In this second part, Amal Kiran asks two key questions – Did Gandhi embody the soul of India? Was it appropriate to give Gandhi the mysticism-charged Upanishadic title of “Mahatma”? His answer to both, we find, is in negative.
The Real Gandhi: An Impartial Estimate of his Greatness – Part 2 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 »
An interesting fable from the Panchatantra which illustrates the spontaneous gratefulness of an animal which is often found missing in man.
The Grateful Beasts and the Ungrateful Man – A Story from the Panchatantra Read More »
A heartfelt reflection by Shiva Kumar which makes the reader feel grateful for witnessing through his words an experience of the Divine Friend whispering of Love and life as a means to seek that Love.
“I Had a Dream. . .” – See That Smile Behind the Whisper Read More »
In this part, the author reminds us that behind many of the hygiene related customary practices and modes of conduct which we hear from our elders, considerable knowledge and understanding of subtle truths of natural laws was there.
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः – May All be Free from Illness – 5 Read More »
In India, since millennia, modesty or humility has been considered the one of the most noble virtues, one that is the ornament of all virtues. In present times when self-promotion is not only an acceptable practice but has actually become a highly sophisticated skill that one must master if one wants to be ‘successful’, humility often takes a backseat. But if we step back for a moment and reflect carefully we will find that it is exactly in times like these that we must sincerely begin to examine for ourselves what is true humility. And more importantly, how it is related to our inner journeys, our growth as conscious individuals with an aspiration to grow inwardly and walk the path that takes us closer to our highest Self within. This issue is dedicated to exploring Humility as one of the Twelve Powers which the Mother spoke of as necessary for the full manifestation of Her Work.
The Absolutely Perfect, the Absolutely Humble Divine Read More »
Selections from various writings and talks of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo are presented to help us understand the meaning of true humility, which is about constantly referring oneself to the Divine, placing all before the Lord, and having a living sense that one is nothing, can do nothing, understand nothing without the Divine. We also learn that excessive self-esteem and self-depreciation are both wrong attitudes when cultivating the quality of true humility.
“True Humility is Humility Towards the Divine” Read More »
In this interesting conversation of Sri Aurobindo with a small set of disciples, dated January 6, 1939, about methods of effacing the ego, Sri Aurobindo makes an important distinction between outward modesty and the true attitude of psychic humility which can help the sadhak get rid of the vital ego. As an added bonus, we also get a glimpse here of a facet of Sri Aurobindo’s outer personality during his political revolutionary days.
Sri Aurobindo on Outward Humility Read More »
A most divine nobility and a perfectly sincere humility are the key highlights of the adorable personality of Sri Aurobindo which we see presented in this wonderful narration by Nirodbaran. This talk was given on June 12, 1970 at Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education and was first published in Mother India.
Sri Aurobindo – The Perfect Gentleman (PART 1) Read More »
Reading Nirodbaran’s narration of the divine qualities of Sri Aurobindo’s personality, one is reminded of the description Sri Aurobindo once gave of an Aryan gentleman. India’s rebirth and regeneration requires such character, such nobility in our youth; our national education must work toward this goal.
Sri Aurobindo – The Perfect Gentleman (PART 2) Read More »
While the world argues over feminism and post-feminism, social equality vs. essential difference etc., here we have in these words of the Mother such clear insight into the truth that must be at the basis of a true and authentic man-woman relationship.
Of Woman, Man and Humility: Guidance from the Mother 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 delightful little essay, Nolini Kanta Gupta reminds us – “Humility, in order to be true and sincere, need not be sour and dour in appearance or go about in sack-cloth and ashes. On the contrary, it can be smiling and buoyant: and it is so, because it is at ease, knowing that things will be done—some things naturally will be undone too—quietly, quickly, if necessary, and inevitably, provided the right consciousness, the right will within is maintained.”
True Humility – “A Living and Secret Contact with the Divine Consciousness” Read More »
Mr. Madhu Jagdhish is a heritage photography enthusiast, with special interest in documenting the rich Indian heritage of temple sculptures. A thoughtful exposure to our culture’s artistic heritage and an overall development of aesthetic sensibility and artistic appreciation are important parts of any meaningful education. In the age of smartphones with photography becoming available at fingertips, it is important that youngsters interested in exploring photography as an art-form and a possible vocation are shown this possibility that photography can also become a great medium to go deeper into one’s cultural roots and in the process discover and reveal (for oneself and for others) the rich artistic and aesthetic traditions that we have inherited. In this regard, Mr. Jagdhish’s work makes a significant contribution.
The Art of Heritage Photography – A Conversation with Madhu Jagdhish (Video) Read More »
The Mother reminds us that vigilance is indispensable for all true progress. As we try to grow in sincerity and practice true humility, it is important to stay vigilant and not get bloated with our own egos that we are some great sādhakas. The Mother is the path and the Mother is the goal, says Sri Aurobindo. It is always the Mother who does the sādhanā in us. Our effort is to ensure that we keep our inner temple clean and purified and for that sincerity, humility and vigilance are all very important. This little story told by Swami Sivananda emphasises how essential vigilance is for any aspirant; it also highlights what is fake humility and the necessity to be wary of that.
Parable of the Snake and the Rat Read More »
The Mother has given the tiny flowers of the dropseed prairie grass the spiritual significance: Humility. In this beautiful meditation on dropseed flower, the author highlights the truer meaning of humility with the help of a story and some guidance from Patanjali’s Yogasutra.
Humility in a Dropseed Read More »
Selected excerpts from Maithilisharan Gupt’s most famous work, Bharat Bharati, which stirred deep nationalist emotions among Indians when it was first published in 1912.
Bhārat-Bhārati – Excerpts from Rashtrakavi’s Famous Kāvya Read More »
Written in response to a disciple’s query about a particular statement of Gandhi, this letter of Sri Aurobindo strongly emphasises the need to develop a deeper and wider understanding of truth that is beyond mental-moral-ethical ideals. We also get a glimpse of a significant difference between the Christian or Semitic and the Hindu understanding of virtues or qualities, particularly Humility, which are considered important from a spiritual point of view.
Of Caste, Hierarchy and Humility: Sri Aurobindo Responds to the Gandhian View 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 »
As per the Advaita Vedantic thought, man can attain union with the Divine even while living in the body on earth by abiding in perfect inner knowledge and discrimination. Our sages and seers used this spiritual truth to develop an excellent method of self-healing. Their approach did not involve any external aid such as medicines or mental training, but it focused on achieving oneness with the Supreme Power at a spiritual level. Read more about this approach in part 4 of this ongoing series.
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः – May All be Free from Illness – 4 Read More »