Uniformity unfortunately is not the solution for perfection

Balancing Perfection of the Individual With Development of the Society - Reblogged from Sri Aurobindo Studies: Throughout the history of human civilisation, there have been various societies or cultures that have focused, at one time or another, on one of the 3 major strains of the aspiration for perfection that drives the evolutionary effort of mankind.

These three primary directions are, first, the perfection and fulfillment of the individual; second, the subordination of the individual to the development and perfection of the society or culture; and third, the perfection of the relationship between the individual and society and more broadly between varying societies or cultures. Read more… 271 more words

An Evolutionary Crisis and a Choice of Destiny - Reblogged from Sri Aurobindo Studies: Humanity has essentially gotten to the point where it is on the edge of the abyss and is facing a stark choice of its future and to a very great degree, even its potential survival. We have explored, developed and unleashed enormous forces at the material level, to the point of having the power to manipulate the building blocks of the material world through nuclear research, and the building blocks of life through genetic research and manipulation. Read more… 421 more words

An Evolutionary Failure? - Reblogged from Sri Aurobindo Studies: The evolutionary process of Nature provides humanity the opportunity, but not the guarantee, of providing the foundation for the next evolutionary stage to develop. Historically we note the systematic development of increasing powers of consciousness. There is a general correlation with an increasing power and complexity of consciousness through this development, with the first stages generally corresponding to the basic physical and vital needs and considerations, with further development focused on the mental and emotional powers including ethics, morality, aesthetics, religion and spirituality and science. Read more… 215 more words

Uniformity and Regimentation Are Not Solutions to the Evolutionary Crisis - Reblogged from Sri Aurobindo Studies: When confronted with the complexity of the issues facing humanity, the first tendency of the mind is to try to simplify. The tendency throughout history has been to attempt to regiment or control the individuals in the society so that there is a more unified approach to the society’s concerns. Unfortunately there are two major defects in this approach. First, the problems confronting us are too complex, by orders of magnitude, for simple, one-sided mental or vital solutions; and second, it is the individuals, varying from the patterns that created the problems in the first place, who are required to find new responses and bring the necessary progress forward. Read more… 221 more words

The Existential Crisis for Humanity - Reblogged from Sri Aurobindo Studies: Humanity has reached a point where the extraordinary developments in terms of manipulating the building blocks of Matter and Life are beyond the point where we can actually deal with the complexity of issues and interactions that come about as a result. If we look at tribal society, we see a relatively simple framework of life, and generally, that life is able to be kept in balance. Read more… 688 more words

Economic Systems Cannot Solve the Evolutionary Crisis - Reblogged from Sri Aurobindo Studies: Sri Aurobindo continues to explore the various proposed methods for effecting positive change in human life and society so as to confront the evolutionary crisis we see before us. Some have proposed that the solution can be found in developing a more perfect economic system, and much effort has gone into developing and implementing a number of economic models which go under names such as capitalism, communism, socialism, etc. Read more… 205 more words

Difference between Immortality and the Deathless State—the Mother from Mirror of Tomorrow by RY Deshpande July 16, 2012

There is a difference between immortality and the deathless state. Sri Aurobindo has described it very well in Savitri. The deathless state is what can be envisaged for the human physical body in the future: it is constant rebirth. Instead of again tumbling backwards and falling apart due to a lack of plasticity and an [...]

What usually happens is that when the body reaches its maximum intensity of aspiration or of ecstasy of Love, it is unable to contain it. It becomes flat, motionless. It falls back. Things settle down—you are enriched with a new vibration, but then everything resumes its course. So you must widen yourself in order to [...] Read more of this post

'If I have rubbed people the wrong way, I have ... - The Indian Express - Coomi Kapoor: Sun Jul 15 2012 'If I have rubbed people the wrong way, I have also been rubbed the wrong way' - Journalist, former editor and writer Kuldip Nayar speaks about his autobiography Beyond the Lines: Emergency, and journalism then and now. 

Whatever I might say or you might think, Mrs Gandhi was authoritarian, not a dictator. There is a difference. As a dictator, she had to start killing people. The Emergency had diminishing returns and people were being taken to jail. What do you do to maintain discipline? She had to think of stricter means, more cruel steps. But I think she didn’t have it in her. She was always looking to the West for recognition.

Why is India corrupt? - Indian Express - The Indian Express Meghnad Desai: Sun Jul 15 2012

It cannot be the laws but behaviour which is the key to the tolerance of corruption. India’s system of governance has been inherited from Western sources; it is based on what one might call after the great sociologist Max Weber, Weberian rationality. People within a hierarchical structure behave according to certain rules and norms. The superiors respect their inferiors and the latter reciprocate. Their transactions are defined by impersonal rules. If they at all associate with each other outside work, it would be by chance or old connections. One would not seek personal relationship with one’s superiors…

In short, in India there is no separation between formal rules of behaviour at work and family or kin relation behaviour. As soon as you can, you make your superior your ‘uncle’, his wife becomes your mausi… No one questions the prevalence of corruption in India.