A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the 2024 Nainital Study Camp.

Some of the questions:
1. The meditation in the Gita
2. The three Purushas
3. The Divine Mother in the Gita

This is an interactive session with students and devotees from Kalahandi, Odisha.

Questions asked were:

- How to overcome nervousness?

- Why there is suffering?

- What is God?

- What to do when we get lost in the journey?

- Why good people sometimes die early?

Some Questions asked were :
1) What is the difference between believing and knowing?
2) Why do we need to remember the dead?
3) Why do people think of the past or the future instead of living in the Present?
4) Why are we unable to remember and do the right things even when we know it is right?

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in March 2024 (12/12)

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in March 2024 (11/12)

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in March 2024 (10/12)

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in March 2024 (9/12)

Poems: Self - Jivanmukta

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in March 2024 (8/12)

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in March 2024 (7/12)

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in March 2024 (5/12)

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in March 2024 (4/12)

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey.

The following poem is taken up: - In the Moonlight 

- Light

- A Short piece from Ahana

- Background of Baji Prabhou and Ilion.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at Sri Aurobindo Engineering and Technical Group, Matrubhaban, Cuttack.

This talk is based on the above line from Savitri.

This talk is centered around the above line from Savitri.

The questions were:
– How can discovery of the psychic being help with finding the Divine;
– What are the steps in finding the psychic being;
– What is the next stage after finding the psychic being;
– Significance and signs of psychic coming to the front;
– Differences between Paramatma, Jivatma and Atma.

[Sadhana in Everyday Life]

पूछे गए प्रश्न :
1. शिक्षा में समाज एवम अभिभावक की भूमिका।
2. भारत की महान शिक्षा को विकृत किया गया है जैसे धर्म, अहिंसा को गलत रूप देकर सत्य से विमुख किया गया, इसका सुधार कैसे होगा?
3. कहानियों के माध्यम से शिक्षा।

[Making the Right Choices]

पूछे गए प्रश्न:
1. मंत्र और साधना।
2. पूर्ण योग और देवता।

[Sri Aurobindo – A Triple Revolution]

पूछे गए प्रश्न:

1. क्या जो भविष्य की व्यवस्था आपने बताई हे वह वर्ण व्यवस्था की ही तरह नहीं हे?

2. श्री अरविन्द के योग से जुड़ने के लिए किन पुस्तकों को पढ़ा जाए।

[Finding the Right Attitude]

श्री अरविन्द को भारत के विकाश के लिए किसने प्रेरित किया?

श्री अरविन्द के स्वप्न क्या हैं?

सबसे पहली शक्ति कोनसी हे जिससे देवी देवता प्रकट हुए?

आत्मा पर प्रश्न।

[The Ocean of Gita]

[Life and Yoga]

[Sincerity or Making a Choice]

[ Truth and Mental Perception]

[Dharma]

[India the laboratory of the world]

– It is said that our fore-fathers were very much aware of the consciousness of plants, Even, they used this knowledge and Ayurveda came… Like them, how can we be conscious about our surrounding plants and their consciousness. What programs should we include in our daily life and in our curriculum?

– Is there a way to be identified with a plant? Please elaborate the method and what to do so that we can converse with plants as we do with human beings.

– Do the large trees attract ghosts?

– What does Consciousness in Plants really mean? When we speak of Consciousness in Plants, we talk about movement of branches of plants towards light, is this what Consciousness in Plant refers to? But, it’s the natural process of plants. Then, how can we say that plants are conscious? And if it is so, then we can say they are conscious people who live for their foods only. Is this understanding correct?

– Plants give reactions to different stimuli. It was doing so earlier as it is doing now. However, we can now record this behaviour with machines and we say they are conscious. Does consciousness mean the reaction of plants to different stimuli? If it is consciousness then each human being is conscious as we also react to situations and stimuli. Then why is there a need to be conscious?

– Do “Reaction or impulse to various stimuli” and “Consciousness” refer to the same thing? If not, how are they different?

– In the evolution, first were inanimate, then came plants followed by animals and human beings. But when we speak about consciousness, we tend to focus more on plant consciousness and their receptivity than that of animals. Even The Mother has spoken so much about it – Gave spiritual significance to flowers. Why is there less focus in this context on animals even though they are just the previous stage in evolutionary journey?

– Humans have four beings – Psychic, Mental, Vital and Physical. Similarly, other than Physical, do plants have the other beings – Mental, Vital and Psychic?

– How do Plants aspire?

– How can humans communicate with plants?

– What is the difference between Plant Consciousness and Animal Consciousness?

– Plants are conscious. Then in a garden, plants stay alone or they establish relationships with other plants?

The Mother’s message reads:

“Today is the first day of Sri Aurobindo’s centenary year. Though he has left his body he is still with us, alive and active.

Sri Aurobindo belongs to the future; he is the messenger of the future. He still shows us the way to follow in order to hasten the realisation of a glorious future fashioned by the Divine Will.

All those who want to collaborate for the progress of humanity and for India’s luminous destiny must unite in a clairvoyant aspiration and in an illumined work.

15 August 1971″

[Message for Golden jubilee of a Relic Centre in Hindi]

In this continuation of Hindi Talk TH 364 we find answers to following questions on Vegetal kingdom.

– Is the consciousness of a small plant like grass and that of a large tree like banyan the same?

– How can we know the reaction of a plant?

– Are plants open towards Supramental force?

– Sometimes we need to cut/ trim trees for aesthetics. How do plants react at that time? Should we do like that (cutting/ pruning)

– The Mother had asked not to cut the Service Tree when Samadhi was being constructed, but what should be our attitude towards small plants like grass/ shrubs etc.?

– If one person shows love towards a plant and another person shows hateful behavior towards it, then which of these vibrations would the plant receive?

– How does the spiritual significance of flowers actually help in an individual’s progress?

– What is the difference between The Mother giving a Sadhak a flower of certain significance vs. Sadhak offering a flower to the Mother?

– What should be our relationship with the plants surrounding us?

– Do plants affect our personality?

– Some trees are called ‘Devil’s Tree’, is there any reason?

– Why are plants more receptive than human beings?

– When one sends someone a flower with a wish does that really carry the feeling like love, healing or peace etc?

– We have heard that the plants are shock absorbers. If they are in the house, they take the difficulties and absorb the problem and protect the family like a family member. Is it true? What is the essence of this?

In this Hindi talk we find the answers to following questions on Vegetal kingdom.
– What is the difference in Consciousness of plants and human beings?
– Is Transformation of plant consciousness possible?
– If we take food from a plant that is growing in a bad environment, will it have any impact on our consciousness?
– If a person does not love a plant, then how does the plant react to him?

[Q&A on Vegetal Kingdom 1]

Nov 24, 2022 Darshan Card Message: “Religion’s real business is to prepare man’s mind, life and bodily existence for the spiritual consciousness to take it up; it has to lead him to that point where the inner spiritual light begins fully to emerge. It is at this point that religion must learn to subordinate itself, not to insist on its outer characters, but give full scope to the inner spirit itself to develop its own truth and reality.” The Life Divine CWSA 21-22: 897

[The Siddhi Day]

[Management by consciousness]

[Human Relations]

इस हिंदी वार्ता में हम इस प्रश्नों का उत्तर जानते हैं:
१. प्रायग्राज का सांकेतिक अर्थ।
२. ग्रहस्त के लिए योगिक मार्ग।
३. सनतकुमार ने नारद को क्या सिखाया था।
४. शून्य और अनंतता।
५. आलोक दा की यात्रा।
६. डिमेंशिया के बारे में।
७. श्री अरविन्द का स्वतंत्रता संग्राम में प्रभाव।
८. भारत का श्री अरविन्द के जन्मदिन के दिन स्वतंत्र होना।
९. अखंड भारत जो श्री अरविंद और माता जी ने देखा हे।

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at Himalayan Center of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Van Niwas, Nainital.

इस हिंदी वार्ता में हम देखते हैं की किस तरह राधा ने भक्ति, प्रेम और समर्पण का सिखाया, और फिर माता जी ने हमे उसकी उच्चतम सीख दी। साथ ही हम देखते हैं की भगवान के साथ हम कोन कोन से संबंध रख सकते हैं।

हम माता जी द्वारा लिखी गई “राधा की प्रार्थना” पढ़ते हैं।

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at Himalayan Center of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Van Niwas, Nainital.

५ व्यक्तिपरक युग।

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at Himalayan Center of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Van Niwas, Nainital.

इस वार्ता के महत्वपूर्ण बिन्दु:
• अधिकरभेद।
• एकलव्य की कहानी।
• ब्रह्मविद्या।
• माता जी द्वारा कही गई दीक्षा की कहानी।
• दीक्षा की कहानी, शेख सलीम चीस्ती और बाबा फरीद की कहानी।
• विरोधी शक्तियां।
• रामायण की कहानियां।

पूछे गए प्रश्न:
१. कोविड के पीछे कार्यरत शक्तियां।
२. जब भगवान हर जगह हैं तो क्यों नहीं दिखते।

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at Himalayan Center of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Van Niwas, Nainital.

पूछे गए प्रश्न:
१. पुरातन कहानियों के संकेत, जिन्हें समझना मुश्किल होता हे।
२. सोक्रेट्स की कहानी।

(Tales from Indian Scriptures 1/5 Stories of Creation and Evolution)
A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at Himalayan Center of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Van Niwas, Nainital.

[Sri Aurobindo, – The Thousand-Petalled Lotus]

The follow-up questions were:
1. What is Nature
2. The Purpose of Creation

[The Importance of Sri Aurobindo’s Birth]

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at Sri Aurobindo Ashram (Van Niwas), Nainital. 

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at Sri Aurobindo Ashram (Van Niwas), Nainital.

[Sri Aurobindo’s Leela]

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at Sri Aurobindo Ashram (Van Niwas), Nainital.

[Sri Krishna and Sri Aurobindo]

[Avatar and the Spiritual Revolution]

प्रश्न:
१. क्या दूसरे धर्मो में भी कुण्डलिनी जागरण की बात हुई है?
२. अन्यान्य लोक।
३. रूपांतरण।
४. रोग उपकार के साधन।

[Kundalini Yoga]

१. वेदों के अध्ययन का भविष्य क्या हे?
२. अंतरभास (intuition) केसे काम करते हैं।
३. साधक, जिज्ञासु, भक्त, और अनुयाई।
४. मंत्र ।
५. स्थित प्रज्ञ और शांत मन।
६. पश्चिमी मन और पूर्वी मन।

[Vedas, Antarabhasa, Mantras and Stithpragya]

वार्ता के कुछ महत्वपूर्ण बिंदु:
• भौतिक और आध्यात्मिक वैज्ञानिक में अंतर
• पीड़ा
• नर्क और स्वर्ग
• पुनर्जन्म का सत्य
• मृत्यु के बाद का सफर
• देह त्याग के समय केसा मनोभाव होना चाहिए
• पुनर्जन्म और आत्मा के चयन

पूछे गए प्रश्न:
१. क्या आत्मा गलत चुनाव कर सकती ही और फिर उसे बदल सकती ही?
२. आत्महत्या, हत्या और दुर्घटना में हुई मृत्यु।
३. केसे जाने की कोई गलत शक्ति के प्रभाव में हे।

[Death and Rebirth]

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at Sri Aurobindo Ashram (Van Niwas), Nainital [Student Life Requirements]

(Special Session for Youth Camp: Basic questions for youth)

पूछे गए प्रश्न:
१. आत्मा और शरीर के कर्म क्या एक हैं?
२. विचार की अनिवार्यता।
३. आस्था में कमी आना।
४. सच्चा समर्पण।

[Integral Yoga and Holistic Health]

[ Preparing India to be the Guru of the world]

[Images, Symbols and Legends in Savitri]

[The Subtle Causes of Illness]

The Essence of Savitri talk is the concluding part of a four-day webinar on Savitri.

Some questions asked were:
1. The term ‘Karmic Gods’ on p. 13 of Savitri.
2. Souls that will come in future.
3. When will transformation begin.
4. Please simplify Savitri.
5. Teaching Savitri to children.
6. Advice for a complete beginner.
7. Can we offer everything to the Mother, even the smallest things?

We share the eventual destiny of the Earth in the Light of Savitri. Part three of a four-part webinar in Hindi.

In this talk we touch upon the Yoga of Savitri in Books 4 – 7 of ‘Savitri’ by Sri Aurobindo.
Part two of a four-part webinar in Hindi.

In this talk we touch upon the Yoga of Ashwapati in Books 1 – 3 of Savitri.
Part one of a four-part webinar.

In this talk we see what the psychic being is and how to find it.

The questions asked were:
1. What helps the Psychic grow?
2. Is Psychic male or female?
3. How to constantly invoke the Grace?

In this Hindi talk we look at the role of Harmony in the Mother’s work and how to strive for it.

This is the concluding part of questions and answers on Energy, including such subjects as Mantra, Kundalini, Divine Energy and many others.

Questions:
38. Does the use of modern energy make us lazy?
39. Is the amount of energy different at different places? Like a temple and a bazar?
40. Is the energy of earth and energy of space different?
41. Is there any more energy to be discovered in our Galaxy?
42. Can we destroy the energy?
43. Why is energy needed for everything?
44. Do we need any medium to use energy?
45. How can we use energy in a useful way in our daily life?
46. Do we spend energy when we think? When we think don’t feel tired but after the game, we usually feel tired?
47. Poornima and amavasya how do they affect our energy?
48. Now a days from waste electricity is created. Like this can any energy be created from our wasted thoughts?
49. In Corona period many brothers and sisters are in a depressed state. How can they be able to recover from it?
50. I think man can do whatever he wants, do what he can concentrate on. (Such as: Can a large stone be thrown away without touch. Is this really possible? If so, how? What kind of energy is this?
51. It is said that “Sun is the ultimate source of energy”. So, is not it correct to tell “Sun is energy” instead of “Everything is energy”?
52. What is the difference between power and incompetence?
53. Is mantra a power?
54. Does Music (Higher & Lower Music) have any effect on our energy level in our body?
55. Does meditation develop our internal energy?
56. What are hidden powers of Energy?
57. How can we heal our diseases by our internal energy?
58. Are the students become motivated by the internal energy by the teacher? If yes, how can the teacher motivate the students by it?
59. How to control our body, mind, emotion by the hidden power of energy?
60. Is human being also a source of energy?
61. Humans have been wasting energy every moment. In the same way, does he waste his inner power? How?
62. It is found that most of the students are very much energetic in their childhood days. But after the schooling they become just the opposite. How can we help them?
63. What is Kundalini Energy? How to feel it? In our daily life how can we make contact with the chakras and grow our energy level?

We take up the following questions related to Energy from the spiritual point of view:
1. Is everything energy?
2. What are the types of energy?
3. How do we know that energy is within us?
4. How is energy created?
5. What would have happened if energy were not there?
6. We are alive and moving, by what energy?
7. Is there any energy in matter? If yes, how can we feel it?
8. Does energy, even the Supramental Energy, remain in matter and in the organisms?
9. Are energy & power different?
10. Do things or objects exchange energy?
11. How can we know about the energy that every object retains in it?
12. Is there any difference between scientific energy and spiritual energy? Among them which one is more powerful?
13. Where do we usually get energy from?
14. What is the difference between physical power and spiritual power?
15. Everything is Energy – What do we mean by everything here?
16. How can we feel the usefulness of spiritual energy?
17. If everything is energy, why do we feel the need for energy when we are weak?
18. How can we recognise the Supreme Conscious Energy and unite with Him?
19. If the same Energy is within everyone, then why do we have so much discrimination between us?
20. When we gossip it is said that we lost our energy or destroy our energy. Is it true?

This webinar in Hindi is part of the program for Sri Aurobindo Medical Association, Odisha. It touches upon a holistic understanding of health and healing.

This Hindi webinar with the DIYA Foundation takes up the theme of introducing Savitri, an epic poem written by Sri Aurobindo.

This Hindi webinar is an overview of Sri Aurobindo’s poems.

Why the future greets us with challenges and how one can be prepared for them and use them for progress.

Today’s talk is about the ways and means to build true harmony and thereby making life beautiful. Some questions asked were (1) Harmony and progress, and (2) Outer life and inner being.

A webinar with Matrusadhana Kendra, Rajgangpur, Odisha, by Dr Alok Pandey.

Beyond Salvation. In this Hindi webinar we see what lies behind the ideals of moksha or nirvana and the yet higher ideal of transformation.

Savitri, the Divine Mother. In this Hindi webinar we look at the story of the Divine Mother as seen in the epic Savitri.

On the day of Sri Krishna’s Birthday, we recollect some stories of the Divine as the friend of all creatures.

In this webinar we see how one travels from one birth to another and reach new birth. We discuss the mystery of birth and the journey of life through rebirth.

The questions were:
1. What about people with tendencies of wrongdoing?
2. Why would a soul take birth after Self-realization?

1. Please explain: Future of humanity is in Spirituality.

2. Please explain: “Paritranaya Sadhunam, Vinashayacha dushkritam……”

Recorded on April 5, 2021, at Matrubhaban, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Cuttack, Odisha

Touching upon issues of Victory over Death, Immortality, Work of Avataras, Feeling the Divine Presence, Yoga and Attitudes, Purpose of Creation, getting rid of illness, Power of Faith, Play of forces and many other topics.

This talk completes the overview and Canto-wise summary of Savitri, ending the Book Eleven as the prophesy of the Future, as well as Book Twelve which rounds up the epic in the Epilogue.

Book Eleven is taken up which is about Savitri’s asking the boons for man and earth from the Supreme Lord.

Book Nine, which is about Savitri’s journey into the domains of Death, and Book Ten, revealing to us her eventual victory over Death, are taken up here in this talk.

This talk takes up the Book of Yoga in detail and also Book eight which is about the Death of Satyavan.

This talk takes up the problem of fate and Pin as revealed in Book Six Canto Two and then touches upon the first two Cantos of Book Seven giving us the background of Savitri’s Yoga undertaken for victory over fate.

In this talk we take up the remaining portions of Book Two and summarise Books Three, Four and Five. Book Six is touched upon with the queen, mother of Savitri raising questions on man’s destiny against the background of her daughter’s fate.

In this talk we take up the Yoga of Aswapati as it shapes through Book One Canto three onwards right up to His journey to the worlds of darkness. This includes among other things, Aswapati’s experience of Freedom from Ignorance and the emergence of new possibilities and discoveries of the secrets that transcend the mind and senses. Then starts a long and unprecedented journey through the different planes of consciousness which we see in Book Two. All these are taken up and summarised with reading of relevant passages.

This is the first talk in the series. This talk gives us a brief background to the epic. Then it gives us an overview of the first two Cantos of the Book One. In these two cantos Sri Aurobindo reveals to us the deeper symbol that this story represents and the real issue of human life.

23rd January 2020, Jaipur, Rajasthan

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey in Hindi at the Auro Ashram, Ratlam, MP.

This talk is about some of the important questions we must ask and see how their answers change.

This talk is about the nature of Work undertaken by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, especially with regard to the New Creation and the time taken for transition between the old and the new.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at Matrubhaban, Cuttack, Odisha, in April 2019.

The Mother’s work is over a vast inner and outer landscape. It is mainly the work of a New Creation through a progressive transformation of humanity. Here, today we touch upon a very small but important aspect of Her Work which concerns mainly our humanity and how we can collaborate with it. There are many other aspects of Her Work that are not being discussed here for want of time.

Savitri has asked four boons for Earth and Man. The Supreme indeed grants these boons that will fulfill through passage of Time. Along with the boons we are revealed the future of earth and the human race over large spaces of Time. The Supreme promises that the Earth will be saved and matter divinised and earthly life become the life Divine.

Savitri has asked four boons for Earth and Man. The Supreme indeed grants these boons that will fulfill through passage of Time. Along with the boons we are revealed the future of earth and the human race over large spaces of Time. The Supreme promises that the Earth will be saved and matter divinised and earthly life become the life Divine.

Savitri has crossed the last stronghold of Death. The mask of terror and grief is torn and Savitri enters the very Home of Truth. It is then that she is face to face with the Divine who stands behind creation hidden behind all action and movement. A long dialogue follows where Savitri seeks for the redemption of earth but the Divine dissuades her saying that the earth is not yet ready. But Savitri stands her ground seeking the boon of divinisation of earthly life. What we discover here is the Divine Love and Compassion that dwells in Savitri’s heart who is none else but an incarnation of the Divine Mother. We are also given a quick glimpse of the challenges of transformation especially with regard to the resistance in man. Eventually she ascends to Her own Home and asks for the boons from the Supreme.

Savitri has crossed the last stronghold of Death. The mask of terror and grief is torn and Savitri enters the very Home of Truth. It is then that she is face to face with the Divine who stands behind creation hidden behind all action and movement. A long dialogue follows where Savitri seeks for the redemption of earth but the Divine dissuades her saying that the earth is not yet ready. But Savitri stands her ground seeking the boon of divinisation of earthly life. What we discover here is the Divine Love and Compassion that dwells in Savitri’s heart who is none else but an incarnation of the Divine Mother. We are also given a quick glimpse of the challenges of transformation especially with regard to the resistance in man. Eventually she ascends to Her own Home and asks for the boons from the Supreme.

This is the first part of a talk based on Savitri Book 11. The background of this Canto is discussed as also the description of the higher worlds as are contained in the Higher Hemisphere. These worlds are not subject to dissolution through Time. Savitri has a glimpse of these worlds in the eternal Divine whose vision is revealed here in a marvelous way. Here we go at some length in the vision of the Supreme as revealed in Book 11.

This is the second part of the talk on Savitri Book 11. After the grand revelation we have the dialogue between Savitri and the Supreme who tries to dissuade her from bringing down the Divine upon Earth. But Savitri remains true and steadfast to her work and mission. Some questions are also taken up regarding this Canto.

About this date The Mother wrote : “The anniversary of my return to Pondicherry, which was the tangible sign of the sure Victory over the adverse forces.”

There are physical strengths; there are mental, vital and spiritual strengths.  Our Body grows by regular exercises, mind by concentration, wideness, thought control and our soul grows by love, compassion, aspiration etc. By doing regular exercises in all these levels and domains we can grow in different parts of our nature. Sometimes life gives lots of trouble. It seems dry. But spring comes after summer. So let’s learn to wait and prepare. Knowledge comes from all the quarters. Each element of creation like tree, sky, stone etc. gives us continuous teaching. By all these, we accumulate treasure and this is true treasure which cannot be destroyed. Here the speaker trying to explain the children basics of inner and outer life and growth.

Each Avatara brings something new for earth and humanity but most of all by taking the human material cloak He redeems earth nature and humanity. The earth nature in the process changes substantially and prepared to hold still more subtle, higher and complex forces. Material nature is the most difficult part of humanity to change as it has come from the inconscient and is deeply rooted in it. Due to lack of consciousness, it tends to get back to the old habits which need to be changed to establish any higher truths. This talk focuses upon the workings of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo on this material nature that most resists the change. This talk also gives a practical angle of our life and the way to integrate the sadhana in it.

When we see the birth of creation, we see the Divine manifested first as sound and from sound the creation got its original vibration. Poetry is the highest medium of expression where powerful words and sounds contain treasures of high knowledge. Apart from Savitri, which of course is unique and unparalleled, Sri Aurobindo’s many other poems give us the hints of his life and sadhana. In this talk the speaker lucidly presents some important aspects of the poems of Sri Aurobindo.

There are two aspects of human development. Both of them march together. They are the Individual life and the collective or social life. All the fields of life can be elevated to spiritual life. In India art, science, spirituality and politics everything used to be integrated for the perfection of life. But the tendency of human nature is that whenever any higher spiritual truth is revealed, man tries to formulate it into some kind of religion and the truth vanishes slowly. This talk is about this double aspect of our evolution viz the individual and social transformation of earthly life.

In Sri Aurobindo’s integral yoga, work is an indispensable part of sadhana. Only bhakti and knowledge will not bring the necessary transformation. Work is body’s prayer and sadhana of the body even as meditation is for the mind. Here the aim is to transform the physical nature along with mental and vital. Initially all the work we do in the spell of ego, Individual or collective ego. But work has to be done only for divine. Then only it becomes the path of transformation.

Our body is made of many physical, subtle, psychological, astral and spiritual elements. That is why it is very complex in nature and difficult to understand. When we do some work, there is the circulation of energy. Thoughts of many negative, positive and constantly moves in our mind impacting our body. Work done in the spirit of karmayoga liberates us from these bondages and generates new energies. When work is taken up as yoga, a new thing happens. There is the Joy of doing. There are no fears, no worries, no expectations of ego, but to participate in the play of God and work for joy. When each of our members opens to Divine, the whole body becomes healthy and ready for the Divine service.

Sadhana means acquiring a new station, a new poise of consciousness. This is achieved through an ascent and a reversal. It means shedding our old identity and acquiring a new one. Our old identity is made up of ego and ignorance. It does not allow a person to move on the divine path. It is the Divine, who should be the goal of all our endeavours. It is this aspiration which leads to a growth and ascension of consciousness. The speaker has explained and  elaborated about the growth of consciousness in a very nice way.

Divine taking the physical form is indeed a wonder of wonders. He leaves His imprint upon matter and His subtle occult influence remains even much after He has withdrawn. In fact the Divine takes the physical form so that matter can be charged and awaken to the new consciousness. The relics which includes objects used or touched by the Divine holds therefore a very special place in the spiritual and religious history of mankind.

Surrender is the easiest and yet the most difficult of all practices. It means giving up our individuality to the Divine and let him govern our life. This necessarily implies faith and trust and obedience to the Divine Will. The Mother has shown us the best example of what surrender is. The speaker tells us many beautiful and necessary examples and simple practical ways of surrender.

The role of women as a home maker was the most important role in the past. The future world what The Mother and Sri Aurobindo have envisaged is something beyond all old notions. No old standards can define it. That is why all good things and ideals of past also cannot be the height of our role. Beyond social role, woman has a higher role to play, the role of a spiritual source. Whenever the society has gone high and glorious, we can see women in those times have played a wider and freer and deeper role to make it. In the future, woman will be more efficient, strong, wide, with full of love and knowledge and contribute towards building a new society.

The Divine take human form by limiting himself and come to earth to live and change the human life itself. He shows the path, stands as example and helps humanity to walk on it by spiritual and physical help. To consecrate oneself to the Divine, one can start remembering and offering each small works like eating, bathing, or any work one takes up. Slowly the habit of offering will be established. These and other helpful insights are shared by the speaker in this talk.

In this talk the speaker gives us some valuable insights about work, fears and other life problems. For example, patience and stepping back helps man to start the work in a better way. Fear can be removed by constantly invoking and being with Divine in whatever form closer to the seeker.

Life and world give us opportunities to practice yoga. If one wants to do yoga, one can do it in the midst of life. We have before us the living example of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The Divine take a human form and live a human life to show man and help him to walk on the path.

This talk is given to the students and the speaker throws light on some fundamental  questions of life and yoga. The meaning of yoga literally is to join. But why do we need to join and with what, – because we are incomplete and imperfect, limited beings without joining ourselves to the now hidden divine aspects within us. What we do not have with us? – Wisdom, peace, wideness, ananda, strength to name a few. The world set other goals like money, name, fame, material possessions. But without wisdom, these goals even achieved cannot make one happy or satisfied. When we connect ourselves with God, these qualities spontaneously manifest in us which make our life richer and beautiful.

This is a Q&A Session, a continuation of the talk TH 159 (the previous post). 

The journey of thousand miles starts with one step. When human being starts the journey of consciousness, he starts first from outside and physically. Slowly this process touches the deeper sides. If the consciousness is right, the outer acts slowly turn towards the right direction. This talk is about turning our life into a yoga thereby hastening the journey and freeing ourselves from needless suffering.

The debate of Love and Death is one of the important and significant Canto in Savitri. In the course of the debate Savitri goes through different levels in the journey carrying Death towards its own higher truth. The speaker very lucidly takes us through dialogues and help us to reach the experience.

Maya is a much-discussed and among the most ill-understood ideas in Indian thought. It has been variously defined. Here the speaker takes up this issue, the deeper sense and purpose of Maya and of creation itself with anecdotes and analogies.

In this talk, the speaker focuses on the Book One, Canto IV, The Secret Knowledge.

The second talk of Dr Alok Pandey’s 2015 three-part Readings in Savitri at the Savitri Readers Bhavan, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

An opening of 2015 Readings in Savitri at the Savitri Readers Bhavan, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, with Dr Alok Pandey.

Perseus the Deliverer is one of the longest play of Sri Aurobindo, the only play published in Sri Aurobindo’s lifetime. This is very symbolic and the Mother has given very interesting comments on this play. In Greek mythology there are three sons of God who rule over the worlds. Zeus the lord of sky, Poseidon-the lord of Sea and Hades, the lord of death. This talk takes up the play and deals with its evolutionary aspects and subtle symbols. The worship of Athena in place of Poseidon symbolizes the dawn of a new era, a worship of beauty, strength, courage, peace and love in place of brute force and crude thoughts.

The New World is already here. The question we have to ask is are we ready and what is needed to be ready for receiving the New World. The Mother has announced that the new world is born. It is taking its shape and all those who are open to it will experience the difference. To realize the new life is difficult because of our old life and its habits. The difficulties in nature and life have to be won by persistent effort and surrender. This talk is about how to open and prepare to receive the New World.

The Divine does not want Nirvana but He wants Divine Perfection and Transformation on earth. Sri Aurobindo says that the greatest secret given in the Gita is Love. Love has the power of Transformation; but Divine Love and not human love, as human love is mixed with ego and desire. The Psychic has the true Love for the Divine. Two things we should never forget that there is a soul within and the Grace above. Sri Aurobindo’s message is of love and compassion; the speaker also narrates stories of Divine Compassion of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. Man is the meeting point and hence also the bridge between animality and divinity. Gnostic individual will have practical Omniscience, selfless Love, and will live by Truth. Three qualities required for Supramental vibration to pass through are equanimity, wideness, and plasticity. Finally, the speaker reads in detail from Savitri as how the Supramental creation will be; in Supramental creation, though each individual will be unique, there will be Oneness, as each one will manifest an aspect of the Divine.

Jagannath means indwelling Universal Godhead – It has four pillars – unity, freedom, knowledge, power. One should recognize spiritual evolution as the destiny and a great need of the human being. As animal man evolved into a mentalised humanity, so too the conversion of the present humanity into a spiritual humanity is surely the intention of Nature. Sri Aurobindo says supramental change is in the very logic of things. This spiritual conversion cannot be effected by machinery and outward institutions, it has to be lived out by each man inwardly. A spiritual symbol or convention is meaningless unless the thing symbolized is realized in the spirit. There must be numerous failures initially in everything great and difficult. But the times comes when the experience of past failures can be profitably used and the gate that so long resisted opens. For by doing, the difficulty will be solved. The speaker discusses Auroville as an example.

The society of the lower existence is based upon division (Diti ki santan). It has struggle, competition and quarrel not only within itself but with other societies as well. To bring about order into this chaos rules and laws are made but they are temporary, incomplete and achieved with difficulty. 

The structure of the ideal society is entirely the opposite. Its foundation is Unity within (Ekattva) based on the Self, and not any external form. There is outer play of differentiation, each one acting in his own volition and freedom, according to his swabhav and swadharma. Gnostic community can be formed only if individuals grow into Gnostic consciousness. Nolini da says that we should have union in the Mother. We should unite the confluence of knowledge, devotion and works within us. Spiritual commune will be created by the delight and the unifying power of self knowledge and divine knowledge. The purpose of Auroville is to realize this human unity.

The speaker also discusses meditation in detail. We should offer our meditation to the Divine. Meditation is a link that can connect us to God.

Finally, the speaker discusses the three fundamental realizations of the triple transformation – Psychic transformation, Spiritual transformation, and Supramental transformation.

The biggest enemy in our progress is the ego. Every situation becomes an opportunity to progress if the ego is removed. Both individual ego and collective ego are obstacles to the divine fullness. Individual ego is an obstruction in the spiritual attainment. In the same way, collective ego is an obstruction in the attainment of an ideal society.

Brotherhood is the key to establish human unity. It can be found when one realizes the Self (atma-tatva) as the Origin. Fire of aspiration is the first condition to attain the Self. One attempt to realize human unity is the symbol of Jagannath Rath.

Why is there grief and suffering on earth? Is it Karma or Divine Grace (Pragya) or both? Is law of Karma a crude mechanism of sin and virtue or is it a means for progress and evolution? Does one suffer due to ignorance? Should one accept a particular situation or try to change it? Speaker answers these questions in detail.

Though there is no hard and fast rule followed in integral yoga, yet the swiftest and safest way is self-giving. Give all you have, give all you do and lastly give all you are – this is what is asked in the path of supramental yoga. The rest is taken care of by the Lord of the yoga. This is the golden way by which surrender becomes spontaneous and transformation of nature becomes possible. This is the golden path shown by the Lord and The Mother. Surrender takes away the darkness in the being and fills and fulfills it with higher light and energy.

(16/4/14)

[16/4/12]