Changes

=What is the Lower Vital=

From the navel downwards is the reign of the vital passions and sensations and all the small life-impulses that constitute the bulk of the ordinary human life and character. This is what we call the lower vital nature.

<ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/28/the-vital-being-and-vital-consciousness#p16</ref>

It is usually ignorant and obscure, and is the seat of small desires, greeds, passions and enjoyments.

The centre between the navel and the Muladhara commands the lower vital (physical desires, small greeds, passions etc.). <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/28/the-system-of-the-chakras#p65</ref>

In the abdomen is the lower vital centre. It is in these two [vital centre at navel and lower vital centre] that there is the origination of desire—but desire rises and becomes emotional in the heart and mental in the higher centres above. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/28/the-system-of-the-chakras#p72</ref>

In the process of our Yoga the centres have each a fixed psychological use and general function which base all their special powers and functionings… the abdominal centre—svādhiṣṭhāna— governs the lower vital; <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/28/the-system-of-the-chakras#p18</ref>

<ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/28/the-vital-being-and-vital-consciousness#p11</ref>

The lower vital is occupied with small desires and feelings, such as make the greater part of daily life, e.g. food desire, sexual desire, small likings, dislikings, vanity, quarrels, love of praise, anger and blame, little wishes of all kinds—and a numberless host of other things arise from it.

Whatever there may be in these higher parts, aspiration to the Truth, devotion or will to conquer the obstacles and the hostile forces, it cannot become integral, it cannot remain unmixed or unspoilt or continue to be effective so long as the lower vital and the external personality have not accepted the Light and consented to change.

<ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/31/the-lower-vital-being#p1</ref>

... the consent of the lower vital must not be only a mental profession or a passing emotional adhesion; it must translate itself into an abiding attitude and a persistent and consistent action. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/31/the-lower-vital-being#p11</ref>

=How to Transform the Lower Vital?=

There is only one way of escape from this siege of the lower vital nature. It is the entire rejection of all egoistic vital demand, claim and desire and the replacement of the dissatisfied vital urge by the purity of psychic aspiration. Not the satisfaction of these vital clamours nor, either, an ascetic retirement is the true solution, but the surrender of the vital being to the Divine and a single-minded consecration to the supreme Truth into which desire and demand cannot enter. For the nature of the supreme Truth is Light and Ananda, and where desire and demand are there can be no Ananda. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/31/the-lower-vital-being#p31</ref>

There is certainly a sincere will to change. This resistance of the lower vital is usual in everybody—it is the main difficulty in Yoga. If it were not there, the change would be easy. But once the steady mental will is there, it is a question of time and steady sadhana. With that the change is sure. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/31/the-lower-vital-being#p22</ref>

It is always their [the lower forces] endeavour to rise up and get the sanction of the mind and higher vital—or if they cannot do that, to cover them up so that the lower nature may act in its ordinary way without being pressed by the higher consciousness to change. The first thing necessary for the sadhak is not to give any consent of his mind or higher vital and to keep them from being covered. If that can be done, then it becomes possible to push the lower forces out of the lower vital and body and not allow them to return. It is the Mother's Force which you feel—for all the higher forces are hers. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwsa/31/steps-towards-overcoming-difficulties#p53</ref>

... the more you strive to realise, you will discover in the nature—the lower nature, that is, the lower mind, the lower vital, the physical—how much pretension, sham and ambition there is…. One can use any…The desire to put on airs: all that must be eliminated, absolutely, radically, and replaced by a sincere flame of aspiration, of aspiration for the purity which makes us live only for what the Supreme Consciousness demands of us, which makes us able to do only what it wants, which makes us do only what it wants, when it wants. <ref>http://incarnateword.in/cwm/12/11-november-1967#p163</ref>