In this 2-part article, the author highlights what makes India’s nation-soul different from that of Europe. Using insights from Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo, the author emphasizes that it is this essential temperament of Indian nation which gives her a unique mission for the world and humanity.
In this part, the author emphasises that the ancient soul of the nation still lives, despite all the outer evidence that may seem contradictory to our surface view. And it is because of this that India not only survives but is confidently thriving and giving new forms to her eternal soul.
The author reminds us that long before the advent of Quantum Physics, the sages of Bhārat had declared that behind all the names and forms of this universe is One Energy, whom they called Shakti.
The author, our regular contributor, points our attention to the the epidemic that Attention Deficit Disorder has become in today’s age with its social media and other internet based stimuli that have severely impacted our capability to concentrate.
In this two-part article, author Narendra Murty speaks of the higher ranges of consciousness beyond the intellect — inspiration, intuition and revelation — from where a Rishi receives knowledge. A Rishi is someone who sees and hears the Truth which he then expresses as Mantra. Using several insightful passages from Sri Aurobindo’s writings, particularly The Future Poetry, the author brings out Sri Aurobindo’s rishihood.
Sri Aurobindo’s inner realizations gave him the key through which he was able to bring out the true inner truth of the Rig Veda. His Mantric poem, Savitri, is a Veda of the future that only a Rishi could have received through divine hearing and seeing, and expressed in sublime poetry.
Is there something like metaphysical food and sleep? The author makes us reflect on these dimensions of food and sleep and offers some valuable insights in the spirit of ‘All Life is Yoga.’
The author reminds that “if there is a highest point of meeting between Literature and Yoga, it has to be in the works of Sri Aurobindo.”
Pointing out the nature of religion, the author highlights how religion while being a means of social cohesion can also become a source of conflict. He emphasises that because most religious oriented people tend to focus only on the external aspects, religion as such does not help in inner transformation. For that one must go on an inner search, the path of yoga.
The view which separates ordinary life — and its related goal of pursuit of money — from spiritual life is inconsistent with the declaration of Isha Upanishad – Isha vasyam idam sarvam.
How important are human relations in larger scheme of life and our spiritual destiny? A Zen story highlights the attitudes of detachment and equanimity.
This brief commentary on a Zen story is a selection from the author’s forthcoming book titled ‘An Oak Tree in the Garden – Exploring the World of Zen’.
Observations and suggestions made by the author here are based on his personal experience of reading Sri Aurobindo’s works.
Based on his own experience, the author shares some observations on how one may prepare to approach reading the epic poem, Savitri.