Feb. 28, 2025
Transforming Pain and Pleasure Into Spiritual Calm and Bliss
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 1, Looking at Life and Circumstances, pg. 6This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/02/26/transforming-pain-and-pleasure-into-spiritual-calm-and-bliss/
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
1
00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:04,280
All sensations carry signals
through the nervous system to
2
00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,480
the brain, which can then
interpret the signal.
3
00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,200
The signal may be more or less
intense.
4
00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,800
It may be interpreted as pain or
pleasure.
5
00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,520
Intensity of the sensation has
something to do with the
6
00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:20,640
experience and its
interpretation.
7
00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,240
There's a certain intensity
which is comfortable for an
8
00:00:24,240 --> 00:00:28,640
individual, and beyond that
intensity it is frequently
9
00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:33,320
interpreted as painful.
Thus the signal travelling to
10
00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:38,760
the brain in and of itself is
not necessarily pleasurable or
11
00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,960
painful.
It is the interpretation that is
12
00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,080
given to that signal that makes
the difference.
13
00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:50,280
In this regard, individuals
sometimes undertake to build up
14
00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:54,720
their ability to withstand more
intense signals, and through
15
00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,440
systematic efforts they find
that what used to be painful to
16
00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:03,160
them is no longer painful.
In some cases, there is a vital
17
00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:07,120
or emotional component that
helps to convert the otherwise
18
00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,080
painful experience into one of
ecstatic bliss.
19
00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,280
This sometimes happened with
yogic practitioners who go
20
00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:18,200
beyond pain and have
extraordinary inner experiences
21
00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:23,840
once they pass that threshold.
For example, we see yogis who
22
00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:28,440
sit, lie down, or walk on spiked
beds or spiked sandals.
23
00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:33,920
If anyone else tries those same
things without the focus and the
24
00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:38,560
practice, they experience
intensely painful sensations.
25
00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,800
Yet one can observe such
individuals who have practiced
26
00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:48,040
this as a technique for years,
who are clearly joyful and not
27
00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,360
in pain at all.
They have entered into another
28
00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,640
psychological space that
converts the signal they receive
29
00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:59,720
through the nerves into a form
of ecstasy or in some cases,
30
00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:04,400
spiritual joy.
While these examples refer to
31
00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,240
rather extreme steps taken by
individuals to push the limits,
32
00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,840
one can see analogous results
where the spiritual seeking is
33
00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:17,960
sincere and firm that leave the
seeker with calm or deep sense
34
00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:23,600
of joy even in the midst of
experiencing painful sensations.
35
00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,920
It is not just painful
sensations, however, that can be
36
00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:31,640
transformed.
Oftentimes it is pleasurable
37
00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:36,520
sensations that represent the
true obstacle for a seeker who
38
00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:40,640
can become so enamoured of the
experience that he fails to make
39
00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:45,400
further progress but simply
tries to repeat the pleasurable
40
00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:50,840
sensation and wallow in it.
Ryorobindo writes in his
41
00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:52,760
thoughts and aphorisms.
Quote.
42
00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:59,080
There is no iron or ineffugible
law that a given contact shall
43
00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,960
create pain or pleasure.
It is the way the soul meets the
44
00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:08,640
rush or pressure of Brahman upon
the members from outside them
45
00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,880
that determines either reaction.
End Quote.
46
00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,520
The mother observes.
Quote It is obvious that the
47
00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,600
same event or the same contact
causes pleasure in one and pain
48
00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:26,480
in another depending on the
inner attitude taken by each
49
00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,520
one.
And this observation leads
50
00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:33,920
towards a great realization for
once. 1 is not only understood
51
00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:37,800
but also felt that the Supreme
Lord is the originator of all
52
00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:41,800
things and one remains
constantly in contact with Him.
53
00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:47,840
All becomes the action of His
grace and has changed into calm
54
00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:54,400
and luminous bliss.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindu
55
00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,400
and the Mother Looking from
within, Chapter 1.
56
00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,240
Looking at Life and
Circumstances, page 6.
00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:04,280
All sensations carry signals
through the nervous system to
2
00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,480
the brain, which can then
interpret the signal.
3
00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,200
The signal may be more or less
intense.
4
00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,800
It may be interpreted as pain or
pleasure.
5
00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,520
Intensity of the sensation has
something to do with the
6
00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:20,640
experience and its
interpretation.
7
00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,240
There's a certain intensity
which is comfortable for an
8
00:00:24,240 --> 00:00:28,640
individual, and beyond that
intensity it is frequently
9
00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:33,320
interpreted as painful.
Thus the signal travelling to
10
00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:38,760
the brain in and of itself is
not necessarily pleasurable or
11
00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,960
painful.
It is the interpretation that is
12
00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,080
given to that signal that makes
the difference.
13
00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:50,280
In this regard, individuals
sometimes undertake to build up
14
00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:54,720
their ability to withstand more
intense signals, and through
15
00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,440
systematic efforts they find
that what used to be painful to
16
00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:03,160
them is no longer painful.
In some cases, there is a vital
17
00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:07,120
or emotional component that
helps to convert the otherwise
18
00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,080
painful experience into one of
ecstatic bliss.
19
00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,280
This sometimes happened with
yogic practitioners who go
20
00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:18,200
beyond pain and have
extraordinary inner experiences
21
00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:23,840
once they pass that threshold.
For example, we see yogis who
22
00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:28,440
sit, lie down, or walk on spiked
beds or spiked sandals.
23
00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:33,920
If anyone else tries those same
things without the focus and the
24
00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:38,560
practice, they experience
intensely painful sensations.
25
00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,800
Yet one can observe such
individuals who have practiced
26
00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:48,040
this as a technique for years,
who are clearly joyful and not
27
00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,360
in pain at all.
They have entered into another
28
00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,640
psychological space that
converts the signal they receive
29
00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:59,720
through the nerves into a form
of ecstasy or in some cases,
30
00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:04,400
spiritual joy.
While these examples refer to
31
00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,240
rather extreme steps taken by
individuals to push the limits,
32
00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,840
one can see analogous results
where the spiritual seeking is
33
00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:17,960
sincere and firm that leave the
seeker with calm or deep sense
34
00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:23,600
of joy even in the midst of
experiencing painful sensations.
35
00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,920
It is not just painful
sensations, however, that can be
36
00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:31,640
transformed.
Oftentimes it is pleasurable
37
00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:36,520
sensations that represent the
true obstacle for a seeker who
38
00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:40,640
can become so enamoured of the
experience that he fails to make
39
00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:45,400
further progress but simply
tries to repeat the pleasurable
40
00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:50,840
sensation and wallow in it.
Ryorobindo writes in his
41
00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:52,760
thoughts and aphorisms.
Quote.
42
00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:59,080
There is no iron or ineffugible
law that a given contact shall
43
00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,960
create pain or pleasure.
It is the way the soul meets the
44
00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:08,640
rush or pressure of Brahman upon
the members from outside them
45
00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,880
that determines either reaction.
End Quote.
46
00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,520
The mother observes.
Quote It is obvious that the
47
00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,600
same event or the same contact
causes pleasure in one and pain
48
00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:26,480
in another depending on the
inner attitude taken by each
49
00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,520
one.
And this observation leads
50
00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:33,920
towards a great realization for
once. 1 is not only understood
51
00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:37,800
but also felt that the Supreme
Lord is the originator of all
52
00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:41,800
things and one remains
constantly in contact with Him.
53
00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:47,840
All becomes the action of His
grace and has changed into calm
54
00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:54,400
and luminous bliss.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindu
55
00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,400
and the Mother Looking from
within, Chapter 1.
56
00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,240
Looking at Life and
Circumstances, page 6.