SAIEN

The Taittiriya Upanishad speaks of the unified field of the conscious universe: “The Spirit who is here in a man and the Spirit who is there in the Sun, it is one Spirit and there is no other.”1 Many people believe that God is separate and distinct, someone living up in the clouds, so to speak, who directs, creates and manages our existence. They look upon God as some kind of king who imposes and disposes according to His whim. These people look upon themselves as separate beings who rely on God, who nevertheless have free will and can therefore act against the will of God, and who will be penalized by God if they do so. They never consider that they are actually unified in consciousness with God, and the realization of that unity of consciousness does not come to them. There are also many who have a different view and experience and who recognise that God, omnipresent, omnipotent, all-knowing, having infinite extension and infinite consciousness, must necessarily encompass all space, ...

What are the chances of a seed surviving and blooming into a flower when pitted against the formidable opponents to its bloom; toxic chemicals, soil pollution, soil erosion and all the other environmental hazards? Perhaps very few….and yet bloom it does! “His laughter of beauty breaks out in green trees, His moments of beauty triumph in a flower, The blue sea’s chant, the rivulet’s wandering voice, Are murmurs falling from the Eternal’s harp.” - 'Savitri' by Sri Aurobindo I remember a fabric painting class I had once attended wherein a similar truth was brought home to me. I had decided to paint a pink heart on a pale yellow T shirt. In my acolyte enthusiasm I wet the fabric with too much water and God’s disposal of my proposal to  paint a heart took the form of a maroon pink blotch that looked like nothing on earth! My teacher, Bhavna, came to the rescue by etching the outline of a peepal leaf around the red blotch. The blotch fitted into the outline so perfectly that it seeme...

Three elements which have major influence in formation of habits and life style during the course of our life journey are our choice of Food, Place and Friends … this message from one of the spiritual leaders struck me deeply and became an area of reflection over the past few years. I vividly remember elders in our family were very particular about   Food   we used to eat. Emphasis was to have sattvik food with larger intake of fruits and nutrition and strict vegetarian diet. A ritual to offer food to God as an offering (Bhog) to get positive vibrations is to make “Prasad”. A mantra is recited to invoke the subtle presence of the chosen deity or Guru with a belief that offered food becomes prasad. It was also a ritual to mix all the cooked items offered to God in a larger quantity which was prepared for all family members. I noticed this kind of ritual in the canteen of Sri Aurobindo Ashram and other places of spiritual importance in all parts of India.   Visiting differe...

Search for the Divine Began with mesmerizing Nature . . . Trees full of flowers and fruit, Vast blue sky speckled  With flying carefree birds; The sun playing hide and seek  Behind fleecy darkening clouds Portending rain, thunder, lightning  Then comes the nocturnal moon  In the deep inky star-spangled expanse. The azure dome  Becomes the horizon  Screening the cobalt ocean,  The frothy waves. With the discovery of Yoga Beyond pranayam, asanas A meditative mode emerges Sadhana that is enabling . . . Guiding, propelling Towards the Divine. Rishi Sri Aurobindo exhorts : Divine gives the fruits By the measure  Of the soul, Its aspirations. Transformation within, Certain To ensure Divinity closer. -  Mira Ramchand Daryanani (India)