April 6, 2024
The Subliminal Level of Consciousness and Our Waking State
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch. 2 Hidden Forces Within, pp. 41-42 This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/04/04/the-subliminal-level-of-consciousness-and-our-waking-state/
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
00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:05,800
What we actively perceive and
pay attention to with our waking
2
00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:10,960
consciousness is a very small
portion of the entire pattern of
3
00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,200
energetic forces we are
constantly subjected to and
4
00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:19,280
which act upon us unseen and
unrecognized.
5
00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:24,560
Whether it is physical
radiation, vital forces, or
6
00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:28,760
mental thought forms, or the
spiritual forces of the higher
7
00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,920
planes of consciousness, there
is an energetic impact that
8
00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:37,640
impinges upon our being and
helps to create and influence
9
00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,920
the way we respond on the most
superficial levels of the
10
00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:46,640
external consciousness.
The all or nothing phenomenon
11
00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,320
illustrates just one way that
such subliminal action takes
12
00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,440
place.
We do not see the movement of
13
00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:58,360
photons impinging on our visual
sense until a certain quanta of
14
00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:00,840
photons is present to trigger
sight.
15
00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,840
Up until that point the photons
are impinging on the sense
16
00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:09,240
organ, but it is not triggering
our awareness.
17
00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,640
We know from a tremendous amount
of research that various forms
18
00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:18,760
of radiation can impact our
health, our sense organs, and
19
00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,720
our brains.
But we do not perceive that
20
00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:25,840
radiation without the use of
measurement tools such as Geiger
21
00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:31,640
Counter to tell us that it is
there and active.
22
00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,640
Anyone who has looked at the sun
during an eclipse with their
23
00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:41,120
unshielded eyes is affected by
the radiation that accompanies
24
00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:45,720
the sun's visible light, and
this can be blinding.
25
00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:50,600
We can feel the focus of an
individual who is staring at us
26
00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:55,200
or fixating their attention on
us, even if we cannot actually
27
00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,480
observe this.
How many times do we get the
28
00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:03,200
sense that someone is watching?
And then when we turn around, we
29
00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:08,080
can see that individual
vibrations of all forms of
30
00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:12,640
emotional and vital energy
unseen by us are nevertheless
31
00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:17,440
received, even if we do not
acknowledge them with our waking
32
00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,560
consciousness.
They are exerting pressure.
33
00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,000
Mental thought forms can
exercise a similar unseen
34
00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,600
influence.
When we enter a zone where
35
00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:33,080
intense study or mental work is
taking place, we can actually
36
00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:38,080
feel the atmosphere, but its
effect impacts us whether we
37
00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:43,640
consciously acknowledge it or
not, Sri Aurobindo observes
38
00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:47,240
quote.
Our waking state is unaware of
39
00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,360
its connection with the
subliminal being, although it
40
00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:54,000
receives from it, but without
any knowledge of the place of
41
00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:59,840
origin the inspirations,
intuitions, ideas, will,
42
00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:04,600
suggestions, sense suggestions,
urges to action that rise from
43
00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,120
below or from behind our limited
surface existence.
44
00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:13,600
Sleep, like trance, opens the
gate of the subliminal to us.
45
00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:19,600
For in sleep as in trance, we
retire behind the veil of the
46
00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:24,480
limited waking personality, and
it is behind this veil that the
47
00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:28,920
subliminal has its existence.
But we receive the records of
48
00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:33,800
our sleep experience through
dream and in dream figures, and
49
00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:37,480
not in that condition which
might be called an inner waking,
50
00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,440
and which is the most accessible
form of the trance state.
51
00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:47,200
Nor through the supernormal
clarities of vision and other
52
00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:51,760
more luminous and concrete ways
of communication developed by
53
00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:57,080
the inner subliminal cognition.
When it gets into habitual or
54
00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,880
occasional conscious connection
with our waking self.
55
00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:05,520
The subliminal with the
subconscious as an annex of
56
00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:10,840
itself For the subconscious is
also part of the behind the veil
57
00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:16,519
entity is the seer of inner
things and of superphysical
58
00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:20,440
experiences.
The surface subconscious is only
59
00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:24,560
a transcriber.
It is for this reason that the
60
00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,480
Upanishad describes the
subliminal being as the dream
61
00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:34,480
self, because it is normally in
dreams, visions, absorbed states
62
00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:39,320
of inner experience that we
enter into and are part of its
63
00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:44,640
experiences, just as it
describes the superconscient as
64
00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:48,800
the sleep self, because normally
all mental or sensory
65
00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:53,120
experiences cease when we enter
this superconscience.
66
00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,000
For in the deeper trance into
which the touch of the
67
00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:01,800
superconscient plunges our
mentality, no record from it or
68
00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:05,760
transcript of its contents can
normally reach us.
69
00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:11,240
It is only by an especial or an
unusual development in a
70
00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:16,200
supernormal condition or through
a brake or rift in our confined
71
00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:20,280
normality that we can be on the
surface, conscious of the
72
00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:24,720
contacts or messages of the
Super conscience.
73
00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:31,720
End Quote Reference Shriorobindu
and the Mother, The Hidden
74
00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:37,800
Forces of Life, Chapter 2.
Hidden Forces within pages 41 to
75
00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:38,600
42.
00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:05,800
What we actively perceive and
pay attention to with our waking
2
00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:10,960
consciousness is a very small
portion of the entire pattern of
3
00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,200
energetic forces we are
constantly subjected to and
4
00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:19,280
which act upon us unseen and
unrecognized.
5
00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:24,560
Whether it is physical
radiation, vital forces, or
6
00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:28,760
mental thought forms, or the
spiritual forces of the higher
7
00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,920
planes of consciousness, there
is an energetic impact that
8
00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:37,640
impinges upon our being and
helps to create and influence
9
00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,920
the way we respond on the most
superficial levels of the
10
00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:46,640
external consciousness.
The all or nothing phenomenon
11
00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,320
illustrates just one way that
such subliminal action takes
12
00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,440
place.
We do not see the movement of
13
00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:58,360
photons impinging on our visual
sense until a certain quanta of
14
00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:00,840
photons is present to trigger
sight.
15
00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,840
Up until that point the photons
are impinging on the sense
16
00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:09,240
organ, but it is not triggering
our awareness.
17
00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,640
We know from a tremendous amount
of research that various forms
18
00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:18,760
of radiation can impact our
health, our sense organs, and
19
00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,720
our brains.
But we do not perceive that
20
00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:25,840
radiation without the use of
measurement tools such as Geiger
21
00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:31,640
Counter to tell us that it is
there and active.
22
00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,640
Anyone who has looked at the sun
during an eclipse with their
23
00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:41,120
unshielded eyes is affected by
the radiation that accompanies
24
00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:45,720
the sun's visible light, and
this can be blinding.
25
00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:50,600
We can feel the focus of an
individual who is staring at us
26
00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:55,200
or fixating their attention on
us, even if we cannot actually
27
00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,480
observe this.
How many times do we get the
28
00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:03,200
sense that someone is watching?
And then when we turn around, we
29
00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:08,080
can see that individual
vibrations of all forms of
30
00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:12,640
emotional and vital energy
unseen by us are nevertheless
31
00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:17,440
received, even if we do not
acknowledge them with our waking
32
00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,560
consciousness.
They are exerting pressure.
33
00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,000
Mental thought forms can
exercise a similar unseen
34
00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,600
influence.
When we enter a zone where
35
00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:33,080
intense study or mental work is
taking place, we can actually
36
00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:38,080
feel the atmosphere, but its
effect impacts us whether we
37
00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:43,640
consciously acknowledge it or
not, Sri Aurobindo observes
38
00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:47,240
quote.
Our waking state is unaware of
39
00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,360
its connection with the
subliminal being, although it
40
00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:54,000
receives from it, but without
any knowledge of the place of
41
00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:59,840
origin the inspirations,
intuitions, ideas, will,
42
00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:04,600
suggestions, sense suggestions,
urges to action that rise from
43
00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,120
below or from behind our limited
surface existence.
44
00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:13,600
Sleep, like trance, opens the
gate of the subliminal to us.
45
00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:19,600
For in sleep as in trance, we
retire behind the veil of the
46
00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:24,480
limited waking personality, and
it is behind this veil that the
47
00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:28,920
subliminal has its existence.
But we receive the records of
48
00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:33,800
our sleep experience through
dream and in dream figures, and
49
00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:37,480
not in that condition which
might be called an inner waking,
50
00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,440
and which is the most accessible
form of the trance state.
51
00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:47,200
Nor through the supernormal
clarities of vision and other
52
00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:51,760
more luminous and concrete ways
of communication developed by
53
00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:57,080
the inner subliminal cognition.
When it gets into habitual or
54
00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,880
occasional conscious connection
with our waking self.
55
00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:05,520
The subliminal with the
subconscious as an annex of
56
00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:10,840
itself For the subconscious is
also part of the behind the veil
57
00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:16,519
entity is the seer of inner
things and of superphysical
58
00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:20,440
experiences.
The surface subconscious is only
59
00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:24,560
a transcriber.
It is for this reason that the
60
00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,480
Upanishad describes the
subliminal being as the dream
61
00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:34,480
self, because it is normally in
dreams, visions, absorbed states
62
00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:39,320
of inner experience that we
enter into and are part of its
63
00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:44,640
experiences, just as it
describes the superconscient as
64
00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:48,800
the sleep self, because normally
all mental or sensory
65
00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:53,120
experiences cease when we enter
this superconscience.
66
00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,000
For in the deeper trance into
which the touch of the
67
00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:01,800
superconscient plunges our
mentality, no record from it or
68
00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:05,760
transcript of its contents can
normally reach us.
69
00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:11,240
It is only by an especial or an
unusual development in a
70
00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:16,200
supernormal condition or through
a brake or rift in our confined
71
00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:20,280
normality that we can be on the
surface, conscious of the
72
00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:24,720
contacts or messages of the
Super conscience.
73
00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:31,720
End Quote Reference Shriorobindu
and the Mother, The Hidden
74
00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:37,800
Forces of Life, Chapter 2.
Hidden Forces within pages 41 to
75
00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:38,600
42.