Silent protest from February 26-28

Pondy ashram faces 3-day flak Deccan Chronicle February 27, 2012 chennai By S. Prasad

The Sri Aurobindo Ashram here is facing an embarrassing turmoil with a section of the inmates and devotees launching a three-day protest against the trustees of the ashram for their alleged failure to take action against inmate and US author Peter Heehs for making “denigrating” remarks against Sri Aurobindo and The Mother in his book, ‘The lives of Sri Aurobindo’.

The aggrieved inmates announced a silent protest from February 26-28 to exert pressure seeking dismissal of the present group of trustees and expulsion of Mr Heehs from the ashram community.
Mr Bijan Ghosh, a devotee and Supreme Court lawyer, told Deccan Chronicle that the Orissa government had proscribed the book in 2009. The book contains ‘derogatory’ and ‘malicious’ content about Sri Aurobindo, The Mother and the collective life at the ashram. We are going to intensify the agitation till our demands are met, he warned. A section of the protesters also demanded the dismissal of the present trustees of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust.

They demanded that the trust publicly declare that the book is factually incorrect and does not represent the views of the community and the trust and that Mr Heehs has abused his position at the archives. The trust should also withdraw the copyright permission to publisher Columbia University Press.

A spokesperson of the trust said the ashram cannot take a fundamentalist stand and some, posing as gurus and those the ashram had taken action against for indiscipline, were instigating the devotees. Many who have written to the ashram appreciating the book, felt that those who found the book offensive have not read it completely. Further, Mr Heehs’ visa extension file was pending with the Union home ministry. As long as his visa is not rejected, his stay is not illegal, said the spokesperson.

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Sacred Relics of Sri Aurobindo was enshrined in Delhi on December 5, 1957

Comment on The Anti-Hindi Riot of Pondicherry by Togo Mukherjee by Anurag Banerjee from Comments for Overman Foundation by Anurag Banerjee

Many people think we are trying to establish a “new religion” or that we are against this or that religion; there are many ideas like that everywhere. But that doesn’t interest us at all! (The Mother, 27 February 1965)

Sri Aurobindo Ashram -Delhi Branch founded on 12 Feb 1956.

The Delhi Branch was officially inaugurated on 12 February, 1956, with the Blessings of the Mother. To the great joy and gratitude of spiritual seekers in Northern India, the Mother graciously granted the very first Sacred Relics of Sri Aurobindo to be enshrined here on 5 December, 1957.

Since then the Ashram has been growing at a steady pace. The shrine and the Meditation Hall continue to be the centre of life and the teaching of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother the guiding light. The Love and Blessings of the Master and the Mother and their Grace are always available to their disciples living here.

All live and work here as equals. No distinctions of sex, creed, religion, race, caste or national origin are observed: all are looked upon as souls and children of the Mother. There is no hierarchy of officials and subordinates. All work in association and as a unit under the general supervision of one or more sadhaks. Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 December 2011

Ranganath Raghavan's Response to "A Declaration of Solidarity" from A critique of the book "The Lives of Sri Aurobindo" by Peter Heehs To Jay Raichuria and Meera Gupta (Sabda)

To anyone reading your “Declaration” casually and superficially, it will appear to contain very sound reflections and plausible ideas. But a closer scrutiny will reveal that the words are high sounding without  solid content. We are having a closer look at your declaration in a more deliberate manner  and these are my reactions. 

 1.   It is NOT an attack against the Ashram, it is a peaceful protest by some of the Ashramites and devotees of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother against the non-action (or rather active support) of the management, against an offender who, even while being an Ashramite, thinks it is admissible, even justifiable to find fault with the Guru. This is absolutely inadmissible in any spiritual life, specially so in the Indian tradition.

Savitri Era: It is she who makes one Bagha Jatin, and another her Togo 7 Jul 2008 

Tusar N Mohapatra said... Dear Debabrata babu,

As per the teachings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo, we are all participants in an evolution that is taking place whether we stay aware of it or not. So, when you say that ‘I am this and this, and I do not want to be that and that’ it is simply not within your powers to decide. If we really leave ourselves in the hands of The Mother, then it is she who makes one Bagha Jatin, and another her Togo. What was waiting for years happens one fine morning. President, Savitri Era Party.

BABUL'S WORLD: Judgement of The Mother 6 Jul 2008 – Savitri Erans should take part in these discussions and apply their mind as to ... the Mother, then it is she who makes one Bagha Jatin, and another her Togo. ... It is sad, Mr. Tusar, that though you claim to be some sort of Sri ...

P.S.: If you tell us that you are indeed conscious of that deeper reality within yourself, and that you are truly inwardly realised and convinced that it is necessary to set up 'systems', create a 'Savitri Era Party', 'save' the Aurobindonian community from impending doom and destruction wrecked by the wretched administrators you seem to conjure - well, sound the bugle, and perhaps we shall be inspired to join you. But at present you hardly come across as one who has the Knowledge or the Call. I can imagine there is much which can be changed for the better, in Auroville, in the Ashram, in India, in the world; but where does that change begin? Nay, Their workings are far more complex, intricate, and mysterious, and "One man's perfection still can save the world…" 9 July 2008 14:00

Discussing Sri Aurobindo's works and his yoga

Barindranath Chaki

Interested mainly in the Adventure of Consciousness, I believe in human progress and evolution and in the inner capacity of Man to outgrow and master all his imperfections and darkness, to grow into a creative, constructive and higher divine being, along with the society, conquering all inner and outer darkness, crossing all barriers and divisions. I am a retired Officer of the Orissa Administrative Service from Orissa, India. Since adolescence, I was inspired by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother (Mira Alfassa) and sought to understand and follow Their Teaching, and make others understand and follow Them.

In 1956, I read The Life Divine, and gradually, read almost all that is written by Them and about Them. I have visited the Ashram and Auroville some times. I organized some Sri Aurobindo centres in Orissa, and often met Prapatti and Ramkrishna Das. I and my wife and children had a special Darshan of The Mother on my birthday on 3rd March 1972. Mira Aditi Centre has published my Bengali translations of some books including Sri Aurobindo or the Adventure of Consciousness by Satprem, India's Rebirth and India the Mother, collections from the writings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. View my complete profile

One can have Multiple Religions - by Choice - by Dilip Kumar Roy Jan 10, 2012

I like this statement by Devinder Singh - We must move from becoming Sikhs by birth (belief) to Sikhs by choice (experience). How about this one - one can adhere to multiple religions, if that synchronises well within your consciousness?

I am a Hindu by birth, but feel profound comfort and joy each time I hear a line from Jallaluddin Rumi or St Ignatius of Loyala. Or that Saint Vincent's words uplift me no less than Sri Ramakrishna or Guru Nanak. 

That I can spend an hour of sweet joy over a Jap-ji chant just as a song in praise of the Virgin Mother at a church evokes a mood of reverence. Moments  when the Ahzaan from a mosque puts you onto a mood of prayer and surrender, just as an abhang from Tukaram makes you realise that the entire universe is  Panduranga Himself! 

Or that a Buddhist Vihara gave me as much Peace as the Dargah of a Sufi Saint. How am I to share this with those stuck in beliefs of the Book, or those who say I am being falsely syncretic, phony and politically correct. Either God is a nuisance created by religions or Religions are a nuisance in the eyes of God.

We just need theological freedom if we are to know and explore God.  Theological exogamy should be an in-thing - too much of intellectual incest has happened in the name of One Belief, One God, One Doctrine! 

Ah, how sweet was the day when I rejected affiliation with religions. Then God became real to me - in all religions! 

What is my religion? - a Job Application Form asked me 20 years back. Hindu, I could have replied, with a Christianised upbringing. With Buddhist leanings and Sikhi Adoration and in love with each word of Jallaluddin Rumi and His path. Regards, Dilip

Re: [sbicitizen] Re: The Poetry of Sri Aurobindo Dilip Kumar Roy Feb 6, 2012

I think we could form a smaller group within this discussion group who would be focussed on discussing Sri Aurobindo's works and his yoga. If the moderator would consent to form such a group, I would be glad to be one of the participants of that group. 

The primary focus of that group could be to understand better Sri Aurobindo's works and reinforce our individual spiritual development through this virtual satsang. Regards, Dilip

Step down - no matter whether the book is right or wrong

A critique of the book "The Lives of Sri Aurobindo" by Peter Heehs: Prof. Kamal Das's Response to Ramchandra Guha: Dilip Kumar Roy - Jan 9, 2012 04:10 PM

I am an ordinary devotee, not an Ashramite. I am one among the thousands of devotees of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo who reside in locations far from Pondichery, but who see the the Ashram as their spiritual sanctuary, the place to withdraw from the hustle bustle of ordinary life. The place to soak in some of the vibes of Peace and calm and strength. And return with a feel of the Mother's love. I suppose this is one of the purpose why the Ashram exists, unless you say that the Ashram exists for Ashramites only. We step in to the Samadhi compound with reverence and come out with Peace. And try to live that Peace in the outer world and our families that we return to. That is all of our 'Sadhana'. We are ordinary and for us the Ashram is a hallowed space. If the ordinary devotee's word counts for anything, here is it:

Its painful and suffocating to hear of the debate and the division that the book has caused. If this debate or even controversy were to happen in a academic forum outside the Ashram, then there would be no pain. Its happening in its hallowed precincts. As an ordinary devotee, I would ask how did things come to such a pass? I would ask Aurobindo Ashram Trust members, the Trustes to introspect and decide whether they should step down - no matter whether the book is right or wrong - but owning responsibility that a damaging and bitter controversy has erupted and this has hurt the Mother's work - and the ordinary devotees' sense of the sacred.

I claim no rights, I have no vote, no authority. For the Ashram, I am a 'visitor'. For me the Ashram is a hallowed space I retreat to for reconnecting with my depths. That's true of thousands of other devotees. The controversy has hurt us. I hope those in authority will listen to our anguish and introspect. I have not read the book. I may never read it. Or I may. The concern here is that a controversy has erupted - a damaging, distressing and a very distracting controversy, not a healthy one. Pranams at the Mother's Feet, Dilip Kumar Roy www.facebook.com/diliproymumbai

Bhâi Tusar,

I would like to inform you that on last 10 December 2011, I sent a word to Mr Ramachandra Guha (ramachandraguha@yahoo.in) without
expecting any reply from him. Here are some relevant passages :

"On last 27 May, on the occasion of launching officially my biography Bagha Jatin (NBT) by the Hon'ble Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee, I had been informed that you were not available. I regretted it.

Having been under the impression that Sri Aurobindo did not much matter to you, I come across, however, your apologia for the much criticized biography by Peter Heehs, who belongs to the same group of detractors of Indian spirituality as Jeffry Kripal & Co.

"Unless you have any special reason for helping Heehs expanding his empire (opening his access to the Anandabazar Patrika group, for instance), I would request you to go through the accompanying article I wrote with a view to prove how fragile is his "objectivity" as
historian: (www.thelivesofsriaurobindo.com/2009/04/objective-history)."

Warm regards. Prithwindra Mukherjee