July 21, 2023
The Vital Being: Its Nature, Its Role and Its Mode of Action
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Our Many Selves: Practical Yogic Psychology, Chapter 2, Planes and Parts of the Being, pp. 26-27
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://wordpress.com/post/sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/34238
1
00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:06,040
When the vital nature is
involved, which individual has
2
00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:10,120
the power to control its
impulsions and demands and keep
3
00:00:10,120 --> 00:00:12,440
it focused on the higher aims of
life?
4
00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:17,600
The vital nature is a powerful
and essential component of life
5
00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,920
on earth.
It animates material nature and
6
00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,040
functions through the force of
desire.
7
00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:28,640
There is an apocryphal tale of a
man who has a magic lamp and can
8
00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,060
summon a genie.
When the genie appears before
9
00:00:32,060 --> 00:00:37,380
the man, he asks what it is the
man wants and lays out the
10
00:00:37,380 --> 00:00:41,060
ground rules.
The individual can ask anything
11
00:00:41,060 --> 00:00:44,820
he likes and the genie will
promptly carry it out.
12
00:00:45,460 --> 00:00:48,620
However, the genie must be kept
active.
13
00:00:49,500 --> 00:00:53,540
If the man fails to keep the
genie always active, the genie
14
00:00:53,540 --> 00:00:57,940
will devour the individual.
What a great description of the
15
00:00:57,940 --> 00:01:01,280
vital nature.
For most people there is an
16
00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:06,880
intention to achieve objects of
desire, but these objects of
17
00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:13,040
desire are transitory and lead
to temporary satiation and then
18
00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:18,360
a renewal of the desire, perhaps
in a more intensive form.
19
00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,440
There is no peace possible as
long as the vital nature is left
20
00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,280
free to seek after the objects
of desire.
21
00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,900
Yet mental attempts to control
the vital are in most cases
22
00:01:31,900 --> 00:01:37,580
quite ineffective, partial,
temporary, and may lead, if it
23
00:01:37,580 --> 00:01:42,300
has been done through outright
suppression, to a rebound with
24
00:01:42,300 --> 00:01:47,620
even greater energy, like a
spring that has been compressed
25
00:01:47,860 --> 00:01:50,980
and thereby stores up additional
force.
26
00:01:52,550 --> 00:01:55,830
The vital is so powerful that it
can influence the mind into
27
00:01:55,830 --> 00:02:00,670
believing that it is in control,
when in fact the vital is
28
00:02:00,670 --> 00:02:04,950
biasing the mental function to
such a degree that the mind will
29
00:02:04,950 --> 00:02:08,350
justify anything the vital
desires.
30
00:02:09,830 --> 00:02:12,870
The vital is ruled primarily by
the guna of rajas.
31
00:02:12,870 --> 00:02:18,430
In most instances, this guna, or
quality of nature is one of
32
00:02:18,470 --> 00:02:24,010
action, desire and outreach.
When it goes to its extreme, it
33
00:02:24,010 --> 00:02:28,370
can lead to aggression and
injury as it exceeds the limits
34
00:02:28,370 --> 00:02:31,170
of the physical body within
which it is active.
35
00:02:32,290 --> 00:02:37,650
Rajas inevitably loses its force
and generally the result is a
36
00:02:37,650 --> 00:02:40,770
fall into the darkness and
inaction of Thomas.
37
00:02:41,770 --> 00:02:45,530
Rare is the individual who can
manage the operation of Rajas
38
00:02:45,530 --> 00:02:48,490
and Thomas through the
application of satwa.
39
00:02:49,050 --> 00:02:55,690
The guna of harmony, balance,
light, and understanding, Sri
40
00:02:55,690 --> 00:03:02,450
Aurobindo notes Quote Vital is a
thing of desires, impulses,
41
00:03:02,610 --> 00:03:08,010
force, pushes, emotions,
sensations, seekings, afterlife,
42
00:03:08,010 --> 00:03:11,130
fulfillment, possession, and
enjoyment.
43
00:03:12,090 --> 00:03:14,330
These are its functions and its
nature.
44
00:03:15,170 --> 00:03:18,130
It is that part of us which
seeks afterlife and its
45
00:03:18,130 --> 00:03:21,950
movements for their own sake,
and it does not want to leave
46
00:03:21,950 --> 00:03:26,110
hold of them if they bring its
suffering as well as, or more
47
00:03:26,110 --> 00:03:29,070
than pleasure.
It is even capable of
48
00:03:29,070 --> 00:03:33,390
luxuriating in tears and
suffering as part of the drama
49
00:03:33,390 --> 00:03:36,790
of life.
What then is there in common
50
00:03:36,790 --> 00:03:39,470
between the thinking,
intelligence, and the vital?
51
00:03:40,190 --> 00:03:43,630
And why should the latter obey
the mind and not follow its own
52
00:03:43,630 --> 00:03:47,190
nature?
The disobedience is perfectly
53
00:03:47,190 --> 00:03:50,070
normal.
Instead of being, as Augustine
54
00:03:50,070 --> 00:03:55,550
suggests, unintelligible, of
course man can establish a
55
00:03:55,550 --> 00:04:01,310
mental control over his vital,
and in so far as he does he is a
56
00:04:01,310 --> 00:04:06,190
man, because the thinking mind
is a nobler and more enlightened
57
00:04:06,230 --> 00:04:12,230
entity and consciousness than
the vital and ought therefore to
58
00:04:12,230 --> 00:04:16,829
rule, and if the mental will is
strong, can rule.
59
00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:22,960
But this rule is precarious,
incomplete, and held only by
60
00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,640
much self-discipline.
For if the mind is more
61
00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:31,240
enlightened, the vital is nearer
to earth, more intense,
62
00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,360
vehement, more directly able to
touch the body.
63
00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:41,800
There is too a vital mind which
lives by imagination, thoughts
64
00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:47,840
of desire, will to act and enjoy
from its own impulse, and this
65
00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:51,760
is able to seize on the reason
itself and make it it's
66
00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:57,520
auxiliary, and it's justifying
council and supplier of pleas
67
00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:02,240
and excuses.
There is also the sheer force of
68
00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:06,240
desire in man, which is the
vitals principal, support and
69
00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:11,080
strong enough to sweep off the
reason, as the Gita says, like a
70
00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,200
boat on stormy waters.
End Quote.
71
00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,480
Reference Triorobindo and the
Mother Our Many Selves,
72
00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:24,680
Practical Yogic Psychology,
Chapter 2, Plains and Parts of
73
00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:28,200
the Being, pages 26 to 27.
00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:06,040
When the vital nature is
involved, which individual has
2
00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:10,120
the power to control its
impulsions and demands and keep
3
00:00:10,120 --> 00:00:12,440
it focused on the higher aims of
life?
4
00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:17,600
The vital nature is a powerful
and essential component of life
5
00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,920
on earth.
It animates material nature and
6
00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,040
functions through the force of
desire.
7
00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:28,640
There is an apocryphal tale of a
man who has a magic lamp and can
8
00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,060
summon a genie.
When the genie appears before
9
00:00:32,060 --> 00:00:37,380
the man, he asks what it is the
man wants and lays out the
10
00:00:37,380 --> 00:00:41,060
ground rules.
The individual can ask anything
11
00:00:41,060 --> 00:00:44,820
he likes and the genie will
promptly carry it out.
12
00:00:45,460 --> 00:00:48,620
However, the genie must be kept
active.
13
00:00:49,500 --> 00:00:53,540
If the man fails to keep the
genie always active, the genie
14
00:00:53,540 --> 00:00:57,940
will devour the individual.
What a great description of the
15
00:00:57,940 --> 00:01:01,280
vital nature.
For most people there is an
16
00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:06,880
intention to achieve objects of
desire, but these objects of
17
00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:13,040
desire are transitory and lead
to temporary satiation and then
18
00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:18,360
a renewal of the desire, perhaps
in a more intensive form.
19
00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,440
There is no peace possible as
long as the vital nature is left
20
00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,280
free to seek after the objects
of desire.
21
00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,900
Yet mental attempts to control
the vital are in most cases
22
00:01:31,900 --> 00:01:37,580
quite ineffective, partial,
temporary, and may lead, if it
23
00:01:37,580 --> 00:01:42,300
has been done through outright
suppression, to a rebound with
24
00:01:42,300 --> 00:01:47,620
even greater energy, like a
spring that has been compressed
25
00:01:47,860 --> 00:01:50,980
and thereby stores up additional
force.
26
00:01:52,550 --> 00:01:55,830
The vital is so powerful that it
can influence the mind into
27
00:01:55,830 --> 00:02:00,670
believing that it is in control,
when in fact the vital is
28
00:02:00,670 --> 00:02:04,950
biasing the mental function to
such a degree that the mind will
29
00:02:04,950 --> 00:02:08,350
justify anything the vital
desires.
30
00:02:09,830 --> 00:02:12,870
The vital is ruled primarily by
the guna of rajas.
31
00:02:12,870 --> 00:02:18,430
In most instances, this guna, or
quality of nature is one of
32
00:02:18,470 --> 00:02:24,010
action, desire and outreach.
When it goes to its extreme, it
33
00:02:24,010 --> 00:02:28,370
can lead to aggression and
injury as it exceeds the limits
34
00:02:28,370 --> 00:02:31,170
of the physical body within
which it is active.
35
00:02:32,290 --> 00:02:37,650
Rajas inevitably loses its force
and generally the result is a
36
00:02:37,650 --> 00:02:40,770
fall into the darkness and
inaction of Thomas.
37
00:02:41,770 --> 00:02:45,530
Rare is the individual who can
manage the operation of Rajas
38
00:02:45,530 --> 00:02:48,490
and Thomas through the
application of satwa.
39
00:02:49,050 --> 00:02:55,690
The guna of harmony, balance,
light, and understanding, Sri
40
00:02:55,690 --> 00:03:02,450
Aurobindo notes Quote Vital is a
thing of desires, impulses,
41
00:03:02,610 --> 00:03:08,010
force, pushes, emotions,
sensations, seekings, afterlife,
42
00:03:08,010 --> 00:03:11,130
fulfillment, possession, and
enjoyment.
43
00:03:12,090 --> 00:03:14,330
These are its functions and its
nature.
44
00:03:15,170 --> 00:03:18,130
It is that part of us which
seeks afterlife and its
45
00:03:18,130 --> 00:03:21,950
movements for their own sake,
and it does not want to leave
46
00:03:21,950 --> 00:03:26,110
hold of them if they bring its
suffering as well as, or more
47
00:03:26,110 --> 00:03:29,070
than pleasure.
It is even capable of
48
00:03:29,070 --> 00:03:33,390
luxuriating in tears and
suffering as part of the drama
49
00:03:33,390 --> 00:03:36,790
of life.
What then is there in common
50
00:03:36,790 --> 00:03:39,470
between the thinking,
intelligence, and the vital?
51
00:03:40,190 --> 00:03:43,630
And why should the latter obey
the mind and not follow its own
52
00:03:43,630 --> 00:03:47,190
nature?
The disobedience is perfectly
53
00:03:47,190 --> 00:03:50,070
normal.
Instead of being, as Augustine
54
00:03:50,070 --> 00:03:55,550
suggests, unintelligible, of
course man can establish a
55
00:03:55,550 --> 00:04:01,310
mental control over his vital,
and in so far as he does he is a
56
00:04:01,310 --> 00:04:06,190
man, because the thinking mind
is a nobler and more enlightened
57
00:04:06,230 --> 00:04:12,230
entity and consciousness than
the vital and ought therefore to
58
00:04:12,230 --> 00:04:16,829
rule, and if the mental will is
strong, can rule.
59
00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:22,960
But this rule is precarious,
incomplete, and held only by
60
00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,640
much self-discipline.
For if the mind is more
61
00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:31,240
enlightened, the vital is nearer
to earth, more intense,
62
00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,360
vehement, more directly able to
touch the body.
63
00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:41,800
There is too a vital mind which
lives by imagination, thoughts
64
00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:47,840
of desire, will to act and enjoy
from its own impulse, and this
65
00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:51,760
is able to seize on the reason
itself and make it it's
66
00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:57,520
auxiliary, and it's justifying
council and supplier of pleas
67
00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:02,240
and excuses.
There is also the sheer force of
68
00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:06,240
desire in man, which is the
vitals principal, support and
69
00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:11,080
strong enough to sweep off the
reason, as the Gita says, like a
70
00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,200
boat on stormy waters.
End Quote.
71
00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,480
Reference Triorobindo and the
Mother Our Many Selves,
72
00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:24,680
Practical Yogic Psychology,
Chapter 2, Plains and Parts of
73
00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:28,200
the Being, pages 26 to 27.