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Bases of Yoga -- Summary and Conclusions · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  In various places, Srioro Bindo has noted that yoga is applied
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  psychology. The practitioner of yoga is
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  confronted by all of the instincts, habits, trained
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  responses and reactions of human nature and is asked to address
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  and change these in order to uplift the human being to the
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  next stage of the evolutionary cycle, thereby transforming the
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  understanding, the response and the action of the individual.
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  Many paths of religious and spiritual discipline provide
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  what may be seen as a type of road map whereby the
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  practitioner adopts a specific set of practices, whether
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  mental, emotional, vital or physical, and by carrying them
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  out systematically he can achieve the results set forth by
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  that path. Some paths are based on
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  attaining deeper knowledge, some on developing devotion and
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  consecration. Others focus on undertaking
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  selfless action of various sorts.
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  Still others rely on psychophysical practices such as
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  pranayama and hatha yoga to effectuate changes in the
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  energetic action of the nature, open up the subtle energy
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  centers, and bring liberation and new levels of understanding
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  to the seeker. To carry out any of these
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  practices, the seeker needs must address the obstructions,
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  desires, embedded habits, memories, traumas, et cetera,
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  that he carries with him, along with any limitations based on
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  his education and past training. Thus, whether consciously or
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  not, he is undertaking a form of applied psychology.
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  For the seeker practicing the integral yoga with an objective
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  of the transformation of human life rather than a form of
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  liberation that abandons life or an immersion in the material
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  life to the exclusion of higher purpose, the need for insight
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  into the aspects of applied psychology become imperative.
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  The basis of yoga directly addresses this need.
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  The first need is to establish the witness standpoint and not
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  be reactive to every circumstance, event or pressure
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  that arises. Thus, the first chapter focuses
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  on calm, peace, equality. The way is long and arduous and
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  the progress is many times unseen or just barely glimpsed.
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  The being must be fixed in its focus on the higher divine force
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  intervening to effectuate the needed changes and thus the next
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  chapter is directed to faith, aspiration, surrender.
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  These represent the fundamental qualities needed to progress
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  along the way. The 3rd chapter in difficulty
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  works to apply the core principles to actual life
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  situations and experiences of the seeker.
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  The 4th chapter delves deeper into the vital drives that are
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  some of the most difficult to overcome and redirect, and thus
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  deals with desire, food, sex. Finally, Sri Aurobindo outlines
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  in the 5th chapter the bedrock of the embedded nature with
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  physical consciousness, subconscious sleep and dream
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  illness. These are some of the last
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  things that the seeker can take up and address, but no
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  comprehensive and permanent change can take place until they
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  are addressed. Bases of Yoga is frequently
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  referenced as an introductory book, but it contains a depth of
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  understanding that makes it a practical support along the
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  entire path of the yogic practice.
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  It is not sectarian in any degree, focusing on real issues
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  of human psychology and development, that seekers along
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  any path, religious, philosophical, scientific,
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  spiritual, can both relate to and find benefit from.
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  Reference Sri Aurobindo, Bases of yoga.
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  Summary and conclusions.