Of Politics, Patriotism and Yoga
Read why politics as it is practiced today is not compatible with the path of Yoga. But the sentiment of love for one’s country has a place in Integral Yoga.
Woman in Sri Aurobindo’s Poetry
The author presents a delightful reading of the portrayal of selected key women figures from several poems of Sri Aurobindo, from Ahana to Savitri.
How to Cultivate Greater Concentration and Focus
The author reminds us of the immense significance of one’s capacity of concentrated attention in the overall well-being and shares some practical guidance.
Food that Nourishes, Sleep that Refreshes
After taking up themes on Conscious Parenting, Education, Work, Human Relations, Money, Religion, and Literature, we now take up the theme of Food, Sleep and Yoga in our All Life is Yoga series. Curating and editing this issue has been an especially joyful work because of the numerous possibilities this theme offered to share and express what we were learning.
Cultivating a Yogic Attitude toward Food
In these letters Sri Aurobindo explains the right attitude a sadhak of Integral Yoga must cultivate toward food. While the letters were written in response to queries from the disciples living in the Ashram, the advice is equally applicable to the aspirants and devotees living outside.
Getting Rid of Desire and Greed for Food
Featured here are some selections from Sri Aurobindo’s letters regarding how to overcome desire and greed for food.
Education of the Body and Food Habits
While discussing physical education the Mother highlighted the need for developing healthy habits related to food. Children must be taught to eat according to hunger, neither more nor less, and not to make meals an occasion to satisfy their greed or gluttony.
Refining the Sense of Taste with No Attachment to Food
How and why did the taste for food develop? How can one refine and develop one’s sense of taste? Read excerpts from the Mother’s conversation on these subjects.
Quick Read: The What and Why of Sattwic Food
We feature here a few letters of Sri Aurobindo which he wrote in response to some food related queries from the disciples at the Ashram. Some of the queries were about the kinds of food that a spiritual aspirant should avoid.
An Account of Sri Aurobindo’s Supper Time
For the ‘Book of the Month’ we again highlight Nirodbaran’s magnificent ‘Twelve Years with Sri Aurobindo’. The focus this time is on his delightful description of Sri Aurobindo’s suppertime, his second and last meal of the day.
Quick Read: Food as Agent of Death
M.P. Pandit explains why in our scriptures (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad) it is said that eater eating is eaten or hunger is verily death.
From Annam to Ananda in Taittiriya Upanishad
Kireet joshi in his book ‘Glimpses of Vedic Literature’ summarises the essence of Bhriguvalli from Taittiriya Upanishad and emphasises that Food or Matter is also a manifestation of the Divine which should not be rejected but instead be mastered.
Quick Read: The Need for Sleep and Rest
Sri Aurobindo emphasizes that sufficient sleep is important for a normal healthy life as well as for one’s sadhana until one is advanced in his sadhana.
How to Experience Real Rest
True restorative rest in sleep happens only during a few minutes which is a sort of Sachchidananda experience. One can consciously prepare oneself to experience such refreshing sleep.
Preparing for Conscious Sleep
Sri Aurobindo emphasises on becoming more conscious in our sleep. The Mother gives us a step-by-step process to enter into a higher consciousness during sleep.
On Nightmares, Dreams and Guru’s Protection
Holding a perfect quietude and faith within oneself and also calling for the Guru’s help protects one from nightmares and other attacks during sleep.
Food and Sleep, Beyond the Physical
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.’
Quick Read: My Journey with Food
From not knowing anything about cooking the author not only slowly learned how to cook but also discovered her love for conscious and healthy cooking.
On Life, Literature and Yoga
What is the right place and significance of reading spiritual literature in the path of sadhana? Can reading help prepare the sadhak, can it become a hindrance? Should a sadhak read only spiritual or religious literature? What about the literary classics that are often considered ‘secular’ literature? What does it mean to study literature or write only for the Divine? These and a few more questions are explored in the current issue.
