July 30, 2025
Unflagging Perseverance and Persistence Is Required for the Practice of the Integral Yoga
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, pp. 138-139
This episode is also available as a blog post at Unflagging Perseverance and Persistence Is Required for the Practice of the Integral Yoga. | Sri Aurobindo Studies
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
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,200
Athletes undergo extensive
training routines, logging many
2
00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:09,240
thousands of hours with in many
cases tough physical
3
00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,360
conditioning and practice in
order to achieve their goals for
4
00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:17,160
physical development and to be
able to participate in a
5
00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:21,360
competitive sporting event.
Many who are not athletes
6
00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,560
undertake training routines to
modify their physical strength
7
00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,960
or endurance.
Actors in many cases have to
8
00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:32,560
take serious programs to prepare
for a particularly demanding
9
00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,280
role that requires physical
toning, strengthening or
10
00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:41,280
conditioning of their bodies.
In each case, the individual
11
00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:45,600
does not achieve the desired
result overnight, but has to
12
00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,000
undergo, in some cases, daily
training that can go on for
13
00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:54,160
weeks, months, or years.
To maintain the conditioning
14
00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,240
requires ongoing regular support
of activity.
15
00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:03,480
Similarly, great artists have to
hone their craft just as do
16
00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,240
great scientists,
mathematicians, or others who
17
00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:10,240
develop powers of the vital
being or the mind.
18
00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,280
Some of the individuals who
start on these paths give up due
19
00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:19,000
to the strenuous nature of what
they are called to do, as in
20
00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:23,280
some cases the training and
focus consumes their lives and
21
00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,880
leaves them little freedom to
explore other aspects of life.
22
00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:32,200
If they find it too difficult
and give up, they simply move on
23
00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:37,560
into other areas of life and
leave the dreams behind, for the
24
00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:39,560
spiritual secret is not
different.
25
00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,800
Some people have the notion that
taking up spirituality means
26
00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,680
some kind of escape from the
rigors and circumstances that
27
00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:51,280
they have to face.
Yet anyone who has tried to
28
00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:55,480
achieve a quiet mind in
meditation or who has attempted
29
00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,560
to change some element of his
physical, vital or mental being
30
00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:04,520
soon finds out that it is not as
easy as was imagined.
31
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,080
For those who took up a
spiritual life out of a sense of
32
00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:13,400
defeat and to avoid facing the
difficulties of the external
33
00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,640
life, there are constant
setbacks and some of these
34
00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:22,560
individuals, finding it too
difficult, give up and go back
35
00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,480
to some less trying outer life
activity.
36
00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,760
Others recognize that while they
may have sought an escape, there
37
00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:35,960
is no escape and they simply
find a way to accept the trials
38
00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:41,400
and continue to push forward.
When we observe the hundreds of
39
00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,000
millions of years that life on
earth has had to develop fixed
40
00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,760
habits and instinctive
behaviour, it becomes clear why
41
00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:54,240
it may take some time and
constant persevering efforts to
42
00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:59,080
effectuate a change.
In fact, the individual setbacks
43
00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:03,000
are simply steps along the way
as the seeker works out the
44
00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:07,160
necessary means to uplift some
aspect of human nature.
45
00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:12,880
This involves a focus as
intense, if not more intense
46
00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:17,240
than anything that an athlete or
some other individual striving
47
00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:22,040
to succeed in the external world
has to face, as one is then up
48
00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:26,320
against millions of years of
habitual patterns that have to
49
00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:31,480
be deconstructed and modified,
the mother writes.
50
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:36,080
Quote, If you are not able to
face difficulties without
51
00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,520
getting discouraged and without
giving up because it is too
52
00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:44,280
difficult, and if you are
incapable well of receiving
53
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,280
blows and yet continuing of
pocketing them, as they say,
54
00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,640
when you receive blows as a
result of your defects, of
55
00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:57,560
putting them in your pocket and
continuing to go forward without
56
00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:03,120
flagging, you don't go very far
at the first turning, where you
57
00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,920
lose sight of your little
habitual life, you fall into
58
00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:10,520
despair and give up the game the
most.
59
00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,680
How shall I put it?
The most material form of this
60
00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:17,000
quality of endurance is
perseverance.
61
00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:22,680
Unless you are resolved to begin
the same thing over again 1000
62
00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:26,760
times, if need be.
You know, people come to me in
63
00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,960
despair, but I thought it was
done, and now I must begin
64
00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:35,080
again.
And if they are told, but that's
65
00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:40,880
nothing, you will probably have
to begin again 100 times, 200 *
66
00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:45,240
1000 times.
You take one step forward and
67
00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,240
think you are secure, but there
will always be something to
68
00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:53,240
bring back the same difficulty a
little farther on.
69
00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:58,000
You think you have solved the
problem, you must solve it yet
70
00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,800
once again it will turn up
again, looking just a little
71
00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,680
different, but it will be the
same problem.
72
00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:10,320
And if you are not determined
that even if it comes back a
73
00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:14,680
million times, I shall do it a
million times, but I shall go
74
00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:19,440
through with it, well, you won't
be able to do the yoga.
75
00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,880
This is absolutely
indispensable.
76
00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:28,560
People have a beautiful
experience and say, ah, now this
77
00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:31,280
is it.
And then it settles down,
78
00:05:31,280 --> 00:05:35,240
diminishes, gets veiled, and
suddenly something quite
79
00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:39,000
unexpected, absolutely
commonplace and apparently
80
00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:43,400
completely uninteresting, comes
before you and blocks your way.
81
00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,880
And then you say, ah, what's the
good of having made this
82
00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:51,440
progress if it's going to start
all over again?
83
00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:56,000
Why should I do it?
I made an effort, I succeeded,
84
00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:00,760
achieved something, and it's as
if I had done nothing.
85
00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:06,480
It's indeed hopeless, for you
have no endurance.
86
00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:12,920
If one has endurance, one says
it's all right, good.
87
00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:19,680
I shall begin again as often as
necessary, 1000 * 10,000 *
88
00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:23,600
100,000 times.
If necessary, I shall begin
89
00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:27,480
again, but I shall go to the
end, and nothing will have the
90
00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:34,400
power to stop me on the way.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindu
91
00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,640
and the Mother Looking from
Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on
92
00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:42,200
the Path, pages 138 to 139.
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,200
Athletes undergo extensive
training routines, logging many
2
00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:09,240
thousands of hours with in many
cases tough physical
3
00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,360
conditioning and practice in
order to achieve their goals for
4
00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:17,160
physical development and to be
able to participate in a
5
00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:21,360
competitive sporting event.
Many who are not athletes
6
00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,560
undertake training routines to
modify their physical strength
7
00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,960
or endurance.
Actors in many cases have to
8
00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:32,560
take serious programs to prepare
for a particularly demanding
9
00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,280
role that requires physical
toning, strengthening or
10
00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:41,280
conditioning of their bodies.
In each case, the individual
11
00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:45,600
does not achieve the desired
result overnight, but has to
12
00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,000
undergo, in some cases, daily
training that can go on for
13
00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:54,160
weeks, months, or years.
To maintain the conditioning
14
00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,240
requires ongoing regular support
of activity.
15
00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:03,480
Similarly, great artists have to
hone their craft just as do
16
00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,240
great scientists,
mathematicians, or others who
17
00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:10,240
develop powers of the vital
being or the mind.
18
00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,280
Some of the individuals who
start on these paths give up due
19
00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:19,000
to the strenuous nature of what
they are called to do, as in
20
00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:23,280
some cases the training and
focus consumes their lives and
21
00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,880
leaves them little freedom to
explore other aspects of life.
22
00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:32,200
If they find it too difficult
and give up, they simply move on
23
00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:37,560
into other areas of life and
leave the dreams behind, for the
24
00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:39,560
spiritual secret is not
different.
25
00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,800
Some people have the notion that
taking up spirituality means
26
00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,680
some kind of escape from the
rigors and circumstances that
27
00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:51,280
they have to face.
Yet anyone who has tried to
28
00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:55,480
achieve a quiet mind in
meditation or who has attempted
29
00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,560
to change some element of his
physical, vital or mental being
30
00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:04,520
soon finds out that it is not as
easy as was imagined.
31
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,080
For those who took up a
spiritual life out of a sense of
32
00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:13,400
defeat and to avoid facing the
difficulties of the external
33
00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,640
life, there are constant
setbacks and some of these
34
00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:22,560
individuals, finding it too
difficult, give up and go back
35
00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,480
to some less trying outer life
activity.
36
00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,760
Others recognize that while they
may have sought an escape, there
37
00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:35,960
is no escape and they simply
find a way to accept the trials
38
00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:41,400
and continue to push forward.
When we observe the hundreds of
39
00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,000
millions of years that life on
earth has had to develop fixed
40
00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,760
habits and instinctive
behaviour, it becomes clear why
41
00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:54,240
it may take some time and
constant persevering efforts to
42
00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:59,080
effectuate a change.
In fact, the individual setbacks
43
00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:03,000
are simply steps along the way
as the seeker works out the
44
00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:07,160
necessary means to uplift some
aspect of human nature.
45
00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:12,880
This involves a focus as
intense, if not more intense
46
00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:17,240
than anything that an athlete or
some other individual striving
47
00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:22,040
to succeed in the external world
has to face, as one is then up
48
00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:26,320
against millions of years of
habitual patterns that have to
49
00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:31,480
be deconstructed and modified,
the mother writes.
50
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:36,080
Quote, If you are not able to
face difficulties without
51
00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,520
getting discouraged and without
giving up because it is too
52
00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:44,280
difficult, and if you are
incapable well of receiving
53
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,280
blows and yet continuing of
pocketing them, as they say,
54
00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,640
when you receive blows as a
result of your defects, of
55
00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:57,560
putting them in your pocket and
continuing to go forward without
56
00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:03,120
flagging, you don't go very far
at the first turning, where you
57
00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,920
lose sight of your little
habitual life, you fall into
58
00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:10,520
despair and give up the game the
most.
59
00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,680
How shall I put it?
The most material form of this
60
00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:17,000
quality of endurance is
perseverance.
61
00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:22,680
Unless you are resolved to begin
the same thing over again 1000
62
00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:26,760
times, if need be.
You know, people come to me in
63
00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,960
despair, but I thought it was
done, and now I must begin
64
00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:35,080
again.
And if they are told, but that's
65
00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:40,880
nothing, you will probably have
to begin again 100 times, 200 *
66
00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:45,240
1000 times.
You take one step forward and
67
00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,240
think you are secure, but there
will always be something to
68
00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:53,240
bring back the same difficulty a
little farther on.
69
00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:58,000
You think you have solved the
problem, you must solve it yet
70
00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,800
once again it will turn up
again, looking just a little
71
00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,680
different, but it will be the
same problem.
72
00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:10,320
And if you are not determined
that even if it comes back a
73
00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:14,680
million times, I shall do it a
million times, but I shall go
74
00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:19,440
through with it, well, you won't
be able to do the yoga.
75
00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,880
This is absolutely
indispensable.
76
00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:28,560
People have a beautiful
experience and say, ah, now this
77
00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:31,280
is it.
And then it settles down,
78
00:05:31,280 --> 00:05:35,240
diminishes, gets veiled, and
suddenly something quite
79
00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:39,000
unexpected, absolutely
commonplace and apparently
80
00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:43,400
completely uninteresting, comes
before you and blocks your way.
81
00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,880
And then you say, ah, what's the
good of having made this
82
00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:51,440
progress if it's going to start
all over again?
83
00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:56,000
Why should I do it?
I made an effort, I succeeded,
84
00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:00,760
achieved something, and it's as
if I had done nothing.
85
00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:06,480
It's indeed hopeless, for you
have no endurance.
86
00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:12,920
If one has endurance, one says
it's all right, good.
87
00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:19,680
I shall begin again as often as
necessary, 1000 * 10,000 *
88
00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:23,600
100,000 times.
If necessary, I shall begin
89
00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:27,480
again, but I shall go to the
end, and nothing will have the
90
00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:34,400
power to stop me on the way.
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindu
91
00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,640
and the Mother Looking from
Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on
92
00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:42,200
the Path, pages 138 to 139.