March 7, 2025
Understanding the Differences Between the Vital Desire Soul and the Psychic Being
Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
Amazon Music 
RSS Feed 
Castro 
RadioPublic 
PocketCasts 
YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 1, Looking at Life and Circumstances, pp. 13-14This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/03/05/understanding-the-differences-between-the-vital-desire-soul-and-the-psychic-being/
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 SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:05,920
We can observe in our own lives
and in the lives of various
2
00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,400
individuals.
We see on the world stage the
3
00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:13,800
difference between those who are
driven primarily by the impulses
4
00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:19,000
of the external vital nature and
the ego personality and those
5
00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:23,400
who have made contact with the
inner being and have developed a
6
00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:27,880
new standpoint that is based on
the harmony of the divine or
7
00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:32,240
spiritual consciousness.
Those who are fixated on the
8
00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,680
external vital nature may
exhibit various forces of the
9
00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:42,160
animal nature may be filled with
desire, lust, greed and a power
10
00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:46,840
hungry demand that can turn into
bullying and intimidation.
11
00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:51,240
These individuals, while they
believe they will have
12
00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:55,040
satisfaction from fulfilment of
these various forms of desire
13
00:00:55,040 --> 00:01:00,440
and vital activity, actually are
generally unhappy, and they
14
00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:05,280
suffer inwardly very much.
The other actions are a
15
00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:09,000
reflection of what they have and
carry around with themselves.
16
00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:14,120
On the other hand, we can see
individuals who are souls of
17
00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:19,840
peace, harmony and contentment,
who radiate goodwill to others,
18
00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:22,920
and who are generally inwardly
happy.
19
00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,680
Their concern for the well-being
of others is sincere and shows
20
00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:31,200
itself in many ways by their
thoughtful and caring expression
21
00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:35,400
of concern and their actions to
ease the burden that others
22
00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:39,320
carry as well as the burden on
the planet that human life
23
00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:43,160
creates.
They are based within in the
24
00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:47,840
psychic being or true soul that
each individual has deep inside
25
00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:52,680
himself, mostly hidden behind
the veil of the outer nature.
26
00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,720
The psychic being represents the
divine presence within each of
27
00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,400
us.
Each individual carries within
28
00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,800
himself these conflicting forces
to some degree in a greater or
29
00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:10,120
lesser measure or balance.
Some individuals are heavily
30
00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:14,160
skewed toward the one side and
others are heavily skewed
31
00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:18,040
towards the other.
When we look within ourselves
32
00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:23,320
and evaluate our thoughts,
emotions, feelings, actions, and
33
00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:28,240
reactions, we can recognize the
seeds and the expressions that
34
00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,600
come with the one standpoint or
the other.
35
00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,840
This is the starting point for
the process of spiritual growth
36
00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,120
and development of spiritual
maturity.
37
00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,080
As we begin to systematically
address those impulses within us
38
00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:47,080
that cater to the vital desires
of the ego personality.
39
00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:52,560
And at the same time we begin to
build up those forces that
40
00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:56,360
represent the true soul or the
psychic being within us,
41
00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:01,400
dedicated and consecrated to the
divine and receptive to the
42
00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:06,040
impulsion that is bringing forth
the birth of a new consciousness
43
00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:10,600
based in understanding, goodwill
and harmony.
44
00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,320
Once we recognize this play of
forces within ourselves and
45
00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,280
recognize how much we actually
suffer when we give in to the
46
00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:23,840
lower vital impulses, we can
then gain an understanding and a
47
00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,840
compassion for the suffering of
those beings who are literally
48
00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,880
consumed and driven by these
vital prods.
49
00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,080
Their lives are intensely
painful.
50
00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,640
The Mother notes quote the inner
law.
51
00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:44,200
The truth of the Being is the
Divine Presence in every human
52
00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:48,200
being, which should be the
master and guide of our life.
53
00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:52,760
When you acquire the habit of
listening to this inner law,
54
00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:58,360
when you obey it, follow it, try
more and more to let it guide
55
00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:03,480
your life, you create around you
an atmosphere of truth and peace
56
00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:08,080
and harmony, which naturally
reacts upon circumstances and
57
00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:14,360
forms, so to say, the atmosphere
in which you live when you are a
58
00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:19,160
being of justice, truth,
harmony, compassion,
59
00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,960
understanding of perfect
goodwill.
60
00:04:23,840 --> 00:04:29,120
This inner attitude, the more
sincere and total it is, the
61
00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,360
more it reacts upon the external
circumstances.
62
00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:37,160
Not that it necessarily
diminishes the difficulties of
63
00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:42,040
life, but it gives these
difficulties a new meaning, and
64
00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,000
that allows you to face them
with a new strength and a new
65
00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:49,240
wisdom.
Whereas the man, the human being
66
00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:53,960
who follows his impulses, who
obeys his desires, who has no
67
00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:59,400
time for scruples, who comes to
live in complete cynicism, not
68
00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:03,600
caring for the effect that his
life has upon others, or for the
69
00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,720
more or less harmful
consequences of his acts,
70
00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:10,880
creates for himself an
atmosphere of ugliness,
71
00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:16,600
selfishness, conflict and bad
will, which necessarily acts
72
00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,680
more and more upon his
consciousness and gives a
73
00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:25,040
bitterness to his life that in
the end becomes a perpetual
74
00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:27,600
torment.
End Quote.
75
00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,200
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother, Looking from Within,
76
00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,040
Chapter 1.
Looking at Life and
77
00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:39,240
Circumstances, pages 13 to 14.
00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:05,920
We can observe in our own lives
and in the lives of various
2
00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,400
individuals.
We see on the world stage the
3
00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:13,800
difference between those who are
driven primarily by the impulses
4
00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:19,000
of the external vital nature and
the ego personality and those
5
00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:23,400
who have made contact with the
inner being and have developed a
6
00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:27,880
new standpoint that is based on
the harmony of the divine or
7
00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:32,240
spiritual consciousness.
Those who are fixated on the
8
00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,680
external vital nature may
exhibit various forces of the
9
00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:42,160
animal nature may be filled with
desire, lust, greed and a power
10
00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:46,840
hungry demand that can turn into
bullying and intimidation.
11
00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:51,240
These individuals, while they
believe they will have
12
00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:55,040
satisfaction from fulfilment of
these various forms of desire
13
00:00:55,040 --> 00:01:00,440
and vital activity, actually are
generally unhappy, and they
14
00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:05,280
suffer inwardly very much.
The other actions are a
15
00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:09,000
reflection of what they have and
carry around with themselves.
16
00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:14,120
On the other hand, we can see
individuals who are souls of
17
00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:19,840
peace, harmony and contentment,
who radiate goodwill to others,
18
00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:22,920
and who are generally inwardly
happy.
19
00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,680
Their concern for the well-being
of others is sincere and shows
20
00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:31,200
itself in many ways by their
thoughtful and caring expression
21
00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:35,400
of concern and their actions to
ease the burden that others
22
00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:39,320
carry as well as the burden on
the planet that human life
23
00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:43,160
creates.
They are based within in the
24
00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:47,840
psychic being or true soul that
each individual has deep inside
25
00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:52,680
himself, mostly hidden behind
the veil of the outer nature.
26
00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,720
The psychic being represents the
divine presence within each of
27
00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,400
us.
Each individual carries within
28
00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,800
himself these conflicting forces
to some degree in a greater or
29
00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:10,120
lesser measure or balance.
Some individuals are heavily
30
00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:14,160
skewed toward the one side and
others are heavily skewed
31
00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:18,040
towards the other.
When we look within ourselves
32
00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:23,320
and evaluate our thoughts,
emotions, feelings, actions, and
33
00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:28,240
reactions, we can recognize the
seeds and the expressions that
34
00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,600
come with the one standpoint or
the other.
35
00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,840
This is the starting point for
the process of spiritual growth
36
00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,120
and development of spiritual
maturity.
37
00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,080
As we begin to systematically
address those impulses within us
38
00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:47,080
that cater to the vital desires
of the ego personality.
39
00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:52,560
And at the same time we begin to
build up those forces that
40
00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:56,360
represent the true soul or the
psychic being within us,
41
00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:01,400
dedicated and consecrated to the
divine and receptive to the
42
00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:06,040
impulsion that is bringing forth
the birth of a new consciousness
43
00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:10,600
based in understanding, goodwill
and harmony.
44
00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,320
Once we recognize this play of
forces within ourselves and
45
00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,280
recognize how much we actually
suffer when we give in to the
46
00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:23,840
lower vital impulses, we can
then gain an understanding and a
47
00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,840
compassion for the suffering of
those beings who are literally
48
00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,880
consumed and driven by these
vital prods.
49
00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,080
Their lives are intensely
painful.
50
00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,640
The Mother notes quote the inner
law.
51
00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:44,200
The truth of the Being is the
Divine Presence in every human
52
00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:48,200
being, which should be the
master and guide of our life.
53
00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:52,760
When you acquire the habit of
listening to this inner law,
54
00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:58,360
when you obey it, follow it, try
more and more to let it guide
55
00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:03,480
your life, you create around you
an atmosphere of truth and peace
56
00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:08,080
and harmony, which naturally
reacts upon circumstances and
57
00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:14,360
forms, so to say, the atmosphere
in which you live when you are a
58
00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:19,160
being of justice, truth,
harmony, compassion,
59
00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,960
understanding of perfect
goodwill.
60
00:04:23,840 --> 00:04:29,120
This inner attitude, the more
sincere and total it is, the
61
00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,360
more it reacts upon the external
circumstances.
62
00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:37,160
Not that it necessarily
diminishes the difficulties of
63
00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:42,040
life, but it gives these
difficulties a new meaning, and
64
00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,000
that allows you to face them
with a new strength and a new
65
00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:49,240
wisdom.
Whereas the man, the human being
66
00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:53,960
who follows his impulses, who
obeys his desires, who has no
67
00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:59,400
time for scruples, who comes to
live in complete cynicism, not
68
00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:03,600
caring for the effect that his
life has upon others, or for the
69
00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,720
more or less harmful
consequences of his acts,
70
00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:10,880
creates for himself an
atmosphere of ugliness,
71
00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:16,600
selfishness, conflict and bad
will, which necessarily acts
72
00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,680
more and more upon his
consciousness and gives a
73
00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:25,040
bitterness to his life that in
the end becomes a perpetual
74
00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:27,600
torment.
End Quote.
75
00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,200
Reference Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother, Looking from Within,
76
00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,040
Chapter 1.
Looking at Life and
77
00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:39,240
Circumstances, pages 13 to 14.