Recent Additions - IYfundamentalism.info
23 April 2012: Blasphemy tag strains Aurobindo Ashram
20 April 2012: Yoga and philosophy of Sri Aurobindo is not a religion
14–15 April 2012: I look forward to being forgotten [and more]
14 April 2012: Govt values freedom of expression: Heehs
14 April 2012: Govt extends Heehs’s visa by one year
14 April 2012: India extends visa of US historian Heehs
12 April 2012: Indian Express: Book clubbed
10 April 2012: Times of India: The intolerant Indian?
9 April 2012: Indian Express: A cloud over 40-yr tryst with India
6–7 April 2012: Are
historians losing their freedom of expression? [and more]
1–4 April 2012:Chidambaram
to decide on Heeh's visa [and more]
31 March 2012: Don't
expel US historian, govt told
10 March 2012: Those
who get upset by these things are worse
24 February 2012: Sri Aurobindo, Heehs and the fragility of
faith
Vijay Poddar, the self-appointed chief ideologue of
the Puducherry Center
Navajata, Keshav Dev Poddar, whom the Mother with
much hope and optimism would call “my faithful”, was instead quick to betray
the Mother not long after she had passed away when – to serve his personal
preferences – he dragged the S.A.S. in his attempt to reduce Sri Aurobindo’s
and the Mother’s spiritual work to that of a religion. Navajata regretfully
implicated the S.A.S. in a sordid court case (S.P. Mittal Etc. Etc. vs. Union
of India, 1982 ) in which he sought to convert Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual
teachings and philosophy into a religion that would be controlled by the S.A.S.
That his attempt failed seems to have slipped out of Vijay Poddar’s aging
memory.
Barely thirty years later, when with much difficulty
the S.A.S. was starting to regain some of its deeply scarred credibility, Vijay
Poddar has demonstrated that genetic bondage is stronger than spiritual
integrity. The S.A.S.’s recent announcement of its disapproval of the book “The
Lives of Sri Aurobindo” by Peter Heehs, publicly reveals and exposes Vijay
Poddar’s inherent propensity to place personal preferences before institutional
interests.
In stark contrast, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Trust (S.A.A.T.) chose to neither proscribe or prescribe the said book –
even though individual Trustees in their personal capacities may or
may not have expressed their critical or favorable opinions on
the book - thereby choosing to uphold the teachings, philosophy,
principles and values of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Vijay Poddar, who
has publicly voiced his criticism against the S.A.A.T. has instead chosen to
uphold his personal preferences over the S.A.S.’s largest interests as
envisioned by the Mother.
Because there is indeed absolutely no justification,
moral, ethical and particularly spiritual, more so in relation to Sri
Aurobindo’s and the Mother’s Integral Yoga for the decision that Vijay Poddar has
thrust upon the S.A.S.’s Executive Committee. The only justification for taking
such a position is to satisfy Vijay Poddar’s publicly known position vis-a-vis
Peter Heehs’ book, which besides being an approach which is undoubtedly
limited, dogmatic and un-Aurobindonian, is obviously influenced by the
politicking initiated by Navajata.
The many members of the S.A.S. who have chosen to
associate themselves with this institution have done so because of their
devotion towards Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. They would wish to follow the
S.A.S.’s motto which was given by the Mother herself: “To know is good, to live
is better, to be, that is perfect.”
Instead, Vijay Poddar has once again chosen to go
against the very spirit and grain of the Mother’s motto given to the S.A.S.,
preferring to substitute it with his own dogmatic and hypocritical approach:
“Not to know is good, pretending to live is better, and if you can’t be,
succumb to the imperfect.” In other words, if Vijay Poddar is unable to
understand, live or be according to the Mother’s vision, all others should
follow the path that he has chosen to tread.
Finally but not insignificantly, that Vijay Poddar
has chosen to publicly align himself with the most despicable
and hostile lot of anti-Ashram elements that the Aurobindonian collective
has ever seen – most of whom are frequent and privileged speakers at the S.A.S.
– when their chips are down, gives a clear indication of what lies ahead of the
S.A.S. under the ideological leadership of Vijay Poddar’s personal preferences.
Admins.
Contrary to what you say, the real anti-ashram personalities now are Peter and trustees who choose to support that book, in complete dis-regard of the data-based resentment of thousands of devotees, disciples and ashramites.
ReplyDeleteAre you not aware of the forceful suppression of individual opinion by the trustees in the recent history?
In that context, the belated stand taken by Sri Aurobindo Society as a respected body, is a sign of some sanity in the thinking of responsible people at Pondicherry, and this is widely acclaimed, in spite of your comments to the contrary.
We request you to throw some light on the text of the letter by trustees on 14 April 2012 to secure an extension of Peter's visa.
Like the SAS, H Acharya seems to believe that upholding the principles of bigotry, narrowness, censorship, etc., is being true to Sri Aurobindo. But it is not surprising if he chooses to dismiss the several (and increasing) positive reviews that Peter's book and work has been receiving both in India and the world.
ReplyDeleteSubrata
Perhaps to be smarter enough PH not knowing his slavery to so-called mental objective analysis has only proved himself as a perfect prototype of ‘thinking animal’! He denying Sri Aurobindo who deals with evolution of consciousness proves his incapacity to fathom Sri Aurobindo the realised Master of supermind or gnosis as Upanishads depict? His shrewd plan to brainwash and blackmail readers must finally fail and the castle of cards he built with ‘Lives of Sri Aurobindo’ would collapse soon.
ReplyDelete--Someone
Dear Mohapatra ji,
ReplyDeleteThis blogpost sounds like a delirious outburst of an ageing envious mind rather than an objective critique. Any person reading this would assume it is a projection of your own insecurities, whether related to your age or the fact that no one knows who you are and you've to rely on badmouthing people of repute and honor, who have selflessly given themselves to the task assigned by the Divine to them.
Unlike you, I would love to answer some of the childish rants, since it does concern sincere sadhaks. Sincerity like honesty cannot be expected from everyone, you're clearly the prime example of that. Yet, if you continue your sadhana, the Divine Grace might just help you get started on that path.
Navajata bhai did not implicate SAS in a court case, he took charge for a rightful battle. Since this post is a decade old, the current Auroville scenario is a perfect slap on the faces of people like you, who in their ignorance continued to raise questions about the Divine will.
Secondly, as far as the book is concerned, it also looks like the work of a second-hand writer just like you, so I can see why you completely adore the book where your favourite author calls Sri Aurobindo a schizophrenic. You seem to call yourself their devotee, have you managed to read the book or you're going by what your friends told you to parrot online on this useless blog. Because if you do believe that is what Sri Aurobindo was, then why do you still call yourself a devotee?
There is a reason Navajata bhai is remembered fondly even till this day, and so will be the fate of Vijay bhai, who is also loved by most. At your age, it doesn't suit one to be this vile and envious. Here's praying to the Divine that they give you some common sense sooner rather than later.
PS: There is never any reason for jealousy. It is a very low and ignorant movement. Jealousy comes from a narrowness of the mind and a weakness of the heart. It is a great pity that so many are attacked by it. ~ The Mother