October 14, 2025

Sri Aurobindo held no attachment to past forms

 Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra

[Sri Aurobindo's philosophy is widely regarded as a profound and dynamic contribution that initiated a modern renaissance within the faith. His thought revitalized Hindu philosophy by reinterpreting ancient spiritual texts in a way that addressed contemporary issues and aligned with the concept of evolution... While Sri Aurobindo's philosophy transformed aspects of Hinduism, it did so by building upon and reinterpreting its traditions, not by undermining them. 

Rejection of rigid dogma: Sri Aurobindo was critical of the "rigid orthodoxy" of past religions, including Hinduism, seeing certain practices as having lost their original significance. However, this critique was aimed at revitalizing, not weakening, the faith. He held no attachment to "past forms" if they no longer served the truth.

Emphasis on universal truth: He described Hinduism not as a rigid, credal religion but as a civilization rooted in a set of universal values, emphasizing its open-ended nature. While this is a departure from an exclusivist view of religion, it does not weaken Hinduism but rather reasserts its universalist core, echoing the sentiment that "the Truth alone matters".

Rooted in Vedic tradition: Sri Aurobindo's philosophy was firmly rooted in ancient Indian spiritual texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita. He saw his vision as an extension of the profound spiritual knowledge of the ancient sages, validating his own experiences through their texts. 

In conclusion, Sri Aurobindo modernized and re-energized Hindu thought, broadening its philosophical scope and making its spiritual core more accessible and relevant for the modern age, rather than weakening it.] - GoogleAI

[Spirit over form: Aurobindo emphasized that religious forms and rituals are not the spiritual essence itself but are meant to serve as aids and supports for spiritual progress. If people adhere to them too blindly, they risk obscuring the true purpose of inner awakening.

Instrument of spiritual evolution: Rituals can be helpful for those at an early stage of spiritual evolution, as they can serve to discipline the parts of the human nature, including the aesthetic and vital temperaments, and lead them toward a deeper inner life.

Symbolic meaning: In works like The Secret of the Veda, Aurobindo reinterpreted ancient Vedic rituals, showing they possess a profound symbolic and mystical meaning. The rituals symbolize an inner, psychological process of awakening consciousness, not just external acts to placate deities.

Distinction between religion and spirituality: Aurobindo considered Sanatana Dharma not as a static religion but as a life, a spiritual way of being. He distinguished true spirituality as an inner awakening and union with the divine, separate from the rigid adherence to creed, cult, or ceremonial forms.] - GoogleAI

My question to you is why do think Divine cannot have newer & fresher versions of perspectives, perceptions, interpretations and innovation ? 

Yagnya makes more sense whn it flows from inside out. If not then it is a mere mechanical karmakanda which in today's world seems hollow

https://x.com/archieposts/status/1977800573908111372?t=KCurRnvf4nL5yN_c1wPEyw&s=19

Indian dress, for instance, is often romanticised as sari and kurta. But Roland Barthes taught us that garments are not only worn but read. What we call “Indian dress” is a system of signifiers: caste, class, gender, and geography woven and tailored together. Each element is a statement in the grammar of inclusivity and exclusion. Sari may be an empowered political statement by an affluent Indian immigrant in the UK today, but it’s also a tool of oppression for a young bride in North India, who’s not allowed to choose any other attire. So, what should an Indian woman wear to be seen as Indian, minus the fetishism?

https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/being-indian-and-being-seen-as-one-101760198374792.html#google_vignette

Reminded of what John Stuart Mill said about his early upbringing

He was a prodigy and his father taught him to read Greek / Latin at age 3. He was reading the classical philosophers like Plato, Aristotle at age 7.

Yet his father never called out his learning as "unusual". He never praised him or let his son feel he was doing anything exceptional. It was to ensure he didn't develop conceit early in life

In our times, kids are made to feel special for trifling accomplishments from a young age

https://x.com/shrikanth_krish/status/1977482443566338209?t=UZn8jOhNBTwk_kLu8_aYYg&s=19

i’m curious to understand the real story behind the rise of China and the role it will play in a multi-polar world. unfortunately, U.S. media & social media are awashed in anti-China propaganda. so i’ve decided to dive into the rabbit hole by reading @danwwang’s & @shaunrein’s books via @audible_com. this way i’ll be inoculated from all the bs propaganda coming from both U.S. & China #BreakNeck #TheSplit cc: @thecyrusjanssen @RobbSmith @leashless @ramez @DavidSacks @Kanthan2030 @thejefflutz

https://x.com/c4chaos/status/1977481543074636195?t=uVZpaf0Z2GuGYmPTXCzMyQ&s=19

I believe wellness and medicine go hand in hand, true health isn’t just about treating illness, but also about guiding people toward balance and well-being. I’m not straying away from my field, just expanding my understanding of how to help people in a more holistic way. - Punam Krishan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punam_Krishan

Regret is uncomfortable. But by giving in to those feelings, just for a little while, we might learn something new about ourselves in the present, @isabelfattal writes in The Wonder Reader:

https://x.com/TheAtlantic/status/1977468084299469094?t=ZjaxSeGzWS0H7vemkDXPQQ&s=19

Hate, Politics, India: Three Thoughts and One Conclusion

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S Lata, H Raj, AK Gautam
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Sunila S. Kalé and Christian Lee Novetzke: The Yoga of Power. Yoga as Political Thought and Practice in India New York: Columbia University Press, 2025. ISBN 978 …

F Pagliani - Bulletin of SOAS, 2025
This book is the fruit of a decade-long collaboration between a scholar of Indian politics (Kalé) and an Indologist (Novetzke). The aim of the work is to show how yoga, as a “mode of seeing the world in order to act upon and control it” has in its essence …

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… However, the ideology of Hindu nationalism is not a recent phenomenon, its roots lie in the writings of nineteenth century social reformers like Dayananda Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo who endeavoured to develop collective …

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N Tiwari - Dialogue on Wellness: A Multidisciplinary Approach
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