A Podcast Featuring Sri Aurobindo Studies
June 4, 2023

Understanding the Difference Between Psychic and Spiritual

Understanding the Difference Between Psychic and Spiritual
Understanding the Difference Between Psychic and Spiritual
Sri Aurobindo Studies
Understanding the Difference Between Psychic and Spiritual

reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Our Many Selves: Practical Yogic Psychology, Preface, pp. xiii-xiv This episode also available as a blog post: https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2023/06/02/understanding-the-difference-between-psychic-and-spiritual/


0:01 Every language has its limitations particularly surrounding areas of development that were not Central to the people who developed and utilize that language. This makes it difficult to translate Concepts that are self-evident in one language easily or effectively into another language. This has created substantial confusion and misunderstanding in all fields of life activity and conceptual development. In some cases, an attempt is made to bring across the concept through a detailed explanation that tries to pick up and communicate the nuances.

0:44 In other cases the attempt to translate or communicate remain sorely deficient Let's just the case with the use of the term spiritual in the English language which is used whenever something does not fit the focused and identification with the external personality and external life that has predominated for the English-speaking people in the past, thus we hear of spiritual advisors, which include services such as Tea Leaf reading, or palm reading. Whatever may be any underlying truth or Distortion as to the practices term spiritual. They clearly do not fit the sense and intention of the underlying Concepts from cultures that have focused on Spiritual Development.

1:36 The seeking and finding of the Eternal presence The Liberation from the illusion of the external life. And the discovery of One's Own Eternal spark and linked to the divine presence. In his attempt to bring Clarity. To the understanding SRI aurobindo has worked to remove the vagueness and uncertainty surrounding the use of the term spiritual as well as the term psychic which has been equally misapplied for all kinds of things, unrelated to the deep-seated sole entity within each being SRI aurobindo restricts, the use of the term psychic to relate to the soul.

2:21 While the term spiritual relates to the development, or relation to the higher Consciousness, that exceeds our current human evolutionary stage, the contact with and realization of such Ananda existence, Consciousness Bliss in the ancient Vedic terminology. Other experiences or relations, maybe mental, vital, or even physical, they may occur on other planes or from other state us' without necessarily being spiritual in nature. Dr. Dalal notes, quote a crucial distinction, that one needs to make on the spiritual path.

3:08 Is the difference between the psychical and the spiritual due to an inadequate knowledge of yogic psychology, psychical phenomena and experiences, which pertain to the inner, or subliminal Consciousness, A Realm of Darkness as well. As light are often confused with spiritual experiences, which pertain to the higher consciousness, Regarding the vague and imprecise way in which the term spiritual is used not only in popular literature but also in serious. Writings the mother, remarks quote philosophical yogic and other systems. Use the word spiritual in a very vague and loose way. Whatever is not physical is spiritual. Comparison with the physical world. All other worlds are spiritual all all effort which does not tend towards the material.

4:10 Life is a spiritual effort, every tendency which is not strictly human and egoistic is a spiritual tendency. This is a word used to season every dish, in quote. Dr. Dalal continues, the distinction, between the inner or super physical Consciousness, and the higher or spiritual consciousness is one of the most valuable aspects of yogic psychology for promoting the self understanding of the spiritual Seeker. End quote. Reference SRI aurobindo and the mother.

4:51 Our many selves practical yogic psychology preface Pages Roman 13 to 14. Reference SRI aurobindo and the mother. Our many selves practical yogic psychology preface Pages Roman 13 to 14.