Weaknesses of the Vital Nature That Impede the Practice of the Integral Yoga

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Rio Bindo describes 3 conditions
that can derail the practice of

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integral yoga.
Each of the three represent a

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form of weakness of the vital
nature.

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The normal vital nature craves
excitement and seeks new

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experiences all the time.
The transformation of human

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nature, however, involves
efforts that may seem endless

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and repetitive as the habits and
embedded grooves in the being

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are not changed quickly.
The seeker must be prepared for

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going through the same issues
time and again, and even if it

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appears he has succeeded, the
issue may reappear at some point

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in the future as the spiritual
force works ever deeper into the

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being and triggers hidden
reactions.

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When the consciousness goes
beyond the ego limitations for

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the first time, a fear of death
may arise.

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This is an experience at the
boundary when the ego recognizes

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that it will dissolve if the
individual takes it any further.

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If fear arises, the individual's
pulled back at once into the

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familiar framework of the ego
personality.

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It is only when the seeker is
able to transcend this

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existential fear that he can
definitively rise beyond the

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limits of the ego. 1/3 issue is
the potential increase in the

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power of the vital drives and
passions with the influx of new

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powers active in the being.
This can be of particular

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concern if the seeker, in order
to gain new powers, has

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undertaken disciplines to try to
artificially suppress the vital

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nature.
Suppression tends to increase

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the compressed force and thus
with the influx of new energies,

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it can burst forth with
extremely damaging results.

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Anger, lust, greed, jealousy,
hatred, rage, violence all

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potentially lie and wait for the
seeker who has not taken the

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necessary steps to bring peace
and harmony to the vital nature.

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Shriorbindo notes quote one who
fears monotony and wants

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something new would not be able
to do yoga, or at least this

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yoga which needs an
inexhaustible perseverance and

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patience.
The fear of death shows a vital

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weakness which is also contrary
to a capacity for yoga.

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Equally, one who is under the
domination of his passions would

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find the yoga difficult and
unless supported by a true inner

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call and a sincere and strong
aspiration for the spiritual

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consciousness and union with the
Divine, might very easily fall

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fatally and his effort come to
nothing.

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End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindo, Bases of

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Yoga, Chapter 2, Faith,
Aspiration, Surrender, pages 34

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to 35.