The Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo

In a preface written in 1959 for the 2^nd edition of the work under notice, the author wrote, "The demand for this book is one of the minor indications of the growing interest the elite of the West are taking in Sri Aurobindo and the Mother's Integral Yoga and philosophy. It is heartening to find that many eminent thinkers of Europe and America are turning to Sri Aurobindo as the only hope and refuge in the dismal bankruptcy in the modern rationalistic, scientific and technocratic culture, and discovering in his teachings the synthetic spiritual vision, the all-reconciling comprehensive outlook, the happy fusion of the ideals of the East and the West, and above all, the authentic, divine dynamism, capable of transforming human nature and creating a new world order, which alone can lift mankind from the morass of degeneracy into which it has sunk."

  Much water has since flowed along all the rivers of the earth and numerous works on the vision of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, apart from their original works, have found eager readerships in varied spheres of the world. What for the author was a `minor indication' has grown to become a major indication of humanity's home-coming, after a long prodigal wandering, to its original quest for `God, Light, Freedom, Bliss and Immortality'.

  The early fifties of the 20^th century, when for many seekers Sri Aurobindo's works appeared too formidable to be approached, Rishabhchand's Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo came as a most welcome introduction to the lore. Divided into 31 chapters, the book began with the question `What is Yoga', examined it from the point of view of the Gita — at once putting the reader at ease with that familiar approach — and then went over to presenting a bird's eye view of the `Varieties of Yoga' and in the next chapter gave a brief account of the efforts made through the ages at bringing about a synthesis of the different systems — the process culminating in the Yoga of Sri Aurobindo.

  Chapters that followed focused on several aspects of the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo — for example its aims, foundations and the ways of integral surrender. The concepts of key words in the spiritual vocabulary in general and in Sri Aurobindo's Yoga in particular, such as Ego, Nature, Soul and Psychic, were authentically introduced, explained and some of the fundamental queries, anticipated by the author, were ably answered.

  The last chapter is an excellent analysis of the characteristics of our time. Even though made decades ago, the author's observations on the paradoxical traits of the age are as relevant today as they were when written. His language is direct yet highly readable. To wit: "The soul of man, like the earth in winter, looks stripped and desolate. Distraught and unhappy with its mean material obsessions, prostrate in the dust in the very hour of its resounding scientific triumphs, drained of hope, drained of spiritual strength and courage, drained even of the will to rise up and advance, it turns an anguished, appealing eye to the Heavens above. Its hour of meek, prayerful prostrations is the hour of its spiritual salvation."

  The work had served a laudable purpose when first published and it will serve the same purpose for many more with its latest appearance.

— Manoj Das

December 2001