We understand that the Mother, coming from France, met Sri Aurobindo at Puducherry, then Pondicherry, on this day – 29th of March – a hundred years ago. Was that a chance or an event planned?
As was said by a philosopher, what appears to be a chance is often the pseudonym of God which He uses when He does not put down His signature. This is clearly applicable to this event. From her very childhood the Mother was unlike anybody else. She lived a meditative life and was often beset with the problems of the destiny of man. In her inner consciousness she often passed into a mysterious world where she would meet great souls that included Sri Aurobindo. She passed through the usual vicissitudes of life, became a highly gifted painter, an occultist who mastered the secret laws of nature – but she knew that hers was a goal far more sublime. It was the same as Sri Aurobindo’s.
Transformation of human consciousness. That is to say, facilitating, through their Yoga, the advent of a hitherto unknown potential of the Supreme, the Supermind, that would elevate mankind to a new height in its evolutionary journey.
Why was Puducherry chosen by them? Was it because this being a French colony then, on one hand was a safe abode for Sri Aurobindo from the wrath of the British, and on the other hand convenient for the Mother, a French citizen, to come over here?
Indeed, several theories could be put forth at the logical plane – and each would contain some relative truth. Many believe that Puducherry, known as Vedapuri in a remote past, was the seat of the legendary sage Agasthya and as a French indologist asserted, the main campus of the Ashram was the site of his hermitage. A mystic had also predicted about a great spiritual Master whom he referred to as Uttar Yogi or the Yogi from the North, would descend here and the mystic’s disciple recognised Sri Aurobindo as that. But as I see it, the entire earth is the Divine’s abode. He could make a new experiment anywhere. No human reasoning was needed for that. Nevertheless, each place with a hoary past had a spirit of its own. From the moment I reached here more than half century ago, I have felt the presence of something propitious in its subtle atmosphere
Yes, because the spiritual vision of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo was not other-worldly. They were concerned with the destiny of mankind. The Ashram was a shelter for people who were specimens of human strength as well as weaknesses. If they could suspend their ego and surrender to the Divine, the new power awaiting manifestation would act promptly. The Auroville is probably the most daring and optimistic experiment launched so far in uniting mankind, albeit symbolically. What it had achieved represents an unmistakable hope for tomorrow, despite problems it faces as a part of a world that is still passing through a prolonged twilight – I mean a mixture of obstinate darkness and promising light.
Whoever reads the works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother would find the promise even intellectually valid, and for one with some insight, it is a fait accompli. As a village teacher put it, if a wonder like lotus could rise from mud and filth with the Grace of Sunlight, why can’t a nobler man evolve out of his present filthy state, with the Grace of the Divine?
(Courtesy: “The Hindu”, Pondicherry Edition Dated 29.03.2014)
Prof Manoj Das for April Conference 2016
About Manoj Das
For thousands of men, women and children of the past two or three generations, Manoj Das has been the very synonym of light and delight, whose writings in Odia and English inspire in his countless readers faith in the purpose of life and also open up concealed horizons of confidence and compassion in humanity a dire need today.
A MEETING THAT WAS A PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE
(An interview by P. Raja with Manoj Das)
We understand that the Mother, coming from France, met Sri Aurobindo at Puducherry, then Pondicherry, on this day – 29th of March – a hundred years ago. Was that a chance or an event planned?
As was said by a philosopher, what appears to be a chance is often the pseudonym of God which He uses when He does not put down His signature. This is clearly applicable to this event. From her very childhood the Mother was unlike anybody else. She lived a meditative life and was often beset with the problems of the destiny of man. In her inner consciousness she often passed into a mysterious world where she would meet great souls that included Sri Aurobindo. She passed through the usual vicissitudes of life, became a highly gifted painter, an occultist who mastered the secret laws of nature – but she knew that hers was a goal far more sublime. It was the same as Sri Aurobindo’s.
What precisely was that goal?
Transformation of human consciousness. That is to say, facilitating, through their Yoga, the advent of a hitherto unknown potential of the Supreme, the Supermind, that would elevate mankind to a new height in its evolutionary journey.
Why was Puducherry chosen by them? Was it because this being a French colony then, on one hand was a safe abode for Sri Aurobindo from the wrath of the British, and on the other hand convenient for the Mother, a French citizen, to come over here?
Indeed, several theories could be put forth at the logical plane – and each would contain some relative truth. Many believe that Puducherry, known as Vedapuri in a remote past, was the seat of the legendary sage Agasthya and as a French indologist asserted, the main campus of the Ashram was the site of his hermitage. A mystic had also predicted about a great spiritual Master whom he referred to as Uttar Yogi or the Yogi from the North, would descend here and the mystic’s disciple recognised Sri Aurobindo as that. But as I see it, the entire earth is the Divine’s abode. He could make a new experiment anywhere. No human reasoning was needed for that. Nevertheless, each place with a hoary past had a spirit of its own. From the moment I reached here more than half century ago, I have felt the presence of something propitious in its subtle atmosphere
The great spiritualist that the Mother was, was it necessary for her to found the Ashram and the Auroville?
Yes, because the spiritual vision of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo was not other-worldly. They were concerned with the destiny of mankind. The Ashram was a shelter for people who were specimens of human strength as well as weaknesses. If they could suspend their ego and surrender to the Divine, the new power awaiting manifestation would act promptly. The Auroville is probably the most daring and optimistic experiment launched so far in uniting mankind, albeit symbolically. What it had achieved represents an unmistakable hope for tomorrow, despite problems it faces as a part of a world that is still passing through a prolonged twilight – I mean a mixture of obstinate darkness and promising light.
Do you really believe that man will be transformed?
Whoever reads the works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother would find the promise even intellectually valid, and for one with some insight, it is a fait accompli. As a village teacher put it, if a wonder like lotus could rise from mud and filth with the Grace of Sunlight, why can’t a nobler man evolve out of his present filthy state, with the Grace of the Divine?