Debating over The Life divine

Tusar N. Mohapatra Says: April 29th, 2007 at 12:08 am Time and again in this forum I have pleaded for reading and discussing the book, The Life Divine. But unfortunately my fervent appeal has been labeled as fanaticism. The points raised in this thread and earlier have been so elaborately dealt with in The Life divine. So, let us take it as a base like the mathematician’s hypothesis, and then proceed to debate as diversely as we can. Open Integral 8:17 PM

Every breath an invocation of the Supramental

[Hispanics Transforming US Religion MyFox Washington DC - all 59 related » Buddhism the state religion, a “useless and dangerous” proposal AsiaNews.it - all 49 related » A Muslim opposes "Christophobia" and the religion of secular ...Western Standard- Shotgun Blog]

[Akyol suggests that the most recent instances of radical Islam were incited by dogmatically secularist Turks. Where once they stood in staunch opposition to Islamization of Turkey, now they turn their sights on a feared "Christianization" of Turkey as Christians distribute Christian Bibles...(Cross-posted from Burkean Canuck). Posted by Russ Kuykendall on April 28, 2007 in International Affairs, Religion Permalink]

The religion scene the world over is utterly chaotic, tangled as it is by multiple race, culture and language. Atheists and secularists keep on criticizing to derive their sadistic zest for life from this imbroglio. Theoreticians find anything connected with Theo- as abominating. For the neo-spiritualists the word, religion itself is anathema.

Savitri Erans do not suffer from any such complex. Their religion is universal as well as futuristic. The direct presence of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo guide their steps. Each morning and each moment is a miracle for them; every breath an invocation of the Supramental. [TNM]

Savitri Erans will have to read Savitri

Savitri, in a general sense, has four facets. The first is English, second Poetry, third Philosophy and the final one is Spirituality. Admirers of the poem confront formidable difficulty on all these four fronts.

• English is a foreign tongue to most of us. Polysyllables in the poem put off many. Allusions are too far off to be fathomed.
• Poetry, these days, is a rare phenomenon. And if foot and meter or other prosody rules are added then it becomes a dreadful formulation.
• Philosophy is meant for the bearded guys with unkempt hairs. Of what avail if one is going to break his head over it?
• Spirituality is a nice slogan that everyone loves. But when it comes to discovering it by reading the poem people would shy away sheepishly.

But, then it hardly pays to complain. Savitri Erans will have to read it. There is not to reason why. [TNM]

Harmohermeneutics

One Response to “On Different Species of Hermeneutics”

Harmohermeneutics: Derives from the attempt of Sri Aurobindo to harmonize disparate points of view on the anvil of the ageless Vedic vision. Tusar N. Mohapatra said this on April 27th, 2007 at 3:52 am (edit)

Can we remember The Mother also?

Tusar N. Mohapatra Says: April 25th, 2007 at 12:23 am Happy to see Ray Harris uttering the hated name, Aurobindo! Can we remember The Mother also?

The Life Divine builds a bridge between religion and philosophy

[Let’s absolutely not get into a discussion of religion…

Adam Kotsko said this on April 25th, 2007 at 3:55 am 9:51 AM]

It seems reasonable when students of philosophy in the West exhibit either indifference or abhorrence towards discussing religion. For them religion implicitly means Christianity in the mainstream and a smattering of Buddhism, tangentially. Christian theology, obviously, is incompatible with the kind of sophisticated thinking that philosophy permits at present. And hence the disconnect.

The Life Divine, in contrast, builds a bridge between religion and philosophy without forsaking any critical scrutiny the modern mind loves to apply. This is the only book in the world where such a synthesis has been consummated to be available at one place. Lack of sufficient awareness about the book is depriving many earnest seekers to reap its benefits. Savitri Erans have a big responsibility here towards their fellow readers. [TNM]

Socially sensitive steps are so vital

In the Ashram’s 24th April - the Darshan Day Program the following announcements for Sri Aurobindo’s Room visit caught the eye:

3 to 3-30pm – Aged and Invalid in walking
3-30 to 4pm – invalids to be carried by chair

Such socially sensitive steps are so vital even in a spiritual set-up like the Ashram to convey the message that “We care.” Ashram being a community must be following a slew of such measures for the welfare of its own inmates. How effectively are they implemented? How efficiently are they delivered? What are the hurdles? Have they developed into a distinct paradigm over the years?

If we discuss these aspects in greater detail, perhaps we can contribute meaningfully to the debates regarding various socio-economic models emerging in the country. [TNM]

Once my heart chose and chooses not again

Surendra Nath Jauhar speaks of his Supreme Discovery when he found himself entranced by the sight of The Mother during a chance visit to Puducherry along with Dr. Indra Sen. He could intuitively feel then that he will have to return there again and again. On three separate occasions, subsequently, he was debarred by The Mother from visiting the nearby Ashram of Shri Ramana Maharshi.

One is reminded of the Savitri line, “Once my heart chose and chooses not again.”

A nice theme to muse upon in the Darshan Day spirit. [TNM]

The wholeness of the poem receives a dent

While it is certainly convenient to have the lines of Savitri forming a sentence to be grouped together and segregated, the wholeness of the poem, obviously, receives a dent. The most famous couplet, golden bridge/luminous heart are from separate sentences and there are many more instances.

Keeping an eye (and ear) on the metrical scansion during recitations is a desirable skill which is liable to be skewed if simultaneous vigil for colons and commas is also exercised. Savitri is so likeable as there are no enjambments; so why create artificial chasms? [TNM]

An Emergent Theory of Values

To raise “The fact that Sri Aurobindo does not mention the term Avatar in the Life Divine” to a dogmatic level is nothing but utter “literalism” [1:42 PM]. What is “personal Deity” or “emergence” if not the other name of avatarhood? [TNM]

Imagination unlimited

If one of the most evolved and erudite Savitri Erans is facing proprietorial censure and censor over the net, it is highly unfortunate [1:42 PM]. He needs no lessons on whether to follow the Indian wisdom or Western decadence. However, one is sure that a brave heart like him would never kowtow before such intimidatory diktats. [TNM]

Trojan horse in Matrimandir

"The individual demands from religion a door of opening into spiritual experience or a means of turning towards it, a communion with God..."The Life Divine Volume-19 [4:41 PM]. To call it "religious fanaticism" [6:30 AM] smacks of superiority and "lack of rootedness" [6:09 AM]. All Great Ideas [3:53 PM, 5:44 AM] find their consummation in the Savitri Era and "one day will come when the most blind, the most unconscious, even the most unwilling shall be obliged to recognize it"[the Mother]. [TNM]

The Life Divine is for ever

Most of the Savitri Erans dread it; bring in many alibis to avoid it. Though it is the most lovable book on earth, The Life Divine.

Among the many works of Sri Aurobindo, it has the distinction of being thoroughly revised by him. It is complete and comprehensive in its contents, not bereft of a few loose ends though.

Sri Aurobindo wrote brief summaries [CWSA.13] to certain chapters of The Life Divine but did not continue with them. The Mother took up the book in her “Wednesday Classes” for explication but after two chapters the classes stopped.

J.N. Mohanty records in his autobiography:

“I was persuaded by my dear friend Manik Mitra (who then ran the Sri Aurobindo Pathamandir) to lecture regularly on The Life divine. For almost five years, I lectured systematically on that great work from cover to cover – once a month…

I am told that very few have done what I did over the years, but this also gave me a comprehensive grasp of Sri Aurobindo’s thought, although I have been able to write very little on his philosophy. This is one of the things I still hope to be able to do."

Now, we can "listen to recordings of

Life Divine classes via Skype, by Debashish Banerji, Ph.D. on SCIY." [TNM]

[Re: Life Divine classes via Skype, by Debashish Banerji
by Debashish on Wed 18 Apr 2007 02:18 PM PDT Profile Permanent Link
I wouldn't exactly call these classes but studies and explorations. Thanks to Ron for providing a link to the recordings. And welcome to all sciy readers who may wish to join the Skype Life Divine studies live. They are held every Thursday evening from 7:30 - 9:00 (and sometimes 9:30) pm US Pacific Standard Time (8 - 9:30 am in India and 10:30 pm - 12:00 am US-EST). If interested, please send your Skype ID to debbanerji@yahoo.com DB]

Hitler is here

The terror unleashed by Hitler can also be compared with the intellectual tyranny of Ken Wilber. Hitler was a terrible resistance to the evolutionary revolution carried forward by The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. Similarly, Ken and his cult, today, pose a formidable challenge to the propagation of Savitri Era religion. By packaging his message in an alluring fashion, he has been successful in seducing a great many, but the sad reality is that it is all sophisticated sham.

People find it hard to come out of the confusion of his miasmatic metaphysics of “post-metaphysical.” It provides them a false sense of intellectual satisfaction and confidence. But the virus he spreads leaves many maimed and in a wreck. And it is painful to see such well meaning persons treating the genuine teachings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo with disdain. [TNM]

Inspiring and invigorating teachings

[Buddhism is national religion, Thai monks say 2007/4/18 BANGKOK, Thailand, AP
Hundreds of monks rallied in Thailand on Tuesday for Buddhism to be enshrined in the constitution as the country's national religion, amid a worsening Islamic insurgency in the Muslim south. china post

Constitution contains no state religion
As a Buddhist, Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Prasong Soonsiri said he wants Buddhism to flourish, but it was not important to include such a declaration in the constitution. Sqn-Ldr Prasong has shrugged off the call for Buddhism to be declared the official national religion in the new charter. bangkok post By Penchan Charoensuthipan]

Savitri Era as the new global religion is in operation for more than half a century. More and more people in all the continents are discovering this new thought and light and making it their own. Inspiring and invigorating teachings make the Savitri Era religion the right option for the modern world. [TNM]

Prejudice and philosophy

By Tusar N Mohapatra 5:37 PM Here your objection is against deconstructionsm's 'sole' claims to "questioning assumptions." 'Deconstruction: A Reader' by M. Mcquillan contains essays among others by Freud, Marx, and Heidegger.

F.R. Leavis, Saussure, Barthes, Paul de Man, et al are said to have done work allied to Derrida's. So, is it fair to campaign "don't bother with Foucault, Derrida, nor Lacan" and thus prejudice the students of philosophy who have not read them? 4:12 AM

Extreme diversity of intended meanings

By Tusar N Mohapatra 6:39 AM You maintain that "the extreme diversity of intended meanings of the term render it effectively meaningless." That means your objection is only against the term and not against the various notions people attribute to it. You perhaps say that these notions are real but perennial. And there is nothing new to them to be denoted as a separate genre under this generic term. Do I get you right?

When will our Maxists grow up?

Sitaram Yechury's (HT: April 12, 2007) advocacy for "syncretic evolution" stops short at the sayings of Swami Vivekananda. But what about the "evolution of consciusness" as propounded by Sri Aurobindo? When will our Maxists allow themselves to grow up? [TNM]

Parliament House has turned into a Buddhist place of worship

The Government of India, in a full-page advertisement today, has "cordially invited" the "devotees" of Baba-Saheb Ambedkar for offering floral tributes at his statue in the Parliament House lawn on April 14, 2007. One fails to understand since when the Parliament House has turned into a Buddhist place of worship. [TNM]

The hand that kneaded Homer and Hegel together

[Hence in our own differing ways, both Matthew and I are advocating the unending conversation...posted by CJ Smith @ 3:41 PM 11:03 AM

I hope that sufficiently clarifies I am not against MD's (nor the Great Ideas/Classical Ed.) approach altogether. Just the point at which it won't recognize its own terminus. When it does not admit its own boundaries then it makes (to my mind) specious claims like that postmodernism is too vague to mean anything. posted by CJ Smith @ 3:42 PM 11:22 AM see comments section here 11:36 AM]

So the Arnoldian model that Sri Aurobindo advocated is still a darling of the 21_21 generation. How reassuring! The hand that kneaded Homer and Hegel together, and harmonized the Veda with evolution is over us leading us in the right direction. [TNM] 1:32 PM

Revelation at Uttarpara

[HM declares suspension of work at Uttarpara plant. Kolkata, April. 11 (PTI): After 29 days of labour unrest, the management of C K Birla group's Hindustan Motors (HM) today declared the suspension of work at its Uttarpara plant in West Bengal. the hinduBusiness]

Uttarpara, a name sacred to the Savitri Erans, is in the news today. The famous Uttarpara Speech delivered by Sri Aurobindo almost a century ago is still a manifesto for the whole of mankind, when read along with his message for August 15, 1947. The prophetic words proclaiming his revelation testify to his divinity. [TNM]

Let us not let down the most integral of the humans

Tusar N. Mohapatra Says: April 11th, 2007 at 10:22 pm Matthew Dallman offers the easy solution to “trace back the intellectual roots of the Great Idea of Opinion.” But his world too ends at the border of the Western hemisphere. No one is willing to look at India, at Sri Aurobindo. So much of bias, so much of resistance.

Within India also Sri Aurobindo faces stiff opposition. Because he ventured to dredge out centuries old sedimentations piled over meanings and methods. In the process he has created a comprehensive knowledge system suitable for a unified world. But Westerners continue to see him with suspicion.

Philosophical problems can’t be resolved overnight. But many of them arise basically from the Christian/Buddhist worldview which is so well entrenched in your thinking process. On the contrary, the Indian/Vedic ontology is so steeped in the notion of intersubjectivity that such questions never arise in our mind. Sri Aurobindo has attempted to harmonize and integrate many of these themes so that both parties can be happy without anyone feeling alienated.

His philosophy, his aesthetics, his political ideas, and his thoughts on education are worth perusing and pursuing. His poetry and yoga are definitively emancipatory. Let us not let down the most integral of the humans. 3:04 AM

Hegemony of Harmony

[Gramsci counseled his side to begin a "long march through the institutions," by which he meant the capture of the cinema, theater, schools, universities, seminaries, newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and courts...It was he who first alerted fellow revolutionaries to the possibility that they would be able to complete the seizure of political power only after having achieved "cultural hegemony," or control of society's intellectual life by cultural means alone. -- Culture War By Lee Congdon, Ph.D. September 2005 · No. 2005-5 4:18 AM 5:14 AM]

While Gramsci's children are busy in their fanatical mission, Savitri Erans will make an all out effort to sow the seeds of Harmony by broadcasting the words from The Life Divine and Savitri. [TNM]

Why not accept it and accommodate it somehow

By Tusar N Mohapatra 12:26 AM Meanwhile, I am mulling over an issue, which, I think, has not been addressed.

Fully sympathetic to your version of classicism and aesthetics, a suspicion haunts me that having once infected with the postmodernist worldview and enjoyed it for quite some time, I perhaps can't escape back and regain my innocence without a constant effort and vigilance.

So why not accept it and accommodate it somehow, instead of fighting it out all the while?