The Action of the Superconscient in Our External Lives
Spiritual GrowthWritten by Santosh Krinsky436 views
Just as forces and vibrations act upon us that vibrate below our normal human level of perceptive range, and bring in much of the past, subconscient, dark and ignorant reactions that drive much of our human life, so also there are forces and vibrations that enter us from above our perceptible range, which have their source and origin in what we may call the ‘superconscient’ levels. Because they are outside our immediate range of perception, they mostly enter us unseen and unknown, what many would call ‘subliminally’ and from there they work to influence and express themselves as possible through our exte
al being and personality. Sri Aurobindo points out that the action here works through the chakras, the subtle energy centers that channel the various forces at work in the being into the exte
al life. To the extent that we are capable of opening to the energetic action of the respective chakras, the powers and forces that enter and collect there can have a direct influence on our lives.
It is from the higher superconscient ranges that those things we name inspiration, intuition, revelation, vision and creative insights occur. While we receive them without conscious awareness, we express them as much as possible and treat them as our own creative actions, when in fact they are the result of our receptivity to and ability to channel forces stemming from these higher ranges of consciousness.
Sri Aurobindo notes: “… from there … come all the greater aspirations, ideals, strivings towards a better self and better humanity without which man would be only a thinking animal — as also most of the art, poetry, philosophy, thirst for knowledge which relieve, if they do not yet dispel, the ignorance.”
“The role of the superconscient has been to evolve slowly the spiritual man out of the mental half-animal.”
“Even in Europe the existence of something behind the surface is now very frequently admitted, but its nature is mistaken and it is called subconscient or subliminal, while really it is very conscious in its own way and not subliminal but only behind the veil. It is, according to our psychology, connected with the small outer personality by certain centres of consciousness of which we become aware by yoga. Only a little of the inner being escapes through these centres into the outer life, but that little is the best part of ourselves and responsible for our art, poetry, philosophy, ideals, religious aspirations, efforts at knowledge and perfection.”
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch.
2 Hidden Forces Within, pg. 43
About the Author
Santosh has been studying Sri Aurobindo's writings since 1971 and has a daily blog at http://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com and podcast at https://anchor.fm/santosh-krinsky He is author of 20 books and is editor-in-chief at Lotus Press. He is president of Institute for Wholistic Education, a non-profit focused on integrating spirituality into daily life.
YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at http://www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of Sri Aurobindo’s writings can be found at http://www.lotuspress.com
Further Reading
Article
Distinguishing Vital Vibrations from Soul Vibrations
we tend to attribute passion, motivation, charisma, energy to the soul, but most of the time, these are expressions of the energy of the vital nature, perhaps tinged by the soul's influence to some degree.
October 7, 2026
Article
Is It Possible for the Mind to Recognise the Presence of the Soul in Another Person?
perceiving the action of the soul by the mind is only possible under specific conditions.
October 7, 2026
Article
Changing the Driving Force of Action from the Mind and Vital Nature to the Psychic Being and its Guidance
the spiritual seeker works to overcome the pressure and habits of the external nature driven by the desires of the vital and ambitions of the mind, by contacting and following the quiet guidance of the soul
October 6, 2026
Article
Listening to the Voice of the Soul Rather Than the Voice of the External Mental and Vital Nature
The mental and vital elements of the being work together to fulfill the desires. The knowledge base used is by reference and is limited. The solution is to shift to the standpoint of the soul which is capable of 'knowledge by identity'
October 4, 2026