Feb. 28, 2026
The Vital Envelope Is the First Line of Defense Against Illness
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 5, Physical Consciousness — Subconscient — Sleep and Dream — Illness, pp. 104-105This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/02/26/the-vital-envelope-is-the-first-line-of-defense-against-illness/
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 #spirituality #vital envelope #aura #illness #health
1
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,920
Most people are not aware of the
vital envelope, sometimes called
2
00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:08,039
the aura, that surrounds their
physical body.
3
00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,240
Those who experience this vital
envelope are sensitive on the
4
00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,520
vital plane.
They are frequently ridiculed
5
00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,880
for speaking about the aura
which they can feel or even
6
00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:24,520
observe in others.
Western science decided to find
7
00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,200
a way to test the long
proclaimed existence of the
8
00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,200
aura.
Tests were developed to capture
9
00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,080
the electromagnetic field that
surrounds the body.
10
00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:38,880
Eventually, a technique called
Curlian photography was devised
11
00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:43,040
that could actually photograph
this electromagnetic field.
12
00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:48,440
An individual who had no
experience or belief one way or
13
00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:52,440
the other about the existence of
the aura came into contact with
14
00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,480
a researcher at Jipmer Hospital
in Pondicherry, India some years
15
00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,600
ago.
This researcher was studying
16
00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:04,360
cancer and the vibratory pattern
it gave off and how it could be
17
00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:08,160
cured by projecting onto the
mice he was using for his
18
00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,320
experiments.
The vibratory pattern given off
19
00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:15,400
by healthy mice.
One of the tools he used was
20
00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,440
curly in photography.
After describing his work to the
21
00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:24,120
visitor and showing a series of
photographs of healthy mice, the
22
00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:28,720
cancerous mice and their
subsequent recovery, he offered
23
00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,800
to show the visitor how the
Krellian photography actually
24
00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:35,440
worked.
He took photographs of 2 stones.
25
00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:40,120
1 was an ordinary stone, the
other was a stone that had been
26
00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,360
in an active temple for
potentially hundreds of years.
27
00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:48,480
The ordinary stone had virtually
no aura surrounding it, while
28
00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,680
the temple stone had a strong
field of radiance exuding from
29
00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,760
it.
The researcher then went further
30
00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,000
and asked the visitor to extend
his hand.
31
00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,360
He photographed the hand and
showed the result of a
32
00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,160
noticeable but rather diffused
field surrounding it.
33
00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,919
Then he asked the visitor to
chant some mantras.
34
00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,360
Afterwards, he photographed the
hand once again.
35
00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:17,560
This time the aura was bright
and radiant and extended far
36
00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,080
beyond the former photographed
field.
37
00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,240
Even for those who have not had
personal insight or experience
38
00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,720
about the existence of this
vital envelope, there are
39
00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:33,720
several significant points here.
First, the aura exists.
40
00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,680
Second, it can be augmented
through focus practice such as
41
00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:43,960
long standing prayer, the temple
rock, or through use of mantras.
42
00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:49,080
The visitors experience, those
who have practiced to gain a
43
00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,280
sensitive awareness, can feel
the protective role that this
44
00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:57,200
vital envelope plays and the way
it can be supported to reject
45
00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,800
the vibrations of illness that
try to attack the physical body,
46
00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:07,080
as Sri Aurobindo recounts here.
Sri Aurobindo notes quote
47
00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,320
attacks of illness are attacks
of the lower nature or of
48
00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:15,560
adverse forces taking advantage
of some weakness, opening or
49
00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:19,720
response in the nature.
Like all other things that come
50
00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,760
and have got to be thrown away,
they come from outside.
51
00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:28,480
If one can feel them so coming
and get the strength and the
52
00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:33,200
habit to throw them away before
they can enter the body, then
53
00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:38,360
one can remain free from illness
even when the attack seems to
54
00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,840
rise from within.
That means only that it has not
55
00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,600
been detected before it entered
the subconscient.
56
00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,400
Once in the subconscient, the
force that brought it rouses it
57
00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:53,320
from there sooner or later, and
it invades the system.
58
00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:58,600
When you feel it just after it
has entered, it is because,
59
00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:02,480
though it came direct and not
through the subconscient, yet
60
00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,360
you could not detect it while it
was still outside.
61
00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:10,440
Very often it arrives like that,
frontally or more often
62
00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:15,240
tangentially from the side,
direct, forcing its way through
63
00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,880
the subtle vital envelope which
is our main armor of defence.
64
00:04:19,519 --> 00:04:23,000
But it can be stopped there in
the envelope itself, before it
65
00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:28,360
penetrates the physical body.
Then one may feel some effect,
66
00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:34,120
for instance feverishness or a
tendency to cold, but there is
67
00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,280
not the full invasion of the
malady.
68
00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:41,680
If it can be stopped earlier, or
if the vital envelope of itself
69
00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:46,240
resists and remains strong,
vigorous and intact, then there
70
00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:50,040
is no illness.
The attack produces no physical
71
00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:54,640
effect and leaves no trace.
End Quote.
72
00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,840
Reference.
Srioro Bindo, Bases of Yoga,
73
00:04:58,840 --> 00:05:01,920
Chapter 5.
Physical Consciousness,
74
00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,640
subconscious Sleep and Dream
Illness.
75
00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,520
Pages 104 to 105.
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,920
Most people are not aware of the
vital envelope, sometimes called
2
00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:08,039
the aura, that surrounds their
physical body.
3
00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,240
Those who experience this vital
envelope are sensitive on the
4
00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,520
vital plane.
They are frequently ridiculed
5
00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,880
for speaking about the aura
which they can feel or even
6
00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:24,520
observe in others.
Western science decided to find
7
00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,200
a way to test the long
proclaimed existence of the
8
00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,200
aura.
Tests were developed to capture
9
00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,080
the electromagnetic field that
surrounds the body.
10
00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:38,880
Eventually, a technique called
Curlian photography was devised
11
00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:43,040
that could actually photograph
this electromagnetic field.
12
00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:48,440
An individual who had no
experience or belief one way or
13
00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:52,440
the other about the existence of
the aura came into contact with
14
00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,480
a researcher at Jipmer Hospital
in Pondicherry, India some years
15
00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,600
ago.
This researcher was studying
16
00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:04,360
cancer and the vibratory pattern
it gave off and how it could be
17
00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:08,160
cured by projecting onto the
mice he was using for his
18
00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,320
experiments.
The vibratory pattern given off
19
00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:15,400
by healthy mice.
One of the tools he used was
20
00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,440
curly in photography.
After describing his work to the
21
00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:24,120
visitor and showing a series of
photographs of healthy mice, the
22
00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:28,720
cancerous mice and their
subsequent recovery, he offered
23
00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,800
to show the visitor how the
Krellian photography actually
24
00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:35,440
worked.
He took photographs of 2 stones.
25
00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:40,120
1 was an ordinary stone, the
other was a stone that had been
26
00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,360
in an active temple for
potentially hundreds of years.
27
00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:48,480
The ordinary stone had virtually
no aura surrounding it, while
28
00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,680
the temple stone had a strong
field of radiance exuding from
29
00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,760
it.
The researcher then went further
30
00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,000
and asked the visitor to extend
his hand.
31
00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,360
He photographed the hand and
showed the result of a
32
00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,160
noticeable but rather diffused
field surrounding it.
33
00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,919
Then he asked the visitor to
chant some mantras.
34
00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,360
Afterwards, he photographed the
hand once again.
35
00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:17,560
This time the aura was bright
and radiant and extended far
36
00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,080
beyond the former photographed
field.
37
00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,240
Even for those who have not had
personal insight or experience
38
00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,720
about the existence of this
vital envelope, there are
39
00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:33,720
several significant points here.
First, the aura exists.
40
00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,680
Second, it can be augmented
through focus practice such as
41
00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:43,960
long standing prayer, the temple
rock, or through use of mantras.
42
00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:49,080
The visitors experience, those
who have practiced to gain a
43
00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,280
sensitive awareness, can feel
the protective role that this
44
00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:57,200
vital envelope plays and the way
it can be supported to reject
45
00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,800
the vibrations of illness that
try to attack the physical body,
46
00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:07,080
as Sri Aurobindo recounts here.
Sri Aurobindo notes quote
47
00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,320
attacks of illness are attacks
of the lower nature or of
48
00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:15,560
adverse forces taking advantage
of some weakness, opening or
49
00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:19,720
response in the nature.
Like all other things that come
50
00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,760
and have got to be thrown away,
they come from outside.
51
00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:28,480
If one can feel them so coming
and get the strength and the
52
00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:33,200
habit to throw them away before
they can enter the body, then
53
00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:38,360
one can remain free from illness
even when the attack seems to
54
00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,840
rise from within.
That means only that it has not
55
00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,600
been detected before it entered
the subconscient.
56
00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,400
Once in the subconscient, the
force that brought it rouses it
57
00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:53,320
from there sooner or later, and
it invades the system.
58
00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:58,600
When you feel it just after it
has entered, it is because,
59
00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:02,480
though it came direct and not
through the subconscient, yet
60
00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,360
you could not detect it while it
was still outside.
61
00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:10,440
Very often it arrives like that,
frontally or more often
62
00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:15,240
tangentially from the side,
direct, forcing its way through
63
00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,880
the subtle vital envelope which
is our main armor of defence.
64
00:04:19,519 --> 00:04:23,000
But it can be stopped there in
the envelope itself, before it
65
00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:28,360
penetrates the physical body.
Then one may feel some effect,
66
00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:34,120
for instance feverishness or a
tendency to cold, but there is
67
00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,280
not the full invasion of the
malady.
68
00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:41,680
If it can be stopped earlier, or
if the vital envelope of itself
69
00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:46,240
resists and remains strong,
vigorous and intact, then there
70
00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:50,040
is no illness.
The attack produces no physical
71
00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:54,640
effect and leaves no trace.
End Quote.
72
00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,840
Reference.
Srioro Bindo, Bases of Yoga,
73
00:04:58,840 --> 00:05:01,920
Chapter 5.
Physical Consciousness,
74
00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,640
subconscious Sleep and Dream
Illness.
75
00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,520
Pages 104 to 105.