Feb. 22, 2026
Transforming Sleep, Not Suppressing It
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 5, Physical Consciousness — Subconscient — Sleep and Dream — Illness, pg. 101This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/02/20/transforming-sleep-not-suppressing-it/
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 #sleep #Rajas #Tamas #Sattwa #Bhagavad Gita
1
00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:07,720
In the Bhagwad Gita Sri Krishna
explains to Arjuna quote, verily
2
00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:12,680
this yoga is not for him who
eats too much or sleeps too
3
00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:17,920
much, even as it is not for him
who gives up sleep and food.
4
00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,720
O Arjuna from the Bhagwad Gita
and it's message translated by
5
00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,360
Sri Aurobindo, Chapter 6, verse
16.
6
00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,240
It is interesting to note that
one of the epithets linked to
7
00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:35,720
Arjuna was Guta Keisha, the
master of sleep, one who
8
00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:40,520
overcomes the force of Thomas so
that he can remain alert and
9
00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:44,480
focused to achieve whatever he
was destined to achieve.
10
00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:50,040
Sri Krishna therefore underlines
that this does not mean what is
11
00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:54,200
frequently understood, that
Arjuna did not need to sleep.
12
00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,480
When an individual takes up
spiritual practice, the action
13
00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:04,480
of the gunas is not suspended.
Rather, they influence the
14
00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:09,040
manner and process the
individual follows in trying to
15
00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:13,280
achieve his objectives.
When the guna of rajas is
16
00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:17,920
predominant, it tries to push
things along, sometimes with
17
00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,440
harsh methods.
When these methods go beyond the
18
00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:25,360
limits of the mind, the vital
being and the physical body,
19
00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,880
various types of breakdowns can
occur.
20
00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:35,440
Thus, the excess of rajas leads
to the rise of tamas.
21
00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:41,000
The guna of sattva tends to lead
with an emphasis on balance,
22
00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:45,320
harmony and light.
This provides the basis for
23
00:01:45,320 --> 00:01:49,280
steady development and leads the
seeker to an understanding of
24
00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,640
the need for an approach that
respects the nature of the mind,
25
00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,200
vital, and body.
The seeker can avoid the
26
00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,280
disruptions that occur with
either the excess or the
27
00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:05,600
deficiency and the resultant
oscillation between ambition and
28
00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,600
indolence.
Rather than attempting to
29
00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,520
artificially suppress the body's
need for and utilization of
30
00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:17,640
sleep as part of its normal
processes, the Suffolk method
31
00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:21,920
tries to appreciate the use of
sleep and how to balance and
32
00:02:21,920 --> 00:02:25,960
harmonize it with the other
needs and priorities of the
33
00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,520
life.
For the practitioner of the
34
00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:34,200
Integral Yoga, the objective is
transformation of human life.
35
00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:39,800
To accomplish this, a strong and
balanced physical body, vital
36
00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,960
being, and mental power are
necessary.
37
00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,560
In order to transform life, a
certain understanding is
38
00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:52,240
eventually necessary.
Our limited view of life and its
39
00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:57,000
meaning and our purpose in life
represents an obstacle that can
40
00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:01,200
be overcome through a constant
growth of consciousness and a
41
00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:05,560
widening to encompass the wider
existence within which our
42
00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:10,880
earthly life takes place.
Gaining access to the expanded
43
00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:15,240
field available through sleep
and dream can aid the seeker in
44
00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:21,240
achieving this understanding,
Sri Aurobindo notes quote.
45
00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,480
It is not a right method to try
to keep awake at night.
46
00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,240
The suppression of the needed
sleep makes the body temasek and
47
00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:35,200
unfit for the necessary
concentration during the waking
48
00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,480
hours.
The right way is to transform
49
00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:43,080
the sleep and not suppress it,
and especially to learn how to
50
00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,160
become more and more conscious
in sleep itself.
51
00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:51,120
If that is done, sleep changes
into an inner mode of
52
00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:55,360
consciousness in which the
sadhna can continue as much as
53
00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:59,600
in the waking state, and at the
same time 1 is able to enter
54
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,280
into other planes of
consciousness than the physical
55
00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:08,400
and command an immense range of
informative and utilizable
56
00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,800
experience.
End Quote.
57
00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,320
Reference.
Srioro Bindo, Bases of Yoga,
58
00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:18,320
Chapter 5.
Physical Consciousness,
59
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:22,079
subconscious Sleep and Dream
Illness.
60
00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:23,640
Page 101.
00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:07,720
In the Bhagwad Gita Sri Krishna
explains to Arjuna quote, verily
2
00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:12,680
this yoga is not for him who
eats too much or sleeps too
3
00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:17,920
much, even as it is not for him
who gives up sleep and food.
4
00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,720
O Arjuna from the Bhagwad Gita
and it's message translated by
5
00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,360
Sri Aurobindo, Chapter 6, verse
16.
6
00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,240
It is interesting to note that
one of the epithets linked to
7
00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:35,720
Arjuna was Guta Keisha, the
master of sleep, one who
8
00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:40,520
overcomes the force of Thomas so
that he can remain alert and
9
00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:44,480
focused to achieve whatever he
was destined to achieve.
10
00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:50,040
Sri Krishna therefore underlines
that this does not mean what is
11
00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:54,200
frequently understood, that
Arjuna did not need to sleep.
12
00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,480
When an individual takes up
spiritual practice, the action
13
00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:04,480
of the gunas is not suspended.
Rather, they influence the
14
00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:09,040
manner and process the
individual follows in trying to
15
00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:13,280
achieve his objectives.
When the guna of rajas is
16
00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:17,920
predominant, it tries to push
things along, sometimes with
17
00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,440
harsh methods.
When these methods go beyond the
18
00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:25,360
limits of the mind, the vital
being and the physical body,
19
00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,880
various types of breakdowns can
occur.
20
00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:35,440
Thus, the excess of rajas leads
to the rise of tamas.
21
00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:41,000
The guna of sattva tends to lead
with an emphasis on balance,
22
00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:45,320
harmony and light.
This provides the basis for
23
00:01:45,320 --> 00:01:49,280
steady development and leads the
seeker to an understanding of
24
00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,640
the need for an approach that
respects the nature of the mind,
25
00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,200
vital, and body.
The seeker can avoid the
26
00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,280
disruptions that occur with
either the excess or the
27
00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:05,600
deficiency and the resultant
oscillation between ambition and
28
00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,600
indolence.
Rather than attempting to
29
00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,520
artificially suppress the body's
need for and utilization of
30
00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:17,640
sleep as part of its normal
processes, the Suffolk method
31
00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:21,920
tries to appreciate the use of
sleep and how to balance and
32
00:02:21,920 --> 00:02:25,960
harmonize it with the other
needs and priorities of the
33
00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,520
life.
For the practitioner of the
34
00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:34,200
Integral Yoga, the objective is
transformation of human life.
35
00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:39,800
To accomplish this, a strong and
balanced physical body, vital
36
00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,960
being, and mental power are
necessary.
37
00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,560
In order to transform life, a
certain understanding is
38
00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:52,240
eventually necessary.
Our limited view of life and its
39
00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:57,000
meaning and our purpose in life
represents an obstacle that can
40
00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:01,200
be overcome through a constant
growth of consciousness and a
41
00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:05,560
widening to encompass the wider
existence within which our
42
00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:10,880
earthly life takes place.
Gaining access to the expanded
43
00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:15,240
field available through sleep
and dream can aid the seeker in
44
00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:21,240
achieving this understanding,
Sri Aurobindo notes quote.
45
00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,480
It is not a right method to try
to keep awake at night.
46
00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,240
The suppression of the needed
sleep makes the body temasek and
47
00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:35,200
unfit for the necessary
concentration during the waking
48
00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,480
hours.
The right way is to transform
49
00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:43,080
the sleep and not suppress it,
and especially to learn how to
50
00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,160
become more and more conscious
in sleep itself.
51
00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:51,120
If that is done, sleep changes
into an inner mode of
52
00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:55,360
consciousness in which the
sadhna can continue as much as
53
00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:59,600
in the waking state, and at the
same time 1 is able to enter
54
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,280
into other planes of
consciousness than the physical
55
00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:08,400
and command an immense range of
informative and utilizable
56
00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,800
experience.
End Quote.
57
00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,320
Reference.
Srioro Bindo, Bases of Yoga,
58
00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:18,320
Chapter 5.
Physical Consciousness,
59
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:22,079
subconscious Sleep and Dream
Illness.
60
00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:23,640
Page 101.
