Senility and liminality

 Frank Visser has wisely noted that the philosophy of The Life Divine is mystical and theological. There should be no dispute on this point since the title itself speaks of the Divine. Besides, if Sri Aurobindo's other writings and activities are taken into consideration, then a lot of religious aspects come to the fore. This is one methodological lapse. A more fundamental one is the absurdity of comparing an avowedly religious philosophy with the contents and methods of sundry materialist philosophies. 

In The Secret of the Veda, which was being published simultaneously with The Life Divine, Sri Aurobindo interpreted the Deities as different layers of higher consciousness. Thus, the ontological framework of The Life Divine was not something he imagined anew. Other traditions like Theosophy too had comparable systems. So, seeking evidence from Sri Aurobindo on this count can't be accepted as reasonable. Many would promptly take shelter under the argument that he was very much privy to yogic vision as documented in myriad manners. 

I don't claim any supernatural experience and expect that all our learning and thinking are amenable to Modernity. Subjective experiences have little value since they can neither be replicated or evaluated nor transmitted to others. From this perspective, what The Mother & Sri Aurobindo have written is their property and responsibility. I shouldn't be overly enthusiastic to justify them or recommend them as self-evident truth. Even, any attempt to suggest the superiority of the Ashram or Auroville can be misleading. 

Each person's trajectory of life is absolutely unique, as far as my understanding goes. Hence, imagining that by following some practices of yoga or any kind of psychological manipulation, they can be straightened or smoothened looks a bit far fetched. Moreover, in addition to the usual struggle for life and facing its complexities, The Mother & Sri Aurobindo have put enormous intellectual and psychological burden on their followers without any verifiable commensurate results. 

No wonder, most people keep themselves satisfied with Sri Aurobindo's India-centric writings or Sanatana Dharma. Others find peace in poetry. Savitri is proving to be a symptom for Obsession or Regression. Some vote for the Veda. Some others highlight the revolutionary period of Sri Aurobindo. These are really very practical applications with immense educative dimensions as scope for research widens. I, too, copy and paste whatever good I read, and then post on my Blogs. 

So far so good. Self-protection from competing ideologies and narratives too becomes urgent, at this juncture. Savitri Era Religion provides the most suitable shelter in accordance with the Pascal's Wager. That is what I have learnt through my seventy years. Writing is important for providing independent views which is a rarity, these days. My unique course of life has given me varied experiences and instructions. I have been kept out of institutional influences and personal affinities, too. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Misc. References:

The Life Divine Reconsidered: A Skeptical Review of Sri Aurobindo's Magnum Opus, Frank Visser / ChatGPT

7 hours ago — Few works of modern spiritual philosophy rival Sri Aurobindo's The Life Divine in ambition. Published in revised form in 1939-40 after first appearing ...

Here's a graphic of my current project: Egregore Ascendant - A six-part analysis of collective possession and recovery - M. Alan Kazlev 

https://x.com/i/status/2087326864495006129

EMOTIONS
A Cultural and Etymological History of Our Feelings
by Michel Briand Table of Contents: 
Toward a Linguistic and Cultural History of the Emotions I. Joy
II. Sadness
III. Anger
IV. Love
V. Fear
VI. Trust
VII. Contempt
VIII. Pride
IX. Disgust
X. Beauty - Aakash Singh Rathore 

https://x.com/i/status/2087201204849803669

[HTML] A Complete Master List of Virtues from the Ancient Traditions

SJ April

… In the light of this article, thought it might be useful to also include that “virtues”
appear integral to the spiritual development of an individual too. Present in some
form or the other in all the religions, streams of spirituality, and philosophies, that …

Primary Virtues

Benevolence / Compassion / Kindness / Charity / Love / Magnanimity / Friendliness / Courtesy 

Temperance / Moderation / Patience / Frugality / Modesty / Humility

Truthfulness / Honesty / Integrity / Sincerity

Prudence / Wisdom / Knowledge / Intelligence

Courage / Fortitude

Justice / Righteousness / Honor

Equanimity / Tranquility / Contentment

Secondary Virtues

Faith / Hope, Diligence, Wit, Cleanliness / Order, Proper Ambition, Magnificence, Chastity, and Loyalty

https://becausethouart.blogspot.com/2026/07/beauty-and-nobility-expressed-through.html

https://seof.blogspot.com/2026/07/auroveda-and-sri-aurobindo-chair.html

https://savitriera.blogspot.com/2026/07/7-8-virtues.html

Esoteric aspects should be restricted to personal consumption

 As Founder of Savitri Era Religion (2006), I take a different line in many respects which need to be understood clearly. Most people have not read The Mother & Sri Aurobindo's writings adequately, and, hence, many misconceptions circulate, unhindered.

His reference to the Sanatana Dharma in his Uttarpara speech is the most misunderstood and misrepresented. Hindutva drawing justification from it is entirely misconceived. Similarly, their stress on Sanskrit shouldn't be emphasised, literally. Further, his suggestions against Aryan Invasion Theory shouldn't be treated as full proof. 

Due to lack of valid evaluation, I avoid recommending practice of yoga. Instead, Savitri Era Religion encourages worshipping The Mother & Sri Aurobindo as the one Supreme Divine and surrender to them. Besides, mystical and esoteric aspects of their teachings should be restricted to personal consumption otherwise others might get carried away. 

Hindu or India-centric worldview and harbouring hubris around it is a major flaw. Many love to quote The Mother & Sri Aurobindo for buttressing such a mentality. Savitri Era Party, on the other hand, highlights the universalist dimensions of the Five Dreams Manifesto, broadcast on August 14, 1947. 

While their writings are open to academic scrutiny, their life and action constitutes a much larger religious phenomenon. This is something which goes beyond their own pronouncements. Since it's a matter of personal beief without any institutional interference, only the future can tell where it would lead to. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Soft Power of America

 Makarand R. Paranjape has produced a series of podcasts on America and related themes which merit contemplation. I don't know how far his perception is in alignment with Sri Aurobindo's Third Dream of a World Union. But as Dr. Pariksith Singh noted, the Soft Power of America has become all pervasive. 

Paranjape waxes eloquent on Freedom but his own record on this score is disappointing during the last decade. However, his, seemingly, course correction is welcome. Despite lacking adequate Degree or pedigree, I have been showing the right direction under the banner of Savitri Era Party since 2007. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social 

Misc. References:

1. https://youtu.be/WbR1IVspoRc?si=J86oHNCY5Q9_zQh1

2. https://youtu.be/u-J2jYs8Xng?si=zg1_WnV__VAU53JT

3. https://youtu.be/SstDo24kHaU?si=aH0y2LAYDiozEH8S

4. https://youtu.be/GJQsINsV2cA?si=orxDMpfrHBVoODhR

5. https://youtu.be/qJi7YrOHjks?si=WmoGx3_Wx5Qf-fRf

6. https://youtu.be/hr7qPTgIKNw?si=8AAPDdtP9iWVy3mV

7. https://youtu.be/rnluRgBtBg8?si=4EG_xGbRyDSf835d

8. https://youtu.be/0ny1EZQ6MTI?si=z7p7MP4Z27LA_3if

9. https://youtu.be/-JgTRHMeudw?si=mUV17b2XNmLdtyhe

10. https://youtu.be/SIbI58p1oW0?si=Yu6SnOIKPXnYCrCE

11. https://youtu.be/w2oBRFxtOmk?si=Qpag83cqSj2mdgeh

12. https://youtu.be/-HI9L1BplvE?si=0OZ_TQI5MC4Q0vif

13. https://youtu.be/lwjVMrmX5e4?si=63LeD6NkX_bHLH5C

14. https://youtu.be/aXHX4GWepAQ?si=lSqrZozVsAf7OD9h

15. https://youtu.be/jSGJ9BxLrVs?si=xcF6WepQzJB8OfUd 

16. https://youtu.be/5wqJxJbmgzA?si=qJpWsO8mrQt3w0b3 

17. https://youtu.be/_NsCSXbFiC4?si=iuHjWdgfCJqLT8x-

18. https://youtu.be/WpLAcVseru4?si=3Yy16n2lkPRHvN4Y

Savitri and The Life Divine: the twin towers

 It's a matter of great significance that coinciding with the month of the birth of Sri Aurobindo, Frank Visser has put up an AI-aided appraisal of The Life Divine for the wide readership of the Integral World. While not being miserly in showering praise on the book, he doesn't mince words in pointing out its shortcomings. 

It is interesting to remember at this point the kind of enthusiasm the Integral movement had generateed two decades ago. Alan Kazlev was a leading voice in explaining the intricacies of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo's philosophy and yoga from a comparative perspective. I had also launched the Savitri Era Religion in 2006, what I had called, On Alan's anvil. 

Visser has aptly observed, "From the standpoint of philosophy and science, the book raises profound problems that remain largely unresolved." This can be said to be the biggest accolade for something written more than a century back. Savitri, similarly, has been described by many as something the full significance of which cannot be grasped with all intellectual application. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social 

Misc. References:

The Life Divine Reconsidered: A Skeptical Review of Sri Aurobindo's Magnum Opus, Frank Visser / ChatGPT

7 hours ago — Few works of modern spiritual philosophy rival Sri Aurobindo's The Life Divine in ambition. Published in revised form in 1939-40 after first appearing ...

Chapter I - The Methods of Knowledge

15 hours ago — Sri Aurobindo is one of the brightest luminaries in the philosophico-religious firmament of India. He gives us his 'Weltanschauung' on the basis of the ...

Preface

6 hours ago — The teachings of Sri Aurobindo focus on a strong and marked tendency towards the integration of the once very separate world-views of East and West. Integral ...

FLAVORS OF ADVAITA IN VIVEKANANDA, RABINDRANATH, AND SRI AUROBINDO

D Banerji - Praise for Swami Vivekananda: His Life, Legacy, and …

… , Aurobindo Ghosh, aka Sri Aurobindo, … Aurobindo was also intimately
connected to the Brahmo Samaj, though he did not think of himself as a Brahmo—his
mother was a daughter of Rajnarain Bose, one of the important stalwarts of the …

The Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram: Co-Creator of the Integral Yoga by Patrick Beldio

G Adams - Nova Religio, 2026

… In light of Beldio’s acknowledged commitment to the Integral Yoga tradition, some
readers … and Mirra as they developed the Integral Yoga tradition and Aurobindo
Ashram. This is not a … constant references to how Integral Yoga fits into the larger …

The Bijlani magic

 Dr. Ramesh Bijlani has been active in spreading awareness about the yoga of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo since the early Nineties. His talks are lucid and have the advantage of his medical profession. His recent podcasts are quite inspiring and his enthusiasm is contagious. 

Misc. References:

1. https://youtu.be/eXWFljBDscA?si=k0qOMjFgRTg0TeM3

2. https://youtu.be/WcjIBmq8yT8?si=4sk8MStb4lDFoOT6

3. https://youtu.be/ZUK8GEduKOo?si=pOYY7kqI2Fs3iN4l

4. https://youtu.be/2rhjpDMpwLo?si=YLl1uR2o1WUsFh3m

Savitri Era solidarity

 Gitanjali J.B. had initiated the Court case in Odisha for banning The Lives of Sri Aurobindo by Peter Heehs in 2008. She has acquired a national profile now as Gitanjali J.A. But when Anirban Ganguly refers to her as a Self-styled Sri Aurobindo expert, it sounds a bit odd. Since there is no institutional mechanism for awarding valid certificates, we are all self-appointed workers in the service of The Mother. 

Quite understandable that we shall be working under diverse circumstances and pursuing different ideologies. Thus, conflict is inevitable, but mutual respect and recognition as their students and devotees also needs to be exhibited. Let's not forget that we constitute a miniscule of the population who have been granted this immense privilege of knowing about this higher truth. That needs to be told to the public. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social 

Misc. References:

1. The directions came in response to a petition filed by Gitanjali Devi, wife of one Jayant Bhattacharjee of Balasore, alleging that the book was blasphemous in nature. Under the guise of a biography, the writer had cast aspersions on the life and character of the philosopher, sage, poet and freedom fighter.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/states/odisha/2008/Nov/05/hc-conditions-for-release-of-book-4550.html

2. Wangchuk’s close associate, Gitanjali Wangchuk, is, we are told, a devotee of Sri Aurobindo. In her parting shot, she is said to have observed that it is Gen Z that has shown what it means for India to be a Viswaguru and that they have lived the Sanatana Dharma.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/opinion/abuse-is-not-awakening-670656

https://x.com/i/status/2084113707987345443 

3. Self-styled Sri Aurobindo experts who pat the self-styled Gen Z Modi abusers on the back and repose faith in their ability to make India Viswaguru must instead ask them to read, absorb and internalise, if at all possible, Sri Aurobindo’s advice to the students of the National College. His appeal to them to “Work that she [India] may prosper. Suffer that she [India] may rejoice…” remains relevant and striking across generations and decades.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/opinion/the-viswaguru-imperative-670797

https://x.com/i/status/2084504563709886854

Average is Kosher

 I was in NCC in the college, but haven't followed any regular physical exercise except walking, at times. Intellectual engagement also gives a good pretext for avoiding physical work. After VRS from PNB in 2000, my sleep timings have turned erratic and episodic. So, instead of blaming my own will-power, I, conveniently, put the onus on biology and hormones.

Many are predicting that there will be no work in future due to AI and Robotics. But whether the requirement for physical exercise will go down is not known. In any case, yoga or gym don't seem to me as a normal human activity. Many types of sports too are bizarre affairs. Many things seem to be weird impositions in the name of civilisation.

Even in the case of music and dance also, reaching extreme levels is considered as excellence. Applying the Olympics spirit of competition everywhere is certainly an aberration. Performing at the average standard should be the norm instead of any self-torture method. The same is also true for many other aspects of life. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social 

Surat whispers

 Sri Aurobindo was instrumental in forcing the Surat Congress split in 1907. The party has seen umpteen splits and defections, since then. The Janata Party under JP had become the most formidable alternative to it, in 1977, but splintered, subsequently. BJP now appears to have grown as much strong with a nationwide presence and acceptability.

But it has never ruled at the centre, alone. In this respect, it is still inferior to the Congress as well as Janata Party. The personalised style of Modi has prevented BJP from developing organic robustness. The interference by RSS, in addition, is a nagging concern. Apron strings of Dynasty, similarly, dwarfs the Congress. True democratic functioning, thus, is conspicuous by its absence, everywhere.

Modernity celebrates democracy, but the modalities of the latter are inherently anti-modern. There is no rationality for how to choose. But the original sin can be traced to the arbitrary selection of a sperm by the ovum. It is the mother of injustice and indifference. Demanding a level playing-field or fair-play, therefore, can be construed as a superstition.

This pessimistic scenario, however, can be healed through a Vedic ontological perspective, where order and symmetry are native. Aspiration for the same can usher in higher consciousness for transforming human nature. This is also in line with the evolutionary intention. Politics, thus, is not entirely separate from spirituality. By focusing on harmony, it can become the locus for collective yoga. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Modi hinders Hindutva

 When Gadkari became the President of BJP, he was totally unknown. His only qualification was he belonged to Nagpur. RSS was dreaming of anointing a Maharashtrian as the Prime Minister. But the turn of events proved otherwise. Modi forced his way to the top post. But I don't attribute it to the genius of Modi alone. Nor his party has anything to do with this. Industrial houses built a huge machinery for making this possible.

Right from the nature of his campaign to every aspect of his movements and assertions were scripted. He performed just like a puppet. The halo created around him continues to have a blinding effect on his followers. But I have been opposing him from the very beginning. So, it's nice to see many of his erstwhile supporters turning fierce critics of him.

To give the devil his due, Modi's machinery has followed a broadly liberal agenda and adhered to democratic procedures. It has also ensured not to allow the Hindutva ethos becoming mainstream. Concern for plurality and the marginalised is very much ingrained in the Govt policies. Overall, it has a far more representative character than the previous regime.

Vajpayee used to be treated as a Mukhota. I used to call Manmohan Singh as Sub-Prime Minister. But Modi is the real puppet. His rule constitutes a documentation of how democracy can be manipulated through media management. He seems to harvest all benefits of fascism without being seen as coercive or repressive. Bowing to popular protest movements too adds feathers to his cap. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social

Federation of India for World Union

 Appropriation of Sri Aurobindo by Hindutva elements hit the national media a few days back. I have been writing against it here since 2005. Sri Aurobindo's writings and conversations are vast. But looking at them through a single, preconceived lens is bound to produce misrepresentations. However, use of him as an independent political icon has great relevance, at the moment.

Protests are hit-and-run afairs. Ultimately, the gains need to be harnessed through a political party. For that, you need a clear-cut ideology. Most are betting on Ambedkar, at present. But its meagre appeal can cause malnutrition. Further, the system of reservations can't be imposed for ever. The future deserves a better vision. 

One may or may not like Sri Aurobindo, but his logic that a conscious evolutionary force is propelling the march of history is compelling. In this context, his broadcast over AIR, Tiruchirappalli on August 14, 1947 is quite instructive. The third of this Five Dreams Manifesto relates to a probable World Union. For this to happen, I foresee that the States of India will have to have Sovereignty under a loose Federation, which eventually will spread to the other parts of the world, not necessarily, contiguously.

Thus, I view Sri Aurobindo's assertion in the same speech that the partition must go in a different light. Having seen the fate of USSR unfolding gives me hope. Therefore, I call the unitary ideals of Hindutva as singularly anti-evolutionary. That's the great paradox Sri Aurobindo paints in The Human Cycle. The unifying impulse of nature ultimately gives rise to a federal existence. And, the States of India are already great nations in themselves.

So, recognising this reality is important for the future of the whole world. It's myopic to think that geopolitics is owned by America or China. It is something which needs to be designed and co-created by all the inhabitants of our planet. Sri Aurobindo has left behind an excellent blueprint. Giving the shape to it is incumbent upon all of us. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social 

A ≠ B

 While working in the Bank, I learnt about the rule, "no one can give a better title than he himself has." This, I feel, applies to yoga and spirituality too. It's very common to find scholars paraphrasing the writings of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo and explaining deep psychological states in a matter-of-fact manner. While the academic context is quite valid, it becomes problematic when it comes to practice.

Very rarely that caution or disclaimer is appended. Without any personal experience in yoga, I, therefore, avoid recommending practicing it. Besides, it is never assured that B can replicate A's orientation. It's necessary to recognise that The Mother & Sri Aurobindo didn't confine themselves to the bounds of Modernity. But we don't enjoy such luxury, especially, when we are dealing with others. 

7 + 8 Virtues

 So, the final list is out. 7 Primary and 8 Secondary virtues which merit comparison with The Mother's 12 qualities. Of course, the spiritual significance of flowers can supply any number of corallaries. 

The point, however, is looking at them as typal worlds that act at moments of exclusive concentration appears quite rosy, but the thorns of biology are never hidden. Besides, subterranean self-interest concerns can vitiate the overt exhibition of virtue. Social embeddedness and contingency, therefore, force many unintended consequences. 

Misc. References 

[HTML] A Complete Master List of Virtues from the Ancient Traditions

SJ April

… In the light of this article, thought it might be useful to also include that “virtues”
appear integral to the spiritual development of an individual too. Present in some
form or the other in all the religions, streams of spirituality, and philosophies, that …

Primary Virtues

Benevolence / Compassion / Kindness / Charity / Love / Magnanimity / Friendliness / Courtesy 

Temperance / Moderation / Patience / Frugality / Modesty / Humility

Truthfulness / Honesty / Integrity / Sincerity

Prudence / Wisdom / Knowledge / Intelligence

Courage / Fortitude

Justice / Righteousness / Honor

Equanimity / Tranquility / Contentment

Secondary Virtues

Faith / Hope, Diligence, Wit, Cleanliness / Order, Proper Ambition, Magnificence, Chastity, and Loyalty

https://becausethouart.blogspot.com/2026/07/beauty-and-nobility-expressed-through.html

https://seof.blogspot.com/2026/07/auroveda-and-sri-aurobindo-chair.html

Take 2 to Tech

 The world of knowledge at my fingertip in 2005 had given me immense hope and satisfaction. Besides, being able to publish instantly seemed to be the greatest empowerment. Yet, it means almost nothing after two dacades. Knowledge remains as confused as ever. Internet has become a vehicle of propaganda instead of an avenue for genuine search for knowledge or seeking to get at the root of things. There are many reasons behind this phenomenon.

Software being the base of this whole affair, prosperity allied to it altered the social and economic paradigm. Media turned a player on its own thus nagating its own definition. The role of the editor or curator became redundant. In an act of rebellion and revenge, the baby was thrown out along with the bathwater. Concern for survival forced clinging to whatever is paid for instead of what should be pushed. Further, a new uncertainty principle reigned after the certainty of a specific place of birth.

Scholars and Professors were never given their due by the media. They were further relegated to the background by the new keyboard content creators. Even Google search treats them as outcaste by putting them in limbo. They also prefer to distance themselves from the general public by resorting to increasing jargonified lingo. Thus, where there is a semblance of searching for truth in an objective manner remains behind the curtains.

But since most of what is written is commissioned, it is not difficult to decipher the underlying political agenda. Selective amnesia and intellectual dishonesty is rampant. Banishing important resources from University syllabus is weaponised to the hilt. Most institutions meant for intellectual leadership and direction stand discredited. But many would argue that the problem lies in the basic nature of knowledge itself which has no intrinsic fixity. 

Shruti and video

 Since writing has been taken over by AI, everyone seems to have shifted to Podcasts. Critical Thinking Forum has started a new channel called Science Over Faith. People talk about the Veda as per their own understanding but thankfully, @AuroVeda_Foundation channel is there for authentic explanation. 

Misc. References:

1. https://youtu.be/gqr4y6EMcsA?si=mMTlJn4lVaPJZJWe

2. https://youtu.be/C3JG0vsqs0w?si=lcH78dbbJdq239ey 

3. https://youtu.be/UfT16GWQmRA?si=aD0OWFtfDiN2x93- 

4. https://youtu.be/HiCMrzalfek?si=SCAk0vd-1dJZmG11 

5. https://youtu.be/CM9Xifo2yRc?si=9gOUU1DZn1UUPBXq 

5. I used to use a text-only format which seems to be no longer possible. Being bombarded by a continuous stream of visuals is not only needless distraction but also causes irritation. Obviously, it will force spending less time and dampen thinking seriously for crafting a "tweet."

https://x.com/i/status/2067889948750135485

Values and Emotions

 Two books came to my notice today which survey diverse aspects of many current developments.

~ Intellectuals in the 21st Century: Reconfiguring Ideologies and Global Struggles Against the Elitization of Knowledge - Edited by Nicol A. Barria-Asenjo

~ The Palgrave Handbook of Emotions and Values in Organizational Institutionalism (Open Access) - Edited by Gry Espedal, Trish Ruebottom, Marta Struminska-Kutra, Jose Bento da Silva, and Douglas Creed

From 0 to OOO

 The initial phase of my life was spent in Odisha after which I had shifted to Delhi in 1988. Besides, by staying in West Bengal since 2021, I have earned varied experiences, and learned myriad lessons, at 70. Further, blogging, without break, since 2005 has enabled me to remain in touch with the world of knowledge. The arrival of AI, however, has taken away the sense of burden on this score. Now, it appears that the archives I built up are not in vain.

More importantly, my comments and observations on varieties of subjects are a documentation of the evolution of my mature thought through a tumultuous period of the history of our country. Being different from that of others, they are available as an alternative paradigm for all those who are searching for an escape from the present impasse. Thankfully, AI can come to the rescue for identifying niche resources.

While Rimina gets invited regularly for speaking on Reaserch and Publishing, Silika will be presenting a paper in the 25th Conference of the European Society for Philosophy of Religion at KU Leuven, Belgium. That would be a good occasion for integration of Indian and Western philosophy. 

Decoupling quest for knowledge from religion or politics

 Since I have been reading all my life, diverse influences shape my thinking. Or, rather, they have not been able to hammer any concrete shape. This, during the last seventy years, a period which has witnessed gigantic changes in all spheres of life, culminating in AI. Nevertheless, general discourse, as articulated in social media, seem to be naive and juvenile. Obviously, people, in general, lack the rigorous grounding that I have. Professional competence and reading some bestsellers convince many of their own expertise on all aspects of life. Ecosystems and echo chambers make matters worse.

Looking at knowledge through political lens is generally taken for granted. Validity or utility of a proposition is decided instantly by the number of likes and shares on online platforms. Being a part of a herd is flaunted as a badge of honour. Independent thinking or critical approach have ceased to be of any distinct value. Intellectuals becoming Ministers is treated as their highest achievement. In addition, being a picture of a complete certainty has become the order of the day. Rise in general prosperity and technology-enabled modern facilities of life accentuate such a scenario.

To be fair, this is not something new. Distortion of history and pushing motivated narratives is continuing from the British times. Marxist scholars too followed the same practice, to the hilt. Congress party popularised many secular mythologies. Dalit literature and Subaltern analysis produced a vastly different worldview. To add to the woe, existentialist and psychoanalytic prisms imparted devastating effects. Yet, through all these movements, Hindutva was making a tortoise-like steady march to reach where it is today. 

Claiming that Ram was born at that particular site was an insult to intelligence, but it served the purpose of mobilising people for political purpose. Thereafter, facts, fiction, and mythology knew no differentiation. Even hard-nosed economic data were manipulated. But instead of ethical foundations, their success stems from personal charisma, theatrical performance, and crony capitalism. Lack of transparency and accountability is the most glaring lacuna. But to give Devil his due, erecting a viable alternative within a broad democratic framework is certainly commendable. 

With this background, it would be easy to judge the situation for ascertaining the reasons. In fact, Feuerbach imparted a body blow to the human understanding from which it has not been easy to recover. Comte aggravated the situation, greatly. There is no dependable way out, even after two hundred years. There is no reliable ontological formulation for explaining our existence, or its justification. In such a circumstance, any one can present his own theory as the complete truth. Religions have a vested interest in publicising their own versions, too. 

Decoupling the quest for knowledge from religion or politics, therefore, is the need of the hour. Ignoring important knowledge sources, deliberately, should be discouraged. Instead of setting up icons as purveyors of self-evident truths, dispassionate examination of their theories should be undertaken in right earnest. Multi-disciplinary approach is also essential for hammering out the right inferences. Ancient texts, on their own, don't constitute any authority. Approaching them as creative literature, instead, is the best policy. AI is not involved in writing this, upto this extent.

Vedic ignition

 Understanding Sri Aurobindo's interpretation of the Veda is a fundamental requirement for getting into the spirit of his vast body of writings. It is not an easy task as our traditional conceptions that are ingrained or sedimented come in the way. But persistence helps.

Amazing Vedas https://x.com/AmazingVedas is engaged in popularising Sri Aurobindo's interpretation where one can learn in small doses. They also host a YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/@auroveda_foundation?si=tRIKF1y6oKu03UQh. 

Besides, https://theveda.org.in/rigveda of Sampadananda Mishra and https://vedah.com/ of Dr. R L Kashyap also form authentic source. Not to forget that cute little book, Aditi and Other Deities in the Veda by M.P. Pandit https://incarnateword.in/other-authors/mp-pandit/vedic-deities. 

Four Doctors

 Four Doctors happen to be experts on the yoga and philosophy of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo as well. Fortunately, they are quite active on the web distributing their distilled wisdom in various forums. Soumitra Basu, Pariksith Singh, Ramesh Bijlani, and Alok Pandey. 

Of course, there are scores of others connected to local Centres. Odisha, itself, has a Sri Aurobindo Medical Association which holds its Annual Conference, regularly. I remember Dr. Sukumar Mukherjee who had come to Sundaragada World Union Chapter. 

Misc. References:

https://motsac.org/

https://iiyp.net/lifedivinechapters.php

https://youtu.be/8jVOqYRcbO4?si=_05_Z1XZwqFqF16i

https://youtu.be/DQbeYr4W_1Q?si=L-wtsJEv0OX-PqeT

https://youtu.be/2rhjpDMpwLo?si=b2_4JfHioj4WV5O_

https://youtu.be/C5nGYIKdzXI?si=18374d9D9jBhbjvm

Grafting an Umbilical Cord

 Medhananda has been trying to integrate, or rather appropriate, Sri Aurobindo, for quite some time. Now, Heehs has shown him his place. Medhananda, however, remains adamant, and we wish him good luck. Scholarship is certainly important, and disinterested academics need to come forward for examining myriad facets lurking behind such encounters. 

It won't be out of place to remember our own Medhananda, an extraordinary scholar and researcher. By the way, Rod Hemsell is active at his Substack site. And, just discovered The Time Travelling Adventures of Chotu – The Dawn of Sri Aurobindo, Co-written by Dr. Alok Pandey and Kabir Nema. Also available at Amazon. 

Misc. References:

https://rodhemsell.substack.com/p/sri-aurobindos-yantra-and-mantra 

https://bluelotuspublishing.com/book/the-time-travelling-adventures-of-chotu-the-dawn-of-sri-aurobindo/ 

https://www.amazon.in/dp/8199247932?dplnkId=6280b179-2395-4258-be27-319142576de9&nodl=1

Medhananda - German translator of The Supramental Manifestation - The Mother & Sri Aurobindo

Medhananda was put in charge of the Sri Aurobindo Library. He also taught the History of Religions at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education,

The Divine Feminine in Sri Aurobindo's Dramatic Works: A Spiritual, Philosophical, and Feminist Interpretation

This research paper examines Sri Aurobindo's dramatic works through a feminist-spiritual lens, focusing on how womanhood becomes a medium for expressing his ...

Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Aurobindo, and the Question of Influence: Peter Heehs

P Heehs - International Journal of Hindu Studies, 2026

… It critiques Swami Medhananda’s recent arguments for a profound direct
influence of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda on Sri Aurobindo. While
acknowledging a significant spiritual influence, the essay uses philological and …

Beyond Pedantry: Reaffirming Sri Ramakrishna's Formative Influence on Sri Aurobindo: Swami Medhananda

S Medhananda - International Journal of Hindu Studies, 2026

… Scholars of Sri Aurobindo are indebted to Peter Heehs for his meticulous editorial
work on The Complete Works of Sri Aurobindo, a monumental … : Sri Aurobindo’s
Integral Advaita and the Legacy of Sri Ramakrishna (hereafter AEO), under contract …

[PDF] Continuation of Sri Ramakrishna's Gospel in Education

B Mandal - 2026

The present study explores the continuity and educational relevance of the
teachings embodied in The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna within the context of
contemporary education. In an era marked by rapid technological advancement …

[PDF] A Developmental Map for Psychic Abilities: Yoga Traditions, Contemporary Esoteric Practice, and Western Empiricism

J Mathias, D Banerji, D Ganguli - 2026

… However, from Sri Aurobindo’s perspective, miracles should not be sought to be
performed, only received: “only those miracles which are wrought by Divine Grace to
enlighten or transform the nature of the aspirant are worthy of attention and he …

[HTML] Cosmic Evolution and the Emergence of Consciousness A Non-Reductionist Big History from Matter to Divinisation

MA Kazlev - 2026

… - the transformation of matter and consciousness described by Aurobindo and
Mirra Alfassa, which would constitute the transition from Domain … ten sefirot of
Kabbalah, the seven planes of involution and evolution of Sri Aurobindo. It could be …

[HTML] The Divine Feminine: The Inevitable Synthesis of Evolutionary Spirituality and the Dawn of a Twenty-First Century Religion

AI Manus

… essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson to the integral yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the
scientific mysticism of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. [1] … Sri Aurobindo's pioneering
concept of "Integral Yoga" — the conscious alignment of one's life with the trajectory …

Rethinking and Transforming Language, Self, Society, and State: Walking and Meditating with Sri Aurobindo

AK Giri - Social Thought as Conversations, 2026

… This is also akin to Sri Aurobindo’s suggestion to create poems which would work
like mantra. In Sri Aurobindo and Heidegger we find streams of spiritual pragmatism
in their meditations on language, self, being, and reality which can also inspire us to …

[PDF] The philosophy of Indian culture: An analysis

S Mandal, P Pal

… Sri Aurobindo wrote several books on his system of philosophy, the chief of which
are ‘The life Divine’ and the epic ‘Savitri’. Although Sri Aurobindo had denied that he
was a philosopher and the Mother said that his teaching is not philosophy but “a …

[HTML] Must We Be Idealists?

YG Bechhofer

… In this paper, key similarities and differences between Sri Aurobindo's and
Mahatma Gandhi's approaches to Education are theoretically … This essay is an
attempt to understand Gandhi's vision for education in the light of Sri Aurobindo's …

[PDF] Ethical Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo and Its Resonance in Modern French Intellectual and Cultural Discourse: A Comparative Study

S Kumar - AIJFR-Advanced International Journal for Research, 2026

… The present paper explores the importance of the ethics of Sri Aurobindo in the
context of the current intellectual and cultural discourse in France. For Aurobindo,
ethics is not the set of absolute principles but a movement that is a part of the overall …

[HTML] How philosopher KC Bhattacharyya appealed for liberation from British 'cultural subjection'

N Chandhoke - 2026

… Some years before KCB, Sri Aurobindo had published a series of essays in the
monthly review, Arya, on the “Renaissance in India” (1918), “Indian Culture and
External Influence” (1919), “Is India Civilised?” (1918–19), and a “Defence of Indian …

The Damage Done to Minds: Reading Ashis Nandy's The Intimate Enemy as a Psychology of Colonial Rule

PV Ambesange - Revista Review Index Journal of Multidisciplinary, 2026

… Drawing on psychoanalysis, cultural criticism, and biographical sketches of
figures like Kipling, Aurobindo, and Gandhi, Nandy shows that modern colonialism
succeeds less through military power than through its ability to create new …

[PDF] NARRATIVES OF TRANSCENDENCE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SOCIO-SPIRITUAL THEMES IN HERMANN HESSE AND SRI AUROBINDO

SSTINH HESSE

… This paper presents a comparative study of the socio-spiritual concept of
transcendence in the works of Hermann Hesse and Sri Aurobindo. It … In contrast,
Sri Aurobindo conceptualizes transcendence as an evolutionary movement of …

[PDF] A Sri Aurobindonian Evolutionary Framework of Media Ethics: Reconstructing Spiritual Humanism for Contemporary Communication

P No - 2026

… of Sri Aurobindo, … of Sri Aurobindo : Within the Indian intellectual tradition, the
philosophy of Sri Aurobindo provides a particularly significant framework for
understanding the relationship between human consciousness, social institutions …

Difficult to be confident

 During our school years, the Cold War was a dominant topic and many aspects of political and literary life were affected by it. Similarly, lambasting Tata-Birla was a common feature. Now, of course, Adani-Ambani have replaced them. Cold War too is continuing in many different forms. Often, in the open. 

As a member of Bank employees' and officers' Association, Leftist thinking was ingrained in me. But K. Ram Mohan, a colleague, once convinced me that Multinationals have no nationality. So, I converted to the Reforms bandwagon. But after three decades, I'm not very sure. Further, several new factors have become prominent during this period. 

Rise of Hindutva has transformed the Indian situation. Apart from being the dominant political force, its intellectual pull is also increasing. Unfortunately, the more it grows, the more is the chance of its floundering since it is based on falsehood and presumptions. But a lot of people are reaping rich dividends as well as social validation. 

Rise of Media is also unprecedented including its propensity to be in the lap of the Govt. This can be explained in terms of pure economics instead of any ideology or commitment to ethics. But, in the process, democracy has become permanently crippled. Thomaskutty has highlighted how it has been instrumental in installing Hindutva as a hegemon. 

Rise of Digital environment is the hallmark of the current century. Arrival of AI is a further destabilising phenomenon. It has affected every facet of human affairs. Thus, traditional modalities of analysis have gone haywire. Human intelligence and wisdom is no longer considered sufficient unless vetted by the machine. 

The Mother & Sri Aurobindo, in this context, seem to be relevant in many ways, but it is difficult to be confident. Their teachings don't pass the test of Modernity or rationality on many counts. Nevertheless, that's the only formulation which takes care of diverse demands of social, political, or psychological nature. 

Misc. References:

[In this important chapter of The Synthesis of Yoga, titled ‘Concentration,’ Sri Aurobindo clearly distinguishes the meaning that he gives to such terms as dharana and samadhi from the traditional meanings] - Rod Hemsell 

rodhemsell.substack.com/p/sri-aurobind…

https://x.com/i/status/2069584932138348613

Mediatisation of a New Imperial Spirituality in Contemporary India - Johnson Thomaskutty

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Johnson-Thomaskutty/publication/406045183_Mediatisation_of_a_New_Imperial_Spirituality_in_Contemporary_India/links/6a226bcc3a0dbb76335b08ea/Mediatisation-of-a-New-Imperial-Spirituality-in-Contemporary-India.pdf

Magnus Fredriksson and Josef Pallas, “Public Sector Communication and Mediatization,” The Handbook of Public Sector Communication, eds. Vilma Luoma-aho and María-José Canel (Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons, 2020), 168.

See Fredriksson and Pallas, “Public Sector Communication and Mediatization,” 168.

Jasper Strömbäck and Frank Esser, “Mediatization of Politics: Transforming Democracies and Reshaping Politics,” Mediatization of Communication, ed. Knut Lundby (Berlin/Boston: Walter de Gruyter, 2014), 375.

Richard Gordon, “The Veil of Power: Emperors, Sacrificers, and Benefactors,” Pagan Priests: Religion and Power in the Ancient World, eds. Mary Beard and John A. North (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1990), 199-232. 

Mitchell G. Reddish, Revelation, Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary (Macon: Smyth & Helwys, 2001), 11

Gianpietro Mazzoleni, “Mediatization and Political Populism,” Mediatization of Politics: Understanding the Transformation of Western Democracies (New York: Palgrave McMillan, 2014), Mediatization of Politics: Understanding the Transformation of Western Democracies, eds. Frank Esser and Jesper Strömbäck (New York: Palgrave McMillan, 2014), 42.