process
of maturation, development and
59
00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,680
change as the life experience
accumulates.
60
00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:30,200
In rare individuals, the light
of the soul can be seen
61
00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,800
virtually from the time of
taking physical birth, the
62
00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,160
result of the maturity of the
soul carried forward from prior
63
00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,480
incarnations.
For discussion about the
64
00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:46,160
necessity and action of rebirth,
see earlier blog posts on the
65
00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,360
subject.
In our review of the Life Divine
66
00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:54,640
and Rebirth and Karma.
Some traditions formulate the
67
00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:59,080
soul with varying names or
definitions, including in a way
68
00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:03,280
that is the least personified,
the concepts of dependent
69
00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:08,040
origination and cause and
effect, which embraces a stream
70
00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:12,080
of consciousness which
continues, changes, evolves,
71
00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:17,000
grows, matures beyond any
individual life and death
72
00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,120
experience.
One of the powers of the soul is
73
00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:24,400
to bring harmony to the
disparate elements of the nature
74
00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:28,280
by an innate sense of balance
and right placement for each
75
00:05:28,280 --> 00:05:32,040
part of the being.
We may use the analogy of the
76
00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:36,040
Symphony Orchestra with numerous
diverse instruments that make
77
00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:40,760
widely different sounds.
Without a conductor, the sound
78
00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:44,720
can be discordant.
When the conductor takes charge
79
00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:49,760
of the orchestra, the music can
be beautiful, harmonious, and
80
00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:54,200
sublime, Sri Robindo observes.
Quote.
81
00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:59,480
The true central being is the
soul, but this being stands
82
00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:03,680
back, and in most human natures
is only the secret witness.
83
00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:08,040
Or one might say, a
constitutional ruler who allows
84
00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:12,480
his ministers to rule for him,
delegates to them his empire,
85
00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:17,320
silently assents to their
decisions, and only now and then
86
00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:21,160
puts in a word which they can at
any moment override and act
87
00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,600
otherwise.
But this is so long as the soul
88
00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,560
personality put forward by the
psychic entity is not yet
89
00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:33,040
sufficiently developed.
When this is strong enough for
90
00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:37,400
the inner entity to impose
itself through it, then the soul
91
00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,320
can come forward and control the
nature.
92
00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,920
It is by the coming forward of
this true monarch and his taking
93
00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:49,200
up of the reigns of government
that there can take place a real
94
00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,560
harmonization of our being and
our life.
95
00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:57,600
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindo and the
96
00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:01,160
Mother Powers within.
Chapter 20.
97
00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,240
The Psychic, page 153.
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,440
In the West, the existence of
the soul has been mainly
2
00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:10,320
perceived either as a matter of
religious belief or scientific
3
00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:15,760
skepticism, neither necessarily
based in actual experience.
4
00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,920
At one point, scientists decided
that if the belief that the soul
5
00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:25,240
departs at the time of death is
to be considered as factual,
6
00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,560
then they should be able to
weigh the body at the moment
7
00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:33,360
before death and the moment
after death, and thereby know
8
00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,400
the weight of the soul that has
now departed.
9
00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,240
This is the ultimate attempt by
the external physical mind to
10
00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:45,360
try to grapple with the reality
of a more subtle aspect of
11
00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:49,160
existence.
Of course, when they could not
12
00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:53,280
ascertain the weight in this
manner, they felt justified in
13
00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:55,440
denying the existence of the
soul.
14
00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:01,600
The idea that we are a soul that
occupies and uses the body, life
15
00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:06,360
and mind for its cumulative
experience, rather than being a
16
00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:11,320
body that happens to have or
acquire a soul, never dawns on
17
00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:14,080
them.
The fact that they could not,
18
00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,800
with the limitations of their
instruments, measure the weight
19
00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:23,200
of thought or measure the weight
of a photon did not deter them
20
00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:27,560
from coming up with any excuse
to justify their lack of
21
00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:33,120
personal experience or at least
a recognition of the soul and
22
00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:38,400
its action in their own lives.
From the side of Western
23
00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,080
religion, followers are simply
asked to believe in the
24
00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,440
existence of the soul despite
having no personal experience of
25
00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:51,640
it that they can recognize.
The reliance on dogmatic demands
26
00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:56,600
rather than developing a path
for personal experience has
27
00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,600
caused many people to leave the
mainstream religious
28
00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:05,960
organizations over the last 50
to 75 years and embraced the
29
00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:10,840
quest for spiritual experience
through a variety of ways.
30
00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:16,520
The failure both the secular and
religious approaches in Western
31
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,320
society have also led many
people to simply try to deny the
32
00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:25,400
deeper truth that underlies all
existence and leads to lives
33
00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:29,320
that are restricted within the
walls of a materialistic,
34
00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:34,760
hedonistic or intellectual
framework without any deeper
35
00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:39,400
significance or meaning.
Many who follow these directions
36
00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,680
wind up depressed,
disillusioned, or with a feeling
37
00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:47,520
of meaninglessness or emptiness
about their lives.
38
00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,240
There are a number of aspects of
our existence that do not appear
39
00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:56,320
to exist until they come forward
and take a visibly active role
40
00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,920
in our lives.
The higher reasoning intellect,
41
00:02:59,920 --> 00:03:04,360
for instance, does not generally
become highly active for years
42
00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:08,520
after a person is born.
For some people, it is difficult
43
00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,640
to discern its action throughout
most of their lives.
44
00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:18,280
Yet we can observe humanity and
see that there is indeed a power
45
00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:23,160
of mental activity that exists
but cannot be weighed, seen,
46
00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:27,600
dissected, or otherwise
discerned other than by its
47
00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:31,880
actual activity and the patterns
it develops in the life of the
48
00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:36,240
individual who has experienced
the activation of that power.
49
00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:41,480
In a somewhat similar way, the
action of the soul is not
50
00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:45,840
immediately apparent in most
people, but when the experience
51
00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,800
comes, those who have that
experience cannot deny its
52
00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:54,680
existence, nor can they deny the
influence it has in their lives.
53
00:03:55,640 --> 00:04:00,080
Sometimes the experience comes
in a very traumatic manner, such
54
00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:04,440
as the conversion of Saul on the
road to Damascus, or through
55
00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:08,120
some kind of near death or other
traumatic event in the life,
56
00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:13,000
such as that recounted by Danny
and Brinkley in his book Saved
57
00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:17,160
by the Light.
At other times it takes the form
58
00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:22,160
of a gradual and natural process
of maturation, development and
59
00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,680
change as the life experience
accumulates.
60
00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:30,200
In rare individuals, the light
of the soul can be seen
61
00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,800
virtually from the time of
taking physical birth, the
62
00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,160
result of the maturity of the
soul carried forward from prior
63
00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,480
incarnations.
For discussion about the
64
00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:46,160
necessity and action of rebirth,
see earlier blog posts on the
65
00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,360
subject.
In our review of the Life Divine
66
00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:54,640
and Rebirth and Karma.
Some traditions formulate the
67
00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:59,080
soul with varying names or
definitions, including in a way
68
00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:03,280
that is the least personified,
the concepts of dependent
69
00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:08,040
origination and cause and
effect, which embraces a stream
70
00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:12,080
of consciousness which
continues, changes, evolves,
71
00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:17,000
grows, matures beyond any
individual life and death
72
00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,120
experience.
One of the powers of the soul is
73
00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:24,400
to bring harmony to the
disparate elements of the nature
74
00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:28,280
by an innate sense of balance
and right placement for each
75
00:05:28,280 --> 00:05:32,040
part of the being.
We may use the analogy of the
76
00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:36,040
Symphony Orchestra with numerous
diverse instruments that make
77
00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:40,760
widely different sounds.
Without a conductor, the sound
78
00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:44,720
can be discordant.
When the conductor takes charge
79
00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:49,760
of the orchestra, the music can
be beautiful, harmonious, and
80
00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:54,200
sublime, Sri Robindo observes.
Quote.
81
00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:59,480
The true central being is the
soul, but this being stands
82
00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:03,680
back, and in most human natures
is only the secret witness.
83
00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:08,040
Or one might say, a
constitutional ruler who allows
84
00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:12,480
his ministers to rule for him,
delegates to them his empire,
85
00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:17,320
silently assents to their
decisions, and only now and then
86
00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:21,160
puts in a word which they can at
any moment override and act
87
00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,600
otherwise.
But this is so long as the soul
88
00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,560
personality put forward by the
psychic entity is not yet
89
00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:33,040
sufficiently developed.
When this is strong enough for
90
00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:37,400
the inner entity to impose
itself through it, then the soul
91
00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,320
can come forward and control the
nature.
92
00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,920
It is by the coming forward of
this true monarch and his taking
93
00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:49,200
up of the reigns of government
that there can take place a real
94
00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,560
harmonization of our being and
our life.
95
00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:57,600
End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindo and the
96
00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:01,160
Mother Powers within.
Chapter 20.
97
00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,240
The Psychic, page 153.