Part - III: The Yoga of Divine Love (Chapters I-VIII)
— V. Ananda Reddy
Price: Rs 425
Soft Cover Pages: 361 Dimensions (in cms): 14x22
Publisher: Sri Aurobindo Centre for Advanced Research Trust, Pondicherry ISBN: 978-93-85391-36-1
About Discourses on The Synthesis of Yoga - Volume IX
Volume Nine of this series commences with Part Three of The Synthesis of Yoga: “The Yoga of Divine Love”. Love as “the crown of works and the flowering of knowledge” forms the basis of the first chapter. Discourses then follow on love as the essential motive and the fulfilment of the Integral Yoga and on the need to turn Godward all parts of the human being to establish contact, enter into a relation, and unite with the Divine. “The Way of Devotion” is to consecrate the entire being, to bring an intensity to one’s yoga that culminates in the complete and utter surrender to the Beloved. The power and intimacy of the divine personality set against an intellectual principle of a divine consciousness is the seeker’s dilemma addressed in Chapter Five. The last three chapters discuss the experience of Ananda on the path of Yoga and explore the very nature of love and its profound place at the centre of our relation with the Divine.
REVIEW
The ninth volume of Dr Reddy’s writings on Sri Aurobindo’s The Synthesis of Yoga, this book comprises talks given by him in 2009 and 2010, transcribed and edited to provide readers with the author’s insightful interpretation from an emic perspective, further complemented by his scholarship and personal experience. Since Dr Reddy grew up in the Ashram community and met The Mother on several occasions, this approach not only deepens the reader’s understanding of these delightful chapters of The Synthesis of Yoga but also offers a unique perspective of how an insider of the Ashram community perceives and interprets this remarkable treatise on The Yoga of Divine Love.
Since love is a proclivity of the heart and things of the heart are best spoken in its own terms, the author’s anecdotal language and simple style are well-suited to convey the essence of its message effectively. Readers will feel as though he is speaking directly to them, a style which renders complex ideas accessible to a wider audience. While his style is straightforward, his interpretations of these chapters draw significantly from his own scholarship on Indian Philosophy. Although purely from an academic perspective there might be a difference of opinion regarding certain allusions that Dr Reddy makes vis- à-vis Indian philosophy to explicate the nuances of Sri Aurobindo’s approach to Bhakti and Divine Love, these interpretations nonetheless provide a fresh and valuable addition to existing scholarly narratives. Furthermore, by eclectically drawing wisdom and stories from other seers and mystics of India’s past, such as Ramakrishna and Meerabai, he brings yet another connective element to his commentary. This integration not only enhances the richness of the material by speaking directly to the heart through these tales and stories but also situates the path of love and devotion within the broader spiritual tradition of India.
These discourses are not only limited to the Indian context but draw equally from other cultures. For example, by drawing parallels between bhakti and the Western and Christian notion of love the interpretation is enlivened not only by the nuances of this cross-cultural insight but more so by the awareness of the universal aspects of devotion and love that transcend geographical boundaries, making the topic pertinent to a global audience. Contemporary readers will appreciate the author’s endeavour to integrate these principles into today’s context, bridging the distance between ancient wisdom and modern concerns.
The structure of the book that follows the original lectures is carefully crafted to facilitate one’s comprehension. The author often summarises key points from the previous chapter at the start of the next one. This helps readers follow the logical progression of his arguments and also helps the reader tune into the inner logic and rhythm of Sri Aurobindo’s writing. This approach, moreover, ensures that even complex ideas are clearly understood, making it easier for readers to keep track of the overall narrative without necessarily delving deeply into a scholarly analysis.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of this book is the author's personal accounts and anecdotes of The Mother and the Ashram of yesteryear, which imbue the reading experience with a certain nostalgic delight. These personal stories not only serve to illustrate his interpretations but also render the seemingly abstract principles contained in The Synthesis of Yoga more tangible and understandable.
While the past certainly possesses a powerful allure, the future after all is where the Integral Yoga directs our vision. The author goes to great lengths to evince how Sri Aurobindo has synthesised the various aspects, stages and dimensions of the path of love and devotion of the past to redefine its meaning and relevance and satisfy our need for an integral approach to the Divine. In the same vein, he elaborates upon the distinctions between religion and spirituality, ethics and yoga, and worship and adoration to make readers aware of the extent to which the structures of the past continue to inform our individual and collective lives alike. At the same time, he emphasises the necessity of moving beyond these old ways by welcoming and adapting to a new, deeper understanding which finds expression in Sri Aurobindo’s synthesis.
As Sri Aurobindo writes, “Love and Ananda are the last word of being, the secret of secrets, the mystery of mysteries.” To understand and unravel this ultimate secret is not an easy task and can seldom be accomplished through language and rational explanations, although these may come to our aid. This book serves as a helpful guide to navigate the nuances and complexities of Sri Aurobindo’s profound teachings. Through insightful explanations and soulful anecdotes, the spiritual concepts and principles presented by Sri Aurobindo in the Yoga of Divine Love are made clearer and more relatable, although one must take into account that Dr Reddy’s is but one perspective among innumerable others.
Sri Aurobindo writes, “In the Yoga of Bhakti it is the emotional nature that is made the instrument”, and Dr Reddy’s book quite convincingly speaks to this aspect of the individual. The function and importance of Love in the Integral Yoga is paramount, and even a mental understanding of this beatific principle goes a long way. Thus it not only provides readers with a deeper understanding of Sri Aurobindo’s own words but can also inspire them to embrace the transformative power of Divine Love, ultimately leading one closer to the very heart of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga.
—Anshul Sinha
Anshul is an alumnus of the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education (SAICE) and holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy from Pondicherry University. He is currently pursuing further post- graduate studies online at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
