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Weaknesses of the Vital Nature That Impede the Practice of the Integral Yoga · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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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.