Aug. 26, 2024
Underdeveloped and Unevolved Powers of Consciousness
Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
Amazon Music 
RSS Feed 
Castro 
RadioPublic 
PocketCasts 
YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Powers Within, Introduction, pg. x
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2024/08/21/underdeveloped-and-unevolved-powers-of-consciousness/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are all available 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 Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,480
As the evolution of
consciousness unfolds, we see
2
00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:08,440
the development and expression
of ever increasing powers of
3
00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:12,280
knowledge and action.
There are powers of perception,
4
00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:17,240
there are powers of thought and
reflection, there are powers of
5
00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:21,640
vital expression, emotion, and
there are physical powers.
6
00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,240
Because evolution of
consciousness is progressive and
7
00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:31,760
reveals itself over time, we
also find that not all powers
8
00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:36,040
reveal themselves at the same
time, nor perfectly in all
9
00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:40,200
individuals at once.
Rather, we find that some of
10
00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:45,280
these powers appear first in
isolated individuals and then
11
00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,280
later may find a more general
expression.
12
00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:54,680
Further, we must conclude that
additional unexpected powers lie
13
00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:59,240
in the future, waiting for their
time to develop and manifest
14
00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:03,240
actively.
Some powers, as they manifest,
15
00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:07,480
appear to be spontaneous in
their action, while others seem
16
00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:11,920
to require a substantial effort
of training, practice, and
17
00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:16,680
systematic attempts at use.
We see that some powers may show
18
00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,200
just an inkling of their
potential until they are focused
19
00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,120
on and systematically perfected
in their action.
20
00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,400
Athletes may have a natural
ability, for instance, but it is
21
00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:33,000
through constant exercise and
training that the optimal impact
22
00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,360
of that ability can be
recognized.
23
00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:40,400
There is a somewhat long
continuum between an individual
24
00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:45,520
who runs or jumps for the first
time and the Olympic runner or
25
00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:50,520
high jump competitor.
Similarly, powers of emotional
26
00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:55,600
expression, powers of empathy,
compassion, consecration,
27
00:01:55,920 --> 00:02:02,280
aspiration can be developed and
turned into a strength for those
28
00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:06,200
who are prepared to take up
those powers on the mental
29
00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,960
level.
Powers of observation, memory,
30
00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:14,880
reasoning, logical inference,
planning, imagination, etcetera,
31
00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:20,400
all may appear variously across
different individuals and may
32
00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:26,160
develop over time with repeated
use and focus of the individual.
33
00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,480
While we cannot predict entirely
what further powers lie in
34
00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:36,400
humanity's future, we can easily
accept the idea that such powers
35
00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,840
will manifest.
Given the historical trend of
36
00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,760
the development and expression
of consciousness that we can
37
00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:48,440
already observe, we may find
that some powers that are rare
38
00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:53,120
or incipient in certain
individuals actually represent
39
00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,880
more generalized powers that
will be more widely available to
40
00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,440
humanity as a whole in the
future.
41
00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:04,040
This brings in the question as
to whether power such as remote
42
00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:09,320
viewing, overcoming the force of
gravity, applying powers to the
43
00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:14,520
healing and regeneration of the
body, etcetera, can be part of
44
00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:20,760
humanity's future.
Doctor Delal observes quote two
45
00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,720
types of latent powers may be
distinguished.
46
00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:28,240
There are powers within us that
are yet unevolved and for the
47
00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:32,960
most part unsuspected if not
disbelieved, such as
48
00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:38,040
clairvoyance, clairaudience,
telepathy, and other occult
49
00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,680
powers spoken of in the latter
part of the book.
50
00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:45,640
There are other powers that we
already possess and use, but are
51
00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:50,520
latent in the sense of existing
in quite a rudimentary or
52
00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:55,920
undeveloped form.
We do not regard these latter as
53
00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:59,240
powers, because there seems to
be nothing extraordinary about
54
00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,080
them.
Such are the powers of thought,
55
00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,200
imagination, will,
concentration, intuition and the
56
00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:11,200
like, which in their present
state in most human beings are
57
00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,960
quite undeveloped in relation to
what they could be at their
58
00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:18,959
highest potential.
What we see in a genius is
59
00:04:18,959 --> 00:04:23,160
simply the flowering of powers
which are either undeveloped or
60
00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:27,880
totally latent in us.
As the Mother remarks, there is
61
00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:33,560
a genius within every one of us.
The possibility of developing
62
00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,520
one's potential to a remarkable
degree exists also with physical
63
00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,160
powers and abilities pertaining
to the body.
64
00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:45,320
An Olympic athlete has simply
developed abilities which are
65
00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:47,920
present in some degree in
everyone.
66
00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,560
The Mother gives examples of how
even our sensory abilities such
67
00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:56,200
as sight and hearing can be
heightened to a miraculous
68
00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:02,200
degree and remarks we can do
infinitely more than we actually
69
00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:08,240
do End Quote reference.
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
70
00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:13,120
Powers within Introduction page
Roman 10.
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,480
As the evolution of
consciousness unfolds, we see
2
00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:08,440
the development and expression
of ever increasing powers of
3
00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:12,280
knowledge and action.
There are powers of perception,
4
00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:17,240
there are powers of thought and
reflection, there are powers of
5
00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:21,640
vital expression, emotion, and
there are physical powers.
6
00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,240
Because evolution of
consciousness is progressive and
7
00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:31,760
reveals itself over time, we
also find that not all powers
8
00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:36,040
reveal themselves at the same
time, nor perfectly in all
9
00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:40,200
individuals at once.
Rather, we find that some of
10
00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:45,280
these powers appear first in
isolated individuals and then
11
00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,280
later may find a more general
expression.
12
00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:54,680
Further, we must conclude that
additional unexpected powers lie
13
00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:59,240
in the future, waiting for their
time to develop and manifest
14
00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:03,240
actively.
Some powers, as they manifest,
15
00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:07,480
appear to be spontaneous in
their action, while others seem
16
00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:11,920
to require a substantial effort
of training, practice, and
17
00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:16,680
systematic attempts at use.
We see that some powers may show
18
00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,200
just an inkling of their
potential until they are focused
19
00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,120
on and systematically perfected
in their action.
20
00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,400
Athletes may have a natural
ability, for instance, but it is
21
00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:33,000
through constant exercise and
training that the optimal impact
22
00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,360
of that ability can be
recognized.
23
00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:40,400
There is a somewhat long
continuum between an individual
24
00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:45,520
who runs or jumps for the first
time and the Olympic runner or
25
00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:50,520
high jump competitor.
Similarly, powers of emotional
26
00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:55,600
expression, powers of empathy,
compassion, consecration,
27
00:01:55,920 --> 00:02:02,280
aspiration can be developed and
turned into a strength for those
28
00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:06,200
who are prepared to take up
those powers on the mental
29
00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,960
level.
Powers of observation, memory,
30
00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:14,880
reasoning, logical inference,
planning, imagination, etcetera,
31
00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:20,400
all may appear variously across
different individuals and may
32
00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:26,160
develop over time with repeated
use and focus of the individual.
33
00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,480
While we cannot predict entirely
what further powers lie in
34
00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:36,400
humanity's future, we can easily
accept the idea that such powers
35
00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,840
will manifest.
Given the historical trend of
36
00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,760
the development and expression
of consciousness that we can
37
00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:48,440
already observe, we may find
that some powers that are rare
38
00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:53,120
or incipient in certain
individuals actually represent
39
00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,880
more generalized powers that
will be more widely available to
40
00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,440
humanity as a whole in the
future.
41
00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:04,040
This brings in the question as
to whether power such as remote
42
00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:09,320
viewing, overcoming the force of
gravity, applying powers to the
43
00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:14,520
healing and regeneration of the
body, etcetera, can be part of
44
00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:20,760
humanity's future.
Doctor Delal observes quote two
45
00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,720
types of latent powers may be
distinguished.
46
00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:28,240
There are powers within us that
are yet unevolved and for the
47
00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:32,960
most part unsuspected if not
disbelieved, such as
48
00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:38,040
clairvoyance, clairaudience,
telepathy, and other occult
49
00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,680
powers spoken of in the latter
part of the book.
50
00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:45,640
There are other powers that we
already possess and use, but are
51
00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:50,520
latent in the sense of existing
in quite a rudimentary or
52
00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:55,920
undeveloped form.
We do not regard these latter as
53
00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:59,240
powers, because there seems to
be nothing extraordinary about
54
00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,080
them.
Such are the powers of thought,
55
00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,200
imagination, will,
concentration, intuition and the
56
00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:11,200
like, which in their present
state in most human beings are
57
00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,960
quite undeveloped in relation to
what they could be at their
58
00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:18,959
highest potential.
What we see in a genius is
59
00:04:18,959 --> 00:04:23,160
simply the flowering of powers
which are either undeveloped or
60
00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:27,880
totally latent in us.
As the Mother remarks, there is
61
00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:33,560
a genius within every one of us.
The possibility of developing
62
00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,520
one's potential to a remarkable
degree exists also with physical
63
00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,160
powers and abilities pertaining
to the body.
64
00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:45,320
An Olympic athlete has simply
developed abilities which are
65
00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:47,920
present in some degree in
everyone.
66
00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,560
The Mother gives examples of how
even our sensory abilities such
67
00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:56,200
as sight and hearing can be
heightened to a miraculous
68
00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:02,200
degree and remarks we can do
infinitely more than we actually
69
00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:08,240
do End Quote reference.
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
70
00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:13,120
Powers within Introduction page
Roman 10.