Jan. 31, 2026
Understanding the Influence of the Subconscient on Our Conscious Existence
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 5, Physical Consciousness — Subconscient — Sleep and Dream — Illness, pp. 86-87This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/understanding-the-influence-of-the-subconscient-on-our-conscious-experience/
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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 #subconscient #consciousness #chakras
1
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,120
While we tend to believe that
our consciousness is centered in
2
00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:08,080
the region of the brain, or in
some cases the heart, there's
3
00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,840
really a much broader framework
for consciousness.
4
00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:14,120
There are different forms that
consciousness takes.
5
00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:18,440
These forms vibrate at different
frequencies and are then taken
6
00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,080
up and processed by the various
subtle energy centers aligned
7
00:00:22,080 --> 00:00:26,760
along the spine, based on which
vibratory pattern and frequency
8
00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,000
can be picked up by these
centers, or chakras as they are
9
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,520
called.
Thus, vibrations that occur at a
10
00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,760
level that we call mental, that
is, thoughts, perceptions,
11
00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,920
etcetera, are processed through
centers in the brain, while
12
00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:46,120
those that characterize various
vital activities are processed
13
00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,680
through the centers in the
sacral, solar plexus and the
14
00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:53,400
heart area primarily.
And those that deal with pure
15
00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,120
physical energies are primarily
processed through the 1st chakra
16
00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:01,640
called the Mulladhara.
Just as we now recognize that
17
00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:05,400
the electromagnetic spectrum is
far broader than our senses can
18
00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:09,200
perceive and process.
That is, there are colours and
19
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:13,600
sounds, for example, that are in
ranges both above and below
20
00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:18,360
those that our senses capture.
So also there are ranges of
21
00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:22,880
consciousness both above and
below those normally captured
22
00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,880
within the subtle energy centers
that process the vibrations that
23
00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,680
define what we call the human
consciousness.
24
00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:34,840
The forces vibrating either
above or below our level of
25
00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:40,360
perception still impact us.
For example, ultraviolet UV can
26
00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:45,600
cause blindness even if not
directly seen, and infrared
27
00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:50,440
causes heating and burns, again
without being directly seen.
28
00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,480
Similarly, forces of
consciousness above the
29
00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,920
vibratory pattern captured by
the seven primary chakras or
30
00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:04,040
below them also impact human
consciousness, which provides us
31
00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:08,000
with an understanding of how
various lower vibrational forces
32
00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:12,360
can drag us down in our
energies, feelings, emotions and
33
00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:18,160
thoughts, or how various higher
vibrational forces can uplift
34
00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:23,800
and energize us.
Srioro Bindu observes quote the
35
00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,240
Mulladar is the center of the
physical consciousness proper,
36
00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,880
and all below in the body is the
sheer physical, which as it goes
37
00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:34,760
downward becomes increasingly
subconscient.
38
00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,760
But the real seat of the
subconscient is below the body,
39
00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,240
as the real seat of the higher
consciousness, superconscient,
40
00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,360
is above the body.
At the same time, the
41
00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,880
subconscient can be felt
anywhere, felt as something
42
00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,640
below the movement of the
consciousness and in a way
43
00:02:54,920 --> 00:02:58,840
supporting it from beneath, or
else drawing the consciousness
44
00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:03,160
down towards itself.
The subconscient is the main
45
00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,560
support of all habitual
movements, especially the
46
00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,040
physical and lower vital
movements.
47
00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:13,600
When something is thrown out of
the vital or physical, it very
48
00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,520
usually goes down into the
subcontinent and remains there
49
00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,440
as if in seed and comes up again
when it can.
50
00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:25,200
That is the reason why it is so
difficult to get rid of habitual
51
00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:30,000
vital movements or to change the
character for supported or
52
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,320
refreshed from this source
preserved in this matrix, your
53
00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:39,000
vital movements, even when
suppressed or repressed, surge
54
00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,040
up again and recur.
The action of the subconscious
55
00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,600
is irrational, mechanical,
repetitive.
56
00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,840
It does not listen to reason or
the mental will.
57
00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,840
It is only by bringing the
higher light and force into it
58
00:03:55,480 --> 00:04:00,440
that it can change.
End Quote reference Sri
59
00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,400
Aurobindo Bases of Yoga Chapter
5.
60
00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,680
Physical consciousness,
subconscious sleep and dream
61
00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,320
illness.
Pages 86 to 87.
00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,120
While we tend to believe that
our consciousness is centered in
2
00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:08,080
the region of the brain, or in
some cases the heart, there's
3
00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,840
really a much broader framework
for consciousness.
4
00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:14,120
There are different forms that
consciousness takes.
5
00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:18,440
These forms vibrate at different
frequencies and are then taken
6
00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,080
up and processed by the various
subtle energy centers aligned
7
00:00:22,080 --> 00:00:26,760
along the spine, based on which
vibratory pattern and frequency
8
00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,000
can be picked up by these
centers, or chakras as they are
9
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,520
called.
Thus, vibrations that occur at a
10
00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,760
level that we call mental, that
is, thoughts, perceptions,
11
00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,920
etcetera, are processed through
centers in the brain, while
12
00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:46,120
those that characterize various
vital activities are processed
13
00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,680
through the centers in the
sacral, solar plexus and the
14
00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:53,400
heart area primarily.
And those that deal with pure
15
00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,120
physical energies are primarily
processed through the 1st chakra
16
00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:01,640
called the Mulladhara.
Just as we now recognize that
17
00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:05,400
the electromagnetic spectrum is
far broader than our senses can
18
00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:09,200
perceive and process.
That is, there are colours and
19
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:13,600
sounds, for example, that are in
ranges both above and below
20
00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:18,360
those that our senses capture.
So also there are ranges of
21
00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:22,880
consciousness both above and
below those normally captured
22
00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,880
within the subtle energy centers
that process the vibrations that
23
00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,680
define what we call the human
consciousness.
24
00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:34,840
The forces vibrating either
above or below our level of
25
00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:40,360
perception still impact us.
For example, ultraviolet UV can
26
00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:45,600
cause blindness even if not
directly seen, and infrared
27
00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:50,440
causes heating and burns, again
without being directly seen.
28
00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,480
Similarly, forces of
consciousness above the
29
00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,920
vibratory pattern captured by
the seven primary chakras or
30
00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:04,040
below them also impact human
consciousness, which provides us
31
00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:08,000
with an understanding of how
various lower vibrational forces
32
00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:12,360
can drag us down in our
energies, feelings, emotions and
33
00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:18,160
thoughts, or how various higher
vibrational forces can uplift
34
00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:23,800
and energize us.
Srioro Bindu observes quote the
35
00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,240
Mulladar is the center of the
physical consciousness proper,
36
00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,880
and all below in the body is the
sheer physical, which as it goes
37
00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:34,760
downward becomes increasingly
subconscient.
38
00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,760
But the real seat of the
subconscient is below the body,
39
00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,240
as the real seat of the higher
consciousness, superconscient,
40
00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,360
is above the body.
At the same time, the
41
00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,880
subconscient can be felt
anywhere, felt as something
42
00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,640
below the movement of the
consciousness and in a way
43
00:02:54,920 --> 00:02:58,840
supporting it from beneath, or
else drawing the consciousness
44
00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:03,160
down towards itself.
The subconscient is the main
45
00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,560
support of all habitual
movements, especially the
46
00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,040
physical and lower vital
movements.
47
00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:13,600
When something is thrown out of
the vital or physical, it very
48
00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,520
usually goes down into the
subcontinent and remains there
49
00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,440
as if in seed and comes up again
when it can.
50
00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:25,200
That is the reason why it is so
difficult to get rid of habitual
51
00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:30,000
vital movements or to change the
character for supported or
52
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,320
refreshed from this source
preserved in this matrix, your
53
00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:39,000
vital movements, even when
suppressed or repressed, surge
54
00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,040
up again and recur.
The action of the subconscious
55
00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,600
is irrational, mechanical,
repetitive.
56
00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,840
It does not listen to reason or
the mental will.
57
00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,840
It is only by bringing the
higher light and force into it
58
00:03:55,480 --> 00:04:00,440
that it can change.
End Quote reference Sri
59
00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,400
Aurobindo Bases of Yoga Chapter
5.
60
00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,680
Physical consciousness,
subconscious sleep and dream
61
00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,320
illness.
Pages 86 to 87.
