by
Jaye B.
(editor’s note: I studied yoga, Hinduism for over 30 years and rank Sri Aurobindo at the top in regards to his sincerity and genuineness. I’d like to share the following story about a Ayurvedic rogue named Deepak Chopra who ripped off Sri Aurobindo’s work and claimed it as his own. One day I was in a coffee shop in Sun Valley Idaho. I was there to give a talk on dreams at a holistic health convention. Someone had given me a Sri Aurobindo book and I was reading it. Lo and pitta-kapha behold Deepak walked into the coffee shop, his head appearing right over the top of the book I looked over to see him. If that wasn’t confirmation that he’s a charlatan and a thief I do not know what it is. )
'Spirit is the supreme dynamic power of activism and creativism and the pursuit of ideals of the spirit can never be a factor of weakness in social and political life.'
~~ Sri Aurobindo
Many folks tend to shun spirituality, writing it off as escapist, irresponsible, 'New Ageist', something overtly detrimental to making any signficant political change. If you harbor such a moribund and three dimensional attitude I recommend embarking on a study, if not a direct and integral experience of the works of Sri Aurobindo, who advocated what he called 'spiritual realism'. It is time now to reclaim such a beneficial perspective in our daily lives. However, this will require much discernment on our parts, seeing what a bad reputation spirituality has gotten, thanks in part to intelligence agencies working through various New Age institutions to render us perpetual navel gazers while the New World Order goes on doing what it wants unchallenged.
Sri Aurbindo's spiritual realism manifested primarily in his involvement in Indian politics after having been raised and highly educated in the west (England mostly) where he mastered Greek, Latin, French. In fact, English was his mother tongue and his mastery of the language certainly shows in his writings where he lucidly conveys spiritual experiences, yogic terminology in a most accessible way for westerners.
Signs of spiritual rebellion/resistance to conformity came about when he refused to show up for horse riding test, the last part of the Indian Civil Servant examination that would have insured him a cushy career in government back home on the sub-continent. Thus disqualified (even though he passed every other test required for the position) he returned to India around the age of twenty with no degrees or titles. After this, he then proceeded to confront British rule in his home country. The realism in Aurobindo's spirituality is evident in his disagreement with the nonviolent tactics of Gandhi. At that time, Aurobindo did not rule out violence as an option to deal with the RAJ intruders at large (he himself never incited violence however). He actively participated in inspiring the people of India, mostly through writings published in various newspapers, to resist the colonial forces. However, he was wrongly accused of a bomb plot and sentenced to jail. The experience of being in a cage during the court proceedings facilitated his realization of the Supramental plane, i.e., an evolved consciousness not confined to the body. His experience in prison afterwards only strengthened his resolve to disseminate his views on spiritual realism. Once released from captivity, Aurobindo began to write prolifically, tirelessly. His integration of spirituality and politics is nicely described in Satprem's book, Sri Aurobindo, or The Adventure of Consciousness.
At present, the most popular approach to yoga, especially as it has been imported to the West is to go up and out. Quasi-Gurus looking for the quick dollar tell us that we must get the kundalini energy at the base of our spines to rise to the top of our heads. We must set our eyes on a transcendent god and do everything we can to get there. However, Sri Aurobindo saw all the trappings of escapism, immaturity and irresponsibility in this upward and outward approach to liberation. Aurobindo suggested that we bring the higher planes of consciousness, which he called the Supermind, down into our physical bodies and then out into the world, trusting that this kind of spiritual downloading will serve as a powerful catalyst for political and social transformation.
Now more than ever, Aurobindo's approach to yoga, politics, spirituality is needed to counter the escapist tendencies of New Agers, UFO enthusiasts waiting for Ashtar Command to come and rescue them when the earth gets trashed, and other hapless seekers trying to dodge political and socio-economic responsibility.
(C)2002 Jaye B.
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Jaye B. is a writer, musician and artist. His art criticism has appeared in Art Paper, New North Artscape, Art Muscle, Northfield Magazine and elsewhere. His articles have also appeared in City Pages, Twin Cities Reader, Mysteries Magazine, Fahrenheit San Diego, High Plains Reader, New Dawn and Rain Taxi. He has appeared on BBC Radio, WGN Chicago, WLW Cincinnati and elsewhere in the mediasphere to discuss his work. Please help support Reset News @ Paypal, Cash App , Ko-fi or contact the author for other options @ jayeb444@protonmail.com
Thank you for this. Yes, down and out into the world. This is what we are called to do. At least some of us are. ;) Much love to you Jaye.