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ARTArticleThe Vital Nature: a Great Assistant, but an Impossible MasterLion tamers, horse whisperers, dog trainers, all learn certain things about how to bring the vital nature into a compliant and participatory mood, to carry out the wishes of the trainer. They quickly learn that they cannot simply allow these vital beings the absolute license to do whatever they feel like doing; rather, they need to follow the direction and guidance of their trainer.ARTArticleThe Vital Reaction of JealousyIn Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice the vital reaction of jealousy is explored in considerable depth. The title character Othello is married to a young woman with whom he is passionately in love, in the normal sense of the word. Iago, who wants to bring dow Othello, systematically poisons Othello’s mind with thoughts that his wife is cheating on him, and selectively shows Othello ‘proofs’ which convince Othello of the veracity of the case.ARTArticleTHE WHY in Life Astrology?1) Why do some people have ample food to eat and some don't get a meal a day? ( According to statistics it is more than 240 cr people in the world with an average of less than or equal to one meal - so I guess it is a pertinent question to ponder about) 2) Many so-called Logical brains say that some big rocks millions of light-years away have some effect on one's life?? If Vedas are 5000 plus years old then this question also must have passed the test of time and stayed for a long time? Why? It does not make logical sense at all to our "British system" educated minds?ARTArticleThe Yoga-Shakti Active in the Integral YogaFor the majority of individuals who live on the surface of their being, the energy they experience, the thoughts, emotions, feelings, perceptions are simply the working of the machinery, with no understanding about the process or source of this energetic action in their lives. For those who have some experience of the inner awareness, however, there begins to develop a perception of various energies being located in specific areas, and this perception actually carries through into the ordinary awareness as habitual sayings or thoughts.ARTArticleThe Yogic Practitioner Should Not Obsess About Hostile AttacksThe focus on attacks by hostile forces, and difficulties faced, easily engages the ego-personality in a form of vanity. It strengthens the hold of the ego, rather than loosening attachment to open the way for the shift to the divine standpoint. When it takes a rajasic form, the ego glorifies in the fight against the ‘powerful forces’ that are attacking constantly. When it takes a tamasic form, the ego wallows in despair that it is being overwhelmed without assistance as these forces attack.ARTArticleThree Main Causes of Madness, Psychological Collapse and Failure of the Spiritual QuestThose who take up the spiritual quest face numerous difficulties along the way. Old habits and ways of seeing and acting are suddenly challenged, while at the same time energies long subdued or depressed may arise as the various chakras begin to open and pour out their energy. The various parts of the being can even be in conflict with one another as the mind holds an idea, the heart holds an aspiration, while the physical, nervous, and vital elements continue to try to express themselves in their usual manner.ARTArticleThree Parts of the Outer Being: Mental, Vital and PhysicalOnce an individual recognises that there are three separate foundations of consciousness in the outer being, and that they are not simply part of one unified awareness, it becomes much easier to untangle the numerous strands of pressure internally and understand how to address and deal with the inner issues, conflicts, obstructions and difficulties. How many people struggle with issues such as kicking an addiction, or losing weight, only to blame themselves for a lack of will-power, when in fact it is not the will-power of the mind that is the issue, but some other physical or vital cause.ARTArticleThree Steps (and Beyond) to Eliminate the Ego-ConsciousnessThe ego-consciousness controls our viewpoint, how we respond to events and circumstances, and our relations with others. This is such an inherent and automatic framework of action, that we many times do not even notice or appreciate that it is there. When egoism becomes extreme, we can ‘see’ it, but when it hides under forms of selflessness, altruism, philanthropy or self-giving, we tend to believe that we have overcome the ego. Yet the ego remains in all these forms and until we appreciate that and address that fact, we remain locked within the framework of the ego.ARTArticleTime and Patient PersistenceThe shift from the standpoint of the desire-soul of the ego is not something that can occur completely and all at once. There are too many persistent threads of the instincts and habits of the mind-life-body complex to expect so radical a change to happen magically. There may be, and generally are, experiences which come to the seeker that confirm the fact of another status of consciousness wherein resides peace, light, harmony, knowledge and a force that is palpable, working on the mind, working on the vital, working on the body.ARTArticleTransformation of the Vital Nature of Man: Background and IntroductionA primary characteristic of human life on earth at this time is the power of the vital force in shaping not just our day-to-day responses to life situations, but to also impact our mental processes, such that for most people, the mind is under the control of the vital and its desires and egoistic motivations. Those who take up the challenge of the integral yoga begin to understand the subtle (and not so subtle) influence and control exerted by the vital and the way it bends the mind and will towards fulfillment of its wishes.ARTArticleTransformation of the Vital Requires the Action of a New Power of ConsciousnessAlbert Einstein was famously quoted as saying: “We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them”. It is necessary to achieve a new frame of reference and standpoint in order to address the issues of the body-life-mind complex and the transformation of the vital nature is one of the key issues that needs to be so addressed. The vital nature, as we have described, is not subject to change through the normal tools of indulgence or suppression that seekers have tended to employ in past attempts to bring it under control.ARTArticleTransforming the Vital Nature, Part 2: Overcoming Difficulties and Obstacles on the PathThe primary initial difficulties faced by the sadhak in overcoming the vital nature are related to the Gunas of Rajas and Tamas. Rajas is naturally energetic and somewhat aggressive and thus, it tackles issues with vehemence. When it becomes frustrated or suffers a setback, it tends to recoil into tamas, with its depression and feelings of failure or weakness.ARTArticleTransition to a New Higher Standpoint of Consciousness Is the Basis of Achievement of the Cosmic ConsciousnessMany people can identify the experience of suddenly receiving an intuition or inspired or illumined knowledge on occasion. Some experience such things relatively frequently. Where does this sudden illumination come from? How does it act upon us? Generally, the occasional intuition is recognised when it comes into the mind, vital or physical being and has a quality of ‘rightness’ and truth associated with it.ARTArticleTransitioning to the Silent MindAssume that we succeed, through various methods of meditation or concentration, to bring the mind into a status of relative quiet. At that moment we begin to notice that there is this other running commentary going on in the background, reacting to every sense impression, bodily sensation, nervous impulse, or simply regurgitating past things in some form. This is what Sri Aurobindo terms the ‘mechanical mind’ which keeps running like a machine even when our higher conscious intellect is calm.ARTArticleTwo Aids in Overcoming the Impulse of AngerFor the spiritual seeker there are two major transformations ahead of the ultimate supramental transformation. These are the psychic transformation and the spiritual transformation. The one opens up the devotional aspiration and the receptivity of the being. The other shifts the standpoint away from the ego to the universal divine standpoint. Each of these provides leverage to the seeker who is trying to overcome the impulse of anger.ARTArticleTwo Forms of Protection from Attacks of Hostile ForcesThere must be some form of inner connection or resonance for any vibration to succeed in impacting an individual. On the more general basis, the physical body represents a connection to the material world, so that actions which impact the material world may obviously impact the physical body. Thus, all of humanity is subject to impacts by virtue of living in the world.ARTArticleTwo Methods for Achieving Equality of Feelings with OthersWhat causes an individual to ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ someone they meet. Some obvious reasons include similarities or differences in temperament, responses to situations, idea-sets, lifestyle, and, based on acculturation, accidental characteristics such as religion, social standing, career, or economic condition, as well as potential biases based on skin color, sexual orientation, gender, or appearance. Much of this, however, is what we may calll ‘learned’ response.ARTArticleTwo Options for the Seeker to Eliminate DesireWhen the spiritual aspirant hears that he must eliminate desire from his consciousness, he frequently takes this as a message of ‘renunciation’ and thereby determines to live an isolated life free from the efforts involved in living in the world and interacting within the societal framework. Even when he tries to live quietly in the forest, or the desert, or some kind of monastic retreat setting, he finds that desire follows him there.ARTArticleTwo Processes of Traditional Yogic Paths That Can Aid the Sadhana of the Integral YogaWhile the integral Yoga does not depend on the techniques or methods of the traditional yogic paths, Sri Aurobindo has identified several processes that can be of great help in some cases. They help the seeker achieve a state of separation from the outer ego-personality and vital desire-soul, to be able to recognise the motives, impulsions and habitual actions and reactions of the outer nature, so that they can be distinguished and either changed or transformed under the pressure of the yogic process.ARTArticleTwo Ways to Meet the Resistance of the Nature to the Divine Force: the Way of the Self and the Way of the PsychicWhen we reflect on the difficulty of changing basic human nature, and overcoming the general habits and patterns of universal nature expressing itself in us, we may easily recognise that none of the characteristic powers of mind, life or body will be sufficient to accomplish real and lasting change. The question arises as to whether real change can be effected.ARTArticleUnderstanding and Addressing Resistance in the Lower Being to the Descent of the Divine ForceThere is a physical sensation that often accompanies the descent of the higher Force into the being. Some people relate this as a type of pressure in the head. Some experience headaches initially. Some find their being shaking to some degree as the nervous system absorbs and distributes the impulses. Some find that the sensation is as if there is a drilling process taking place at the top of the head. Other experiences are also related from time to time. by those experiencing this descent.ARTArticleUnderstanding and Addressing the Mechanism of Anger and its Exte al CauseIf we examine the phenomenon of anger closely we see how it suddenly rises up and overpowers even those who are normally quite even-keeled in their day to day lives. By studying mob psychology, where we see a large number of individuals inflamed in a crowd setting and set into motion to wreak havoc and destroy, or express hatred, we see that on their own many of these individuals would never have engaged in such expressions or acts, but when their rage or anger has been whipped up from outside, they can do things that would be otherwise unthinkable.ARTArticleUnderstanding and Attaining the Right Attitude Toward Food for the Yogic PractitionerShifting the awareness away from the ego-consciousness to the divine standpoint takes place as a ‘tuning’ process which Sri Aurobindo designates as ‘aspiration’. This represents a focus of the attention of the being on the higher consciousness and away from the normal fixation on the outer life of the normal human consciousness. Food is one area that occupies an enormous role and significance in the human sphere, whether it is obtaining food, preparing food, enjoying food or talking or thinking about food.ARTArticleUnderstanding and Avoiding the Lures and Dangers of the Vital WorldsThe importance of preparation of the nature for the spiritual quest, the development of a solid and unshakable aspiration and devotion, and growth of both an understanding and the ability to distinguish what one is seeing and experiencing, cannot be overstated. As the seeker moves into the inner realms of awareness, he may come into contact with vital worlds that represent forces and beings inimical to the spiritual quest.ARTArticleUnderstanding and Dealing with the Physical MindSri Aurobindo recognises that in order to effectively address the actions of the mind, the various underlying sources and the energies they raise up in their action must be clearly seen and understood. There is a difference in the way one needs to deal with a persistent emotional reaction, for instance, than a habit of response to physical stimuli.ARTArticleUnderstanding and Overcoming DepressionIn today’s world, depression is a widespread malady that affects people throughout the world. In many cases, pharmaceutical drugs are known to have potential ‘side effects’ that can cause depression, thoughts of suicide, or other dark moods that inhibit the ability of the individual to function in his life. In other cases, there is a serious mismatch between the pressures and conce s one sees in the world and the inner sense of one’s life and meaning.ARTArticleUnderstanding and Overcoming Obstacles That Obstruct the Psychic OpeningIf human nature can be changed, it has to be at the place where motives and impulsions affect the understanding and the action. The sadhana thus entails a review of the wellsprings of thought and action, and a refusal of the drives and motives of the desire soul of the vital nature. Many times these motives are clothed in positive forms and good intentions.ARTArticleUnderstanding and Respecting the Body’s Need for RestWhen an illness strikes the body, its energy must go to recuperation and rebuilding its basic strength. For a practitioner of yoga, as well as for those who have a developed mental or emotional consciousness, or an aesthetic sense, the recuperation and rebuilding phase can be irksome, as there is a desire to continue the normal activities and progress in whatever the individuals’ focus normally tends to be. We tend to begrudge the time needed for the body’s recuperation and we exhibit impatience and in some cases, we overdo the activity at too early a stage.ARTArticleUnderstanding Human NatureAt some point in life, virtually every individual has an experience which is extremely disappointing and painful, due to a perceived betrayal or undue negative reaction from another person. A great part of human interaction is driven by reactions of jealousy, envy, lust, greed, fear, anger or, potentially, a cowardly reaction that shifts responsibility and blame onto an innocent individual to escape the consequences. Those who are more sensitive feel deeply hurt or wounded by these interactions.ARTArticleUnderstanding the Defense Mechanism of ProjectionDue to what we may call ‘observational bias’ we tend to attribute intention and motive to others that we ourselves have internally and project our internal response onto the other party, without knowing exactly what the cause of their action may be from their standpoint. Some of this is due to the mind ‘filling in’ information that is missing based on the facts it is able to perceive, something that occurs all the time and leads to both the ability to judge situations with little data, and the mistakes that can occur as a result of a ‘too prompt’ extrapolation.

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