July tour to all 30 districts of Odisha

Report of July Tour 2010 - The Mother's Work in Orissa, 2010

This is the first year of July Tour during which our dear Dada is not materially present. He was and is the guide to all our activities of organisation not only for the last 12 years after the passing on of Babaji Maharaj but has been in contact with the work in Orissa for the last 48 years. He took up the task of subjecting “The Mother’s Work in Orissa” to the direct guidance of the Divine Mother. His constant advice to rely on Her, to remember Her and repeat the Name ‘MA’ in the midst of all our activities is the source of a great strength to us.

The Divine Mother has initiated Her own work in Orissa through Her great child Babaji Maharaj who not only insisted upon constantly remembering the aim of life given to us by the Divine Master and the Mother but gave the practical format of translating Their Ideal in the society in the shape of the ‘Sri Aurobindo Study Circle’ movement. He along with Prapatti gave the clarion call for the necessity of upholding the purity of the being and courage of conviction in the Ideal and was an exemplar par excellence. When Dada took up the work as liaison to the Divine he gave a fresh impetus, a bold thrust and massive encouragement to march towards the goal which he reiterated was a certainty. In the midst of confusion and apparent retardations and danger, his clear support stood out as upon a rock to fight out all hostility.

In all past 11 years of our July tour, to all 30 districts of Orissa, we used to inform him daily, the detail report of the activities and challenges as well as achievements of the day. This year too we felt his close attention on us, guiding our steps to fulfill Her Intention in Her Work in Orissa. We remember his tender insistence of now trying to directly depend on the Guidance of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo from within perhaps trying to groom us for the day when he would no longer be there materially to do this for us. From the depth of our heart, we convey our deep gratitude for our Loving elder brother, this great son of the Supreme Divine Mother.

We pray at Her Lotus Feet that this infallible Guidance may be available to us in spite of our numerous shortcomings and failures.

Last year we have completed the silver jubilee of July Tour and this is the 26th year. During this tour in every district meeting we addressed the very purpose of this organisational work and we reminded all the members regarding the individual responsibility of an organiser. The subject of discussion was “The true Divine Work”. We observed a very positive effect of this discussion on all the listeners who were mostly the brothers and sisters offering service in Sri Aurobindo Integral schools and the organisers of Sri Aurobindo Study Circles of Orissa, they seemed to have had a fresh determination to participate in Her Work.

VICTORY TO OUR SWEET MOTHER !

STATE COORDINATORS

Anadi Charan Swain Ch.Nirakar

At/Po: Sri Aurobindo Shreekshetra Matrubhaban

Via- Kotsahi, Dist: Cuttack Sri Aurobindo Marg, Cuttack-753013

ZONAL CONVENERS

ASTHA ASPRUHA KRUPA

Kendujhar, Bhadrak Gajapati, Ganjam, Dhenkanal, Anugul

Mayurbhanj, Baleswar Kandhamala

Janardan Acharya Udayanath Reddy Rudra Prasad Mohanty

At: Keshdurapal At: R.Damodarpalli Ma Ashis, House No -19

Po : Deogaon, Kendujhar Po : Aska, Ganjam-761110 H.B.Colony, Ramakrishna Vihar

Dist. Kendujhar Dist. Ganjam Baji chouk, Dist.Dhenkanal

Sashikanta Bhoi Bhagirathi Mohapatra Akshya Kr. Biswal

Joint convenor, Astha Zone Joint convenor, Aspruha zone Joint convenor, Krupa zone

At /PO. Kaptipada At/Po: Kanheipur Amalapada, Gandhi Marg

Dt- Mayurbhanj Via - Khallikote, Dt- Ganjam Anugul- 759122

SAMARPANA SANGATI SATYA

Koraput,Kalahandi, Raygada, Sambalpur, Bargad, Cuttack, Kendraparda

Malkangiri, Nabarangpur Boudh Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur

Lalit Mohan Pattnaik Prafulla Kumar Panda Sarbeswar Mohapatra

Sri Aurobindo Study Circle Gantia Pada Sri Aurobindo Pathachakra

Nuabandha Sahi Aintha Palli Khurusia, Patalipanka

Dist- Nabarangapur Dist- Sambalpur Kujanga, Dist- Kendrapada

Nilamadhaba Mishra Sridhara Sahu Kirtan Bihari Rout

Joint convenor, Samarpan zone Joint convenor, Sangati zone Joint convenor, Satya zone

At: Near Radhakrishna Temple At/PO: Bheden Sri Aurobindo Int. Edn. Centre

Lingaraj Nagar Dt- Baragad- 768104 At/PO: Taharpur

PO: Irrigation Colony Via: Jajpur road

Jaypore- 764004 Dt- Jajpur- 755019

Dt- Koraput

SAMATA SHANTI NISTHA

Sundargad, Jharsuguda Nuapada, Balangir Puri, Nayagad, Khordha

Debgad Subarnapur

Dr Debidatta Kar Lalit Mohan Khuntia Tareswar Ratha

At/Po : Diamunda Palace lane At. Garvanipada

Via :Sargiapalli Bolangir -767001 Po: Bankoi, Dist- Khordha

Dist: Sundargad

Dambarudhar Sahu Ajit Kr. Dalapati Surendranath Jena

Joint convenor, Samata zone Joint Convenor, Shanti Zone Joint Convenor, Nistha Zone

At/PO: Kuchinda At/Po:Patnagad Sri Aurobindo Int. Edn Centre

Dt- Sambalpur-768222 Dt. Balangir-767025 At: Badapadar PO: Nachuni

Dt- Khordha

Auro-Ratna Awards presented on behalf of Overman Foundation

Dear Friends,

     Soon after its inception, Overman Foundation had launched the “Auro-Ratna Award” named after Sri Aurobindo to felicitate the poets, scholars, researchers, philosophers and workers of the Aurobindonian movement and recognize their invaluable contribution. The first recipients of the “Auro-Ratna Award” were Shri K. D. Sethna alias Amal Kiran, Prof. Arabinda Basu and the late Jugal Kishore Mukherjee. The Award ceremony took place on Friday, 27^th August 2010, at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry.

     To read the full report of the award ceremony, please click on the following link: 

http://overmanfoundation.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/the-first-%E2%80%9Cauro-ratna-award%E2%80%9D-ceremony-a-report/ 

With warm regards,

Anurag Banerjee 

Chairman, Overman Foundation.

The First “Auro-Ratna Award” Ceremony: A Report September 17, 2010

The inaugural “Auro-Ratna Award” ceremony took place on Friday, 27th August 2010, at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. The first recipients of the Award were Shri K. D. Sethna alias Amal Kiran, Prof. Arabinda Basu, better known as ‘Arindam-da’ in the Aurobindonian circle and the late Jugal Kishore Mukherjee. The ceremony took place at three different locations considering the age of Shri K. D. Sethna and Prof. Arabinda Basu.
In the early hours of the noon, Shri Manoj Das Gupta accepted the “Auro-Ratna Award” on behalf of Shri Jugal Kishore Mukherjee in his office at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education from Shri Anurag Banerjee, Founder-Chairman of Overman Foundation. Shrimati Jhumur Bhattacharya, In-Charge of “Knowledge” [Department of Higher Course at Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education], Shri Swadesh Chatterjee, teacher and member of the School Committee and a few others graced the occasion. After accepting the award, Shri Manoj Das Gupta said the following words:
“Thank you, Anurag, for giving me the honour to accept on behalf of our very dear and respected Jugal-da the “Auro-Ratna Award” given by Overman Foundation. As you have mentioned in your statement, Jugal-da was indeed a true child of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. And we very much miss his valuable companionship but at the same time we also rejoice that after a hard work he has found peace at the Mother’s Feet.”
In the evening, the Chairman accompanied by Prof. Kittu Reddy and Shrimati Krishna Chakravarti, respected members of the Advisory Board of Overman Foundation, went to the Ashram Nursing Home to felicitate Shri K. D. Sethna. Shrimati Suprabha Nahar, Shrimati Dolly Mutsuddi, Shrimati Nilima Das and Shrimati Ratna Chakravarti graced the occasion as special guests. Dr. Dilip Kumar Dutta, respected Trustee of Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, was also present as the Chief Guest. The ceremony, which took place in the room of Shri K. D. Sethna, commenced with the following brief speech made by Shri Anurag Banerjee:
“Dear Friends, today we have assembled here to felicitate Shri K. D. Sethna with the first “Auro-Ratna Award”. Named after Sri Aurobindo and initiated by Overman Foundation, “Auro-Ratna Award” seeks to recognize the invaluable contribution of the poets, scholars, researchers, philosophers and workers of the Aurobindonian movement who have enriched the work of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and can rightly be called the true children of the Divine.”
The Chairman then read out the certificate of honour to Shri K. D. Sethna which was presented to him by Prof. Kittu Reddy and Shrimati Krishna Chakravarti. The Chairman then presented Shri K. D. Sethna with the trophy of “Auro-Ratna Award”.
Recalling his long association with Shri K. D. Sethna, Prof. Kittu Reddy said: “My first contact with Amal was when I was a child of barely ten years or so. Then, I did not understand much but I would see him sometimes with Nirodbaran and that impressed me. But my first tangible memory of him was when Sri Aurobindo left his body; I remember seeing him completely dejected and shattered — a picture of deep sorrow and disbelief.
Later as I grew up, I came to know that he was in close touch with Sri Aurobindo and that he was a good poet; in the late 50’s he began to take classes in the Higher course; he used to take our poetry classes which we enjoyed very much particularly for the humorous incidents he used to tell us; he had a wonderful sense of humour and he regaled us with very interesting anecdotes of the Ashram life in the early days. More important my love and appreciation of poetry was kindled and developed to a great extent because of these classes.
Later after I started teaching in the school and in College, I began to read seriously his articles in Mother India, especially those which dealt with national issues and political problems written when Sri Aurobindo was present in his body. In fact Amal told me that all his political articles were read and approved by Sri Aurobindo before they came out in the journal. Sometimes Sri Aurobindo made some comments and minor corrections before the articles were published in Mother India. I enjoyed these articles very much and Amal was gracious enough to let me meet him and discuss some of these issues with him. I was particularly delighted when he would explain some of the points that Sri Aurobindo made while reading these articles. They gave me a wonderful insight into the political vision of Sri Aurobindo.
Another area of common interest was the history of India. Sometimes we would discuss some aspects of Indian history and I am grateful to him for having presented me an autographed copy of his book “New light on Ancient India”.
I shall close with one interesting incident which took place in February 1994. I was then already working closely with the Indian Army and particularly with the Chief General B.C. Joshi. I had given all the articles of Amal on Indian politics written in Mother India to the General. He read them and enjoyed them very much. So when the Chief visited Sri Aurobindo Ashram on February 3 1994, he requested me if I could arrange a meeting with Amal. Accordingly, breaking all security considerations, he came to Amal’s house and met the two old stalwarts Amal and Nirodbaran. They talked for fifteen minutes and I can vouch for the fact that General Joshi was delighted in meeting them. He told me later that he understood clearly the vision of Sri Aurobindo and that he would do whatever was within his power to implement it.
I shall conclude by saying that the certificate of honour given by Overman Foundation to Amal Kiran is the most fitting tribute to a sincere devotee of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo, one who gave his whole life in their service.”
Shrimati Krishna Chakravarti then read out a brief article on Shri K. D. Sethna titled Amal Kiran—the Clear Ray penned by her to the assembled audience:
“Why is the name so vibrant and illumined all the time? A place where ill and sick people stay—why the atmosphere so dear and light as if the suffering has transformed into delight! Who has shown the way that the body feels the pain but not the inner being. The joy, the surrender to the Mother alone make one overcome the disability of the body. And who else but Amal Kiran—the Clear Ray showing us the way—nay, leading us towards conquering the physical and march forward on the sunlit path to the goal set by Them.
The physical disability has not in the least hampered his march. His sonorous voice calling the sisters resounds all over the Nursing Home—his presence—his exuberating vitality preside over the Nursing Home and still show us the way to conquer the physical with a bright shinning face, looking younger and younger day by day with an inner strength overbearing his whole personality.
Let our Amal Kiran, the receiver of Auro Ratna pervade and preside by his very presence the Nursing Home the abode of clear Ray and Tranquility.”
Shrimati Nilima Das, Shri K. D. Sethna’s long-time associate at Mother India, read out the following article titled K.D. Sethna – A Genius written by her specially for the award ceremony in which she presented a brief biography of the illustrious poet, critic and litterateur:
“Kekoo. D. Sethna has been born in a Parsi family of Bombay on 25th November 1904. He was known in the Sri Aurobindo’s Ashram as Sri Aurobindo’s Amal Kiran (The clear ray) on 3rd September 1930. Renaissance personality and a multifaceted genius in the true sense of the term, Sethna has come back on worldly life, fame and success early in his career, and took the path of Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. However in choosing this new life, he did not seek to annul the intellectual and artistic interests, or in the integrality for the sake of passive surrender of their and self – abnegation characteristic of traditional religiosity like his spiritual masters Sri Aurobindo, he sought a fulfillment of his innate creative talents under the influence of a higher afflatus.
His literary output in quality and quantity is comparable to that of any outstanding figure in present age. In fact had he lived in, for instance, Hawkings England he would have received a much wider recognition as a man of letters, his cultural and intellectual achievements would have surely a mark of their own in that circle of cultural environment.
One of the most noteworthy aspects of Sethna’s literary and intellectual career is the correspondence he had with fellow scholar, editors, writers, poets and lesser-known peoples. There are included world-class personalities and international celebrities likes Aldous Huxley. Albert Einstein, Katheleen Raine and Paul Brunton.
A spirit of deep engagement and sympathy marks Sethna’s relationship. An estimate of H.G Wells that Sethna wrote when barely nineteen was sent to Wells himself by a Parsi Author, Mr. A.S. Wadia. Wells predicated “your young man will go far.”
K.D. Sethna is well recognized in knowledge and distinguished name in the field of Indo- Anglian poetry He had started verse-making even in his school days. But an earnest self dedication to poetry came only under the guidance eye of Sri Aurobindo and became specialist in Sri Aurobindo’s poetry. We find a quotation from a great critic Dilip Kumar Roy read Amal Kiran poetry so thoroughly and acquired such a deep grasp of both its poetical beauty and a technical mastery, in so much that he (K.D. Sethna) may easily be adjudged a specialist in the two capacities.
105 springs have crowded into Amal Kiran’s life. But looking at him who can imagine he has become nonagenarian. Except for his handicapped—lower limbs he is otherwise a picture of robust and radiant health. Amal-da is endowed with an exceptional intellect, an inquiring mind and a highly developed aesthetic sense. K.D.S’s shinning complexion, his delicate sensitive face, two eyes radiating a keen and kind glint of intelligence and sweet smile as innocent as that of child, cannot but captive the heart of his visitors.”
Despite his advanced age, Shri K.D. Sethna was present throughout the entire ceremony. When the ceremony ended, he thanked the Chairman for the honour bestowed upon him.
From the Nursing Home, the members of Overman Foundation and the special guests went to the residence of Prof. Arabinda Basu at Rue Suffren Street to present him with the “Auro-Ratna Award”. Shri Anurag Banerjee commenced the ceremony by speaking of Prof. Basu’s contribution in the Aurobindonian movement. Prof. Kittu Reddy then spoke the following words about Prof. Basu:
“For me, I remember him right from my childhood as being always an important figure. We looked upon him as a very close friend of Nirod-da and always very faithful to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. I never had the privilege of being his student but I’ve interacted with him very often and the clarity of mind and absolute precision with which he understood Sri Aurobindo is probably unsurpassable. I have always cherished my relationship with him right till very recent times even when he proposed my name to speak at Ramakrishna Mission and we are very happy that Anurag has ultimately given him this most deserving and rewarding prize.”
After Prof. Reddy’s brief speech, Shrimati Krishna Chakravarti read out an article in Bengali titled Arindam-da penned by her in which she expressed her profound admiration for the legendary scholar and philosopher. What follows is the translation of the article:
‘How little do I know of this learned and talented legendary figure! In the beginning I used to hear his name quite often from my father, that he was a resident of England and taught Indian Philosophy for a number of years, etc. I would imagine the face of a gentleman clad in suit, boots and hat but when someone, for the first time, pointed out to me that he was “Arindam Babu”, I was surprised and dumbfounded. He was a handsome gentleman clad tidily in dhoti and panjabi. His fair-complexioned face was glowing with a divine splendour of wisdom. How profound was his love for his motherland that despite residing abroad for so many years he could speak Bengali so fluently; his attire was also that of an ordinary Indian.
With such a learned man there was an obvious distance which exists even now. But I would narrate two incidents due to which his personality was blossomed to me. The first was that when I heard that it was Arindam-da who had told Jyotipriya alias Dr. Judith Tyberg, the founder of East-West Cultural Centre, the first centre of the Ashram to start in America which is still working magnificently by expanding its branches, about Sri Aurobindo and brought her to this path.
When Jyotipriya was pursuing her M.A. on the Vedas at the Benares Hindu University, no scholar could answer her queries. The view-point of those days was that the Vedas were but “an interesting remnant of Barbarism.” Not only that, Jyotipriya was asked to change the subject of her study from the Vedas and to conduct a research in Sanskrit in some other topic.
At that time in that teachers’ room, a young lecturer of philosophy listened to what the scholars were telling her. He followed Judith out of the room and said to her that he had overheard the conversations she had with the scholars. He added that only Sri Aurobindo could answer the queries of her quest. It was Arindam-da who introduced Judith to the Ashram and in October 1947, in the evening of Lakshmi Puja, Judith arrived at the Ashram and received the blessings of the Mother. On 24th November 1947 she had the darshan of Sri Aurobindo and in 1950 went back to America where she established the Centre. About Judith Sri Aurobindo has said: “Teach her everything she wants to know, she is going to do good work in America.” It was our Arindam-da who showed Jyotipriya the way and played a pivotal role in spreading the message of Sri Aurobindo in America.
The second incident occurred during the Birth Centenary Celebrations of his inseparable friend Nirod-da. Arindam-da was supposed to reminisce about Nirod-da; I had expected to see a sheet of paper in his hand when he ascended the stage. Instead he said that he would recite a poem written by him on his friend and guide Nirod-da. But there was so sign of any paper! In his resonant voice he smoothly recited his poem. Neither did he stop nor did he pause to think of the lines. The poem was quite lengthy—after all, they were pals for so many years and hence had innumerable sweet memories and life-passions.
His profound erudition and memory astonished and overwhelmed me. There was no display of pride. What can I write or say about such a venerable person who simply throws open the door of the treasury of wisdom! All I pray is that may his contribution go on for a number of years. May “Auro-Ratna” decorate him with more ratnas [jewels] and make him a glorious star in the firmament of the earth.’
Shrimati Krishna Chakravarti’s article was received with a warm ovation. After her, Shrimati Suprabha Nahar said that she knew of Prof. Basu since her childhood and that she was proud that Overman Foundation has felicitated him with the “Auro-Ratna Award”.
Shrimati Dolly Mutsuddi, the youngest niece of Nirodbaran, recalled the memories of her first meeting with Prof. Basu in the following words:
“Uncle always used to tell us that Arindam Basu would come from England and that he would introduce us to him. But as we were extremely restless in childhood Uncle could never collect us together. One day my sister Bani and I were told that Arindam-da had come to the Ashram School. When we entered the School Office, we saw a bright young man with a pair of sparkling eyes sitting next to Rani Aunty—the wife of Sisir Mitra. Bani and I stood there absolutely stupefied looking at him. What a good-looking man he was! Rani Aunty could sense that Dolly-Bani were looking at Arindam-da so she told him quietly: “They are Nirod’s nieces.” “Is it so!” and Arindam-da looked at us. I was so happy to see such a beautiful and wise gentleman like him.”
Miss Moushumi Mukherjee, Prof. Basu’s assistant for the past few years, shared with the guests and members of Overman Foundation, a little-known aspect of his personality, that is, his homely nature. She reminisced how he had relished a simple meal of boiled rice and potatoes which she had cooked for the first time when she had begun working with him and how he would ask her to bring a bar of chocolate when she would go to a shop. She remarked how her life had been transformed after meeting him and working with him. She expressed her profound veneration for Prof. Basu and called him an indispensable part of her life.
Shrimati Suprabha Nahar and Shrimati Ratna Chakravarti presented Prof. Basu with the trophy of “Auro-Ratna Award”. The certificate of honour was presented to him by Prof. Kittu Reddy. In his brief thanks-giving speech, Prof. Basu said in Bengali: “I’ve been told that I speak Bengali and English well and that I don’t mix the two languages up. But to express my feelings about today’s ceremony I would say that I am overwhelmed. I had to use an English word. I feel honoured, gloried and humble: all in one. I don’t deserve it yet I received it. I accept with all humility what you all have conferred upon me.”
The ceremony was concluded with a snacks party organized by Miss Moushumi Mukherjee.

Overman Foundation launches online research facility

Inauguration of the Online Research Facility at Overman Foundation

September 7, 2010 at 4:54 am 

On Saturday, 4^th September 2010, Overman Foundation launched its online research facility for researchers and scholars who are keen to work on the lives and works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The inauguration ceremony, which took place at the Head Office of Overman Foundation at 7 p.m. began with the rendition of the Mother’s organ music. Mrs. Sanghamitra Banerjee, eminent film actress of the Bengali film industry inaugurated the facility and described the concept as “extremely innovative and unique.”

Mr. Anurag Banerjee, Founder-Chairman of Overman Foundation, in his brief speech said: “An inmate of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, had once told me: ‘What is the need to conduct researches on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother? Just read whatever they have written and practice their teachings.’ The very first part of the inmate’s statement had amused me. How can one abstain himself from conducting research on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother — the harbingers of the New Race — who have contributed immensely for the evolution of mankind and development of humanity! Both Sri Aurobindo and the Mother belong not merely to the past or present but to the future. In fact they are the future. We may claim that we know a lot of them but that’s not enough because even this knowing is limited as their lives had not been on the ‘ordinary surface for man to see’ to quote Sri Aurobindo’s own words. They are just like an inexhaustible goldmine where even if one goes on digging for three centuries all the wealth will not be extracted. Every time we read their works and what they have done for humanity, a new truth is revealed, a new light is obtained. And it is this very light that which we intend to share not only with those who are our co-travellers in the path of Integral Yoga and but with everyone — every single individual who is aspiring for a conscious progress. This is the purpose of establishing the Research Centre at Overman Foundation.

“There is also another purpose for launching this online research facility. Invaluable documents in varied languages related to the lives and works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are scattered here and there, so, it was thought necessary to centralize them for the benefit of the researchers. We can claim that we have been able to achieve this to a certain extent. But, my friends, this is only the beginning. The journey has just begun and we have miles to go. But I can assure you, on behalf of the members of Overman Foundation, that we won’t rest until we have accomplished our mission. It’s a promise.”

The ceremony ended with the playing of the song “Kanokajyoti kalebar dhari” in the mellifluous voice of Dilip Kumar Roy and was followed by a dinner party. 3 Comments

Peter Heehs, having mentioned something positive, proceeds to concoct a negative side

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Circumsolatious: Sri Aurobindo - the Lotus and the Avatar 11 Oct 2009 by Lori Tompkins

Chapter 9 of her latest book Secrets of the Earth – Questions and Answers on the Line of Ten Avatars of the Vedic Tradition, actually addresses Mr. Chaki's emphatic rejection of Sri Aurobindo's avatarhood as well as Peter Heehs' ...
Tibetibaba | Flickr - Photo Sharing! 10 Jul 2009 by nobody@flickr.com (indiariaz)

Heehs, Peter, “The bomb in Bengal: the rise of revolutionary terrorism in India, 1900-1910”, Oxford University Press. (edition 1993). p. 62. Page available: [16] Gupta, Gopal Dass, “Glossary and index of proper names in Sri Aurobindo's ...
Savitri Era: Alok Pandey and Sraddhalu Ranade are resorting to ... 16 Jun 2009 by Tusar N Mohapatra

It is utterly shameful that luminaries like Alok Pandey and Sraddhalu Ranade are resorting to subterfuge with regard to their involvement in the court cases filed against Peter Heehs. That they are confident to get away with it in full ...
Plain & Simple: Kittu Reddy's support for an aggressive Hindu ... 17 Apr 2009 by Tusar N Mohapatra

Peter Heehs is a historian and a practitioner of the Integral Yoga. He has resided at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram since 1971. The same year, he began working under Jayantilal Parekh, who had been asked by the Mother to start an archives. ...
Gandhi praised, Aurobindo erased? « Indian Realist 14 Apr 2009 by sanjaychoudhry

Peter Heehs was an ignorant person because Sri Aurobindo NEVER was aware of his brother making bombs. And more importantly Gandi was a politician and Sri Aurobindo was a spiritualist who had no ambition to be famous or wish that world ...
Aurora Mirabilis: Dr. R.L. Kashyap speaks on The Background for ... 25 Mar 2009 by Tusar N Mohapatra

by Raman Reddy The Lives of Sri Aurobindo by Peter Heehs was published by the Columbia University Press in New York in April 2008. A couple of months later, a few copies of the book turned up at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, ...
Peter Heehs's Betrayal « Skylight 21 Mar 2009 by Tusar N. Mohapatra

The rejection of this book is equivalent to rejecting the vision of how the Supramental Descent continues to evolve, progress, succeed, uplift and illuminate the world. > Peter Heehs'sBetrayal and an Ashram in Upheaval > 5:58 PM ...
The lives of Sri Aurobindo | FRANCOIS GAUTIER 5 Mar 2009 by speekout

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, in The Lives of Sri Aurobindo (Columbia University Press, May 2008). ...
Consent to be......nothing!: That was Her way and that is also the ... 14 Feb 2009 by கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி

Peter Heehs என்பவர் எழுதிய ஒரு புத்தகம் "The Lives of Sri Aurobindo" ஆசிரமவாசிகள், ஆரோவில் வாசிகள். ஸ்ரீ அரவிந்தர், ஸ்ரீ அன்னையை ஏற்றுக் கொண்ட ...
Gaza: The Indian Example By Radhika Sainath 27 Jan 2009

Official government reports note 210 "revolutionary outrages" and at least 1000 "terrorists" involved in more than 101 attempted attacks between 1906 and 1917 in the state of Bengal alone (see Peter Heehs, "Terrorism in India During the ...

The lives of Sri Aurobindo - Human Relations - Current Affairs on ... 13 Nov 2008 by Joy Chakraborty

The book is said to contain objectionable remarks against The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. The lives of Sri Aurobindo – is written by Peter Heehs, an American who is one of the founders of Sri Aurobindo Ashram Archives in Puduchery. ...

Kabir - New World Encyclopedia 20 Oct 2008

Peter Heehs. Indian Religions: A Historical Reader of Spiritual Expression and Experience. (New York: NYU Press, 2002), 5; Vaudeville (1974), 39. ↑ Dharwadker, 77; kabir: Mystic Philosopher 1398-1518. Retrieved October 20, 2008.; [2]. ...

Savitri Era Learning Forum: Protest letters demanding expulsion of ... 21 Sep 2008 by Tusar N Mohapatra

2) In fact, the tampering of Savitri and Peter Heehs's attitude of writing agaisnt Sri Aurobindo in a derogatory manner were questioned by many senior sadhaks who include Jugal Kishore Mukherjee, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya and some ...

P2P Foundation » Blog Archive » Rich Carlson's critique of ... 4 Aug 2008 by Michel Bauwens

The recent events surrounding the publication by Columbia University Press of a new biography of him by Peter Heehs, who has written other scholarly work on Indian Religion and Indian History for publishers as notable as Oxford ...

Columbia University Press » Blog Archive » Getting beyond the ... 4 Aug 2008

Getting beyond the Conventions of Biography – and Hagiography Too: A Post by Peter Heehs· cover The Lives of Sri Aurobindo The following post is by Peter Heehs, author of The Lives of Sri Aurobindo. How do you write about a man who is ...

குரங்குத்தவம்: பறக்கும் யானையும் ... 7 Jul 2008 by Baraka

If you want to understand the personality and multi faced thoughts of Sri Aurobindo before getting into his philosophy you can read "The Lifes of Sri Aurobindo" by Peter Heehs. Indra Sen, btw, is the first person to coin the terms ...

Books preview on Sai Baba of Shirdi | Shirdi Sai Baba | Shri ... 6 Sep 2007 by Alpesh

by Peter Heehs - Religion - 2002 - 600 pages. Antonio Rigopoulos, The Life and Teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1994. Shirdi Sai Baba Homepage ... Limited preview - About this book - ...

Guruphiliac: Amma Poops On Gandhi 3 Jul 2007 by jody

There is a great book out called "The Lives of Sri Aurobindo" by Peter Heehs for those who are interested in really understanding Sri Aurobindo's life and thought. Also, the Science, Culture and Integral Yoga is a good source of ...

Marketime: Sri Aurobindo's writings have been embraced by ... 19 Aug 2006 by Tusar N Mohapatra

Since Joytirmaya brings up the views of Peter Heehs to support his claim that he gives Sri Aurobindo a balanced treatment. I will add that biographers and historians - even good ones - are forced to select, disregard, and interpret ...

Aurobindo: Nationalism, religion, and beyond [Indologica] 14 Jan 2006 by hastasiempre

Peter Heehs is a historian based in Pondicherry. A member of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Archives and Research Library, he is part of the editorial team that is bringing out the Complete Works of Sri Aurobindo in 37 volumes. ...

Ananda Reddy’s talks and lectures touched many people

What Sri Aurobindo represents in the history of the earth's ...

E-Newsletter of SACAR (Sri Aurobindo Centre for Advanced Research). August 2010. Volume 3, Issue 5 

Brief Report of Ananda Reddy’s Visit to the USA and Europe 

Ananda Reddy recently returned from a three-week-long trip to several cities in the USA and Europe. During this time he attended the Sri Aurobindo Integral Yoga Retreat organized at Furmon University in Greenville, South Carolina (July 14-18). Ananda delivered many talks there covering different topics related to the journey of Integral Sadhana. He covered areas such as Basic Requisites of Sadhana, Sadhana through Work, Meditation, and Love & Devotion, and Difficulties of the Path. At the question & answer sessions titled “About the Mother”, organized in the late evenings he was accompanied by Sraddhalu Ranade, who also delivered several lectures and talks at the retreat on important topics related to Integral Yoga.

Ananda Reddy’s talks and lectures touched many people because they incorporated many reminiscences from his personal contact with the Mother. Other speakers included Narad (Richard Eggenberger) who led the OM Choir and also spoke on the spiritual significance of the flowers, and Dilip Sarkar who led the Ashtanga yoga and pranayama sessions in the morning and also spoke on yoga therapy and Ayurveda. Ananda Reddy also travelled to St. Louis and spoke at different gatherings. There again, his talks focused more on the Bhakti aspect of Integral Yoga and incorporated many of his personal recollections of living in the Ashram.

In most of the meetings and gatherings Ananda attended in the US, he discovered that there was a great curiosity among the participants to know about the details of the life in the Ashram when the Mother was there physically, and also about the Mother’s daily routine during that time. At one event, he witnessed a beautiful play on the virtues, performed by a group of children. He was touched by a poem written and composed by a 6-year-old girl, in which she expressed her love and affection for her “Pondy Mother”. Ananda’s talks at the Sri Aurobindo Yoga Foundation at New Jersey focused on the nature of psychic being, and Godward emotion & God. Throughout his travels, Ananda was very pleased to see a large number of young people attending and taking active role in the programmes being organized to spread the work and vision of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.

Ananda also visited Holland and Berlin during this trip. At Holland, he spoke to a group of people on the role of meditation and mantra in Integral Yoga. At the gatherings he attended in Europe he was again touched to see the seeking that was present among the younger audiences, who were so keen to hear about the Mother and her work and vision.

MĀSA is a bimonthly electronic newsletter published by SACAR and provides updates and information about various activities at SACAR. We invoke the blessings and grace of our beloved Mother and Sri Aurobindo through our reference to MĀ and SA. Contact: Beloo Mehra beloome@gmail.com sacar@auromail.net Phone: 0413-2348067

A supreme difficulty is Nature’s indication to us of a supreme conquest to be won and an ultimate problem to be solved; it is not a warning of an inextricable snare to be shunned or of an enemy too strong for us from whom we must flee. Sri Aurobindo

Letters on Poetry and Art, on Yoga, on the Mother, & on Himself and the Ashram

Volume 27		PDF last updated: 15 Aug 09 Letters on Poetry and Art Letters on poetry and other forms of literature, on painting and the other arts, on beauty and aesthetics, and on their relation to the practice of yoga. Most of these letters were written by Sri Aurobindo in the 1930 and 1940s to members of his ashram. Around one sixth of them were published during his lifetime; the rest were transcribed from his manuscripts after his passing. Many are being pub lished for the first time in this volume.	2.21MB
Volumes 28-31		Letters on Yoga — I–IV (TO BE PUBLISHED) Four volumes of letters on the integral yoga, other spiritual paths, the problems of spiritual life, and related subjects. In these letters, Sri Aurobindo explains the foundations of his integral yoga, its fundamentals, its characteristic experiences and realisations, and its method of practice. He also discusses other spiritual paths and the difficulties of spiritual life. Related subjects include the place of human relationships in yoga; sadhana through meditation, work and devotion; reason, science, religion, morality, idealism and yoga; spiritual and occult knowledge; occult forces, beings and pow ers; destiny, karma, rebirth and survival. Sri Aurobindo wrote most of these letters in the 1930s to disciples living in his ashram. A considerable number of them are being published for the first time.
Volume 32		The Mother with Letters on the Mother (TO BE PUBLISHED) This volume opens with Sri Aurobindo's small book The Mother, in which he describes the nature, character and role of the Divine Mother. The rest of the volume consists primarily of letters on the Mother — on the Divine Mother and on Sri Aurobindo's collabora tor, the Mother, who was the head of his ashram. He wrote most of these letters in the 1930s to disciples living in the ashram.
Volumes 33-34		PDF last updated: 15 Aug 09 Savitri — A Legend and a Symbol Sri Aurobindo's major poetic work, an epic in blank verse. In Savitri, a legend from the Mahabharata becomes the symbol of the human soul's spiritual destiny. In poetic language, Sri Auro bindo describes his vision of existence and explores the reason for ignorance, darkness, suffering and pain, the purpose of life on earth and the prospect of a glorious future for humanity. The writing of the epic extended over much of the later part of his life.	1.62MB
Volume 35		Letters on Himself and the Ashram (TO BE PUBLISHED) Sri Aurobindo's letters between 1927 and 1950 on his life, his path of yoga and the practice of yoga in his ashram. In these letters, Sri Aurobindo writes about his life as a stu dent in England, a teacher in Baroda, a political leader in Ben gal, and a writer and yogi in Pondicherry. He also comments on his formative spiritual experiences and the development of his yoga. In the latter part of the volume, he discusses the life and discipline followed in his ashram and offers advice to the disci ples living and working in it. Sri Aurobindo wrote these letters between 1927 and 1950 — most of them in the 1930s.

Cuddalore, Cuttack, Kalimpong

India News - Birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo celebrated in Pondy

Thousands of devotees from all over the country and abroad thronged Sri Aurobindo Ashram here today, on the occasion of 138th birth anniversary of the ...

Aurobindo s birth anniversary celebrated - Yahoo! India News ...

different parts of the country today thronged Sri Aurobindo Ashram here on the occasion of the 138th birth anniversary of the saint philosopher. ...

Contacts – sriaurobindo society cuddalore

Sri Aurobindo Society, Cuddalore centre TC NO 19. No.66/84, Subburaya Chetty Streert. Thirupathiripuliyur. Cuddalore-607002. Tamilnadu ...

Matrubhaban, Cuttack

The Mother & Sri Aurobindo. All Orissa Sri Aurobindo Study Circle Committee, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Cuttack-753013 ... The Mother's work in Orissa The Mother's work in Odisha started in 1949 when two Study Circles were formed with Sri Aurobindo's ...

KALIMPONG NEWS: Independence Day celebrated in Mungpoo by GJMM ... By  (AK Rai) Arabind Ghose remembered Samiran Paul: 15th August in Kalimpong, KalimNews:

Independence Day was celebrated in Kalimpong with much enthusiasm and gaiety as it is considered a festival since 1947 onwards. Lalit Pariyar, retired IAS and Former DGHC CPS and a present study forum member of GJMM was the Chief Guest of the programme. 

Auromira Yoga: THE MASTER'S WORD AND OUR HOMEWORK by Dr. Ramesh Bijlani
Sri Aurobindo's mission was to speak 'the word', as he revealed in the Uttarpara speech delivered shortly after his release from Alipore Jail. And, he did speak the word, most visibly in the Arya, from 1914-1920. ...

auromiraconsecration: 15 August

Sri Aurobindo was born on 15 august 1872. Here I am not interested to write his life history. I just want to write a little on his philosophy, on his yoga. He invented a new path of yoga. In his path the aim of human life is not Moksha. ...

Reading Sri Aurobindo To Throw Light On Rise And Fall Of India ... by indowaves
hen India's one of the greatest spiritual giants Sri Aurobindo arrived on this planet earth. The role of this great spiritual Avatara cannot be measured in human terms. Though he ventured on the highest plane of thought, this spiritual ...

Remembering Niranjan Pal « sunayana.com

He soon became the publisher of the firebrand newspaper Bande Mataram of which Sri Aurobindo, who had been educated in England, was the editor. The paper soon caught the attention of the British who could see that its main aim was to ...

Circle of Good Will :: Blog by Flowers on the Wayside
“Sri Aurobindo is deeply linked to the concept of Savitri. His doctrine on Savitri is considered as a fresh presentation in English of the Rigvedic text. It is even appreciated in the Ashrams of the Hierarchy. ...

SCATTERBRAINED MUSINGS ON THE SUBCONTINENT: How I Became a Right ... by Zack
Aurovillians are trying to model a society after the spiritual ramblings of an aged 'Mother' who gained this spiritual authority by being the 'spiritual companion' of Sri Aurobindo, a yogi who was a part of the Indian independence ...

The Holy Quest- A Spiritual Saga: 15th August- Darshan Card from ... by Umasree
15th August is the Birthday of Sri Aurobindo and of free India. On this day, a card was distributed in the Ashram containing a rare picture of Sri Aurobindo, taken by the famous French photographer Henri Cartier Bresson in 1950, ...

Bharat Rakshak • View topic - Independence Day Wishes !!!

Also, thank you to the poster for providing the translation from Sri Aurobindo of Vande Mataram. I just read it to my kids. ...