Tweets in original by Tusar Nath Mohapatra (b. 1956), Director, Savitri Era Learning Forum (2005), Founder, Savitri Era Religion (2006), and President, Savitri Era Party (2007)
Savitri Era: Sri Aurobindo offers a glimpse of the future
savitriera.blogspot.com/2023/03/sri-au
Tweets in original by Tusar Nath Mohapatra (b. 1956), Founder, Savitri Era Religion (2006) and President, Savitri Era Party (2007).
Savitri Era of those who adore,
Om Sri Aurobindo & The Mother.
Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister for ten years and Modi is going to complete another ten years. The Constitution of India is responsible for multitude of defects in our democracy. It is also encouraging horse trading and all kinds of mobilisation around castes and religions.
There's no denying that the emphasis of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo on going within, rising in consciousness, and accessing experience puts their teaching beyond the threshold of modernity. These are subjective and can neither be taught nor evaluated. But logic of evolution stands.
Correspondence between Sri Aurobindo and Dilip Kumar Roy regarding physical exercise and significance of the body is an interesting episode. Dilip sensed some sort of revision in Integral yoga at this juncture and tried to corner his guru. It took a lot of effort to convince him.
Usual suspects crying hoarse over death of democracy bears zero credibility. Where are the sane voices? Where is the independent and objective picture? Planting supporters in all media outlets has become so pervasive now. Do we have anyone with upright views left in this country?
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Evolutionary cycles are generally longer than democratic election periodicity and, hence, it's difficult to expect any regime change. But maximum two terms should be the rule and a new man need to occupy the top post. This simple amendment can cleanse our polity to a great extent.
Indra Sen (a Punjabi and not a Bengali) was a Prof of Psychology in Delhi University who joined the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry in 1945. Known for his pioneering book titled Integral Psychology, he attracted wider attention when Ken Wilber authored a book with the same title.
With 30K views clocked during the last one year, my Savitri Era blog seems to be doing fine in spreading the message of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo in all continents. Started in 2005 it now archives my tweets covering a variety of subjects including forging a political alternative.
All those who are disgusted with AAP, BJP, and Congress should join Savitri Era Party. Nothing can be achieved simply by criticising. Concrete action needed by getting organised under the banner of a political party. India has got independence but not democracy. It has to be won.
People don't realise that they are under the spell of their either political and religious or economic ideological opium. Thus, to consider what they spout as an independent and neutral opinion is totally wrong. Those under the basket traps of rival ecosystems are a deluded lot.
Education and scholarship should induce wisdom but many become a victim of the texts and turn fanatics. Too much specialization by disregarding other spheres of knowledge can be counter-productive. Reading Sri Aurobindo orients in a multi-disciplinary approach moored to the Veda.
Respecting people and real nationalistic feelings is important instead of keeping the current colonial legacy floating. Each language in India is a distinct nation and there is no inherent virtue in being a part of a large nation. Last mile democracy and development will flourish.
If society is progressing towards a divine life as Sri Aurobindo has predicted, then the end of strife and suffering is very much on the cards. Manifesting the divine is a task in yoga and matter revealing the spirit is the aim. Let's hope that the evolution is swift and evident.
The teachings of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo may be spiritual in nature but the outcome is political. He has predicted overhaul of the present world order and so their devotees should be prepared for participating in such eventualities. Aligning with the evolutionary arrow is crucial.
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Technology and communication have facilitated a form of globalisation inconceivable when Sri Aurobindo wrote. May be its pace will grow. But overthrowing the dismal characters controlling its levers is the priority. Huge nations are hurdles for the creation of successful co-operation.
Political parties are striving to derive the maximum benefit from the Constitution which prevents grassroots democracy to grow. Influential civil society activism for nurturing sound democratic practices and participation is also absent. So, awareness needed for its resuscitation.
One third support is sufficient for winning electoral majority but two third endorsement is needed for measuring someone's popularity. Despite ruling for a decade now, the RSS-BJP-Modi combine has failed to establish a strong nationwide presence. Local affinities are stronger now
We have seen the heydays of Congress and Janata rule. They have evaporated. Similarly the present dispensation seems to be going strong but can't last long. The future belongs to Sri Aurobindo and those who recognise it and arm them with their teachings will benefit in the future.
Due to aggressive posturing by the RSS-BJP supporters and myriad controversies, most Hindus now feel reluctant to be identified by the term Hindu. Many followers of Ambedkar also feel suffocated in Buddhism. Savitri Era Religion dedicated to Sri Aurobindo provides a safe shelter.
Constitution doesn't leave any power in the hands of citizens and transfers it to political parties. Not even a single civil society institution is promoted. Media, which is supposed to educate, becomes a vehicle for propaganda and weapon of political parties. Corrective needed.
Education of the body - medicine and education of the mind - philosophy are neglected in school education. Professional courses ensure further isolation. So, when one feels induced to read, say, Savarkar, then he should also read Kierkegaard or Heidegger apart from Sri Aurobindo.
Life is long, complex, and consists of different stages. You can make a rule for not engaging a maid servant but only to change it a few years later since different situations call for different solutions. So, better to stop feeling too confident of your present status or habits.
Sri Aurobindo's major writings were published before the Ashram came into being, in the 'Arya' magazine. Thus, there's no official or establishment position on Sri Aurobindo's opinions. Let's hope that full academic examination and utilisation of his thought will be possible now.
Publication of Arya in 1914 is an important event in the history of humanity. Metting of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo a few months before on March 29 turned highly fruitful. All intellectual debates of the previous century were resolved and a definite way for the future was shown.
In view of the fact that the writings of Marx still rule the ideological currents, Sri Aurobindo's thought is relatively recent and more potent. Marx's forecasts on the demise of Capitalism came a cropper. So nothing more reliable than Vedic evolutionary prophecy of Sri Aurobindo.
Each one supports some political or ideological plank out of self-interest and not due to ethical or rational conviction. Thus, searching for real self-interest is important. Reading Sri Aurobindo's books reveals the true nature of our psychological make-up exposing blind-spots.
It's good that so many webinars on Sri Aurobindo are taking place but most of them are of undergraduate level or lower. PG or PhD standard discourse is absent. Confining deliberation to Sri Aurobindo's writings, without taking the ecosystem into account, is one major shortcoming.
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Nice to see some good words for VP Singh who I consider the best Prime Minister of India. Despite his socialist image, he initiated many strands of economic reforms even when he was the Finance Minister. With unmatched integrity, he was the personification of value-based politics.
Political ideologies fizzle out and the dominant theme of today will also fade away. Sri Aurobindo's vision of The Life Divine is the most enduring one. It's the epitome of the best ethics and aesthetics where Fraternity would find its true meaning. Democracy will be transformed.
Philosophy teaches to be patient without being carried away by historical narrative or current affairs. It stimulates to think and question and analyse where the previous philosophers have gone wrong. Sri Aurobindo is yet to be admitted as a philosopher but his theories enlighten.
Wednesday, March 29, 2023:
Puducherry, then Pondicherry, a French colony, became the blessed place for the first meeting of Sri Aurobindo with The Mother on this day in 1914. A meeting of the East with the West and a new path opened for the humanity. With pranams and gratitude.
Politicians, historians, journalists, and philosophers have been telling a lot of falsehoods. The safest course, therefore, is to believe in Sri Aurobindo. If anyone finds a better source, he is free to follow that. Otherwise, The Mother & Sri Aurobindo are the greatest teachers.
The first principle of democracy is to see people as citizens and not as members of any caste or religion which are secondary. When this is flouted, then democracy gets diluted. Following Sri Aurobindo helps to transcend these divisions and progress towards an egalitarian society.
Joined at BO: Sundargarh in 1977 and opted for VRS from HO: Delhi in 2000.
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Sure. One of the cleanest professions.
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Singapore-like development is possible only when the States are granted sovereignty. You can't have your cake and eat it.
Although I had my entire schooling in the Odia medium, the language didn't have much use later in life. This is a colossal wastage of skill and resources. How the present generation can be spared from such a loss should be a matter of urgency. Requesting all to learn Odia. #ଓଡ଼ିଆ
Neither Odisha nor Odia is known much in our country. But there are many good reasons to be aware of Odia language and culture. Odia being very similar to Hindi and Bengali can be learnt very easily. Sambalpuri songs like Rangabati are popular at the international level. #ଓଡ଼ିଆ
Located at the confluence of North, South, and East, Odisha has the advantage of having the best of different cuisines. Fish is widely consumed and Chilika lake is famous for crabs. Pakhala (soaked rice) and Dalma (vegetables and lentils) are two unique dishes which are popular.
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I expect that the Chair creates its own independent mode of communication instead of imitating the Ashram, Society, or Auroville. Ploughing the academic furrow is a huge responsibility and an epochal challenge. The world is athirst for hearing the words of Sri Aurobindo. Thanks.
The notion of history, culture, or tradition of those above fifty is completely outdated. Lack of orientation in postmodernism, semiotics, and hermeneutics, too, is a disabling factor. AI is forcing to look at things anew but the pull of the twentieth century is very much intact.
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You are doing your work and they are doing theirs. So, where is the problem?
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Dynasty is also a commonality.
Like other languages of India, Odia has a very rich treasure of literature which are gradually becoming unsuitable for modern times. What is relevant for current use is the golden era songs of the fifties and sixties. Chandra malli hase of Akshaya Mohanty is a good sample of it.
The past is past, be it history or our own lives. No point in obsessing about them. The future has many possibilities as Sri Aurobindo has assured. Thus, designing the future is the task and it's not in the hands of politicians alone. Each citizen has the responsibility for this.
The first duty as a citizen is to be freed from any kind of herd mentality. Each person is unique with kaleidoscopic variations by heredity and environment. Taking advantage of such treasures should be the aim of education. So mobilising people on monochromatic themes should stop.
Go to Pakistan was a common refrain and some people actually believed that they have the exclusive right of living in this country. A decade in power and they are disappointed to see that nothing of the sort has happened. We are still a free Republic with plurality in all spheres.
RSS is famous for anti-intellectualism as it never promoted writing of scholarly books. But it kept an alternative version of history alive through in-house discourse and word of mouth. To give the devil his due, some of it today have earned respectability as well as credibility.
Modernity and secularism forced the Western world to conceive philosophy as well as science as godless universes. The Mother & Sri Aurobindo, on the contrary, keep the divine origin of things at the core of their worldview. The involution preceding evolution forms its cornerstone.
It will be good if a new person becomes the PM in 2024 but in view of the history and pattern of democracy in India it may not happen. So one shouldn't be carried away by mere wishful thinking. What is Nature's plan and Evolutionary intention is more important. Ideology is futile.
I have been disseminating an alternative viewpoint inspired by The Mother & Sri Aurobindo under the Savitri Era banner since 2005. Political, economic, and cultural spheres are driven by forces of falsehood and discord. Collaborative spirit needed for ushering in seeds of harmony.
I tell it from time to time that my tweets are meant for outsiders and not for the circle of devotees and followers. The latter are requested not to respond to my tweets and use their own TLs, instead. I'm against Hindutva and oppose their appropriation of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo.
Most educated people work for money and public intellectuals are no exception. But to claim independence and ethical rectitude is totally dishonest. Authoring a book amounts to a lot of virtue signalling and hence one needs to be very cautious as regards motivation and intention.
Citizens with blind faith and slavish mentality are obstacles to successful democracy. Writers and journalists mortgaging their intelligence is, also, a virus for an ideal society. Glorifying mythological kings and monarchy, similarly, cuts at the root of the modern civilisation.
Instead of searching for good leaders, we should search for good citizens. Identifying the right kind of leaders is possible through free, informed, and ethical citizens. Supporting established political parties that are steeped in corruption and deception corrodes democracy.
RSS teaches nationalism by promoting mythology and religious bonding. The Constitution encourages caste-based fraternity. But modernity and democracy preach diametrically opposite values. Sri Aurobindo insists on growth of consciousness of the individual leading to ideal society.
Savitri Era Party is an invitation for rejecting the established parties and unite for growth of true democracy in the country. Educated citizens can take a lead in this direction instead of simply hoping for the system to change. No other political party will work for any reform.
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Systems are in place to deal with such exigencies. Our response to the Pandemic proves that.
The Ashram was created by The Mother & Sri Aurobindo but can't be considered as a perfect model of social living or organisation. Auroville, conceived by The Mother, similarly, got bogged down from the very inception. Thus, an ideal socio-political structure is yet to take shape.
Indian democracy has grappled with electronic media, digital media, and EVM but the range and quality of participation is low. Lack of local level initiatives makes people aloof. Further, rival propaganda by political parties turns them confused. State level issues are key glues.
It's a defect of modernity that people come to read misleading books and many which makes them prejudiced. The aura of plurality lures them to this maze. Most get trapped and required intellectual development gets hijacked. Reading the books of Sri Aurobindo shows the right path.
Having been active in the social media since 2005 with the advantage of a thorough grounding in Sri Aurobindo's philosophy apart from being conversant with philosophy in general, I understand very well how inadequate the orientations of people are. Thankfully, Sri Aurobindo wrote.
Multiplicity of media houses is understandable in a market-driven scenario. But why can't different political ecosystems generate respective unified voices? Even, verified-official handles like RSS have precious little to say in a vast country like India. Transparency is a must.
An influential section is trying to push the alarm that democracy has seen a considerable decline during the last nine years. But, as far as my own experience goes, #democracy has always been manipulated in India and the citizens have been subjected to widespread deception.
Religious and caste divisions are a demographic reality and there is no solution other than the representation system of a democracy. Resorting to street level interventions is like burglary. Political parties need to educate their supporters about the sound democratic practices.
Savitri Era Learning Forum: Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri transcends the cycle of birth, life, and death
selforum.blogspot.com/2023/04/sri-au
Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra (b. 1956), Director, Savitri Era Learning Forum (SELF - 2005)
Savitri Era of those who adore,
Om Sri Aurobindo & The Mother.
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