The Seeker and the Influence of Vital Forces in Social Interchange

It is common for spiritual aspirants to be advised to isolate themselves or at least limit their contact with others in a social setting, with the ostensible reason to aid the seeker in focusing on the spiritual effort and avoid distraction and the possibility of being diverted or diluted in the energy through vital forces affecting the life. Many are told to cut off the influence of family and friends for similar reasons. Some require devotees to avoid any interaction with money as well, since it carries its own occult power. All of this presupposes that there is an enormous vital force at work through these contacts that can work to minimize or destroy the seeker’s efforts.

It is true that there can be a considerable impediment that arises through both the external impacts and the subtle internal operation of vital interchange that occurs. It is not, however, as automatic and as serious as it seems when we learn about all the restrictions and separations. There are multiple factors that can determine the actual impact. First, there is the closeness of the bond between individuals, with the bonds of family, loved ones and close friends having potentially a greater impact due to the expected greater receptivity the seeker would have to such influences. Second, there is the intensity of the force that is trying to act. Most social interactions have a relatively weak force and thus, tend to potentially create small ‘waves’ in the being without having the impact of a vital tsunami. Third, there is the awareness and receptivity of the seeker himself. To the extent that he is focused, dedicated and conscious, even a powerful vital force can be held at bay.

The seeker therefore should avoid fear of vital interaction and exercise conscious awareness and a focused aspiration towards achievement of the spiritual goals, and thereby not be too concerned about the influences. When a strong or hostile influence shows up, of course, it must then be seen and resisted, but this is a much less common occurrence.

In fact, a good deal of the talk of isolation and separation is intended to gain control over the individual by those in charge of the cloister, monastery, ashram or other type of organisation rather than a real concern about the spiritual impact of social interaction; and it must be noted that any progress that depends entirely on isolation is put into question when the individual eventually has to have interactions, as there has been no opportunity to strengthen and prepare the seeker for the forces at work in the world. There are numerous anecdotal examples of dramatic failures when the eventual confrontation with the world comes about in the life of the seeker who has not had the ‘seasoning’ that comes with learning about and addressing the impact of vital influences and forces along the way.

Sri Aurobindo notes: “It is not necessary to be so careful as all that. Ordinary vital interchanges are of a slight character. Nobody can take away another’s vital, for the very good reason that if that happened, the person from whom it was taken would die. It is possible of course for one person to drain another’s vital forces so as to leave him limp or weak or dry, but it is only the vampire kind that do that. It is possible also for one to give out too much of one’s vital forces so as to weaken oneself or exhaust of energy, a thing which should not be done, — it is only those who know how to draw or can draw freely from the universal vital Force and replenish their life energies that can give out freely. All of course draw to some extent, otherwise they would not remain alive, for expenditure of vital energy is always going on and one has to replace it; but for most the capacity for drawing is limited and the capacity for giving without exhaustion is also limited.”

“But the ordinary movements of interchange are harmless provided they are kept within moderate limits.”

Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch. 1 Life Through the Eyes of the Yogin, pg. 18