The author writes that sacrifice is commonly thought of as leaving the participant worse off than he was – except for the anticipation of any calculated reward or quid pro quo. Or it may be associated with atonement or punishment for wrongs done. Nothing, of course, could be farther from the intention or effect of the sacrifice which is to be performed by the Spirit of Man if he is to achieve his true destiny.
Sacrifice and Egoism – PART II Read More »
These selections from Sri Aurobindo and the Mother emphasise that a single-minded effort is needed to keep awake the aspiration.
Aspiration is to be Developed, Tended, Kept Awake and Living Read More »
Agni, the Vedic godhead is the seer-will in the universe, the immortal worker in man, the primordial aspiration, the secret inhabitant of Matter and its forms.
Agni, the Divine Will-Force, the Priest of the Sacrifice Read More »
Nolini Kanta Gupta’s summary of the Triple Agni described in several Upanishads is followed by the Mother’s explanation of the triple aspiration.
The Triple Agni in the Upanishads and the Triple Aspiration Read More »
What is the symbolism of a Rig Vedic parable about Agni hiding in the Inconscience and only coming out when gods descend from above?
Where is Agni? — The Colloquy of Agni and the Gods Read More »
The last 2 verses of Isha Upanishad are Rishi’s powerful invocations to Gods Surya and Agni who alone can uplift him and open still higher vistas of Light and Power leading to the final goal of Immortality while still living on earth for a full span of life.
Sri Aurobindo on Isha Upanishad – Part 6 Read More »
Presented here is an eye-witness account of the evening of November 24, 1926, along with the Mother’s explanation of the true significance of this siddhi for the new manifestation.
Siddhi Day, the Descent of the Overmind God Read More »
We find here deeper meaning of spiritual call, initiation, adhikāra and the importance of endurance and steadfastness in the path of the Integral Yoga.
Yogic Initiation and Aptitude – No Free Pass Read More »
Explaining verses 15 and 16, which invoke the Sun God, the author illustrates the close relationship that exists between the Upanishads and the Veda.
Sri Aurobindo on Isha Upanishad – Part 5 Read More »
Though outwardly the festival of Durga Puja symbolizes the victory of Truth over falsehood, this 3-part essay explores the festival’s deeper, inner significance concerning the process of individual and cosmic evolution.
Goddess Durga and the Festival of Devi: An Inner Meaning (Part 1) Read More »
The author outlines how the nine forms of the goddess form an ascending hierarchy of shakti or energy rising from the mulādhara, traveling upwards gaining strength and force and momentum with each upward gust and impulsion until it reaches the crown and passing beyond unites with its Lord.
Goddess Durga and the Festival of Devi: An Inner Meaning (Part 2) Read More »
The author, in this part, cites some significant descriptions given by the Mother of her realisations. These passages speak of how Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga takes a giant leap over tradition wherein he is not content with the slaying of a demon or many demons but by their conversion or dissolution for good. But for this not only man but even the gods must collaborate.
Goddess Durga and the Festival of Devi: An Inner Meaning (Part 3) Read More »
Sri Aurobindo summarises the essence of verses 9-14 of Isha Upanishad in ‘The Life Divine’: “Through Avidya, the Multiplicity, lies our path out of the transitional egoistic self-expression in which death and suffering predominate; through Vidya consenting with Avidya by the perfect sense of oneness even in that multiplicity, we enjoy integrally the immortality and the beatitude. By attaining to the Unborn beyond all becoming we are liberated from this lower birth and death; by accepting the Becoming freely as the Divine, we invade mortality with the immortal beatitude and become luminous centres of its conscious self-expression in humanity.”
Sri Aurobindo on Isha Upanishad – Part 4 Read More »
In this essay written originally in Bengali, Sri Aurobindo highlights the subtle but important difference between the tamasic, rajasic and sattvic ego. He reminds us that just as pride has ego, in the same way humility also has ego; just as strength has ego, in the same way weakness also has ego.
Ahankāra – Sri Aurobindo on Tamasic, Rajasic, Sattvic Ego and More Read More »
In this part 3 of our ongoing series, the focus is on verses 6-8 of Isha Upanishad. We are reminded that it is the Brahman that is the origin, the end and the container of the things; creating, he indwells the forms of his manifestation, enjoys variously his thousand abodes. He is the One, the same everywhere. And if each individual formation behaves and acts as if it is a separate entity, different from others, it is because it is clouded in its outer consciousness, it has temporarily lost touch with the unifying knowledge and consciousness at its back—that which sustains it as well as it does all the rest in a common extension.
Sri Aurobindo on Isha Upanishad – Part 3 Read More »
In this part, the author focuses on the first 4 verses of Isha Upanishad. He reminds that this Upanishad addresses itself to the question of world-existence, the problem of harmonising human life and activity with the Reality of Immutable Brahman. The solution it finds is one of the most remarkable found by the ancient Indian mind.
Sri Aurobindo on Isha Upanishad – Part 2 Read More »
In this six-part series, we present an essay by M.P. Pandit which summarises some of Sri Aurobindo’s commentaries on the Isha Upanishad. The first introductory part highlights Sri Aurobindo’s comments on translating the Upanishads, and the errors made by Max Muller and other Indologists who fail to capture the spirit of the scripture because they lack the inner vision of the Truth expressed in scripture.
Sri Aurobindo on Isha Upanishad – 1 Read More »
Volume II, Issue 2Author: Nithin Sridhar Editor’s note: For our Book of the Month, we bring for our readers a few excerpts from Nithin Sridhar’s latest book ‘Īśopaniṣad: An English Commentary’ published by Subbu Publications (2021). Don’t miss Nithin Sridhar in a conversation with Renaissance team on the topic – Dharma, Shastra and Future Society,
Excerpts from the Book – “Īśopaniṣad: An English Commentary” Read More »
These passages deal with the Supreme Timeless Spirit manifesting as time in the world; the immeasurable getting measured for the purpose of creation.
The Timeless Manifests as Time Read More »
Volume 1, Issue 10Author: Kishor Gandhi Destruction: The First Condition of Progress Now that the Supramental Truth which will create a New Age in human evolution is increasingly pressing to manifest in the external life of the world, the question naturally arises as to how it will deal with those elements in the life and
Will the New Creation be Preceded by Destruction? (Part 1) Read More »