Jan. 11, 2026
The Supramental Transformation Represents a Radical Upgrade of Animal and Human Nature
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 4, Desire — Food — Sex, pp. 72-73This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/01/09/the-supramental-transformation-represents-a-radical-upgrade-of-animal-and-human-nature/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable 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 SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
#Sri Aurobindo #yoga #integral yoga #Muladhara #spirituality #Brahmacharya #supramental #evolution of consciousness
1
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:04,160
Until such time as we become
capable of drawing infinite
2
00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:08,480
energy from the universal force
of creation, we have the issue
3
00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,720
of choosing how we utilize the
energy we have available to us.
4
00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,200
Through certain types of
practices, we can actually
5
00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:20,880
increase the available energy.
The radical transformation of
6
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:26,240
the mental, vital and physical
being requires large amounts of
7
00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:30,200
focused energy.
One of the primary sources of
8
00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,960
the energy needed is already
available to us through the
9
00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,280
operation of the subtle energy
centers.
10
00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,640
If we harness that energy for
the spiritual work.
11
00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:43,040
As we undertake this process, we
find that additional energy
12
00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:47,520
becomes available from the
Universal Source as we naturally
13
00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:52,640
open and can receive and manage
greater forces than in our
14
00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,200
normal, mostly closed off
status.
15
00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,640
The energy of the first chakra,
known as the Moladara and as the
16
00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:04,519
root chakra, is a primary
foundational energy that
17
00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:07,680
provides support and energy to
the physical body.
18
00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:12,800
When it is utilized for sexual
expression, it gets dispersed.
19
00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,200
It is a well known phenomenon
that after sexual union, the
20
00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,240
partners frequently tend towards
sleep, highlighting the
21
00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,440
exhausting impact of the sexual
activity.
22
00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:29,120
We can understand the process by
looking at the use of money.
23
00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:33,520
We work and earn money.
We then can spend the money,
24
00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,960
save it or invest it.
Some of the spending goes
25
00:01:37,960 --> 00:01:41,400
towards the basic process of
supporting the life activities,
26
00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:46,920
food, clothing, shelter,
transportation and support.
27
00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:52,600
We provide taxes, etcetera to
the Commons and the organization
28
00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,000
of society.
Anything leftover can be
29
00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,800
allocated toward other things.
Many people spend the
30
00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,960
discretionary money to entertain
themselves, to enjoy pleasures
31
00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:09,160
such as the use of alcohol or
recreational drugs, acquiring
32
00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,800
various luxuries, or spending
money on travel and
33
00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,080
entertainment, et cetera.
In this way, substantial money
34
00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,840
is leaked and is only a short
term impact in terms of a
35
00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:25,280
pleasurable experience and may
actually have long term negative
36
00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,960
effects depending on what type
of pleasures have been chosen
37
00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:33,920
and what they actually do to the
body, life force and the mind.
38
00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,280
Those who exercise some control
over the use of money may forego
39
00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,760
some of these short term
pleasures in favour of long term
40
00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:48,000
benefits or objectives They
invest, or at least their use of
41
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,560
discretionary funds is focused
on things that build up the
42
00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:56,520
mind, life and body, not lead to
its dissolution or breakdown.
43
00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:02,640
Similarly, the sexual energy as
a foundational force for the
44
00:03:02,640 --> 00:03:06,360
physical body and the lower
vital centers can either be
45
00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:11,480
dispersed and the energy
dissipated or it can be invested
46
00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:16,840
in creating positive, uplifting
and directed focus on a longer
47
00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:20,600
term benefit.
This is the underlying concept
48
00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:24,080
of the control of the sexual
force in the spiritual practice.
49
00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,400
Humanity tends to extrapolate
from its current understanding
50
00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:33,800
and forms of fulfillment at the
physical, vital, and mental
51
00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:38,920
levels to imagine what some
future form of fulfillment would
52
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,560
turn out to be.
They expect to see the physical
53
00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,000
capacities expanded as an
extension of current
54
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,440
capabilities.
Training the body may take an
55
00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:54,360
individual to new levels of
performance, but they are within
56
00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:58,040
a fixed range.
Similarly, the mind can be
57
00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:01,680
developed and trained but
remains still the basic
58
00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:06,120
apparatus of the mind.
Srioro Bindu and the Mother
59
00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:11,960
foresee that just as the advent
of the vital consciousness began
60
00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:16,120
to radically change physical
nature, and just as the advent
61
00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,240
of the mental consciousness
radically altered both the
62
00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:23,400
physical and vital existence, so
the advent of the next
63
00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,120
evolutionary stage, the
development of the Super mental
64
00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:31,800
consciousness, will necessarily
radically change the function
65
00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:35,240
and relations of the physical,
vital and mental powers.
66
00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:40,640
Thus, a direct extrapolation
within limit is not actually the
67
00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:42,680
process that nature is
following.
68
00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:47,920
Rather, we can expect entirely
new expressions of consciousness
69
00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,840
and power, and new forms of
action and relationship to
70
00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:55,000
develop.
The energy required to
71
00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,080
accomplish these things will
necessarily come from the
72
00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,240
Divine.
The working of this energy
73
00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:06,320
within the individual comes
through aspiration, tuning and
74
00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:08,640
receptivity to this higher
force.
75
00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,640
By refocusing the use of the
existing physical, vital and
76
00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:17,760
mental energy on the spiritual
Sadhna, the seeker creates the
77
00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:22,960
pathway, the opportunity and the
readiness to receive and use
78
00:05:23,280 --> 00:05:27,120
that higher force without
wasting or spilling it.
79
00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:33,600
Sri Orobindo notes quote the
transformation of the sex centre
80
00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,280
and its energy is needed for the
physical city.
81
00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,480
This is the support in the body
of all the mental, vital and
82
00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:45,200
physical forces of the nature.
It has to be changed into a mass
83
00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:50,200
and movement of intimate light,
creative power, pure divine
84
00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,520
Ananda.
It is only the bringing down of
85
00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:58,520
the supermental light, power and
bliss into the centre that can
86
00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,560
change it.
As to the working afterwards, it
87
00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,880
is the supermental truth and the
creative vision and will of the
88
00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:07,880
Divine Mother that will
determine it.
89
00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,960
But it will be a working of the
conscious truth, not of the
90
00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:16,040
darkness and ignorance to which
sexual desire and enjoyment
91
00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,480
belong.
It will be a power of
92
00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:22,680
preservation and free,
desireless radiation of the life
93
00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,360
forces, and not of their
throwing out and waste.
94
00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:31,040
Avoid the imagination that the
supermental life will be only a
95
00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,840
heightened satisfaction of the
desires of the vital and the
96
00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:37,600
body.
Nothing can be a greater
97
00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,720
obstacle to the truth and its
descent than this hope of
98
00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,600
glorification of the animal and
the human nature.
99
00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,320
Mind wants the supermental state
to be a continuation of its own
100
00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,640
cherished ideas and
preconceptions.
101
00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,000
The vital wants it to be a
glorification of its own
102
00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,200
desires.
The physical wants it to be a
103
00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:01,720
rich prolongation of its own
comforts and pleasures and
104
00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,480
habits.
If it were to be that, it would
105
00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:09,920
be only an exaggerated and
highly magnified consummation of
106
00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:14,440
the animal and the human nature,
not a transition from the human
107
00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:21,440
into the divine.
Reference Sri Aurobindo Basis of
108
00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:28,920
Yoga Chapter 4 Desire Food Sex
page 72 to 73.
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:04,160
Until such time as we become
capable of drawing infinite
2
00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:08,480
energy from the universal force
of creation, we have the issue
3
00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,720
of choosing how we utilize the
energy we have available to us.
4
00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,200
Through certain types of
practices, we can actually
5
00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:20,880
increase the available energy.
The radical transformation of
6
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:26,240
the mental, vital and physical
being requires large amounts of
7
00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:30,200
focused energy.
One of the primary sources of
8
00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,960
the energy needed is already
available to us through the
9
00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,280
operation of the subtle energy
centers.
10
00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,640
If we harness that energy for
the spiritual work.
11
00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:43,040
As we undertake this process, we
find that additional energy
12
00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:47,520
becomes available from the
Universal Source as we naturally
13
00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:52,640
open and can receive and manage
greater forces than in our
14
00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,200
normal, mostly closed off
status.
15
00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,640
The energy of the first chakra,
known as the Moladara and as the
16
00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:04,519
root chakra, is a primary
foundational energy that
17
00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:07,680
provides support and energy to
the physical body.
18
00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:12,800
When it is utilized for sexual
expression, it gets dispersed.
19
00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,200
It is a well known phenomenon
that after sexual union, the
20
00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,240
partners frequently tend towards
sleep, highlighting the
21
00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,440
exhausting impact of the sexual
activity.
22
00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:29,120
We can understand the process by
looking at the use of money.
23
00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:33,520
We work and earn money.
We then can spend the money,
24
00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,960
save it or invest it.
Some of the spending goes
25
00:01:37,960 --> 00:01:41,400
towards the basic process of
supporting the life activities,
26
00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:46,920
food, clothing, shelter,
transportation and support.
27
00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:52,600
We provide taxes, etcetera to
the Commons and the organization
28
00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,000
of society.
Anything leftover can be
29
00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,800
allocated toward other things.
Many people spend the
30
00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,960
discretionary money to entertain
themselves, to enjoy pleasures
31
00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:09,160
such as the use of alcohol or
recreational drugs, acquiring
32
00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,800
various luxuries, or spending
money on travel and
33
00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,080
entertainment, et cetera.
In this way, substantial money
34
00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,840
is leaked and is only a short
term impact in terms of a
35
00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:25,280
pleasurable experience and may
actually have long term negative
36
00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,960
effects depending on what type
of pleasures have been chosen
37
00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:33,920
and what they actually do to the
body, life force and the mind.
38
00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,280
Those who exercise some control
over the use of money may forego
39
00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,760
some of these short term
pleasures in favour of long term
40
00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:48,000
benefits or objectives They
invest, or at least their use of
41
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,560
discretionary funds is focused
on things that build up the
42
00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:56,520
mind, life and body, not lead to
its dissolution or breakdown.
43
00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:02,640
Similarly, the sexual energy as
a foundational force for the
44
00:03:02,640 --> 00:03:06,360
physical body and the lower
vital centers can either be
45
00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:11,480
dispersed and the energy
dissipated or it can be invested
46
00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:16,840
in creating positive, uplifting
and directed focus on a longer
47
00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:20,600
term benefit.
This is the underlying concept
48
00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:24,080
of the control of the sexual
force in the spiritual practice.
49
00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,400
Humanity tends to extrapolate
from its current understanding
50
00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:33,800
and forms of fulfillment at the
physical, vital, and mental
51
00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:38,920
levels to imagine what some
future form of fulfillment would
52
00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,560
turn out to be.
They expect to see the physical
53
00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,000
capacities expanded as an
extension of current
54
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,440
capabilities.
Training the body may take an
55
00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:54,360
individual to new levels of
performance, but they are within
56
00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:58,040
a fixed range.
Similarly, the mind can be
57
00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:01,680
developed and trained but
remains still the basic
58
00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:06,120
apparatus of the mind.
Srioro Bindu and the Mother
59
00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:11,960
foresee that just as the advent
of the vital consciousness began
60
00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:16,120
to radically change physical
nature, and just as the advent
61
00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,240
of the mental consciousness
radically altered both the
62
00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:23,400
physical and vital existence, so
the advent of the next
63
00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,120
evolutionary stage, the
development of the Super mental
64
00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:31,800
consciousness, will necessarily
radically change the function
65
00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:35,240
and relations of the physical,
vital and mental powers.
66
00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:40,640
Thus, a direct extrapolation
within limit is not actually the
67
00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:42,680
process that nature is
following.
68
00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:47,920
Rather, we can expect entirely
new expressions of consciousness
69
00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,840
and power, and new forms of
action and relationship to
70
00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:55,000
develop.
The energy required to
71
00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,080
accomplish these things will
necessarily come from the
72
00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,240
Divine.
The working of this energy
73
00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:06,320
within the individual comes
through aspiration, tuning and
74
00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:08,640
receptivity to this higher
force.
75
00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,640
By refocusing the use of the
existing physical, vital and
76
00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:17,760
mental energy on the spiritual
Sadhna, the seeker creates the
77
00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:22,960
pathway, the opportunity and the
readiness to receive and use
78
00:05:23,280 --> 00:05:27,120
that higher force without
wasting or spilling it.
79
00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:33,600
Sri Orobindo notes quote the
transformation of the sex centre
80
00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,280
and its energy is needed for the
physical city.
81
00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,480
This is the support in the body
of all the mental, vital and
82
00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:45,200
physical forces of the nature.
It has to be changed into a mass
83
00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:50,200
and movement of intimate light,
creative power, pure divine
84
00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,520
Ananda.
It is only the bringing down of
85
00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:58,520
the supermental light, power and
bliss into the centre that can
86
00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,560
change it.
As to the working afterwards, it
87
00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,880
is the supermental truth and the
creative vision and will of the
88
00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:07,880
Divine Mother that will
determine it.
89
00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,960
But it will be a working of the
conscious truth, not of the
90
00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:16,040
darkness and ignorance to which
sexual desire and enjoyment
91
00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,480
belong.
It will be a power of
92
00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:22,680
preservation and free,
desireless radiation of the life
93
00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,360
forces, and not of their
throwing out and waste.
94
00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:31,040
Avoid the imagination that the
supermental life will be only a
95
00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,840
heightened satisfaction of the
desires of the vital and the
96
00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:37,600
body.
Nothing can be a greater
97
00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,720
obstacle to the truth and its
descent than this hope of
98
00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,600
glorification of the animal and
the human nature.
99
00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,320
Mind wants the supermental state
to be a continuation of its own
100
00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,640
cherished ideas and
preconceptions.
101
00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,000
The vital wants it to be a
glorification of its own
102
00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,200
desires.
The physical wants it to be a
103
00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:01,720
rich prolongation of its own
comforts and pleasures and
104
00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,480
habits.
If it were to be that, it would
105
00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:09,920
be only an exaggerated and
highly magnified consummation of
106
00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:14,440
the animal and the human nature,
not a transition from the human
107
00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:21,440
into the divine.
Reference Sri Aurobindo Basis of
108
00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:28,920
Yoga Chapter 4 Desire Food Sex
page 72 to 73.
