Evolution of science, psychoanalysis, post-colonialism, and man’s relation to Nature

From: "SABDA eNews" mail@sabda.in Subject: Seven Lives and 8 Volumes Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:57:29 +0530

In this issue we introduce Seven Dedicated Lives, a book which tells the stories of seven disciples who joined the Ashram in the 1930s and 1940s and who are remembered for their very different contributions to the life of the community. There is Nirodbaran, doctor and scribe to Sri Aurobindo; Tehmi, respected teacher and translator of French and English texts; Rishabhchand, the sadhak chosen by the Mother to write a biography of Sri Aurobindo; Millie, costumier for all the Ashram theatre productions; Krishnalal, artist and Golconde muralist; Mona Pinto, impeccable housekeeper of Golconde and the Ashram's “Mother Christmas”; and Udar, the Mother’s “right-hand man” in countless Ashram projects. In telling their stories the author draws the reader into the atmosphere of the Ashram's early life, when all activity drew inspiration and focus from the presence of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Here is an excerpt from the book that conveys the spirit of those days:

The memorable event of the Ashram life, for which she [Millie-di] will always be remembered, happened in 1948 when the Mother decided that women would wear shorts and do sports. For a while the women had been doing sports in salwar-kameez and later in long trousers but some women had injured themselves when they fell down while playing. Although the Mother had taken the decision that she would ask the women to put on shorts for doing physical activities she did not tell anyone. Millie-di remembered how one day the Mother called her while she was working in her room and told her that she wanted her to do something a bit unusual that afternoon. “Could you put on a pair of shorts and come to the Playground?” she asked her. Millie-di did not even think twice that there was something out of the ordinary. As she had always done, unquestioningly, she went home and borrowed a pair of shorts from a male relative and pulled out a shirt from her husband's wardrobe. She realised that the shirt was far too big for her as her husband was a big man so she stitched it by hand on both sides to make it narrower. When the Mother came to the Playground she asked that the gates be kept shut. There is an internal gate which connects the playground to the house where Millie-di and her family lived. Wearing her borrowed shorts and shirt, she came to the Playground by that gate and stood in front of the Mother. A few other ladies who were usually around the Mother were also there. The Mother looked at her and was satisfied. After that the Mother announced that women would put on shorts and come for Playground activities. …This was way back in the late 1940s and a grown-up woman, in this case a wife and a mother, seen in a pair of shorts was something unheard of....Keeping this in mind it is important to note Millie-di's unquestioning faith and how remarkable it was in that context.

The Collected Works of Nolini Kanta Gupta represent a lifetime of prolific literary activity, beginning with his first published work in 1910 and continuing for seven decades. His essays probe sociological and political problems (volume one), mysticism and poetry (volume two), and Sri Aurobindo’s integral Yoga and philosophy (volumes three and four). The talks on the Mother and her work, the observations and notes on life and yoga, and the numerous translations (volumes five to eight) set off his brilliance as a scholar and his intimate knowledge of the yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The seventh volume also has a section containing Nolini-da’s reminiscences, which are informative and compelling narratives that convey something of his very close relationship with Sri Aurobindo ever since his participation in the swadeshi revolutionary movement, his time in Alipore jail and the court appearances in the bomb trial, his former teachers, the early years in Pondicherry before the Ashram was formally organised, even his enthusiasm for playing football.

As readers are already aware, the paperback edition of the Collected Works of Nolini Kanta Gupta, brought out on the occasion of his birth centenary, is available as a complete set of eight volumes. But now, independent volumes may also be purchased. However, with this option Volume 1 is a hardback edition and Volume 3 is a more recently published, independent paperback edition. The remaining volumes sold independently are from the centenary paperback set. Click on any title listed below to get more details about the individual book.
Vol 1: The Coming Race and Other Essays Vol 2: Essays on Mysticism Vol 3: The Yoga of Sri Aurobindo (Parts 1–7) Vol 4: The Yoga of Sri Aurobindo (Parts 8–12) Vol 5: Light of Lights Vol 6: Sweet Mother Vol 7: Sweet Mother (New Talks) Vol 8: Vedic Hymns
NEW PUBLICATIONS
To order any book, click on the title, which will locate the book in our online catalogue. Next, add it to the shopping cart. You may then proceed to pay by credit card online.
ENGLISH
Seven Dedicated Lives
— Sunayana Panda ISBN: 978-0-9562923-0-8 Publisher: First Feature Ltd., London, UK Binding: Soft CoverPages: 80 Price: Rs 75
These biographical essays provide glimpses into the lives of seven disciples – Nirodbaran, Tehmi, Rishabhchand, Millie, Krishnalal, Mona Pinto, and Udar –who joined the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in the 1930s and 1940s and played active roles in the life of this spiritual community. The book also includes an article on why Christmas is celebrated in the Ashram. The stories of how these sadhaks and sadhikas were drawn to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and the ways in which they dedicated themselves and their work to the ideal set before them are inspirational and exemplary.

In the Perspective of Sri Aurobindo
A Study of Scientific Developments and Contemporary Literary Theory— Dr Nikhil Kumar ISBN: 978-81-86931-42-4 Publisher: Novelty & Co., Patna Binding: Hard Cover Pages: 196 Price: Rs 195
In this critical study the author examines certain areas of intellectual enquiry and perceives the inadequacy of the ruling divisive mental consciousness to move humanity forward in the evolution. He draws broad conclusions about the impact of Sri Aurobindo’s revelation of the supramental consciousness on the evolution of science, psychoanalysis, post-colonialism, and man’s relation to Nature. He also looks at contemporary literary theories and finds a compelling need for a reinterpretation of some of the works of Shakespeare, Keats, and Shelley in the light of the higher consciousness brought down by Sri Aurobindo.

The Goal
— Words of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother ISBN: 978-81-7060-280-4 Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry Binding: Soft CoverPages: 40Price: Rs 30
Blossoming of Devotion
— Words of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother ISBN: 978-81-7060-283-5 Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry Binding: Soft CoverPages: 40Price: Rs 30
HINDI
Mataji ke Vachan (Bhag II)
— The Mother ISBN: 978-81-7058-882-5Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Publication Department, Pondicherry Binding: Soft CoverPages: 402Price: Rs 180
BENGALI
Sri Aurobinder o Srimar Bani
— Sri Aurobindo ebang Srimayer Lekhar Sankalan Publisher: Jagari, Kolkata Binding: Hard CoverPages: 64Price: Rs 30
Kolkatai Sri Aurobinder Sesh Abash
— Trija Roy Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Pathamandir, Kolkata Binding: Soft CoverPages: 31Price: Rs 10

To view previous issues of SABDA eNews, visit our Newsletters page.
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The vision was to have 50,000 Aurovillians

Auroville Governing Board to focus on township development
Rajesh B. Nair The Hindu Monday, Jul 27, 2009 PUDUCHERRY:

The Governing Board of Auroville Foundation met here from July 24 to 26 to discuss issues pertaining to the development of the international town at Auroville.
Board chairman Karan Singh told The Hindu that issues pertaining to the development of the township dominated the deliberations. “Since the construction of Matrimandir is over, our next focus is the development of the international township. There are certain issues pertaining to acquisition of land and availability of fund for development of the township.”
Development of the township was the key to Auroville’s future, he said.
The vision was to have 50,000 Aurovillians. At present, there were 2,000 persons from India and abroad living there.
Dr. Singh said he appealed to Puducherry Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam to constitute a committee for organising an event on April 4, 2010 to mark the centenary of the arrival of Sri Aurobindo in Puducherry.

Members, including Ajoy Bagchi, Ameeta Mehra, Aster Mira Patel, Malini Parthasarathy, Mallika Sarabhai, Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi and the Government of India representative in the Governing Board Amit Khare, Joint Secretary (Planning and UNESCO), Department of Secondary Education and Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, attended the meeting.

AP State Youth Camp at Puducherry: 10 to 13 of June 2009

News from Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) Upcoming Events 137th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo: 15 August 2009 The Beach Office of Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry On 15 August 2009, the 137th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo will be observed. On this occasion the following two programmes will be organised at the Society's Beach Office, Puducherry: On 13 and 14 of August 2009: A two-day programme of talks on the teachings and practice of Sri Aurobindo's Yoga will be held at the Society's Beach office on 13th and 14th of August 2009. Study Camp by Dr. Alok Pandey on 'Savitri' - 16 to 22 August 2009: Dr. Alok Pandey will conduct Study Sessions in Sri Aurobindo's epic "Savitri" at the Society's Beach Office from 16 to 22 August 2009. As usual, there will be two sessions daily from 5:00 to 5:45 pm and 6:00 to 6:45 pm. All are welcome to attend this programme. Recent Events Annual Workshop on Integral Education: 20-27 May 2009 Participants of the Camp This year's Education Camp-cum-Workshop was organised at the Beach Office from 20 to 27 May 2008. Fifty participants including teachers, principals and educationists from 9 States of the country participated in the Camp. The objective of the Camp was to introduce the principles of Integral Education as envisioned by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and also how to impart it to the children. Bringing out the artist within… A balanced programme of theory and practical aspects, with sessions on various aspects of integral education, especially at KG and primary levels, covering the subjects language development, physical education, character development, sense-training, art, Sanskrit etc., formed the main content of the Camp. There were also visits to the KG section of SAICE, the Ashram's Centre of Education, along with sessions on educational aids, in-house physical education activities for children, and the sublime early morning Sanskrit chanting and the yogic exercises, which added to the dimension of the Camp. There were also special sessions on understanding how a child learns, how to apply integral education in one's available conditions and how one can attempt this transition in a gradual way. How to tell a story - session by Krishna-di Developing awareness, through Water… It was a beautiful experience for all involved, both the resource persons and the participants, as it provided a platform to grow together in the spirit of Integral Education. Many of the participants felt within themselves a change of perspective towards education itself, and all the participants resolved to make a conscious attempt at implementing the vision of Integral Education at their places, in whatever way they can. AP State Youth Camp at Puducherry: 10 to 13 of June 2009 An Awareness Camp for the Youths of Andhra Pradesh was held from 10 to 13 of June 2009 at Beach Office of Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry. About 35 youths, selected by the various Centres and Branches of Sri Aurobindo Society, Andhra Pradesh, participated in the Camp. Shri P.C.Swaroop and C.H. Harshavaradhan co-ordinated the entire camp, with the help of a group youngsters. The programme included sessions on the Importance of the Sanskrit by Dr. Sampadananda Mishra, Character Building by Shivakumar, Message for the youth, learning to sing National Integration songs conducted by Surabhi-di, games of observation and development of senses by Maitreyee, physical exercises by Krishna, observing nature and beauty, Art in the creation by Sushanto, visiting Sri Smriti and other Ashram Departments, participating in collective meditation in playground, and visiting Auroville. Shri Vijaybhai and Shri B.Venkata Ramaiah conducted the inaugural and concluding sessions, by sharing with the participants the vision of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother for the youth. Impressions of the camp were shared by the participants at the end of the camp, followed by the distribution of camp certificates. Several participants expressed their eagerness to participate in the works undertaken by the Society. News from Branches and Centres News from Abroad Nairobi (Kenya) 1200 booklets in twelve titles were presented to the Chaplain of the Mater Hospital in Nairobi. 25 booklets of Ideal Child in Kiswahili were given to the children of Lutheran Church, Orphan Centre, Eastleigh (each receiving one) and they are reading from the booklet every day at the Centre under the guidance of a social worker. News from India Bangalore (Karnataka) - Youth Camp on 9, 10 and 11 October 2009 Sri Aurobindo Society, Bangalore Branch, will organise a youth camp at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, 110 Gangadhar Chetty Road, Bangalore - 560 042. The camp will be held on 9, 10 and 11 October 2009. The objective of the camp will be to help the youth to awaken their aspiration for self-awareness and to open to them the vision of life, in the light of the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The guide will also inspire the youth to discover the aim of life. The sessions will be conducted by Shri Kaivalya Smart from Surat. Free accommodation and all meals will be provided. Boys and girls between the age group 18 to 30 years are eligible and are welcome. The proceedings will be primarily interactive and with sufficient scope for discussions, in English. All eligible youths are requested not to miss the opportunity and join with their friends. Interested youths may send their application with brief bio data, address, telephone no., email ID and one passport size photograph to the above address. The contact phone no is 080-25559885/25298684. Further clarifications can also be had, either through e-mail: sriaurobindobhavan.bangalore@gmail.com of the Bhavan or from SS Lahiri, Coordinator of the youth camp: sslahiriiaf@yahoo.co.in; Mobile 09980 519855 Noida (Uttar Pradesh) a. On the occasion of 4th anniversary of establishing Holy Shrine at the Branch, a Bhajan Sandhya was arranged on 1 May 2009 from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. About 50 devotees attended the programme. b. A talk on "Maharishi Dayanand, Sri Aurobindo and the Vedas" by Swami Sumedha Nandji was organised on 16 May 2009. The talk was followed by question & answer session which evinced keen interest in the participants. About 60 devotees and their families including Shri T.N. Chaturvedi, former Governor of Karnataka, and Shri Vijay Poddar, Chairman, SAS (Hindi Zone) participated in the programme. Fourth talk of the series 'Atma Parichay - Atma Vikas' by Shri Hans Dholakia at the Bhavan c. Fourth talk of the series 'Atma Parichay - Atma Vikas' by Shri Hans Dholakia was organised at the Bhavan on 23 May 2009 from 7.15 pm to 8.15 pm. About 35 devotees and their families participated in the programme. d. To commemorate the Centenary year of Sri Aurobindo's speech of his Spiritual experiences in the Alipore Jail delivered on 30 May 1909 at a public meeting, popularly known as 'Uttarpara Speech', a programme was held on 30 May 2009 at the Bhavan, Noida. Shri T.N. Chaturvedi, former Governor of Karnataka, and Shri O.P. Dani were also present. About 40 persons including devotees and their families participated in the program. Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) The Varanasi Centre organised the following programmes during the months of April and May 2009: a. On the occasion of the anniversary of Sri Aurobindo's arrival in Pondicherry on 4th April, a lecture on 'Sri Aurobindo's Philosophy' by Prof. Sushila Pant was organised. Prof. Rajeshwar Acharya explained briefly Sri Aurobindo's Adventure of Consciousness. b. On 24th April darshan day meditation and reading of the book "The Mother" was organised at the Centre. There were devotional songs, followed by discussions on following the path of Integral Yoga and on finding a way towards a collective realisation. c. On the occasion of the centenary of Sri Aurobindo's speech delivered at Uttarapara after he came out of imprisonment, on 30th May, a meeting was organized. The even started with meditation, followed by the reading of the Uttarapara speech in Hindi. Rudrapur (Uttar Pradesh) The Rudrapur Centre arranged a public meeting on 14th May 2009 in which Shri K. Pawan, Chairman of Sri Aurobindo Society, Patiala branch, spoke on 'Spirituality in Everyday Life'. About 80 people attended the meeting. The books, 'Aadarsh Shikshak', 'Aadarsh Mata-Pita' and 'Aadarsh Child' were distributed. Ballia (Uttar Pradesh) a. About 100 boys and girls from Orissa, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, who were camping at Ballia as a part of Nehru Yuva Kendra of Ballia and Ghazipur, visited the Centre at Ballia on 29th May 2009. After a short meditation with the Mother's music, Shri Jagannath Prasad, Treasurer of Ballia Centre, gave details of the activities of Sri Aurobindo Society. Booklets on 'Sri Aurobindo - An Introduction' in Hindi were distributed. b. Participants of the above mentioned camp organised a seminar on "National Integration" on 30th May 2009 in which Shri Jagannath Prasad gave a talk on Sri Aurobindo's vision and Sri Aurobindo's 15th August 1947 message. Hindi translation of para 3 of the message was distributed to all. c. On 30th May 2009 a meeting was organised to celebrate the centenary of Sri Aurobindo's speech of his Spiritual experiences in the Alipore Jail popularly known as the 'Uttarpara Speech'. Dr. V.K. Vaidya and Dr. Upendra Singh of the Ballia Centre spoke on the occasion, giving details of Sri Aurobindo's spiritual experiences and his vision about the destiny of India. Shri Jagannath Prasad spoke on the difference between Purna Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and Traditional Yogas. Sultanpur (Uttar Pradesh) On 30 May 2009, centenary of deliverance of Uttarpara speech was celebrated in R.R Girls College, Sultanpur (U.P). Mr. Malaya and Mr. Pawnesh read out the speech of Sri Aurobindo on the occasion. Dr. J.P. Singh, Mr. B.B. Singh and Dr. R.S. Singh also spoke. About 75 people attended the function. Text of the Uttarpara Speech in Hindi was distributed to all. New Delhi Centre a. A discourse by Mrs. Jaya Row, Founder of Vedanta Vision, Mumbai, was organised by Delhi centre on 5th April 2009. The topic of the discourse was "Message of Bhagavad Gita for the Young". She explained the message of the Gita in today's context. Around 200 people attended the function. b. On 24th April 2009, Darshan Day was celebrated at the Delhi branch. Students of Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication (SACAC) presented devotional songs. Smt. Cuckoo Mathur sang a couple of Bhajans in praise of the Mother. After the function, the devotees offered flowers at the Samadhi. Darshan cards and prasad were distributed to all. c. A talk by Shri Vijay Poddar, New Delhi, on the Bhagavad Gita was organised by the Branch on Saturday, 30th May 2009. Shri Vijay-ji explained the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield and how in today's time the common man can remove confusions by understanding the Bhagavad Gita. The function was attended by around 40 people. d. The Delhi Branch organised a discourse by Swami Sumedha Nandji on "Maharishi Dayanand, Sri Aurobindo and the Vedas" on Friday, 15th May 2009. He discussed in great detail how the two great saints interpreted the Vedas as the most refined representation of the facts and meaning of the Hindu view and way of life. e. On the morning of 30th May 2009, the Sadhaks associated with the Centre gathered in the Meditation room and read out the 'Uttarpara Speech" in turns. The programme started with collective meditation. f. Second series of lectures on Bhagavad Gita by Shri Vijay Poddar took place on 30th May 2009. Chapter 2 verses 54 - 72 of the Bhagavad Gita was taken up for discussion. The talk was followed by questions and answers. Baroda (Gujarat) - Activities during April 2009 a. From 04.04.09 to 10.04.09, Shri Sharadbhai Joshi delivered lectures on "The Life Divine" for 1½ hrs daily. About 60 attended the talks. b. From 26.04.09 to 05.05.09, 82 children attended a summer camp organised by Bliss Children's Corner, Baroda. The atmosphere at Sri Aurobindo Nivas was indeed beautiful. c. Women's council arranged a camp for girls in the age group of 10 to 15 yrs, from 1 to 5 May 2009. 34 girls attended and learnt primary information about Sri Aurobindo & the Mother, on arts & crafts, yogasanas etc. d. Women's Council, Baroda, arranged another camp for girls in the age group of 16 to 20 yrs from 15 to 20 May 2009. They were exposed to the teachings of Sri Aurobindo & the Mother along with health, education and creativity related lessons. 17 girls participated. e. A 7 days study-class was arranged from 26.05.09 to 01.06.09 at the Sri Aurobindo Nivas, Baroda, covering all the major works of Sri Aurobindo & the Mother. Students of all ages were invited from all over Gujarat. 19 students attended all the 7 days of the programme. Following persons gave lectures on the subjects/books mentioned. 1 Shri Aniruddhbhai Smart Upanishads 2 Shri Kaivalya Smart Gita 3 Shri Govardhanbhai Dave Life Divine 4 Shri Jyotibahen Thanki Education 5 Shri Sharadbhai Joshi Vedas, Future Poetry, Human cycle,Ideals of Human Unity, Poorna Yoga etc. 6 Shri Kiritbhai Thakkar Synthesis of Yoga, India and Sri Aurobindo. About Meditation, Letters on Yoga, The Mother 7 Shri Nilkanthbhai Joshi Life of Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga 8 Shri Narendra Patel About Art 9 Dr. Ramanbhai Pathak Literature in the works of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother 10 Parashar Dwivedi Life of The Mother, About Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Sri Aurobindo Society and Auroville This was the 15th year of such lectures. The language of the talks was Gujarati. Shri Kirit Thakkar and Shri Nilkanth Joshi co-ordinated the programme. f. On 31st May 2009, the centenary of the speech by Sri Aurobindo at Uttarpara was read out by all in Gujarati as well as in English. Dhanbad (Jharkhand) On 24 May 2009, a seminar on "The Life of Sri Aurobindo and His vision" was organised at Dhanbad (Jharkhand) by Mr. Yogendra Tulsiyan, a devotee of the Mother. Shri Vijay K. Poddar was the Chief Guest and Dr. J.P. Singh was the main speaker. Dr. C.C. Hazara presided over the function. Prof. Pramod Pathak from Indian School of Mines also spoke on the occasion. The function was well attended and books were distributed to those who attended the function.

home about the site 15th August the mother sri aurobindo about sas sas activities onlife, online calendar sas & you the ashram centre of education auroville pondicherry sitemap what's new related links archive feedback audio "Om namoh bhagvate..."

Bangalore (Karnataka) - Youth Camp on 9, 10 & 11 October 2009

News from Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry)

Upcoming Events

Study Camp by Dr. Alok Pandey on 'Savitri' - 16 to 22 August 2009

Dr. Alok Pandey will conduct Study Sessions in Sri Aurobindo's epic "Savitri" at the Society's Beach Office from 16 to 22 August 2009. As usual, there will be two sessions daily from 5:00 to 5:45 pm and 6:00 to 6:45 pm. All are welcome to attend this programme.

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Recent Events

Annual Workshop on Integral Education: 20-27 May 2009

This year the annual Workshop on Integral Education was organised at the Beach Office of the Society from 20 to 27 May. Fifty participants including teachers, educationists and principals from various parts of the country attended the Camp. The details of the Camp will be given in the next month's Newsletter.

Visit by a Group of Farmers from Paigmberpur - 6 - 11 April 2009

A group of 7 farmers visited the Ashram and Sri Aurobindo Society for an exposure to the way of life at Ashram and for ways that could help them improve their way of life at Paigmberpur. Kirti-di from Paigmberpur Centre co-ordinated the visit. A variety of programme was arranged for them. Meeraji welcomed them and Shivakumar gave them an introduction to the Ashram and its way of life.

Shri Chote Narayan-ji, a senior sadhak, interacted with them on the important values that enrich life at all levels. Shri Somdevji spoke to them about the four aspects of the Mother and later on had an interactive session with them, answering to their queries about work in general. Visits to Matrikunj and Gloria farm were arranged, where they got a chance to see the gardening and the organic way of farming done in these places.

Dr. Alok Pandey spoke to them about meditation and its place in work and life. Shri Vijaybhai shared with them the vision of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother in transforming the collective life through transformation of all the people who formed that collectivity.

There was also a visit to Auroville and Matrimandir. In all, it was a very fulfilling visit for all the farmers and they carried back with them the resolution of improving their life in all possible ways.

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News from Branches and Centres

News from India

Sri Aurobindo Complex, Sri Aurobindo Marg, J.P. Nagar 1st Phase, Bangalore

M/s 'idiscoveri' Education Pvt. Ltd. (Xseed) imparted training on "Certificate in Instructional Leadership" to the teachers of Mirambika School for New Age from 7 to 10 April 2009, on the following topics:
a) Using Teaching Aids available in the school
b) Adopting Innovative Teaching Methods
c) Foundation for Integral Education

24 April 2009, "Day of Mother's Final at Pondicherry", was observed at Sri Aurobindo Complex, J.P. Nagar, Bangalore. The programme started with group meditation at the Meditation Hall between 7:00 and 7:30 am, followed by distribution of Message Cards & Prasadam. An exhibition on "Life sketch of the Mother" (with about 80 displays) was inaugurated.

Bangalore (Karnataka) - Youth Camp on 9, 10 and 11 October 2009

Sri Aurobindo Society, Bangalore Branch, will organise a youth camp at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, 110 Gangadhar Chetty Road, Bangalore - 560 042. The camp will be held on 9, 10 and 11 October 2009.

The objective of the camp will be to help the youth to awaken their aspiration for self-awareness and to open to them the vision of life, in the light of the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The guide will also inspire the youth to discover the aim of life. The sessions will be conducted by Shri Kaivalya Smart from Surat.

Free accommodation and all meals will be provided. Boys and girls between the age group 18 to 30 years are eligible and are welcome. The proceedings will be primarily interactive and with sufficient scope for discussions, in English.

All eligible youths are requested not to miss the opportunity and join with their friends. Interested youths may send their application with brief bio data, address, telephone no., email ID and one passport size photograph to the above address. The contact phone no is 080-25559885/25298684.

Further clarifications can also be had, either through e-mail: sriaurobindobhavan.bangalore@gmail.com of the Bhavan or from SS Lahiri, Coordinator of the youth camp: sslahiriiaf@yahoo.co.in; Mobile 09980 519855

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)

Three talks of Shri Mangilalji Vyas was held at Bhopal in May 2009. He spoke on "All Life is Yoga". He also spoke on the traditional Yogas and the path of Integral Yoga. Shri Vyas is the Secretary of Dhar Branch of Sri Aurobindo Society. Dr D. N. Joshi, Secretary of Bhopal Branch, also spoke on these occasions.

Gurgaon (Haryana)

The Gurgaon Branch organised a talk by Swami Sumedhanand Saraswati on Maharishi Dayanand, Sri Aurobindo and the Vedas on 17 May 2009, at Unitech Country Club, Gurgaon. Swamiji emphasised the relevance of the Vedas today and how the Vedas withstood the dark periods of the Indian history.

Shri Krishan Sethi, Chairman of the Gurgaon Branch, highlighted the subject in his opening address. Shri Ravi Kant thanked Swamiji in his closing address.

Sri Aurobindo--secularist? or nationalist?

1. The lives of Sri Aurobindo by Peter Heehs
Book : Biography Language: English Publisher: New York : Columbia University Press, ©2008. View all editions and formats
2. Autobiographical notes and other writings of historical interest
by Aurobindo Ghose; Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Book : Biography Language: English Publisher: Pondicherry : Sri Aurobindo Ashram, 2006.
3. A greater psychology : an introduction to Sri Aurobindo's psychological thought
by Aurobindo Ghose; A S Dalal
Book Language: English Publisher: New York : Jeremy P Tarcher/Putnam, ©2001.
4. Evolution in religion: a study in Sri Aurobindo and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin,
by R C Zaehner
Book Language: English Publisher: Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1971. View all editions and formats
5. Conceptions of an integral being a deeper look at the philosophies and psychologies of Abraham Maslow and Sri Aurobindo Ghose by Tia Dutta
Thesis/dissertation : Bibliographic data : Manuscript Computer File Archival Material Language: English Publisher: 2008.
6. India's spiritual destiny : its inevitability & potentiality by Mangesh Nadkarni
Book Language: English Publisher: Pondicherry : Sri Aurobindo Society in association with UBS Publishers' Distributors, New Delhi, ©2006.
7. Life at Mirambika : a free progress school
by Anjum Sibia; M K Raina; National Council of Educational Research and Training (India). Dept. of Educational Psychology and Foundations of Education.
Book Language: English Publisher: New Delhi : National Council of Educational Research and Training, 2006.
8. Six pillars : introductions to the major works of Sri Aurobindo by Robert A McDermott;
Book Language: English Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa. : Wilson Books, 1974.
9. The quest for political and spiritual liberation : a study in the thought of Sri Aurobindo Ghose
by June O'Connor
Book : Biography Language: English Publisher: Rutherford [N.J.] : Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, ©1977. View all editions and formats
10. Sri Aurobindo Ghose : the dweller in the lands of silence by William Kluback; Michael Finkenthal
Book Language: English Publisher: New York : P. Lang, ©2001.
11. Worthy is the world: the Hindu philosophy of Sri Aurobindo. by Beatrice Bruteau
Book Language: English Publisher: Rutherford, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press [1972, ©1971] View all editions and formats
12. The common vision : parenting and educating for wholeness by David Marshak
Book Language: English Publisher: New York : P. Lang, ©1997.
13. Understanding thoughts of Sri Aurobindo
by Indrani Sanyal; Krishna Roy; Jadavpur University. Centre for Sri Aurobindo Studies.;
Book : Conference publication Language: English Publisher: New Delhi : D.K. Printworld in association with Jadavpur Univ., Kolkata, 2007.
14. The Rainbow bridge : a comparative study of Tagore and Sri Aurobindo by Goutam Ghosal
Book
Language: English Publisher: New Delhi : D.K. Printworld, 2007. View all editions and formats
15. Integral yoga
by Alan Baiss; Mark Kitchell; Mabel Valdiviezo; California Institute of Integral Studies.; Cultural Integration Fellowship.;
Video Language: English Publisher: San Francisco, CA : Cultural Integration Fellowship and the California Institute of Integral Studies, ©2008.
16. Knowledge, consciousness and religious conversion in Lonergan and Aurobindo by Michael T McLaughlin
Book Language: English Publisher: Roma : Editrice Pontificia Universita Gregoriana, 2003. View all editions and formats
17. Sri Aurobindo and his contemporary thinkers by Indrani Sanyal; Krishna Roy; Jadavpur University.;
Book Language: English Publisher: New Delhi : D.K. Printworld in association with Jadavpur Univ., 2007.
18. The spirituality of the future : a search apropos of R.C. Zaehner's study in Sri Aurobindo and Teilhard de Chardin by Kaikhushru Dhunjibhoy Sethna
Book Language: English Publisher: Rutherford [N.J.] : Fairleigh Dickerson University Press ; London : Associated University Presses, ©1981. View all editions and formats
19. Yoga psychology and the transformation of consciousness : seeing through the eyes of infinity
by Don Salmon; Jan Maslow
Book Language: English Publisher: St. Paul, MN : Paragon House, 2007.
20. Aurotherapy : an alternate therapy system by Som P Ranchan
Book Language: English Publisher: Delhi : Indian Publishers Distributors, 2001.

21. Sri Aurobindo and the logic of the infinite: essays for the new millennium; Sri Aurobindo, Yoga philosophy, Savitri, The Mother and Auroville, The global crisis by Rod Hemsell
Book Language: English Publisher: Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India : PRISMA, ©2006.
22. Glossary of terms in Sri Aurobindo's writings.
by Aurobindo Ghose; Book Language: English Publisher: Pondicherry : Sri Aurobindo Ashram, 1978.
23. Sri Aurobindo and the new age : essays in memory of Kishor Gandhi
by Kishor Gandhi; Kaikhushru Dhunjibhoy Sethna; Sachidananda Mohanty; Nirodbaran; Maurice Shukla; Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education (Pondicherry, India);
Book Language: English Publisher: Pondicherry : Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, 1997.
24. Sri Aurobindo : an educational thinker by Natthūlāla Gupta
Book Language: English Publisher: New Delhi : Anmol Publications, 2002.
25. The poetry of Sri Aurobindo : a journey from ego to self by Kishor Gandhi
Book Language: English Publisher: Meerut : Anu Books, 2001.
26. The integral philosophy of Sri Aurobindo; a commemorative symposium, by Haridas Chaudhuri; Frederic Spiegelberg
Book Language: English Publisher: London, Allen & Unwin [1960]
27. Life and works of Sri Aurobindo by Sita Ram Sharma; Aurobindo Ghose
Book Language: English Publisher: Jaipur, India : Book Enclave, 2003.
28. Sri Aurobindo--secularist? or nationalist? by Ke Es Nārāyaṇācārya
Book Language: English Publisher: Mysore : Kautilya Institute of National Studies, 2006.
29. Alchemy of the soul : integral healing : the work of psychology and spirituality by Arya Maloney
Book Language: English Publisher: Nevada City, CA : Blue Dolphin Pub., ©2007.
30. Image, symbol, and myth in Sri Aurobindo's poetry by G S Pakle
Book Language: English Publisher: New Delhi : Harman Pub. House, 2006.
31. Vivekananda Aurobindo & Gandhi on education by Susmit Prasad Pani; Samar Kumar Pattnaik
Book Language: English Publisher: New Delhi : Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd., 2006.
32. Sri Aurobindo and Shakespeare as poetic dramatists by Usha Mahadevan
Book Language: English Publisher: Chennai : University of Madras, 2006.
33. Sri Aurobindo : or, The adventure of consciousness by Satprem
Book : Biography Language: English Publisher: New York : Harper & Row, ©1968. View all editions and formats
34. The persistence of religion : an essay on Tantrism and Sri Aurobindo's philosophy by Kees W Bolle
Book Language: English Publisher: Leiden : E.J. Brill, 1965. View all editions and formats
35. Prophet of Indian nationalism; a study of the political thought of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh, 1893-1910. by Karan Singh, Sadr-i-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir
Thesis/dissertation Language: English Publisher: London, Allen & Unwin [1963] View all editions and formats
36. History, society, and polity : integral sociology of Sri Aurobindo by D P Chattopadhyaya
Book Language: English Publisher: New Delhi : Macmillan Co. of India, 1976.
37. Contemporary relevance of Sri Aurobindo by Kishor Gandhi
Book Language: English Publisher: Delhi, Vivek Pub. House [1973] View all editions and formats
38. Towards the life divine : Sri Aurobindo's vision by L Thomas O'Neil
Book Language: English Publisher: New Delhi : Manohar, 1979.
39. A new look at Aurobindo by A Frank Thompson
Book Language: English Publisher: Delhi : Published for the Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society by ISPCK, 1990. View all editions and formats
40. Sri Aurobindo, seer and poet by Vinayak Krishna Gokak
Book Language: English Publisher: New Delhi, Abhinav Publications, 1973. View all editions and formats
43. Dante and Sri Aurobindo : a comparative study of The divine comedy and Savitri by Prema Nandakumar.
Book Language: English Publisher: Madras : Affiliated East-West Press, [1981]
44. Being, evolution, and immortality; an outline of integral philosophy, by Haridas Chaudhuri
Book Language: English Publisher: Wheaton, Ill., Theosophical Pub. House [1974] View all editions and formats
50. The Hindu personality in education : Tagore, Gandhi, Aurobindo by William Cenkner
Book Language: English Publisher: Columbia, Mo. : South Asia Books, 1976. View all editions and formats
52. Consciousness and creativity : a case study of Sri Aurobindo, T.S. Eliot, and Aldous Huxley by Sumita Roy
Book Language: English Publisher: New Delhi : Sterling Publishers, ©1991.
58. Sanskrit and the evolution of human speech : based on Sri Aurobindo's linguistic theory by Sampadananda Mishra
Book Language: English Publisher: Pondicherry : Sri Aurobindo Institute of Research in Social Sciences, Sri Aurobindo Society, 2005. View all editions and formats
60. Indian giants crack AIM : Vivekananda, Ambedkar and Aurobindo : their outburst against the so-called Aryan race & Aryan invasion myth by Parameśa Caudhurī
Book Language: English Publisher: Kolkata : YNN, 2003.

Aurobindo Ghose (58) Madhav Pundalik P... (39) Satprem (23) Ambalal Balkrishn... (12) Nolini Kanta Gupta (9) Show more ...

Tara Jauhar's new book The Mother: Selected Photos

From: "SABDA eNews" mail@sabda.in Subject: The Mother: Selected Photos Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 17:29:44 +0530

The photographs compiled by Tara Jauhar in the new book The Mother: Selected Photos offer readers a silent immersion in the Mother’s consciousness and love. There are early photos from her life in Paris and haunting images from Japan, showing the Mother in the graceful kimonos which she wore when living there. There are portraits of the Mother taken in her room and scenes showing her at work, meeting people, even taking lunch with her attendants. She is at the Sportsground watching the events and in the Playground giving classes. She is shown playing tennis, in Paris and in the Ashram. One sees in the Terrace Darshan photos the loving compassion she showered on those who gathered below to receive her blessings.
The Foreword of the book ends with these words:
Hermann Hesse once said, “It is not important what a book contains. It is important what a reader can extract from it.” This holds true for this book more than for any other. All depends on one’s own capacity to find that special dimension which is behind the pictures.
This issue also features an article by Kirti Chandak on the book Tapasyā, a collection of spiritual paintings by Dhanavanti, which was introduced in the April eNews.
NEW PUBLICATIONS
To order any book, click on the title, which will locate the book in our online catalogue. Next, add it to the shopping cart. You may then proceed to pay by credit card online.
ENGLISH
The Mother: Selected Photos
— Compiled by Tara JauharISBN: 978-3-934726-44-4Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Delhi Branch Trust, New DelhiBinding: Hard CoverPages: 266Price: Rs 1600
More than 250 black-and-white photographs have been selected and arranged with a focus on one particular element: the powerful vibration that is radiated by the Mother’s physical appearance. Most are original pictures presented without touching up or repairing any defects; they are arranged without chronology or theme or identifying remarks so that the reader is left solely to experience the depth and dramatic power of the photographs. At the back of the book the pictures are reproduced in smaller size with dates and some brief comments. The book is printed on art paper.
Spiritual Experiences of Sri Aurobindo in the Alipore JailThe Supreme DiscoveryThe Path of Later On
— Words of Sri Aurobindo and the MotherISBN: 978-81-7060-281-1Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Society, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 32Price: Rs 30
The Four Austerities and the Four Liberations
— Words of the Mother and Sri AurobindoISBN: 978-81-7060-279-8Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Society, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 40Price: Rs 30
GERMAN/ENGLISH
Flammenworte (Englisch-Deutsch)
— Sri AurobindoISBN: 978-81-7058-914-3Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Publication Department, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 79Price: Rs 125
TAMIL
Mahan Sri Aravindar
Vazhkai Varalatru Natagam— Pudhuvai Ra. RajaniPublisher: Pudhuvai Ra. Rajani, PondicherryBinding: Soft CoverPages: 178Price: Rs 100
BENGALI
Sri Aurobinder Bhavadarshe Shri Nimainchand
— Manotosh MukhopadhyayaISBN: 978-81-8437-036-2Publisher: Karuna Prakashani, KolkataBinding: Hard CoverPages: 200Price: Rs 75
Amar Bhavna
— Manotosh MukhopadhyayaISBN: 978-81-8437-073-7Publisher: Karuna Prakashani, KolkataBinding: Hard CoverPages: 120Price: Rs 50
GUJARATI
Yogana Shabdo
— SundaramPublisher: Sri Aravind Krupa Trust, AhmedabadBinding: Soft CoverPages: 69Price: Rs 60



Tapasyā
Hymns in colour— DhanavantiPublisher: Auroville Press Publishers, AurovilleBinding: Soft CoverPages: 84Price: Rs 495

The paintings and drawings presented in this book depict the artist’s visions of inner worlds and experiences and express her own spiritual journey. The book is enhanced by the addition of eleven poems written by the artist and numerous quotations from the poems of Sri Aurobindo and Frank Townshend. There is also a short piece written by her which describes the genesis of her life as an artist. The text appears in both English and French.
An article on the book by Kirti Chandak:
The book Tapasyā: Hymns in Colour is retrospective in nature, covering the salient paintings done by Dhanavanti, a senior artist and member of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The book consists of thirty-one paintings, nine drawings and eleven poems written by her, along with quotations from Sri Aurobindo and Frank Townshend which have been added to the compilation and do not intrinsically form part of the inspiration for the creation of her works. The text is in English and French. The works printed here were done mainly from the 1960s to the late 1970s in pastels except for two works in watercolours.
Dhanavanti learnt painting from Jayantilal Parekh for about two years and was constantly guided and encouraged by the Mother. When the Ashram school started, the children painted in a small room. Once an exhibition was organised there and the Mother came to see it. She asked Dhanavanti (a student then), ‘Is this where you paint?’ When Dhanavanti replied in the affirmative, the Mother told her that a studio had to be big and open to the north with a lot of light coming in. She called Udar Pinto and Jayantilal Parekh then and there and said, ‘Udar, you must give them a studio.’ Thus above the Flower Room the studio was later opened.
On her birthday in 1967 the Mother gave Dhanavanti the key to her present domicile and said, ‘Içi tu vas faire beaucoup de peinture' (here you will do a lot of painting). In her new studio she worked intensely, often tearing up paintings because she was not satisfied, searching for what she wanted to express, shedding details, eliminating what was redundant, to arrive at a singular language that would express her inner journey.
Once when visiting Brazil, she was giving a slide presentation of her paintings to some university students, when one of them interrupted her by saying, ‘You in the ashram live in a very secluded world; you don’t know what pain, poverty, hunger or unhappiness is, so you paint these flying figures.’ Dhanavanti told him, ‘If you know and experience these things in life, do you want me to give that again to you? That is precisely what I would not like to do, but give you just two drops of joy!’ After that there was a one-hour session of questions and answers along with the slide show. The teacher said at the end of the session that they had learnt something about oriental wisdom.
The book can be looked at as an artist’s pilgrimage, in which the preoccupation is with the reality beyond the surface reality, where personal details are annihilated and the inner struggle is sublimated into a quest for the supreme. The whole journey is like a hymn in colour. There is a free-flowing energy from her works radiating peace, light and happiness, which is the result of her deep experiences and meditations. ‘Painting has been a means to help me discover myself. Nowadays I mainly like to doodle, letting my pen experience the essential Me’, says Dhanavanti. It is in this light that we can best fathom her works.
The cover painting titled ‘Tapasyā’ was done when she was in a difficult situation. All the lines converge in a whirlpool, meeting at one point between the feet of the standing figure, trying to suck her in. But Dhanavanti uses this negative force to stand up, to rise above the flames of difficulty, determined to face the problem and overcome it through one-pointed determination.
TapasyāClick to enlarge
The Wheel of LifeClick to enlarge
In the painting ‘The Wheel of Life’ a gold-tinged celestial figure is seen plunging into the earth, a red-pink figure tainted by the mire is seen rising from the earth, and finally a transformed and enlightened being is seen returning to the source. A brilliant sun, origin of light and life, radiates life-energy whose rays become wavelike movements as the circle expands and completes the cycle of life.
The drawing on page 22, shown here to the right, could be seen as an autobiographical representation, suggestive of struggle and expressive in manner. Like the sudden awakening from an ignorant sleep, her bosom heavy with angst, she wants to break free from the earth, shaking off her heavy mantle to reach the beyond. In Dhanavanti's body of work there are other sketches that carry out this same theme. The figure identifies itself with the psyche of a tree—bound to the earth, yet dreaming of the skies.
Click to enlarge
Dhanavanti’s paintings are ‘innerscapes’, _expressions of the deeper self. Having trod the arduous path of thorns and fire, she reaches the luminous sun and dances in the joy of light. Her lines are curvilinear and free flowing. In her world of colours there is no darkness, only soft pastel shades emanating light and happiness. Figures search deep within, stretch to the beyond and flow on the waters of life to become one with the infinite. Life experiences are transformed into opportunities to unite with the One. Her works reveal a soul’s journey, to be seen with the inner eye and understood by the heart.

To view previous issues of SABDA eNews, visit our Newsletters page.
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