Sri Aurobindo
The aggressive and quite illogical idea of a single religion for all mankind, a religion universal by the very force of its narrowness, one set of dogmas, one cult, one system of ceremonies, one ecclesiastical ordinance, one array of prohibitions and injunctions which all minds must accept on peril of persecution by men and spiritual rejection or eternal punishment by God, that grotesque creation of human unreason which has been the parent of so much intolerance, cruelty and obscurantism and aggressive fanaticism, has never been able to take firm hold of the Indian mentality.
― Sri Aurobindo
A poet and His prose.
Sri Aurobindo, born Aurobindo Ghose (15 August 1872 – 5 December 1950), was an Indian philosopher, poet, yogi, and nationalist. He played a significant role in India's struggle for independence from British rule and later became one of the prominent spiritual leaders and thinkers of the 20th century.
Sri Aurobindo started his career as a young revolutionary, advocating for the freedom of India from British colonial rule through various means, including writing articles and delivering speeches. However, he later shifted his focus from politics to spirituality and went through a profound spiritual transformation. He believed that the transformation of individuals and the establishment of a higher consciousness were essential for bringing about a true and lasting change in society.
His spiritual teachings and philosophy emphasized the evolution of human consciousness and the realization of a divine consciousness within oneself. He synthesized various spiritual traditions, including yoga, Vedanta, and Tantra, and developed his own system of integral yoga, which aimed at the integration of all aspects of human existence—physical, mental, and spiritual—in order to achieve a higher state of consciousness.
At first gathering into it the essential elements of spiritual experience that are gained by the paths of divine communion and spiritual realisation followed till now in India, he passed on in search of a more complete experience uniting and harmonising the two ends of existence, Spirit and Matter. Most ways of Yoga are paths to the Beyond leading to the Spirit and, in the end, away from life; Sri Aurobindo's rises to the Spirit to redescend with its gains bringing the light and power and bliss of the Spirit into life to transform it.
He wrote extensively on topics ranging from spirituality and philosophy to poetry and social issues. Some of his notable works include "The Life Divine," "Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol," and "Essays on the Gita." He also established an ashram in Pondicherry, South India, where he lived with his spiritual collaborator, Mirra Alfassa, commonly known as "The Mother."
Sri Aurobindo's teachings continue to inspire and influence individuals in the fields of spirituality, philosophy, and personal development. His ideas on integral yoga, spiritual evolution, and the potential for a divine transformation of humanity remain significant contributions to the spiritual and philosophical landscape.
Further Exploration:
Writings : https://www.sriaurobindoashram.org/sriaurobindo/writings.php
A talk on his life and work : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riRdRN54_zk
The Practice of Yoga : https://satyameva.in/the-practice-of-yoga