Plain & Simple

Her light, her bliss he asked for earth and men. - SAVITRI

Savitri Era of those who adore, Om Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

University of Human Unity (UHU) and ICIS


Introduction


There is a growing interest in the modern world toward a new possibility of human consciousness to be integrated around a higher center of consciousness, and in a field of the Humanities for all branches of knowledge to be integrated around One Knowledge. There is a need for a new educational environment, where all major faculties of human consciousness could be studied and exercised in the most comprehensive and intelligible way. University of Human Unity aims at discovering new ways of learning which may result in a tangible change of consciousness.



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Announcements
ICIS Postgraduate online Programmes In Applied Integral Studies Certified by IGNOU
International Congress in Auroville "Spirituality beyond Religions", 5-8 January 2010
Four Courses of UHU for the Fall Semester 2009 by Rod and Vladimir

Recent Posts
13 Surya-Savitri RV 10.37 by Vladimir 23-12-2009 (audio)
12 Savitri Studies by Rod, Book 11 23-12-2009 (audio)
13 Philosophy of Evolution-2 by Rod 2009-12-21 (audio)
12 Hymns to Surya-Savitri RV 1.115 by Vladimir 21-12-2009 (audio)
more doc audio video

Monday, December 28, 2009

Amal Kiran (K. D. Sethna) is ever forthright in his criticism



Amal Kiran is ever forthright in his criticism. His hard-hitting rebuttal of Alvares, pointing out how Krishna Chaitanya is ill-versed in Sri Aurobindo, setting right the blatant Rajneeshian misrepresentations of what the Master was and worked at, putting in proper perspective the blurred notions of a so-called purist historian in the context of the adesh received by Sri Aurobindo to go to Pondicherry when one knows that the adesh is always imperative in its character, the strange misgivings of a learned critic that Sri Aurobindo can have “problems in English” vis-à-vis the composition of his epic Savitri — all these are pretty convincingly dealt with by this crusading spiritual journalism.
Aspects of Sri Aurobindo is a rich and rewarding causerie of diverse articles and letters and comments written at different times by the author. Here are studies which are insightful, topics written with “an eye to the wide world of enquiring minds and questing hearts”, showing Amal Kiran to us again as a deep Manishi, an inspired Thinker. A foreign traveller visiting this country once wrote: “India is an individual experience and a universal encounter. There are a countless ways of seeing it, many approaches to it… And always I shall remember the trees of India — the jacaranda in flame, the frangipani, the flowering mango.” Yes, Sri Aurobindo in such many splendours is what the Aspects bring to us. R. Y. Deshpande (The reviewer is a professor at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Pondicherry) December 1995

Haridas & Uma Mukherjee and Haridas Chaudhuri

Sri Aurobindo's Political Thought Haridas and Uma Mukherjee 
YOGA INTEGRAL Haridas Chaudhuri 
Philosophy Of Meditation - Haridas Chaudhuri 
Modern man's religion Haridas Chaudhuri 
Mastering the Problems of Living Haridas Chaudhuri 
The Philosophy of Love Haridas Chaudhuri 
Our World: Our Future Anil K Sarkar
Future of India Anil K Sarkar


Sunday, December 27, 2009

D.K. Printworld

Understanding Thoughts of Sri Aurobindo Sanyal; Indrani and Krishna Roy 
Sri Aurobindo and His Contemporary Thinkers Sanyal; Indrani and Krishna Roy 

Classical Indian Philosophy Reinterpreted Lysenko; Victoria and Michel Hulin
World as Image Arvind Sharma

Evolution of Indian PHilosophy Murty; K Satchidanand
Hinduism and Its Development, PA Murty; K Satchidananda 
Persons, Mind and Value Bijoy H. Boruah, Ramesh Pradhan, Amitabha Das Gupta 
Personal Identity P.K. Mohapatra

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Mahayogi Sri Aurobindo: Life, discipline and teachings of Sri Aurobindo (Bhavan's book university) Ranganath Ramachandra Diwakar
Values in history P Sankaranarayanan 
Radhakrishnan Reader : An Anthology Dr. Sarvepalli (author); Munshi, Dr. K. M.; Diwakar, Dr. R. R. 
Minstrels of God Part II Bankey; Mushhi K.M. & Diwakar, R.R. (Gen Eds.) Behari
Studies in Bengali Poetry Humayun Kabir 

Ministry of I&B: Publications Division and National Book Trust

Sri Aurobindo (Builders of modern India) Madhav Pundalik Pandit
Sri Aurobindo;: A brief biography Prema Nandakumar
FOUNDERS OF PHILOSOPHY. M.P. Pandit, A. G. Krishna Warrier and others 
Founders of philosophy (Cultural leaders of India)

Philosophers and religious leaders (Cultural leaders of India)

Seers and thinkers: The Vedic seers, the Upanishadic teachers, Gautama Buddha, Mahavira, Dharmakirti, Kumarajiva, Acharya Hemachandra (Cultural leaders of India)

Scientists (Cultural leaders of India)

Composers (Cultural leaders of India)

Indian Drama | Indian Dance | Folk Dances of India

Glimpses of Indian technology: A survey of four decades Bal Krishna
The language of music (Jawaharlal Nehru memorial lecture) V. K Narayana Menon
Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das Hemendranath Das Gupta 
Sri Aurobindo (National biography series) Navajata
The Mother (of Sri Aurobindo Ashram) (National biography) Prema Nandakumar 
Sayaji Rao Gaekwad, III (National biography series) V. K Chavda
M.N. Roy (National Biography series) V. B Karnik
Swami Dayanand (National biography series) B. K Singh
Lokamanya Tilak (National biography) Ganesh Prabhakar Pradhan 
Womens Pioners in India's Renaissance

The Joy of Classical Dances of India

Temples of South India

Mysteries of the Past Archeological Sites in India

Books forever (Nehru bal pustakalaya) Manoj Das 

Sahitya Akademi

Tales told by mystics Manoj Das 
Asian Variations In Ramayana K. R Srinivasa Iyengar 
Guru Nanak - A Homage K. R Srinivasa Iyengar 
A Child Even in Arms of Stone Sitakant Mahapatra 

Friday, December 25, 2009

Motilal Banarsidass

The political philosophy of Sri Aurobindo V. P Varma
The Dialogue with Death (Sri Aurobindo's Savitri, a Mystical Approach) Rohit Mehta
Contemporary Indian Philosophy Margaret Chatterjee
The Essentials of Indian Philosophy M. Hiriyanna
A Study of Time in Indian Philosophy Anindita Niyogi Balslev 
Contemporary Indian Philosophy Basant Kumar Lal 
Concept of mind in Indian philosophy Sarasvati Chennakesavan 

Welcome to the largest bookstore on Indology, from the oldest Publishing House in India: MLBD.     You've just entered an amazing world of books. Whether you know the title you're looking for or simply want to know about informative Books on India, you're sure to find it here.

Munshiram Manoharlal



Contemporary Indian philosophy Rama Shanker Srivastava 
Kalidas Bhattacharyya Debabrata Sinha
Individuals and Ideas in Traditional India Walter Maurer, Joseph T. Jordens, Charles R. Brooks 


Sunday, December 20, 2009

Life and flowers

Flowers - the Smile of the Divine The Mother

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

How central Grace is in this Yoga

Collaboration is a journal dedicated to the evolutionary vision of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. It examines the theory and practice of Integral Yoga, the place of humankind in the universe, and themes such as consciousness, emergence, and transformation. Articles, essays, poetry, and images explore the human impulse toward perfection and speculate on future possibilities as we pass into the 21st century. Current Issue Fall/Winter 2009... Now available in hardcopy. To subscribe to Collaboration, click here. Augugst 2009Front Spring 2009 Fall 2008 Spring 2008

Summer 2009 Journal of the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother Vol. 34, No. 1
Richard Pearson on the Mother’s work with flowers • Larry Seidlitz on the Divine Grace • Martha Orton on Spiritual Knowledge • Source Material • Current Affairs • AV Almanac • Poetry • Apropos
The authors and poets
The late Minnie N. Canteenwalla, was encouraged to write poetry by Sri Aurobindo during a visit to the Ashram at age 18 in 1930 or 1931. Her book Deep Footprints was published in 1983.
The late Georgette Coty was a member of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Her book Sing my Soul, of
poetry and essays, was published in 2001.
Rod Hemsell (rodhemsell@yahoo.com) is a member of Auroville and has for many years hosted Savitri Immersion Workshops at the Sri Aurobindo Learning Center in Crestone, Colorado.
Dave Hutchinson is one of the organizers for the upcoming Fundamentalism and the Future conference and has been an organizer for several AUM conferences (dbhutchinson@ucdavis.edu).
Shyam Kumari (shyamkumari@auromail.net) is a sadhika of the Ashram, an author, and president of Sri Aravinda Vidyalaya, a Sanskrit institute. Her poems have appeared in Mother India.
Martha Orton (martha.orton@gmail.com) is the author of The Quest for Knowledge and Mastery, a therapist, and an online course facilitator for Sri Aurobindo Centre for Advanced Research.
Richard Pearson, a member of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram since childhood, is an expert on flowers and plants, and a contributor to Flowers and Their Messages (richard.kailas@gmail.com).
Larry Seidlitz (lseidlitz@gmail.com) facilitates online courses for Sri Aurobindo Centre for Advanced Research in Pondicherry, and is editor of Collaboration.
Deepti Tewari (deepti@auroville.org.in) has lived in Auroville since 1975. She is a teacher in “Last School,” works with young Aurovilians and visitors, and for six years was a researcher and the editor for Matrimandir Journal.
The late Thémis, a sadhika of the Ashram, was best known for her translation of Satprem’s Sri Aurobindo or the Adventure of Consciousness. Her book Poems was published in 1952/1994.
Prabhjot Uppal, a physician and journalist, has authored three books: Doctors Are People Too, White Coat Tales, and The Little Bird Who Found Herself (prabhjot_uppal@hotmail.com).
Mauna van der Vlugt (mauna@auroville.org.in) is a Aurovilian with various responsibilities such as Auroville International coordination, Press Liaison, and Auroville Webmaster.

In our opening section, Current Affairs, we have an article on the upcoming conference “Fundamentalism and the Future.” Whereas it appears that this issue of Collaboration may not make it into your mailbox before the conference, there is already an extensive set of literature on the topic available online (see the article for details), and it is likely more will be forthcoming. As evident from the article, this conference is not simply about the response to Peter’s Heehs book, The Lives of Sri Aurobindo, but examines the issue of fundamentalism in depth in various contexts, with a focus on the future.

Also in this section, there is a write up about the three Savitri Immersion Workshops held at the Sri Aurobindo Learning Center in Crestone, CO this summer, a center which incidently is thriving despite Seyril Schochen’s passing in December 2006. In the section Briefs, there is a report about AUM 2009, news about several new and established centers, and information about the new publication of Aurovilian Jocelyn’s book, The Antithesis of Yoga.

Publisher: Collaboration (ISSN 0164-1522) is published by the Sri Aurobindo Association (SAA), a California nonprofit religious corporation, 2715 W. Kettleman Lane, Suite 203-174, Lodi, CA 95242 USA; e-mail: saa@aurobindo.org .
Editor: Larry Seidlitz, 39 Vanniar Street, Vaithikuppam, Puducherry, 605012, India; email:
lseidlitz@gmail.com . The opinions expressed in Collaboration are not necessarily those of the editor or the SAA.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Sri Aurobindo: Confluence of Nationalism and Spirituality

Sri Aurobindo Society home about sas sas activities News from Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) Upcoming Events
1 and 2 December 2009
On 1 December 2009, Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education observed its 66th anniversary by presenting a play 'The word of Light' - Glimpses of Sri Aurobindo's Life through his poetry in the Ashram theatre at 8 pm.
The Department of Physical Education of the Ashram has a physical demonstration at the Ashram's Sports ground on 2nd December 2009. The theme of the programme was "The Next Future". The programme includes March Past, Vande Mataram, Thy Brave Soldiers, O Sovereign Force, Mass Exercises, Hero Warriors, A Step Ahead, Waves of Harmony, The Army of Truth, Ascent, Our Resolve and Gratitude and the National Anthem as the finale.
Maha-Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo - 5 December
Sri Aurobindo
Sri Aurobindo left his body on 5 December 1950. The Body was laid to rest in the Samadhi after four days, on 9 December 1950. The body did not show any sign of decay or decomposition during this period. A few saw a golden spiritual light around the body.
Our gratitude to the physical body of Sri Aurobindo was expressed by the Mother and has been inscribed on the Samadhi:
To Thee who hast been the material envelope of our Master, to Thee our infinite gratitude. Before Thee who hast done so much for us, who hast worked, struggled, suffered, hoped, endured so much, before Thee who hast willed all, attempted all, prepared, achieved all for us, before Thee we bow down and implore that we may never forget, even for a moment, all we owe to Thee.
On 5 December 2009, there will be a visit to Sri Aurobindo's Room. There will also be collective meditation around the Samadhi in the morning and at the Playground in the evening. We give below a quote of the Mother on the significance of Sri Aurobindo's work and how we can participate in the birth of the New Creation:
Sri Aurobindo came upon earth to announce the manifestation of the supramental world and not merely did he announce this manifestation but embodied also in part the supramental force and showed by example what one must do to prepare oneself for manifesting it. The best thing we can do is to study all that he has told us and endeavour to follow his example and prepare ourselves for the new manifestation. This gives life its real sense and will help us to overcome all obstacles. Let us live for the new creation and we shall grow stronger and stronger by remaining young and progressive.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) - Photographic Exhibition from 15 to 20 December 2009
Invitation for Photographic Exhibition at Mumbai Branch
Mumbai Churchgate Branch is organising a Photographic Exhibition under the title 'The Eternal Flame' on the life of the Mother, at its premises: Pushpakunj, 'A' Road, Churchgate, Mumbai - 400 020. It is from 15 December 2009 to 20 December 2009. Following is the detailed programme:
15 December 5:30 pm - 6:00pm - Meditation with Music 6:00 pm - 7:00pm - Talk by Shri Aniruddha Smart on 'The Mother and Her Mission
16 December 5:30 pm - 6:00pm - Meditation with Music6:00 pm - 7:00pm - Talk by Shri Aniruddha Smart on 'The Mother and Her Mission
17 - 20 December (daily) 6:00 pm - 7:00pm - Short Talks on 'The Significance of the Mother's Symbol'
All are welcome to attend the Exhibition and the Talks.
Savitri Study Sessions - February 2010
Dr. Alok Pandey will conduct sessions on Sri Aurobindo's epic 'Savitri' at the Society's Beach Office, Pondicherry, from 22 to 28 February 2010. The sessions will be held at 5.15 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. and 6.15 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. All are welcome to attend the talk series!
Recent Events 17 and 20 November 2009 - Maha-Samadhi of the Mother
The Mother left her body on 17 November 1973 and the body was laid in to rest in Samadhi on 20 November. The inmates of the Ashram and the devotees paid homage to the Mother and visited Her room on 17 November 2009. There was meditation around the Samadhi from 6:00 to 6:30 am. In the evening the meditation was at 7:25 pm at the Playground. The message card distributed during the occasion can be viewed by clicking here.
24 November 2009 - Siddhi Day
On 24th November 2009, the 83d Anniversary of Siddhi Day - The Day of Victory - was celebrated in the Ashram to commemorate the descent of the Sri Krishna Consciousness or the Overmental Consciousness into the physical which happened in the year 1926.
The day was observed by a visit to Sri Aurobindo's Room. There was collective meditation around the Samadhi in the morning and in the evening there was a march-past with music played by the Ashram band. The programme concluded with meditation at the Playground. The message card distributed during the occasion can be viewed by clicking here.
Dr Sampadananda Mishra's Programme in November 2009
On 3 November 2009, Dr. Sampadananda Mishra, chief coordinator, Sanskrit and Indian Culture, Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry, visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Kolkata and gave a talk on the Gita. Demonstration of the multi-media CD on the Gita was also a part of the talk. On the 4, Dr. Mishra spoke on Sanskrit - a key to the heart of India in which he explained about India's self-development and role of Sanskrit.
From the 9 to the 14 of November Dr. Mishra gave a series of talks on Gita in Seth M.R. Jaipuria School, Lukcnow, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida and Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur.
On the 17 Nov. Dr. Mishra to visit the Sri Aurobindo Society School in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. In the morning he had an interactive session with the teachers of the School and in the evening he spoke about the importance and relevance of Sanskrit. Many guests were also invited to attend the talk in which there were students and faculty members of the Sanskrit department, J.N Vyas University, Jodhpur. On the 18 Nov. Dr. Mishra gave a talk on Sanskrit Metre in Kamala Nehru College, Jodhpur. On the same day afternoon he also spoke on 'Transparent System of Root-sounds in Sanskrit' in the department of Sanskrit, J.N Vyas University, Jodhpur.
Visit by Students from Furman University, United States - 14 to 16 November 2009
Students from Furman University
A group of 21 comprising 16 students and 5 faculties from Furman University - a private, coeducational university in Greenville, South Carolina, United States - were on an educational tour to India. As part of their programme they came to Pondicherry for 3 days, on 14, 15, 16 November 2009. The group consisted of undergraduates ranging from freshman to seniors. Their majors varied from journalism to education, but the majority with a concentration in political science. The purpose of this experience was to enlighten and enhance the student's overall understanding of India.
As for the educational aspect, Doctor Alok Pandey was the first to meet with the students an interaction aimed to address whatever the students felt to be of importance. Dr. Pandey began by explaining the different elements that make up the Sri Aurobindo Ashram: Ashram School, Sri Aurobindo Society and other Ashram departments. In response to further inquiries, the discussion led to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother's thoughts, and how they are applied in our daily lives with the goal of reaching Divinity within. The students were overcome with fascination by the education technique implemented in the centre of education at the ashram. This was followed by interaction with Jordan and Vanessa, both students from University of Oregon who have been staying with Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry for the last two months. The day closed with Swati, another team member, guiding the students on the ashram tour. The next day the students were given a grand introduction to Auroville.
Trupti interacting with the Students
On the third day the students were given presentations that included the following projects undertaken by the Society: Sarvam - an integral village development project, Sharanam - an international rural training centre presented by Trupti and lastly, concluding words by Vijaybhai.
Some Special Days in December 200925 December 2009 - Christmas
Christmas Eve
The Christmas day has been celebrated in the Ashram for many decades. Once the Mother was asked by a devotee about the special meaning of the Christmas day as celebrated in the Ashram, and here is the Mother's response:
Long before the Christian religion made December 25th the day of Christ's birth, this day was the festival of the return of the sun, the Day of Light. It is this very ancient symbol of the rebirth of the Light that we wish to celebrate here.
Here is a Christmas Message from the Mother:
May the New Light illumine your thoughts and your lives, govern your hearts and guide your action. Blessings.
News from Branches and Centres
News from India
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)
Shri Manoj addresses the students of Saraswati Vidhya Kendra
A view of the Students
Two programmes were organised by Sri Aurobindo Society at two different Schools of Saraswati Vidhya Kendra at Bhopal. The topic was ''Sri Aurobindo: Confluence of Nationalism and Spirituality''. Shri Manoj and Shri D.N. Sharma Spoke on the occasion. About 450 students from one school and more than 330 from the other school attended the programme, along with their teachers and staff.
Paigmberpur (Uttar Pradesh)
Recent Activities at the Centre: Construction of the Library is in progress at the Centre. There was a function on 15th August 2009 to celebrate Sri Aurobindo's Birthday.30 girls from Welham School, Dehradun came for a five-day visit for rural exposure.27 girls along with 2 teachers from Shigally School near Dehradun came for a five-day rural exposure.Since organic farming is practised at the centre, time, attention and efforts were directed towards agriculture activities for Paddy, Mustard and Urad (black lentil) sowing and harvesting, to ensure that this practice is successful and recognised by the farmers in the area.
Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh)
During October 2009, the Hyderabad Branch organised a lecture series under the title "Sri Aurobindo Vyakhyanamala". There were 8 lectures delivered by Dr(Mrs) T.V. Nagaranjani from 24 October to 31 October 2009, one lecture everyday, in Telugu, on the subject of "Dialogue with Death taken from Sri Aurobindo's epic Savitri".
Guntur (Andhra Pradesh)
On Monday, 2 November 2009, it was a full moon day, 13 people participated at the Guntur Branch. 108 lamps were lit and all chanted Om Anandamayi mantra 108 times.
Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)
The Visakhapatnam Centre arranged lectures on 'Savitri' by Dr. Prema Nandakumar on 27 and 28 September 2009. Prof. K.V. Ramana, Chairman of the Centre presided over the sessions.
Delhi
The concluding session of the talk-series on the Bhagavad Gita (verses from Chapter 14-18) by Shri Vijay K. Poddar was held on 22 October 2009 at the Delhi Branch.
Dombivli, Mumbai (Maharashtra)
The 19th anniversary of the Dombivli Centre was celebrated on 25 October 2009.The Centre opened at 5.00 a.m. and Morning Dawn Prayer was performed with Mother's Ashram Music, followed by reading from 'Savitri' and October Edition of All India Magazine on "Light of Truth". In the evening there was a short lecture delivered by Shri B. Janakiraman, Secretary, on Sri Aurobindo's Savitri, Life Divine and the All India Magazine. The programme concluded with the meditation.
Walgaon, Amravati (Maharashtra)
A meeting was arranged for young new members on 2 November 2009 in the morning at the Hollywood Colony Centre's hall, Amravati. Dr. Makarand Khubalkar from Akola G.M.C. and member of Dharmpeth Centre, Nagpur, spoke on the topics 'Working of Energy', 'Cause of Disease' etc.
Kuttappalayam (Tamil Nadu)
Devotees from Coimbatore and other Centres participated in the meeting held at Kuttappalayam Branch on 9 November 2009. Shri Thiruvenkatam, Chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Committee; Shri Anandhakrishnan from the Coimbatore Centre; and a few other members spoke on the Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.
Bangalore: Sri Aurobindo Complex (Karnataka) A talk by Shri Prashant Khanna from Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi Branch, on 'The Life Divine' was organised on 9 November 2009 from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. at the Cultural Hall. Devotees & others actively participated in the Programme.
On 28 November 2009 Kannada Rajyotsava Day was celebrated at the Mirambika School for New Age. Dr. Vasudha Theertharam, Senior faculty member of Information and Resource Centre & Governing Council Member of KPAMRC, was the Chief Guest. Students presented Drill Display, Tableau, Yoga Display & other activities.

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..."

Monday, December 07, 2009

Matrimandir Calendar theme for 2010 is "The Manifestation"

Auroville Publication
Matrimandir Calendar 2010 Rs.182.00
The theme for 2010 is "The Manifestation". After having presented the inside sphere of the Matrimandir, and the 12 Meditation Rooms in the previous years, we are looking in 2010 from outside (from the gardens) towards the Matrimandir. Quotations from Sri Aurobindo's Savitri are on the calendar page. A smaller cut-out photo of the main calendar picture is on the calendar page. The names of the months and days are printed in 4 languages: English, French, (spoken) Sankskrit,...

Auroville Calendar 2010 Rs.225.00
It is a wall calendar with stunning images of Auroville life and landscapes taken by Ireno Guerci. This year it is a special 14 months calendar, from December 2009 to January 2011. The calendar includes moon phases and spaces to write notes in each day. The size is: inches 11 x 12 (cm 28 x 30.5)

shradhanjali Desk Calendar 2010 Rs.106.00
Desk calendar with handmade paper made from recycled cotton rags (blue colour) and decorated with delicate white weed grass, standing on a Millingtonia hortensis (Indian cork tree) wood base. Desk calendar with handmade paper made from recycled cotton rags (red colour) and decorated with Azadirachta indica, standing on...

shradhanjali Pocket Calendar 2010 Rs.25.00
Pocket calendar with assorted colours of handmade paper made from recycled cotton rags and decorated either with spray painted leaves, a simple paper square or a sequin. Size : 8.5 x 5.4 cm

Prisma Anniversary Book (for all the dates you want to remember) Rs.280.00
A timeless book for listing all the annual dates and anniversaries you want to remember. A virtual calendar for all the years. Hardcover: 72 pages Publisher: Prisma, Auroville Language: English Product Dimensions: 24 x 16 cm

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Anilbaran Roy lived in the Ashram from 1926 to 1964

In this issue we present two new publications which are already familiar to many readers but are appearing now in slightly altered formats. The first book, which is coming out again after a long time, is The Message of the Gita. It was compiled and edited by Anilbaran Roy, one of Sri Aurobindo’s early disciples who lived in the Ashram from 1926 to 1964. Anilbaran has provided a commentary on the shlokas of the Bhagavad Gita by taking passages from Essays on the Gita, Sri Aurobindo’s exposition of the spiritual philosophy and method of self-discipline of the Gita, and combining or abridging them to form a commentary suited to the verses under which they appear. The English translation of the Sanskrit text is drawn as much as possible from Sri Aurobindo’s translations and paraphrases. The format, which differs from the previous four editions, places the commentary notes directly beneath the verses; formerly they were printed as footnotes. The reader can use this book as a verse-by-verse guide to a deeper understanding of this seminal scripture. “Our aim [in studying the Gita]”, wrote Sri Aurobindo, “must be to distinguish its essential and living message, that in it on which humanity has to seize for its perfection and its highest spiritual welfare.”

The second book, Sweet Mother: Luminous Notes, is the combined version of Mona Sarkar’s earlier volumes, Sweet Mother: Harmonies of Light and Sweet Mother: Harmonies of Light—Part 2, slightly revised and enlarged with the addition of some new material. These conversations with the Mother, recollected from memory except for a few that were recorded on tape, reveal not only the compassionate nature of the Mother’s relationship with one of her disciples, but disclose, much as if we were listening with an ear to a door to the Infinite, quiet, almost whispered truths like the following:
This is what I do when I have a very difficult work to do. I close my eyes, and I see the things more clearly, each thing in its place, and I do it very easily because the corresponding things come one after another, exactly in their place. I have no need to search or fumble. It comes automatically, and I do it much better and also much faster than if I had to do the same work, seeing like this. It is a much better way to do the work by closing the eyes.…One develops a sort of vision which is much more precise than this one (with the ordinary eyes).
And in another instance, the Mother tells Mona that she cannot sign her name on Sri Aurobindo’s photo. He persists in asking her to sign, and she offers an explanation.
But, Mother, when one sees the photos, one sees You being united with Sri Aurobindo. Then is this not true?
Yes, He becomes one with me. Sometimes He is in me, sometimes He is outside me. From time to time, He is here, and again He is not here, or else He is in ten places simultaneously. At the same time, He is in many places. Like this, He is in me also.
Then it is the same thing. Therefore You can sign, Mother, because for me You and Sri Aurobindo are the same.
My child, there are things which one cannot say, which one cannot pronounce, leave aside write. That is why I cannot sign. Because it is not done. Materially, it is not possible. In some other plane of consciousness it could be done but not materially. You understand, I cannot.4.2.68
Another book now available with SABDA is Eternal Youth: Rays of Light from the Mother, a compilation of messages and talks of the Mother that both admonishes and inspires us to give up our blind acceptance of aging and death and to understand the depth of the radical change necessary for the integral Yoga:
The effect of the ego…is to shrivel the being. It is the cause of aging, it dries you up—the being shrivels under it like a withering flower.The Divine alone can liberate us from the mechanism of universal Nature. And this liberation is indispensable for the birth and development of a new race.
NEW PUBLICATIONS
To order any book, click on the title, which will locate the book in our online catalogue. Next, add it to the shopping cart. You may then proceed to pay by credit card online.
ENGLISH
Sweet Mother: Luminous Notes
— Mona SarkarISBN: 978-81-7058-899-3Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Publication Department, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 177Price: Rs 95
This book is a collection of conversations with the Mother on a variety of topics. They were noted down from memory except for a few that were recorded on tape. In these conversations the Mother covers a wide range of subjects, from her signature, her photographs, and the significance of flowers to palmistry, the March Past, and football. Perhaps most significantly, she talks extensively on Savitri in a manner not expressed anywhere else in her writings or talks. This book includes revised versions of all the conversations published earlier in the two parts of Sweet Mother: Harmonies of Light, as well as new material.
The Message of the Gita
as interpreted by Sri Aurobindo— Edited by Anilbaran RoyISBN: 978-81-7058-923-5Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Publication Department, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 374Price: Rs 185
This book contains the original Sanskrit text of the Bhagavad Gita, a translation partly by Sri Aurobindo, and commentary drawn entirely from Essays on the Gita, Sri Aurobindo’s principal work on this important scripture. The editor, Anilbaran Roy, was an early disciple of Sri Aurobindo, and prepared the commentary with the permission of Sri Aurobindo. While introducing the first edition of the book in 1938 the editor wrote, “The Gita is a great synthesis of Aryan spiritual culture and Sri Aurobindo’s luminous exposition of it…sets out its inner significances in a way that brings them home to the modern mind.” This new edition has been brought out after a long time.
Eternal Youth
Rays of Light from The Mother— Compiled from the writings of the MotherPublisher: Arka, AurovilleBinding: Soft CoverPages: 50Price: Rs 70
These selections from the Mother’s works reveal the truths behind the facades of old age and death, that they are the habits of Nature, and that the incapacity to grow and progress is the real deterioration into old age. The book has been brought out by ARKA, a community for senior Aurovilians, which is dedicated to manifesting the Mother’s vision of Auroville as a place of “unending education, of constant progress, and a youth that never ages”.
What is Light
— Compiled from the Writings of Sri Aurobindo and the MotherISBN: 978-81-7060-285-9Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Society, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 32Price: Rs 30
Realisation of the Divine
— Words of Sri Aurobindo and the MotherISBN: 978-81-7060-286-6Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Society, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 40Price: Rs 30
HINDI
Mataji ke Vachan (Bhag I)
— The MotherISBN: 978-81-7058-906-8Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Publication Department, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 418Price: Rs 190
Hindi translation of Words of the Mother – I
This book consists primarily of brief written statements by the Mother about Sri Aurobindo, herself, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville, India and nations other than India. Written over a period of nearly sixty years (1914-1973), the statements are compiled from her notes, messages and correspondences. The volume also includes several conversations.
BENGALI
Sri Aurobindo o Nishkriya Pratirodh Tatwa
— Ashish Kumar BasuPublisher: Sri Aurobindo Pathamandir, KolkataBinding: Soft CoverPages: 71Price: Rs 30
Sri Aurobindo o tar Balaya
— Subhas GhosalPublisher: The Shee Book Agency, KolkataBinding: Hard CoverPages: 188Price: Rs 100
Durga-Stotra Prasange
— Trija RoyPublisher: Sri Aurobindo Pathamandir, KolkataBinding: Soft CoverPages: 56Price: Rs 25
Monero Opare
Ajana Rajyaguli— Debabrata MajumdarISBN: 978-81-7060-282-8Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Society, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 115Price: Rs 45
Aharanee
— Robi GuptaPublisher: Hasi Grandcolas, FranceBinding: Soft CoverPages: 152Price: Rs 80
GUJARATI
Sundaram: Purnayoga na Prakashman
— Kirit ThakkarPublisher: Sri Aurobindo Memorial Trust, VadodaraBinding: Hard CoverPages: 311Price: Rs 100
MARATHI
Dainandin Jeevanat Sadhana
— Jyoti ThankiISBN: 978-81-89839-35-2Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Society, AmravatiBinding: Soft CoverPages: 34Price: Rs 15
TAMIL
Jai Ma: Annaiyin Thondai patri
— Pashupati BhattacharyaPublisher: Madanlal Poddar, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 27Price: Rs 10
Tamil translation of Jai Ma: On the Mother's Service
Reproduced from a chapter in On the Mother Divine by Pashupati, this small booklet addresses the right attitude to be taken towards work as part of one’s sadhana. It urges the reader to begin seeing every work as the Mother’s work, to be carried out with a constant remembrance of her, and to abandon the notion of personal gain and egocentric success. Work done in the right spirit, in whatever field of endeavour, can bring about a change of consciousness and draw one nearer to the Divine.
TELUGU
Prarthanalu-Dhyanamulu
— The MotherPublisher: Sri Aurobindo Society, HanamkondaBinding: Hard CoverPages: 365Price: Rs 150
Telugu translation of Prayers and Meditations
The 313 prayers and meditations in this book are a record of the Mother’s early spiritual life, written, in her own words, “during years of intensive yogic discipline”. Most of the diary entries she selected for publication were from the period between 1912 and 1917. In an introductory note she says she intended them to serve as a spiritual guide for seekers aspiring to consecrate themselves to self-mastery and a complete surrender to and union with the Divine.
Jai Amma
— Pashupati BhattacharyaPublisher: Madanlal Poddar, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 28Price: Rs 10
Telugu translation of Jai Ma: On the Mother's Service
Reproduced from a chapter in On the Mother Divine by Pashupati, this small booklet addresses the right attitude to be taken towards work as part of one’s sadhana. It urges the reader to begin seeing every work as the Mother’s work, to be carried out with a constant remembrance of her, and to abandon the notion of personal gain and egocentric success. Work done in the right spirit, in whatever field of endeavour, can bring about a change of consciousness and draw one nearer to the Divine.
FRENCH
Une jeunesse éternelle
Rayons de lumière de La Mère— Compiled from the writings of the MotherPublisher: Arka, AurovilleBinding: Soft CoverPages: 47Price: Rs 70
French original of Eternal Youth
These selections from the Mother’s works reveal the truths behind the facades of old age and death, that they are the habits of Nature, and that the incapacity to grow and progress is the real deterioration into old age. The book has been brought out by ARKA, a community for senior Aurovilians, which is dedicated to manifesting the Mother’s vision of Auroville as a place of “unending education, of constant progress, and a youth that never ages”.
ITALIAN
Le Religioni
— Parole dagli scritti di Mère e Sri AurobindoISBN: 978-81-7058-944-0Publisher: Domani, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 64Price: Rs 85
Jai Ma: Al Servizio della Madre
— Pashupati BhattacharyaPublisher: Madanlal Poddar, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 28Price: Rs 10
Italian translation of Jai Ma: On the Mother's Service
Reproduced from a chapter in On the Mother Divine by Pashupati, this small booklet addresses the right attitude to be taken towards work as part of one’s sadhana. It urges the reader to begin seeing every work as the Mother’s work, to be carried out with a constant remembrance of her, and to abandon the notion of personal gain and egocentric success. Work done in the right spirit, in whatever field of endeavour, can bring about a change of consciousness and draw one nearer to the Divine.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Arya was a joint venture of Sri Aurobindo and Paul Richard

The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Respite for US writer
The book titled “The Lives of Sri Aurobindo” published by Columbia University Press, US, has disparaging comments about the life of the spiritual leader. ...

Noren Singh Nahar Recalls « The Mother's Lasso
Born on 1 December 1920, he came to Sri Aurobindo Ashram for the first time in .... I had once asked the Mother: “When will Sri Aurobindo return with His ...

Arya (magazine) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Arya was conceived as a joint venture of Sri Aurobindo and Paul Richard, ... Sri Aurobindo remarked on more than one occasion that, though he was not ...
Mother India (magazine) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mother India is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram's originally fortnightly, now monthly, cultural review. It was started in 1949, the founding editor being K. D. ...
Sri Aurobindo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The central theme of Sri Aurobindo's vision is the evolution of life into a "life divine". In his own words: "Man is a transitional being. He is not final. ...
World Union - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
World Union is a non-profit, non-political organization founded on the November 26, 1958 in Pondicherry, inspired by Sri Aurobindo's vision ...
Sri Aurobindo Ashram - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sri Aurobindo Ashram was founded by Sri Aurobindo on the 24 November 1926 (Siddhi Day). At the time there were no more than 24 disciples in the Ashram. ...

Columbia University Story Page - USATODAY.com
The Hindu Respite for US writer
CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Wednesday stayed the trial of a case pending in a lower court here against controversial US writer Peter Heehs who shot into limelight recently for his book on Sri Aurobindo. The book titled “The Lives of Sri Aurobindo”

India needs passionate, qualified educators
One space to find training is in Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi for a BEd, giving you the opportunity to also teach at Mirambika Free Progress School, ...

Savitri: the Light of the Supreme :: A Summary of Savitri—by MP ...
Sri Aurobindo turns it into a symbol of the quest of humanity for the crown ... Sri Aurobindo fills the frame of the legend with a wealth of spiritual and ...

poetry, ponderings and preoccupations: Light, Darkness and Poetry ...
by Lori But she goes on to quote Sri Aurobindo (Indian yogi, poet and political leader) "You carry in yourself all the obstacles necessary to make your realization perfect. Always you will see that within you the shadow and the light are equal. ...

CROWN OF THORNS
1 Dec 2009 SRI AUROBINDO
- “The aim of education is to help the child to develop his intellectual, aesthetic, emotional, moral and spiritual being. ” SRI AUROBINDO - “The aim of education is to help the child to develop his intellectual, ...

What Hindus Need To Know::Freduian Twists To Hindu Myths
Swami Vivekananda, Ananda Coomaraswamy and Sri Aurobindo encountered similarly demonized representations of Indian culture in their own times, ...

Some people whom I spotted with the light from a lantern in the shaded history of India! [set 1]
"V.O.C. showed the way for organized effort and sacrifice. He finished his major political work by 1908, but died in late 1936, the passion for freedom still raging in his mind till the last moment. He was known as "Chekkiluththa Chemmal" - a great man who pulled the oil press in jail for the sake of his people. He was an erudite scholar in Tamil, a prolific writer, a fiery speaker a trade union leader of unique calibre and a dauntless freedom fighter. His life is a story of resistance, strife, struggle, suffering and sacrifice for the cause to which he was committed.."
On 12 November 1906, V.O.C. formed the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, by purchasing two steamships ‘S.S.Gaelia’ and ‘S.S.Lawoe’, thanks to the assistance and support of Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Aurobindo Ghose. The ships commenced regular service between Tuticorin and Colombo (Srilanka), against the opposition of the British traders and the Imperial Government. V.O.C. was thus laying the foundation for a comprehensive shipping industry in the country, more than just a commercial venture. Sources: " ...... and miles to go before I sleep........!" Posted by erajas at 1:45 AM

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Sri Aurobindo sees evolution primarily as an ongoing evolution of consciousness

Sri Aurobindo Movement and the Bahai Faith
13 Oct 2009 ... Sri Aurobindo Movement and the Bahá'í Faith by Anil Sarwal Yet shall Truth grow and harmony increase The day shall come when men feel close ... www.scribd.com/doc/.../Sri-Aurobindo-Movement-and-the-Bahai-Faith
The Evolution of Consciousness in Sri Aurobindo's Cosmopsychology
22 Jun 2009 ... By Matthijs Cornelissen. Sri Aurobindo sees evolution primarily as an ongoing evolution of consciousness. He holds that the human mind is ... www.scribd.com/.../The-Evolution-of-Consciousness-in-Sri-Aurobindos-Cosmopsychology
Sri Aurobindo -- A Brief Life Sketch
6 Nov 2009 ... SRI AUROBINDO was born in Calcutta on August 15, 1872. In 1879, at the age of seven, he was taken with his two elder brothers to England for ... www.scribd.com/doc/22189764/Sri-Aurobindo-A-Brief-Life-Sketch
Sri Aurobindo Talks Letters and Articles
Collection of Talks, Writings of Sri Aurobindo from 1893-1950. www.scribd.com/doc/13499164/Sri-Aurobindo-Talks-Letters-and-Articles
Sri Aurobindo
27 Jul 2009 ... This text highlites Sri Aurobindo's over all works on Indian National Movement. www.scribd.com/doc/17714396/Sri-Aurobindo
Essays on the Gita
Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust 1997 Published by Sri Aurobindo Ashram Publication ... It was revised by Sri Aurobindo and published as a book in 1922. ... www.scribd.com/doc/22443261/Essays-on-the-Gita
Sri Aurobindo Biography KR Srinivasa Iyengar
13 Jul 2009 ... Sri Aurobindo Biography KR Srinivasa Iyengar. Biography Aurobindo Sri. www.scribd.com/doc/.../Sri-Aurobindo-Biography-KR-Srinivasa-Iyengar
veda and tamil
This volume comprises Sri Aurobindo's writings on and translations of the Rig Veda that were published in the monthly review Arya between 1914 and 1920. ... www.scribd.com/doc/3326083/veda-and-tamil-
Sri Aurobindo's Teaching Mrthod of Sadhana
Sri Aurobindo's teaching states that this One Being and Consciousness is involved here in Matter. Evolution is the method by which it liberates itself; ... www.scribd.com/doc/.../Sri-Aurobindo-s-Teaching-Mrthod-of-Sadhana
Sri Aurobindo-essays Divine and Human
Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust 1997 Published by Sri Aurobindo Ashram ... The contents of this volume were never prepared by Sri Aurobindo for publication. ... www.scribd.com/doc/4445025/Sri-Aurobindoessays-Divine-and-Human
Sri Aurobindo - Biography - K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar
26 Sep 2009 ... Sri Aurobindo - Biography - KR Srinivasa Iyengar. www.scribd.com/doc/.../Sri-Aurobindo-Biography-K-R-Srinivasa-Iyengar
Secrets of the Vedas
VOLUME 15 THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SRI AUROBINDO. This volume comprises Sri Aurobindo's writings on and translations of the Rig Veda that were published in the ... www.scribd.com/doc/10545337/Secrets-of-the-Vedas
Meaning of Birth and Quest in Sri Aurobindo's Savitri
29 Mar 2009 ... A reading of Sri Aurobindo's Savitri, Book Four savitri Sri Aurobindo. www.scribd.com/.../Meaning-of-Birth-and-Quest-in-Sri-Aurobindos-Savitri
sri aurobindo's teaching
6 Nov 2009 ... Practical Spirituality Recommended Reading List PDF Spiritual Wisdom of India Reading List PDF Sri Aurobindo Books by Lotus Press ... www.scribd.com/doc/22196727/sri-aurobindo-s-teaching
Eckhart Tolle & Sri Aurobindo: Two Perspectives on Enlightenment
This is one of our Best Seller books in 2008 written by Dr. AS Dalal. www.scribd.com/.../Eckhart-Tolle-Sri-Aurobindo-Two-Perspectives-on-Enlightenment
sri aurobindo - on himself
6 Nov 2009 ... The following quotes are from Volume 26, Sri Aurobindo Birth Centenary Library, "On Himself" p. 378 I see that you have persisted in giving ... www.scribd.com/doc/22196716/sri-aurobindo-on-himself
sri aurobindo - wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
6 Nov 2009 ... Sri Aurobindo wrote prolifically in English on his spiritual philosophy and practice, on social and political development, on Indian culture ... www.scribd.com/doc/.../sri-aurobindo-wikipedia-the-free-encyclopedia
Sri Aurobindo on Himself
Sri Aurobindo on himself Author: Sri Aurobindo ISBN: 81-7058-019-6 Binding: Soft Cover Pages: 515 Price: Rs 125 Essays on the Gita. Author: Sri Aurobindo ... www.scribd.com/doc/22882350/Sri-Aurobindo-on-Himself
Collected Poems
Collected Poems. spirtuality Sri Aurobindo. ... The poems dated 1890-92 were written by Sri Aurobindo between the age of eighteen and twenty in England. ... www.scribd.com/doc/3206139/Collected-Poems
foundations of indian culture
Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust 1997 Published by Sri Aurobindo Ashram ... That title was not Sri Aurobindo's. It was first used when those essays were published ... www.scribd.com/doc/3206144/foundations-of-indian-culture
Sri Aurobindo--Glossary to the Records of Yoga
The .. complete realisation of brahman included for Sri Aurobindo not only the ...... Sri Aurobindo adapted the Vaishnava tradi¯ tion of the caturvyuha ... www.scribd.com/doc/.../Sri-AurobindoGlossary-to-the-Records-of-Yoga
the mother on sri aurobindo
from Volume 12 On Education, p.116 (24 July 1951) Sri Aurobindo came upon earth to teach this truth to men. He told them that man is only a transitional ... www.scribd.com/doc/22196738/the-mother-on-sri-aurobindo
sri aurobindo's teaching and method of sadhana
The teaching of Sri Aurobindo starts from that of the ancient sages of India that behind the appearances of the universe there is the Reality of a Being and ... www.scribd.com/doc/.../sri-aurobindo-s-teaching-and-method-of-sadhana
Bhagavad Gita
8 Mar 2007 ... presented here was compiled mainly from Sri Aurobindo's "Essays on the Gita". It first appeared in "The Message of the Gita", ... www.scribd.com/doc/7394/Bhagavad-Gita
social and political thought
The Publisher's Note to the first edition, which was dictated by Sri Aurobindo, is reproduced in the present edition. The Ideal of Human Unity was written ... www.scribd.com/doc/3206156/social-and-political-thought
the harmony of virtue
SRI AUROBINDO BIRTH CENTENARY LIBRARY. DE LUXE EDITION Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust ... From notes dictated by Sri Aurobindo. The Harmony of Virtue Book One ... www.scribd.com/doc/3206157/the-harmony-of-virtue
Savitri Book 1 Canto 1 Post 4
15 Oct 2008 ... Why Sri Aurobindo begins with these lines referring to the creation of the cosmos and ... The why does Sri Aurobindo begin with these lines? ... www.scribd.com/doc/6795982/Savitri-Book-1-Canto-1-Post-4
ESSAYS ON THE GITA
Sri Aurobindo was an Indian nationalist and freedom fighter, poet, philosopher, and yogi. Aurobindo. www.scribd.com/doc/10553810/ESSAYS-ON-THE-GITA
savitri - aurobindo
Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust 1997 Published by Sri Aurobindo Ashram ... By around 1930, Sri Aurobindo had begun to turn it into an epic with a larger scope ... www.scribd.com/doc/22196701/savitri-aurobindo
Savitri Book 1 Canto 1 Post 18
15 Oct 2008 ... Now Sri Aurobindo continues to explains the state of Savitri when ... Sri Aurobindo once again emphasizes the Divine Nature of Savitri and ... www.scribd.com/doc/6796040/Savitri-Book-1-Canto-1-Post-18

A Critique of Ken Wilber's Integral Method
2 Aug 2008 ... We have seen that Wilber seriously misinterprets both Mahayana Buddhism and the teachings of Sri Aurobindo; two wisdom teachings that he ... www.scribd.com/doc/4437610/A-Critique-of-Ken-Wilbers-Integral-Method

Sri Aurobindo Centre For Arts & Communication

SRI AUROBINDO STUDIES - An Online University Tamil Nadu » Pondicherry
MA,M.Phil, Ph.D in Sri Aurobindo Studies. Sri Aurobindo Centre for Advanced Research...
Sri Aurobindo Institute Of Mass Communication Delhi & NCR » Delhi
Sri Aurobindo Institute deals with courses like: , 2-years master in Communication management ...
Sri Aurobindo Institute Of Management Required Director Gujarat » Rajkot
Sri Aurobindo institute of management required director qualification, experience and pay scale ...
Sri Aurobindo's School In ECIL Andhra Pradesh » Hyderabad
Sri Aurobindo's School Facilities- Computer Lab, School Bus. Extra-Curricular Programs Bharat ...
Sri Aurobindo Model School In Uppal Andhra Pradesh » Hyderabad
Sri Aurobindo Model SchoolSports Activities Checkers, Cricket, Kabbadi, Kho-Kho, Yoga. Extra ...
Sri Aurobindo International School Andhra Pradesh » Hyderabad
Sri Aurobindo International School In Hyderabad Happy And Safe Environment Under The Personal ...
Sri Aurobindo Institute Of Medical Science Madhya Pradesh » Indore
Sri Aurobindo Institute Of Medical Science aim is to graduate first class clinicians, optimally ...
Sri Aurobindo Institute of Education West Bengal » Kolkata
Sri Aurobindo Institute of Education- proposed under CBSE curriculum will impart world class ...
Sri Aurobindo International School In Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh » Hyderabad
Sri Aurobindo International Schools aim of the school is to prepare the boys academically ...
Sri Aurobindo Centre For Arts & Communication Delhi & NCR » Delhi
COURSES: Film & T.V. Production, Direction, Video Camera, Editing & Sound Designing...
Sri Aurobindo Srikshetra Orissa » Cuttack
This is an organization working in the field of education. It aims to provide scientific institute f...
Meditation and Yoga Classes at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Delhi & NCR » Delhi
Daily Pranyam time from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. Meditation Classes time from6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Yoga...

ONLINE POSTGRAD INTEGRAL STUDIES COURSES International » International
120-day COURSES STARTING 1st MAY 2009 * THE INTEGRAL WAY OF SRI AUROBINDO by Dr ...

Aravind Eye Hospital Madurai Tamil Nadu » Madurai
Eye care The arvind eye hoapital is an endeavour to realize sri aurobindos ideals while rendering ...

Integral Education Workshop Maharashtra » Mumbai
of the Aurobindo ashram in pondicherry (from where he visit Mumbai to conduct workshop) is based on three notion ...

Certificate course in Digital Photography Delhi & NCR » Delhi
bad pictures to select the good ones Formerly known as Sri ...

The Mother's International School Delhi & NCR » Delhi
For Pre-Primary and Primary classes: Children Park, Activity Room, Montessori Room, Maths Lab, Mus...

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Puducherry Lt Governor Iqbal Singh visited the Ashram

Devotees throng Aurobindo AshramPuducherry Tuesday, Nov 17 2009 IST news.webindia123.com

Thousands of devotees from all over the country and abroad thronged the Sri Aurobindo Ashram here today to pay tributes to the 'Mother,' a leading disciple of Sri Aurobindo, on the occasion of her 36th death anniversary.

Puducherry Lt Governor Iqbal Singh also visited the Ashram and paid homages to the Mother on the occasion. A mass meditation was also organsied there to mark the occasion. (UNI)

The Mole and the Mountain -- by Alok Pandey 13 Nov 2009

Researching history the mole-way A mole was dissatisfied with its own stature. He had heard of the bear and the elephant who were apparently like him but much larger and stronger. Living in his burrow he had also heard of strange lands, ...

Annual Conference of Hindi Zone was held at Patiala on 10th & 11th October 2009

News from Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) Upcoming Events
17 and 20 November 2009 - Maha-Samadhi of the Mother
The Mother
The Mother left her body on 17th November 1973. Her body was laid in the Samadhi on 20th November. The Mother's room will be open for darshan for devotees on 17 November 2009.
On Her life's aim, here is what the Mother once wrote:
"I am French by birth and early education, I am Indian by choice and predilection. In my consciousness there is no antagonism between the two, on the contrary, they combine very well and complete one another. I know also that I can be of service to both equally, for my only aim in life is to give a concrete form to Sri Aurobindo's great teaching and in his teaching he reveals that all the nations are essentially one and meant to express the Divine Unity upon earth through an organised and harmonious diversity."
When pressed about the details of her physical life, this was Her brief reply:
"Do not ask questions about the details of the material existence of this body; they are in themselves of no interest and must not attract attention. Throughout all this life, knowingly or unknowingly, I have been what the Lord wanted me to be, I have done what the Lord wanted me to do. That alone matters."
24 November 2009 - Siddhi Day
24 November 2009 is a very significant day, especially for the devotees of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, as it marks the 83rd anniversary of the Siddhi Day - The Day of Victory -, the descent of the Sri Krishna Consciousness or the Overmental Consciousness into the physical. This was the first decisive step towards the Supramental Manifestation which took place later in 1956.
About this event Sri Aurobindo later wrote in a letter:
"The 24th November [1926] was the descent of Krishna into the physical…. The descent of Krishna would mean the descent of the Overmind Godhead preparing, though not itself actually, the descent of Supermind and Ananda. Krishna is the Anandamaya; he supports the evolution through the Overmind leading it towards his Ananda."
A view of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry
The 24th November 1926 is also the day when the Sri Aurobindo Ashram came into being. It is therefore the planting of the seed which has how grown into a huge and mighty banyan tree with a presence all over the world.
And this is what the Mother once explained to the children when she was asked why She and Sri Aurobindo created the Ashram at Puducherry:
"My child, that is why the Ashram was created... because, in France, I was always asking myself: How can one find the time to find oneself ? How can one even find the time to understand how to become free? So then I thought: a place where material needs will be sufficiently provided for, so that if one truly wants to become free, one can do so. And the Ashram was founded on this idea, not on any other -- a place where people would have enough to live on so as to have time to think of the True Thing."
Annual Seminar of the Women's Council - 21 to 23 November 2009: "Energy Turned Towards the Divine"
We humans with a body, vital, and mind - a mass of energy have our thoughts, feelings and actions mostly embedded in earthly consciousness. Our energies are primarily spent on the fulfilment of our basic animal needs, comforts, pleasures and desires which keep on multiplying and therefore leave us restless and dissatisfied. The Mother gives us the solution: "Oh, why be restless and want that for oneself things should turn out in one way and not another! Why decide that a particular set of circumstances will be the expression of the best possibilities and then launch into a bitter struggle so that these possibilities may be realised! Why not use all one's energy solely to will in the calm of inner confidence that Thy law may triumph everywhere and always over all difficulties, all darkness, all egoism! How the horizon widens as soon as one learns to take this attitude; how all anxiety vanishes giving place to a constant illumination, to the omnipotence of disinterestedness! To will what Thou willest, O Lord, is to live constantly in communion with Thee, to be delivered from all contingencies, to escape all narrowness, to fill one's lungs with pure and wholesome air, to get rid of all useless weariness, be relieved of all cumbrous loads, so as to run briskly towards the only goal worth attaining: the triumph of Thy divine Law!" All interested are welcome to deliberate on this topic at a Seminar on 21, 22, 23 November 2009, at the Society Beach office, No. 11, St. Martin Street, Pondicherry - 605 001. To book a room, contact the Society's Accommodation Section at its Email id: accommodation@sriaurobindosociety.org.in, Tel.: (0413) 2336396 / 97 / 98.
Savitri Study Sessions
Dr. Alok Pandey will conduct sessions on Sri Aurobindo's epic 'Savitri' at the Society's Beach Office, Pondicherry, from 22nd to 28th February 2010. The sessions will be held at 5.15 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. and 6.15 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. All are welcome to attend the talk series!
Recent Events19 September 2009 - Commencement of Golden Jubilee Year of Sri Aurobindo Society
The Mother's Chair
The year 1956 was a milestone in the spiritual mission of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, as it was on 29 February of this year that the Manifestation of the Supramental Consciousness took place. In the very first commemorative year of this momentous event, in 1960, Sri Aurobindo Society was formed on 19th of September with the Mother as the Founder and Executive President, "to make known to the members and people in general the aims and ideals of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, their system of Integral Yoga, and to work for its fulfilment in all possible ways and for the attainment of a spiritual society as envisaged by Sri Aurobindo."
A view of the gathering
The day 19 September 2009 marks the beginning of 50th year of Sri Aurobindo Society and there was a small gathering at the Beach Office of the Society to celebrate this important day and rededicate themselves to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and to the realisation of the great future they have revealed to us. For a full report and other programmes related to the Golden Jubilee year, please click here.
Visit by the Students of Bombay International School, Mumbai - 9 to 14 Oct. 2009
From 9 to 14 October 2009, a 5-day Camp was organised for a group of 14 students of standard IX of the Bombay International School, Mumbai. Sessions on Sanskrit, Indian Culture, Nature, physical education etc. were arranged. There were also visits to Ashram departments and Auroville. The Camp was organised in collaboration with the Yoga teacher of the school Anahita Sanjana. The Principal of the school also accompanied the students during the Camp.

News from Branches and Centres
News from Abroad
Nairobi (Kenya)
The Secretary of Nairobi Centre delivered a talk on 21st August 2009 to a firm of Certified Public Accountants, Ashwin Brothers. The talk revolved around the following:
Mother's Morning PrayerThe True LivingBeautyCreating a new Humanity
Fifty members of the firm were present from different departments and backgrounds.
Sri Aurobindo Society (U.K.)
Sri Aurobindo Society (U.K.) has organised several meetings to mark the Golden Jubilee Year of Sri Aurobindo Society, India, in U.K. On 15th August 2009, Shri Gopal Bhattacharjee spoke at the Society Centre. On 16th August at the programme arranged at Harrow arts Centre, Shri Bhattacharjee spoke on the teachings and life of Sri Aurobindo. The Mayor, Cllr Eric Silver also delivered a brief talk on Sri Aurobindo. This was followed by a dance-drama based on Sri Aurobindo's epic poem "Savitri".
News from India
Hindi Zonal Committee
The Hindi Zonal Committee organized an Orientation Camp at Jaipur on 18th and 19th July 2009. The subject of the camp was 'Manifestation of 12 qualities as defined by the Mother'. The Chief Moderator was Shri Kaivalya Smart and Dr. S.C. Tyagi was the special guest. Shri K. Pawan, Shri Manoj Sharma, Dr. J.P. Singh, Dr. Suman Kochar, Smt. Sharda Goenka, Ms. Lalit Prabha Khetan, Ms. Bhanu Patel, Ms. Kalpana Agrawal and Shri Nirupam Rohatgi were the resource persons. There were 22 delegates, 29 observers which included six from Ambala, Patiala, Udaipur, Noida, Jhunjhunu, Paigmberpur and 23 from Jaipur.
At Kolkata, Mirra Vision Trust organized 100 years of Alipur Bomb case and Uttarpara speech on 1st and 2nd August 2009. Many speakers presented their papers and it was attended by nearly 800 people. Shri K. Pawan, Chairman of the Patiala Branch of the Society spoke on Integral Education.
Hindi Zonal Conference
The Annual Conference of Hindi Zone for the year 2009 was held at Patiala on 10th and 11th October 2009. The inaugural session was chaired by Shri T.N. Chaturvedi, former Governor, Karnataka while Shri Balbir Punj, Member of Parliament, was the chief guest and Swami Govindanand Tirth Ji Maharaj from Mathura delivered the key note address.
The Inaugural Session was attended by about 450 persons. There were three technical sessions on the following subjects: a. Sri Aurobindo Ke Bharat - Speaker Shri Kuttu Reddy from Pondicherry. b. Sri Aurobindo's Yoga Evam Darshan - Speakers are Dr. J.P. Singh from Sultanpur and Shri Manoj Sharma from Bhopal. c. Practice of Sri Aurobindo's Yoga - Speaker Shri K. Pawan, Patiala.
The conference was attended by 118 delegates from 25 cities plus 10 delegates from Patiala. In addition 90 teachers of the Society's 2 schools in Patiala were fully involved and participated in the conference.
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
A Seminar on "Integral Education in the light of Sri Aurobindo" was organised on 30.08.2009 at Rs.10.00 a.m. at Arya P.G. College for Women, Varanasi under the Auspices of Varanasi Centre. Shri Vijay Poddar, Chairman of Sri Aurobindo Society Hindi Zone, chaired the seminar. Dr. J.P. Singh was the chief guest. Shri K. Pawan, Chairman, Sri Aurobindo Society, Patiala Branch was the main speaker. The seminar was covered by T.V. Varanasi and newspaper correspondents.
Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh)
A talk by Dr. J.P. Singh, Chairman of the Sultanpur branch of the Society, was organised by Indian Medical Association, Kanpur on 6/09/09. Dr. J.P.Singh spoke on "Spirituality in Medical Practice and Supermind". Around 150 doctors attended the meeting. There was a Question-Answer session after the talk.
Noida (Uttar Pradesh)
12th September 2009: Fourth talk of series 'Supramental Manifestation of Sri Aurobindo' by Vishwa Mohan Tiwari, Air vice Marshal (Retd.), was organized at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan from 6.30p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Discussion on Gita: Coordinated by Shri V.M. Tiwari, Air Vice-Marshal (Retd.): On every Sunday during the month of September, 2009, from 11a.m. to 1p.m. interaction on the Gita took place at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. There were about 20 participants.
All India Essay Competition was organized by Noida Branch on the subject 'My role in building new India - in the light of Sri Aurobindo' in which fifteen schools participated. The response from the participants was overwhelming and each school sent best five/three entries. The winners & participating students were distributed books relating to Sri Aurobindo & the Mother.
Swami Vidhyanandji delivering the talk
3rd October 2009: First talk of series 'Sri Aurobindo's Purna Yoga' by Swami Vidyanand, Founder and Spiritual Head of SriMa International School of Transformational Yoga, was organized at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan from 6PM to 7PM. About 30 devotees and their families participated in the program.
An All India Essay Competition was organized in the month of October 2009 by Noida Branch on the subject 'My role in building new India - in the light of Sri Aurobindo' in which fifteen schools participated. The response from the participants was overwhelming and each school sent best five/three entries. The winners & participating students were distributed books relating to Sri Aurobindo & The Mother.
Discussion on Gita: Lead by Shri Gopesh Goswami on Sundays (4th; 11th; and 25th Oct.'09) during the month of October, 2009, from 11AM to 1PM; discussion on Gita took place at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. There are about 20 participants in the programme.
Delhi
(a) On 1st August, 2009, in collaboration with Kalpavriksha, an NGO, which works for urban green, representatives of the Delhi Branch planted around 125 creepers at the Branch. This will create biodiversity which will attract birds and butterflies to play along with the school children! Around 150 people participated in this activity. Dr. Prabhakaran of Kalpvriksha made a small presentation on saving the trees. A slide show depicting disadvantages to paving the Delhi roads with tiles was screened. It was an enlightening experience for everyone.
(b) In the evening, a talk on Bhagavad Gita by Shri Vijay Poddar was organised. Chapters 4 - 8 of the Bhagavad Gita were taken up for discussion.
(c) 15th August, 2009: Sri Aurobindo's birth anniversary was celebrated. Ms. Meghna Sankhala and Dr.Tiwari sang bhajans. Around 150 devotees reached the Branch in spite of heavy rains. Flag hoisting was done by our Chairman, Mr. Ranjit Puri. Ms. Rani Jethmalani, member, Executive Committee, Delhi Branch gave vote of thanks. Darshan cards and Prasad were distributed to all present.
(d) 5th September 2009: A talk by Shri Vijay K. Poddar on the Bhagavad Gita (verses from Chapter 9 - 13) was organised by the Delhi Branch.
In the evening, around 30 devotees gathered for collective meditation in the meditation hall and lit lamps at the Shrine.
Gurgaon (Haryana)
The Study Circle sessions were held during the month of September 2009 as follows:
13.09.2009 : The topic covered included The Mother on Savitri and other aspects of Savitri. A handout was distributed to the participants at the beginning of the session covering all these aspects.
27.09.2009 : The session covered Book 4 and Book 5 of Part II of Savitri.
The beginning of the Golden Jubilee of the founding of the Society on 19th September 2009, was celebrated by organising meditation from 05.30 to 05.50 p.m.
Surat (Gujarat)
Shri Kaivalyabhai, speaking to the participants of the youth camp
A view of the youth camp participants
A Youth Camp was organised at Surat Branch on 1st and 2nd August 2009 for young boys and girls of age between 15 to 25 years. The main topics covered in the Youth Camp were: What is Youth, Self Introspection for Self Mastery, How to Concentrate and What is Success. Different topics were also given for group discussion session. 51 Young boys and girls participated. 44 elderly people also remained present as observers.
Digboi (Assam)
(a) The Digboi branch celebrated Sri Aurobindo's birthday by unfurling the Mother's flag and the national flag. There was collective meditation for 30 minutes with the Mother's music. After the meditation an extract from the last chapter of Sri Aurobindo's "Essays on the Gita" was read out. Sri Aurobindo's message on 15th August, 1947 was also read out to the people present.
(b) On 23rd August the branch, as a part of the celebrations of the centenary of Sri Aurobindo's arrival at Pondicherry, organized a recitation programme by students. The poem selected was Sri Aurobindo's "The Golden Light".
Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
The Chennai branch organized the following talks during the month of August 2009:
Date Topic Speaker01.08.2009 "The Mother and Durga" Shri M.K. Ramaswamy02.08.2009 "A Decade with The Mother" Shri Janakan09.08.2009 "Aspiration" Shri M.K. Ramaswamy16.08.2009 "Sri Aurobindo's Vision" Mr. Jagan "Sri Aurobindo's Path" Ms. Sathyapriya "Divine Grace" Master Vignesh23.08.2009 "Grace and Protection" Shri Keelambur, editor 'Kalaimagal'30.08.2009 "The Mother on Education" 'Kalaimamani' - Shri Erwadi Radhakrishnan
The Annanagar Centre of the Society brought out a book "Sri Aravindar Annai Bhakti Pamalai" in Tamil in commemoration of the centenary year of Sri Aurobindo's arrival in Pondicherry and the Golden Jubilee year of the Society. The book contains 82 devotional songs (50 composed by Mrs. Manonmani Rangasamy and the rest by Shri N.V. Balu) and two childhood photos of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The book is priced at Rs.20/-. The Branches and Centres of the Society will get 33.3% discount. Interested Branches and Centres may contact : Sri Aurobindo Society Centre, Om Sri Annai Dhyana Maiyam, AP-514, J Block, 8th Street, Anna Nagar, Chennai - 600 040, Phone : 044-26161826
Andhra Pradesh - Activities
1. In the context of the Golden Jubilee year of the establishment of Sri Aurobindo Society, Siddipet Study Circle is bringing out a booklet in Telugu containing 15 selected essays which appeared in the issues of the two Telugu magazines, "Arka" and Divya Deepika", giving useful information about the Society, its objects and the work going on under its banner, to serve as a handbook and guide to all members of the Society and the public. They propose to release this booklet at the 15th Annual Conference of all Centres and Branches in Andhra Pradesh coming up in December, 2009.
2. From 19.09.2009 to 28.09.2009 (both days inclusive), which were the Navratri festival days, the Hyderabad Branch arranged a collective reading of the book, "The Mother" from cover to cover, daily at the Branch. On 19.09.2009 there was also a brief meditation, as the day marked the beginning of the Golden Jubilee year of the establishment of Sri Aurobindo Society by the Mother.
3. With effect from Saturday the 12th September 2009, the Hyderabad Branch has started from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. a Satsang in which there will be group (collective) reading, study and discussion on the writings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother appearing in the issues of All India Magazine (past and present). These sessions will be conducted every Saturday as a regular weekly activity at the branch in future.
4. Among the many celebrations held at the Society's Centres and Branches on 15th August 2009, the following are worth noting:
i. At Hyderabad, programs included a talk on Yoga of Works, rendering of devotional music, free distribution of a book in Telugu called "The Mother's Mantras", Childrens' cultural variety program, display of a video on Flowers and their Spiritual Significance and day long Savitri Pathanam. In addition, Children of local Sri Aurobindo International School staged a one-hour drama on Sri Aurobindo's Prison life in 1908-09, at their school.
ii. At Eluru, programs included Essay Competition for high school students with prize distribution, books and flowers exhibition, display of a CD on Sri Aurobindo's life and on Integral Education, etc. A local newspaper carried a full page article on Sri Aurobindo, the Mother and the Ashram.
Ch. Indeevar, interacting with the participants
Books for youth, on display
5. At the Khammam Centre, a youth wing was started on 15th Aug. 2009 headed by Shri B. Veeriah, Chairman of the Center. This wing conducted a Youth Conference on 25 August 2009 in which 13 students (with MBA, MCA, Engineering, Intermediate background) and 8 other members participated. The participants were addressed by Shri Harshvardhan Raju and Indeevar. Harshvardhan Raju interacted with the youth on the need for Consciousness and importance of spiritual life. Indeevar spoke on the importance of Self-Consciousness and goals. The participants were also introduced to the Society and its objectives, life and mission of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and their message to the youth.
6. Shri K. Bhaskararao from Tenali Branch has been giving talks in Telugu which are broadcast on AIR, Vijayawada every Monday at 6:00 a.m. He has been also writing articles in Telugu which appear in Andhra Jyoti newspaper every Tuesday.
Biaora (Madhya Pradesh)
From left: Dr Suman Kochar,Shri Rakesh Ojha Secy of Biaora Centre,Shri Bharadwaj,Shri Manoj,Shri Hari Shankar Dangi and Shri D.N. Sharma delivering the speech
One day seminar held at Biaora, Madhya Pradesh on 6 September, 2009 the main theme of the seminar was "Sri Aurobindo: Confluence of Nationalism and Spirituality". Shri Manoj Sharma was the keynote speaker. Dr. Suman Kochar presided over the function. Chairman of Centre Shri Hari Shankar Dangi welcomed all guests. Shri Bharadwaj spoke about the sadhana aspect.
Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)
Sri Aurobindo Society, Ujjain Branch organised a programme in Maharshi Aurobindo Public School, Kaluheda, a remote village of Ujjain District. Shri Vibash Upadhyay, Chairman of the Ujjain Branch, explained the message of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother to the School children and villagers.
Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh)
Shri Vijay Poddar, presiding over the function
Sri Aurobindo Society Gwalior organised the Lele Memorial Lecture Series-2009 at Gwalior. Gwalior was the native place of Mahatma Vishnu Bhaskar Lele, the famous yogi who stayed with Sri Aurobindo at Baroda. Topic of this year's talk was ''Sanskritik Jagran Ki Aawashyakta''.
Shri Mukul ji of Vivekanand Kendra (Delhi) and Shri Manoj Sharma (Bhopal) were the main speakers. Shri Vijay Poddar ji, Chairman of SAS Zonal committee (Hindi zone) presided over the function.
Harda (Madhya Pradesh)
Shri Manoj Sharma, speaking to Children of Sanskar Vidhya Peeth Harda
Children of Sanskar Vidhya Peeth Harda
Sri Aurobindo Society Harda Centre organised a lecture program under the title "Sri Aurobindo: Confluence of Nationalism and Spirituality" at Sanskar Vidhya Peeth Harda, Madya Pradesh. Shri Manoj Sharma (Bhopal) spoke on this topic. Shri Kaivalya Smart (Surat) spoke on "Utkrashta Jeevan Kaisa Ho?". Shri Shukla presided over the function. Several sadhaks of nearby Centres attended the function. Shri Surendra Jain Director of Sanskar Vidhya Peeth Harda welcomed the guests. A question answer session followed.
Golden Jubilee Year of Sri Aurobindo Society (2009-10) - Celebrations at Centres & Branches
Annual Convention of Centres and Branches of Maharashtra and Goa
Pradeepbhai, Chairman, Sri Aurobindo Society,Pondicherry, addressing the audience
Annual Convention of the Centres and Branches of Maharashtra and Goa was held at Goa on 5, 6 and 7th September 2009. 45 participants from 13 Centres/Branches participated. Shri Pradeep Narang presided over the meetings and Shri Kaivalya Smart coordinated the proceedings. All the meetings took place at the beautifully renovated Hall of the Goa Branch. The topics covered in discussions were: Review of the work at different Centres, Golden Jubilee of Sri Aurobindo Society, Centenary of Sri Aurobindo's arrival at Pondicherry, Our Work Ahead and My Aspiration. Young participants gave short talks on five different qualities of Psychological Perfection.
Every morning began with Surya-Namaskar. Shri Deepak D'souza, Secretary of the Goa Branch and his team made full efforts to make the event successful. On the last day all the participants had a local sight-seeing tour. Shri Soham Munim offered at the Branch an impressive solo sitar recital one evening wherein local musicians were also present.
Surat (Gujarat)
Golden Jubilee Celebrations: Golden Jubilee Celebrations commenced in the Branch on 19th September 2009, the beginning of the Centenary Year and also the beginning of Navaratri. Kaivalya Smart delivered nine talks on nine mornings on "Sri Aurobindo's Integral Yoga - Theory and Practice. More than 65 persons participated in the programme every morning. Vijaya Dashami being the foundation day of the Centre Sri Aniruddha Smart gave a talk in the evening. More than 120 persons participated.
Mumbai (Maharashtra)
At Mumbai Branch, Churchgate, the Golden Jubilee Celebrations commenced on 19th September 2009. Evening programme of Invocation, Meditation with the Mother's reading of 'The Hour of God' and Durga Stotra chanting was held at the Centre. 35 persons participated.
Kamakshi, conducting a session on Music with Movements
Jesal, interacting with children on Art
The Branch also celebrated the Golden Jubilee by organising a five day programme of invocation of the Divine Mother, from 25th to 30th September 2009, in the ground floor hall, Pushpa Kunj, near Churchgate. An exhibition of various photographs of the Mother with suitable lines from Savitri was also arranged. There were daily meditations, reading of the words of the Mother and Savitri, Chanting of Durga Stotra, Audio Visual presentation on a big screen on the four aspects of the Mother. Special workshops were conducted for children on Music by Miss Kamakshi Khurana and on Art by Miss Jesal Thacker. About 125 persons participated.
Borivali - Mumbai (Maharashtra)
The decoration at the centre
Borivali Centre in Mumbai, at Yogi Nagar, E-20/102, Creek View Society, first floor, Dena Bank Bldg. started on 4th April 2009. It has regular meetings and study class every Saturday evening. For the Golden Jubilee celebration a special programme of Invocation, Meditation and Chanting was held at the Centre on the night of 19th September 2009. 15 persons participated. The meeting was conducted by Smt. Rama Hariharan.
Noida (Uttar Pradesh) - Commencement of the Golden Jubilee of Sri Aurobindo Society
On the occasion of commencement of the Golden Jubilee of Sri Aurobindo Society, a special collective meditation followed by bhajans were held at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. Shri S.K. Jain, Chairman briefed the devotees about the objectives of the Society and how a member's integral participation is possible. About 50 devotees and their families attended the programme. Hindi booklets 'Light Endless Light' & 'Seeds of Light' containing quotes of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother were distributed.
Jaipur (Rajasthan)
The activities to commemorate the Golden Jubilee Celebrations commenced on the 19th to 22nd September at Jaipur.
(a) In order to create awareness through the distribution of books & booklets amongst people in general small booklets on Sri Aurobindo's Yoga were distributed to passengers travelling from Jaipur to Delhi by the Jaipur Centre on 19th and 21st September 2009. The main idea was that they shall read the books during their travel and pass on the books to others. It worked out very well and a total of about 200 passengers were provided with more than 100 books (Rays of Light, Sunlit Path, Bases of Yoga etc.) and about 500 booklets.
(b) It was on 22nd Sept. that three main schools of Jaipur were approached and they were given about 1000 books and booklets. Also SBI & SBBJ (banks) were provided with books 'Management by Consciousness' and more than 300 booklets. The ICICI bank & misc distribution accounted for 200 booklets.
In all about 125 No. of books and 2000 booklets were distributed in these three days (19th, 21st & 22nd Sept).
Aurangabad (Bihar)
As a part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Society the Aurangabad Centre organized an essay competition for the high school and college students on 20th September 2009. 35 students participated in the competition. During the prize distribution function a workshop on 'Personality Development' was arranged under the guidance of Prof. Rathi, Sou. Jyoti Ladda and Mr. Vinod Makasare.
DelhiGolden Jubilee Celebrations: To mark the beginning of the Golden Jubilee of the formation of Sri Aurobindo Society, a dance and music programme was organized on Saturday, 19th September 2009, in the Hall of Life Divine, Delhi Branch. A drama dance performance was choreographed based on the theme of stepping back. The effort was to see if we in our daily life lived any differently by the grace of Sri Aurobindo's and the Mother's teachings. All the sadhaks in the Society whole-heartedly participated.
Mr. Tajendra Khanna, Lt. Governor of Delhi was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Mr. Vijay K. Poddar presented a memento to the Chief Guest who addressed the audience. Around 250 people attended the programme.
Vellore (Tamil Nadu)
On 13th September 2009, a talk was delivered on "Life of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother" by Mr. V.S. Balakrishnan, Secretary, Sri Aurobindo Society, Madurai Centre. He also spoke on the "Golden Jubilee Year of Sri Aurobindo Society". More than 75 members attended the meeting.
On 19th September 2009, the Foundation Day of Sri Aurobindo Society, a special meditation was arranged by the members. They arranged 50 varieties of Flowers for Pushpanjalli from 9.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. They also lit 50 lamps. Many members attended the celebrations.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

I made Aurobindo's many-sidedness the foundation of the structure of the book

Amazon.com: The Lives of Sri Aurobindo (9780231140980): Peter ... - 4 visits - Jun 6
What is of major significance in The Lives is how Sri Aurobindo is that it isn't ... A final treat for readers of The Lives of Sri Aurobindo is its rich ... -
Columbia University Press » Blog Archive » Getting beyond the ... - 6 visits - 8:39am
4 Aug 2008 ... In The Lives of Sri Aurobindo I made Aurobindo's many-sidedness the foundation of the structure of the book. Each of the five parts deals ...
Peter Heehs - 5 visits - Oct 17
Biographer of Sri Aurobindo. Author of works on Indian history and Indian ... His latest book, The Lives of Sri Aurobindo , was released by Columbia ...peterheehs.net
A critique of the book "The Lives of Sri Aurobindo" by Peter Heehs
True disciples, those whom the biographer of The Lives of Sri Aurobindo calls hagiographers, may exaggerate sometimes the achievements and qualities of a ...
A critique of the book "The Lives of Sri Aurobindo" by Peter Heehs ...
[1] Peter Heehs, Lives of Sri Aurobindo, Preface. Incidentally, a photographer colleague tells me that Heehs' comparison of the two different photographs of ...The Lives of Sri Aurobindo
Since his death in 1950, Sri Aurobindo Ghose has been known primarily as a yogi and a philosopher of spiritual evolution who was nominated for the Nobel ...Peter Heehs: The Lives of Sri Aurobindo
But Aurobindo was not just a philosopher, as historian Peter Heehs makes clear in his new book, The Lives of Sri Aurobindo, published by Columbia University ...

The lives of Sri Aurobindo
Peter Heehs, an American historian, who lives in the Sri Aurobindo ashram, Puducherry, has attempted to recount the life of 20th century's greatest avatar, ...

The lives of Sri Aurobindo - Google Books Result
by Peter Heehs - 2008 - Religion - 496 pagesBiographers usually focus solely on Aurobindo's life as a politician or sage, but he was also a scholar, a revolutionary, a poet, a philosopher, a social and ...
Mirror of Tomorrow :: A Chapter from The Lives of Sri Aurobindo by ...
15 Dec 2008 ... Perhaps in the opinion of the author of The Lives of Sri Aurobindo this is Indian religiosity and sentimentalism disdainful to the modern ...

IY Fundamentalism - Savitra on The Lives of Sri Aurobindo
By tracking Sri Aurobindo's Life as a successive series of lives lived in a single ... For through The Lives of Sri Aurobindo, Peter speaks to this wider ...

IY Fundamentalism - Larger Issues of the "Lives of Sri Aurobindo ...
A major part of the movement against The Lives of Sri Aurobindo is waged by emotional language. Through the repeated use of this kind of language, ...
Stripping the Gurus—Mother Dearest
Sri Aurobindo put all his [e.g., astral] Force behind the Allies and especially ... The Mother further believed herself to have been, in past lives, ...

The Lives of Sri Aurobindo Peter Heehs
The Lives of Sri Aurobindo easily constitutes the most comprehensive, thorough and balanced study of Aurobindo Ghose's life and thought to this date. ...www.peterheehs.com/lives-sri-aurobindo.htm - Cached - Similar -
Science, Culture and Integral Yoga :: The Lives of Sri Aurobindo ...
One leader (S) of the movement to censor the The Lives of Sri Aurobindo essentially declared that there is no need to read the book, ...
Human Relations: “The lives of Sri Aurobindo” faced ban
The most debating book “The lives of Sri Aurobindo” got a red signal from Orissa Hight Court when someone submitted a petition against mentioning ...

An extraordinarily complex individual
An important new biography, The Lives of Sri Aurobindo, has just been published in the U.S. Written by Peter Heehs of the Ashram Archives, it is the product ...

The Lives of Sri Aurobindo
"The Lives of Sri Aurobindo easily constitutes the most comprehensive, thorough, and balanced study of Sri Aurobindo Ghose's life and thought to date. ...

The Lives of Sri Aurobindo
11 Aug 2009 ... Some thoughts on the controversy s\urrounding Peter Heehs's schol;ay biography The Lives of Sri Aurobindo.

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Sri Aurobindo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 10 visits - Jul 24
Heehs, P., The Lives of Sri Aurobindo, 2008, New York: Columbia University Press ISBN 978-0-231-14098-0; ^ The lives of Sri Aurobindo, Peter Heehs, ...

Saturday, November 14, 2009

If your child is running behind a flitting butterfly, don’t fret and fume

ahmedabad mirror.com You are here - HomeLifestyleHealth Story Health
Every child must travel within, Lifestyle - Health - Ahmedabad
In this age of drill and grill, educationist Sraddhalu Ranade emphasises on the need for every child to explore the ‘complete’ mind
By Aadal Arasi Posted On Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 02:57:29 AM

Imagine an academic career without exams. Sounds too idealistic? A school-college in India is already following this method of education developed by Sri Aurobindo. Can a regular school achieve this? “It’s possible the moment teachers are gung-ho about the idea,” says Sraddhalu, who has seen many schools adopt this system completely in seven years.

Today’s lessons The present-day education is a result of the industrial age. That’s why every school is a factory and every child a raw material for mass production of engineers, doctors and lawyers. This does not leave much scope for creativity, therefore, good design schools have a foundation programme, which involves unlearning what has been crammed during 12 years of regular education.

Aurobindo education During the freedom struggle, Sri Aurobindo designed a style of education that was suited to the children of India. This interestingly weaves the gurukul system of education with the needs of the mind. Though children don’t live with the teachers, they lead the process of education. They explore, realise their areas of interest and explore further.

Nothing can be taught Nothing can be taught, everything can be learnt. That’s the first principle of complete education. It’s best if the teacher assists in the child’s process of exploration and learning. This principle helps the mind develop in totality, so if you see your child running behind a flitting butterfly, don’t fret and fume about the undone arithmetic sums, everything is learning. Just join in and do the arithmetic sums as you count flowers and leaves or much better, butterflies!

Consult the mind Every soul has a purpose and it’s best if it evolves naturally. Education is best if it takes into consideration the child’s temperament, inclination, creativity and personal initiatives. The classroom sessions can be moulded to include all this. It is best if the teacher-student ratio is 1:8. And once all this is in place, it’s just about returning to your values. If you are a parent, just remember why you brought this child into this world and as a teacher you have to go back in time to relive the moment you decided to give back to society as a teacher. Once the commitment is in place, there are no ifs and buts.

Grow from near to far Begin teaching from the backyard or the school environs and then relate them to other concepts further away. A storytelling session of a thirsty crow is best done with a bowl of water and some stones. Once that’s clear, you can go on to talk about principles of gravity, density and volume. Eureka! If it could take an engineer like Archimedes so many years to unravel the principle of density, how can you expect a child to get the concepts clear at a tender age of 10?

Fear of examination It is the fear of examination that robs children of the pleasure of learning. The idea of learning shifts focus from learning for life to a more short-term goal like exam. And that’s what drives parents to forget that life is to live and enjoy, and not spend drowned in books. It’s the parents who at times feel insecure if the exams are not held and their children are not graded. It’s a world of marks and everyone is immersed in it. Isn’t it better to see children enjoy the feel of water rather than cram that molecules of liquids are what make them flowy to take the shape of any container?

Taking on the world And after all these experiments, will children be able to take on the big bad world of proving oneself time and again. It’s proven that the children who pass out from such a system are well prepared for the world. As all their faculties are developed, they are in a better position to excel in competitive exams, tackle work pressures and deal with people. On the whole, they grow to become better individuals ready to live a holistic life. After all, isn’t life just about living it well?

Sraddhalu Ranade is a scientist and educationist who has studied at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and taken no exams all the way through college. He travels across the country propagating this form of education

Friday, October 09, 2009

‘WHO’ at UNESCO

Ministry of Human Resource Development
Press Information Bureau (press release) - New Delhi, India

Address by Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Human Resource Development, during the “General Policy Debate” at the 35th session of thegeneral Conference of UNESCO 9th October, 2009

20. May I also thank the DG for his support in organising the great spiritual event here in UNESCO on 16th Sept., 2009 culminating in the unveiling of the statue of Sri Aurobindo in front of an audience of eminent persons. A great philosopher, poet and freedom fighter, Sri Aurobindo was an important leader of India’s movement for independence before turning to develop his own vision and philosophy of human progress and spiritual path which he termed as integral yoga. [...]

24. We in India believe that the global community must rededicate itself to building a society free from conflict and adopt and adapt to sustainable lifestyles. At the heart of a global community free from conflict is the spirit of non-violence and the message of the Mahatma. This message provides our way forward. President Obama in a recent response to a question from a student at Wakefield High School in Arlington Virginia in the United States said that Gandhi, ended up doing so much and changing the world just by the power of his ethics.

President Obama further went on to say: “I am always interested in people who are able to bring about change, not through violence, not through money, but through the force of their personality and their ethical and moral stances”. At the heart of the concept of non-violence and sustainable development is the ethical principle. This is the ethic of moral stances. It is this spirit that must be propagated through UNESCO.

May I conclude with a quotation from the famous thinker Sri Aurobindo, who wrote in ‘WHO’ :

“In the blue of the sky; In the green of the forest; Whose is the hand that has painted the glow?... We are blind to our pride and the pomp of our passions, We are bound in our thoughts where we hold ourselves free. It is He in the sun who is ageless and deathless, and into the midnight His shadow is thrown; when darkness was blind and engulfed within darkness, He was seated within it immense and alone.”

Jai Hind.

***

Praise and skepticism greet Obama Nobel award Reuters

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Mirror of Tomorrow

Re: India’s Independence and the Spiritual Destiny: Part X
by RY Deshpande on Fri 02 Oct 2009 05:41 PM IST Profile Permanent Link
So there is a kind of responsibility also on us, if there should not be the “divine disgust”. Maheshwari as Pallas Athene was present during the great times of the Greek Civilisation. She has now departed to other continents. The unfortunate thing seems to be, Mahasaraswati is at present in the service of Mahalakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. This cannot be so for too long, and if we fail to recognize it we will be kind of pushing her away from us. Is it not necessary that we make a conscious effort to correct some of these imbalances? ~ RYD
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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Sri Aurobindo Society Annual Conference of Hindi Zone is scheduled for October 10-11, 2009 at Patiala

News from Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry)
Upcoming Events
19 September 2009 - Commencement of Golden Jubilee Year of Sri Aurobindo Society
The year 1956 was a milestone in the spiritual mission of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, as it was on 29 February of this year that the Manifestation of the Supramental Consciousness took place. In the very first commemorative year of this momentous event, in 1960, Sri Aurobindo Society was formed on 19th of September with the Mother as the Founder and Executive President, "to make known to the members and people in general the aims and ideals of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, their system of Integral Yoga, and to work for its fulfilment in all possible ways and for the attainment of a spiritual society as envisaged by Sri Aurobindo."
The Mother gave the following Motto for the Society:
The book A Glimpse of the Mother's Love and Action published by the Society, describes the genesis and growth of the Society and the Mother's way of working, as she developed it in its formative years. The Society has been growing over the years and has now more than 300 Centres and 70 Branches all over India and abroad. More details of the various activities of the Society are given here.
The day 19 September 2009 marks the beginning of 50th year of Sri Aurobindo Society and on this day we rededicate ourselves to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and to the realisation of the great future they have revealed to us.
Annual Seminar of the Women's Council - November 2008: "Energy Turned Towards the Divine"
We humans with a body, vital, and mind - a mass of energy have our thoughts, feelings and actions mostly embedded in earthly consciousness. Our energies are primarily spent on the fulfilment of our basic animal needs, comforts, pleasures and desires which keep on multiplying and therefore leave us restless and dissatisfied. The Mother gives us the solution:"Oh, why be restless and want that for oneself things should turn out in one way and not another! Why decide that a particular set of circumstances will be the expression of the best possibilities and then launch into a bitter struggle so that these possibilities may be realised! Why not use all one's energy solely to will in the calm of inner confidence that Thy law may triumph everywhere and always over all difficulties, all darkness, all egoism! How the horizon widens as soon as one learns to take this attitude; how all anxiety vanishes giving place to a constant illumination, to the omnipotence of disinterestedness! To will what Thou willest, O Lord, is to live constantly in communion with Thee, to be delivered from all contingencies, to escape all narrowness, to fill one's lungs with pure and wholesome air, to get rid of all useless weariness, be relieved of all cumbrous loads, so as to run briskly towards the only goal worth attaining: the triumph of Thy divine Law!" All interested are welcome to deliberate on this topic at a Seminar on 21, 22, 23 November 2009, at the Society Beach office, No. 11, St. Martin Street, Pondicherry - 605 001. To book a room, contact the Society's Accommodation Section at its Email id: accommodation@sriaurobindosociety.org.in, Tel.: (0413) 2336396 / 97 / 98.
Recent Events Annual Lectures - 13 & 14 August 2009
A series of lectures were organised by the Society at the Beach Office in Puducherry on 13th and 14th August 2009. Members and workers from different branches and centres participated. The following, in brief, were the content of the Talks:
Dr Alok Pandey, speaking on the occasion

Dr. Alok Pandey spoke on the topic "To speak or not to speak". He touched upon the following points briefly: - Speaking is always a difficult thing because the faculty of speech has limitations of its own - While speaking about Sri Aurobindo or quoting him, one has to be very careful because Sri Aurobindo has written about things from so many points of view that a complete reading of what He has said about any topic is a must. To understand His writings, one must come closer to Him, and to come closer means to love Him. - speaking must be done as part of one's sadhana. Neither too much nor too less speaking, but to speak under the impulsion of the Divine.
This was followed by Prof Kittu Reddy who spoke on "Some aspects of Sri Aurobindo's political life - 1893-1910". Later in the afternoon Dr Ananda Reddy spoke about "Principles of Management in the Mother's Light" and how the Mother 'managed' everything through Her love for those around Her. As the last session of the day, there were some intimate sharing sessions by the Womens Council of the Society on the topic "What Sri Aurobindo means to me".
Shri Sraddhalu, speaking on "Developing Intuition"
On the second day, the morning started with Shri Sraddhalu's talk on "Developing Intuition" wherein he underlined the importance of developing intuition as an imperative step towards the transformation of one's nature. He cautioned against the mistake of taking impulses and instincts as intuition. He also said that the very push of the evolution is to develop this intuition as part of our being and functioning - this is so evident in the corporate world where one is forced to arrive at decisions without having the leisure of analysing all the available data and yet to make decisions and act. Towards the end of his talk, he also suggested a few exercises through which one can develop intuition.
Trupti, during her presentation of "Sadhanaa through Work"
Trupti, then, gave a presentation of "Sadhanaa through Work" through the example of the work Sharanam, undertaken by the Society. In the afternoon, Shivakumar spoke about the importance of samataa in Sri Aurobindo's Yoga, and how to practice it as part of one's sadhanaa. Towards the end, during the concluding Talk, Shri Kaivalyabhai shared his experience of visiting several Centres of Sri Aurobindo Society all over India and how the Mother's Grace was evident in their workings.

137th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo: 15 August 2009
15 August was Sri Aurobindo's 137th Birth Anniversary. At the Ashram the day was observed with a visit to Sri Aurobindo's Room (kept open from 4 am to 7 pm), meditation around the Samadhi (6:00 to 6:30 a.m.), and March-past by the members of the Ashram's Physical Education Department at the Ashram's Playground in the evening. The day concluded with meditation.

Study Camp by Dr. Alok Pandey on 'Savitri' - August 2009
In continuation of the earlier series of Talks held in February 2009, Dr. Alok Pandey conducted study sessions on 'Savitri' at the Society's Beach Office, Puducherry, from 16 to 22 August 2009. The sessions were held from 5:00 to 6:45 pm. About 200 persons regularly attended the Talks. The concluding session was held at Savitri Bhavan on 22nd August.
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.
Visit by the Students of J.B. Petit High School, Mumbai - 31 May to 5 June 2009
From 31 May to 5 June 2009, a 5-day Camp was organised by Sri Aurobindo Society for the students of J.B. Petit High School, Mumbai. 36 girls studying in 9th and 10th Standard of the school attended the Camp. These girls are students of Yoga (optional subject provided by ICSE Board) and the Camp was organised in collaboration with the Yoga teacher of the school Ms. Anahita Sanjana. Along with the regular students, a batch of ex-students also formed part of the group.
On the 31st of June the students had an Introductory Session with Shivakumar where he welcomed them to Sri Aurobindo Society and Ashram. They were introduced to Sri Aurobindo's Integral Yoga and Life at the Ashram.
On day two they had a beautiful session in the morning with Kamakshi Khurna on Music. In this session they did various exercises based on Music, like voice modulation etc. In the evening they had a wonderful and interesting session called "India through Stories" with Shivakumar. Then they went to visit Vijaybhai to take his guidance.
On the third day morning they visited Auroville. In afternoon they had a session with Debashish on his concepts of Landscapes and through it, the discussion moved on to realms of Spirituality and Philosophy. They were also shown a presentation on the landscape work he has done in Park Guest House. On day four they visited Auroville again, in the morning. In the afternoon they had a session with Maitreyee on "Love". They had an interesting discussion on the topic "Love and Its Different Aspects".
On day five they met Sampadbhai and he took a session on Sanskrit chanting. In the afternoon they met Dr Vandana who explained to them her work with Flower remedies and on Health, through a lively discussion. On day six they visited different Ashram departments, and then, left for Mumbai in the afternoon.
Some Special Days in September 2009
19 to 28 September 2009 - Navaraatri and Vijaya Dashami / Dashehra
The Universal Mother in Her aspect of Durga
The Festival of Nine Nights (nava-raatri) this year began on 19 September. During the festival, the Supreme Mother in three of her prominent forms is worshipped: on the first three days Durga, Goddess of protection and valour, on the next three days Lakshmi, Goddess of inner and outer harmony and prosperity, and on the final three days Saraswati, Goddess of knowledge and perfection. The tenth day, which falls on 28th September, is the "Victory Day", Vijaya Dashami or Dashehra. This day is regarded as the day of Sri Rama's final victory over the Asura king Ravana.
Another legend has it that on this day Goddess Durga slew the buffalo-headed demon Mahishasura in a battle and became victorious. In Mysore, South India, Dushehra is a royal celebration. The demon Mahishasura is believed to have come from the city of Mysore and therefore it is the most affected by this event. A regal procession of decorated elephants, courtiers and court symbols wends its circuitous way to the Durga temple at the Chamundi Hill, decorated splendidly for the festival. On reaching the temple, prayers are offered to the goddess.
It is a time for the devotees to engage in various spiritual practices to make the entire ten days a period of deep inner growth.
Here is what the Mother says about the Victory Day:
Durga… who every year has to destroy her asura; and always she is compelled to begin again. It goes on in this way till the end of the reign allotted to the titans. When they will be banished from this world, it will not be thus any longer. But till then, that is as long as they are useful for intensifying the aspiration, clarifying the consciousness, for putting to the test the sincerity of people, they will be there. The day the test will not be needed, the day the sincerity will be pure and self-existent they will disappear. Then that day, Durga will no longer need to begin her battle over again every year.
Sri Aurobindo has said:
Durga is the Mother's Power of Protection. The lion is the attribute of Goddess. Durga, the conquering and protecting aspect of the Universal Mother.
Sri Aurobindo has also written a powerful and inspiring invocation to Mother Durga in Bengali. We present this time its English translation along with excerpts from its audio rendering. Full English translation of Hymn to Durga Download excerpts of the recitation

News from Branches and Centres
News from Abroad
Nairobi (Kenya)
Ms. Grace Wanjiru Murage, Head of Business Development of The Karen Hospital, visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi on 12th June 2009. She was presented 2400 booklets covering twelve titles, for the hospital.
Booklets in the following titles were presented to Pangani Lutheran Children's Centre: "Ideal Child", "Ideal Parent", "Ideal Teacher" and "To Women about Their Body".
The Nairobi Centre celebrated the 6th anniversary of the enshrinement of Sri Aurobindo's Relics at the Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. Members gathered in the Shrine at 10.00 a.m. and recited Mantras and later proceeded to the Meditation hall where passages from Savitri were recited continuously upto 1.00 p.m.

News from India
Work in Madhya PradeshRewa
Shri R.D.Sharma, Manoj Sharma, A.P. Khare and Dr Suman Kochar
A two-day seminar was held at Rewa on 07-08 June 2009, in connection with the centenary celebrations of Sri Aurobindo's Arrival at Pondicherry. The central theme of the seminar was "Sri Aurobindo: Confluence of Nationalism and Spirituality" (Sri Aurobindo: Rashtravad aur Adhyatma ke Sangam). Shri Manoj Sharma (Bhopal),Dr Suman Kochar (Indore), Shri R.D. Sharma (Hariyana) and Shri A.P. Khare (Panna) were the main speakers.
A view of the audience
On 7 June a Seminar was held at Rewa, the dist. headquarters. On 8 June a program was held at Mahasua , the Relics centre, and another at Padra the remote village centre of Vindhya Region. A large number of villagers and others attended the programs. An organisational meeting also took place at Satna where the future plans of society's work were discussed.
A seminar was organized at Chinmaya Mission, Rewa, on 26 June 2009. Dr. J.P. Singh, Chairman of the U.P. & Uttaranchal State Committee of the Society, gave a talk on the life of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. He also referred to the aims and objects of Sri Aurobindo Society in detail. About 50 people attended.
Health Camp at Bhopal A health camp was organised at Bhopal on 15 Aug 2009. Dr Anup Dave, M.D., Dr Chandel and Dr D. N. Joshi conducted the camp. Prayers and meditation sessions were held in the morning and evening.
Padra Padra Centre organised a 2-day Seminar on 7th & 8th June 2009, on "Sri Aurobindo: Confluence of Nationality and Spirituality". The main speakers were Dr. Suman Kocher, Shri Manoj Sharma and Shri M.D. Sharma. Shri Ambika Prasad Khare was the Chairman.
Kuttappalayam (Tamil Nadu)
Cultural programme by school students
A view of the students participating in collective meditation
The Kuttappalayam Branch celebrated Sri Aurobindo's birth anniversary and the Independence Day on 15th August 2009. About 500 students and devotees joined the collective meditation which was followed by talks on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The school students participated in cultural programmes.
Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
The Chennai Branch organised the following talks during the month of June 2009:
Date Speaker Topic01.06.2009 Shri M.K. Ramaswamy "Set back after Siddhi"07.06.2009 Kavingar Chandra Mohan "Roudram Vilakku"14.06.2009 Shri Asokan "At the Lotus Feet" 21.06.2009 Shri M.K. Ramaswamy "Gratitude"28.06.2009 Neyveli Thyagarajan "The Mother's Grace"
Apart from the above, on every Saturday Shri M.K. Ramaswamy gave a series of lectures on "The Mother's Prayers and Meditations".
Aurangabad (Maharashtra)
The Aurangabad Centre organised a talk by Shri Ranjan Kulkarni of Nasik on the 'Elements of Sri Aurobindo's Yoga' on 21st June 2009. Shri Kulkarni emphasized the importance of surrender as the first step in the Integral Yoga. About 20 persons attended the talk.
New Delhi - Activities in June, 2009
It was a scorching summer this year in Delhi, but at the Aurobindo Society, Adhchini Branch, children parents and facilitators defied the heat to attend Dadi Pudumjee's Puppetry Workshop from 15 may to 20 June 2009. The children learnt to make puppets using socks and thermocol and created their own characters, doing every stage of the process on their own with enthusiastic guidance by two of Pudumjee's trained teachers. The parents appreciated the skill building and were delighted to see how eagerly children waited for each class.
A two-week long Art and Craft Workshop and Language Workshop was organized by Navakriti Centre of Learning for children between eight and twelve years. The aim was to enhance concentration and explore imagination by using storytelling and craft in combination. A daily satsang is being held at the Branch between 3 and 4 p.m. in Hindi, with the working staff at the Branch who are engaged in various activities like electrical maintenance, housekeeping, security, construction and gardening. The Mother's words translated into Hindi are read, prayers offered and mediation done by reciting Mantra.
Gurgaon (Haryana)
The 30th and 31st meetings of the Study Circle were held on 14th and 28th June 2009, at the Branch. The topic of the Study was 'Mind and its Control'.
The 32nd and 33rd meetings of the Study Circle were held on 12th and 26th July 2009, at the Branch. The topics of the Study were 'Perfection of Mental Being' and 'Teachings and practice of Sri Aurobindo's Yoga'.
Kolkata (West Bengal)
Shraddha, a scholarly English quarterly, devoted to an exposition of the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and their vision of the future. First issue was brought out on 15th August 2009, by Sri Aurobindo Bhawan, Kolkata, containing writings of authors of repute from India and abroad. For details please contact, Shri Arup Basu, Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, 8, Shakespeare Sarani, Kolkata - 700 071. Phone: 9198302-5872: e-mail: arupbasu99@yahoo.com or arup.mbe@gmail.com.
Hindi Zonal Conference
This year's Annual Conference Hindi Zone is scheduled for:
Day : Saturday & Sunday: Date : 10th & 11th October 2009Place : Patiala, Punjab Theme : Relevance of Sri Aurobindo's Teachings in Modern Times
Shri T.N. Chaturvedi will preside over the Inaugural session; Shri Balbir Punj, Member of Parliament, will be the Chief Guest; Shri Mattewal, Advocate General of Punjab, will inaugurate the Conference and Swami Govindanandji will deliver the key note address. For further details, Mr.K. Pawan, Mobile No.098151-9788, may be contacted.
Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh) - Seminar on Integral Education
The Anantapur Centre organised a Seminar on 'Integral Education of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother' on 21 June 2009, at the seminar hall of Sri Sai Baba National College, Anantapur. Shri B. Venkatramaiah, Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Committee, who presided over the inaugural session, detailed the aims and objectives of the Integral Education propounded by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The keynote address was delivered by Shivakumar, on the Principles of Integral Education. Other speakers during the occasion were Shri Meenakshi Naidu and Ch. Harshavardhan.
Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh)
1. Sri Aurobindo Society, Hyderabad Branch conducted a one-day Youth Camp at Sri Visweswaraiah Institute of Technology & Science at Mahaboobnagar, on Saturday the 25th July 2009.
The camp had 28 enthusiastic participants, ready to explore the journey of spiritual understanding. The topics covered included - What is Spirituality - Goals & Aspiration - Understanding Ourselves - Planes and Parts of the Beings - Introduction to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother - Spirituality in Daily life - Glimpses of Auroville and Matrimandir - Open Forum Discussion.
The sessions were well received by the participants which included persons from different religions. This helped in establishing the understanding of Integral Yoga.
Sanjeev Patra, Preeti Chottai, Satya Prakash & Srinivas Mulugu contributed to the camp. The college management was extremely supportive in making all the arrangements. The Management was even insistent that the Society conducts such sessions on regular basis for students and the lecturers as well.
2. The Branch celebrated Sri Aurobindo's birth anniversary on 15th August 2009, with the following programme :
At 9:00 AM the Mother's flag was hoisted, followed by singing Bande Mataram and a rendering of devotional music. This was followed by meditation with Mother's music for half an hour and a talk by Sri Mulugu Srinivas on "The Yoga of Divine Works of Sri Aurobindo" for about an hour. At the end, along with distribution of prasad, a booklet called "Mother's Mantras" in Telugu (Telugu translation of a book in English with same title) written by Smt. S.Triveni was also distributed.
Eluru (Andhra Pradesh)
The Eluru Centre held an Essay-writing competition on 15 August 2009. Seventy five high school students participated. The CD on the life of Sri Aurobindo & Integral Education was exhibited. Before the seminar 5 booklets of the Society on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother along with the Centre's leaflet 'Sri Auromaa' were sent to the schools with a request that each school may send 5 students to the competition. 'Ratna Garbha', a local daily published full-page article on the life of the Master and the Mother.
Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh)
Smt. Prema Nanda Kumar visited Sri Aurobindo Society, Tirupati Branch, on 22 June 2009, and gave a talk on Sri Aurobindo's Savitri.
Report on the visit of Shri Gopal Bhattacharjee, to Jharkhand from 18 to 21 July 2009
A meeting of the centres/branches of Sri Aurobindo Society, Jharkhand State was convened on 20 July 2009, at the Ranchi Branch to discuss celebrations during the Golden Jubilee of the Society.
It was decided to hold a special meditation at 7 p.m. on 19 September 2009, at all the centres/branches by kindling 50 candles. Each centre was urged upon to start at least one new activity during the year.
Ranchi Branch: Construction upto the plinth level for the proposed Children Corner and Auroservice building (2000 sq.ft. area) is completed. A temporary servant quarter and cowshed are also under construction.
Chakradharpur Centre: The Centre is progressing well. Almost daily some activities like sports, competition, library, running the primary school etc. are being done for the benefit of the local populace.
Bermo Centre: The meditation hall is reconstructed and work on construction of library hall is in progress.
Dehra Dun (Uttarakhand)
a. On 04th April 2009, celebration of "Golden Jubilee of Sri Aurobindo Society" was started with a talk by Mrs. Devi Wahi, Chairperson of the Dehra Dun Branch of the Society on Sri Aurobindo. 60-70 devotees were present alongwith the Mayor of Dehra Dun, Shri Vinod Chamoli.b. On 24th April 2009, "Darshan Day & Mother's Final Arrival at Pondicherry" was celebrated. A talk was delivered by Mrs Devi Wahi & bhajans were sung. Approximately 60 devotees were present.c. On 24th May 2009, a talk was delivered on 'Savitri' by Shri K. Pawan, Chairman, Sri Aurobindo Society, Patiala Branch with around 25-30devotees present.d. From 3rd June 2009, a "Study Circle" has been started on every Wednesday.e. On 28th June 2009, a talk was delivered by Dr. Kiran Sood on Sri Aurobindo's "Uttarpara Speech".

Noida (Uttar Pradesh)
(i) Saturday, 11th July 2009: Second talk of the series 'Supramental Manifestation of Sri Aurobindo' by Vishwa Mohan Tiwari, Air Vice Marshal (Retd.), was organized at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan from 6.30PM to 7.30PM. About 25 devotees and their families participated in the program.
(ii) Reading the Book 'Mata'/Bhajans: On 9th July '09, (second Thursday of every month) from 5PM to 6PM; Bhajans/'Mata' book was read. About 10 devotees were present.
Meerut (Uttar Pradesh)
The Meerut Centre celebrated Sri Aurobindo's birth anniversary on 15th August 2009. There was meditation with Mother's music which was followed by a seminar on Sri Aurobindos Yoga wherein talks on Sri Aurobindo's life and teachings were held. A resolution was moved to undertake inner and external efforts for the reunification of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, which was unanimously passed by all the participants and guests.
Sultanpur (Uttar Pradesh)
A Seminar was held at Ram Raji Intermediate College, Sultanpur on 15.08.2009, under the chairmanship of Dr. N.K. Saxena, Director, K.N.I.T., Sultanpur. The subject was "Sri Aurobindo ke Aloke men Bharat ki Niyati". Participants were about 100. Society's booklets were distributed amongst participants.
Gonde village, Dist. Pratapgargh, (Uttar Pradesh)
A Seminar was organized in a village, Gonde, in District Pratapgargh, U.P. on 16.08.2009, in a school campus attended by 70 persons. Dr. J.P. Singh spoke on the works and the life of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and aims and objects of Sri Aurobindo Society.
Ballia (Uttar Pradesh)
The Ballia Centre celebrated Sri Aurobindo's birth anniversary on 15th August 2009. The theme of the celebration was "Rashtriyata Ke Agradoot - Sri Aurobindo". There were talks on Sri Aurobindo's 'Bhawani Bharati' and 'Durgastrot'. 15th August 1947 message of Sri Aurobindo was read out. Shri Jagannath Prasad, treasurer of the Ballia Centre, talked on Sri Aurobindo's role in the 2nd world war.