Sri Aurobindo Health Squard Training 3rd to 23rd May 2008 at Matrubhaban, Cuttack

Calendar of Events in 2008 Event Date Venue

Sri Aurobindo Health Squard Training 3rd to 23rd May 2008 Matrubhaban, Cuttack
Schedule 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon 02.30 PM - 04.30 PM 06.30 PM - 08.00 PM 08.00 PM-09.00PM
03.05.08 Saturday REGISTRATION INAUGURATION
04.05.08 Sunday INTRODUCTORY SESSION Objective of the Training Dr. Babul Kumar Pattanaik Foundation of Health Ramakrushna Causes of illness Ramakrushna Group Presentation
05.05.08 Monday The Body- its Structure Dr. N. Swain The Body - its Functions Dr.N. Swain Normal Pulse, Blood Pressure, Temp, Weight, BMI Dr.J.M.Senapaty Prevention of illness Prof. Bijayeeni Mohapatra - Do -
06.05.08 Tuesday Naturopathy Dr.R.N. Das Food in Health & Disease Dr.N. Swain Snakebite, Poisoning Dr. B.N. Mohapatra Cures of illness Dr.Brajakishore Khandai - Do -
07.05.08 Wednesday Naturopathy Dr.R.N. Das Diarrhea, dehydration, Heat-stroke Dr.Babulu Ku. Pattanaik Primary care in medical problems in the community Dr.J.K Panda Planes and Parts of the being Dr.B.N.Mohapatra - Do -
08.05.08 Thursday Naturopathy Dr.R.N. Das Basics of simple Biochemic Treatment Gadadhar Mishra Common Skin problems Prevention and care Dr.Binodini Behera Transformation of suffering Dr.Madan Mohan Sahoo - Do -
09.05.08 Friday Naturopathy Dr.R.N. Das Biochemic in Common illness Dr.A.B. Dash Leprosy
Dr.Binodini Behera Cycle of Life Dr.J.K. Panda - Do -
10.05.08 Saturday Acupressure in Health Dr.Prasanna Kumar Das Acupressure & Magneto
Therapy Dr.Prasanna Ku. Das - Do -
11.05.08 Sunday Acupressure Dr.Prasanna Kumar Das Acupressure & Magneto Therapy
Dr.Prasanna Kumar Das Color Therapy Dr.Manjula Kar Acupressure & Magneto Therapy
Dr.Prasanna Ku. Das - Do -
12.05.08 Monday Primary Care in Common ENT Problems Dr.Balabhadra Nayak Enlightened Motherhood Pramila Parija Anita Patra First Aid - introductory & pretest Dr.Bikash Prasad
Why DEATH? CH.Nirakar - Do -
13.05.08 Tuesday Care of teeth Dr.Hemamalini Rath Common Dental Problems Dr.Hemamalini Rath First Aid Dr.Bikash Prasad Beyond 'Health' & 'Illness' CH.Nirakar - Do -
14.05.08 Wednesday Physiotherapy Dr.R.N. Das Physiotherapy Dr.R.N. Das Problems of Aged and Care of elderly Dr.J.K. Panda Intuition in Diagnosis and Healing Dr.B.N. Mohapatra - Do -
15.05.08 Thursday Physiotherapy Dr.R.N. Das Physiotherapy Dr.R.N. Das First Aid Dr.Bikash Prasad Common gynecological problems Dr.Shyama - Do -
16.05.08 Friday School Health Programme - I Dr.Bijayeeni Mohapatra Dr.S.K. Sahoo School Health Programme-II Dr.Bijayeeni Mohapatra Dr.S.K. Sahoo First Aid Dr.Bikash Prasad
Group Activities in School Health Programme - Do - Acupressure in Disease Dr.Prasanna Ku. Das
17.05.08 Saturday School Health Programme-III Herbal Garden Dr.P.K. Nanda First Aid
Dr.Bikash Prasad Safe motherhood Smt.Anita Patra Dr.Kabita Swain - Do -
18.05.08 Sunday Healthful eye exercises Abha Kanungo Acute Surgical Emergency Early Detection and Safe referral Dr.Bijay Ku. Sahoo Environmental Sanitation and Pollution Control
Dr.Renubala Samal Health seeking in the community Dr.Madan Mohan Pradhan - Do -
19.05.08 Monday Management of Health Centre Dr.Sanjay Swain Biomedical waste anagement
Dr.Sanjay Swain First Aid-conclusion & posttest Dr.Bikash Prasad Cancer- What? Why?
Prevention & Early detection Dr.Pranabandhu - Do -
20.05.08 Tuesday Healthful eye exercises Abha Kanungo Basic Lab Techniques Nisith Ku. Rout
Practice of basic lab. techniques Decision making in primary care Dr.Shyama
Departure for Dalijoda
21.05.08 Wednesday Village health survey at Dalijoda Inner methods of Healing Sri Dharanidhar Pal Practice for cultural programme
22.05.08 Thursday Common Medicinal Herbs Dr.Pravakar Herbal Preparation Dr.Bipinananda Mishra Herbal treatment of common ailments Dr.P.K. Nanda Cultural Programme
23.05.08 Friday Action Plan Presentation Concluding Session Examination & counseling of school children of Sri Aurobindo Shrikshetra

Home Relics Centers Dasa Karmadhara Events Publications Gallery Miscellenious Sri Aurobindo University Contact Us Key events of the year Events Calendar News from events Monthly News

Death, Dying and Beyond

Talk by Dr Alok Pandey
Dr Alok Pandey is a seeker on the path of Integral Yoga.
A psychiatrist by profession, he has served with the Indian Air Force for twenty years before settling down at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry.
He has been conducting several workshops on diverse themes such as Yoga, the Upanishads, the Gita, Savitri and The Life Divine, Health, Psychology, Education etc.Apart from articles on various subjects he has written a book on "Death, Dying and Beyond".
We are pleased to announce that Dr Pandey will be presenting a series of talks in Singapore. All are invited. Details... www.sassingapore.cjb.net/

Pabitra Baral proposed to computerise the accounts of the NLET and make it up-to-date

PROCEEDING: The meeting of the Executive Body of the New Life Education Trust was held on 16.3.2008 at Matruniketan, Angul at 11.00 am with President Sri Sriballav Panigrahi on chair and two minutes silent prayer.

In the beginning, Principal Babita Pradhan, Angul welcomed all participants. Then the President Sri Panigrahi proposed 2 minutes silence prayer for late Animesh Samantaray. Then the deliberations were started with the action taken notes remarked by the Secretary.

1. Trust coordinators were requested to submit the list of schools where the students are appearing at the Common VII Examination for this year 2008.
2. Rudra Bhai of Dhenkanal described the situation of Dhenkanal Integral Education Centre. It was decided that the matter shall be discussed with the Education Minister in the next appointment very shortly.
3. Anjali Tripathy readout the planning of the Integrated Book for Standard-I which she proposed to complete during Summer vacation. Her subject was Our Body. It was decided that a Workshop will be conducted with some senior teachers of the Integral Education Centres in the coming Refresher Training to prepare projects. Anjali Tripathy will take the responsibility of the Workshop.
4. Pabitra Baral assured that the sub-committee will submit the syllabus for 3 months training programme in the next meeting. However, he expressed that Sri Sebak Tripathy, NCERT, Meerambika, Dr. Debi Prasanna Patnaik and the authorities of Sri A.I.C.E. at Puducherry are to be contacted for preparation of the syllabus. It was decided that Ramakanta shall remain in-charge of the 1st Batch of trainees to be taken during July to September 2008 and during this period Binod will attend both Cuttack & Bhubaneswar office. Subsequently, Birendra and Hari Bhai (Koraput) may be considered for taking responsibility of training programme.
5. Accounts of Teachers’ Meet, Students’ Meet and Organisers’ Meet were readout and approved. They are as follows :
(a) Teachers’ Meet (Khandagiri) Receipt – Rs.33,260/- Expenditure – Rs.71,861/-
(b) Students’ Meet (Khallikote) Receipt – Rs.13,350/- Expenditure – Rs.39,355/-
(c) Organisers’ Meet (Matrubhavan, Cuttack) Expenditure – Rs.19,109/-
6. Dr. Bijayani Mohapatra, Jt. Secretary proposed to contact different agencies of the Govt. for collection of funds for the Trust. It was therefore decided to form a "Fund Collection Committee" with the following members :
i) Dr. Bijayeeni Mohapatra, Convenor ii) Sri Sarat Chandra Ghosh, Member iii) Binod, Member
7. It was decided to appoint Sri Mahendra Swain, a Senior devotee of AG Office as honorary auditor for the financial year 2007-08. He should be intimated immediately.
8. It was also decided to appoint Sri Chaitanya Mohapatra as the Chartered Accountant to check the accounts and make it up-todate till 2008.
9. It was decided that the education centres those are receiving SFA should maintain separate Cash Book for the SFA.
10. It was also decided that a meeting of all 54 Integral Education Centres receiving SFA will be convened at Bhubaneswar to make them aware about the maintainance of Cash Book for SFA.
11. It was decided to conduct the Refresher Training camp during 3rd to 23rd May 2008 at Matrubhavan, Cuttack.
12. President suggested that the authorities of all Integral Education Centre should think of some sort of beneficial schemes for their teachers to help them in their need.
13. It was decided to have the next Executive Body of the Trust on 18th May 2008 at Matrubhaban, Cuttack.
14. Pabitra Baral proposed to computerise the accounts of the NLET and make it up-to-date. It was agreed and Pabitra Baral was requested to assist in this matter.
15. A tentative budget was placed in meeting for the year 2008-09 and it was approved.
16. A proposal was raised to print in all our text books so that this cannot be sold outside.
17. A subcommittee was formed consisting of Shri G. Mishra, Vice-President Shri P. Tripathy, Secretary, Shri S. Mohanty, Jt. Secretary; and Dr. B. Mohanty, Jt.Secretary to thoroughly check and recommend the education centres for affiliation.
18. President proposed vote of thanks to the management of Matruniketan, Angul for providing nice arrangements for holding the meeting.
19. The following Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centres have applied for affiliation. The members mentioned against each were requested to visit the centres and report to New Life Education Trust for extending them affiliation.
S.N. Name of place of SAIES Name of members to visit & submit
1. Matrujyoti, Jogisarda, Bolangir – Braja, Lalit Mohan Khuntia, Anup Sahoo
2. Nayagarh – Ramakanta Sahoo, Tareswar Ratha, Parikhita Bhai
3. Rairpur, Balikuda, Jagatsinghpur – Binod, Rabindra Rout, Sarbeswar Mohapatra
4. Ma Nuapalli, Ganjam – Surendra, Udayanath Reddy, Sasadev Behera
5. Hirakud, Sambalpur – Purna, Satya Narayan Babu Prafulla Chandra Panda
6. Champeswar, Cuttack – Binod, Kaibalya Jena, Sarbeswar Mohapatra.
7. Athamalik, Angul – Binod, Arabinda Pradhan, Sulochana Sahoo.
8. Seulasahi, Nimapara, Puri – Ramakanta Sahoo, Tareswar Ratha, Kanan Apa
9. Khemsuar, Balibil, Jajpur – Narayan Agasthi, Purusottam Bhai, Sarbeswar Mohapatra
10. Duburi, Danagadi - Jajpur – do
Affiliation of New Integral Education Centers
1. Maneswar, Sambalpur – Purna, Satya Narayan Babu Prafulla Chandra Panda
2. Jiral, Dhenkanal – Binod, Sulochana Sahoo, Rudra Mohan Mohanty
3. Siksha Niketana, Barpali – Braja, Prafulla Panda Laxmi Apa (Cement Nagar)
The following Education Centres could not be taken into consideration as the visiting reports from the concerned members have not been received in the Trust. However, they are again requested to submit their visiting reports as early as possible. So that their cases of affiliation may be considered in the next meeting.
Gadakujanga-Jagatsinghpur, Singheswar (Balugaon)-Khurda.
The meeting ended with 2 minutes silent prayer.

Printed, Published & Edited by Sri Gadadhar Mishra on behalf of the Matrubhaban Trust & Printed at Graphic Art Offset Press, Nuapatna, Cuttack-1 & Published at Matrubhaban, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Cuttack - 753 013. E-mail - matrubhaban@bsnl.in Please visit us at : www.matrubhaban.com THE MATRUBHABAN PATRA APRIL 2008
Posted by Tusar N Mohapatra at 10:02 AM

Training Camp of the Teachers of Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centres

To The Secretary / Principal of
All Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre
Dear Brother/Sister,
The Summer Refresher Training Camp of the Teachers of Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centres" of Orissa will be organised during 3rd to 23th May 2008 for 21days at Matrubhaban, Cuttack. The camp will be inaugurated on 3rd evening and will be closed with afternoon session of 23rd afternoon. Camp fees per person has been fixed as Rs.600 only. You are requested to send as many teachers as possible to attend the camp.

The total camp will include theory classes on Philosophy of Integral Education, Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother and other classes e.g. Psychology, methods etc. with workshops on different subjects.
You are requested to send the names of the participants immediately to The Principal, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Higher Studies and Research, Matrubhaban, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Cuttack- 753013. The participants must come prepared with the following things with them.
1. Love for the Mother
2. Courage, Patience and Enthusiasm
3. 2 pairs of daily use dress, Bedsheet etc
4. 1 Pair dress with PT Shoes for Physical Exercise.
5. Own Note book, Pen etc.
6. Own books for Reference
7. Musquito net may be used separately.
PLEASE DON’T BRING CHILDREN WITH YOU.
All senior Integral Education Centres are requested to send experienced Pre-primary teachers to particpate in the "Workshop on Project Work" for Integrate Subject to be conducted by Anjali Tripathy. Again we emphasize - Please don’t bring children with you. In case you come with children you will not be admitted as a participant.
NEW LIFE EDUCATION TRUST
Matrubhaban, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Cuttack-753013
P. Tripathy (Secretary)

Printed, Published & Edited by Sri Gadadhar Mishra on behalf of the Matrubhaban Trust & Printed at Graphic Art Offset Press, Nuapatna, Cuttack-1 & Published at Matrubhaban, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Cuttack - 753 013. E-mail - matrubhaban@bsnl.in Please visit us at : www.matrubhaban.com THE MATRUBHABAN PATRA APRIL 2008

The Maheshwari pillar will have an orange hexagon at its center

Matrimandir Newsletter April 2008

March 12 th : A sudden cold and rainy day gives time for reflection after the bright and busy days of February. The push towards the very special day of Auroville's 40 th birthday on February 28 th helped some aspects of the construction to move rapidly forward.
The newly mounted disc over the Mahasaraswati entrance to Matrimandir
The new crane on the roof for example, which stood imposingly over the Matrimandir for the last few months, one day quickly disappeared from view as its hydraulic legs were tried out for the first time. Swinging around to face North-South the multi-ton crane settled down on its haunches between the rows of golden discs like some tiger hiding in tall savanna grasses. From the ground it was almost invisible, and now work is continuing so that it will nestle even closer to the concrete cap. When required for some task, it will rise up on its stainless steel legs to a height of some three meters above the structure so that it can deploy its extensible boom that can reach 20 meters from the center of the sphere. It will be used mainly for maintenance of the 1400 discs.

Above the West entrance, the second of the large four-petalled discs was fixed in place on the 16 th of February. This pillar was named Mahasaraswati by the Mother. In Sri Aurobindo's words, “Mahasaraswati is the Mother's Power of work and her spirit of perfection and order”. The symbol chosen by the architect to represent this aspect is a blue triangle situated at the center of the large disc.
Below the sphere, the scaffolding which was erected for the work on the main entrance doors and fixation of the remaining discs on the lower surface of the sphere was fully removed, revealing the beautiful lotus pond with its surrounding marble and granite-clad plaza. This wide cool space with the flowing waters of the pool at its center was a favorite spot for visitors wishing to spend a few quiet moments during the busy birthday week.
Inside the building, on the second level, the four fountains in the main ribs were made operational for the first time. This special feature, for long a subject of debate as regards its possible side effects, has proved to add a fresh and unexpected dimension to the marble and glass stillness of the second level, like that which one experiences in nature when one is near a small waterfall. The play of sound of the four rivulets splashing into the pools in the four ribs is very soothing, breaking the stillness with its quiet babble, helping to carry the mind back from structured thoughts into a more relaxed and open state -- a fitting preparation for the ascent up the ramp to the inner chamber.

The water from the second level fountain splashes into a small pool at its base

In the middle of all these preparations for the birthday week, we had unexpectedly to engage in some important troubleshooting too, for the Ray of sunlight in the Chamber suddenly started to wander out of focus! We have mentioned from time to time over the years the process of developing the heliostat, the sun-tracking system that sits on top of Matrimandir which, by means of a computer program, follows the sun all day and, using two fixed mirrors, directs a sunbeam down onto the crystal globe in the Chamber. This heliostat, a second generation prototype, had been functioning almost flawlessly since its installation three years ago. But suddenly in mid- January it began to search for the sun in the wrong part of the sky! The result was that the Ray would disappear from the Chamber, leaving us with the backup spotlight only. This development was definitely unacceptable, and it came just when everything was expected to be finished and as perfect as possible.

As Matrimandir approaches completion, its support and control systems – whether for the heliostat, the Chamber air-conditioning, the fountains or the irrigation of the gardens, to mention only a few – are inevitably more and more complex. The maintenance of these systems is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the work here. But in the case of the heliostat, the electronic controls are so specialized that its erratic behavior was very challenging for the on-site team. And then, an amazing thing happened: the electrical engineer who had developed and installed this system on a visit three years ago, and who had not been here since then, suddenly reappeared, apparently of his own accord, just to revisit Auroville and with some other projects in mind. Immediately he was alerted to the new problem, and of course he happily gave his full attention to it right away. By mid-February, after going through all the portions of the control system one by one, certain faults were identified, and the heliostat was made to follow the sun again, although in a temporary mode, (full repairs to the system were made in March). Thus the Ray returned to the Chamber in time for the Mother's birthday, and the play of this ray on the globe – the meeting of light and matter that Mother described in 1970 as symbolizing “future realizations” -- was once again in place. We were ready for Auroville's 40 th birthday too!

The folded and retracted boom of the crane on top of Matrimandir

With the birthday week over, it was once again back to serious construction work for the teams on the site. The crane on the roof poked its head above the discs and the heliostat as work resumed to finalize the fitting of the many control mechanisms for its hydraulic, electrical and water systems.
Scaffolding began to appear near the entrance on the South – the Maheshwari pillar – in preparation for fixing the special disc there, which will have an orange hexagon at its center. This disc is presently being finished in our gilding workshop nearby.

Below the sphere, scaffoldings reappeared to allow for the completion of work on the discs.
In the building and around it too, experiments were resumed to test and choose various light fittings needed to highlight areas such as the rib fountains, the vestibules to the Chamber and the entire golden globe with its twelve pathways approaching between the petals.

In the gardens, beyond the Banyan tree, work has picked up speed now on the completion of the masonry and structure of the mini-amphitheater in the Garden of Unity . And in the planning offices, minds turned again to the questions of the future gardens and the lake to come. The Matrimandir project has three main aspects, it must not be forgotten -- the structure, the gardens and the lake. And in spite of loud pronouncements in the local media on the occasion of Auroville's 40th birthday, this project is far from being “complete”! The structure of Matrimandir is virtually complete, that is true, but the gardens and lake are still ahead and represent a huge amount of work both in terms of planning and execution not to mention investment.

The gardens project presents an immense imaginative challenge: to create this very special environment which will embody the twelve atmospheres denoted by the names Mother gave to the various gardens (Existence, Consciousness, Bliss, etc). Intense efforts by several people have gone into creating previous design proposals for these gardens. Several on-the-ground trials, of varying scale, have been made over the last twenty years. The nearby Matrimandir nursery, developed and maintained over the last 37 years, harbors good collections of many types of plants (orchids, plumeria, hibiscus, cacti, to mention only a few). And now with the main structure of Matrimandir virtually complete, with the surrounding environment tamed sufficiently to allow for the introduction of a variety of more delicate plants, and with the gardens infrastructure fully in place, right down to the automated sprinkler system that will water them in future, it is time indeed for the gardens to come.

The present challenge is to map out the direction, to work out an integrated design for the next phase of execution and thus to open the door to the flowering of the gardens. In this regard, a fascinating summary of the current development of garden planning was presented on March 28 th by the three landscape architects who have been busy at work for some time. A line of development that has emerged from their study and previous design efforts for the harmonious and integrated linking of all the gardens was described.

On the basis of this overview, and within its general structure, their work will now begin to focus on the design for the cores of the various gardens. This process of design and implementation will be evolutionary, with initial steps being made that will themselves show the way forward to the next steps. This aspect was one that Roger Anger, the late architect of Matrimandir, emphasized often in the last few years -- that the gardens would be evolutionary, that we would not reach the heights that the Mother had envisioned for them in a single bound. The growth of the gardens is going to be an adventure of a very new kind!

A final note to say how happy we were to see so many of you here at Matrimandir during February, not least on Auroville's birthday. A surprising number of people had also been present here on the same day, 40 years earlier! We are grateful to all of you for your heartfelt collaboration in the ongoing work here!

Matrimandir seen from the garden of ‘Light', with the hibiscus Mother named ‘Light of the Purified Power'
Address for donations and correspondence:
M A T R I M A N D I R - A U R O V I L L E 6 0 5 1 0 1 - T A M I L N A D U - I N D I A Tel. (91) (0413) 262-2268 ; 262-2228 (finance). FAX: (91) (0413) 262-2053;
email: matrimandir@auroville.org.in Home > The City > Matrimandir > Newsletter > April 2008

My role in The Mother’s work in Orissa has reached a certain stage. I no longer have to go there as before

A letter of Prapatti In Mother’s Light - Nov-07.pdf

I have the faith that the work I was doing would still go on even though I am no longer in the fore front. In fact it would go on even better.

With regard to this, had there not been a clear directive from The Mother, the path that I was treading and the nature of my work would not have changed. At the moment, this is the directive and indication that is received. There are always different levels of working. My role in The Mother’s work in Orissa has reached a certain stage. I no longer have to go there as before. The work has to be organised from here as far as possible through letters.

Regarding this, Babaji Maharaj has also clearly given the same opinion and decision. "The Work has to be done remaining here. There is no longer much necessity of going out. The work out side can spontaneously get organised." I too believe very strongly that there should be no obstacle in the progress of the work any more. Therefore the responsibility has now increased to a great extent for all of you.

Receiving the inspiration from The Mother within the heart one has to go forward with the work. The Mother’s Presence is there subtly with us. It is absolutely necessary to become conscious of this.

In view of the stage at which work in Orissa has reached , my going there is no longer necessary. Within sometime the work will stand up firmly by itself. The work which was so dear to me for such a long period, now wants to take a new turn on its own. This does not mean that I am retiring from the work. Some may think that way but it is totally untrue.

Your well wisher
Prapatti.

Edited by Sri Gadadhar Mishra, Published & Owned by New Light Society, Matrubhaban, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Cuttack - 753 013 Kindly send your valuable suggesion to the Editor, In Mother’s Light, at matrubhaban@bsnl.in

Training Camp for the teachers of Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centers of Orissa

The Mother's Work In Orissa Events Calendar May, 2008 8:49 AM

Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo Study Circle May 1, 2008
Sapanpur, Dalijoda, Cuttack

Prapatti's Memmorable Lecture Series May 1, 2008
Baragarh
Description: 2nd Day of Prapatti's Memmorable Lecture Series.

Foundation Day of S.A.I.E.C May 2, 2008
Sri Aurobindo Sadhana Pitha, Banki, cuttack

Youth Student Camp May 3 – 5 2008
Damanjodi, Koraput

Summer Refresher Training Camp May 3 – 23 2008
Matrubhaban, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Cuttack-13
Description: The Summer Refresher Training Camp of the Teachers of Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centers" of Orissa will be organised during 3rd evening to 23th afternoon May 2008 By New Life Education Trust. more details» Add to Calendar

Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo Study Circle May 3, 2008
Malisahi, Koraput

Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo Study Circle May 4, 2008
Pl -1076/34, Jagamohan Nagar, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar

Spiritual Workshop May 4, 2008
Sri Aurobindo Institute of Integral Education, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar

How to propagate the Study Circle movement to each and every corner of Orissa

Home Relics Centers Dasa Karmadhara Events Publications Gallery Miscellenious Sri Aurobindo University Contact Us Key events of the year Events Calendar News from events Monthly News All Orissa Sri Aurobindo Study Circle Conference - 2008

The 38th All Orissa Sri Aurobindo Study Circle Conference and The Birth Centenary Celebration of Babaji Maharaj Sri Ramakrishna Das were held in the premises of Matrubhaban, Cuttack from 4th to 7th April 2008. Prof. Ashok Das of JIPMER, Pondicherry (a longtime associate of Sri Ramakrishna Das and Mother’s Work in Orissa) and Prof Biswanath Ray from Calcutta were guests of honour.. 3389 delegates participated in the scheduled programme held for four days.

4TH APRIL 2008 The Conference was inaugurated with the hoisting of The Mother's Flag at 5.30 pm by Sri Sriballabh Panigrahi, the President of NLET. The participants who had come from every corner of Orissa sang VandeMataram and took part in a March Past despite the moderate drizzling of rain at that time. An exhibition "Relics Centres In Orissa" as the theme was then inaugurated. It exhibited the beautiful displays of 65 Relics Centres of Orissa and some basic information about them. The Exhibition remained opened for all the four days. There was collective Meditation around the Samadhi daily from 6pm to 6.15pm. The Inaugural Session began with the Mother's Music at 6.30pm. recitation of the lines “O strong forerunner…” from Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri by Dr.Shyama Kanungo; the welcome address was then delivered by Sri Nityananda Samantray, Trustee of Matrubhaban. Sri Gadadhar Mishra, Secretary, Matrubhaban Trust gave an introduction about the Conference, the guests, and the topics to be discussed during the Conference. The First Volume of The Collected Works of Sri Ramakrishna Das was inaugurated by Prof. Mohapatra Nilamani Sahu and the Souvenir for the conference, 2008 was inaugurated by Prof. Biswanath Ray. Dr. Malabika Ray was the first speaker of the evening. Her deliberation gave a deep insight on the subject " Sri Aurobindo- the Guide and the Announcer of a secure Future." Prof Biswanath Ray gave the first talk on the series '' Our Tribute to Babaji Maharaj" wherein he described the way of Babaji's life. Prof. Mohapatra Nilamani Sahoo shared his intimate experiences with Babaji Maharaj. The session ended with a Cultural Programme by the students of Matrubhaban

5TH APRIL 2008 On the second day of the conference, the Morning Session was held from 8.30AM to 12 Noon. The first of the series of symposia was held on ‘Vital Transformation’, keeping confined to the subject as discussed in “Letters on Yoga” by Sri Aurobindo. The participants of the symposium were Sri Rabi Padhi, Sri Purna Chandra Mohapatra, Dr. Malabika Ray, Dr. Debidutta Kar, Sri Subash Ch Kar, Sri Pravakar Mishra. They elaborated on the particular portions assigned to them from the original volume. Each delivered well prepared presentations in their own unique styles and manner, which created a keen interest on the subject among the audience… In the Afternoon Session (from 2.30 to 4.30Pm), there was a discussion on the various activities for the observation of Babaji Maharaj's Birth Centenary. Sri Anadi Ch Swain and Sri C.H. Nirakar were present in the meeting as the Co-Ordinators… The Evening Session started with the recitation by Smt Bandita Ray. Dr. Ashok Das from Pondicherry, Dr. Archana Nayak, Prof. Chandrasekhar Rath were the speakers for the session. Dr. Ashok Das gave the second talk on "Our Tribute to Babaji Maharaj". He described many aspects of Babaji Maharaja's life and his unique method of organization. His talk was simple, but poignant, living ; it made an indelible impact on the audience. Dr. Archana Nayak and Prof Chandrasekhar Rath discussed on 'Aim of Integral Education – to know oneself and to control oneself’. In the Cultural programme, the students of Sri Aurobindo Kala Kendra presented many devotional songs.

6th APRIL, 2008 On the third day, in the Morning Session, the discussion on the chapter of Sri Aurobindo’s Letters on Yoga-‘Vital transformation continued. The participants were Sri Santosh Kumar Gahan, Suvendu Nayak, Sanjay Kumar Mohapatra, Sk. Abdul Kasam, Smt Kananklata Mohanty, Sri Prakash Chandra Panda, Dhanneswar Mohanty, and Dharanidhar Pal. Each deliberation was thorough, well planned and gave clarity on the subject to the listeners… In the Afternoon Session of the Organisation Meeting various aspects of different activities like the Sri Aurobindo University, July Tour and Dasakarmadhara were put up for discussion. The Convener of Sri Aurobindo University spoke on the purpose of the University and gave details about the Junior Learners. Similarly various suggestions were given for the July Tour and Dasakarmadhara . Information regarding the website matrubhaban.com was given to the audience. As the website is being updated the audience were asked to send relevant information for its various sections… The Evening Session started with a song rendering by Amzad Bhai. Sri C.H. Nirakar the first speaker elaborated on the subject "The Necessity and Certainty of a Glorious India." based in the Light of Mother and Sri Aurobindo. He placed his ideas in a novel manner that infiltrated into the hearts of the audience.Prof Biswanath Ray gave the third talk on "Our Tribute to Babaji Maharaj". He explained "How Babaji Maharaj is a unique continuation of Past, Present and Future."

7th APRIL 2008 On the last day in the Morning Session the last portion of ‘Vital Transformation’ was discussed. The speakers were Sri Bhagirathi Mohapatra, Prasant Kumar Swain, Ramesh Chandra Sahu, Radhakanta Mishra, Ramesh Chandra Nayak, Dr. Archana Nayak, and Sri Balakrushna Nayak. The concluding remarks were given by Prof Biswanath Ray. In the Afternoon Session the participants first discussed on "Relics Centres In Orissa". Anadi Bhai gave many suggestions on how to propagate the Study Circle movement to each and every corner of Orissa. He told the organizers not to limit themselves to one place only but to make themselves available in the untouched areas, so that the work could progress and more and more people could get the benefit of knowing The Mother and Sri Aurobindo and participate in Their work. The Closing Session began with the Mother's Music. Dr. Shyama Kanungo recited Sri Aurobindo’s poem "Surrender". Dr B.N. Mohapatra and Prof Biswanath Ray were the speakers in the last session. On the series of talk on "Our Tribute to Babaji Maharaj", Prof Ray gave the last talk on " The Presence of the Mother in his (Babaji's) life. Dr. B.N. Mohapatra spoke on "The Mother-Destination of Sri Aurobindo's Yoga". Sri Gadadhar Mishra gave the concluding remarks and Sri Prasad Tripathy delivered the vote of thanks to the participants

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After Bepin Chandra Pal left the Bande Mataram Sri Aurobindo became its chief editorial writer

Location: Home > E-Library > Works Of Sri Aurobindo > English > Bande Mataram Volume-01 > Bibliographical Note BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Volume I of the SRI AUROBINDO BIRTH CENTENARY LIBRARY is a compilation of Sri Aurobindo's political writings and speeches of the period 1890 to May 1908. Concerned principally with India's freedom from British rule and the means of attaining it, they cover also the resurgence of Asiatic countries, the necessity of their emergence as representatives of spiritual culture, and other historical and contemporary events or issues.
Sri Aurobindo's preoccupation with India's freedom and renaissance began in his student days at Cambridge where he gave speeches at meetings of the Indian Majlis. Only a few incomplete notes on this subject are found in his manuscripts of 1890-1892.
Soon after his return to India in 1893, Sri Aurobindo contributed a series of unsigned articles to the Indu Prakash, a Marathi-English daily of Bombay, at the request of its editor, K. G. Deshpande, his Cambridge friend. The series called New Lamps for Old" was stopped after a time be- cause the editors were advised that, if the views expressed in their columns were continued, the Government would take action against the paper. The nine articles of this series written during the period 1893-1894 are reproduced here directly from the Indu Prakash. Haridas Mukherjee and Uma Mukherjee have included them in their book Sri Aurobindo's Political Thought (Calcutta 1958).
From 1894 to 1902 we do not find any political writings, published or unpublished.
From 1902 to 1906 Sri Aurobindo carried on his political work in secret. Some stray notes and unfinished articles found in his manuscripts of that period have been collected in this volume. Of the published writings of this period only Bhavani Mandir exists. This was recovered from the Government of West Bengal files and first printed in the Sri Aurobindo Mandir Annual in 1956. 'No Compromise', an article which was privately printed and circulated, has not been traced so far.
Only after his return to Bengal in February 1906 could Sri Aurobindo do his political work openly, unhampered by conditions imposed by his Baroda service. In March the same year, under his guidance his brother Barindra Kumar and others started a Bengali weekly, Yugantar. Sri Aurobindo wrote a few articles in the earlier issues of this journal and kept a general control over its conduct and policy. It openly preached revolutionary ideals of political freedom and action. We have, however, not been able to find a single copy of this journal.
On August 7, 1906 the Bande Mataram was started by Bepin Chandra Pal with Sri Aurobindo's assistance. It was in this journal that Sri Aurobindo gave full expression to his ideas on Independence as India's political goal and discussed the methods of its realisation. Of this journal no complete file is available at present. Only one file is known to be extant, that with the Prabartak Sangha of Chandernagore, and this is incomplete. The file, however, of the Bande Mataram Weekly, which began later in June 1907, is available in its entirety. As most of the important editorials, articles and comments published in the Bande Mataram Daily were reproduced in this Weekly, the period from June 1907 to September 1908 is well represented. The gaps in the file are most notable in August, November and December 1906 and January 1907. A series of articles on the Calcutta Congress of December 1906, referred to in The Doctrine of Passive Resistance, is missing.
After Bepin Chandra Pal left the Bande Mataram sometime towards the end of 1906 Sri Aurobindo became its chief editorial writer. The paper had no declared editor. (Sri Aurobindo's name was given in one issue without his knowledge but was withdrawn on his protesting against it.) Sri Aurobindo was the guiding spirit,¹ but there were other contributors of marked literary ability: Shyam Sunder Chakravarty, Bijoy Krishna Chatterjee and Hemendra Prasad Ghosh, and it would have been very difficult to attribute specific. Bande Mataram editorials to Sri Aurobindo with reasonable certainty were it not that a certain number of them, admittedly small, had been identified by Sri Aurobindo himself. References and allusions in his notes² and letters have also been made use of in identifying his writings. A few of the articles selected for inclusion in this volume on the basis of style have been confirmed by notes made by Hemendra Prasad Ghosh in his diary.
The Bande Mataram editorials and leading articles were occasionally reproduced in other papers of the time, e.g. in the Maratha of Poona, and were also translated into several Indian languages. A journal in Marathi, Vande Mataram, published by Hari Raghunath Bhagavat from the Vande Mataram Press Poona drew much of its material from its English namesake. The Vande Mataram Press also published in 1909 selections from Bande Mataram in three parts. The Swaraj Publishing House, Benares brought out in 1922 a selection from the Bande Mataram. Haridas Mukherjee and Uma Mukherjee included some articles in their book Bande Mataram and Indian Nationalism (1957). They have also made a comprehensive study and identified over a hundred articles of Sri Aurobindo in their two books, Sri Aurobindo's Political Thought (1958) and Sri Aurobindo and the New Thought in Indian Politics (1964). But in these books some articles are wrongly attributed to Sri Aurobindo. That they are not by him is revealed by a file of some Bande Mataram articles read out to Sri Aurobindo for identification. Similarly On Nationalism (1965), published by the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, also contains two articles that are not his.
For the purposes of this volume, all available issues of the Bande Mataram were collected in microfilm and photostat copies and their editorial contents studied.
However, even after all the clues and circumstantial evidence have been taken into account, the authorship of some of the writings included here may still be questioned. On the other hand, it may be argued that a few of the articles left out are by Sri Aurobindo. We hope future scholarship will give us a more complete collection made on a surer and ampler basis.
Sri Aurobindo's speeches were brought together in book-form in 1922 by the Prabartak Sangha of Chandernagore. They were reprinted in 1948 by the Arya Publishing House, Calcutta and issued again by the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1952 and 1969. The speeches of 1907-1908 and 1909-1910 are arranged chronologically in Volumes 1 and 2.

¹R. C. Majumdar in his book History of the Freedom Movement in India has quoted the following passage from J. L. Banerji's tribute to Sri Aurobindo.
"Whoever the actual contributor to the Bande Mataram might be—the soul, the genius of the paper was Arabinda. The pen might be that of Shyam Sundar or who- ever else...but the voice was the voice of Arabinda Ghose...."
²See Centenary Volume No. 26, page 28: "Shyam Sunder (Chakravarty) caught up something like Sri Aurobindo's way of writing and later on many took his articles for Sri Aurobindo's."

Light to Superlight by Sri Aurobindo

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85. THE LIFE DIVINE by AUROBINDO SRI (Paperback - 1980)
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87. THE YOGA OF LOVE AND DEVOTION: BHAKTI YOGA by SRI AUROBINDO (Paperback - 1986)
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88. Essai sur la Guîtâ II : Vers le suprême secret by Sri Aurobindo (Paperback - Jun 24, 1993)
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89. Ueber Sich Selbst by Sri Aurobindo (Paperback)
6 Used & new from $43.04
90. Selections from Sri Aurobindo's Savitri by Sri Aurobindo (Paperback - 1975)
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91. The foundations Of Indian Culture by Sri Aurobindo (Hardcover - 1971)
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92. The Message of the Gita as Interpreted By Sri Aurobindo by Sri; Roy, Anilbaran Aurobindo (Hardcover - 1938)
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93. The Human Cycle (The Sri Aurobindo Library) by Sri Aurobindo (Hardcover - 1953)
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94. Growing Within: The Psychology of Inner Development by Sri Aurobindo, Aurobindo Sri, and The Mother (Paperback - Jul 1, 1995)
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95. Letters of Sri Aurobindo (Second Series) (Second series)) by Sri Aurobindo (Hardcover - 1949)
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96. The Secret of the Veda by Sri Aurobindo (Paperback - 1982)
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109. Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol by Sri Aurobindo (Hardcover - Jun 1940)
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110. Significance of Indian Art, The by Sri Aurobindo (Paperback - 1947)
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111. The Yoga and its Objects by Sri Aurobindo (Paperback - 2002)
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112. The Life Divine V2: The Knowledge And The Spiritual Evolution by Sri Aurobindo (Hardcover - Jul 25, 2007)
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113. Ideas and Ideals: Extracts from Sri Aurobindo's Writings with His Ideas on Life-problems and Ideals Involved Therein by Aurobindo Sri and G.P. Gupta Dr (Paperback - April 1, 2000)
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114. On Yoga I The Synthesis of Yoga (Sri Aurobindo International University Centre Collection, No. IV) by Sri Aurobindo (Hardcover - 1957)
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115. Light to Superlight by sri Aurobindo (Hardcover - 1972)
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116. The Renaissance in India and Other Essays on Indian culture by Sri Aurobindo (Hardcover - Jan 1, 2004)
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117. LETTERS OF SRI AUROBINDO - ON POETRY & LITERATURE 3RD SERIES by Sri Aurobindo (Hardcover)
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118. Collected Poems, the Complete Poetical Works by Sri Aurobindo (Hardcover - Dec 1986)
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119. The Viziers of Bassora / A Dramatic Romance by Sri Aurobindo (Paperback - 1959)
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120. LETTERS OF SRI AUROBINDO - SECOND SERIES by Sri Aurobindo (Hardcover - 1954)
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Unfinished Agenda of Spirituality, Sri Aurobindo and the Indian Intelligentsia

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NEW TITLES
Matagiri has an extensive selection of books by Sri Aurobindo, The Mother and numerous disciples including Sri Aurobindo's major works and many rare and out-of print editions. We list a small selection here, including some new titles and audio cassettes. Please check back as we increase our selection. Please call or email for a specific title.
BOOKS
Awareness Through the Body: A way to enhance concentration, relaxation and self-knowledge in children and adultsby Aloka Marti and Joan Sala. 304 pp, 264 color photos, 7 ¼ x 9 ½ Published by SAIIER Price: $28.00 “infinitely graceful way of teaching is warm and uncluttered…”www.auroville.org/journals&media/books&cds/Body_awareness.htm
INDIA'S SPIRITUAL DESTINY: A way to enhance concentration, relaxation and self-knowledge in children and adults by Mangesh Nadkarni. Hard Cover 135 pp 6 x 9 Sri Aurobindo Society Price: $16.00 Collection of six lectures given by Dr. Nadkarni: “The Current Hindu Upsurge in Sri Aurobindo’s Light, Can India Ever Be Great Again?, “In Matter shall be lit the spirit’s glow”, Acting on the World: the Unfinished Agenda of Spirituality, Sri Aurobindo and the Indian Intelligentsia, Two Perspectives on Man and His Future.
DELIBERATIONS ON THE LIFE DIVINE:VOLUME ONE (BOOK I: CHAPTERS I-VI)CHAPTERWISE SUMMARY TALKS by ANANDA REDDY 187 pp 5.5 x 8.5 Sri Aurobindo Centre for Advanced ResearchPrice: $9.95This book is a transcribed edited version of talks delivered by the author on the first six chapters of Sri Aurobindo’s The Life Divine. Dr Reddy’s approach is to explain in the simplest of terms the main philosophical arguments presented by Sri Aurobindo.
Introduction to Integral Education:An Inspirational Guide By Sraddhalu Ranade 290 pp 5 ½ x 8 ½ Price: $19.00Based on teacher training programs on Integral Education conducted by the author all over India, it charts out the broad lines along which teachers, parents and schools can make a smooth transition into the new educational paradigm.
Integral Education by Partho HB 306 pp 5 ¾ x 9 Published by Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry Price: $26.95Based on his own practice as a teacher and teacher educator, the author describes the characteristics of an integral teacher and an integral learning environment and how these differ, in essence and in detail, from the current mode of education generally followed in the modern world.
Death, Dying and Beyond by Dr. Alok Pandey 327 pp 5 ½ x 8 ¾ Sri Aurobindo Inst of Research in Social SciencesPrice: $16.95In this book the author examines the complex questions on the nature of death, and follows Sri Aurobindo's deeper vision behind the veil of death to find the answers to some of the most perplexing ethical and existential problems.
Alchemy of the Soul Integral Healing: The Work of Psychology and Spirituality by Arya Maloney 200 pp., 5.5 x 8.5, paperback, Blue Dolphin PublishingPrice: $17.95"Arya Maloney updates the basis and practice of transpersonal psychology by using the spiritual principles of India's masters and the transformational alchemy inherent in his clients' processes. His work is both enlightening and informative." - Arnold Mindell
Integral Psychology Yoga, Growth, and Opening the Heart SUNY Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychologyby Brant Cortright 232 pp SUNY Press 8.8 x 5.9 Price: $21.95 It's a pleasure to read someone who is so steeped in an Eastern approach, and who can relate it to contemporary psychological, clinical issues. For example, whole chapters link behavior change therapy to karma yoga, mindfulness to jnana yoga, and heart-opening to bhakti yoga. In these and other chapters, sometimes with clinical examples, Dr. Cortright demonstrates his superior integration of Aurobindo's original theory, his own adaptations, and his use of such understanding in psychotherapy. – Jeff Shapiro, Amazon review
Yoga Psychology and the Transformation of Consciousness Seeing Through the Eyes of Infinity
by Don Salmon and Jan Maslow 440 pp, Index, Notes, Bibliography, Audio CD with Various Breathing Exercises, Contemplative Exercises, And Reflective Meditations, 6 x 9"Price: $19.95" The human future depends on a spreading awakening to a spiritual reality that Western cultures have been prone to deny. Salmon and Maslow bring together ancient Eastern spiritual teachings with the most advanced of Western science to help us penetrate the illusions of culture, helping us not only to understand the nature of spirituality, but even more, to experience it. A profoundly important book."—David C. Korten, Ph.D., board chair YES! magazine and author The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community
Hitler and His God by Georges Van Vrekhem, Rupa & Co. 6 x 9 index 700 pp.Price: $28.00
Hitler remains an enigma in spite of everything that has been written abouthim. Historians confess their perplexity openly. How was it possible that anunknown, solitary and futureless front-soldier in 1918 became some yearslater the Leader and Messiah of the German people?
To explain the foundations of a people who made Hitler possible, Van Vrekhemundertakes, in the book's second part, a deep-probing analysis of thehistorical background.
All this brings Van Vrekhem to his central theme: Hitler's possession by the"god" who inspired him, guided him, brought him to power -- and dropped himwhen no longer needed. This leads the author, in the third part of the book,to the unexpected but well-documented role of Sri Aurobindo in the actionagainst Hitler before and during the Second World War.

OVERMAN The Intermediary Between The Human Being & The Supramental Being by Georges Van Vrekhem 189 pp. quality paperback Price: $12.00"As man arose out of animal, so out of man superman shall come," said Sri Aurobindo. Overman is a metaphysical book which dwells upon the evolutionary vision of Sri Aurobindo and Mother and in particular her concept of "surhomme" as a transitional being, the Overman.

THE ESSENTIAL AUROBINDO edited by Robert McDermott 288 pages, paperback 6 x 9 1 / 4 Price: $18.95 Lindisfarne Press has released The Essential Aurobindo in a new edition. Edited by Robert McDermott, philosopher and former President of the California Institute for Integral Studies. He has written an interesting afterward since the Shocken edition. Highly recommended as an introduction to Sri Aurobindo, the Mother and Auroville. Ask your local bookstore to carry at least this book.

THE SAVITRI LEGEND by Savitra with a forward by Robert A. Johnson 224 pp paper Price: $17.95The book left me in a golden haze. I believe it will touch the hearts and speak to the souls of those sincerely seeking to make sense of themselves and these terribly trying times. - Robert A. JohnsonThe Savitri Legend...a unique and potent insight probing into the very terms of our present mortality and future of the body... - Michael Murphy, cofounder of Esalen Institute, author of Golf and the Kingdom and The Future of the Body
The Savitri Legend is a masterpiece of spiritual adventure. Beautifully and intricately crafted, calling forth the rich kaleidoscope of sound, sight and psyche that is India, it is also a weaving of the strangely interconnected lives of those who would find the soul's true purpose. Gods and humans, myth and mystery are the matter of this compelling work. We are reminded that each of us is living a part of a Greater Life, reflecting ancient myths in modern themes. Indeed, the reader is set forth on a spiritual journey of her own following the brilliant path of the Savitri legend as it unfolds in us today. This is a work to be savored as much for its luminous writing as it is for its spiritual power. - Jean Houston, Author of A Mythic Life Other books by Savitra: Auroville, The First Six Years (out of print) Auroville, Sun Word Rising

THE FATE OF TIBET by Claude Arpiforward by the Dalai Lama 432 pp hardboundPrice: $24.00This book is an in-depth study of the origins of the fate of a nation. The newly formed United Nations granted recognition as 'nation-state' to a number of small political groupings with no past and no previous historical existence, yet a two-thousand year old nation-culture was, almost without an international whimper, completely erased from the map of Asia. Friendship at any cost with China led India to the very brink of war in 1962. Nehru, the idealist, realized the blunder too late and personally never recovered from the blow. The one person who could have rewritten this script, Sardar Patel, died in December 1950.Fifty years later, this 'friendship' with China remains elusive. Claude begins from the time Buddhism was introduced in Tibet and studies the evolution of the Priest-Patron Relationship with the Mongol Khans and later the Manchu Dynasty. He observes the effect of the British Empire with its expansionist policies and its rivalry with the Russians. He looks at the conservative attitude of the Tibetan clergy that blocked all the efforts for modernization by the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, who in his prophetic Testament, warned his people of the impending avalanche: "and long and dark shall be the night". URGENT REQUESTThe Pavilion of Tibetan Culture is the first building to go up in the International Zone of Auroville since Bharat Nivas, the Indian Pavilion. H.H. the Dalai Lama laid the foundation stone and already a monk- practitioner of Tibetan medicine is coming to run a monthly clinic for Aurovilians, the first of numerous activities to take place there. But funds are urgently needed to complete the first phase. Please send your donations to directly to Auroville or to AVI USA, P O Box 1534, Lodi, CA 95241-1534. Please make your checks payable to AVI-USA with a note mentioning the Pavilion of Tibetan Culture. Or on line at aviusa.org

BEYOND THE HUMAN SPECIES (Paragon House, 1998) by Georges Van Vrekhem Forward by Dr. Karan Singh. 548 pp, including six pages of photos and extensive references. Price: $34.95 for Indian HarperCollins edition $18.00 for paperback edition Many consider this to be the most important book on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother to be published in the West since The Adventure of Consciousness. Includes interesting historical, philosophical and spiritual perspectives combined with thorough research from the source material including Mother's Agenda.

THE BHAGAVAD GITA translation and commentary by Sri Aurobindo 469 pp paper Includes Sanskrit verses, English translation and extensive commentary primarily from Essays on the Gita, along with Appendix and References. Price: $17.95The argument of the Gita resolves itself into three great steps by which action rises out of the human into the divine plane leaving the bondage of the lower for the liberty of a higher law. First, by the renunciation of desire and a perfect equality works have to be done as a sacrifice by man as the doer, a sacrifice to a deity who is the supreme and only Self though by him not yet realized in his own being. This is the initial step. Secondly, not only the desire of the fruit, but the claim to be the doer of works has to be renounced in the realization of Self as the equal, the inactive, the immutable principle and of all works as simply the operation of universal Force, of the Nature-Soul, Prakriti, the unequal, active, mutable power. Lastly, the supreme Self has to be seen as the supreme Purusha governing this Prakriti, of whom the soul in Nature is a partial manifestation, by whom all works are directed in a perfect transcendence, through Nature. To Him love and adoration and the sacrifice of works have to be offered; the whole being has to be surrendered to Him and the whole consciousness raised up to dwell in this divine consciousness so that the human soul may share in His divine transcendence of Nature and of His works and act in a perfect spiritual liberty.

THE INTEGRAL YOGA Sri Aurobindo's Teaching and Method of Practice Collected Letters of Sri Aurobindo 401 pp. paper Includes Notes, Glossary of Names and Terms Price: $18.00An excellent introduction to Sri Aurobindo's thought with excerpts of letters to disciples. Topics include "The Integral Yoga and Other Systems of Yoga and Philosophy", "Planes of Consciousness and Parts of the Being", "Experiences and Realizations", "Difficulties in Transforming the Nature" and much more.

ESSENTIAL WRITINGS OF SRI AUROBINDO edited by Peter Heehs 388 pp. paperIncludes Preface, Introduction, Notes, Appendix, Further Reading, Chronology, Glossary Price: $26.00An excellent compilation of Sri Aurobindo's writing divided into six parts: Nationalism and Beyond, The Indian Tradition and the Future, The Individual - Society - Humanity, The Evolution of Consciousness, Yoga and Life, Poetry of the Spirit. All excerpts are introduced and all selections are complete pieces (essays, letters or poems) or main divisions of longer works.

FLOWERS AND THEIR MESSAGES by The Mother 309 pp paper Black and White pen and ink illustrations, one color plateIncludes References, Glossary of Flowers Price: $19.95 Contains more than 800 flowers arranged alphabetically by botanical name with significances given by the Mother and many quotes from Sri Aurobindo. Alphabetical indexes of common names and spiritual names are listed at the back for easy reference.

MIND OF THE CELLS by Satprem 231 pp paper Price: $14.00 Could it be that life's raw material, the cell, conceals a power of consciousness of a "vibratory mode" that would make obsolete all our cerebral means and our dead-end devices? A "mind of the cells" that will open up new energy sources to us, new means of communication, a new power to handle Matter: a new biology and new consciousness that will enable us to meet the challenge of a species on its way to self-destruction. -Satprem Culled from his extensive conversations with The Mother, as chronicled in the 13 volume Agenda, Satprem documents the progress of her inner journey, her own yoga of the body. Numerous quotes from the Agenda are referenced throughout the book.
AUDIO CASSETTES

THE OVERMENTAL BEING 90 minutes Price: $10.00A most interesting talk, by Georges Van Vrekhem, given at the All USA meeting 2000, and the basis for his new book in progress. Highly recommended.

THREE TALKS ON SAVITRI (The Book of Fate) 90 minute cassettes Price: set $27 plus $3 S&HProf. Mangesh Nadkarni has been one of the outstanding lecturers on Sri Aurobindo's epic poem, Savitri. He has conducted week long intensives all over the world, especially during the Darshans in Pondicherry. We have hosted him a number of times at Matagiri and had him as one of our principal speakers at our All USA meeting in Connecticut in the summer of 2000. We are delighted to present his series of talks given at Matagiri on "The Book of Fate" where he gives a basic introduction to Savitri.
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SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM INCENSE Manufactured by Cottage Industries at the Sri Aurobindo AshramPrice: $1.50 per packet 10 packet minimum, $4.00 S&H for any quantityNEW SCENTS: FRANKINCENSE, MYRRH, NAGCHAMPA now join Amber, Jasmine, Ketaki, Mattipal, Musk, Patchouli, Rose, Sandalwood
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The voice and words of Dr. Reddy transported with great clarity the knowledge of his insearch and research

News Archive Back to the Main Page First International Seminar At Van Nivas - Nainital
Deepshikha Reddy

The calm and serene atmosphere of the Himalayan Ashram of Van Nivas turned vibrant once again with our International Camp held from 1st to 9th October, 2006, with 20 participants from Europe and 21 of us from India. Primarily it was a study camp on Savitri along with all the associated joyful activities that such camps provide us with.

First and foremost let me acknowledge that Van Nivas, thanks to Taradi and her team of helpers, has become both an inviting and a welcoming place for all who visit it. Let me also emphasise at this point that the inconspicuous presence and assistance of Nalinji was very significant in our stay for his benign humility added great warmth to those crispy and chill days.

On the intellectual level, the profound deliberations by Dr. Ananda Reddy on the four aspects of Savitri as defined by the Mother in general:
The daily record of the spiritual experiences of the Author,
A complete system of Integral Yoga…
The yoga of the earth…
The yoga of the Avatar…

were a painstaking research work on the subject presented for the first time by any scholar. He did take support of other Aurobindonean scholars in his study, but he incorporated them with his own deep study and with the words, experiences and realizations of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. All the explanations were supported by corresponding lines from Savitri. It was indeed a week long yajna that evoked deep gratitude and love for the Divine. In his last talks, specially, some of us felt very concretely the higher aspects of the Mother, aspects that are hidden behind the beauteous veil of Sweet Mother.

The atmosphere of these deliberations was often so charged with Their presence that some participants suggested that the first morning session conducted by Dr Reddy should have been followed by a brief spell of meditation for the talks had taken them too deep or too high and they needed a break before doing anything else. The voice and words of Dr. Reddy transported with great clarity the knowledge of his insearch and research. Interestingly, we, the audience, felt that something or someone seated within each of us was also experiencing that supremely high and unique content of Savitri.

Dr. Ramesh Bijlani brought us back to the earth with his detailed discussions on the life-issues and their solutions mostly in the light of Patanjali yoga. He also discussed the methods of meditation and its effect as well as topics like what is true health and how to keep oneself integrally fit and happy. Both the facilitators conducted group activities in the night sessions which brought in a great collective fervour in the camp. They were greatly appreciated by the participants for it was at the same time a living experience of unity.

On the physical level, Sankaran and Deepshikha, conducted yogasanas and Pranayama sessions in the early mornings which proved to be beneficial. We also greatly enjoyed the long and short treks led by Sankaran and Nandakumar. The Kainchi trek of 12 km. was of course the peak-experience that was much enjoyed by the young in mind and body!

Of course all this enjoyment could not have been possible without the excellent food that was provided under the supervision of Anubhabi. On the spiritual level, the activity that made the evenings very prayerful and meditative was the learning of Mantra chantings conducted by Deepshikha. This hour of chantings and invocations invocations prepared everyone for the deep meditations that followed.

After this daily routine for seven days, we had, on the last evening, a cultural programme presented by six nations from Europe and six states of India. The songs and the dances were so very thrilling and perfect that we wondered if the participants were not professionals!

On the last day, the 9th of October, all the participants were taken for a whole day tour of the nearby Himalayan valleys and hills surrounding Bhavali, Mukteshwar, Ramgarh, / Madhuban. We all enjoyed the experience of driving through other small sleepy little villages nestled in the bosom of the huge green and lush mountain ranges at the foot of the Himalayas.

On the whole what came home to us, apart from the wonderful knowledge through the study of Savitri, was the learning process on every level, especially on the level of human relations.. A very sweet relationship of harmony and joy was established between the European and the Indian participants. A long bond of friendship among us all is now there to stay and we shall cherish it fondly for long many years to come. Sri Aurobindo Darshan: The University of Tomorrow

29 March - The Mother's First Arrival at Puducherry

News from Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry)
Upcoming Events
29 March - The Mother's First Arrival at Puducherry
The Mother in Japan
The Mother came to Puducherry on 29 March 1914 and met Sri Aurobindo for the first time. The Mother, after Her first meeting with Sri Aurobindo, wrote in Her diary:
It matters little that there are thousands of beings plunged in the densest ignorance, He whom we saw yesterday is on earth; his presence is enough to prove that a day will come when darkness shall be transformed into light, and Thy reign shall be indeed established upon earth.
The day, 29 March 1914, was also the beginning of what has now grown into the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and a worldwide spiritual movement.
There will be a collective meditation at 7:45 pm in the Ashram playground on this day.
Recent Events
130th Birth Anniversary of the Mother - 21 February 2008
The Mother's 130th birth anniversary was observed on 21 February 2008 at the Ashram with a collective meditation around the Samadhi from 6:00 to 6:30 am. The devotees visited the Mother's and Sri Aurobindo's rooms from 4:30 am to 6 pm. In the evening, there was a march-past in the playground with the Vande Mataram song played by the Ashram band. This was followed by collective meditation.
'Golden Day' - Anniversary of the Supramental Manifestation - 29 February 2008
The year 2008 is the year of the 13th leap-year anniversary of the Supramental Manifestation which took place on 29th February 1956. Sri Aurobindo and the Mother's rooms were open for darshan for devotees on that day.
All India Youth Camp for National Integration - 8 to 16 January 2008
The annual All India Youth Camp for National Integration was organised by the Society at Pondicherry from 8 to 16 January 2008. The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), New Delhi, sponsored the entire Camp. 50 youths (30 girls and 20 boys) in the age group of 16-25 yrs. from 14 States of India participated. The full report is available here in PDF format.
Study Camp by Dr. Alok Pandey on 'Savitri' - February 2008
The Savitri Study Sessions, conducted by Dr. Alok Pandey, were held at the Beach Office Hall, Puducherry, from 22-27 February and 1-2 March 2008. The Talks were regularly attended by about 200 devotees from all over the country.
Visit by Yogasana Students from Mumbai - 16 to 20 December 2007
Shri Sraddhalu, speaking to the Yogasana students
From 16 to 20 December 2007, a group of 15 yogasana students with their teacher Ms. Anahita Sanjana, came to Puducherry for a visit. Various sessions were arranged for them. Shivakumar welcomed them and gave an introduction to the Ashram and the work of inner preparation needed to take up the Integral Yoga. Shri Sraddhalu held a half day interactive session with them where the fundamentals of sadhana were discussed. Dr. Sampad explained to them the beauty and wonder of the Sanskrit language. The group also visited several departments of the Ashram and visited Auroville also.
Visit by the Students of J.B. Petit High School, Mumbai - 3 to 6 January 2008
From 3 to 6 January 2008, a 4-day Camp was organised by Sri Aurobindo Society for the students of J. B. Petit High School, Mumbai. 31 girls studying in 9th and 10th Standard of the school, accompanied by 10 staff of the school, came to Puducherry for 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. The sessions were mainly conducted in the morning from 10:00 am to 11:45 am and in the afternoon from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. During these sessions, the students had the opportunity of interacting with Prof. Kittu Reddy, Dr. Sampadananda Mishra, Shri Sraddhalu and Shri Vijaybhai.
Some Special Days in March 20087 March - Maha-Shivaratri
Lord Shiva
Maha-Shivaratri - "Lord Maha-Shiva's Night" - this year falls on 7th of March. The sacred day is usually observed with a feast and a night of strict vigil in which devotees keep awake by engaging in various spiritual practices. Sri Aurobindo has said about Lord Shiva:
"Shiva is the Lord of Tapas." "…Mahashiva means a greater manifestation than that ordinarily worshipped as Shiva-the creative dance of a greater Divine manifesting Power."
21 March - Holi
Holi or Holikotsava, one of the most colourful of Hindu festivals, is celebrated on 21st of March this year. According to some legends, Holi was instituted to commemorate the killing of Holika, a female demon, by fire, when she tried to kill Prahlada, a great child devotee of Lord Vishnu.
It is also a Spring festival, celebrated over two days. On the evening of the first day, bonfires are lit, usually in a public place, to re-enact the scene of cremation of the she-demon Putana who was sent to kill the baby Krishna. On the second day people throw coloured powder and water at each other in gay merry-making. The first day is the Holi proper, and the second day is called Dhuleti or Rangapanchami (ranga - colour, panchami - fifth day). Ranga-panchami was originally the fifth day as the festival was earlier spread over five days and was celebrated till the fifth day of that fortnight.
News from Branches and Centres
News from Abroad
Nairobi
Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented forty sets of booklets in twelve different titles to Securex Ltd., on 11 January 2008 at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Riverside Drive. The marketing manager of Securex Ltd. received the booklets on behalf of the company.
News from India
Surat (Gujarat) - Installation of Relics and Centenary Celebrations of Sri Aurobindo's Visit to Surat
Savitaben, carrying the relics for installation
The enshrinement of the holy Relics of Sri Aurobindo and the centenary celebrations of Sri Aurobindo's visit to Surat took place at the Surat branch on 25 and 26 December 2007.
Centenary Celebrations of Sri Aurobindo's visit to Surat were organised on a large scale and on all India level, on 24, 25 and 26 of December 2007. About 200 active workers from 50 different Centres and Branches from of India and about 200 devotees from Surat participated in the event. In the town hall in the evening the audience numbered to about 600.
The devotees at the Installation ceremony at Surat
24 Dec. '07: Holy Relics of Sri Aurobindo were received with full dignity at the Surat Branch. There was meditation with the Ashram music and then the members of the Branch chanted Sri Aravindopanishad in Sanskrit.
The Surat Centre
25 Dec. '07: In the morning all gathered at the Centre and the Relics were enshrined in complete silence, collectively by Shri Vijaybhai, Tara-didi, Shri Manoj Das and Shri Aniruddha Smart. There was collective meditation with Ashram music before and after enshrinement.
Shri Manoj Das, speaking to the audience about Sri Aurobindo's historic visit to Surat
After the enshrinement all went to the "French Garden" area, the place where the historic Annual Convention of the Indian National Congress was held 100 years ago and for which Sri Aurobindo had specially come to Surat. Shri Manoj Das (Puducherry) and Shri Vijaybhai (Puducherry) addressed the audience and transported everyone back into the history. There was collective singing of Vande Mataram, led by Shri Mohanbhai Mistri (Puducherry).
In the evening in the town hall Shri Vijaybhai (Puducherry) was the main speaker and talked on Resurgent India. Shri Manoj Das talked on "Indian Spirit and the World Today".
26 Dec. '07: Delegates' Conference was held in the morning and the topic was "Our Work Ahead". Shri S. C. Tyagi (Saharanpur), Shri Sharad Joshi (Vadodara), Shri Thiruvenkatam (Coimbatore), Shri Kireet Thakkar (Vadodara), Shri J. P. Sing (Sultanpur) expressed their ideas. Shri Vijay K Poddar (Delhi), Shri Hanskumar Mankad (Vadodara), Shri Ajit Sabnis (Bangalore) and Shri Vijaybhai (Puducherry) Summed up and concluded.
Visit to a diamond factory of a devotee was arranged in the afternoon. Sri Aurobindo's full life size statue (same as that of the Parliament House) is installed at the factory and there is also a beautiful meditation hall where full size oil painted portraits of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are installed. There was collective meditation in the meditation hall.
In the evening in the town hall Shri Manoj Das (Puducherry) was the main speaker. He talked on "Sri Aurobindo in Surat". Shri Aniruddha Smart gave a talk on "The Eternal Religion". A book titled "Sri Aurobindo in Surat" was released and introduced by the author Ms. Hiranmayi Smart (Surat). The function concluded with a dramatic recreation of "Sri Aurobindo in Surat" in Gujarati, managed by Shri Hitesh Jariwala and directed-acted by Shri Shailendra Vadnere and group.
Dhari (Gujarat)
The enshrinement of the sacred Relics of Sri Aurobindo took place at the Dhari branch on 13 Jan 2008, at 9.00 a.m. The Mother's flag was hoisted. Sadhaks and devotees from various Centres and Branches were warmly welcomed by the "Unmilan" Parivar. Prof. Jyotiben Thanki gave talk regarding "Relics and its importance". Other guest speakers also addressed the gathering. The Gujarati version of Chapter 5 of "The Mother" in Sundarm-ji's recorded voice was played. The Relics were taken from meditation hall with great respect and honour to the shrine unit. At about 11 am the Relics were enshrined in the newly constructed shrine by Sri Hanskumar Mankad, the Chairman of the Sri Aurobindo Society - Vadodara. During the ceremony, the Mother's organ music was played. All the Sadhaks and devotees present offered flowers and Pranam to the sacred relics. All took Bhojan-Prasad with great joy at lunch break.
In the evening Prof. Jyotiben Thanki gave a second talk, on "Sri Aurobindo's Purna Yoga". The ceremony ended with prayer and meditation and there was " Dhwaj avataran". This was indeed a great golden historical moment for Dhari branch and for this whole area.
Amravati (Maharashtra) - Centenary of Amravati Aagman
Sri Aurobindo Society, Amravati Branch, celebrated the centenary of Sri Aurobindo Aagaman Diwas on 27th, 28th and 29th of January 2008. Sri Aurobindo visited this place during his Maharashtra tour and delivered his inspiring speech on the topic "Vande Mataram" on 28th January 1908.
Lighting of Lamp by Smt. Mandatai Gandhe
The opening session started at 9:30 am on 27 Jan. 2008 with traditional Lamp lighting by Shri Kaivalya Smart from Surat and Mandatai Gandhe from Amravati. Meditation and talks followed.
Shri Kaivalyabhai, speaking on the occasion
The Second session was held at Vidya Bharati college, amphitheatre in the form of workshop for personality development. Shri Kaivalyabhai's address and guidance to the young participants was a novel experience for all who were present in the hall. Third session was a feast of musical programmes, rendered by Surmani Prof. Kamaltai Bhande, HoD, Music Dept. of Mahila Mahavidyalaya.
The second day of the celebrations began with the Sanskrit stavan sung by Mira Ganorkar and talks by various speakers followed. In the afternoon all the participants visited the place where Sri Aurobindo's speech was delivered 100 year's ago. The place is now known as Joshi Hall. 'Vande Mataram' cassette sung by sadhaks of Puducherry was played there and about 40 people meditated.
A view of the audience
Celebrations concluded at Sri Aurobindo Yoga Center, Gadgenagar, Amravati, where a full day's programme was organised. In the morning the function started with hoisting of Mother's flag. Prof. Uttara Huddar (Nagpur), Dr. Sarla Nagraj (Amravati) and Shri Kaivalyabhai (Surat) spoke on different aspects of Sri Aurobindo's philosophy, Divya Jivan and Supramental Yoga. Delegates from the Centre of Vidarbha region such as Walgaon, Chandur Railway, Narkhed, Moshi, Yeotmal, Wardha, Bhatkuli, Nagpur and Nashik also attended the session.
Noida (U.P.) - February 2008 Programmes
Programme of devotional songs and bhajans
5 Feb. 2008: A programme of Devotional Songs and Bhajans by Shri Ajoy Chakraborty and Mrs. Kuntala Dasgupta was held at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan on 5th February 2008 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. The Programme started with Prayers to the Mother. Mrs. Kuntala Dasgupta sang Bhajans on the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. About 40 devotees and their families participated in the programme.
21 Feb. 2008: The Mother's 130th Birth Anniversary was celebrated at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Noida, by organising Collective Meditation from 7 to 7:30 pm. About 35 devotees and their families attended the Collective Meditation. In the morning, free stationary and sweets were distributed to the students of the school being run by Sri Aurobindo Society, Noida Branch.
Discourses
Shri O.P.Dani, Cahirman Noida Branch welcoming the dignitaries. On the dais : Prof. Sidheswar Prasad, Former Governor of Tripura; Shri Vishwa Mohan Tiwari (AVM Retd.); Shri T.N. Chaturvedi, Former Governor of Karnataka; and Shri S.C. Gupta, Jt. Secretary, Noida Branch.
A view of the audience
9 Feb. 2008, 5:30 to7:30 pm: Shri Vishwa Mohan Tiwari, Air Vice Marshal (Retd.), gave a talk on 'India of 21st Century - Challenges of Old Age' followed by Question - Answer session at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Noida. Shri Tiwari made references to Sri Aurobindo's teachings in this context. Shri T.N. Chaturvedi, Former Governor of Karnataka & Prof. Sidheswar Prasad, Former Governor of Tripura also graced the occasion. The talk was attended by about 50 persons.
22 to 24 Feb. 2008: As in the last year, the Noida Branch participated in a 3-day Flower Show organised by NOIDA Authority jointly with Floriculture Society of Noida. The theme of the Noida Branch Stall was 'Spiritual Significance Of Flowers' (Phoolon Kaa Aadhyaatmik Mahatva). The Video CD of Sri Aurobindo Society on Spiritual Significance of Flowers was continuously played on Television which was installed at the Stall.
The Stall had products of Ashram for sale e.g. various books, agarbatties, CDs, cassettes etc. which were bought by the visitors. About 2,250 copies of booklets on the Mother and Sri Aurobindo were distributed to the visitors. About 5,000 people visited the Stall and many of them evinced their interest to participate in the future activities of Sri Aurobindo Society.
Education Sri Aurobindo Shiksha Niketan: 11 Feb. 2008: The students of Sri Aurobindo Shiksha Niketan participated in the Play - 'Aisa Bhee Hota Hai' organised by Lioness Club, Noida, at KRIBHCO Auditorium. The children enjoyed the same very much.
7, 14 & 21 Feb. 2008: On every Thursdays in February 2008, Shri Vishwa Mohan Tiwari, Air Vice Marshal (retd.) and Dr. Keshav Rattan came to Sri Aurobindo Bhavan and interacted for two hours with the children of Sri Aurobindo Shiksha Niketan. Poems, stories, good manners and discipline are taught to children. Impact of their visit is being felt on the behaviour of the children. The visiting dignitaries along with the children also visited the Holy Shrine and paid tributes to the Mother and Sri Aurobindo.
HealthFree Eye Check-up/Consultation on every Sunday at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan: Free Eye Check-up/ Consultation on every Sunday for two hours from 11 am to 1 pm by Dr. P.S. Chauhan, Eye Specialist and Project Director, National Blindness Control Programe, Govt. of India, at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Noida, is going on very well. In the month of February '08, thirty one individuals got benefited by the above.
Treatment by Acupressure Therapy & Third Acupressure Therapy Training Camp: Acupressure Treatment for two hours daily from Monday to Friday by Mrs. Sudha Kesharwani at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan is going on well. While giving treatment, she is also using the relevant quotations of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo, and the persons coming for acupressure treatment are evincing keen interest in them. The third Acupressure Therapy Training Camp by Mrs. Sudha Kesharwani, Acupressure Therapist, in association with 'Acupressure Shodh, Prashikshan Evam Upachar Sansthan, Allahabad' is scheduled at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Noida, from 10 to 14 March 2008. Development of Women: Agarbatties, Candle, Chalk and Toys Making Classes: Agarbatties, Candle, Chalk and Toys Making Classes at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan are going on well and currently about 20 girls are learning these activities. Sewing & Tailoring Classes: Sewing & Tailoring Classes are being conducted daily from Monday to Friday at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan by Smt. Jaya Nigam and currently about twenty ladies/girls are learning the same. Other Activities: Besides above, regular activities of Meditation with the Mother's music daily in the morning and evening, library, Playing of spiritual audio-video CDs etc. are being held regularly. 'Savitri' is being read daily at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan from 5 to 5:30 pm.
New Delhi Branch
The participants of the drawing activity programme
The 130th Birth Anniversary of the Mother was celebrated by holding a Drawing Activity programme for school children between the age group 4-12 at Delhi branch on 21 February 2008. Letters of invitation were sent to 80 schools. 200 students participated, including children from Delhi Public School, Blue Bells Public school, Army Public school, Kendriya Vidayala and APJ School.
The three topics were given on the spot: "Love", "Earth" and "My Dream" Ms. Nandita Bose of Navakriti School run by the New Delhi Branch of Sri Aurobindo Society explained the topics and their endeavour to try and draw out the inner being of children to explore creativity.
Mr. Jatin Das, Ms. Bulbul Sharma, Ms. Lily Raina, Mrs. Shanta Sarabjit, all eminent persons from the field of art, were the judges on the occasion. Cash prizes and art material were given to the winners. Mrs. Meera Juneja introduced the guests and spoke on the occasion. The judges distributed the prizes. Mr. Ranjit Puri, Chairman of Delhi Branch, gave the vote of thanks.
The event received an overwhelming response.
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)
12 Jan. 2008: Sri Aurobindo society Bhopal organised a seminar in Barkatullah university Bhopal. The subject was "Bhartiya Sanskriti Aur Bharat Ki Niyati". Shri Manoj Sharma was the keynote speaker. Shri D.N. Sharma and Shri R.J. Mourya also spoke on the occasion. Dr Sadhana Dauneria, Head of the Dept. (Yoga), conducted the function. A large number of students and staff members attended the program.
29 Feb. 2008, The Golden Day celebrations: The Bhopal branch organised different programs on the occasion of Golden day.
Talks on Nayi Chetna (New Consciousness): Program began with rendering of the national song Vande mataram. English translation done by Sri Aurobindo was read by Smt. Nalini Patel, Principal of Sri Aurobindo School, Bhopal. Shri K.D. Mishra, member Sahkari Commission, and Shri D.P. Sharma, Ex-Vice Chancellor of Tirupathi University, spoke on the occasion. Shri Satish chitwar read out a few poems of Sri Aurobindo. Dr D.N. Joshi explained the various aspects of "Poorna Yoga". Shri Manoj Sharma spoke about "Atimanasik Chetna".
Program ended with Bhajans sung by Smt.Niharika Agrawal and her group.
Siliguri (West Bengal)
The Siliguri Branch celebrated the 8th anniversary of the enshrinement of Sri Aurobindo's holy Relics on 9 January 2008. The celebrations started by hoisting the Mother's flag followed by invocation and meditation around the Shrine. Dr. K.D. Sengupta spoke on "The Political ideal of Sri Aurobindo" and Dr. Usha Ranjan spoke on "Sri Aurobindo on Divine and Undivine". The function ended with distribution of Prasad.
Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
About 900 people attended the collective meditation at the branch on 1 January 2008.
The Chennai branch conducted the following lectures during the month of January 2008.
Date Name of the speaker Subject01.01.2008 Shri M.K. Ramaswamy "The Inscription on the Samadhi"06.01.2008 Shri N. Rajagopal "The Spiritual Significance of 24 Nov. & 5 Dec."13.01.2008 Shri S. Venkat "Deathless Rose (contd.)"20.01.2008 Shri M.K. Ramaswamy "Our Relationships and the Mother"27.01.2008 Shri Janagan "Sparks and Sprincles"
Tirupati (A.P.)
The Tirupati Branch organised a meeting in collaboration with the Chittoor District Yoga Association on 10 January 2008 at the Sri Aurobindo Vidyalaya, Tirupati. Shri M. Balarama Reddy presided over the meeting. The key-note speaker was Sri Venu Bhagavan, founder, V. Build Training Services, Hyderabad. He spoke on "Vyaktitva Vidasa Prerana - Encouragement of Personality Development", in Telugu. After the speech, Shri Venu Bhagavan was presented with Sri Aurobindo's book "Synthesis of Yoga".

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