Two short stories written by a young author and artist whose work is primarily inspired by her devotion and adoration for Gampu bhai, the name she uses to lovingly call her ishta devata, Lord Ganesha.
A Little Girl and Her Big Brother – Stories of a Personal Relation with the Divine Read More »
The same word Gladius is the root for gladiator, a fighter who fights against wild beasts with the help of his sword. A sword by itself wields no strength, unless the hand that holds it has immense courage. While the gladiator has the courage to receive the wild beasts knowing he can fight against them with total strength and surrender, a man who is on a spiritual quest does the same and is no less than a gladiator.
The Sword-Lily: Of Gladiators and Receptivity Read More »
Aspiration is like an arrow, or like a flame rising upward. But it has to be tended, constantly rekindled. Its direction also needs to be reset when it tends to go here and there. It has to be purified so that no desire or demand gets mixed up with it. Its goal has to be kept in front, always. And what happens when it goes into hiding somewhere? How to light the fire again? And what about the Grace? Will Divine Grace help me rekindle my aspiration? These and many other questions have been explored in the variety of selections featured in this issue.
Aspire Intensely but Without Impatience 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 »
For decades Dr. Murildhar Chandniwala has been translating and re-expressing Vedic mantras in Hindi poetry. His poem inspired by RV 2.1 is presented here.
A Vedic Hymn to Agni – A Poem in Hindi 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 »
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 »
The author reflects on how sincerely persevering in one’s sādhanā becomes the key to allow the heart to experience a deeper gratitude and peace.
Stick to the Practice and Let the Gratitude Flow 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 »
Excerpts from a book by a young sadhak. The selections indicate what inspired Sushrut Badhe to write about the Veda in the light of Sri Aurobindo.
Rhythm of the Veda: Know your Devas Read More »
The author explains how our ancestors prescribed simple practices based on their close observation of the connection between sound and air.
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः – May All be Free from Illness – 6 Read More »
In addition to exploring Gratitude in a variety of hues, the issue also features pieces on the inner significance of Navaratri, the festival of Devi, and the cultural significance of Ramayana. Other highlights include a reflection on patriotism and leadership in the light of recent events in Afghanistan, and ‘The Real Gandhi’, an insightful essay approved by Sri Aurobindo.
A Deep, Intense, Constant and Total Gratitude 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 »
A wider view of Indian cultural forms suggests that Rām-kathā continues to thrive as an important influence despite the outer hybridity in Indian popular cultural landscape.
Rām-kathā, a Living Tradition of India Read More »
In this India’s 75th year of political independence, it is timely to present an assessment of Gandhi’s role in India’s freedom movement. Given that our national mind now seems ready to evaluate and understand the role played by some of the leading personalities in shaping the post-Independence India, revisiting this article written by Amal Kiran in 1949, which has the approval of Sri Aurobindo, is highly necessary and relevant today.
The Real Gandhi: An Impartial Estimate of his Greatness – Part 1 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 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 »