July 10, 2025
Understanding the Yogic Process and Its Developments Through the Action of Time
Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
Amazon Music 
RSS Feed 
Castro 
RadioPublic 
PocketCasts 
YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pg. 124
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/07/08/understanding-the-yogic-process-and-its-developments-through-the-action-of-time/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable 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
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:05,360
We frequently overlook the
element of time in any inner
2
00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:09,600
review of progress towards
spiritual fulfillment, surrender
3
00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:13,880
to the divine, or any other
aspect of our spiritual path.
4
00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:20,120
We want and expect instant
results, and thus when we once
5
00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:24,160
take up spiritual practice, we
want it to be immediately
6
00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,520
fulfilled.
And indeed, we frequently
7
00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:31,520
overlook the weaknesses or
failures of the external nature
8
00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,600
by simply believing that
accepting the Divine in our
9
00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:39,800
hearts or minds means that we
have accomplished the objective.
10
00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,320
When we recognize that the
complete surrender to the Divine
11
00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:48,640
has not occurred instantly, we
tend to become anxious about our
12
00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:53,480
failures or weaknesses, which
creates in many cases totally
13
00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:57,600
unnecessary worry and disruption
to our thoughts and emotions.
14
00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,240
This in turn creates friction in
the being, which actually
15
00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:06,280
disperses energy that otherwise
could be used to aid the
16
00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:10,280
progress.
Once we understand the process
17
00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:14,400
of the yogic sadhana and the
time it takes, we can focus our
18
00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:19,360
attention on the actual steps of
aspiration opening to the Divine
19
00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,880
Force, rejection the
identification and refusal to
20
00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:28,720
provide any support for contrary
movements, and surrender the
21
00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:33,120
acceptance and integration of
the divine force into our lives
22
00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:35,480
to carry out the transformations
needed.
23
00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,560
These steps are described in
Trioro Bindo's book The Mother.
24
00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:46,560
Human nature has evolved over
many millennia, and it is based
25
00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:50,040
on the underlying vital and
physical nature that preceded
26
00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,840
human evolution.
Evolutionary change, looked at
27
00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:58,920
through this lens, is a process
of many thousands or even
28
00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,840
millions of years.
It is vain to expect that the
29
00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:07,400
complete transformation of human
nature can take place at once or
30
00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,479
even within the framework of a
single lifetime.
31
00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:15,240
Generally, while one cannot
exclude some kind of miraculous
32
00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:20,120
transformative event, we see
that nature generally tends to
33
00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:25,800
work patiently and to the human
vision, slowly as it works out
34
00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:31,160
the issues and puts in place
modifications, upgrades, and
35
00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:35,000
changes that are beneficial to
the overall evolutionary
36
00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:39,160
development.
Once things are prepared, there
37
00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:43,320
may indeed be some kind of
evolutionary leap, but that does
38
00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,120
not occur without long
preparation behind the scenes.
39
00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,360
This process can happen in
multiple stages, with the will
40
00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,160
in each part of the being
developing the requisite
41
00:02:55,160 --> 00:03:00,920
intention and then over time,
working out the needed details
42
00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:03,360
in each aspect of human
existence.
43
00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,720
This is not an excuse for
procrastination.
44
00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,400
There should be the focus and
energy to achieve these changes
45
00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:18,200
immediately, while combined with
the patience and perseverance
46
00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,400
for the process to take many
lifetimes.
47
00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,640
What makes this difficult for
most people is the element of
48
00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:29,440
impatience and the expectation
that they will see radical
49
00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,760
change right away, rather than
having to labour away for long
50
00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:38,360
periods of time to see even
modest results in the external
51
00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:43,160
being.
Shrioro Bindo notes quote it.
52
00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:47,960
The attitude of surrender cannot
be absolutely complete in the
53
00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:53,600
beginning, but it can be true.
If the central will is sincere
54
00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,760
and there is the faith and the
bhakti.
55
00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,840
There may be contrary movements,
but these will be unable to
56
00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,800
stand for long, and the
imperfection of the surrender in
57
00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:09,760
the lower part will not
seriously interfere.
58
00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,480
End Quote.
Reference.
59
00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:18,200
Shrioro Bindu and the Mother
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
60
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:22,000
Attitudes on the Path, page 124.
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:05,360
We frequently overlook the
element of time in any inner
2
00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:09,600
review of progress towards
spiritual fulfillment, surrender
3
00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:13,880
to the divine, or any other
aspect of our spiritual path.
4
00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:20,120
We want and expect instant
results, and thus when we once
5
00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:24,160
take up spiritual practice, we
want it to be immediately
6
00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,520
fulfilled.
And indeed, we frequently
7
00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:31,520
overlook the weaknesses or
failures of the external nature
8
00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,600
by simply believing that
accepting the Divine in our
9
00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:39,800
hearts or minds means that we
have accomplished the objective.
10
00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,320
When we recognize that the
complete surrender to the Divine
11
00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:48,640
has not occurred instantly, we
tend to become anxious about our
12
00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:53,480
failures or weaknesses, which
creates in many cases totally
13
00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:57,600
unnecessary worry and disruption
to our thoughts and emotions.
14
00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,240
This in turn creates friction in
the being, which actually
15
00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:06,280
disperses energy that otherwise
could be used to aid the
16
00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:10,280
progress.
Once we understand the process
17
00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:14,400
of the yogic sadhana and the
time it takes, we can focus our
18
00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:19,360
attention on the actual steps of
aspiration opening to the Divine
19
00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,880
Force, rejection the
identification and refusal to
20
00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:28,720
provide any support for contrary
movements, and surrender the
21
00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:33,120
acceptance and integration of
the divine force into our lives
22
00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:35,480
to carry out the transformations
needed.
23
00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,560
These steps are described in
Trioro Bindo's book The Mother.
24
00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:46,560
Human nature has evolved over
many millennia, and it is based
25
00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:50,040
on the underlying vital and
physical nature that preceded
26
00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,840
human evolution.
Evolutionary change, looked at
27
00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:58,920
through this lens, is a process
of many thousands or even
28
00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,840
millions of years.
It is vain to expect that the
29
00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:07,400
complete transformation of human
nature can take place at once or
30
00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,479
even within the framework of a
single lifetime.
31
00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:15,240
Generally, while one cannot
exclude some kind of miraculous
32
00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:20,120
transformative event, we see
that nature generally tends to
33
00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:25,800
work patiently and to the human
vision, slowly as it works out
34
00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:31,160
the issues and puts in place
modifications, upgrades, and
35
00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:35,000
changes that are beneficial to
the overall evolutionary
36
00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:39,160
development.
Once things are prepared, there
37
00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:43,320
may indeed be some kind of
evolutionary leap, but that does
38
00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,120
not occur without long
preparation behind the scenes.
39
00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,360
This process can happen in
multiple stages, with the will
40
00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,160
in each part of the being
developing the requisite
41
00:02:55,160 --> 00:03:00,920
intention and then over time,
working out the needed details
42
00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:03,360
in each aspect of human
existence.
43
00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,720
This is not an excuse for
procrastination.
44
00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,400
There should be the focus and
energy to achieve these changes
45
00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:18,200
immediately, while combined with
the patience and perseverance
46
00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,400
for the process to take many
lifetimes.
47
00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,640
What makes this difficult for
most people is the element of
48
00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:29,440
impatience and the expectation
that they will see radical
49
00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,760
change right away, rather than
having to labour away for long
50
00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:38,360
periods of time to see even
modest results in the external
51
00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:43,160
being.
Shrioro Bindo notes quote it.
52
00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:47,960
The attitude of surrender cannot
be absolutely complete in the
53
00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:53,600
beginning, but it can be true.
If the central will is sincere
54
00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,760
and there is the faith and the
bhakti.
55
00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,840
There may be contrary movements,
but these will be unable to
56
00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,800
stand for long, and the
imperfection of the surrender in
57
00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:09,760
the lower part will not
seriously interfere.
58
00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,480
End Quote.
Reference.
59
00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:18,200
Shrioro Bindu and the Mother
Looking from Within, Chapter 5.
60
00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:22,000
Attitudes on the Path, page 124.