June 11, 2026
What Happens to Progress at the Mental, Vital and Physical Levels When the Psychic Being Departs?
reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Psychic Being — Soul: Its Nature, Mission and Evolution, Section 3 Growth and Development of the Psychic, pp. 87-89This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/06/09/what-happens-to-progress-at-the-mental-vital-and-physical-levels-when-the-psychic-being-departs/
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
#Sri Aurobindo #The Mother #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #evolution of consciousness #rebirth #soul #psychic being
1
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,440
The psychic being assimilates
the essence of the experience of
2
00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:09,840
a lifetime, then leaves behind
the body, life force and mind of
3
00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:15,160
that lifetime, and moves on into
other lives, other experiences.
4
00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:19,640
However, a substantial effort
has been made by the psychic
5
00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,240
being to enhance and develop the
mind, life and body while it
6
00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:26,240
inhabited a particular external
form.
7
00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:31,520
Is that effort simply discarded
and wasted when the psychic
8
00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:35,760
being moves on?
Or is there some mechanism to
9
00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,720
preserve that development and
progress so that it does not
10
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,720
need to be repeated from the
beginning in each successive,
11
00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:48,280
relatively short time frame of
an individual life?
12
00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,680
When the soul takes on a new
birth, it is obviously born into
13
00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,320
a society that has already dealt
with and assimilated to some
14
00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:02,560
degree the progress of the past.
We see in all fields of human
15
00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,240
endeavour that the present
generation has its foundation in
16
00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:10,880
what has gone before and can
thereby develop from that point
17
00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:15,120
forward.
To that extent, therefore, any
18
00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:19,200
soul taking birth in the present
time will have the benefit of
19
00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:23,200
the past developments that have
taken place to the extent they
20
00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:28,160
have been incorporated either
subtly or overtly into the human
21
00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:32,760
experience, or at least to the
extent they reside in the
22
00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:37,280
physical, vital or mental
domains that make up the earth
23
00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:41,520
life interactions.
The general development, what
24
00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:46,360
may be called the texturing, of
the external consciousness, is
25
00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,840
therefore available to the soul
even if it does not bring with
26
00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:55,640
it specific and identifiable
progress from a past lifetime.
27
00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,200
The formations that were
developed by a specific
28
00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:04,880
concentration of a psychic being
in a particular lifetime may be
29
00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:10,000
so precisely crafted as to stay
with the psychic being as it
30
00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,800
traverses death and new birth.
Or they may be situated in the
31
00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:20,520
geosphere, biosphere, or
nuosphere of the world, and thus
32
00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:24,520
be available not only to that
specific psychic being on
33
00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:29,320
rebirth, but to any others who
can resonate and pick up the
34
00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,960
force of those formations.
In that sense it is not a
35
00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:38,040
possession of the ego
personality but a general
36
00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:42,600
capacity entered into the earth
life in its multi generational
37
00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:47,600
development and progression.
The mother clarifies another
38
00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,920
aspect of this in her response
to a disciple raising these
39
00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:55,200
issues.
A disciple asks if it is not the
40
00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,440
mind, vital or physical, which
takes birth again but only the
41
00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:02,720
psychic being, then the vital or
mental progress made before is
42
00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:09,160
of no value in another life.
The mother answers quote it
43
00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:12,320
happens only to the extent the
progress of these parts has
44
00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:16,400
brought them close to the
psychic, that is, to the extent
45
00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,200
the progress lies in putting all
the parts of the being
46
00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,840
successively under the psychic
influence.
47
00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:26,280
For all that is under the
psychic influence and identified
48
00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:30,800
with the psychic continues, and
it is that alone which
49
00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:34,120
continues.
But if the psychic is made the
50
00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,720
center of 1's life and
consciousness, and if the whole
51
00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:42,160
being is organized around it,
the whole being passes under the
52
00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:47,920
psychic influence, becomes unit,
united with it, and can continue
53
00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,960
if it is necessary for it to
continue.
54
00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,400
Indeed, if the physical body
could be given the same
55
00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,600
movement, the same movements of
progress, and the same capacity
56
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:04,280
to ascend that the psychic being
has, well, it wouldn't be
57
00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:09,040
necessary for it to decompose.
But that indeed is the
58
00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,920
difficulty.
And only that which is in
59
00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,959
contact with the psychic lasts,
and only what can last can
60
00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:21,600
remember, for the rest
disappears, is again dissolved
61
00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,320
into small pieces and utilized
elsewhere.
62
00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:29,400
As the body is dissolved again
to dust and used elsewhere, it
63
00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,720
goes back to the earth.
Plants use the soil.
64
00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:36,800
Men eat the plants.
It is in this way that it goes
65
00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,400
on, and then it returns to the
earth and begins again.
66
00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,000
That's the way nature
progresses.
67
00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,760
In order to progress, she makes
a heap of forms.
68
00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:51,840
Then when that seems no longer
important or necessary to her,
69
00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:56,200
she demolishes them, takes up
all the elements again, chemical
70
00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,640
or other, and reconstitute
something else.
71
00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:04,040
And so it goes on, changing all
the time, coming and going.
72
00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,240
And she finds that very good,
for she sees very far.
73
00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:13,200
Her work extends over centuries,
and a small human life is
74
00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,280
nothing, just a breath in
eternity.
75
00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:22,480
So she takes up shapes, she
takes a certain time, it's fun
76
00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,800
for her.
She finds it very good.
77
00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:29,280
And then when it is no longer so
good, she demolishes it.
78
00:05:29,840 --> 00:05:34,640
She takes up, mixes everything,
begins another form, make
79
00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,640
something else.
And so perhaps with this
80
00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:43,160
process, which is evidently very
slow, finally the whole matter
81
00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:47,400
progresses.
It is possible always in this
82
00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:51,760
way, intermingling, breaking up,
remixing, breaking up again.
83
00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:56,840
Essentially, it is as though one
made a heap of small objects and
84
00:05:56,840 --> 00:06:01,240
then destroyed them, remade
something from the dust, remade
85
00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:06,040
other toys and again broke them
and remade others out of that.
86
00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:12,200
Each time 1 adds something so
that it mixes well, and then one
87
00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,640
day perhaps all that will
produce something.
88
00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:21,680
In any case, she is in no hurry.
And when we are in a hurry, she
89
00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:25,040
says, why are you in such a
haste?
90
00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:30,480
It is sure to happen one day.
You don't need to worry, it will
91
00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:35,480
surely come.
Weep quietly then we tell her,
92
00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:41,840
But it is not I who am waiting.
Ah, that's because you call I
93
00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,480
that thing which comes and goes
away.
94
00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:49,240
If you were to call
consciousness, the one eternal
95
00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:55,000
and divine consciousness, if you
were to call that I, then you
96
00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,880
would see everything.
You would be present at
97
00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:01,080
everything.
Nobody prevents you from doing
98
00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,680
it.
It is only because you identify
99
00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,560
yourself with this, indicating
the body.
100
00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:10,480
You have only to stop
identifying yourself with that.
101
00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:17,160
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindu
and the Mother, the psychic
102
00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,680
being soul, its nature, Mission
and evolution.
103
00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,000
Section 3.
Growth and Development of the
104
00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,280
Psychic, pages 87 to 89.
00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,440
The psychic being assimilates
the essence of the experience of
2
00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:09,840
a lifetime, then leaves behind
the body, life force and mind of
3
00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:15,160
that lifetime, and moves on into
other lives, other experiences.
4
00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:19,640
However, a substantial effort
has been made by the psychic
5
00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,240
being to enhance and develop the
mind, life and body while it
6
00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:26,240
inhabited a particular external
form.
7
00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:31,520
Is that effort simply discarded
and wasted when the psychic
8
00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:35,760
being moves on?
Or is there some mechanism to
9
00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,720
preserve that development and
progress so that it does not
10
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,720
need to be repeated from the
beginning in each successive,
11
00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:48,280
relatively short time frame of
an individual life?
12
00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,680
When the soul takes on a new
birth, it is obviously born into
13
00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,320
a society that has already dealt
with and assimilated to some
14
00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:02,560
degree the progress of the past.
We see in all fields of human
15
00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,240
endeavour that the present
generation has its foundation in
16
00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:10,880
what has gone before and can
thereby develop from that point
17
00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:15,120
forward.
To that extent, therefore, any
18
00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:19,200
soul taking birth in the present
time will have the benefit of
19
00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:23,200
the past developments that have
taken place to the extent they
20
00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:28,160
have been incorporated either
subtly or overtly into the human
21
00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:32,760
experience, or at least to the
extent they reside in the
22
00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:37,280
physical, vital or mental
domains that make up the earth
23
00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:41,520
life interactions.
The general development, what
24
00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:46,360
may be called the texturing, of
the external consciousness, is
25
00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,840
therefore available to the soul
even if it does not bring with
26
00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:55,640
it specific and identifiable
progress from a past lifetime.
27
00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,200
The formations that were
developed by a specific
28
00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:04,880
concentration of a psychic being
in a particular lifetime may be
29
00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:10,000
so precisely crafted as to stay
with the psychic being as it
30
00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:14,800
traverses death and new birth.
Or they may be situated in the
31
00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:20,520
geosphere, biosphere, or
nuosphere of the world, and thus
32
00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:24,520
be available not only to that
specific psychic being on
33
00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:29,320
rebirth, but to any others who
can resonate and pick up the
34
00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,960
force of those formations.
In that sense it is not a
35
00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:38,040
possession of the ego
personality but a general
36
00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:42,600
capacity entered into the earth
life in its multi generational
37
00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:47,600
development and progression.
The mother clarifies another
38
00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,920
aspect of this in her response
to a disciple raising these
39
00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:55,200
issues.
A disciple asks if it is not the
40
00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,440
mind, vital or physical, which
takes birth again but only the
41
00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:02,720
psychic being, then the vital or
mental progress made before is
42
00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:09,160
of no value in another life.
The mother answers quote it
43
00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:12,320
happens only to the extent the
progress of these parts has
44
00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:16,400
brought them close to the
psychic, that is, to the extent
45
00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,200
the progress lies in putting all
the parts of the being
46
00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,840
successively under the psychic
influence.
47
00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:26,280
For all that is under the
psychic influence and identified
48
00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:30,800
with the psychic continues, and
it is that alone which
49
00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:34,120
continues.
But if the psychic is made the
50
00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,720
center of 1's life and
consciousness, and if the whole
51
00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:42,160
being is organized around it,
the whole being passes under the
52
00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:47,920
psychic influence, becomes unit,
united with it, and can continue
53
00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,960
if it is necessary for it to
continue.
54
00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,400
Indeed, if the physical body
could be given the same
55
00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,600
movement, the same movements of
progress, and the same capacity
56
00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:04,280
to ascend that the psychic being
has, well, it wouldn't be
57
00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:09,040
necessary for it to decompose.
But that indeed is the
58
00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,920
difficulty.
And only that which is in
59
00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,959
contact with the psychic lasts,
and only what can last can
60
00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:21,600
remember, for the rest
disappears, is again dissolved
61
00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,320
into small pieces and utilized
elsewhere.
62
00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:29,400
As the body is dissolved again
to dust and used elsewhere, it
63
00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,720
goes back to the earth.
Plants use the soil.
64
00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:36,800
Men eat the plants.
It is in this way that it goes
65
00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,400
on, and then it returns to the
earth and begins again.
66
00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,000
That's the way nature
progresses.
67
00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,760
In order to progress, she makes
a heap of forms.
68
00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:51,840
Then when that seems no longer
important or necessary to her,
69
00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:56,200
she demolishes them, takes up
all the elements again, chemical
70
00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,640
or other, and reconstitute
something else.
71
00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:04,040
And so it goes on, changing all
the time, coming and going.
72
00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,240
And she finds that very good,
for she sees very far.
73
00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:13,200
Her work extends over centuries,
and a small human life is
74
00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,280
nothing, just a breath in
eternity.
75
00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:22,480
So she takes up shapes, she
takes a certain time, it's fun
76
00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,800
for her.
She finds it very good.
77
00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:29,280
And then when it is no longer so
good, she demolishes it.
78
00:05:29,840 --> 00:05:34,640
She takes up, mixes everything,
begins another form, make
79
00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,640
something else.
And so perhaps with this
80
00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:43,160
process, which is evidently very
slow, finally the whole matter
81
00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:47,400
progresses.
It is possible always in this
82
00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:51,760
way, intermingling, breaking up,
remixing, breaking up again.
83
00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:56,840
Essentially, it is as though one
made a heap of small objects and
84
00:05:56,840 --> 00:06:01,240
then destroyed them, remade
something from the dust, remade
85
00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:06,040
other toys and again broke them
and remade others out of that.
86
00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:12,200
Each time 1 adds something so
that it mixes well, and then one
87
00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,640
day perhaps all that will
produce something.
88
00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:21,680
In any case, she is in no hurry.
And when we are in a hurry, she
89
00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:25,040
says, why are you in such a
haste?
90
00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:30,480
It is sure to happen one day.
You don't need to worry, it will
91
00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:35,480
surely come.
Weep quietly then we tell her,
92
00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:41,840
But it is not I who am waiting.
Ah, that's because you call I
93
00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,480
that thing which comes and goes
away.
94
00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:49,240
If you were to call
consciousness, the one eternal
95
00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:55,000
and divine consciousness, if you
were to call that I, then you
96
00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,880
would see everything.
You would be present at
97
00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:01,080
everything.
Nobody prevents you from doing
98
00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,680
it.
It is only because you identify
99
00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,560
yourself with this, indicating
the body.
100
00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:10,480
You have only to stop
identifying yourself with that.
101
00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:17,160
End Quote Reference Srioro Bindu
and the Mother, the psychic
102
00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,680
being soul, its nature, Mission
and evolution.
103
00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,000
Section 3.
Growth and Development of the
104
00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,280
Psychic, pages 87 to 89.
