sri aurobindo’s last darshan

8/3/2019 Sri Aurobindos Last Darshan

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S R I A U R O B I N D O S O C I E T YS i n g a p o r e

Permit No. MICA (P) 249/06/2009

December 2009 NEWSLETTER VOL 23.12

Above was the brooding bliss of the Infinite,

Its omniscient and omnipotent repose,

Its immobile silence absolute and alone.

- Sri Aurobindo in Savitri

Photo of Sri Aurobindo published with the permission of Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust


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Savitri

To the still heights and to the troubled depths

His equal spirit gave its vast assent:

A poised serenity of tranquil strength,

A wide unshaken look on Times unrest

Faced all experience with unaltered peace.Indifferent to the sorrow and delight,

Untempted by the marvel and the call,

Immobile it beheld the flux of things,

Calm and apart supported all that is:

His spirits stillness helped the toiling world.

(Savitri,Book 1, Canto 3)

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The poison of the world has stained his throat.In the market-place of Matters capital

Amidst the chafferings of the affair called life

He is tied to the stake of a perennial Fire;

He burns on an unseen original verge

That Matter maybe turned to spirit stuff:

He is the victim of his own sacrifice.

The Immortal bound to earths mortality

Appearing and perishing on the roads of Time

Creates Gods moment by eternitys beats.

He dies that the world may be new-born and live.


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It is finished, the dread mysterious sacrifice,

Offered by Gods martyred body for the world.

He who has found his identity with God

Pays with the bodys death his souls vast light.

His knowledge immortal triumphs by his death.


Grant that we many be worthy of this marvelous Presence and that henceforth everything in us

be concentrated on the one will to be more and more perfectly consecrated to the fulfilment of

Thy sublime Work.

- The Mother


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Question of the month

Q:Q:Q:Q: What is the part of the samadhi of Sri AurobindoWhat is the part of the samadhi of Sri AurobindoWhat is the part of the samadhi of Sri AurobindoWhat is the part of the samadhi of Sri Aurobindo herehereherehere????

A:A:A:A: Sri M.P. Pandit ::::The Samadhi is the physical concentration of the consciousness that SriAurobindo embodied in his material body. Those who have faith can draw as much spiritual

sustenance from the Samadhi as they did when he was physically present.

The Samadhi is not a tomb where the physical remains of the Master are preserved. It is aliving reservoir of Spiritual consciousness and force, emanating its vibrations incessantly. Ihope I am not revealing any great secrets in recording here that there is in these vibrations apowerful sanction to every deep prayer that is offered at the Samadhi. I have known ofcountless instances where confirmed skeptics have returned men of faith after a visit to theSamadhi.

(From All Life is Yoga- M.P. Pandit, Dipti Publications, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry)

Luminous Preservation of Sri Aurobindos Body

(Though Sri Aurobindo withdrew from his physical body on December 5, 1950, the body didnot show any signs of decomposition till four days later. The body was aglow with a special

light which the Mother confirmed as being the light of the Supramental.)

Regarding the preservation of Sri Aurobindos body for severaldays after his withdrawal: You are right; the mere fact ofpreservation does not give special significance to the event.What was unique and important about the phenomenon was thepresence for so many days of the Supramental Light in thebody. It was the first time that the said Light was seen by many

physical eyes, illumining a physical form. It was an irrefutabletestimony to the fact of the great Light having concretelydescended on the earth plane and found a material habitation,for however short a period.

Preservation of the body by yogic means is not veryuncommon. There are scores of instances of Hathayoginswithdrawing their life-breath, leaving their bodies intact fordays together. There are certain currents of life-force- calledsub-pranas in the Indian system- which keep the body without disintegration even when themain life-breath has ceased. One need not be a yogi or a spiritual man or a saint for that.Persons who are used to pranayama in one form or another can have this effected in theirsystems.

The greatness of saints is always their own. It is not conferred on them by the beliefs orsuperstitions of the devotees.

(From All Life is Yoga- M.P. Pandit, Dipti Publications, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry)


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as those possessing a deep philosophical outlook of life. Its guiding principles inspire everybody inall walks of life ranging from those engaged in the most menial physical work up to those involvedin the most enlightened intellectual activities, for it addresses the root cause behind the binding ofoneself to Karma or action and practically guides us how to be and act in the material world and yetremain continuously connected with the spirit inside. Karma becomes an ecstatic prayer when donein an attitude of offering to the Divine for indeed we would always want an offering to be perfect.Every perfect action will get the most perfect expected results as per the laws of nature controlled

by the unseen Divine Will. These basic principles, not limited by any religious or geographicalboundaries are unchanged for the past, present and future generations and science too cannot ignoretheir validity.

When we compare the statistics of those with clarity of mind and purpose and happy in allcircumstances with those depressed, stressed and confused in life in modern times, we shall surelyfind today the highest number ofArjunas with a state of mind as that he was in the battlefield ofKurukshetra, even though we have made magnanimousprogress in acquiring the best material comforts. We oftennotice that our inner and the outer beings are in conflictwith one another. It is only when our actions are inharmony with our feelings and thoughts aspiring for a

higher purpose in life that the most mundane dailyactivities of life would become a means of Sadhana. Asper Sri Aurobindo and Divine Mother - we are a composite being and an inseparable entity made up of

our physical, vital, mental and spiritual or psychic parts.For different people and for the same person thecontrolling part of the self takes its turns andconsequently our reaction to external stimuli varies atdifferent times and situations without our being consciousabout it. When we do an introspection of our own actionsseeking Divine help we would certainly know which partof our being has controlled a particular action or speech ofours.

It is only for a few seconds in our routine life that weattempt to come in touch with our luminous psychic beingand all our actions and outer life appear to be guided by that luminosity. To remain longer in thatstate of consciousness of being connected with our psychic self is all about Yoga and Sadhana,possible only as said by Sri Aurobindo in the book The Motherin its opening page There are twopowers that alone can effect in their conjunction the great and difficult thing which is the aim ofour endeavor, a fixed and unfailing aspiration that calls from below and a supreme Grace fromabove that answers. The three types ofYoga- Karma,Bhakti and Jnana are not different paths forself realization but are self complementary with one another as they all aim at the transformation ofdifferent parts of our being ( Sri Aurobindos Poorna Yoga - Integral Yoga book Bases of Yoga). Bhakti Yoga gives a direction to the erratic vital being with its unpredictable and devastating

emotions. Karma Yoga releases the binding of the physical being to the actions and consequentlyinduces total surrender of this being to the Divine. It is theJnana Yoga that addresses the reasoningmind with its thinking capabilities and opens its closed windows towards higher inspiration andintuition

Only after all parts of our being are transformed and surrendered to the Divine is our Self freed tocome under the control of our psychic being. Then only we shall be able to experience EkamevaAdvitiyam Brahmaas per Chandogya Upanishad- Divine Oneness in all and all in the DivineOneness. We can memorize these words and utter them as many times but it would take many


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lives of Sadhana to put them into practice. We the children of Divine Mother are sitting on thecoastal sands of the endless ocean of Her Grace and trying to collect a grain or two of HerKnowledge and taste a drop or two of her nectarous benevolence. The above principles offer thebest antidotes today for these ever increasing levels of stress and aimlessness. Knowing the worldaround is given higher priority than knowing oneself. Knowledge of the Self is being forgottenwhile we are busy overloading ourselves with the knowledge of the world around us. We cannarrate pages about people or events around us but when asked to describe about our own self,

words fail us. This reminds us ofKatha Upanishadwhere the student Nachiketaasks his teacherYama for that knowledge knowing which everything else is known This doubt that arises,consequent on the death of a man - some saying 'It (The SELF) exis, and others saying 'It (The

SELF) does not exist'. I would like to know this, under your instruction, O Death, what is the

Truth." Kathopanishad, Part I, Ch 1, Sloka 20. The above references were mentioned to us on thefirst day in our class of Study of Sri Aurobindosworks in Ashram school...........to be cont.

Note : All the concepts expressed here are from recollections of the words and explanations given by our

teachers in Sri Aurobindo International Centre in the class on Essays on The Gita and the weekly enlightening

talks held in the school premises by Nirod Da and Amal Kiran Ji .

- SundariDivine Sacrifice

For the Divine it is not a supreme sacrifice to renounce the beatitude of His unity in order to create the painful

multiplicity of the world.

Common Name: PomegranateBotanical Name:Punica granatumSpiritual Name: Divine Sacrifice


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Barrage. Seated in a ring, we listened to a story from my mother, a facilitator. Since we were atthe barrage that beautiful evening to do some kite flying, the story was on the Wind God.Afterwards we all split up into groups and worked on making some kites for us to fly. Eachgroup used a different method of making the kites. One group made theirs using straws. As formy group, we used satay sticks as the spine of our kite. Ours was large, diamond shaped andred. All members of their respective groups contributed in the making of their groupsmasterpiece. Soon we were all armed with string and our kites were all set for take off. Weheaded to the roof. The sight that awaited us was amazing! I was awestruck. The Green Roof asit was called was covered fully with grass. But that was not all. There were so many kites in thesky. We all set about trying to make our kites fly. Though my group failed considerably,seeing our kite go up a few meters into the air give us a sense of satisfaction and achievement.Later it was time for a debrief and some snacks. During our snack time, kite flying continuedexcept that this time the kites were empty potato chip packets.

- Pradeeptha

PROGRAMME FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2009

DATE TIME DETAILS

5th Dec, 2009Saturday

6:00 pmDarshan Day Screening of Sri Aurobindo His life and his Ashram

(Sri Aurobindo's Mahasamadhi Day)

6th Dec, 2009Sunday

6:00 pm Living Question and The Mothers Answerconducted by Shailaja

13th Dec, 2009Sunday

6.00 pm Guided Meditation


6.00 pm Savitri Circle


7.00 pm Savitri - Talk by K.S. Rajah

31st Dec, 2009

Thursday

10.30 pm Beginning 2010 with The Mother and Sri Aurobindo

1st Jan, 2010Friday

11:00 am Special New Year Meditation & Prayers

WALKING IN LIGHT

A Peek at Physical Culture- Jayanthy

Aspiration. For every move, every stride forward, in anything and everything, it appears then,that it is aspiration that is the seed, the initiate behind a driving force. What is aspiration then?Is it an asking? It is a yearning? Is it a desire, a want? It appears to be some of all these, insmall bits, and yet, stands out amongst these little things, high, lofty and mighty. Aspiration. It

is a sweet, soft word that holds in it all the forces of change. To aspire for something appears tobe an asking for something more than for oneself, more than oneself. It has the distinct shadesof a more self-less seeking, a searching more from within and an intense need put across to thehighest one can perceive in ones consciousness or even in ones imagination. It appears thatwhen one aspires, one, without exception, can only aspire for the highest ideal one canperceive. That alone puts aspiration above all other wants and needs.

This aspiration that flowers from within has to come out of a deeply felt need, understood bythe mind, perceived by the heart as the inevitable, indispensable. Then perhaps, there is hope


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for the physical, made of grosser material, to be held up to the light to be transformed intoperfections form?

Who is the one who will ask for physical perfection or fitness, and when? Would one ask forphysical well being after decades of ill-use and misuse and abuse of a docile instrument thatcan potentially move mountains, and an inevitable carrier, a cradle for and a sheath around theevolving soul that is carried from birth to greater birth? And who asks for this perfection andwell-being?

Yes, everyone wants a happy and healthy body that would serve him or her well in life. But thebody follows a material law. It needs understanding of how it works, and how best to put it toits best use. But again, what is best use? To what use do we want to put our body to? This callsfor introspection. This question drives us back to what we think to be our purpose of existenceupon this earth. To whom or what do we want to dispose ourselves to?

And it probably matters little where and in what station we are in life. Karma takes place,inevitably, work carries on. But what we do and how we do something takes on a greatermeaning with the understanding of why we do something. And to top it up, with what attitude

we do something. These introspections, if not anything more, will at least remove unnecessaryactivities we indulge in, for once one is focused on ones goals in life, ones path is more orless laid down. Our goal then, might as well be a high one, worth our birth here. Physicalactivities take a beautiful turn once our aim and purpose in life are ascertained throughconscious choices based on faith and trust in the highest.

Sri Aurobindo states: it is only on the basis of peace and calm that the true progress andrealization can come. There must be no vital excitement in your seeking or your aspirationtowards the Mother

DECEMBER 2009 MORNING WALK NO. 292

Date: Sunday, 6

th

December 2009.

Time: 8. 00 AM sharpPre-walk exercise will start on schedule.Please get to the starting point on time.

Place: Bedok Reservoir ParkMeeting Point: By the Swimming Pool at The Tropica. Carscan be parked at The Tropicas Car Park. Following warm upexercises by the pool, we would walk over to the ReservoirPark.

Directions to The Tropica:

Exit PIE at Bedok Reservoir Road. Keep straight on the road.Then turn right into Tampinese Ave 10. From here, makeanother right into Tampinese Ave 1.MRT Station: TampinesBus Services: 23 (from interchange), 518 (from Orchard andPasir Ris), 15 (From Parkway Parade), 8 (fromToa Payoh)

Directions to Park:MRT Station: BedokBus Services: 18, 21, 22, 28, 65, 67, 69, 228, 66, 506.Expressway: PIE Exit 8B (From Jurong towards Bedok)

The Tropica


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Contact: Mr and Mrs Ramanathan 96490670.

Host: Mr & Mrs K. S. Lok61 Tampines Avenue 1, # 11- 02The TropicaSingapore 529776

Telephone: (Res) 65883515 (HP) 94235415

Request: It is the walk that gives meaning to the brunch that follows.Do make it a point to attend the walk. However, the hostswill be pleased to welcome those unable to join the walk attheir residence at 10.30am to participate in the prayers &meditation followed by brunch.

PREVIEW OF FORTHCOMING SUNDAY MORNING WALKS

WALK NO DATE TIME PLACE HOST

293 03.01.10 8.00 AM East Coast ParkBig Splash

Ms. Nisha Maheshawary

294 07.02.10 8.00 AM Bishan Park Mr. & Mrs. Krishnamurthy

295 07.03.10 8.00 AMBukit Timah Nature

ReserveMr. and Mrs. Rajah

295 04.04.10 8.00 AMMacRitchie Reservoir

ParkMr. and Mrs. Ramachandran

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Printed and Published byThe Sri Aurobindo Society of Singapore

2A Starlight Road 01-07, Singapore 217755Tel: 62224194 (Daya); 96522197 (Jayanthy); 9164 7393 (Sumant); 64426266 (N.C. Patel)

Email: [email protected] our website at: www.sassingapore.cjb.net

Membership Renewal for 2010 & Subscription to AIM

All ordinary members are kindly requested to renew their membership subscriptions fee for theyear 2010. The renewal fee is $80 per annum. From the $80 subscription collected, $20 will bepaid to Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry for membership and subscription to the All IndiaMagazine (AIM). Life members also will be required to pay $20 per annum for AIM. Payment bycheque should be made payable to "Sri Aurobindo Society Singapore". Kindly send your chequeto the treasurers address:

Mr. Lok Kek SengThe Tropica

61 Tampines Avenue# 11 02

Singapore 529776

sri aurobindo’s last darshan

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