The programme was organised by NAMAH, the Journal of Integral Health from 4th to 9th November 2024 where Dr. Soumitra Basu explored the different aspects of Ego, which evolves within a single lifetime, and the Psychic Being, which unfolds across many lives. He brought out the importance of distinguishing between both lines of development and understanding the complex interaction between the two.
In the first session, Dr Basu shared Sri Aurobindo's perspectives on the role of ego in human development and the session began with these lines, “Ego was the helper; Ego is the bar,” emphasising that ego serves a dual function — necessary for individuality but ultimately a barrier if one needs to realise the Psychic. It was discussed that, while the ego is confined to the present life and dissolves at death, the psychic being spans multiple lives, evolving through key moments and shifts in consciousness. From a psychological viewpoint, the ego is central to coping and adaptation, supporting personality functions like memory, mood regulation, and judgment. Sri Aurobindo examines ego across three lenses — metaphysical, evolutionary, and psychological — highlighting its necessity in distinguishing individuality within a unitary reality, and how it emerges as a distinct entity in the material realm while retaining a connection to the divine essence. This complex interaction between ego, Jivatman (the true individual), and Psychic Being was further examined, showing that true individuality isn’t dissolved but elevated through psychic evolution, with the Psychic Being eventually uniting with the Jivatman. The session concluded with an exercise; concentration on the Psychic Being.
In the second session, Dr Basu addressed the Evolutionary riddle exploring how qualia could emerge from non-qualia. Sri Aurobindo has said that consciousness does not evolve from a void; instead, qualities of the Superconscient descend into the inconscient in a process called involution, where opposites manifest (e.g., love as hatred, truth as falsehood), setting the stage for evolution from this latent potential. Dr Basu further discussed the descent of the personality and how the Superconscient descends to become the Supermind and further down through layers until it reaches the ego-bound individual. Individualisation, distinct in humans, allows each person to develop uniquely while sharing in humanity’s collective journey. In egolessness one has an experiential contact with unitary reality. The session ended by discussing the inadequacy of the ego to harmonise inner conflicts and how it is only the Psychic Being that can harmonise the being.
In the third session, Dr. Basu dwelled upon how ego emerges from inconscience and explored the distinct layers of ego: mental, vital, and physical. The mental ego coordinates cognitive functions but remains biased, while the vital ego channels emotions and desires, often leading to volatile self-assertion. The physical ego, essential for bodily cohesion, is challenging to transcend, as it binds the physical consciousness tightly. Collective ego was described as a psycho-social entity that follows individual development, while substratum ego — the base layer of ego — provides a primal sense of self. Through these layers, the ego acts as a “lynch-pin” for our movements, as Sri Aurobindo describes, though it ultimately must give way to the Psychic Being for deeper spiritual evolution. The day concluded with a concentration exercise to move awareness from the outer to the inner being.
On day four, the discussion began with Dr. Basu sharing about the transformative power of the psychic being, in contrast to the ego, which is a temporary construct. The cosmic consciousness permeates all levels of being, and the inner and outer planes of existence are interconnected through communication channels (chakras). When these channels are blocked, psychological disturbances arise. Traditionally, chakras are opened from the base upward, but Sri Aurobindo introduced a safer method by activating the psychic being, allowing transformative energies to descend from above. The ego supports the outer being and maintains coherence through sensory perceptions, but it is inherently limited and temporary. By replacing the ego with the psychic being, one experiences harmony and the descent of transformative forces. The psychic being is eternal and transcends the ego, carrying the soul’s impressions across lifetimes. Unlike the ego, it retains only deeply significant soul experiences, even when memory fades. In clinical practice, distinguishing between ego development (within a lifetime) and soul development (across lifetimes) is crucial. Premature attempts to dissolve the ego can lead to psychological instability.
In the session on day five, Dr Basu highlighted that rebirth, according to Sri Aurobindo, is not an individualistic process but a cosmic phenomenon where the psychic being carries deep soul memories, ensuring that each life builds upon the previous one. Dr. Basu elaborated on three key principles of rebirth: its focus on the future, the importance of subtle soul impressions rather than specific memories, and the evolution of the psychic being through life choices. He also discussed how the psychic being, after death, evolves in the cosmic consciousness, carrying forward its divine essence. In exceptional cases, when the psychic being merges with higher beings, it gains the power to influence earthly life through emanations. The session concluded with an emphasis on The Mother’s words, “It is not a crucified but a glorified body that will save the world” (Mother’s New Year message,1957). The Mother’s grace works on the Psychic Being, meditating on the Psychic Being can help us bring it forward.
In the last session on day six, Dr Basu shared a case history to bring out the simultaneous play of ego and the psychic being in the same person, an ashram inmate in the 1950s who Mother remarked had one of the oldest psychic being in the world. The case study discussion was followed by a collective meditation session and the workshop ended with participants getting a glimpse of what it feels like to bring the Psychic Being to the front.
This six-day exploration helped participants understand the relationship between the ego and the psychic being, deepening their awareness of the complex interplay between the two. They explored concepts of rebirth, soul continuity, and transformation and learned to differentiate between ego-driven experiences and their soul’s essence, fostering inner harmony. The meditation exercises provided them with a glimpse of experiential understanding and practical tools to integrate these teachings, empowering participants to live a life focused on the Psychic presence within.
Feedback:
“The topic was covered in great detail.”
“Deeper understanding.”
“It was very mystical. Many a time I could experience the soul listening and enjoying every word and wanting to know more. To know that the Psychic is coming forward with the meditations was beautiful.”
“The content was very interesting, important and very well structured in its various dimensions and contexts.”
Various AHA-experiences: now I understand how the psychic works, how the cosmic works thru the inner being e.g. chakra's within us. “
“To keep this practice alive each day. To read more, meditate and just be grateful for this tremendous Grace of resources that we can dive into that can change our life.”
“Excellent sessions by Dr Basu and his meticulous approach to cover the topic in great detail was outstanding.”
[Benefit from most?]
The deeper understanding of the Ego and how it holds man together. How important it is and yet there is the Psychic Being in us a projection of the Jivatman and if that comes forward life can become divine.
[Greater understanding of Integral Psychology?]
Yes. Definitely. When you truly practice the Integral Yoga, you understand that it is the only Truth leading you to the Divine.
“To keep this practice alive each day. To read more, meditate and just be grateful for this tremendous Grace of resources that we can dive into that can change our life.”
“Everything was perfect.”
“It would be a good idea to take this forward for practising therapists and counsellors by organising detailed workshops involving theory and practice.”
