Vision 2047

The coy flirtation of the West with India of the last 400 years is going to see its consummation in the next forty years. Bollywood and a bourgeoning market are likely to be strong catalysts. The cultural diversity India has seen and managed till now will be still more complex and chaotic. A formulaic Hindu vs. Muslim outlook will soon become outdated as lots of foreign-born persons of Indian origin come to press the levers of power and economy in and from outside the country.

In this scenario the Fourth Dream of Sri Aurobindo should play a dominant role. People have juggled enough with names and novelties but nothing substantial can come from the jaded formulations howsoever they are dressed in newest attires. The Mother and Sri Aurobindo alone can save the humanity and give it a splendid future. To disregard this fact and engage in liberal bear hugging with one and all is utter treachery to the Masters who have “worked, suffered, struggled, hoped, endured so much” for us.

Let the Savitri Erans come out in the open with unflinching support and loyalty to their faith and devotion. Let’s say with enough conviction and in one voice that Savitri Era is the only religion. [TNM]

It's raining outside but I don't believe that it is

B.K. Matilal while dwelling on Knowledge vs. Belief brings in the G.E Moore’s puzzle: “p but I do not believe that p.” The same is perhaps the point emphasized in the popular Hindi expression, “Main na manu.”

This is the anvil upon which the most tenacious piece of logic or epistemology is shredded asunder. Such is the sovereign autonomy of “I mean” or “I think” which implies nothing but pure faith. Religion flourishes with this pseudo-rationality as its bulwark. There is no reason why the Savitri Erans sould be short of this stuff.

Transfer of the leadership in philosophy from the West to India

Much before the independence of India, Prof. Sisir Kumar Maitra in an inspired tone wrote in 1942, “Thanks to Sri Aurobindo, the leadership in philosophy, which India had enjoyed in the past and which she lost for some centuries, has come back to her.”

That is the India we must be proud of. Savitri Erans will have to work together to see this prophecy into fruition. [TNM] 11:21 AM

That sense of reverence easily turns into deification

Tusar N Mohapatra said... If you proceed most rationally by keeping an open mind and compare the contribution of Sri Aurobindo with others, then you realize that he is the greatest. In time, that sense of reverence easily turns into deification. There is no choice, and there is no escape either. 11:40 AM

Sri Aurobindo, the Rishi, was there

Many of the illustrious persons who fought for the freedom of the country had breathed their last before the hour of independence. Even Mahatma Gandhi did not live to see the Constitution of India instituted. Sri Aurobindo, the Rishi, was there to bless the reborn republic of this ancient nation by singing his Savitri. [TNM]

Savitri Erans will have to associate themselves

33 years after The Mother’s departure, the Savitri Erans must consider themselves a blessed lot. The people on the globe are captive to rival isms and ideologies as rigorous thought is also being suspected because of cultural bias. Most critics and writers are out to sow the contagion of confusion while scholars are audaciously challenging the seers.

Fortunately for us, shelter under the dispensation of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo is so reassuring. Here is a teaching that beats all science and philosophy and yet so forward looking and optimistically transformative. Savitri Erans will have to associate themselves to create a critical mass. [TNM]

How long will the Savitri Erans act in the manner of an ostrich?

[India to overtake United States by 2050: Goldman Sachs Report

Dinesh Narayanan The Times of India> 24 Jan, 2007]

Such sensational front page stories surprise us no longer as the steady growth of affluence in the course of the last 20 years is so palpable. But equally obvious is the rise of individualism, indifference, irreverence, insensitivity, antagonism and exhibitionism. Are they related? If yes, how effectively can the Savitri Erans intervene in these areas?

The Mother despised politics, but she also went on to build a City for the future, a modern Polis. So there can’t be any respite from politics for the Savitri Erans. Same is the case with economics, commerce, technology issues, and international relations. Framing of public policies are taking place all the while. There is also the talk of rewriting the Indian Constitution. How long will the Savitri Erans act in the manner of an ostrich? [TNM]

Mount Everest facing Mount Everest

Tusar N Mohapatra said... The modern mind with its democratic ethos shudders at the sight of a superlative and hastens to believe that "there is no 'general competence'." Amal Kiran once described the multiple facets of Sri Aurobindo as Mount Everest facing Mount Everest. How else can one express about such eminences? 3:28 PM

Action ensues from the transforming-creative power of the Knowledge

The disciples of Marx have made a fetish of his distinction between Theory and Praxis while insisting on the primacy of the latter. But in a Sri Aurobindian framework the Theory or Knowledge is sovereign as action ensues from the transforming-creative power of the Knowledge. And that has been the stance of the Vedas from the ancient times. [TNM]

Rare sympathetic rumination over Sri Aurobindo

Indistinct Union: Nonduality and Christianity

"Aurobler? Wilbindian?" posted by CJ Smith @ 6:28 PM 1 comments

At 3:19 AM, Tusar N Mohapatra said... Many thanks for this perceptive post for so rarely one encounter such sympathetic rumination over Sri Aurobindo these days. I hope, you'd carry this discourse forward in conjunction with Godwin, Alan, Anderson et al.

A small factual discrepancy, btw! The Absolute is not same as Sacchidananda for Sri Aurobindo. And that is fodder enough for your next post.

Suckle the Secret of the Veda

The Secret of the Veda by Sri Aurobindo is an absolutely unique creation. Most Westerners conversant with the ideas of Sri Aurobindo are unaware of the significance of this work. The theme of the Other Worlds recurrent in various writings of Sri Aurobindo has its firm basis in the ancient utterances of the Veda that he brought out so skillfully through his inspired translations. Any attempt to interpret and integrate the teachings of Sri Aurobindo without any acquaintance with this book is ludicrous. [TNM]

Jurassic era or Savitri Era?

While THE TIMES OF INDIA of 20 Jan, 2007 is rooting for Ancient Wisdom, elsewhere Zeus vs. Jesus feud is escalating. It is for the mankind to decide, Jurassic era or Savitri Era. [TNM]

Skill and Chance

[An added point that Hayek makes is that the rules of the game of market exchange are neither just nor unjust. They merely forbid certain actions. Success in this game involves both skill as well as chance. The game of market exchange is a much kinder game than life in the jungle. But it is still a game.

-- Sauvik Chakraverti, THE TIMES OF INDIA 17 Jan, 2007]

Skill + Chance

Self-effort + Surrender

Call from below + Grace from above

[TNM]

A supernational empire for the Savitri Erans

[How does an alliance of English-speaking, freedom and market friendly nations sound?

Indian Express Wednesday, January 17, 2007]

It took all clans and peoples for her own [Savitri.4.4.377]

The socio-political dimensions of Savitri Era have to be diligently worked out in an atmosphere of collective consultations. Here we are dealing with the Global culture and ethnicity in all its diversity. The myriad aspects of political sensitivities have also to be responded to. The present formulation of Multiculturalism is surely not the answer and the Marxist enthusiasm to keep religious sentiments out have to be fought against. The future vision of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo constitute an authentic reference point for a genuinely federal, if not unitary, collective living. And time and again Sri Aurobindo has pointed out that the future identities would not depend upon geographically contiguous political entities.

Such a supernational empire can be conceived for the Savitri Erans. In fact it is already in operation. A little bit of an organizing initiative can make it a formidable force to reckon with. Then we can have our say at all international forums more forcefully. [TNM]

Let there be no barrier on imagination and exploration

To be or not to be, M.P. Pandit famously mused many years ago perhaps subtly decreeing in favour of the latter option. For more than half a century such pussyfooting has continued not to disturb the delicate balance in deference to the Masters’ sensibilities. So far, so good.

Time and technology, now, has created a larger arena where the old tightrope walking has to be jettisoned. The twin approaches need not be seen on two neat sides of the gender divide. Let there be no barrier on imagination and exploration. The whole world is out there waiting to be conquered by the Savitri Erans. No more hidings and hibernations. This is the hour to be heroic.

All are cordially invited to attend the April 2007 Conference at Matrubhaban, Cuttack

April Conference 2006 :
Programme of All Orissa Study Circle Conference from 4th to 7th April 2006 at Matrubhaban, Cuttack

This annual Mahakumbh is the largest congregation outside Puducherry where the Savitri Erans from different states of India and abroad meet to be united in their aspirations. The 2007 conference is less than three months away, and all are cordially invited to attend.

The Veda vs. Buddha war is two and a half millennia old, and let it be fought anew

All said and done, nobody can rob Ken Wilber of the crown as an intellectual colossus of our day. That such a large number of discerning people read his works and look forward to him for inspiration is certainly phenomenal. A sampling of recent comments brings the contour into sharp focus:

Wilber doesn't deserve to be pigeon-holed

It's Wilber's writings that set my mind free from the limitations of the New Age mentality. I think it's more appropriate to refer to Wilber as an "integral theorist" or simply, a philosopher. But that's just me. January 10, 2007 at 04:15 PM in Integral Stuff Permalink Re-posted on the I-I pod at Zaadz

Calling KW a "New Age" theorist is like calling KW a "perennial" philosopher. But then even perennial is not accurate to qualify his theories. Bottomline: why qualify Wilber with New Age when we can just simply refer to him as a "philosopher"? To me, adding a New Age qualifier misrepresents the vast work of Wilber as a scholar, thinker, theorist, and philosopher. ~C Posted by: ~C4Chaos Jan 11, 2007 9:38:38 AM

In the wikipedia article, "New Age" is used a criticism of Wilber's philosophy and theory. The description of Wilber in the wikipedia article is tainted with criticism rather the being less biased. A less biased description of Wilber would be philosopher, mystic, theorist, writer, author. The New Age qualifier is an opinion. My two cents. ~C Posted by: ~C4Chaos Jan 12, 2007 11:38:28 AM

Re: Is Ken Wilber New Age? ~C4Chaos said Thursday, 10:54 AM: Maybe some of those people forgot that BHE, SES, Grace and Grit, and Boomeritis contain scathing critique of the New Age mentality/philosophy.

Though Ken seems very open to a vast range of traditions, he has been vocal in his opposition to careless sampling and to entirely fabricating practices. He has given a lot of praise to established lineages, which seems quite uncommon for someone pegged as New Age. Posted by: Apollo Jan 11, 2007 5:23:43 AM

A spirited defense

joe perez Says: December 22nd, 2006 at 3:03 pm On the other hand, if you stick to bad KW interpretations and misreadings offered by people with axes to grind, then sure you’re going to be able to succeed at claiming KW as some sort of megalomaniacal theorist. But remember as you put together your own views on Spirit that you should expect others to treat your own words with no more generosity and accuracy than you are giving to KW.

joe perez Says: December 22nd, 2006 at 3:13 pm Oops - in last paragraph, “stick to” is overstated. I should have said “offer”. While I do think your reading of KW is somewhat off in this case, I don’t think your interpretations of KW are “bad” and wouldn’t want that implied. Honestly though, while I didn’t direct the “people with axes to grind” comment directly at you, generally with the “non-Wilberian integralists” that’s how I perceive them as coming across. I say this because some of the most vocal ones will latch onto any and every KW careless phrase, I-I misstep, and pile on. Then they’ll generously point to any and every KW critic from ANY point of view as their new hero. That’s the sound of one axe grinding.

An enlightened bodhisattva

Wilber in his own spiritual life has been influenced more by Zen, Ramana, and Dzogchen Tibetan Buddhism--though he does practice tonglen and deity yoga--and Wilber doesn't speak about Aurobindo's devotional writings. posted by CJ Smith @ 7:45 PM 0 comments Thursday, November 30, 2006 Indistinct Union: Nonduality and Christianity 6:11 PM

goethean Says: November 27th, 2006 at 10:48 am For some time, I have seen Wilber’s theory as an attempt to synthesize Ramana and Zen on the one hand with Aurobindo on the other. 10:22 AM

People in the Integral Institute and elsewhere have taken an imperfect human being and worship him as an enlightened bodhisattva (TLDI 2-x) Integral Practice, Integral Esotericism - Part Six Alan Kazlev 6-x The Incompatibility of Integral Theory and Religion 1:56 PM

Although Alan Kazlev doesn't consent to accord to Ken Wiber the status of an enlightened Bodhisattva, to the Savitri Erans it suits well as we can conveniently put Zen, Ken, Ramana and Theosophy in the same Buddhist bracket which is antithetical to the Veda-inspired vision of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. The Veda vs. Buddha war is two and a half millennia old, and let it be fought anew with the battle-lines drawn clear.

And no term is fixed for that

Fukuyama’s The End of History posited the puzzling finding that high economic growth was achieved equally under autocracies as in countries with democratic apparatus. Half a century earlier Sri Aurobindo had commented that the linkage of the equalitarian ideal of rise of the proletariat with Socialism was only an accident of history and had no causal affinity.

The recorded history might inform us a number of such anomalies and absurdities but the sense of an underlying evolutionary impulse of the world-soul signaling is unmistakable. Whereas the periods of plutoed downslide should be seen perched on its spiral, there are, as Sri Aurobindo assures, contrary order possibilities that can perform reversals in an emergent fashion. And no term is fixed for that. 1:50 AM 1:33 AM

Sri Aurobindo was too polite to put things explicitly

Vd wrote: What a narrow un-integral perspective! I wonder, have you read the letters exchanged between Sri Aurobindo, Dilip, and Krishnaprem? If you had you would have known that Sri Aurobindo addresses just this issue and stands by the view that Krishnaprem must continue on his chosen path and follow his guru...Truly, sir, you sound terribly un-Aurobindonianly dogmatic, I say! Regards, Vd 6:19 PM

Tusar N Mohapatra said... I'd prefer to go by the sub-text rather than the text, for Sri Aurobindo was too polite to put things explicitly. I’d further prefer to plough my own furrow in as narrow godmatically-dogmatic manner as possible. 5:58 AM

Read The Life Divine for clarity on the concept of evolution

Tusar N Mohapatra said... Sri Aurobindo has authored the 1117 pages of The Life Divine to bring home the concept of evolution. The book needs to be read in original for clarity on the subject. 1/09/2007 03:44:51 PM 10:16 PM

The Krishnaprem syndrome

Geriatric and Jurassic era teachings are playing havoc with the modern man’s psyche. It is a Herculean task for any individual to step out of their titanic hold upon the ethno-mytho-religio-cultural matrix. Affection and affiliation impart a blinding effect on a person’s efforts in searching for the right path. And this propensity is no different from falling for brand equity or exhibiting brand loyalty. Then, after the lapse of a considerable time, the brand becomes a baggage which one has to carry perforce.

• Else, he loses his self-esteem
• Puts up with the flaws that have come to his notice
• Lacks courage to take up any New offering
• Suspects that the New might have the same or some other flaws
• Age and enthusiasm fails him.

The logic of the Enlightenment assumes that an intellectual culture should be able to save a person from the above obvious vagaries. But the pleasure of the text syndrome negates such an insulation.

So, ultimately we blame it on the individual’s intrinsic choice of his destiny. Otherwise, how can one explain the reluctance of as erudite and evolved a person as Krishnaprem not to recognize the sublimity of Sri Aurobindo’s teachings? And so, why to be surprised at similar abhorrence of our omniscient Integral-wallahs?

All these talk of post-metaphysical is rubbish

Will Durant, in his Story of Philosophy, lamented how epistemological enquiry has encroached upon the whole of philosophical endeavour. Heidegger’s quest for Being reinforced a renewed interest in Ontology, but many of his methodological innovations were again epistemological, like his Destruction leading to Derrida’s Deconstruction.

Sri Aurobindo, in one of his letters on Poetry expresses the hope that the prevailing anti-romantic age would pass by when his poems will again be appreciated. In a similar vein, we must say that all these talk of post-metaphysical is rubbish and no amount of cognitive psychology can hijack the knack for pure philosophy.

Appraisal of the 20th century philosophers

There are many accomplished students of philosophy among the Savitri Erans. But no one has attempted a systematic appraisal of the 20th century philosophers reigning the western world. Such a study from the Sri Aurobindian standpoint is absolutely necessary. Otherwise upstarts from the academia or otherwise are ruling the roost with their half-baked and hare-brained propositions. We must be able to call their bluff. This can be modeled on Sri Aurobindo’s account of the English poets in The future Poetry. Else, it can be an anthology with several persons contributing.

The Integral-wallahs should learn Sanskrit

The Integral-wallahs are afflicted by several diseases. Wilber-mania is the most conspicuous, of course. But the underlying infirmities and insecurities are also glaring. Their pompous pronouncements on anything under the sun conceal their superficial impressions of Asian countries and cultures.

Especially, their ignorance of Sanskrit and the thousands of Vedic terminology, which we are privileged to understand so naturally. Garbha is as alien to them as Delphic to us though both the words signify the same thing. But then how to know the significance of say, Hiranyagarbha, without being acquainted with a little bit of Sanskrit? But their refusal to learn is a great bottleneck.

Rejection of discordant thoughts and philosophies

Aspiration for the Supramental and the willingness to surrender before it are crucial principles in our journey. Additionally, rejection of what is incompatible to attainment of the Supramental is an ongoing challenging task.

The word rejection immediately brings to the mind the host of vital impulses and instinct which manipulate us all the time. But rejection of thoughts and philosophies that are discordant for the path of the Supramental is also important. Every line of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo, if read carefully, tells us to reject something of the past so that we remain receptive to the higher consciousness. Glossing over such utterances or complacency on that score is not desirable on the prt of a Savitri Eran.

Read philosophy sans religion

Tusar N. Mohapatra Says: December 31st, 2006 at 4:35 pm
 I am really pushing it a bit too far because it has been pushed back and marginalized for far too long
 Instead of arrogant proselytizing, it can be called aggressive persuasion to read philosophy sans religion
 I am talking about a single book, The Life Divine and Sri Aurobindo is everybody’s cause, not mine alone
 There is any number of materials available to read online