Through three small but significant tales from the cultural history of France and India, the Mother highlights the importance of patience and perseverance.
Of Ceramics, Sannyāsa and More: Tales of Perseverance Read More »
The author reflects on her patient inner work which helped her experience a deeper harmony, and the endurance it took her to work through the challenges.
The Little Clock Calendula, ‘Herb of the Sun’ 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 »
In these passages from the Mother’s works, we find a rich variety of the various hues of the soul-quality that is gratitude. Gratitude that helps us connect with the Divine, that is a humble recognition of all that the Divine has done and is doing for us, that helps us cure our egoism, the movement that can bring us unalloyed joy.
Gratitude, a Hue of the Essential Vibration of Love Read More »
In these passages, the Mother guides us that in order to accept the Grace with a pure feeling of gratitude, one must have a certain inner humility which makes one recognise one’s helplessness without the Divine Grace. She also points out that for most people blows in life are needed to know to the very depths that there is no entity without the Divine Consciousness and the Grace.
Grace and Gratitude – Words of the Mother Read More »
Through this delightful little story written by the Mother in French sometime between 1893 and 1912, we recognise how gratitude is generally the most neglected virtue.
The Virtues – A Gratitude Story Told by the Mother Read More »
Meditating on who the Mother is, opening oneself to Her Force, giving oneself to Her entirely so that She may make of us what She wills – this is the puja for all who have turned to Her.
The Mother is Indeed Always Present 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 »
In our flower-meditation series, Sheeba Naaz reflects on her own experience and a few other gratitude stories she has heard and witnessed around her. She reminds us that it is not really the happiness which makes us feel grateful but on the contrary it is gratefulness that makes us happy. The Mother’s ‘handkerchief’ story also finds a special place of honour in this beautiful piece.
Morning Glory and the Varied Colours of Gratitude 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 »
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 »
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 »