Feb. 7, 2026
Training the Subconscient to Respond to the Higher Spiritual Will
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 5, Physical Consciousness — Subconscient — Sleep and Dream — Illness, pp. 90-91This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/02/05/training-the-subconscient-to-respond-to-the-higher-spiritual-will/
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 #habits #instincts #trained behavior #subconscient #subconscious
1
00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:04,480
As the seeker begins to observe
the movements of the external
2
00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:08,840
nature closely, he can identify
certain repetitive patterns of
3
00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:14,080
response, including impulses to
stimuli of various sorts,
4
00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:19,960
cravings, desires, fears,
frustrations, anger, and
5
00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:22,920
attraction.
All of these are, for the most
6
00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,040
part, virtually automatic
without conscious decision or
7
00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:28,480
control by the higher elements
of the being.
8
00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,600
While we tend to think of
ourselves as being in control of
9
00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:37,600
our life responses, the reality
tends to be far different than
10
00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,880
our superficial assessment.
We call these movements
11
00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,320
instincts, habits, or trained
behavior.
12
00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,160
Trained behavior is essentially
an embedded memory that calls
13
00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:54,280
for a specific response.
Each of these needs to be
14
00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:59,360
resolved somewhat differently.
Instincts tend to be the most
15
00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,800
deeply embedded elements which
hearken back to an evolutionary
16
00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,960
development that may be far in
the distant past of the species,
17
00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:11,960
or indeed of the animal or plant
Kingdom more generally.
18
00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,760
Instincts are thus not simply
overturned with the application
19
00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,120
of a mental will or some kind of
affirmation.
20
00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:25,800
They can be partially controlled
through an exercise of will, but
21
00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:30,120
their force of expression
remains and can easily overcome
22
00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:34,640
the willpower in most instances.
Changing an instinct thus
23
00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:39,480
requires application of a new
evolutionary power to intervene
24
00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:44,800
in the process and can thus only
come about when the subconscious
25
00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:50,080
is flooded with the spiritual
light and force and thus takes
26
00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,640
on an entirely different
vibratory pattern.
27
00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,760
A small example of an
instinctive response and a
28
00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,280
change occurred some years ago
when some people attended an
29
00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,040
anti war protest in Washington
DC.
30
00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:10,680
They were surrounded by heavily
armed and armoured police and a
31
00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,400
general instinctive response of
fear entered the people thus
32
00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:18,000
surrounded.
Then an individual began to
33
00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:24,600
chant ohm loudly, and this was
picked up by others and soon the
34
00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:29,920
entire group was responding and
the fear element was removed by
35
00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:35,600
this higher vibratory pattern.
It is thus possible to overcome
36
00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:39,480
even instinctive behavior under
certain conditions.
37
00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:44,360
Making this a more permanent and
automatic response, of course,
38
00:02:44,920 --> 00:02:48,840
is a different matter, requiring
substantial and persistent
39
00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:53,240
efforts to bring the higher
light into the densest and
40
00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:59,400
darkest regions of the being.
Habits are somewhat more easily
41
00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:01,800
controlled.
Habits are made through
42
00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,680
repetitive behaviour.
While the behaviour may begin as
43
00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,840
something of an automatic
response to a sensation,
44
00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:14,000
feeling, impulse, or perception,
it does not become a habit in
45
00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:18,240
the first instance.
It is through a repetition, in
46
00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:23,160
many cases involving A conscious
decision, that a habit builds up
47
00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:27,840
and creates what many call
grooves in the nature that
48
00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,160
smooth the flow of energy in the
direction that has been turned
49
00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:35,400
into a habit.
A habit that has been made can
50
00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:40,120
be unmade through patient and
persistent steps to counteract
51
00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,400
it when it arises.
This includes things like
52
00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:48,760
various forms of craving or even
behaviors of frustration or
53
00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:52,080
excitement under various
provocative circumstances.
54
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,560
We sometimes see professional
tennis players become upset with
55
00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:01,240
their play or the umpire's calls
and throw their tennis racket
56
00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:05,240
out of frustration.
This is actually an expression
57
00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:08,920
of an habitual pattern they have
likely developed during the
58
00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:13,120
training period.
Just as habits can create
59
00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:17,880
negative vital responses, habits
can also be made through pattern
60
00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:21,240
and reward processes that can
aid the being.
61
00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:26,080
Replacement of 1 deleterious
habit by a more positive habit
62
00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:31,800
can interrupt the old habit.
Of course, the new habit will
63
00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:35,480
eventually need to be addressed,
but this can be seen as a
64
00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:40,160
progressive process over time.
One example of this is to
65
00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,480
replace negative thoughts with
positive affirmations.
66
00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:49,440
Chance, mantras, etcetera.
Trained responses are the most
67
00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:53,560
superficial of the elements that
influence this subconscious in
68
00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,520
that they are built through a
very detailed process of
69
00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,720
repetition, in many cases
through a designed program.
70
00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:06,360
Much of the educational activity
that takes place in schools or
71
00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:10,720
in military training represents
the systematic development of
72
00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:14,440
trained responses.
An awakened seeker can begin to
73
00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:18,160
recognize these trained
responses and undertake to
74
00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:22,360
adjust, modify, or eliminate
them through a counter training.
75
00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:27,520
In some cases, such as those
that involve involuntary muscle
76
00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:32,640
tightening, various practices
such as meditation, hata, yoga,
77
00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:37,400
martial arts, or biofeedback
training can work on these
78
00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:41,840
elements.
In the end, the power of light
79
00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:47,080
entering the mind and will and
exposing this subconscient layer
80
00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,960
and its mechanisms, then
entering the vital being and
81
00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:55,280
working on opening the emotions
and the vital responses and
82
00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:58,440
finally changing the very
vibrational patterns of the
83
00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:02,880
physical being is the tool
needed to be patiently and
84
00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,960
persistently applied to the
subconscious.
85
00:06:06,840 --> 00:06:11,280
Understanding the mechanisms at
work and the relative type of
86
00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:15,920
subconstant behavior being
addressed can aid in this
87
00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:20,640
process if the practitioner
exercises calm, steady and
88
00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:24,320
persistent will towards the
needed opening and change.
89
00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:30,160
Sri Aurobindo notes quote The
subconscious is a thing of
90
00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:34,520
habits and memories, and repeats
persistently or whenever it can,
91
00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:39,280
old suppressed reactions,
reflexes, mental, vital or
92
00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:44,240
physical responses.
It must be trained by a still
93
00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:48,240
more persistent insistence of
the higher parts of the being to
94
00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:53,200
give up its old responses and
take on the new and true ones.
95
00:06:54,040 --> 00:07:01,320
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindo
Bases of Yoga Chapter 5 Physical
96
00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:06,720
Consciousness, Subconscious
Sleep and Dream Illness pages 90
97
00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:07,680
to 91.
00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:04,480
As the seeker begins to observe
the movements of the external
2
00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:08,840
nature closely, he can identify
certain repetitive patterns of
3
00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:14,080
response, including impulses to
stimuli of various sorts,
4
00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:19,960
cravings, desires, fears,
frustrations, anger, and
5
00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:22,920
attraction.
All of these are, for the most
6
00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,040
part, virtually automatic
without conscious decision or
7
00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:28,480
control by the higher elements
of the being.
8
00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,600
While we tend to think of
ourselves as being in control of
9
00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:37,600
our life responses, the reality
tends to be far different than
10
00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,880
our superficial assessment.
We call these movements
11
00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,320
instincts, habits, or trained
behavior.
12
00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,160
Trained behavior is essentially
an embedded memory that calls
13
00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:54,280
for a specific response.
Each of these needs to be
14
00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:59,360
resolved somewhat differently.
Instincts tend to be the most
15
00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,800
deeply embedded elements which
hearken back to an evolutionary
16
00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,960
development that may be far in
the distant past of the species,
17
00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:11,960
or indeed of the animal or plant
Kingdom more generally.
18
00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,760
Instincts are thus not simply
overturned with the application
19
00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,120
of a mental will or some kind of
affirmation.
20
00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:25,800
They can be partially controlled
through an exercise of will, but
21
00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:30,120
their force of expression
remains and can easily overcome
22
00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:34,640
the willpower in most instances.
Changing an instinct thus
23
00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:39,480
requires application of a new
evolutionary power to intervene
24
00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:44,800
in the process and can thus only
come about when the subconscious
25
00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:50,080
is flooded with the spiritual
light and force and thus takes
26
00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,640
on an entirely different
vibratory pattern.
27
00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,760
A small example of an
instinctive response and a
28
00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,280
change occurred some years ago
when some people attended an
29
00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,040
anti war protest in Washington
DC.
30
00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:10,680
They were surrounded by heavily
armed and armoured police and a
31
00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,400
general instinctive response of
fear entered the people thus
32
00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:18,000
surrounded.
Then an individual began to
33
00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:24,600
chant ohm loudly, and this was
picked up by others and soon the
34
00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:29,920
entire group was responding and
the fear element was removed by
35
00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:35,600
this higher vibratory pattern.
It is thus possible to overcome
36
00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:39,480
even instinctive behavior under
certain conditions.
37
00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:44,360
Making this a more permanent and
automatic response, of course,
38
00:02:44,920 --> 00:02:48,840
is a different matter, requiring
substantial and persistent
39
00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:53,240
efforts to bring the higher
light into the densest and
40
00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:59,400
darkest regions of the being.
Habits are somewhat more easily
41
00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:01,800
controlled.
Habits are made through
42
00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,680
repetitive behaviour.
While the behaviour may begin as
43
00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,840
something of an automatic
response to a sensation,
44
00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:14,000
feeling, impulse, or perception,
it does not become a habit in
45
00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:18,240
the first instance.
It is through a repetition, in
46
00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:23,160
many cases involving A conscious
decision, that a habit builds up
47
00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:27,840
and creates what many call
grooves in the nature that
48
00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,160
smooth the flow of energy in the
direction that has been turned
49
00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:35,400
into a habit.
A habit that has been made can
50
00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:40,120
be unmade through patient and
persistent steps to counteract
51
00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,400
it when it arises.
This includes things like
52
00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:48,760
various forms of craving or even
behaviors of frustration or
53
00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:52,080
excitement under various
provocative circumstances.
54
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,560
We sometimes see professional
tennis players become upset with
55
00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:01,240
their play or the umpire's calls
and throw their tennis racket
56
00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:05,240
out of frustration.
This is actually an expression
57
00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:08,920
of an habitual pattern they have
likely developed during the
58
00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:13,120
training period.
Just as habits can create
59
00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:17,880
negative vital responses, habits
can also be made through pattern
60
00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:21,240
and reward processes that can
aid the being.
61
00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:26,080
Replacement of 1 deleterious
habit by a more positive habit
62
00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:31,800
can interrupt the old habit.
Of course, the new habit will
63
00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:35,480
eventually need to be addressed,
but this can be seen as a
64
00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:40,160
progressive process over time.
One example of this is to
65
00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,480
replace negative thoughts with
positive affirmations.
66
00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:49,440
Chance, mantras, etcetera.
Trained responses are the most
67
00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:53,560
superficial of the elements that
influence this subconscious in
68
00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,520
that they are built through a
very detailed process of
69
00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,720
repetition, in many cases
through a designed program.
70
00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:06,360
Much of the educational activity
that takes place in schools or
71
00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:10,720
in military training represents
the systematic development of
72
00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:14,440
trained responses.
An awakened seeker can begin to
73
00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:18,160
recognize these trained
responses and undertake to
74
00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:22,360
adjust, modify, or eliminate
them through a counter training.
75
00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:27,520
In some cases, such as those
that involve involuntary muscle
76
00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:32,640
tightening, various practices
such as meditation, hata, yoga,
77
00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:37,400
martial arts, or biofeedback
training can work on these
78
00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:41,840
elements.
In the end, the power of light
79
00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:47,080
entering the mind and will and
exposing this subconscient layer
80
00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,960
and its mechanisms, then
entering the vital being and
81
00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:55,280
working on opening the emotions
and the vital responses and
82
00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:58,440
finally changing the very
vibrational patterns of the
83
00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:02,880
physical being is the tool
needed to be patiently and
84
00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,960
persistently applied to the
subconscious.
85
00:06:06,840 --> 00:06:11,280
Understanding the mechanisms at
work and the relative type of
86
00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:15,920
subconstant behavior being
addressed can aid in this
87
00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:20,640
process if the practitioner
exercises calm, steady and
88
00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:24,320
persistent will towards the
needed opening and change.
89
00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:30,160
Sri Aurobindo notes quote The
subconscious is a thing of
90
00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:34,520
habits and memories, and repeats
persistently or whenever it can,
91
00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:39,280
old suppressed reactions,
reflexes, mental, vital or
92
00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:44,240
physical responses.
It must be trained by a still
93
00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:48,240
more persistent insistence of
the higher parts of the being to
94
00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:53,200
give up its old responses and
take on the new and true ones.
95
00:06:54,040 --> 00:07:01,320
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindo
Bases of Yoga Chapter 5 Physical
96
00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:06,720
Consciousness, Subconscious
Sleep and Dream Illness pages 90
97
00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:07,680
to 91.
