Liminality need not be a license for lifelong vacillation

Launched in 2005, Savitri Era Learning Forum (SELF) was meant for sharing wide-ranging reading material relevant to personal growth. But subsequently, Savitri Era Religion and Savitri Era Party (SEP) commenced in 2006 and 2007 respectively, although religion and politics are yet to be freely associated with the path of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo. However, there are several other impediments and, therefore, theoretical clarity on these is essential.

It’s understandable that switching to a new and separate religion abruptly is not easy and each individual has to negotiate the transition within his unique set of circumstances. Thus, while old forms and festivals might cease to be mandatory, the overall cultural corpus, however, will continue to be porous. But this liminality need not be a license for lifelong vacillation and hypocrisy.

Connection with religion has a political dimension too as mobilization on this count is often seen as normal and directly commensurate. Nothing wrong in that, but in India the Hindutva brigade represent and propagate the worst kind of pre-modern thinking. We must, therefore, steer clear of their ideology till any sign of significant reforms is visible. Simultaneously, any visceral allergy for things or thoughts of Western origin should be extirpated. [TNM55]