DOCSLIB.ORG

Nirodbaran-Twelve-Years-With-Sri

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Nirodbaran-Twelve-Years-With-Sri i TWELVE YEARS WITH SRI AUROBINDO NIRODBARAN SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM PONDICHERRY ii Contents FOREWORD .................................................................................................................... 1 THE UNEXPECTED ........................................................................................................ 4 THE RECOVERY ........................................................................................................... 17 THE HOUSE OF THE LORD ........................................................................................ 32 THE DIVINE MOTHER “THIS IS SHE” ...................................................................... 48 WAR AND POLITICS ................................................................................................... 85 FIVE DREAMS ............................................................................................................ 116 SAVITRI ....................................................................................................................... 119 ATTENDANTS ............................................................................................................ 140 TALKS .......................................................................................................................... 157 LAUGHTER OF THE GODS ....................................................................................... 167 CORRESPONDENCE AND INTERVIEWS ................................................................ 173 GOD DEPARTS ........................................................................................................... 183 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 201 POSTSCRIPT ............................................................................................................... 210 APPENDIX ................................................................................................................... 212 A MESSAGE TO AMERICA ....................................................................................... 213 MESSAGE TO THE ANDHRA UNIVERSITY ............................................................. 216 POSTSCRIPT TO THE IDEAL OF HUMAN UNITY ...................................................... 222 iii FOREWORD This book is written mainly for the disciples and devotees of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. They have been very eager to know something about the outer life of the Master, which, because of his seclusion for many years, remained behind a veil. The Mother was not so far willing to let us lift that veil. But either because of Sri Aurobindo’s Centenary Year or for other reasons, when I proposed to write an account of our historic personal association with the Master during the last twelve years of his life, the Mother warmly a pproved of it. Not only so, she very graciously listened to the whole story. An “outsider” may find the book filled in places with devotional outpourings, miraculous phenomena and mystical overtones. But I have tried to the best of my power to give a faithful account of what I have seen and heard and what part we played in the great drama with the Master as the principal actor. Naturally, subjective impressions could not be quite left out, for it was not my purpose to draw an entirely detached description o f my experience. Yet those who are interested in having an objective picture of the most sublimely enigmatic Person of the modem age, one whom thousands have felt to be a veritable God-Man, will have, I believe, sufficient food to satisfy their seeking. For the rest, his own works are there in which to dive and gather the treasures of his supreme vision and unparalleled realisation. Nirodbaran 1 Thanks to Nirod, we have a revelation of an altogether unknown side of what Sri Aurobindo was. 2 Sri Aurobindo, 1950 3 THE UNEXPECTED It was the hour before the Gods awake The calendar stood at November 1938, the month of the Darshan. A few weeks more and we would meet the Master after a long wait of three months. After every Darshan we start counting the days for the next one, for each occasion brings the Eternal and his Shakti closer to us and is therefore a significant landmark in our lives. As the date comes nearer, our days too take on a brighter hue and the day before the Darshan, all faces glow with swe et smiles. Friends meeting on the road greet each other with one word, “Tomorrow!” or with a silent look of happy expectation. The Dining Room hums with the same theme. Wherever you go, whomsoever you meet, no other talk except the Guru’s Darshan for one or two minutes, — an eternal moment. As for myself, my feelings are more complex. I have broken verbal lances with him, challenged his views, poked fun at his Yoga. I know all these will be forgotten at the moment when I shall meet his august Presence. He will be as affable as in his letters and bestow his gracious smile from his transcendental height while my heart will beat in joy and wonder. Still, the mind cannot be entirely free from a conventional fear. In this mood of expectation we arrived at the eve of the Darshan, November 24th. The Mother gave her blessings to all in the morning. Embodiment of the Mahalakshmi Grace and Beauty, she poured her smile and filled our hearts with love and adoration, an ideal condition in which to present ourselves to the Lord. Each Darshan is an occasion for him to survey the progress we have made after the last one and to give us a fresh push towards a further advance. Visitors had swollen the even flow of our life; among them, Miss Wilson, daughter of President Wilson, had come from far-off America for the Master’s Darshan. His book Essays on the Gita had cast an unearthly spell upon her. That there could be someone who could write such a wonderful book in this materialistic age was beyond her imagination. She could h ear the Voice of the Lord saying to man, “Abandon all dharmas. Take refuge in me 4 alone. I shall deliver thee from all Sin.” The book was her Bible. She decided she must have the Darshan of such a unique person. The day passed in a happy rhythm. Most of the sadhaks had gone to bed early to prepare inwardly for the great event. Over the Ashram reigned an atmosphere of deep peace and silence. Only one light was burning in Sri Aurobindo’s corner room towards the street and keeping a vigil over the pervasive darkness. The Mother too had retired early, leaving Sri Aurobindo at his work. He was perhaps busy with Savitri now that the “avalanche of correspondence” had been arrested due to Darshan work. Thus the small hours were reached. Then in Purani’s room the light was switched on; it was 2 a.m. He had to prepare hot water for the Mother’s bath. At 7.30 a.m. the Darshan would start. But nobody suspected that Across the path of the divine Event The huge foreboding mind of Night, alone In her unlit temple of eternity, Lay stretched immobile upon Silence’ marge. Breaking the profound silence the emergency bell rang from the Mother ’s room. Purani rushed up and found the Mother at the top of the staircase. She said, “Sri Aurobindo has fallen down. Go and fetch Dr. Manilal.” Fortunately, he had come for the Darshan from Gujarat. Soon he arrived and saw that Sri Aurobindo was lying on the floor in his bedroom. On his way to the bathroom he had stumbled over a tiger skin. The doctor made a preliminary examination and suspected a fracture of the right thigh bone; he asked the Mother to send for assistants. It appears that Sri Aurobindo while passing from his sitting - room to the bathroom (probably revolving some lines of Savitri) fell with his right knee striking the head of a tiger. Perhaps there was jubilation among the adverse forces crying, “Our enemy has fallen!” Sri Aurobindo, however, remained unperturbed and tried to get up. Failing to do so he lay down quietly expecting that the Mother would come in soon. As was natural, the Mother in her turn received a strong vibration in her sleep which made her feel that something had gone wrong with Sri Aurobindo. She came in immediately and 5 found him lying on the floor. Her intuition and good general knowledge of medical science made her suspect a fracture. She rang the emergency bell. When we other doctors came up, we saw Dr. Manilal examining Sri Aurobindo’s injured leg. The Mother was sitting by Sri Aurobindo’s side, fanning him gently. I could not believe what I saw: on the one hand Sri Aurobindo lying helplessly, on the other, a deep divine sorrow on the Mother’s face. But I soon regained my composure and helped the doctor in the examination. My medical eye could not help taking in at a glance Sri Aurobindo’s entire body and appreciating the robust manly frame. His right knee was flexed, his face bore a perplexed smile as if he did not know what was wrong with him; the chest was bare, well-developed and the finely pressed snow-white dhoti drawn up contrasted with the shining golden thighs, round and marble-smooth, reminiscent of Yeats’s line, “World-famous golden-thighed Pythagoras”. A sudden fugitive vision of the Golden Purusha of the Vedas! Each gentle movement of the leg by the doctor made Sri Aurobindo let out a short “Ah!” which prompted the Mother to ask, “Is it hurting you?” Throughout the investigation he uttered very few words, only to answer the doctor’s questions. Finally the doctor pronounced that there was a fracture of the thigh bone. Sri Aurobindo simply heard the verdict and made no comment. A team of attendants was formed
Load more

Recommended publications
  • No 847 a Weekly Bulletin for Residents of Auroville 5Th December 2020
    News and Notes No 847 A weekly bulletin for residents of Auroville 5th December 2020 “Sri Ganesha” by Jyoti Naoki Eri/acrylic on canvas HOUSE OF MOTHER’S AGENDA “In fifty years the whole world, all the receptive section of humanity (I am not saying intellectual, I am saying receptive), all the receptive section of the world will be embraced – not “embraced”: ABSORBED in the power of Sri Aurobindo's thought. Those who already are have the good fortune of being the first ones, that's all.” — The Mother. The Agenda . 16 February 1972 (+ 50 years = Year 2022) Death's sombre cowl was cast from Nature's brow; Traveler and hewer of the unseen paths, There lightened on her the godhead's lurking laugh. He is the carrier of the hidden fire, All grace and glory and all divinity He is the voice of the Ineffable, Were here collected in a single form; He is the invisible hunter of the light, All worshipped eyes looked through his from one face; The Angel of mysterious ecstasies, He bore all godheads in his grandiose limbs. The conqueror of the kingdoms of the soul. An oceanic spirit dwelt within; A third spirit stood behind, their hidden cause, Intolerant and invincible in joy A mass of superconscience closed in light, A flood of freedom and transcendent bliss Creator of things in his all-knowing sleep. Into immortal lines of beauty rose. All from his stillness came as grows a tree; In him the fourfold Being bore its crown He is our seed and core, our head and base.
    [Show full text]
  • Talks by Nirodbaran December 1969
    TALKS BY NIRODBARAN December 1969 – July 1970 TALKS by NIRODBARAN December 1969 – July 1970 Edited by Sunayana and Maurice Sri Aurobindo Ashram Pondicherry First Edition: 2018 Rs 210 ISBN 978-93-5210-152-8 © Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust 2018 Published by Sri Aurobindo Ashram Publication Department Pondicherry 605 002 Web http://www.sabda.in Printed at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Press, Pondicherry PRINTED IN INDIA Foreword Four years before Sri Aurobindo’s birth centenary, at a teacher’s request, Nirod-da agreed to speak to the students of Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education about Sri Aurobindo. It was thought that this would help to prepare them for the occasion. Having had a privileged contact with the Master for twelve years as well as a voluminous correspondence with him, Nirod-da soon became a big draw with the students. As the audience kept increasing for his talks, the venue was shifted to the larger Hall of Harmony. Each week Nirod-da’s talk to the students was tape-recorded on a cassette; then it was immediately transcribed and made available for the following session. In this way, a hundred and fifty talks were recorded and meticulously transcribed by Sudha and Kokila. It is interesting to note that Nirod-da’s Twelve Years with Sri Aurobindo was born of notes taken for these talks; before the book was published, it was read out to the Mother in instalments by the author himself. “Thanks toN irod,” the Mother wrote, “we have a revelation of an altogether unknown side of what Sri Aurobindo was.
    [Show full text]
  • Nirodbaran Talks with Sri Aurobindo 01
    Talks with Sri Aurobindo Volume 1 by Nirodbaran Sri Aurobindo Ashram Pondicherry NOTE These talks are from my notebooks. For several years I used to record most of the conversations which Sri Aurobindo had with us, his attendants, and a few others, after the accident to his right leg in November 1938. Besides myself, the regular participants were: Purani, Champaklal, Satyendra, Mulshankar and Dr. Becharlal. Occasional visitors were Dr. Manilal, Dr. Rao and Dr. Savoor. As these notes were not seen by Sri Aurobindo himself, the responsibil- ity for the Master's words rests entirely with me. I do not vouch for absolute accuracy, but I have tried my best to reproduce them faithfully. I have made the same attempt for the remarks of the others. NIRODBARAN i PREFACE The eve of the November Darshan, 1938. The Ashram humming with the ar- rival of visitors. On every face signs of joy, in every look calm expectation and happiness. Everybody has retired early, lights have gone out: great occa- sion demands greater silent preparation. The Ashram is bathed in an atmos- phere of serene repose. Only one light keeps on burning in the corner room like a midnight vigil. Sri Aurobindo at work as usual. A sudden noise! A rush and hurry of feet breaking the calm sleep. 2:00 a.m. Then an urgent call to Sri Aurobindo's room. There, lying on the floor with his right knee flexed, is he, clad in white dhoti, upper body bare, the Golden Purusha. The Mother, dressed in a sari, is sitting beside him.
    [Show full text]
  • Champaklal's Treasures Edited by M
    Champaklal's Treasures Edited by M. P. Pandit Revised and Enlarged by Roshan First edition1976 (Edited by M. P. Pandit) Second edition 2008 (Revised and enlarged by Roshan) AUROBINDA GHOSE - 1909 Specially photographed for the prabasi and the Modern Review The Mother with Champaklal 2-2-1959 My dear child This year, the Grace has arranged circumstances in such a way that you are closer to me than you have ever been - and all through you have proved most reliable and effective, always ready, always there when you are needed, always doing what needs to be done. I am happy to tell you that on your birthday. With my love and blessings. The Mother PREFACE It is a delight to present this revised and enlarged edition of Champaklal's Treasures, which contains new material recently found among Champaklal's papers. This book comprises writings and talks of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother that were collected and preserved by Champaklal. These letters notes, messages and conversations delve deep into the values of a life based on truth, light, love, beauty, harmony and the divine consciousness. They are full of insights into the problems of transforming one's nature and offer ways to overcome them. Champaklal was interested in reading, writing, painting and music, but always his central aspiration was to serve the Divine. Sincere aspiration, even when not expressed in words, evokes a response from the Divine Grace. Champaklal's life is a standing example of this truth. His aspiration was fulfilled in a number of ways, often to his utter surprise.
    [Show full text]
  • Preparing Miraculous
    Eleven talks at Auroville Preparing for the Miraculous Georges Van Vrekhem Eleven Talks at Auroville Preparing for the Miraculous Georges Van Vrekhem Stichting Aurofonds © Georges Van Vrekhem All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted or translated into any language in India or abroad in any form or by any means without permission of the author. ISBN : 81-87582-09-X First edition : May 2011 Printed in India Cover design, layout and printing by Brihat Consultants (India) Pvt. Ltd. [email protected] Table of Contents Foreword 1 Adam Kadmon and the Evolution 1 2 The Development of Sri Aurobindo’s Thought 25 3 Preparing for the Miraculous 43 4 What Arjuna Saw: the Dark Side of the Force 71 5 2010 and 1956: Doomsday? 93 6 Being Human and the Copernican Principle 117 7 Bridges across the Afterlife 147 8 Sri Aurobindo’s Descent into Death 171 9 Sri Aurobindo and the Big Bang 191 10 Theodicy: “Nature Makes No Mistakes” 213 11 The Kalki Avatar 235 Biographical Note 267 Foreword The talks in this book have been delivered in Auroville, the first four at the Townhall in September, the following six at Savitri Bhavan in November and December 2010. The talk on “The Kalki Avatar” was also held at the Townhall, in February 2011, in the context of the seminar on “Muta- tion II”. I had been invited to give talks in Europe, the USA and India, but I had to cancel all travelling plans because of my heart condition. This led to the idea of giving a series of talks in Auroville, where I am living, and to record them so that the people who had invited me would be able, if they so desired, to have the talks all the same.
    [Show full text]
  • Sri Aurobindo
    You asked about Sri Aurobindo 25 ANSWERS! ARUN AMIN PAVITRA AMIN You Asked About Sri Aurobindo – 25 Answers! Fourth Edition Third Printing 980815 ISBN 1-891253-00-X Other titles by Arun Amin Facing Life Dynamic Meditation* OM – The Magical Mystical Sound* PEACE – The Womb of Power Black Eyed Peas or Brahman the Absolute – Conversations with the Supreme Mantras Eternal The Cosmic Beauty of Mental Silence *co-authored with Pavitra Amin d Cover photo and quotations of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo are copyright of Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust. Copyright © Arun Amin 1994, in association with Aurovision E-11 Malabar Apts. Napean sea Road, Mumbai (Bombay) 400 036. PRINTED IN INDIA You asked about Sri Aurobindo 25 Answers! Who was Sri Aurobindo? Sri Aurobindo was a poet, a writer, a scholar, a revolutionary thinker, a seer, a philosopher, a nationalist, a creator of an age, a rishi and a yogi. He carried the world in his heart. The more you try to understand him the more you realize that it is a difficult task to describe him in words. He was born in Calcutta, India on August 15, 1872, at 4:52 a.m. in the Brahmamuhurta—the hour of God. He was the third son of Dr. Krishna Dhan Ghose and Swarnalata. He left his body at 1:26 a.m. on December 5, 1950 in Pondicherry. The body remained charged with Supramental Light for 111 hours without showing any signs of decomposition. Aravind means Lotus (pronounced Aurobindo in Bengali). Sri means "Glory of the Divine" in the tradition of India.
    [Show full text]
  • News and Notes
    News and Notes #862 A weekly bulletin for residents of Auroville 20th March 2021 Anusuya Forest photo: Piero Cefaloni HOUSE OF MOTHER’S AGENDA (continued from last week) 18 April 1970 The Mother: In last night’s experience, it was everything at the same time: the body felt, acted, it was conscious, it observed, decided – everything, just everything at the same time. There even was... I don't know, I didn't have a vision of Sri Aurobindo, but I had the sensation of his presence (that often happens: at times I'll see him and he won't speak; at other times I won't see him but I'll hear him, he'll speak to me – the laws are no longer the same), and he made me notice, or rather I noted that although the body was suffering a lot (the situation was critical, you know), there wasn't the shadow of a fear in the body. Then he told me, “Yes, it's because it is able not to be afraid that you can do the work.” The absence of fear is really the result of the yoga for so many years – for half a century. It was like this (gesture, hands open), offering its suffering, all the time like this. (silence) After last night, I have every reason to think that the work is very, very active – very active. Satprem: But on the level of the earth, how do things take place? For instance, you say that Sri Aurobindo, yourself and a number of us are working in this subtle physical to prepare the new world: how is the permeation of this subtle physical made? The Mother: But in that way.
    [Show full text]
  • Library, SOM New Titles Arrived Between: April to June Accn No Title Author Call No Copies 17075 2014, the Election That Change
    Library, SOM New Titles Arrived between: April to June Accn Title Author Call No Copies No 2014, the election that Sardesai 17075 324.954 SAR 1 changed India Rajdeep Guha 1 17076 Makers of modern India 954.009 GUH Ramachandra Black Friday : the true 1 17077 story of the Bombay bomb Zaidi S. Hussain 363.325 ZAI blasts Three cups of tea : one 1 Mortenson, Greg man's mission to promote 17078 and Relin, David 371.822 MOR peace -- one school at a Oliver time Becoming Indian : the 1 Varma, Pavan 17079 unfinished revolution of 954 VER K. culture and identity India grows at night : a 1 17080 liberal case for a strong Das, Gurcharan 320.954 DAS state Identity and violence : the 1 17081 Sen, Amartya 303.6 SEN illusion of destiny The elephant, the tiger, 1 and the cell phone : 17082 reflections on India, the Tharoor, Shashi 303.6 THA emerging 21st-century power Khushwantnama : the Singh 1 17083 820.914 SIN lessons of my life Khushwant The difficulty of being 1 17084 good : on the subtle art of Das, Gurcharan 294.5923 DAS dharma A better India, a better Murthy Narayana 1 17085 330.954 MUR world N. R. The untold Vajpayee ; 1 17086 Ullekh N P 330.954 ULL politician adn paradox Target 3 billion : PURA: 1 Abdul Kalam, A. innovative solutions 307.14120954 17087 P. J and Singh towards sustainable ABD Srijan Pal development Who moved my interest 1 rate? : leading the Reserve Subbarao, 17088 332.12092 SUB Bank of India through five Duvvuri turbulent years Better : a surgeon's notes 1 17089 Gawande, Atul 616 GAW on performance Dial D for don : inside 1 17090 Kumar Neeraj, 363.2092 KUM stories of CBI missions The checklist manifesto : 1 17091 Gawande, Atul 610.28 GAW how to get things right 2020 : a vision for the new Abdul Kalam, A.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Study by Helge Jung.Pdf
    1 INTEGRATED URBAN-RURAL LANDSCAPING Research paper by Helge Jung Auroville April-September 2001 Table of Contents 3 I. Introduction 4 II. Auroville Universal Township: Conditions, Problems, targets 6 III. The areas of work: Present situation and future developments 7 A. Present State of Landscaping in Auroville 8 B. City area 8 1.) Matrimandir Gardens 9 2.) Four Major Parks 11 3.) Green Corridors and Green tunnels 13 4.) Open space planning between the settlements 15 5.) Roof and Courtyard gardening 15 6.) Avenue planting 17 7.) Parking and Service Nodes 18 C. Green Belt 18 1.) Integration of city into Green Belt 19 2.) Protection of countryside scenery in the Green Belt 23 3.) Recreation area of Green Belt 23 4.) Afforestation area of Green Belt 24 5.) Agricultural area of Green Belt 25 IV. Program of action and implementation 25 A) Actions to be taken 26 B) Maintenance, care and development 27 V. Annexes 27 27 Bibliography Addresses 6 Maps : 8 1. City Green areas 10 2. Matrimandir Gardens 12 3. Four Major Parks 14 4. Green Corridors 17 5. Ground coverage and densities 29 6. Road sections 7. Overall area with existing settlements and 30 proposed zone uses 8. Water and climate 31 9. Habitat connections for wildlife 32 10. Townscape and spatial elements 2 Acknowledgements I am very grateful to Luigi Zanzi, Director of 'Auroville’s Future', Auroville Town Planning Office, for welcoming me to Auroville and giving me a lot of trust and support to do my work, which also helped me to widen my perspective.
    [Show full text]
  • News and Notes #867 a Weekly Bulletin for Residents of Auroville 24Th April 2021
    News and Notes #867 A weekly bulletin for residents of Auroville 24th April 2021 24th April 1920 – The Mother’s final return to Pondicherry HOUSE OF MOTHER’S AGENDA (continued from last week) 4 July 1970 The Mother: The body has itself reached that point, it finds it very difficult to feel a separate existence for itself, and (laughing) curiously that's only (Mother touches her cheek), only when it's in pain. For instance, I constantly have a toothache, here (this area as I told you [Mother points to her mouth and throat]), and that's it, it's the only thing that gives me the sense of being “my body” It doesn't feel separate. So I think that's the natural condition for the normal development. You understand, the impression of “feeling” in a certain way, of “thinking” in a certain way, all that has completely vanished: you receive indications – sometimes of the way this person feels or that one reacts – but that's when a work needs to be done: it's an indication, and it's something taking place there, like this (gesture around, some distance away), it's not within. No, I looked several times: I've always had the impression that things are fine (I mean for you), that the progress is quite fine. You're on the way. It's all right. And I find a great change.... There's only one corner, maybe of the speculative mind, that still has an attitude of its own – high enough in the mind, not an ordinary mind, a mind..
    [Show full text]
  • Nov-Dec Text 2011
    MOTHER INDIA MONTHLY REVIEW OF CULTURE Vol. LXIV Nos. 11-12 “Great is Truth and it shall prevail” CONTENTS Sri Aurobindo ‘A FIRE SHALL COME OUT OF THE INFINITUDES . .’ (Poem) ... 897 PART OF THE WORK ... 899 The Mother ‘THOU ART EVERYWHERE . .’ ... 900 A VISION (7) ... 901 Amal Kiran (K. D. Sethna) A VISION AND A CERTITUDE ... 903 Manoj Das SRI AUROBINDO: LIFE AND TIMES OF THE MAHAYOGI CHAPTER VIII: A STEP TOWARDS LIBERATION ... 904 “A ray returning to its parent sun” Remembering Amal A RECIPIENT OF THEIR GRACE ... 915 Selection from Amal’s correspondence with Sri Aurobindo and the Mother Aster Patel FOR AMAL . GRATEFULLY . ... 934 P. Raja TO K. D. SETHNA WITH LOVE ... 935 R. Y. Deshpande MY FIRST CONTACT WITH AMAL ... 939 Anie Nunnally AN I NTERVIEW WITH AMAL KIRAN ... 941 Georges Van Vrekhem AMAL KIRAN: PSYCHIC GREATNESS, MENTAL VERSATILITY ... 946 Satadal UPON AMAL’S PASSING (Poem) ... 951 Sachidananda Mohanty AMAL KIRAN: SWEETNESS AND LIGHT ... 952 Maggi A DEEP SILENCE OF HEART-FELT GRATITUDE ... 954 Shraddhavan A TRUE FRIEND ... 957 Narad AMAL KIRAN — A TRIBUTE ... 961 Kireet Joshi MY SALUTATIONS TO AMAL ... 967 Shyam Kumari HOW I MET AMAL: A HOMAGE OF GRATITUDE ... 969 Suresh Dey “FACE TO FACE” (Poem) ... 973 V. Ananda Reddy CLEAR MEMORIES ... 974 Sunjoy WHO WROTE THAT APPRECIATION — AMAL OR I? ... 979 Alok Pandey THE GREATNESS OF THE GREAT ... 981 — DOCUMENT OF TIMELESS THINKING ... 984 Aditi Vasishtha REMEMBERING AMAL WITH JOY ... 985 Chandrakant Parmar WITH AMAL KIRAN WHILE RECORDING THE SAVITRI RECITATION ... 990 Arun Vaidya AMAL KIRAN: A POET-PILGRIM OF INTEGRAL TRUTH ... 992 Manoj Das MY EDITOR — MY TEACHER ..
    [Show full text]
  • The Psychic Being: Our Opening to the Divine By
    The Psychic Being: Our Opening to the Divine By Marshall Govindan Under what conditions will the fully opened Psychic Being bring about the supramental transformation by the practice of Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga? This paper will attempt to answer the question. A clear understanding of Sri Aurobindo’s use of the term psychic being is essential to the practitioner of Integral Yoga. It is found throughout his writings and is a distinguishing feature of his Yoga. As we shall see, it cannot be equated with the English words soul or Self or with the Indian terms Atman, Jivatman, or Purusha. Although the Psychic Being is present in everyone’s heart, it is almost always hidden, and its workings are mingled with the movements of the mind and the vital. Until it emerges in the foreground of the consciousness, individual efforts in Yogic sadhana (discipline) remain fitful and limited by these movements. The practice of Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga – summarized in the words aspiration, rejection, and surrender – progresses to the extent that the Psychic Being comes to the forefront of one’s consciousness. This occurs in four stages. What is the Psychic Being? Sri Aurobindo often refers to it metaphorically as a “spark which comes from the Divine.” The psychic is a spark come from the Divine which is there in all things and as the individual evolves it grows in him and manifests as the psychic being, the soul seeking always for the Divine and the Truth and answering to the Divine and the Truth whenever and wherever it meets it.
    [Show full text]