Mastering the Physical Being: Day 2 of SMRJ Students’ Spiritual Retreat 2026
May 22, 2026
The third day of the Spiritual Retreat 2026, focused entirely on the Pranamaya Satta (Vital and Emotional Being), opened with a focused session of Pranayam. The school’s yoga teachers guided the students through concentration and breathwork, settling their energy for a blissful day ahead.
Moving into the auditorium for the inaugural session, Prof. Sampadananda Mishra shifted the discussion from the physical body to the raw emotional life force. Drawing upon ancient Upanishadic stories, he illustrated how this vital energy is the undisputed master of our existence.
“Without prana, nothing can exist. Unconscious matter becomes animated only when this higher life force enters it. Every aspect of our being, even the physical senses, completely fails if the vital force begins to leave. It is the indispensable master of everything.”
He clarified a common misconception, emphasizing that this vital energy extends far beyond mere respiration and interacts deeply with our nervous system.
“Prana is not just the breath. Plants have no visible breath, yet they possess this life force and are deeply sensitive to negative thoughts and words. It is an energy that animates everything and is directly tied to our emotional being.”
During the session titled Two-Fold Task, which focused on observation and control, Prof. Mishra introduced the Shadripu, the six inner enemies that disrupt emotional harmony. Using a rhythmic Rigvedic mantra, he vividly compared these psychological flaws to specific animals that we unconsciously feed every day.
“The owl is blind in broad daylight, representing delusion. The wolf is constantly hungry, representing anger born from unfulfilled desire. The dog cannot bear to see another receive affection, perfectly representing envy. We harbour these animals within us, and a true education must help us recognise and conquer them.”
Continuing the breakdown, he explained how the Chakravaka bird represents blinding desire, the eagle symbolises arrogant pride, and the vulture embodies fierce possessive greed. Once this chaotic lower vital is recognised and mastered, human beings can finally access the pure, dynamic energy of the higher vital.
Putting it all together, he added, “The higher vital is the source of all our dynamic energy. Once you get connected with it, you move through life like a superfast train. You become an arrow released, and no one can stop you until your goal is achieved. That is how great souls are formed.”
Following a quiet fruit break, students entered the next session dedicated to character building. This flowed directly into a deeply introspective Q&A segment, where students were encouraged to share their conscious resolutions regarding their own emotional landscapes.
“I resonate most with the eagle because of my pride. I think I am the best out there, but that pride becomes a hurdle,” confessed one student.
Another student shared his own struggle. “My enemy is the wolf of anger. When I get angry, I feel a fire burning inside me. To control this, I will meditate, stay calm, and listen before reacting.”
A silent lunch break, anchored by a vital discipline and taste-neutrality exercise, provided space for quiet digestion before the afternoon’s Aesthetic Vital session. During the session, Prof. Mishra emphasised that raw vital power without refinement leads to vulgarity and destruction. He challenged the students to cultivate art, beauty, and refinement through music and artistic expression in their daily lives.
“Aesthetic refinement protects the child from degrading and vulgar influences. You must add artistic taste and nobility to power. Today, vulgarity is at its peak and has been given status in our fashion and lifestyle. That kills the divine presence within us.”
Addressing the daunting task of cleaning out deeply ingrained bad habits during the Mastery session, he offered a reassuring maxim from Patanjali on developing willpower and persistence.
“Patanjali spoke of the ‘Maxim of Digging a Well.’ The man who digs a well is fully covered in mud by the time he reaches the water. But when that first bit of water oozes out, he bathes in it and cleans himself completely. Similarly, just one single drop of true refinement has the power to wash away a massive amount of unrefined character.”
He also warned against the deceptive nature of the ego, noting that even when we attempt to improve ourselves, the lower vital still seeks appreciation.
“Even humility can be a hidden sign of pride. When a man wrote a biography of Ramana Maharshi, he humbly requested that his own name not be printed on it, secretly hoping people would praise his selflessness. The Maharshi replied, ‘Even if your name is there, who knows you?’ We must become the ruthless, discerning witnesses of our own impulses and expose our vanity.”
As evening approached, Vice Chairperson Anjali Jaipuria Ma’am took the stage for an insightful session, shifting the focus to a modern battlefield for the vital being: technology and screen addiction. She guided the cohort through a self-assessment of their digital habits, emphasising that the goal was to reclaim conscious control over their attention.
“Your brain is being built right now like a beautiful house under construction. When screens take over, the brain’s ability to focus, resist, and choose grows weaker. It is like the architect of your house falling asleep and the rooms being built crooked. But a young brain heals beautifully when given the chance.”
Addressing how violent video games can become a numbing escape from difficult emotions, she challenged the students to design technology that fosters empathy instead. This prompted a spontaneous standing ovation for student Arjun, who revealed that he and his peers were actively coding a game rooted in the teachings of Sri Aurobindo. He was followed by Atharv, who highlighted his student-led health initiative, Madhumeh Mitra.
Anjali Ma’am further added, “Attention is the seed of all greatness. Where your attention goes, your life follows. You must become someone who can sit in silence without discomfort. You all carry something rare and precious in today’s world: mastery over your own attention.”
The intellectual intensity of the day then melted into a vibrant grand finale celebrating refined vital energy. Accompanied by the school’s dance teachers, Deepali Ma’am and Richa Ma’am, along with music teacher Pragya Ma’am, the boys took to the floor to dance while the girls led a joyous rendition of Madhurashtakam.
Perfectly channelling their dynamic enthusiasm, the students then headed to the fields for outdoor games led by the sports teachers.
The transformative day concluded as the students showered and gathered in the meditation room, settling their emotional energies in profound silence before enjoying a meditative dinner and finally heading into a peaceful meditative sleep.
