Sri Aurobindo and Auroville: Reigniting India’s Greatness

Introduction:

• Sri Aurobindo and Auroville are two interconnected elements of a unique spiritual and cultural movement in India.

• Both are founded on the principles of integral yoga and seek to awaken India to its potential for greatness.

• This writing provides an in-depth overview of Sri Aurobindo’s life, philosophy, and legacy.

Who is Aurobindo?

• Sri Aurobindo was a visionary philosopher, yogi, poet, and nationalist who played a key role in India’s independence movement against British colonialism.

• He was also a spiritual master who developed the concept of “integral yoga,” which seeks to harmonize all aspects of one’s being in pursuit of a divine consciousness.

• Sri Aurobindo’s life and teachings continue to inspire spiritual seekers around the world.

Early Life and Political Activism:

• Sri Aurobindo was born in Calcutta, India, in 1872. He was a brilliant student and went on to study at the University of Cambridge in England.

• After returning to India, Sri Aurobindo became involved in the Indian nationalist movement and played a key role in organizing protests against British colonialism.

• He was arrested several times for his political activities and spent time in prison.

• Sri Aurobindo was also a prolific writer and editor, and he used his literary talents to promote the cause of Indian independence.

Spiritual Awakening and Integral Yoga:

• After spending many years in political activism, Sri Aurobindo began to experience a profound spiritual awakening.

• He left politics behind and traveled to Pondicherry, a French colony in India, in 1910. There, he began to develop the concept of “integral yoga,” which seeks to harmonize all aspects of one’s being – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual – in pursuit of a divine consciousness.

• Sri Aurobindo believed that the highest purpose of human life was to realize this divine consciousness and that it was possible for all individuals to achieve this goal through the practice of integral yoga.

The Mother and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram:

• Sri Aurobindo was joined in Pondicherry by his spiritual collaborat

or, Mirra Alfassa (known as “The Mother”), who would become an important figure in the development of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

• The ashram was founded in 1926 and became a center for the practice of integral yoga.

• Sri Aurobindo continued to write and teach, and his teachings attracted many spiritual seekers both in India and abroad.

• The ashram grew in size and became a self-sufficient community with its own schools, farms, and industries

Sri Aurobindo’s Writings:

• Sri Aurobindo was a prolific writer and produced a vast body of work on spirituality, philosophy, and politics.

• His major works include The Life Divine, The Synthesis of Yoga, and Savitri.

• Sri Aurobindo’s writings explore the nature of consciousness and the evolution of human consciousness.

• He believed that humanity was on the brink of a great transformation and that the practice of integral yoga was essential for this transformation to occur.

Sri Aurobindo’s Legacy:

• Sri Aurobindo passed away in 1950, but his legacy continues to inspire spiritual seekers around the world.

• The Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry is still a thriving community that attracts visitors from all over the world.

• The ashram's schools and educational programs continue to promote Sri Aurobindo’s vision of integral education.

• Auroville, the experimental community founded by Sri Aurobindo’s disciple, Mirra Alfassa.

Sri Aurobindo’s Influence:

• Aurobindo’s enduring influence. Auroville seeks to embody Sri Aurobindo’s vision of a “divine life” on earth and has become a model for sustainable living.

Conclusion:

• Sri Aurobindo and Auroville represent a unique spiritual and cultural movement in India that seeks to awaken the nation to its potential for greatness through the practice of integral yoga and the creation.

• For his monumental contribution for india in terms of thought leadership and role in india’s freedoms,

A commemorative postage stamp on the 92nd Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh, Issued by India.