To Be Humble (A Reflection and a Poem)
When a few moments of sincere introspection lead the heart to express humbly what it is feeling, a poem like this is born.
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Japanese Flower-artist: A timeless story retold in multiple languages
During her stay in Japan from 1916 to 1920 the Mother translated and adapted some stories written by F. J. Gould. Her versions, written in French and first published as Belles Histoires, later appeared in English translation as Tales of All Times. The Mother explained that these stories were written for children “to discover themselves and follow a path of right and beauty.” The timeless nature of these stories make them equally appealing to grown-ups, or shall we say, to all who aspire to be truly a child of the Mother. In this issue, we are retelling a story titled ‘Modesty’ in multiple languages.
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“All That is True and Sincere Will Always be Kept”
This special issue opens a year-long celebration of Sri Aurobindo’s 150th birthday and 75th anniversary of India’s political independence. Starting with this issue, the next 12 issues will explore the 12 attributes that the Mother has identified as soul-powers necessary for full manifestation of Her Work. The present issue explores Sincerity in a multi-dimensional approach. Special features on Sri Aurobindo’s work as a revolutionary nationalist are also included.
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Sri Aurobindo – Glimpses of His Life (Film in English and Sanskrit)
A documentary produced by Sri Aurobindo Society in 1975, directed by Phani Majumdar. Presented here are both English and Sanskrit versions.
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The Life of Nationalism: When Sri Aurobindo Invoked Sri Krishna
We feature a special essay by Sri Aurobindo from Bande Mataram in which he writes about the birth and growth of Indian nationalism invoking the advent and avatāric work of Sri Krishna. The selection of this piece is most appropriate since this month we also celebrate Krishna Janmashtami.
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“Let Your Sincerity and Surrender be Genuine and Entire”
Compiled here are a few words of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother which highlight the significance of Sincerity on the path of yoga. Sincerity in yoga means to have all the being consciously turned towards the one Truth, the one Divine. But that is one of the most difficult tasks for human nature, much more difficult than a rigid asceticism or a fervent piety. This is why constant guidance and inspiration from Their Words are our support on the way.
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August 15: Its World-Significance (Part 1)
This three-part essay was first published on August 15, 1950 in Mother India. It presents a remarkable overview of various world-forces that were at play around the time of India’s independence, and highlights the significance of the date August 15, heralding a new direction for the world and humanity.
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August 15: Its World-Significance (Part 2)
In this part, we learn the inner meaning of why August 15, a date of momentous implications for the values of civilisation has been chosen by India to celebrate her independence. Amal Kiran reminds us that behind the conscious thought of individuals there is the working of that invisible yet potent being which is the national soul or genius.
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August 15: Its World-Significance (Part 3)
Amal Kiran helps us contemplate on how befitting it is that the Independence Day of a country whose chief glory has been God-realisation should coincide with the occasion of Sri Aurobindo’s birth. It would be purblind on our part to miss a signal so pregnant with meaning and fail to see our future bound up with Sri Aurobindo’s presence—our future of true self-growth political as well as cultural and of leadership among the nations on the path of human evolution towards Godhead.
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Of Animals, Kings, Pundits and Rishis: Sincerity Stories as Told by the Mother
In these delightful timeless tales retold by the Mother we get some important lessons on the value of straightforwardness, speaking the truth without any fear, and the importance of growing in sincerity for destroying falsehood and hypocrisy.
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Inculcating Sincerity in Children: Guidance for Parents and Teachers
These selections taken from the Mother’s volumes highlight some practical advise on how to inculcate the values of sincerity, honesty, straightforwardness, courage, unselfishness, patience, endurance, perseverance, and self-control in children from an early age. She reminds the parents and educators that these things are taught infinitely better by example than by beautiful speeches.
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Sincerity in Social-Political Life: Some Words of the Mother
Sincerity is a quality not only for our inner progress. All outer work and all our social interactions must also be our field of progress toward cultivating this quality of sincerity and straightforwardness. This is true integral living and growing.
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Of the Michaelmas Daisy, Winters and Sincerity
In this meditative piece, the author invokes the different meanings associated with the flower Aster Amellus, to whom the Mother has given the spiritual significance – Sincerity.
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Sincerity: The Bedrock of Sadhana
The author here reminds us that generally there is a great chasm between what the soul suggests and the intellect understands and the senses execute. The only way to bridge the rift between spirit and its instruments and to create harmony and order in place of clash and cacophony among the different parts of our being is to be absolutely sincere.
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Indian History in Indian Education: Beyond Ideologies and Politics (Video)
Our conversation with two educators takes us beyond the ordinary ideological and political debates that have plagued the discipline of Indian History and Historiography, and invites us to explore a more integral approach to learning and teaching of History.
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Book Excerpts – ‘History and Culture of India: A New Approach’
Exploring the theme of sincerity in history, we feature excerpts from a couple of introductory chapters from a book authored by Prof. Kittu Reddy, a long-time resident of Sri Aurobindo Ashram and teacher of Indian History and Culture at Sri Aurobindo International Center of Education. The author suggests that when examining Indian history from a subjective point of view, external events gain greater importance in the light of the inner psychological vision and deeper forces behind them.
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Sri Aurobindo on Isha Upanishad – Part 2
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.
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Growing in Sincerity on the Path of Integral Yoga
The author examines how our ordinary understanding of sincerity is highly limited. He shares a few important insights from the Words of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo on how we can grow in sincerity on the path of integral yoga.
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