Let fictional flowers bloom

Apropos of the imaginary missive from Milton Friedman to our PM by Jerry Rao carried by Indian Express today, one recalls the fictional dialogues of Sri Aurobindo for children that Nirodbaran used to write a decade ago or so. Though it did seem a bit blasphemous at that time to puritanical sentiments, similar creative endeavours are likely to multiply in the days to come so as to prepare an enriched field for enhanced understanding of the mystery of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo's divine manifestation. Of course, the difficulty of shifting the actual from the imaginary would be ever greater; but then the chroniclers, too, will multiply so also the memorizing power of silicon chips.

By the way, the article, Integral Spirituality - Exploring the Connection of the Sages Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi and Sri Aurobindo by Charles Ismael Flores "includes an imaginary interview in which the author compares, based on published quotes from Ramana Maharshi and Sri Aurobindo, what each of them might say to questions posed by a spiritual Seeker who is learning about the Indian tradition of Kevalya Advaita and Integral (Purna) Yoga. The article sheds light on the distinctly different spiritual approaches of these two masters."

Aurobindian fundamentalism

From: "Michel Bauwens" To: tusarnmohapatra@mail.com Subject: What exactly do you mean? Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2006 15:38:25 +0700 Hi Tusar, What exactly does 'nothing else comes close to this' mean, in your recent blog entry ... Are you referring to Kazlev's scheme, participatory integralism, what exactly? Michel

That's a phrase used by Alan in the write-up itself which expresses a bias towards The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. As for me, no participatory integralism or anything of that sort, but as Alan terms it, Aurobindian fundamentalism. I relish it and revel in that, and it is such a pleasure to tell you that on this special Darshan Day of ours.

Precision of Vedic insights in their pristine simplicity and beauty

Tusar N. Mohapatra Says: November 21st, 2006 at 12:16 am Sri Aurobindo’s interpretation of the Deep Sleep state as the very highest causal state is, in fact, in variance with the traditional Vedantic and Buddhist thought and their modern commentators. Sri Aurobindo brings in the precision of Vedic insights to the fore in their pristine simplicity and beauty and in that lies his supremacy. But the secret is to read The Life Divine oneself instead of relying upon stereotyped two-liners written by someone else.

The integral metaphysics of The Life Divine is universal

Tusar N. Mohapatra Says: November 15th, 2006 at 10:37 pm The divine manifestation of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo and the path of Integral Yoga enunciated by them is a matter of personal choice. But the integral metaphysics of The Life Divine is universal and any human being can learn it with profit. It is a stand alone treatise which Sri Aurobindo has revised thoroughly. Nobody quotes from the book here; but if we do, the points over which we are arguing would seem so puerile and outdated.

Tusar N. Mohapatra Says: November 15th, 2006 at 11:58 pm May I add that the philosophy delineated in The Life Divine also provides ample hints for practice at every step. In that sense it is no less a manual of yoga. Reading a page or two regularly is a great help instead of quibbling over revelations and realizations.

The Life Divine and death of debate

Tusar N. Mohapatra Says: November 14th, 2006 at 12:05 am It really intrigues me, why can’t we just read a single book, The Life Divine and then resume this debate. No revelation, no esotericism, it’s pure philosophy in masterful English. All these questions have already been decisively dealt with. From Heraclitus to Habermas.

No clinging to nostalgia

Tusar N. Mohapatra Says: November 11th, 2006 at 9:36 pm The head and heart dichotomy is not all that insurmountable as it seems and The Mother and Sri Aurobindo have precisely attempted to do that in their Integral Yoga. But the question is whether we should stride ahead or move back in time; collaborate with the Supramental Consciousness which is operating in the earth atmosphere or oppose it by clinging to nostalgia.

Humanization of high spirituality

Humanization of Transcendental Philosophy by R. Sundara Rajan is an excellent primer on Phenomenology, in which the author adds his own version of feeling for the earth and man. One wishes that a similar humanization enterprise also take root in the discourse concerning The Mother and Sri Aurobindo.

A conspiracy of silence

On years of tracking the columns of Mukul Sharma, the high priest of spiritual journalism in India, one does not recall if he has mentioned The Mother and Sri Aurobindo ever. Same is the case with others of his ilk, like Narayani Ganesh and Renuka Narayanan. A conspiracy of silence, no doubt.

All kinds of pulp are being read but not The Life Divine

Tusar N. Mohapatra Says: November 9th, 2006 at 10:02 pm To talk of a big variety of spiritual paths is to dismiss the great significance of the message of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. Democratic and pluralistic political correctness should not blind us to innovation in spiritual evolution. Sri Aurobindo said something which was not said before him and with enough elaboration. Instead of accepting the new formulation, there is unending discussion about old and sectarian methods.

Teilhard, Gebser, and Wilber occupy the centre stage but not Sri Aurobindo. All kinds of pulp are being read but not The Life Divine. This kind of bias is not in keeping with the spirit of Habermas' dialogue.

No to the liberal-secular cheerleaders

Liberal sub-editors are happy that the Bush administration has received a jolt in the recent elections and religious enthusiasm would play a less significant role in politics in the future. But that is no consolation for the Savitri Erans who long for the decline and demise of the stranglehold of the major religions. That should happen in an organic manner under own weight and inherent contradictions and not forced through strangulation by the liberal-secular cheerleaders.

Inevitability of Savitri Era religion

The July 27 proclamation of the Savitri Era religion is fermenting mixed feelings among the adherents and admirers. After the expected initial resistance more reasoned debate is sprouting. The dialogue between Rod Hemsell and Debashish Banerji is quite illuminating in this context. It seems that both are not averse to the idea of religion and see it an inevitability.

20th century philosophy

It can't be that something on The Mother and Sri Aurobindo won't interest me. You are welcome to keep me posted. But what I find in your articles is that you try to maintain a narrative and journalistic stance. Catering to the beginners is a good thing, but that stunts your personal growth also. A person of your calibre and experience should address the discerning niche. The articles should be able to stimulate further probings and also disturb and provoke so as to generate debates. Now that the Blogger is offering its hospitality, there is no obstacle to that.

On scanning through the write-up I noticed that you have not mentioned any philosopher. 20th century philosophy is an intense melting pot of human thought and without it we can't make any dependable appraisal of life and history. To arrive at Sri Aurobindo's lofty vision, the present must negotiate with and navigate through the available streams of thought.

Savitri Era Glasnost

[Re: Re: Reflections on THE IDEAL OF HUMAN UNITY By Debashish Banerji by Rich on Wed 25 Oct 2006 09:24 AM PDT Permanent Link To address the problem of the reification and sedimentation of Sri Aurobindo's work in current doxa pervading the institutions which are founded on his vision. In this regards yes, I think it is important to subject the doxology which is now assciated with his teachings, to the methods of deconstruction. Unless one can legitimize these critical methods of inquiry within SA's institutions, my own belief is that they will continue on their way in creating a new religion. A religion whose metaphysical presentations will lend themselves only to interpretation by those with status and power in said institutions which are cloaked in their own cultural agenda.]

SCIY is busy debating interesting introspective issues in an unprecedented animated fashion. May Savitri Era see more of such open discourse.

Robotics and The Life Divine

[ET-Wharton contest a big hit. Over 600 Budding Entrepreneurs Mail In Smart Business Ideas. The Economic Times Friday, 27 October, 2006 Our aspirations are our possibilities - Robert Browning.

It was such boundless aspirations that the first Economic Times Wharton Business Plan Competition intended to fire up among management students in India. And it sure did. The challenge: coming up with the most innovative and executable business plan ever. The result was overwhelming. Over 600 budding entrepreneurs mailed in their smartest business ideas...The quest for the next big thing had participants exploring a slew of ideas, from a green gymnasium to a complete relocation services firm, an educational gaming venture, and a used-goods recycling company. Some of the interesting proposals were a water desalination service by students from the National Institute of Technology, Warangal, and a programmable reverse horn by the team from the Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune. The best five plans (see chart) chosen by a Wharton Entrepreneurial Programs panel, included a couple of clean technology ideas, a robotics firm, a training institute for women, and an ERP software company for the construction industry.]

While reading a heady report like the above, a saner worldview can act like a compass. As RAM SEHGAL wrote in The Hindu Open Page on Tuesday, August 10, 2004 so valiantly, “I believe the answer lies in what Sri Aurobindo has written in his magnificent book, The Life Divine. He states that we need to go beyond the mind and reason.” ¶ 4:49 PM #

Who speaks for India?

Who would have thought that the much maligned Macaulay will be feted and revered for his Promethean role in sowing the seeds of modernity in India in contradistinction to Sri Aurobindo branded as a Manuvadi Hindu revivalist. For them, Sri Aurobindo writing The Secret of the Veda is an indelible blemish as it harks back to obscurantism; his system of Integral Yoga, medieval superstition. Such is the hubris of our neo-rich subalterns.

So much so that recently the Prime minister of India found it shameful to utter and preferred to drop the name of Sri Aurobindo as a Cambridge alumnus. God save the moderns! #

Sunlit Path for China

That the Left parties are brokering entry of the Chinese companies into the country by officially shedding their opposition to Capitalism is a welcome development. Both China and India have learnt the rules of the new economy the hard way and now is the hour to consolidate mutual leverages. But whether the commercial commensalism would also cover the cultural sphere is a question difficult to answer. Because the history of the last 5000 years shows that such intercourse has been at the minimal.

Language and religion have acted as two major deterrents in the past. Of late, English is coming up as the common language, but the religion question is too nebulous. Here is a wonderful opportunity for the Savitri Erans to target China. The Chinese can learn English by (t)reading the Sunlit Path.

A book for Sophie

Now that Sophie is fairly acquainted with the history of western philosophy, she needs a book on The Mother and Sri Aurobindo: a short and simple narration of their life and philosophy. But such a book meant for the school-leavers is simply not available; nobody has thought of writing a book like that. Strange but true. Should we institute an award for someone to accomplish the feat?

Haridas Chaudury and Amitav Ghosh

Can the twain meet?

Integral Adwaita, Yoga Vashishtha, Kashmir Shaivism

[The viewpoint embraced by Vasishtha's Yoga is very similar to Kashmir Shaivism, which teaches that Consciousness alone exists and that the universe is nothing but the self-expression of this Consciousness. Hindu Gems - Siddha Forum]

Not included in any major scriptural combination and its authorship and age debatable, the Yoga Vashistha Ramayana is a curious text. A potpourri of cosmology, mythology and ethics, its low-brow status is ironic for its high exegesis.

Although Sri Aurobindo is on record as not having much acquaintance with it, among the ancient treatises, the Yoga Vashistha comes closest to his theory of Integral Adwaita. Though not identical, it contains the description of various kinds of Ignorance as in The Life Divine.

Dear Chaki Babu

My good wishes for your forthcoming book on The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. More power to your pen! Whenever I think of you, the names of Barindra Kumar Ghosh and Prafulla Chaki come to the mind. By bearing their names, I am sure; you too retain strains of their legendary heroism.

Just think of the crucial battle their band was fighting 100 years ago. From journals and organizations to bullets and bombs, how intense and passionate was their mode of action. But today, it is indifference and complacence all around. Mukul Kesavan wrote in The Telegraph a year ago that Sri Aurobindo is the worst poet of Bengal, and nobody in Kolkata protested. The one person who has been always a one-man-army against any attack on Sri Aurobindo but unfortunately no longer active, is our dear Amal Kiran. One hopes that there would be thousands like him ready to take on the task.

Sri Aurobindo takes the formal charge as the Editor of Bande Mataram tomorrow, i.e. on October 24, 1906. A day for remembering and making resolutions, for us. The solitary task then was to fight the British. Now, of course, our adversaries are multifold. It is the hour to be heroic. Yours fraternally, Tusar

Savitri Era will conquer

The action of the Supramental consciousness, light and force permeates the earth atmosphere for the last 50 years. While a yeaning for peace jars with the wars and conflicts dotting the globe, a sure progress towards a more secure future is not unconceivable. Culture, commerce and technology are the major peace-precipitating factors today.

But thought, which should have acted like a catalyst, is sadly found moribund. In India, the Marxist professors of our Universities and the secular sub-editors of our national newspapers have been successful in preaching a sanitized version of life and society that has no place for any higher aspiration or intervention.

This lie has to be fought with all might. The Mother and Sri Aurobindo have equipped us with all the intellectual ammunitions for this purpose. Their words would conquer the world. But only if our Gautiers and Daninos choose to keep the straight and narrow path and not stray into adulterated arsenals.

Federation of corporate empires

After Arcelor-Mittal, Tata-Corus is making waves. At this stage it is difficult to speculate how long these so-called Indian multinationals would remain Indian. But a more important question is how far these corporate empires will replace the functions of the State.

That looks imminent and in that case, philosophical perspectives adverting to a State set-up should also, mutatis-mutandis, apply to these corporate structures. One such important vision is Kant’s ‘federation of free states,’ which has been endorsed by Proudhon as well as Sri Aurobindo. Corporations must start behaving like city-states and form a federation too.

Pilate's poser and Tennyson's flower

It is not difficult to discern derivations from the Theosophical literature in the system-building of Sri Aurobindo. But in the “Papers on Theosophy” [CWSA Vol. 12] he has been unsparing in his criticism of the movement and its methods. The series could well have taken off to become another The Life Divine, as the chapter captioned ‘Sat’ takes up the Pilate's poser to arrive at the Vedantic affirmations. It also dwells in between on the ‘intellectual history of the European continent.’

While privileging the epistemological preference for the fundamental over the particular, he takes a dig at the inductive approach by citing a Tennysonian line. He also values an intense and enthusiastic religious approach than the high philosophic or a dry scientific. In volume after volume one senses the theme that Buddhism is anathema. In The essays on the Gita, the nihilistic Buddhist philosophy is deprecated in the manner Kant rebutted Hume. Of course, Buddhism, as it is practiced today, is altogether a different concoction.

Caste and Equality

[Concept of Equality: The Nineteenth Century Indian Debate by Ganguli, B. N.

Six lectures tracing the growth and influence of the concept of equality in Indian society. Chapter one introduces the impact of Western ideas. Chapter two looks at inequality as a structural problem. Chapter three looks at social reform efforts towards equality. Economic progress and equality are considered in chapter four. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's essay on equality (Samya) is studied in the fifth chapter while the concluding chapter looks at religion and equality.

Published in 1975 by Indian Institute of Advanced Study]

Obviously, Sri Aurobindo is not included in the analysis as his work belongs to the next century. But being a Bengali and aware of him, Ganguli could have mentioned Sri Aurobindo’s opinions on the matter so as to present a more rounded debate.

Bankim Chandra’s philosophical essays on equality published in 1879 were dropped by him in 1892 as he found it “all wrong”. Perhaps his admiration for Mazzinni’s insistence on the primacy of Fraternity was too politically volatile to express at the time.

But Sri Aurobindo has dared to defy his contemporary political correctness by maintaining a bias for truth. His notion of equality is the equality of the soul and not abolition of hierarchy at the practical level. This must be firmly kept in mind, as the whole nation, currently, is debating caste-based reservations and creamy-layers.