September 23, 2009

Scholarly Articles on Sri Aurobinod and Mother compiled by Wolfgang Schmidt-Reinecke

Scholarly Articles on Sri Aurobinod and Mother compiled by Wolfgang Schmidt-Reinecke
by Rich on Tue 31 Jul 2007 02:11 PM PDT Permanent Link
Wolfgang Schmidt Reinecke has done an excellent job compiling scholarly articles on Sri Aurobindo and Auroville. Here are the articles and the link presently about 120 worldwide scientific works (including doctoral theses, diplomas, master theses etc.), which focus on Auroville and the advanced vision underlying the experiment.

by Arun Vaidya on Tue 31 Jul 2007 06:51 PM PDT Profile Permanent Link
Thank you Rich for posting very commendable reference information compiled by Wolfgang Schmidt-Reinecke: Scholarly Articles on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. It also provides an overview of the nature and the scope of the research done around the world. The location and chronology context is useful for trend inference. The spiral of progress continues:  So far – the mind for the management of matter for the welfare of human society  Transition – the spirit for the collective living in harmony among us and with Nature  Transformation – the Supramental for the humanity to live in Bliss, Beauty, and Truth Arun Vaidya July 31, 2007

September 16, 2009

Savitri Era Learning Forum adopts a religious devotee approach

Kheper Home Gnostic Metaphysics (Kheper v 3) Home Links on Integral Philosophy
Aurobindonian: Orthodox Aurobindonian - Sri Aurobindo and the Mother Mother
Blogs from within the Integral Yoga community
There don't seem to that many Aurobindonian bloggers around. A few are listed here.

Mirror of Tomorrow - blog by long time Aurobindo ashramite RY Deshpande, with discussion.

Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo & The Mother - useful blog with lots of original quotations, discusses the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo & The Mother.

Savitri Era Learning Forum - Savitri Era of those who adore, Om Sri Aurobindo & The Mother. - Family of blogs by Tusar N Mohapatra. I won't give all of them, there are too many, but if you go to the first one, Savitri Era Learning Forum (or SELF for short), which was started in 2005, you can follow the links to the others. Posts a huge amount of material, often totally unsorted, of anything that appears on the Web that is in any way related to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, usually with editrorial comment in the headings only. Adopts a religious devotee approach.

Barindranath Chaki's Blog - prolific blogger, essays on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, very much devotional / inspirational. See also All choice, Barin Chaki - blogspot. Also there is Aspiration - community forum started by Barin, unlike most generic New Age/Spiritual forums it has a strong Aurobindoanian emphasis, at least when I last checked (in this Barin is more successful that I was; I found it very difficult to get much interest in Integral Transformation happening when I was running the Esotericism and Spirituality forum)

Science, Culture and Integral Yoga (SCIY) - Aurobindonian multi-authored blog and webzine based on the coming together of the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and intellectual/postmodernist social commentary in approach. Founded by Rich Carlson, it is one of the few examples of Aurobindonians engaging with secular modernity, although some would say it is too secular. Totally unlike all the other (devotional or religious) blogs listed here. Yet I cannot but feel that in losing the religion, the fire of intensity is lost as well in thr blandness of modernity. The ideal then (which I haven't seen much of in SCIY) is to combine the best of both, while avoiding the limitations of each. [Essays: Integral Ideology, important essay by Rich Carlson, showing how religious, neo-liberal, and neo-conservative ideology have infiltrated Integral philosophy]

Mirapuri - Mirapuri and Miravillage were founded on 15th August 1978 by the musician, cyberartist and futurist Michel Montecrossa on commission of The Mother.

Æon Group - A Corporation for Spiritual Renaissance - An international organization devoted to the promotion and distribution of the yogic works of the seer/cosmologist, Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet - independent cosmology inspired by the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, who claims to be the avataric successor (yes, inflation) The associated Quantum Yoga / Supramental Cosmology website is by PNB student Lori Tompkins

Commentary by non-devotees
Why Sri Aurobindo Is Cool From What is Enlightenment? Com -" A freewheeling tour through the fascinating life and work of one of the twentieth century's greatest evolutionary pioneers. by Craig Hamilton." (a disciple of Andrew Cohen) Complete online essay. This is a good introduction for people inspired by the vital rather than the mental, who don't know anything about Sri Aurobindo or the Mother but would be receptive to or uninterested in these ideas

Haridas Chaudhuri
California Institute of Integral Studies - founded by Haridas Chaudhuri, a student of Sri Aurobindo, the CIIS avoids the reliance on the teachings of a single individual that characterises the Integral University and other Wilberian orthodoxy. Basically, then, New Paradigm / Alternative / Transpersonal (Stan Grof) / Left-leaning / Aurobindonian

contact me
page by
M.Alan Kazlev. page uploaded 1 Aug 2009, last modified 2 August 2009 (material from old Integral index page dated 25 June 2004 to 26 July 2009)

Sri Aurobindo emphasizes the need not only for strength but also for grace, beauty, and harmony

Patanjali And Sri Aurobindo By Dr K V Raghupathi, June 2009

Sri Aurobindo says: When we reach this degree of perfection which is our goal, we shall perceive that the truth we seek is made up of four major aspects: Love, Knowledge, Power and Beauty. These four attributes of the Truth will express themselves spontaneously in our being. The psychic will be the vehicle of true and pure love the mind will be the vehicle of infallible knowledge, the vital will manifest an invincible power and strength and the body will be the expression of a perfect beauty and a perfect harmony. 1

The physical is as important as the mental. Sri Aurobindo’s yoga begins with the physical, whereas Patanjali’s begins with character-building [...]

In Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy the body is taken to be the starting point of sadhana; diligent effort ought to be made to train it appropriately and make it a fit instrument for a perfect life. The body should be kept healthy by cultivating good habits of food, sleep, hygiene, and physical exercise. The objective is not only to develop physical stamina but also to command life energy at any required time by regulating the various functions of the body. Sri Aurobindo emphasizes the need not only for strength but also for grace, beauty, and harmony. Beauty is the very spirit of the physical world. The ancient Greeks upheld this idea. A mastery of bodily reflexes--wonderful and quick--is desirable. Self-mastery and discipline, courage and confidence, impartiality and fairness in dealing with others are all products of proper physical training. This physical culture has positive impact on the vital and mental being too. [...]

In Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy apart from the building up of character, the aesthetic element is also stressed. The senses should be properly trained to attain precision and power. The student, he writes, ‘should be shown, led to appreciate, taught to love beautiful, lofty, healthy and noble things, whether in Nature or in human creation. This should be a true aesthetic culture, which will protect him from degrading influences’.5

The Divine encompasses purity as well as beauty and it is by the cultivation of both the ethical and the aesthetic that the heart’s needs can be really fulfilled. The highest aim of art is to find the Divine through beauty. But this discovery has its laws, says Sri Aurobindo, and the first endeavor should be ‘to see and depict man and Nature and life for their own sake, in their own characteristic truth and beauty; for behind these first characters lies always the beauty of the Divine in life and man and nature and it is through their just transformation that what was at first veiled by them has to be revealed’.6 In this way the aesthetic being will rise to its divine possibilities. [...]

Sri Aurobindo accepts the primacy of the supreme, all pervading Reality, which the Isha Upanishad this exhorts us to view: ‘Isha vasyam-idam sarvam yat kincha jagatyam jagat; all this – whatsoever moves on the earth-should be covered by the Lord’. Consciousness pervades not only the manifest cosmos but also the unmanifest; it is transcendent yet realizable. This basic reality if immanence and transcendence Sri Aurobindo accepts in toto. And it is on this basic premise that this integral yoga rests.

The first movement in integral yoga is involution: the process of Creation in which the supreme Reality descends in stages, finally plunging into the most inconsistent, deep and dense matter. After involution begins an upward spiral-this is the spiritual evolution, the ascent. In Aurobindo’s philosophy the human being is not the end being of creation or the crown of evolutionary process. It holds that humans are intermediate creatures, though they do mark the essence of evolution of consciousness. Humans have the capacity to reach upwards into the Supramental, which is ready to cooperate in the process of evolution.

Then comes the third movement, as this is a very important component of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy. It is the return of the supramental consciousness, along with its light and power, to the terrestrial plane, with the purpose of divinizing the whole of humanity. Sri Aurobindo does not accept the idea of enjoying the bliss of supremental power leaving the rest of the world as wretched as it was before. These three movements together constitute integral yoga. The sadhaka’s goal is not to seek salvation for oneself, or for a community, or a race, a total transformation of terrestrial life is the goal. This very world is to be transformed into the Supramental. [...]

According to Sri Aurobindo, the special methods of raja yoga and hatha yoga may be useful in certain stages of spiritual progress, but are not indispensable to integral yoga. This yoga rejects the exclusiveness of the old systems while reaffirming the reality matter; it repudiates the denial of the ascetic while affirming the reality of the Spirit; it reconciles matter, life, life, mind and Supermind. It is the philosophy of integral monism as distinct from pure monism or qualified monism. It avoids every right determinism; it is idealism that realistic and a realism that is idealistic.

Beyond Philosophy and Religion According to Sri Aurobindo the age of philosophy and religion is over. We are now in the age of realization. This age insists on the deepest, widest, and highest realizations that can be attained by the methods of yoga. Philosophy aims at discovering the highest reality through critical rational thought, while religion explores the same by way of belief and rituals. Both these are found inadequate in meeting contemporary human needs. Sri Aurobindo maintains that that we need is a comprehensive, all-inclusive, scientific method that can bring about a radical change in human consciousness. And yoga fulfills this need as it is a ‘methodized effort towards self-perfection by expression of the potentialities latent in the being and a union of the human individual with the universal and transcendent Existence we see partially expressed in man and in the Cosmos’ 11.

Integral yoga is an integral realization of the Divine: ‘Not only the freedom born of unbroken contact of the individual being in all its parts with the Divine, sayujyamukti, not only the salokyamukti by which the whole conscious existence dwells in the same status of being as the Divine, but also the acquisition of the divine nature by the transformation of this lower being into the human image of the divine, sadharmyamukti, and the complete and final release of all’ (42-3). Transformation is the key word in integral yoga, as much as in Patanjali’s yoga. And it carries a deep connotation.

Sri Aurobindo explains: By transformation I do not mean some change of nature –I do not mean, for instance, sainthood or ethical perfection or yogic siddhis (like the Tantrik’s) or a transcendental (cinmaya) body. I use transformation in a special sense, a change of consciousness radical and complete and of a certain specific kind which is so conceived as to bring about a strong and assured step forward in the spiritual evolution of the being of a greater and higher kind and of a large sweep and completeness than what took place in a mentalized being first appeared in a vital and material animal world. A partial realization, something mixed and inconclusive, does not meet the demand I make on life and yoga. 12

Sri Aurobindo does not regard the spirit in man as ‘solely an individual being travelling to a transcendental unity with the Divine, but as a universal being capable of oneness with the Divine in all is souls and all Nature’. 13

Integral yoga involves three major transformations: one human soul seeks liberation and enjoys union with the Divine; two, it freely shares in the cosmic unity of the Divine; three, it effectuates the divine purpose by being an instrument of the divine Will in its movements through humanity. The complete process of transformation is described by Sri Aurobindo as being threefold – psychic, spiritual and supramental. The individual yoga than transcends its separateness and become part of the collective yoga of the Divine, in nature and in humanity. The liberalized individual thus becomes a self-perfecting instrument for the perfect flowering of the Divine.

References 1. Mother, On Education, 8. 2. Sri Aurobindo, The Supramental Manifestation, 8 3. Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga, 508. 4. Sri Aurobindo, A System of National Education. 5. On Education, 21 6. Sri Aurobindo, The Human Cycle, 229. 7. Synthesis of Yoga, 303. 8. On Education, 30. 9. Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine, 925-6. 10. On Education 32. 11. Synthesis of Yoga, 2. 12. Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga, 2 vols, 2.94. 13. Synthesis of Yoga, 587. Courtesy and Copyright Prabuddha Bharata. Visit www.advaitaashrama.org HOME ABOUT ESAMSKRITI ESSAYS You are here : Home >> Essays >> Philosophy And Spirituality

September 15, 2009

Transparent System of Root-sounds and the uniqueness of Sanskrit Words

Dr. Sampadananda Mishra's Visit to America - July 2009
Talk by
Dr Sampadananda Mishra in the University of Massachusetts, USA, on "Vedic Art of Multiple Concentration"

Dr. Sampadananda Mishra, Chief Coordinator, Sanskrit and Indian Culture, was invited by the University of Massachusetts, USA to present a paper on "The Vedic Art of Multiple Concentration", in the 18th Vedanta Congress organized by the Indic Studies Department of the university from 16th to 19th of July 09. More than a hundred scholars from different branches of knowledge had come from various parts of the globe to participate in the Congress. Dr. Mishra's presentation was highly appreciated by many dignitaries and scholars present in the congress. In his presentation, he not only explained the various features of the ancient Indian art of multiple concentration, but also highlighted its relevance to the present education system. Dr. Mishra also participated actively in the other academic sessions of the congress. It was an enriching experience for him to be a part of the congress in which he could share the activities and research works of the Society with many scholars from different countries of the world.

On 22nd of July Dr. Mishra went to the Oregon University in the west coast of USA to deliver a few talks on the importance of Sanskrit and principles of Integral education. Students and faculty members were present during his talk and all the talks had a good impact on them. The talks were on 23rd and 24th of July.

  • On the first day he spoke about the scientific nature of Sanskrit language and its alphabet. He also explained the amazing flexibility of the Sanskrit by giving various examples.
  • The second talk was on the Vedic art of Multiple Concentration in which he spoke about the ancient Indian art called avadhana.
  • The third talk on 24th was on Sanskrit and Computational Linguistics in which he explained about the relationship between Sanskrit and Computer. Here he spoke about the technique of Panini and the structure of his book on grammar called Ashtadhyayi. He also spoke about the ancient Indian shabdabodha tradition and its contribution to the field of natural language processing, machine translation and artificial intelligence.
  • The last talk was on the "Principles of Integral Education" in which Dr. Mishra explained about the parts of being, aim of life and how Integral Education system aims at an integral growth of the child.

Talk in New York on "Transparent system of root-sounds and uniqueness of Sanskrit words"
On 28th and 30th of July Dr. Mishra delivered two talks in New York. This was organized by a young group there dedicated to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.

  • On 28th evening Dr. Mishra spoke on Sanskrit - A Key to the Heart of India. Here he explained the greatness of identity between Sanskrit and India's life, thought and culture. He dealt with the role of Sanskrit in maintaining cultural unity of India. He also spoke extensively on many deeper aspects of Sanskrit language.
  • On 30th, he gave another talk on the "Transparent System of Root-sounds and the uniqueness of Sanskrit Words." Here he explained by giving several examples, how every word in Sanskrit is conscious of its origin and always refers back to the root from which it is derived.

home about the site 15th August the mother sri aurobindo about sas sas activities onlife, online calendar sas & you the ashram centre of education auroville pondicherry sitemap what's new related links archive feedback audio "Om namoh bhagvate..."

September 13, 2009

Create some kind of bridge to Sri Aurobindo's work

Home > Journals & Media > Journals > Auroville Today > Archive copies
The current issue
August 2009

The main topic of the August 2009 issue of Auroville Today deals with how to introduce Sri Aurobindo to those with no background in the yoga or spirituality. Some people suggest that the attempt should not be made, arguing that if an individual is ready he or she will discover Sri Aurobindo for themselves. Others believe it is valid to create some kind of bridge to Sri Aurobindo's work for those who might otherwise not come upon it or not want to read it. Four people offered their reflections: Georges van Vrekhem; Sachidananda Mohanty; David Hutchinson; and Manoj Das. They all have a deep knowledge of Sri Aurobindo's works and have been involved, at some time or another, in writing books or editing magazines which introduce him to a wider world.

The section ‘organisation' carries an article about how the new Working Committee and Auroville Council have been elected – posing the challenging question if we cannot evolve a better system next time. In the section ‘cycle-friendly Auroville' we report about a four-week workshop designed to make Auroville a more cycle-friendly place, which was joined by young people from all over India - “a great experience,” according to one of the participants. “It must be the year of the cycle paths,” said Gillian, the coordinator of cycle paths maintenance and development in Auroville.

In the section ‘commerce' we publish an interview with the promoters of Auroville.com where Auroville products – including subscriptions to Auroville Today! – can be ordered on-line. In the section City Services we publish an article about the Eco-Service, Auroville's trash-picking, garbage-sorting, and land-filling service that attempts to help the township deal responsibly with its waste. The issue further carries a profile of Kalyani, a French woman who joined Auroville in 1978.

Lastly, the issue carries an article about the first wind mill for Auroville, which will feed carbon-emission free energy into the net. Here follow a few of the articles. We wish you happy reading. Subscribe if you want to read more, or ask for a free copy. Details are elsewhere on this web page. Subscriptions can now also be ordered and paid on line through www.auroville.com/auroville-today .

Previous issues AV-today index June-July 2009

The June-July 2009 issue of Auroville Today deals with Auroville's writers, an almost forgotten and often ignored group of people. In six pages, we publish prose and poetry from Dennis Bailey (Namas), Navoditte, Meenakshi, Roger Harris, Monique Patenaude, Lloyd Hofman, Ruud Lohman, Alan, Akash Kapoor and Anu.

The issue further carries articles about Windarra Farm; about how Newcomers get organized; about Security – an issue of concern; the Auroville Archives; the Water therapies at Quiet Healing Centre; the Auroville International Meeting in The Netherlands; reflections from the outgoing Working Committee; and Sven's summer pictures.

Auroville Today > Current issue > August 2009
Introducing Sri Aurobindo - Auroville's writers

A year ago we published an interview with Peter Heehs and a book review of his newly-published biography, The Lives of Sri Aurobindo. Since then the book has generated enormous controversy within the Aurobindonian community. Some people regard it as ground-breaking; others believe that it demeans Sri Aurobindo. The controversy has become so heated that civil and criminal cases have been lodged against the author.

One of the important issues thrown up by the controversy concerns how to introduce Sri Aurobindo to those with no background in the yoga or spirituality. Some people suggest that the attempt should not be made, arguing that if an individual is ready he or she will discover Sri Aurobindo for themselves. Others believe it is valid to create some kind of bridge to Sri Aurobindo's work for those who might otherwise not come upon it or not want to read it.

But what would that bridge look like? Would it be devotional, uncritical, allowing nothing which disturbs the impression of a smooth, inevitable, unfolding of avatarhood? Or is there a place for a biography which places Sri Aurobindo in the mundane world, which is willing to document his struggles and failures along with his enormous achievements? Which might not take for granted everything that his devotees take as articles of faith?

Where does the line run between over-simplification and providing greater accessibility to Sri Aurobindo and his work? Is it legitimate, for example, to downplay the occult dimension of his work if the biography is intended to introduce those sceptical of such matters to the richness of his thought? Can he be presented as a man rather than an Avatar? Can he be questioned?

We asked a number of people to reflect upon these questions. They come from different cultural backgrounds but all have a deep knowledge of Sri Aurobindo's works and all have been involved, at some time or another, in writing books or editing magazines which introduce him to a wider world. Home > Journals & Media > Journals > Auroville Today > Current issue > Introducing Sri Aurobindo Current issue Archive copies The Auroville Experience

September 12, 2009

Myths about the beginning of the world

About the origin of the Birth
Written by Miriam, AurovilleRadio
Friday, 11 September 2009

The beginning of the world is the main topic in all mythological stories all around the world. Kalevala is the biggest and most known Finnish epic poem about the beginning, and theater group ISIS created a musical play with name The Legend of the Birth. In the talk with Supriya and Chirstoffer we found out that this project wants to integrate all the myths about the beginning of the world, and Kalevala is the one of many with which we can draw a comparison with Mahabharata, Savitri..and many others from all over. Could we think of a nicer way to tell the most ancient story than trough a music and theater play?- Interview by Chloe' - To download this program click here.

Innovative Eduction
Written by Radio Team, AurovilleRadio
Thursday, 10 September 2009

Integral Education is a revolutionary concept envisioned by Sri Aurobindo. Sri Aurobindo Ashram School was the first school in India to teach computer science. In tune with this heritage, Auroville has made significant progress in education. An interdisciplinary seminar sponsored by SAIIER allowed all participants to exchange information, ideas and experiences in areas such as Experimental and exploratory approaches to learning and education, Interactive learning, home learning, classroom aids, edutainment, distance learning and more. The following is excerpt from the full length seminar. To listen to the entire presentation pass by the radio for a CD copy or contact us here. Download the PDF file here.

September 11, 2009

Sri Aurobindo as a thinker rather than as a mystic

Sri Aurobindo: A Contemporary Reader (Routledge, Rs 325) edited by Sachidananda Mohanty attempts to provide a sketch of Aurobindo as a thinker rather than as a mystic by offering extracts from his writings on politics, international relations and philosophy.

Mohanty says in the Introduction that most biographies of Aurobindo end up being hagiographies and prevent one from evaluating him as an intellectual. Aurobindo’s writings are dense. Their titles, “Can Reason be the Governor of Life?”, “True and False Subjectivism” or “Growth of Continental Agglomerates”, give an inkling of their seriousness. One has to be thankful for the editor’s prologues to the essays without which they would have been difficult to understand. Calcutta Telegraph > Front Page > Opinion > Paperback Pickings Friday, September 11 , 2009

Delhi Events: "Sri Aurobindo: A Contemporary Reader by Sachidananda Mohanty" Book Discussion at Main Building, IIC - 6:30 pm on 29th September 09
Event Details : Book Discussion Group to discuss the book 'Sri Aurobindo: A Contemporary Reader by Sachidananda Mohanty (New Delhi: Routledge, 2008)' Discussants: Shri Jagmohan, former Governor, Jammu & Kashmir; and Dr. Kavita Sharma, Director IIC Chair : Dr. Karan Singh
6:30pm-8pm on 29th September 09, Place: Conference Room - 1, India International Centre ( IIC ), 40 Max Muller Marg, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi-110003 Click here for more events at India International Centre