|
Several of the new English books introduced in this issue reflect the importance of India's spiritual heritage in the evolution of consciousness. The Greatness of India and its Culture, a compilation from the writings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, emphasises the central role of sanatana dharma in the history and development of India as well as the unique nature of its people to not only absorb the country's spiritual ideals but to infuse them into every aspect of life. The Vedic Age looks at the Veda along the lines laid out by Sri Aurobindo. It approaches the history of the Vedic Age for an understanding of the true law and aim of the individual and collective existence by seeking out the psychological structure behind the life and actions of the people who lived during those ancient times. The tales and parables in Navaneeta, a collection of stories narrated by Shivjibhai Devshi to those he met during his travels across India, extol a life of service and sadhana in a message of spiritual upliftment. They remind us of the best story-telling traditions of India when right thinking and selfless action were taught through the wisdom of parables and allegories. The next two books concern what might be termed living symbols of a new consciousness for those who are dedicated to the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The subject of the first book is Savitri, often hailed as the most complete statement of Sri Aurobindo's yoga and his prophetic message for the evolution of a divine life on earth. The Mother once told a disciple that Savitri was the whole universe crammed into a single book and that to read Savitri is to realise the Divine. The author of Savitri: A Study in Style and Symbolism studies the symbolism of the yogas of Aswapati and Savitri and the thematic issues involved in Savitri's dialogues with Death, as she battles for the destiny of the earth. The Matrimandir, as it rises from the horizon of Auroville's plateau, is both an impressive material achievement and a symbol of unity for the city-in-the-making. But its significance is far greater. "Let the Matrimandir be the living symbol of Auroville's aspiration for the Divine," was the Mother's message for the laying of the foundation stone in 1971. Through the book of photographs titled Matrimandir and the Park of Unity one experiences visually how the Matrimandir and the Park of Unity that surrounds the structure have become a field of consciousness, a place of work, progress, concentration, and joy for the inhabitants of Auroville.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ENGLISH | |
 | The Greatness of India and its Culture (Soft Cover)
In the Words of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother Pages: 411 |
This compilation addresses a number of aspects of Indian civilisation and culture, from its essential spirit to its best accomplishments, and measures its power of survival, renewal, and adaptation to the ever-changing needs of its peoples. The passages examine the spirit and forms of Indian religion and culture and how it was characteristic of the race to apply these ideals to everyday life. The extracts also consider the ancient Indian spirit and the Aryan system of education, the value of Indian art and literature, the true nature of Indian polity, the power of the sanatana dharma in India's history and development, and India's mission in the world. | |
 | The Vedic Age (Soft Cover)
In the Light of Sri Aurobindo Pages: 470 |
Closely following and liberally quoting Sri Aurobindo's views, the author adopts an integral approach to his study of the Veda and the Vedic Age. In the first part he lays bare the misconceived Aryan invasion theory and traces the roots of Indian thought and civilisation back to the Vedas and the profound philosophy of the Upanishads. A long second section presents Sri Aurobindo's interpretation of the Veda. The third part examines the Veda through the eyes of historians, both Indian and European, and concludes with a chapter on the history of the Vedic Age in the light of Sri Aurobindo, who asserted the influence of the Veda on the modern world's spirituality, religion, and thought. | |
 | Navaneeta – The Cream of Wisdom
Inspiring Tales of Common Sense |
Navaneeta is a collection of twenty-eight tales narrated by Shivjibhai Devshi, transcribed by the poet Pujalal, and translated here from Gujarati into English by the editor. These stories take the form of parables, allegories, and anecdotes arising from Shivjibhai's own experiences. They teach the wisdom of a life lived in simplicity and freedom with compassion and joy. Pujalal met the author during the latter's nine-month stay in the Ashram in 1932 and in 1944 took up the work of writing down the stories. The translator/editor has organised the tales into three sections—on nature and animals, on humanity, and on sadhana, and added apt quotations from the writings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. | |
 | Savitri: A Study in Style and Symbolism
— Madhumita Dutta |
Centred on Sri Aurobindo's vision of the gnostic being as the next stage in the evolutionary journey of man, and the poetry of the Spirit as the future poetry, this book deals primarily with the symbolic significance and stylistic features of his epic poem Savitri. Chapters explore in depth the symbolism of the yogas of Aswapati and Savitri, man's eternal quest for immortality symbolised by the transformation of Death, and the poetic style of Sri Aurobindo. The author also attempts to answer various criticisms of the poem, discusses the relevance of Sri Aurobindo's language and style to his subject matter, and concludes with her thoughts on the poem's message for the world today. | |
 | Matrimandir and the Park of Unity
— Ireno Guerci |
In this book of colour photographs, the Matrimandir and its surroundings are portrayed in many modes. The first section, "The Place", evokes the beauty and many moods of the area through some dramatic pictures. The next section, "The Work", shows different aspects of work, from the construction stages to painting, cleaning and polishing, landscaping and planting, and maintaining the golden disks. The final section, "The People", features the residents of Auroville, many of them children, as they celebrate, meditate, and interact with the Matrimandir and its gardens. An introduction provides a brief history of the Matrimandir, beginning with the Mother's conception and her vision of the Matrimandir as "the central cohesive force" for the growth of Auroville. | |
 | Mantra
Rhythmic Word of the Infinite |
| |
FRENCH | |
 | Les Fleurs et leurs Messages
— La Mère |
Ce livre conçu et présenté par Richard Pearson contient les significations spirituelles que la Mère a données aux fleurs et leurs messages. Cette édition illustrée comporte, en outre, seize planches de photographies en couleur. De 1970 à 1972, la Mère a revu toutes les fleurs qu'elle avait nommées ; elle a changé ou modifié la signification de certaines d'entre elles, en a ajouté de nouvelles et, pour chacune, a donné un bref commentaire. Elle a répondu à nombre de questions et certaines réponses figurent dans l'Introduction, ainsi que quelques extraits des oeuvres de la Mère et de Sri Aurobindo concernant la Nature, le sens profond des fleurs et les soins à donner aux plantes. « Quand je vous donne des fleurs », disait la Mère, « je vous donne des états de conscience. Les fleurs sont des messagères, et leur efficacité dépend entièrement de votre réceptivité ». Les fleurs sont donc un moyen de transmettre des messages de force, de protection, d'espoir, de joie. Par leur variété, leur beauté, leur charme et même leur parfum, les fleurs peuvent nous mettre en rapport avec divers états de conscience. La signification que Mère en a donnée est une nouvelle manière de les contempler. Un rapport conscient et intime avec elles peut nous aider à entrer en communion avec le Divin. Nous aimerions présenter ici une nouvelle approche du yoga intégral de Sri Aurobindo et de la Mère, qui pourrait nous aider dans notre croissance intérieure et nous aider en même temps à développer et réaliser, par l'alchimie d'une beauté et d'un pouvoir divins, toutes les possibilités de perfection que l'avenir nous offre déjà, si nous savons les recevoir dans le silence de notre coeur. Sri Aurobindo a écrit : « Les fleurs sont très psychiques mais elles ne peuvent l'exprimer que par le silence et la beauté. » | |
BENGALI | |
 | Parama Janani
— Sri Mayer sathe ekanta alapcharita Mona Sarkarer smriticharan |
Bengali translation of The Supreme Description of content for original work: | |
 | Upendranath Bandyopadhyay Rachana Sangrah
— Upendranath Bandyopadhyaya |
| |
ORIYA | |
 | Srimaanka Dibya Sannidhyare
— Shobha Mitra |
Oriya translation of Living in The Presence Description of content for original work: | |
ASSAMESE | |
 | Maa
— Sri Aurobindo |
Assamese translation of The Mother Description of content for original work: | |
 | Adarsh Shikshak
— Compiled from the Writings of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo |
Assamese translation of Ideal Teacher Description of content for original work: | |
 | Adarsh Pitri-Matri
— Compiled from the Works of the Mother |
Assamese translation of Ideal Parent Description of content for original work: | |
 | Prarthana aru Mantra
— Compiled from the Writings of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo |
Assamese translation of Prayers and Mantras Description of content for original work: | |
GUJARATI | |
 | Prakash Panthe
— Morli Pandya |
| |
 | Savitri Shabdamrut - 5
— Shraddhavan |
| |
TAMIL | |
 | Arul Thanthai Sri Aravindar
— D. Thiruvalavan |
| |
You have received this as a subscriber to SABDA eNews. To unsubscribe, click here. To view previous issues of SABDA eNews, visit our Newsletters page.
|
