Dec. 8, 2025
Understanding Experience of a Shift from the External to the Inward Consciousness
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 3, In Difficulty, pp.53-54
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/12/06/understanding-experience-of-a-shift-from-the-external-to-the-inward-consciousness/
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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 #spiritual experiences #inner consciousness #spiritual guidance
1
00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:04,640
As the seeker begins to go
inwards in his awareness, there
2
00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:08,200
are innumerable new experiences
that take place.
3
00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,040
He generally is not able to
determine exactly what they
4
00:00:12,040 --> 00:00:15,760
mean.
In this case, the guidance of an
5
00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:20,400
experienced practitioner or of a
guru can be of immense
6
00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,680
assistance.
If a seeker is proceeding
7
00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:28,160
without a guide, or if an
experience comes upon an
8
00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,760
individual more or less suddenly
without conscious intention or
9
00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:36,600
preparation, he needs to
appreciate that the exploration
10
00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:41,080
of inner space will bring
forward many things formerly
11
00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:46,600
unknown and unseen previously.
One of the benefits of first
12
00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:50,920
developing a foundation of calm,
peace and equality is that the
13
00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,720
seeker can observe whatever
happens without undue excitement
14
00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,160
or any rising of fear of the
unknown things that begin to
15
00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:03,040
occur.
As the seeker gains more
16
00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:07,880
experience, he is able to
recognize the progress that such
17
00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:13,160
experiences highlight for him,
to the extent that an individual
18
00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,680
is taken by surprise, perhaps
because his life has been
19
00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:21,160
focused externally and he was
not actively seeking development
20
00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:25,720
along the lines of yoga.
In his outer ego personality, he
21
00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:31,200
may be distressed or disturbed
by some experience and even
22
00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:35,600
believe that he is losing his
mind or that he is experiencing
23
00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,200
something abnormal.
He may feel like he cannot
24
00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:43,720
relate to the experience nor be
able to discuss it with others.
25
00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:48,880
He may feel disoriented.
If he makes others aware of what
26
00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:52,520
he is experiencing.
He is frequently advised to go
27
00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:57,600
for therapy when in fact the
psychologists and psychiatrists
28
00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:02,640
are not the right parties to
explain these inner events and
29
00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:06,160
reactions.
If he begins seeking real
30
00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:10,720
answers to the experiences he is
having, he may find the guidance
31
00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:16,920
and support he needs in a book,
online or through a chance
32
00:02:16,920 --> 00:02:20,920
meeting with someone who is able
to shed light on what is taking
33
00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:26,040
place within him.
Sri Aurobindo observes quote.
34
00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,160
The cry you heard was not in the
physical heart but in the
35
00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,520
emotional centre.
The breaking of the wall meant
36
00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:37,760
the breaking of the obstacle, or
at least of some obstacle there,
37
00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,120
between your inner and your
outer being.
38
00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,760
Most people live in their
ordinary outer, ignorant
39
00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,160
personality, which does not
easily open to the Divine.
40
00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,240
But there is an inner being
within them of which they do not
41
00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:55,480
know, which can easily open to
the truth and the light.
42
00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,800
But there is a wall which
divides them from it, a wall of
43
00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:04,680
obscurity and unconsciousness.
When it breaks down, then there
44
00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:09,600
is a release.
The feelings of calm Ananda joy
45
00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,800
which you had immediately
afterwards were due to that
46
00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,600
release.
The cry you heard was the cry of
47
00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,400
the vital part in you, overcome
by the suddenness of the
48
00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:23,840
breaking of the wall and the
opening.
49
00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:30,160
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo, Faces of Yoga,
50
00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:35,000
Chapter 3 in difficulty, pages
53 to 54.
00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:04,640
As the seeker begins to go
inwards in his awareness, there
2
00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:08,200
are innumerable new experiences
that take place.
3
00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,040
He generally is not able to
determine exactly what they
4
00:00:12,040 --> 00:00:15,760
mean.
In this case, the guidance of an
5
00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:20,400
experienced practitioner or of a
guru can be of immense
6
00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,680
assistance.
If a seeker is proceeding
7
00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:28,160
without a guide, or if an
experience comes upon an
8
00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,760
individual more or less suddenly
without conscious intention or
9
00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:36,600
preparation, he needs to
appreciate that the exploration
10
00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:41,080
of inner space will bring
forward many things formerly
11
00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:46,600
unknown and unseen previously.
One of the benefits of first
12
00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:50,920
developing a foundation of calm,
peace and equality is that the
13
00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,720
seeker can observe whatever
happens without undue excitement
14
00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,160
or any rising of fear of the
unknown things that begin to
15
00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:03,040
occur.
As the seeker gains more
16
00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:07,880
experience, he is able to
recognize the progress that such
17
00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:13,160
experiences highlight for him,
to the extent that an individual
18
00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,680
is taken by surprise, perhaps
because his life has been
19
00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:21,160
focused externally and he was
not actively seeking development
20
00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:25,720
along the lines of yoga.
In his outer ego personality, he
21
00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:31,200
may be distressed or disturbed
by some experience and even
22
00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:35,600
believe that he is losing his
mind or that he is experiencing
23
00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,200
something abnormal.
He may feel like he cannot
24
00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:43,720
relate to the experience nor be
able to discuss it with others.
25
00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:48,880
He may feel disoriented.
If he makes others aware of what
26
00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:52,520
he is experiencing.
He is frequently advised to go
27
00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:57,600
for therapy when in fact the
psychologists and psychiatrists
28
00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:02,640
are not the right parties to
explain these inner events and
29
00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:06,160
reactions.
If he begins seeking real
30
00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:10,720
answers to the experiences he is
having, he may find the guidance
31
00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:16,920
and support he needs in a book,
online or through a chance
32
00:02:16,920 --> 00:02:20,920
meeting with someone who is able
to shed light on what is taking
33
00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:26,040
place within him.
Sri Aurobindo observes quote.
34
00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,160
The cry you heard was not in the
physical heart but in the
35
00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,520
emotional centre.
The breaking of the wall meant
36
00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:37,760
the breaking of the obstacle, or
at least of some obstacle there,
37
00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,120
between your inner and your
outer being.
38
00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,760
Most people live in their
ordinary outer, ignorant
39
00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,160
personality, which does not
easily open to the Divine.
40
00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,240
But there is an inner being
within them of which they do not
41
00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:55,480
know, which can easily open to
the truth and the light.
42
00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,800
But there is a wall which
divides them from it, a wall of
43
00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:04,680
obscurity and unconsciousness.
When it breaks down, then there
44
00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:09,600
is a release.
The feelings of calm Ananda joy
45
00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,800
which you had immediately
afterwards were due to that
46
00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,600
release.
The cry you heard was the cry of
47
00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,400
the vital part in you, overcome
by the suddenness of the
48
00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:23,840
breaking of the wall and the
opening.
49
00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:30,160
End Quote Reference Sri
Aurobindo, Faces of Yoga,
50
00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:35,000
Chapter 3 in difficulty, pages
53 to 54.
