Latest / Sri Aurobindo Studies / Insights About the Need for Strength and Flexibility in the Practice of the Integral Yoga
Transcript
- 0:00Shrioro Bindo makes several essential points here that bear
- 0:04some reflection. First, the need for strength in
- 0:08all parts of the being until it actually begins to happen to an
- 0:13individual. He has no idea about the power
- 0:16of the divine force descending into the being and what impacts
- 0:20it has on the mind, the vital being, and the body.
- 0:25There are warnings in some of the traditional yogic paths
- 0:28about the potential imbalances that can occur when the yogic
- 0:32power awakens in an individual who is not properly prepared.
- 0:37An unprepared mind can become imbalanced or subject to chaotic
- 0:43and uncontrollable thoughts and ideas, or receive suggestions
- 0:48that can lead to negative consequences.
- 0:51An unprepared nerve channel can lead to nervous breakdowns and
- 0:55uncontrolled vital reactions, roller coaster emotions, mood
- 1:00swings, and trembling or twitching of the body.
- 1:04An unprepared physical body can become ill or breakdown in
- 1:09various ways, up to and including incapacitation or even
- 1:15death. Triorobindo therefore stresses
- 1:18the need for the preparation, the development of strength and
- 1:22solidity in all the parts of the being, an unshakable force of
- 1:28peace that widens the being and thereby creates a vessel that
- 1:33can hold the force without spilling it.
- 1:38The second essential point Trioro Window makes here relates
- 1:41to the need for intelligent insight, flexibility and
- 1:45receptivity as the yogic process progresses.
- 1:50Yogic practice is not a road map or a cookbook of fixed recipes.
- 1:55The practitioners start from various stages of development
- 1:59and each one has unique challenges and situations to
- 2:03work out. Yoga is a form of applied
- 2:06psychology rather than a fixed methodology that is 1 size fits
- 2:12all. Observation, insight, reflection
- 2:17and a flexible approach while maintaining the core aspiration
- 2:22and focus are the necessary powers to be employed in the
- 2:26practice of the integral yoga. Sri Aurobindo notes quote A
- 2:33strong mind and body and life force are needed in the Sadhna.
- 2:38Especially steps should be taken to throw out Thomas and bring
- 2:42strength and force into the frame of the nature.
- 2:47The way of yoga must be a living thing, not a mental principle or
- 2:51a set method to be stuck to against all necessary
- 2:55variations. End Quote Reference Srioro
- 3:00Bindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 1. Calm, Peace and Equality, page
- 3:0718.