Page 34 - NAMAH-Jul-2022

Namah Vol. 30, Issue 2, 15th July 2022

this explanation then crystallised the whole transforming force and a milestone is reached
affliction very clearly. in this process when it descends down into
the physical.
Opening to the Force and resistance of
the physical The reaction of the physical is predictable
indeed. It can be very problematic to get
In Integral Yoga, one works with a descending the physical to voluntarily open to this
Force. It can be tangibly felt in the being, descent. Its consciousness needs refinement
particularly the body. My most vivid experience through persistent inner work. When taken
when I first arrived in Pondicherry came with by surprise, the obscurity and silt that had
an intense pressure coming down through the lain for years at the bottom of its surface
top of my head. It was very disconcerting at gets disturbed and exhumes clouds of
first but eventually I came to understand that torpor and inertia into the being. The body
the friction experienced was arising from consciousness creaks, shinks and groans as it
my own innate resistance. Once realised, the buckles under the pressure of this previously
anxiety vanished, much of the pressure eased, hidden and unexpected force. As the force
but leaving a reminder of my work undone. is so unexpected, the physical doesn’t open
but clenches. This is why the condition of the
An essential aspect of Integral Yoga practice vital consciousness is so important. If it is
is opening to this Force. There are sometimes flaccid, the vital will get simply overwhelmed
hazards in attempting this too early before an and won’t know how to respond. Not every
authentic psychic connection is established, process unfolds in a way we expect or intend.
because there are many deceptive and
beguiling lights which can impede our I’m sure this experience I went through was
progress. Calling the Mother will always be not altogether unique. Sri Aurobindo uses the
our best safeguard. word ‘grey’ and, for me, this word completely
nails the experience. There was no sense of
We cannot dictate to this Force. It can be despair, nothing quite as grave as that, just an
called but never controlled; it has its own overriding flatness and torpor. All the vigour
agenda. Our look-out is only to remain as of my will and aspiration seemed to drain
open and sincere as possible. Often it comes away. My appetite declined dramatically
unannounced. Our limited individuality and I became somewhat self-obsessed.
can never comprehend it; when there is the Everything became empty and dry. It was
slightest aperture, it descends. There is a time as if someone had switched all the lights off!
when the physical must receive it. However, I found myself in an extended condition
this can never be foreseen; it is impelled by of fatigue. However, I soon realised that
the momentum of our practice. We must there wasn’t much I could do about this
a
a
surrender to the guiding light of our sadhana. affliction. My vital nature completely
I look upon this descent as a fringe of the refused to intervene. I simply had to stay
Truth Consciousness, which has manifested calm and let it pass. I went through my
and is presently permeating irrevocably daily activities and tried my best to step
the earth atmosphere. We are receiving a back from what was going on inside. I had

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