Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Volume 2. 1938

Letter ID: 2092

Sri Aurobindo — Nirodbaran Talukdar

May 3, 1938

Guru, I learned from Ishwarbhai that you want me to send up this letter [on vital interchange]. I wonder if you can deal with the subject a little more liberally on the typed sheet, as it is rather an important and interesting phenomenon.

My impression was that I had written much more – but that is probably an adhyaropa¹ from the copiousness of my other reply on the feminine woman. Anyhow I have added a little to the rather stumpy note. You can type and give a copy to Ishwarbhai.

[Sri Aurobindo’s revised version of the letter of 2.5.38:]

There is always a drawing of vital forces from one to another in all human social mixture; it takes place automatically. Love-making is one of the most powerful ways of each drawing up the other’s vital force,– or of one drawing the other’s, which also often happens in a one-sided way to the great detriment of the “other”. In the passage come many things good and bad, elation, feelings of strength, fullness, support or weakness and depletion, infiltration of good and bad qualities, interchange of psychological moods, states and movements, ideas helpful and harmful, depression, exhaustion – the whole gamut. In the ordinary consciousness one is not aware of these things; the effects come into the surface being, but the cause and process remain unknown and unnoticed because the interchange is subtle and covert, it takes place through what is called the subconscient, but is rather a behind-consciousness covered by the surface waking mind. When one gets into a certain Yogic consciousness, one becomes very much aware of this covert movement, very sensitive to all this interchange and action and reaction; but one has this advantage that one can consciously build a wall against them, reject, refuse, accept what helps, throw out or throw back what injures or hinders. Illnesses can also pass in this way from one to another, even those which are not medically regarded as contagious or infectious; one can even by will draw another’s illness into oneself as did Antigonus of Macedon accepting death in this way in order to save his son Demetrius. This fact of vital interchange, which seems strange and unfamiliar to you, becomes quite intelligible if one realises that ideas, feelings etc. are not abstract things but in their way quite concrete, not confining their movements to the individual’s mind or body but moving out very much like the “waves” of science and communicating themselves to anyone who can serve as a receiver. Just as people are not conscious of the material waves, so it is and still more with these mental or vital waves; but if the subtle mind and senses become active on the surface – and that is what takes place in Yoga – then the consciousness becomes aware in its reception of them and records accurately and automatically their vibrations.

Mother has said in “Conversations” that one can lose everything (I don’t remember the exact words) by just a look from another.²

Did she deal with this subject at any length? If so and if you remember where, you can indicate the passage to Ishwarbhai.

Or one can lose even by passing by somebody unfavourable. That is something dreadful, Sir!

Quite true, it often happens. It is the reason why Mother looked with some uneasiness on tea parties and things.

Is that one of the reasons why Anilbaran down-casts his glance as soon as he meets our eyes?

It may be – to minimise interchange.

As if he has seen a “sin” – to quote D, and which D deeply resents and complains of.

D could never bear that Yoga and spiritual inner life could have any claims as against social intercourse.

Is that the way to “build a wall” against anything undesirable?

It is a wall of consciousness that one has to build. Consciousness is not something abstract, it is like existence itself or ananda or mind or prana, something very concrete. If one becomes aware of the inner consciousness, one can do all sorts of things with it, send it out as a stream of force, erect a circle or wall of consciousness around oneself, direct an idea so that it shall enter somebody’s head in America etc., etc.

Can it be said also that people who are “powerful” love-makers have a need in some part of their being or part of their make-up? D surely has no need, he has enough vital strength and all that to spend.

People with vital force are not only always throwing it on others but also always drawing it from others. D does it in the form of praise, affection, submission to his influence, sexual surrender, etc. Otherwise why did he feel so much and become miserable, if he was criticised, refused affection or submission, etc., etc.? If he had no need, it would not have affected him.

I wonder if transmission of diseases also plays a part in this interchange.

Yes.

I don’t understand why you call it “the mercy of God”; just as there is exhaustion, depression, there is also elation.

Because ignorance is bliss and they would feel very uncomfortable if they felt these things or were at all aware of them. As for the elation they get it without needing to know the cause.

[Chand’s telegram:] “Great inertia again letter follows.”

Guru, another bombardment! What an impulsive fellow! Almost unparalleled. I think he is another fellow who will find life extremely difficult here.

Well, there’s no inertia in his wrong activities at any rate. He is full of energy there.

“Replete with the essences...” how do you like it, Sir?

Great Scott! Replete! essences? petrol? This line is terribly philosophic, scientific and prosaic.

¹ Mental imposition.

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² Mother’s Centenary, vol. 3. p. 6.

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