3 day Sadhna Shivir conducted by Dr. K.N. Verma from Mahsua (Madhya Pradesh)

August 2011 News from Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry)

Upcoming Events Sri Aurobindo, in Pondicherry

139th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo: 15 August 2011

This 15th of August is a triply special day for all of us. It is Sri Aurobindo's birthday as well as the birthday of free India. In a message to India given on the eve of its Independence, Sri Aurobindo mentions about the coincidence of this day with his own birthday as:

"August 15th is my own birthday and it is naturally gratifying to me that it should have assumed this vast significance. I take this coincidence, not as a fortuitous accident, but as the sanction and seal of the Divine Force that guides my steps on the work with which I began life, the beginning of its full fruition."

We present here the full text of the Message given by Sri Aurobindo on the eve of India's Independence to All India Radio where he speaks of his five dreams.

Here is an extract from Sri Aurobindo, where he powerfully emphasises the course India must take in order to fulfil its role & mission:

"India of the ages is not dead nor has she spoken her last creative word; she lives and has still something to do for herself and the human peoples. And that which must seek now to awake is not an anglicised oriental people, docile pupil of the West and doomed to repeat the cycle of the Occident's success and failure, but still the ancient immemorable Shakti recovering her deepest self, lifting her head higher towards the supreme source of light and strength and turning to discover the complete meaning and a vaster form of her Dharma."

It is our happy privilege to work for a new India and a new world according to the vision of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.

Programmes at the Society House

On 13 and 14 of August 2011, a series of talks will be organised by Sri Aurobindo Society at its Society House, Puducherry.

From 16 to 20 August 2011, Dr. Alok Pandey will conduct study sessions on one of the Works of Sri Aurobindo at the Society House, Puducherry. Sessions will be held from 5:00 to 6:45 pm. All are welcome.

Seminar on Integral Health
Sri Aurobindo International Institute Of Integral Health And Research (SAIIIHR): A seminar on Integral Health will be conducted by the SAIIIHR team on 14th August 2011, at Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry. Some important issues that would be discussed include the vision of Integral Health, its heuristic potentials, and the application of its consciousness paradigm in practical areas like clinical medicine, homeopathy, counseling, dealing with the terminally ill and death. For further information please write to:
vandana@sriaurobindosociety.org.in

All are welcome to the above programmes.
Women's Council Seminar on Beauty – 21 to 23 Nov. 2011

In everything, everywhere, in all relations truth must be brought out in its all-embracing rhythm and every movement of life should be an expression of beauty and harmony. Skill is not art, talent is not art. Art is a living harmony and beauty that must be expressed in all the movements of existence. This manifestation of beauty and harmony is part of the Divine realisation upon earth, perhaps even its greatest part.
                                                                                                                                The Mother

This year, the Society's Women's Council is embarking on a beautiful adventure to find and manifest beauty in all the movements of our existence.
The 'Power of Beauty' is the subject chosen for our annual Seminar, to be held at the Society House (Beach Office), 11, Saint Martin Street, Puducherry, on 21, 22 and 23 November 2011.
All interested are welcome to participate in the Seminar. For details, write to:
              The Secretary
              Women's Council
              Sri Aurobindo Society
              11, Saint Martin Street
              Puducherry-605001.
              E-mail: sushila@aurosociety.org
For accomodation, contact the Society Accommodation Section.
               Email: accommodation@aurosociety.org
               Phones: (0413) 2336396/7.
These Seminars are aimed at introducing the Mother's and Sri Aurobindo's teachings which serve as a beacon-light in our day-to-day life and help us to go deeper within to know ourselves better and move forward.
Beauty, you are my way to the Divine.
                                                 The Mother

Recent Events

News from Puducherry

14th to 18th June 2011: Annual Youth Camp of Andhra Pradesh

4th Annual youth camp of Andhra Pradesh was held at Society House, Puducherry from 14th to 18th of June 2011. Thirty young participants studying Engineering, Pharmacy and other PG courses, belonging to various Centres and Branches of Andhra Pradesh, attended the camp. During these four days physical exercises, talks, interactive sessions, power point presentation on Art and activities of the Society, mind games, visit to the Ashram departments and visit to Auroville took place in the camp.

Inaugural session was started by Shri Pradeep Narang and Prof. Kittu Reddy.

July 2011: Talks by Prof. Saikat Sen, Safim, Puducherry

Prof. Saikat Sen, Director, Sri Aurobindo Foundation For Integral Management (SAFIM), Puducherry, spoke to representatives of 8 corporates and 11 management colleges. There were 42 persons to hear Prof. Sen's talk on "The Relevance of Consciousness in Today's Business" on 15th July 2011, at Coimbatore.

Saikat Sen addressing the participants in Coimbatore

Prof. Saikat Sen, delivered the Key Note Address in the Valedictory Session of the 12th National Conference of Practicing Company Secretaries at Ootacamund, Tamilnadu on 16th July 2011. He elaborately discussed the role of human values in professional work. It was well received by the 250 professionals who participated in the conference.

Key Note Address at 12th National Conference of ICSI
Prof. Saikat Sen, Director, Sri Aurobindo Foundation For Integral Management(SAFIM), Puducherry delivered the Key Note Address in the Valedictory Session of the 12th National Conference of Practicing Company Secretaries at Ootacamund, Tamilnadu on 16th July 2011. He elaborately discussed the role of human values in professional work. It was well received by the 250 professionals who were the participants of the conference.

The mid-week of July was winding up for the corporates and academicians in Coimbatore, but for 42 of them who gathered at Sri Aurobindo Society, Coimbatore centre in the evening on July 15, a new dawn opened up as Professor Saikat Sen, Director, Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Integral Management (SAFIM), introduced them to 'The Relevance of Consciousness in Today's Business'. The gathering consisted of officials from 8 corporate and 11 Management colleges. The response was good, and most of them were positive to have two-day workshops in future.

Faculty Development Programme at Auro University, Surat 
Two-day Workshop on "Management by Consciousness" for the Faculty Members of Auro University at Auro University Campus, Surat was conducted on 21st & 22nd July 2011 by Prof.Saikat Sen and Ms. Smita Gupta of Sri Aurobindo Foundation For Integral Management (SAFIM), Centre of Excellence in Management of Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry.

Vice Chancellor, COO and Facilitators with participants
Youth Camps for Self Development (2010 - 11)
For more than 25 years Sri Aurobindo Society has been conducting regular youth camps called All India Youth Camp in Puducherry. From last year this youth camp is being carried out at state levels as well by its branches and centres. The main objectives of the Camps are to:
- inspire the youth to discover their aim in life and help them in realising it;
- awaken the youth to their great future and prepare them to play their true role in all aspects of life;
- make the youth conscious of the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of India and work for a united and awakened India.

Last year's camps both in Puducherry as well as at the state level were sponsored by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), New Delhi. A complete report of the youth camp in Puducherry and the youth camps held at the different centres and branches around the country are available here.

Some Special Days in August 2011

13th August 2011 - Raksha Bandhan

The festival of Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is celebrated this year on 13th August. On this day, sisters tie an amulet, the Rakhi, around the right wrist of their brothers, praying for their long life and happiness. Raksha means protection, and Rakhi - a special ornamental bracelet - is a symbol of the chaste bond of love between the brother and the sister. In the northern parts of mediaeval India, women used to tie Rakhi round the wrists of men they could count upon, regarding them as brothers. The festival is an occasion to strengthen the bond between a brother and a sister.

Raksha Bandhan

Here is a luminous answer from the Mother when someone asked about human relationships:

Q: What is the best relationship between two human beings? Mother and son? Brother, friend or lover, etc?
All the relationships are good in principle and each one expresses a mode of the Eternal. But each can be perverted and become bad due to the selfish falsehood of human nature which prevents the vibrations of love from manifesting in their purity.

22 August 2011 - Sri Krishna Janmashtami

Sri Krishna, as a child

Janmashtami (also known as Krishnashtami or Gokulashtami) is a festival dedicated to Lord Sri Krishna to commemorate his birth on this earth. This year it falls on 22th August, and on this day during midnight, the whole story of Sri Krishna's birth will be enacted by the devotees in their houses and many delicacies, prepared out of milk and curd, will be distributed as prasad (food made sacred by offering to God) to everyone.

In his letters to sadhaks, Sri Aurobindo mentions about Sri Krishna:

Krishna as a godhead is the Lord of Ananda, Love and Bhakti; as an incarnation, he manifests the union of wisdom (Jnana) and works and leads the earth-evolution through this towards union with the Divine by Ananda, Love and Bhakti.

The boy with the flute is Sri Krishna, the Lord descended into the world-play from the divine Ananda; his flute is the music of the call which seeks to transform the lower ignorant play of mortal life and bring into it and establish in its place the Lila of his divine Ananda. 

News from Branches and Centres

News from India

Bangalore (Karnataka)
25th to 27 March 2011: Workshop on Self Healing - "To Know Oneself" and "How to Remain Healthy"
First one was organized from 25th - 27th March 2011, and the second from 21st - 23rd May 2011. Mr. Sundararajan and Ms. R. Akhila from Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry conducted the workshops. It was explained that if harmony is maintained within one can remain healthy as revealed by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. 35 persons including 18 ladies attended the workshop.

Biaora (Madhya Pradesh)
A Programme on "Rural Development in the Light of Sri Aurobindo"
Sri Aurobindo Society Biaora Centre (Madhya Pradesh) organised a public programme on "Rural Development in the Light of Sri Aurobindo". More than 100 people from rural area attended the programme. Shri Desh Narayan Sharma (Bhopal) talked about the life of Sri Aurobindo. In his introductory speech Shri Manoj Sharma (Bhopal) explained the different thrust areas particularly the Integral Rural Development, taken up by Sri Aurobindo Society to spread the message of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. He briefly informed the different activities of 'SARVAM' also.
The main speaker Dr. Suresh Chandra Sharma explained the subject in detail. He said that an open and aspiring heart can do miracles even in the field of farming.

Dehri-On-Sone (Bihar)
30th June to 2nd July 2011: 3 day Sadhna Shivir

The Shivir was conducted by Dr. K.N. Verma from Mahsua (Madhya Pradesh). The topics covered in the shivir were "Secret of Divine Descent in Sri Aurobindo's Yoga", "Aim of Sri Aurobindo's Yoga", "Divine Ascent and Transformation" and "Divine Descent and Transformation". About 50 persons attended the shivir.

Jabalpur - Baldev Bag (Madhya Pradesh)
13th June 2011: Seminar on Pre-Natal Education
Baldev Bag, Jabalpur Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society organised a seminar on 13th June 2011. The topic of the seminar was ''Pre-Natal Education''. The venue was Victoria Hospital Campus. Smt. Jyoti Bala Mishra, Principal of Nursing training centre was the chief guest and Dr. Suman Kocher (Indore) the main speaker of the programme. Dr. Suman Kocher explained the importance of Pre-Natal Education to the present and future generations.

The programme was attended by approximately 125 persons. This seminar got a good coverage by the media.

Noida (Uttar Pradesh)
10th July 2011: Talk on 'Spirituality & Morality' by Dr. JP Singh
A talk on 'Spirituality & Morality' by Dr. J.P. Singh, Chairman, Sri Aurobindo Society State Committee for Uttar Pradesh & Uttrakhand was organized from 10AM to 11AM followed by Question - Answer session. About forty devotees and their families took part in the programme.

Dr. J.P. Singh delivering his talk
A view of the participants of the Program "Spirituality & Morality"

Rajasthan Kalyan Parishad organized a programme of 'Children's Talent Award Ceremony' at which the booklets relating to Sri Aurobindo & The Mother were distributed.
Discussion on Gita: Lead by Shri Viswa Mohan Tiwari, Air Vice Marshal(Retd.): 
Every Sunday from 11AM to 1PM, discussion on Bhagawad Gita took place at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. There were about 10 participants in the programme.
Programme of Yogasan & Pranayam (every Monday to Saturday):
Programme of Yogasan & Pranayam for one hour daily from Monday to Saturday - is being held at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Noida. A total of about 10 - 12 participants are taking part in the programme.
Sewing & Tailoring Classes: 
Sewing & Tailoring classes are being conducted thrice a week at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan.
Free Eye Check-up/Consultation:
On every Sunday from 11.00AM to 1.00PM by Dr. P.S. Chauhan.
Free Acupressure Treatment:
Acupressure Treatment for two hours daily from Monday to Friday by Sh. Girish Prakash Shukla at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan is going on well.

Rishikesh (Uttarakhand)
One day Workshop at Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd. (THDC) Rishikesh on 9th July 2011: 16 executives doing the certificate course in Management of Resettlement, Rehabilitation and CSR attended a workshop conducted by Ms. Smita Gupta, Senior Associate, Sri Aurobindo Foundation For Integral Management (SAFIM) under the aegis of Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar. Topics covered included
1) The Power of Self-Awareness-Who am I?
2) How externalised or internalised am I? How can I lead a more conscious life?
3) The Concept of Integral Management and the Relevance of Consciousness in today's business.

Activity session in progress

Participants of workshop at Rishikesh

Surat (Gujarat)
21st to 22nd July 2011: Faculty Development Programme at Auro University
Two-day workshop on "Management by Consciousness" was conducted by Prof. Saikat Sen and Ms. Smita Gupta at the Auro University Campus, Surat on 21st & 22nd July 2011. The subjects covered were "Relevance of Consciousness in Today's Business", "The Concept of Integral Management", "Powers Within", "The Power of Understanding", and "The Power of Action".

Vellore (Tamil Nadu)
12th June 2011: Celebration of 7th Anniversary
The programme started with meditation followed by the inaugural speech by Mr. N.R.R. Radhakrishanan, Secretary, Sri Aurobindo Society, Coimbatore.

A CD of Golden Jubilee of Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry was shown. More than 80 members attended. Magazines, books were distributed to devotees.

News from Centres and Branches - Abroad

Nairobi (Kenya)
The Secretary of the Centre was invited by the management of Oshwal Senior High School to address their teachers on 15th June 2011. The talk was based on The Ideal Child, The Ideal Parent, The Ideal Teacher and The Right Upbringing of Children and teachers acting as agents of change. Copies of these booklets were distributed to all present. The talk was well received.

In May 2011, booklets in ten different titles were presented to the Prison Headquarters by the Nairobi Centre. On 12th July 2011, the senior staff of the Welfare Committee of the Prison Headquarters revisited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan and three thousand more booklets were presented to them.

13th July 2011 - Eighth anniversary of Enshrinement of the sacred Relics of Sri Aurobindo at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi - this auspicious event was observed by the devotees at the Bhavan

Bangladesh

Sri Aurobindo Society, Bangladesh has acquired a property in Chittagong on a lease of 30 years from the Government of Bangladesh. This is the headquarters of the Society in Bangladesh. The address of the Sri Aurobindo Society, Bangladesh at Chittagong is given below:

Sri Aurobindo Society Bangladesh
Chittagong Centre
Maitry Bhavan, 370/A-378, Momin Road,
Chittagong - 4000, Bangladesh.
E-mail: vivekananda.chy@gmail.com

Faculty members in group presented the theme in a theatrical way

Faculty Development Programme at Auro University, Surat

Two-day Workshop on “Management by Consciousness” for the Faculty Members of Auro University at Auro University Campus, Surat was also conducted on 21st & 22nd July 2011 by Prof.SaikatSen and Ms. Smita Gupta of Sri Aurobindo Foundation For Integral Management (SAFIM), Centre of Excellence in Management of Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry. 

In the day one, the meaning of Consciousness and the Relevance of Consciousness in Today’s Business, the concept of Integral Management have explained through audio-visual presentation, movie clippings and discussion. Video case was shown and all the participants analyzed the case and presented it in group. They interacted and share ideas and opinions with others. Present scenario of Management Education in India was discussed and analysed. Faculty members in group presented the theme in a theatrical way.

In the second day concept of a new education system based on Integral Education was discussed through audio-visual presentation. Resource persons discussed the usefulness of the module called “Powers Within” and given a brief introduction of the module. Various tools of Powers within were demonstrated and participants took part in each activity like questionnaires, interaction, games and live demonstration. Sessions of activity based learning “Powers Within” helps the participants to distinguish inner being from outer being and understand the inner potentiality through different types of activities like practice of concentration, concentration games and the like. The brief introduction of The Power of Understanding, The Power of Action was presented there. In this process the participants visualize and workout the methods of practice and implementation. All participants interacted very nicely amongst them and with the facilitators. All participants chalk out the future action plan about how they implement this new approach at Auro University.

Report of Seminar at Coimbatore

The mid-week of July was winding up for the corporates and academicians in Coimbatore, but for 42 of them who gathered at Sri Aurobindo Society, Coimbatore centre in the evening on July 15, a new dawn opened up as Professor Saikat Sen, Director, Sri Aurobindo Foundation for Integral Management(SAFIM), introduced them to 'The Relevance of Consciousness in Today's Business'. The gathering consisted of officials from 8 corporate and 11 Management colleges. The response was good, and most of them were positive to have such workshops in future.

Key Note Address at 12th National Conference of ICSI

Prof. Saikat Sen, Director, Sri Aurobindo Foundation For Integral Management (SAFIM), Puducherry delivered the Key Note Address in the Valedictory Session of the 12th National Conference of Practicing Company Secretaries  at Ootacamund, Tamilnadu on 16th July 2011. He elaborately discussed the role of human values in professional work. It was well received by the 250 professionals who were the participants of the conference.

The Power of Inner Attitude Editorial The Inner Attitude and the Outer Events The impact of the outer events and circumstances on our consciousness and life depends on our inner attitude to them.

Release of Jitendra Sharma's book by P Valsala in Kozhikode

A book on Sri Aurobindo released R. MADHAVAN NAIR NEWS » STATES » KERALA KOZHIKODE, August 2, 2011

Literary scholars have been fascinated by Sri Aurobindo’s poetic genius, particularly his epic poem Savitri . To this group belongs Jitendra Sharma who teaches French at St Joseph’s College, Devagiri in Kozhikode. His doctoral thesis, published as a book titled “Concept of Man in Sri Aurobindo’s Poetry” is being released by novelist P Valsala in Kozhikode on Saturday.

It comes as no surprise that Jitendra Sharma became an ardent admirer of Sri Aurobindo’s life and poetry. For, he had stayed at Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Puducherry for his graduation studies, before joining Karnatak University Dharwar for his post-graduate course in French. He is now trying to implement Sri Aurobindo’s education methodology in teaching profession .

A salient feature of Sri Aurobindo ‘s philosophy, reflected in his poems, is his strange concept about Man. Man, he believed, heralded the emergence of a new species of Superman. Practice of yoga convinced him through an “adventure of consciousness” man will finally attain divinity.

Says Jitendra Sharma: “Aurobindo considered Man to be a transitional being constantly driven by an impulse to exceed himself and evolve towards divine consciousness, harmony and joy. In his poems Sri Aurobindo prophetically describes the transcendence of man as the consummation of a supra - mental race on earth”.

The books is also replete with a biographical sketch. Sri Aurobindo, born on August 15 -1872 in Kokotta, was educated in United Kingdom from the age of seven . But, even during his stay in England, he became disgusted with British rule in India.

On his return home, he wrote ICS examination under pressure from his father but deliberately got himself disqualified in riding test because he wanted to live as a writer, not as an administrator .

Aurobindo, who died in December 5 -1950 is now revered as an outstanding figure in Indo - Anglian literature , a yogi, a seer , and a true patriot who demanded total freedom for India from British rule.

The release of Jitendra Sharma’s book is an occasion to recall the greatness of an eminent Indian. The book is sure to be hailed as a welcome addition to the growing body of scholarly works on Sri Aurobindo and his poetry.