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The Vital Nature: Desire and the Reaction to Failure in Obtaining the Object of Desire · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  The vital nature is closely tied to the operation of desire.
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  Whether it is a desire for recognition, for money, for sex,
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  for achievement of some sort, for acceptance or comfort, the
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  vital nature activates its energy to reach out and grab
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  some result it believes will satisfy that desire.
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  At the same time, this vital seeking is frequently
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  frustrated. Obstacles come in the way,
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  Something we are expecting or hoping for simply does not come
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  our way. It can be as simple as getting
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  stuck in heavy traffic on the roads, or it can be something
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  more significant, such as someone opposing our desire or
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  withholding what we seek, or life simply not going as we may
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  wish. When this occurs, the vital
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  nature frequently lashes out with anger, rage, hatred, or
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  some other expression of its lack of fulfillment.
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  After the rush of desire is gone, the being then frequently
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  falls back into a state of somnolence, lassitude,
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  withdrawal, or depression. The action of desire is provoked
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  by the quality of rajas. When it recedes, the being tends
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  to fall into a state of Thomas. This is a quite usual event that
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  basically everyone experiences constantly during the daily
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  life. It is the state of Thomas, the
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  reaction to expended rajas, that leads the vital nature to
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  basically stop Co operating, go on strike.
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  As the mother explains, it essentially expresses its
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  dissatisfaction with the failure to have its desire rewarded and
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  fulfilled by throwing a tantrum of non cooperation.
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  An interesting story from the Mahabharata helps to illustrate
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  the operations of the vital nature, the movement of desire,
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  the frustration of desire and the eventual consequences for
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  all concerned drawn. Acharya, who eventually became
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  the preceptor of the Korova and Pandava Princess, and Dhrupada,
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  who eventually went on to rule over a Kingdom, were both
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  students in the same ashram. As youths, they became friends
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  and promised one another eternal friendship and equal sharing of
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  whatever came their way. When they each went their
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  separate ways afterwards, Prince Dhrupada became a powerful king,
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  while Drona was a poor Brahman who could barely care for the
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  needs of his family. He eventually went to Drupada's
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  Kingdom and reminded him of their youthful promises.
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  Drupada pointed out that they did not have an equal status and
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  he could not recognize the friendship of Drona nor provide
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  for him. Drona went away frustrated and
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  angry. He went to Hastinapur where he
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  became the teacher of the Korovas, as noted for his
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  teaching fee. He demanded that his students go
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  to the Kingdom of Drupad and defeat him and bring him alive
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  as a captive to Drona. This feat was accomplished by
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  Arjuna. At that time, Drona advised
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  Drupada that he was now in charge of the Kingdom, and out
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  of their former friendship, he would get half the Kingdom to
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  Drupada, retaining the other half for himself.
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  Drupada, humiliated and disturbed, went back to his half
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  of the Kingdom and began a sacrifice with the purpose of
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  burying a son who would defeat and kill Drona in battle.
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  The son, Drishya Dumna was eventually born and trained, and
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  in the great Kurukshetra War it was his destiny to kill
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  Dronacharya, one of the premier warriors on the side of the
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  Korovas we see here both individuals move by the desire
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  soul of their vital nature. We see desire in action, and we
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  see the frustration of desire and eventually the rising of the
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  desire for vengeance on each side and at the end the
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  consequences of the death of Dronacharya at the hand of
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  Dhrupad's son mean. We may try to judge right and
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  wrong in the actions and responses of either or both of
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  them, or we may say that they were each acting under the
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  impulsion of destiny, but we cannot deny that destiny was
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  carried out through the reactions of their respective
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  vital natures. A disciple asks, Does depression
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  come from the vital? The mother notes quote.
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  Oh yes, all your troubles, depression, discouragement,
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  disgust, fury, all all come from the vital.
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  It is that which turns love into hate.
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  It is that which induces the spirit of vengeance, rancor, bad
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  will, the urge to destroy and to harm.
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  It is that which discourages you when things are difficult and
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  not to its liking, and it has an extraordinary capacity for going
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  on strike. When it is not satisfied.
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  It hides in a corner and does not budget.
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  And then you have no more energy, no more strength.
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  You have no courage left. Your will is like like a
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  withering plant. All resentment, disgust, fury,
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  all despair, grief, anger, all that comes from this gentleman.
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  For it is energy in action. End Quote.
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  Reference Srioro Bindu and the Mother powers within.
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  Chapter 17. The Vital, pages 133 to 134.