Page 28 - NAMAH-Jan-2018

Working through the vital

Pulkit Sharma

Abstract
A majority of people believe that by following a particular system of self-improvement or yoga, they
will be able to overcome the vital and baser parts of their being. However, despite various psychological
and spiritual practices, these parts throw up a robust resistance. In such a scenario, there often
comes a split wherein the person experiences spiritual insights in the meditative state but his waking
consciousness remains stagnant. If unresolved, this split leads to a relapse and sabotages the evolution
of consciousness. Sri Aurobindo and The Mother emphasised that the vital must not be suppressed or
ignored and that there is a need to work through it systematically. This paper is based upon the author’s
psychotherapeutic experience of helping people work through their vital part by following the principles
of Integral Yoga.

Right from the time when we gain some self- “If you look sincerely, you will see that you
awareness, there comes up an aversion with have decided that it will be like this, and then,
one or more aspects about ourselves. It could beneath there is something which has not
be an annoying habit, a negative emotion, decided at all and is waiting for the second of
a self-destructive behaviour, a disturbing hesitation in order to rush forward (1).”
relational pattern or a stubborn part of
ourselves. We conclude that we would While various parts of our being can throw
be better without it and decide to bring the different kinds of obstacles on the spiritual
required modification. We take a decision, path, the vital stands out in its vehement
chart out a plan to bring the necessary resistance. The vital is the instinctive life-nature,
change and start working on it. Very soon, consisting of energy, desires, emotions,
we realise that either the change does not impulses and passions. It is characterised by
happen or we relapse into the old ways hedonism, a relentless craving for pleasures
of being. We often wonder that despite and possessions and a persistent wish to
the best of efforts what went wrong. The avoid even the most minor frustrations.
Mother explained that this happens because Consequently, under the influence of the vital
there is a part within us that vehemently we experience the entire gamut of emotions
resists change. ranging from enthusiasm, excitement, restless-

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