March 21, 2026
The Witness and the Nature: Purusha and Prakriti
reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Psychic Being — Soul: Its Nature, Mission and Evolution, Section 1 Meaning and Nature of the Psychic Being, pp. 11-12This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/03/19/the-witness-and-the-nature-purusha-and-prakriti/
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 #The Mother #Dr. Dalal #psychic being #Soul #Atman #Self #Purusha #Prakriti
1
00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:05,480
When we take the time to observe
our own internal process, we can
2
00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:08,560
very quickly become aware of a
part of the being that is able
3
00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:13,160
to observe and monitor thoughts
and impulses that run through
4
00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:17,920
the mental space.
Many paths of awareness, such as
5
00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:22,320
Raja Yoga and mindfulness
training teach us how to reach
6
00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:26,880
this observational standpoint.
As it is limited to the mental
7
00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,560
aspect of our being.
We may understand this to be the
8
00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:34,880
mental witness, the mental
Purusha, observing the mental
9
00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:40,440
nature, mental prakruti.
There's a similar experience we
10
00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,640
can develop as we begin to
monitor our feelings,
11
00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:49,280
impulsions, emotions, this time
at the vital level, the vital
12
00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:53,120
Purusha.
With sufficient practice, we may
13
00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,960
also begin to find ways to take
stock of our physical being and
14
00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:01,360
its responses and reactions and
become aware of the physical
15
00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,160
purusha.
Although much of the action of
16
00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:07,160
the physical body is actually
accomplished relatively
17
00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:11,800
automatically, with a speed and
precision that baffles our
18
00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:17,600
attempts to consciously monitor
these things, we may, however,
19
00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,760
become aware of the body
consciousness through its
20
00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,360
responses to situations and
events.
21
00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,040
Some find that there are actual
physical senses beyond the five
22
00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:32,760
we generally recognize that are
physical knowings, such as
23
00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:37,320
gauging the weight of an object
one holds in one's hands, or the
24
00:01:37,320 --> 00:01:42,280
directional orientation, or a
sense of balance, or even the
25
00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:46,520
sense of a potential danger that
is not seen with the mental or
26
00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:50,360
vital sense but acts directly
upon the body.
27
00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,640
There is yet another aspect of
the consciousness of the witness
28
00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,600
which is not tied to the mental,
the vital, or the physical
29
00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:04,400
levels of our external being.
This aspect is the witness at
30
00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,440
the level of the soul, the
psychic being, which links the
31
00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,960
individual to the divine
presence and which observes and
32
00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:17,720
eventually works to master the
functioning of the body, the
33
00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:25,400
life force and the mind.
Sri Rubindo notes quote In the
34
00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:29,760
experience of Yoga, the self or
being is in essence one with the
35
00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:34,760
divine, or at least it is a
portion of the divine and has
36
00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:40,080
all the divine potentialities.
But in manifestation it takes 2
37
00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:45,920
aspects, the Purusha and
Prakriti, conscious being and
38
00:02:45,920 --> 00:02:48,080
Nature.
In nature.
39
00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:52,080
Here the Divine is veiled and
the individual being is
40
00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:56,320
subjected to nature, which acts
here as the lower property of
41
00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:01,960
force of ignorance of Vidya.
The Purusha in itself is Divine,
42
00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,880
but exteriorized in the
ignorance of nature.
43
00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,440
It is the individual apparent
being imperfect with her
44
00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,600
imperfection.
Thus the soul or psychic
45
00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,840
essence, which is the Purusha,
entering into the evolution and
46
00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:22,960
supporting it, carries in itself
all the divine potentialities.
47
00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,920
But the individual psychic
being, which it puts forth as
48
00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:31,560
its representative, assumes the
imperfection of Nature and
49
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:35,040
evolves in it till it has
recovered its full psychic
50
00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,760
essence and united itself with
the Self, above of which the
51
00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:43,720
soul is the individual
projection in the evolution.
52
00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:49,520
This duality and the Being on
all its planes, for it is true
53
00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,960
in different ways, not only of
the self and the psychic, but of
54
00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:58,400
the mental, vital and physical
purushas has to be grasped and
55
00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,840
accepted before the experiences
of the Yoga can be fully
56
00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:07,880
understood.
The Being is 1 throughout, but
57
00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:12,480
on each plane of nature it is
represented by a form of itself
58
00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:17,000
which is proper to that plane,
the mental Perusha in the mental
59
00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:21,760
plane, the vital Perusha in the
vital, the physical Perusha in
60
00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:26,160
the physical, the Titeria.
Upanishad speaks of two other
61
00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:30,320
planes of the being, the
Knowledge or Truth plane and the
62
00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:33,760
Ananda plane, each with its
Perusha.
63
00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:38,800
But although influences may come
down from them, these are super
64
00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,680
conscient to the human mind and
their nature is not yet
65
00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,520
organized here.
End Quote.
66
00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:51,360
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
Mother, the psychic being soul,
67
00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:53,440
its nature, mission and
evolution.
68
00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,240
Section 1.
Meaning and Nature of the
69
00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,440
Psychic Being, pages 11 to 12.
00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:05,480
When we take the time to observe
our own internal process, we can
2
00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:08,560
very quickly become aware of a
part of the being that is able
3
00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:13,160
to observe and monitor thoughts
and impulses that run through
4
00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:17,920
the mental space.
Many paths of awareness, such as
5
00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:22,320
Raja Yoga and mindfulness
training teach us how to reach
6
00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:26,880
this observational standpoint.
As it is limited to the mental
7
00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,560
aspect of our being.
We may understand this to be the
8
00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:34,880
mental witness, the mental
Purusha, observing the mental
9
00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:40,440
nature, mental prakruti.
There's a similar experience we
10
00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,640
can develop as we begin to
monitor our feelings,
11
00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:49,280
impulsions, emotions, this time
at the vital level, the vital
12
00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:53,120
Purusha.
With sufficient practice, we may
13
00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,960
also begin to find ways to take
stock of our physical being and
14
00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:01,360
its responses and reactions and
become aware of the physical
15
00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,160
purusha.
Although much of the action of
16
00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:07,160
the physical body is actually
accomplished relatively
17
00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:11,800
automatically, with a speed and
precision that baffles our
18
00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:17,600
attempts to consciously monitor
these things, we may, however,
19
00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,760
become aware of the body
consciousness through its
20
00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,360
responses to situations and
events.
21
00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,040
Some find that there are actual
physical senses beyond the five
22
00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:32,760
we generally recognize that are
physical knowings, such as
23
00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:37,320
gauging the weight of an object
one holds in one's hands, or the
24
00:01:37,320 --> 00:01:42,280
directional orientation, or a
sense of balance, or even the
25
00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:46,520
sense of a potential danger that
is not seen with the mental or
26
00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:50,360
vital sense but acts directly
upon the body.
27
00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,640
There is yet another aspect of
the consciousness of the witness
28
00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,600
which is not tied to the mental,
the vital, or the physical
29
00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:04,400
levels of our external being.
This aspect is the witness at
30
00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,440
the level of the soul, the
psychic being, which links the
31
00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,960
individual to the divine
presence and which observes and
32
00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:17,720
eventually works to master the
functioning of the body, the
33
00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:25,400
life force and the mind.
Sri Rubindo notes quote In the
34
00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:29,760
experience of Yoga, the self or
being is in essence one with the
35
00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:34,760
divine, or at least it is a
portion of the divine and has
36
00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:40,080
all the divine potentialities.
But in manifestation it takes 2
37
00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:45,920
aspects, the Purusha and
Prakriti, conscious being and
38
00:02:45,920 --> 00:02:48,080
Nature.
In nature.
39
00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:52,080
Here the Divine is veiled and
the individual being is
40
00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:56,320
subjected to nature, which acts
here as the lower property of
41
00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:01,960
force of ignorance of Vidya.
The Purusha in itself is Divine,
42
00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,880
but exteriorized in the
ignorance of nature.
43
00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,440
It is the individual apparent
being imperfect with her
44
00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,600
imperfection.
Thus the soul or psychic
45
00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,840
essence, which is the Purusha,
entering into the evolution and
46
00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:22,960
supporting it, carries in itself
all the divine potentialities.
47
00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,920
But the individual psychic
being, which it puts forth as
48
00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:31,560
its representative, assumes the
imperfection of Nature and
49
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:35,040
evolves in it till it has
recovered its full psychic
50
00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,760
essence and united itself with
the Self, above of which the
51
00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:43,720
soul is the individual
projection in the evolution.
52
00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:49,520
This duality and the Being on
all its planes, for it is true
53
00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,960
in different ways, not only of
the self and the psychic, but of
54
00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:58,400
the mental, vital and physical
purushas has to be grasped and
55
00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,840
accepted before the experiences
of the Yoga can be fully
56
00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:07,880
understood.
The Being is 1 throughout, but
57
00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:12,480
on each plane of nature it is
represented by a form of itself
58
00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:17,000
which is proper to that plane,
the mental Perusha in the mental
59
00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:21,760
plane, the vital Perusha in the
vital, the physical Perusha in
60
00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:26,160
the physical, the Titeria.
Upanishad speaks of two other
61
00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:30,320
planes of the being, the
Knowledge or Truth plane and the
62
00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:33,760
Ananda plane, each with its
Perusha.
63
00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:38,800
But although influences may come
down from them, these are super
64
00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,680
conscient to the human mind and
their nature is not yet
65
00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,520
organized here.
End Quote.
66
00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:51,360
Reference Srioro Bindu and the
Mother, the psychic being soul,
67
00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:53,440
its nature, mission and
evolution.
68
00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,240
Section 1.
Meaning and Nature of the
69
00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,440
Psychic Being, pages 11 to 12.
