Our framework of rational thinking

Re: The Core Problem Part II ned Mon 13 Apr 2009 09:09 PM PDT "a) The need to train the intellect. For too long the Ashram community has derided intellectual training. The present lack of intelligent dialogue in the alumni is shocking."

I had felt that if there had been more mental wideness among sadhaks, there would not have been such a reaction to the Heehs biography. But I am amazed that the followers of a guru who read so widely and who wrote poetry of the caliber of a Nobel Prize in Literature would deride the intellect rather than embracing it as one of the many tools in the armory of the God-lover!

Re: The Core Problem Part II Tony Clifton Mon 13 Apr 2009 09:55 PM PDT Ned You hit the nail on the head it is shocking that the intellect is so despised in the community of IY sadhaks. The standard put down is "mentalized". As if these people had themselves transcended the mind, something Sri Aurobindo never even claimed. There should probably be a sign posted when entering the Ashram "critical thinking now allowed" To dismiss critical thinking is also is a way to get people to tow the line, rather than think and reason and sought through complex problems for themselves those posing as authority figures in the community would be better suited if you would just accept their interpretation.

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Re: Towards the Intermediate Race—Early Writings: Record of Yoga 1914 [4]
by Joan Price on Sat 11 Apr 2009 02:27 AM IST Profile Permanent Link
In his "Reports" Sri Aurobindo seems to agree almost entirely with the Theosophists. For a Westerner, there are many unfamiliar terms, but I'll look those up. I find this fascinating and informative. Thank you for sharing this aspect of his yoga. Reply

by auroman on Sat 11 Apr 2009 07:49 AM IST Profile Permanent Link
> In his "Reports" Sri Aurobindo seems to agree almost entirely with the Theosophists.

That may be because both Madame Blavatsky and Sri Aurobindo had read the Puranas. What is noteworthy here is that the Record of Yoga also describes some visions he had about previous Manvantaras. See the pages from 1326 onwards where he says, "A series of images and a number of intimations have been given yesterday in the chitra-drishti to illustrate the history of the first two Manwantaras & the vicissitudes through which the human idea has gone in the course of these unnumbered ages..." I am using the online version of the text: http://www.sriaurobindoashram.org/ashram/sriauro/writings.php Reply

by Tusar N. Mohapatra on Sat 11 Apr 2009 08:19 AM IST Profile Permanent Link
[In his "Reports" Sri Aurobindo seems to agree almost entirely with the Theosophists.]

This issue shouldn't be let off so lightly as no comprehensive genealogy has been attempted as yet. Pusillanimity in the matter doesn't endow us with any glory. [TNM] Reply

by auroman on Mon 13 Apr 2009 07:18 PM IST Profile Permanent Link
> Pusillanimity in the matter doesn't endow us with any glory.

Much of this knowledge about the Manvantaras, Prajapatis, etc comes direct from the ancient scriptures. Even wikipedia has it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manvantara Sri Aurobindo references the Puranas in various places so he had read it. Blavatsky also references the Vishnu Purana, Matsya Purana in the Secret Doctrine which is online, except for Vol 3. http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/sd/sd-hp.htm It may be worth checking how much of this is derived from their occult vision vs reading of scripture. Reply

by RY Deshpande on Tue 14 Apr 2009 09:16 PM IST Profile Permanent Link
Occult knowledge and occult writings have pertinence only when one has occult experiences, only when one is a practitioner of occultism. Until then “pusillanimity” need not figure in the picture. However, details available from the authority sources can possibly put our framework of rational thinking in the proper perspective, if it is going to be of any avail. There are lots of things in the world than our philosophies can dream of--and that is all we have to keep in mind. ~ RYD
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by RY Deshpande on Tue 14 Apr 2009 08:57 PM IST Profile Permanent Link
To get into the spirit of Record of Yoga perhaps we have to have a fairly comprehensive background of the Purana writings of ancient India. Vishnu Purana, which is a gold mine according to Sri Aurobindo, and the Bhagavat Purana describe several of these features. But what Sri Aurobindo is recording are his own experiences and realisations. The opening of the trikaladrishti, the sight and knowledge of the three divisions of Time, is at the back of the Vision of the Past. Being a vision, there is no division in it. I don't know if we can really connect these writings of Sri Aurobindo with those of the theosophists. His occult basis is more of the Vedantist's than that of the Western Occultist's. But I can't say much about that. However, may I request you to put your inputs into the discussion. Thanks Reference may also be made to http://www.savitrithelightofthesupreme.org/blog/_archives/2009/4/12/4150693.html ~ RYD Reply