Nov. 6, 2025
The Spiritual Aspirant's Opening to the Action of the Spiritual Force
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 2, Faith — Aspiration — Surrender, pg. 32This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/11/04/the-spiritual-aspirants-opening-to-the-action-of-the-spiritual-force/
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#Sri Aurobindo #consciousness #aspiration #kundalini #spirituality #concentration
1
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:03,600
There are many things in the
world that we cannot directly
2
00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:08,240
observe with our senses, yet
which we otherwise believe to be
3
00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:12,800
real based on the noticeable and
palpable effects they have.
4
00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,560
We cannot see gravity, but we
feel its effects.
5
00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:23,040
Similarly, we cannot see
electricity, but we not only can
6
00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:27,280
experience the effects, but we
have learned how to channel it,
7
00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:32,720
amplify it, and reduce its force
to manageable levels for our
8
00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:37,000
intended uses.
Radioactivity, similarly, is
9
00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:41,280
unseen but able to be measured
and its effects recognized in
10
00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,960
the changes that occur within
the individual subjected to it.
11
00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,760
There are any number of similar
things that we know, but which
12
00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:54,800
are not visible to our sight.
The spiritual force is not
13
00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,280
recognized by those who have not
had the actual experience.
14
00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:03,320
The experience may be palpable
as many individuals relate the
15
00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:07,160
sense of an overpowering energy
or force coming down through the
16
00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:12,360
crown of the head, in some cases
with a sensation of drilling or
17
00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:16,680
some kind of pressure.
Others relate the activation of
18
00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:21,360
the various chakras, the subtle
energy centers and new powers
19
00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,840
awakening within them when that
happens.
20
00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,240
Still others describe the rising
of the sleeping energy from the
21
00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:32,560
base of the being up through the
subtle spinal channels to meet
22
00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:36,800
the energy centre above the
head, what is called the rising
23
00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:41,200
of the Kundalini force, the
coiled serpent power awakening
24
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:45,600
and rising to energize the
awareness and join with the
25
00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:50,320
divine consciousness.
For others, the experience can
26
00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:54,160
be more subtle but nevertheless
real to the seeker who
27
00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:57,920
experiences it.
As we have learned with regard
28
00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:02,240
to material forces such as
electricity, the spiritual force
29
00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:07,520
can also be called channelled
and activated in various ways by
30
00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:11,920
the experienced yogic
practitioner, Srioro Bindo
31
00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:15,920
writes quote.
In this yoga the whole principle
32
00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:18,840
is to open oneself to the divine
influence.
33
00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:24,240
It is there above you, and if
you can once become conscious of
34
00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,800
it, you have then to call it
down into you.
35
00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:32,600
It descends into the mind and
into the body as peace, as a
36
00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:38,200
light, as a force that works, as
the presence of the Divine, with
37
00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:43,200
or without form, as Ananda.
Before one has this
38
00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,720
consciousness one has to have
faith and aspire for the
39
00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:51,920
opening.
Aspiration, call, prayer are
40
00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:55,760
forms of 1 and the same thing
and are all effective.
41
00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,920
You can take the form that comes
to you or is easiest to you.
42
00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,680
The other way is concentration.
You concentrate your
43
00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:08,680
consciousness in the heart.
Some do it in the head or above
44
00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,880
the head and meditate on the
mother in the heart and call her
45
00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,760
in there.
One can do either and both at
46
00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:20,200
different times.
Whatever comes naturally to you
47
00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,680
or you are moved to do at the
moment.
48
00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:27,600
Especially in the beginning, the
one great necessity is to get
49
00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:31,560
the mind quiet.
Reject at the time of meditation
50
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:34,600
all thoughts and movements that
are foreign to the sadhna.
51
00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,560
In the quiet mind there will be
a progressive preparation for
52
00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,560
the experience.
But you must not become
53
00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:45,680
impatient if all is not done at
once.
54
00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,480
It takes time to bring entire
quiet into the mind.
55
00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,240
You have to go on till the
consciousness is ready.
56
00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:59,360
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga,
57
00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:03,840
Chapter 2.
Faith, Aspiration, Surrender,
58
00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:05,400
page 32.
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:03,600
There are many things in the
world that we cannot directly
2
00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:08,240
observe with our senses, yet
which we otherwise believe to be
3
00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:12,800
real based on the noticeable and
palpable effects they have.
4
00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,560
We cannot see gravity, but we
feel its effects.
5
00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:23,040
Similarly, we cannot see
electricity, but we not only can
6
00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:27,280
experience the effects, but we
have learned how to channel it,
7
00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:32,720
amplify it, and reduce its force
to manageable levels for our
8
00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:37,000
intended uses.
Radioactivity, similarly, is
9
00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:41,280
unseen but able to be measured
and its effects recognized in
10
00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,960
the changes that occur within
the individual subjected to it.
11
00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,760
There are any number of similar
things that we know, but which
12
00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:54,800
are not visible to our sight.
The spiritual force is not
13
00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,280
recognized by those who have not
had the actual experience.
14
00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:03,320
The experience may be palpable
as many individuals relate the
15
00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:07,160
sense of an overpowering energy
or force coming down through the
16
00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:12,360
crown of the head, in some cases
with a sensation of drilling or
17
00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:16,680
some kind of pressure.
Others relate the activation of
18
00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:21,360
the various chakras, the subtle
energy centers and new powers
19
00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,840
awakening within them when that
happens.
20
00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,240
Still others describe the rising
of the sleeping energy from the
21
00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:32,560
base of the being up through the
subtle spinal channels to meet
22
00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:36,800
the energy centre above the
head, what is called the rising
23
00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:41,200
of the Kundalini force, the
coiled serpent power awakening
24
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:45,600
and rising to energize the
awareness and join with the
25
00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:50,320
divine consciousness.
For others, the experience can
26
00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:54,160
be more subtle but nevertheless
real to the seeker who
27
00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:57,920
experiences it.
As we have learned with regard
28
00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:02,240
to material forces such as
electricity, the spiritual force
29
00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:07,520
can also be called channelled
and activated in various ways by
30
00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:11,920
the experienced yogic
practitioner, Srioro Bindo
31
00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:15,920
writes quote.
In this yoga the whole principle
32
00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:18,840
is to open oneself to the divine
influence.
33
00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:24,240
It is there above you, and if
you can once become conscious of
34
00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,800
it, you have then to call it
down into you.
35
00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:32,600
It descends into the mind and
into the body as peace, as a
36
00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:38,200
light, as a force that works, as
the presence of the Divine, with
37
00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:43,200
or without form, as Ananda.
Before one has this
38
00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,720
consciousness one has to have
faith and aspire for the
39
00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:51,920
opening.
Aspiration, call, prayer are
40
00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:55,760
forms of 1 and the same thing
and are all effective.
41
00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,920
You can take the form that comes
to you or is easiest to you.
42
00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,680
The other way is concentration.
You concentrate your
43
00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:08,680
consciousness in the heart.
Some do it in the head or above
44
00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,880
the head and meditate on the
mother in the heart and call her
45
00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,760
in there.
One can do either and both at
46
00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:20,200
different times.
Whatever comes naturally to you
47
00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,680
or you are moved to do at the
moment.
48
00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:27,600
Especially in the beginning, the
one great necessity is to get
49
00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:31,560
the mind quiet.
Reject at the time of meditation
50
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:34,600
all thoughts and movements that
are foreign to the sadhna.
51
00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,560
In the quiet mind there will be
a progressive preparation for
52
00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,560
the experience.
But you must not become
53
00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:45,680
impatient if all is not done at
once.
54
00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,480
It takes time to bring entire
quiet into the mind.
55
00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,240
You have to go on till the
consciousness is ready.
56
00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:59,360
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga,
57
00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:03,840
Chapter 2.
Faith, Aspiration, Surrender,
58
00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:05,400
page 32.
