Author: Beloo Mehra; Published in the Annual Issue (2016-17) of Sri Aurobindo’s Action, West Bengal, pp. 85-105. CONTINUED FROM PART 1 RE-DISCOVERING INDIAN-NESS It may not be an exaggeration to say that as a result of centuries of subjugation and the continuing colonial nature of both the Indian state and the Indian educational... Continue Reading →
The Indian Spirit and Indian Education – Part 1
Author: Beloo Mehra; Published in the Annual Issue (2016-17) of Sri Aurobindo's Action, West Bengal, pp. 85-105. An important churning is taking place in India today. The contemporary Indian mind, which for the most part had until now, almost completely dismissed the possibility that the ancient Indian civilisation had anything to offer for... Continue Reading →
Faith that is Śraddhā
Many years ago at a bookstore in a small university town in the US, I came across a beautiful picture book which I had to immediately buy. The book titled Living Faith: Windows into the Sacred Life of India is a collection of photographs taken by the noted Indian photographer, Dinesh Khanna. I had seen some... Continue Reading →
Revisiting: Reason, Religion and Reform
This article was first published on IndiaFacts. Every year around Diwali we hear and read about all sorts of 'concerns' about environment and pleas to 'ban' firecrackers. This year we have a ban on sale of firecrackers imposed by the highest court of the country in the National Capital Territory. Similar concerns for water are heard... Continue Reading →
Sambhavami Yuge Yuge – Part 3
CONTINUED FROM PART 2 In this part 3 (the concluding part) of our special photo-feature the focus is on Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita, विश्वरूपदर्शनयोगः (viśvarūpadarśanayogaḥ), The Yoga of the Vision of the World-Spirit. Here we find one of the most powerfully poetic passages of the Gita, the vision of the Vishwaroopam, the Universal Purusha. With our... Continue Reading →
Some Musings on “Musings on Hinduism”
"You will often hear it said that it was the forms of Hinduism which have given us so much national vitality. I think rather it was its spirit." Sri Aurobindo wrote the above in his essay titled, "On Original Thinking" (CWSA, Vol. 12, p. 38). I am reminded of this as I get ready to... Continue Reading →
Sambhavami Yuge Yuge – Part 2
CONTINUED FROM PART 1 In this part 2 of our special photo-feature the focus is on a few selected teachings from the Bhagavad Gita that speak of the Karmayoga, the Yoga of Works. Invoking the grace of Sri Krishna and taking guidance from the relevant explanations and passages from Sri Aurobindo’s ‘Essays on the Gita’ we present here a few summary notes – based... Continue Reading →
Sambhavami Yuge Yuge – Part 1
"...the colloquy at Kurukshetra will yet liberate humanity." (Sri Aurobindo) The Bhagavad Gita brings to us the essence of all the experiences and teachings found in the Upanishads and Vedas. Just as the Upanishads mark a culmination or fruition of Vedic knowledge, the Gita is considered as another grand synthesis of all Upanishadic and Vedic... Continue Reading →
Wealth and Society, an Indian Perspective (by R Y Deshpande) – Part 2
CONTINUED FROM PART 1 REGULATED ACTION AND FOURFOLD ORDER OF SOCIETY Man is a fourfold being. In him operates the fourfold force of the soul. He is a worker and a skilled craftsman; he is engaged in commerce; he is a warrior and a conqueror; he is also a seeker of knowledge and a savant.... Continue Reading →
Wealth and Society, an Indian Perspective (by R Y Deshpande) – Part 1
Given that money is in the news these days, especially in India, a lot is being said and written about money and economic development these days. We also published two short columns on our blogs (see here and here). We think that it is also an appropriate time to take a closer and deeper look at the Indian... Continue Reading →
