SRI AUROBINDO AND SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

By Sri Goutam Dharmapal

On 6th February 1893 a young twenty-year old man with dark complexion and delicate health, Mr. Aravinda Acroyd Ghose landed at Bombay. He was returning to his Motherland from which he was deported at a very young age of seven to grow into a full fledged Englishman, of course to return to India and serve his motherland under the British Raj. During his long stay of thirteen years in England he grew into a great scholar and a poet, but frustrated his father by not passing his I.C.S. Exams by willfully not appearing at the riding examination. During the period he had already become a patriot and dreaming to free his motherland from the shackles of slavery. He was carrying in his pocket an appointment letter to work as the Secretary of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwar of Baroda.

On 31st May 1893 another young man of bright complexion strongly built thirty year old Swami Vivekananda embarked on S.S. Peninsular from the same port of Bombay. He was going for the first time to the West, to Chicago, U.S.A. to attend the Parliament of Religions as a representative of Sanatana Hindu Religion (which he later called the Vedic or Vedant Religion). He was almost an unknown sannyasin on the ship (known of course to a few friends in India—rich as well as poor) going to an unknown country equipped only with his great knowledge of Western and Eastern Philosophy and of course with the direct blessings of his Master Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Mother Shardadevi—both of whom were still unknown in other parts of India apart from greater Bengal. On his return to India in January 1897 he was the most famous patriot Hindu Monk of Mother India—having successfully preached Hinduism in the West, both in U.S.A. and England, getting many western disciples. After his return to India, he again toured North and South of India receiving great ovations everywhere and at the same time giving fiery lectures rousing the sleeping mass of India, enlightening the heart of the young wherever he went. Gathering together the followers and disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, he established the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, established its Headquarters at the Western bank of the Ganga at Belur in Howrah just opposite to the Daskhineswar Temple where Sri Ramakrishna lived and not only because a Siddha in almost all the spiritual sadhanas of Hinduism but also practised the basic truths of all other religions—including Christianity and Islam—the two great modern missionary religions and realized that fundamentally all the religions teach the same divine Truths irrespective of their different preachers and preachings.

During his short life of little less than forty years Swami Vivekananda tried to implant all these Truths amongst all as well as serving the poor and downtrodden masses of his motherland through education and healthcare by all the means at his command. He suddenly passed away on 4th July 1902.

During all this time Aurobindo Ghosh was working with the Maharaja of Baroda first as a probationer in the Settlement and Revenue Department and some secretarial work of the Maharaja and later at his own request as Professor of English at the Baroda College where he was elevated to the post of Vice Principal. He was passing the rest of his time in deeply diving    in the ancient and mediavel Sanskrit literature. He was also learning his mother-tongue Bangla of which practically he had no knowledge before he returned to India in 1893. And of course he was greatly nvolved in writing strong patriotic essays, as well as writing poetry which he had started writing since he was a boy of 14. In later times when he was asked what he would like to call himself, he emphatically said “A Poet and a Patriot!” Of course during this period at Baroda he had already started to work for the secret revolutionary societies—his two main associates in this field being his younger brother Barin Ghosh and Jatindranath Bandopadhyay whom he had got admitted in the army of the Baroda State—the first Bengali perhaps to take up an army post under the British Rule!

By April 1901 he had married a young Hindu girl, Mrinalini Devi, daughter of Bhupal Chandra Bose, after advertising in the newspapers.

But till now there were no signs of the future spiritual or yogic sadhana. May be he had started to practice some yogasanas—but that too mainly to get physical strength—which he felt very necessary for his future work of freeing the Motherland—he having a very delicate health from the young age just the opposite of Narendranath Dutta—future Swami Vivekananda.

Aurobindo Ghosh came out in open public political life only after 1905 when Lord Curzon divided the great Bangla Nation which included most parts of present Bihar and Orissa in the East and spread out in the West upto Burma (now Myanmar) and Assam. He left Baroda for good in 1906 and joined the New Nationalist Party of Indian National Congress led by prominent leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak of Maharashtra, Lala Lajpat Rai of Punjab and Bipin Chandra Pal of Bengal and others which professed a programme of complete Non-Cooperation with the British Government and Boycott of British and foreign goods and the fostering of Swadeshi, Boycott of British Law Courts, Boycott of Government Universities and Colleges and establishing of National Colleges and Schools along with a policy of Passive Resistance in all fields of life. Of course though the movement was started vehemently, it did not last long at the time for the country was not yet ripe enough for such a bold programme which was successfully led later by Mahatma Gandhi from 1920 onwards. But that is another story.

At first Sri Aurobindo came over to Calcutta and joined the newly founded Bengal National College as the Principal, but a little later left it due to difference of opinion with the Committee Members and took up the work of editing Bande Mataram founded by Bipin Chandra Pal and Mallick Brothers in January 1907.

In 1907, Sri Aurobindo was arrested and prosecuted for sedition but acquitted—the time when Rabindranath Tagore greeted him with his famous poem—“Aravindo Rabindrer Laho Namaskar!” But this brought out Sri Aurobindo in open politics and to lead the Bengal Nationalist Party, to appear on public platform for the first time as a speaker too.

But during all this time his yoga practice was going on which he had begun since 1904 onwards with Pranayama as his main sadhana. He used to do Pranayama for 6 hours daily till he discontinued it after he fell seriously ill in 1907. The only outward help he received during this period of yoga practices was from one Maharastrian Vaishnava Yogi—Vishnu Bhaskar Lele from whom alone he had taken any formal Diksha or Mantra and practiced meditation. But practically speaking during all this time Arvinda Ghosh took no interest in philosophy as such or in the Ramakrishna Mission Movement which was slowly spreading all over India after the passing away of Swami Vivekananda. He was interested in the Sayings of Ramakrishna and the speeches  of Swami Vivekananda but that was almost all with regards to spiritual life as such. He considered their teachings to be a retreat from life in spite of their talking about service to the poor and the downtrodden. [Just like Bandhu Dharmapal (Babubhai Shah) who did not even want to read the complete works of Swami Vivekananda in late nineteen thirties when they were widely available because Swami Vivekananda was a Sannyasin-advocate of total renunciation from mundane life.]  

The total dedication to yoga and spiritual life developed in Aurobindo Ghosh only during his Jail life from May 1908 to May 1909—after his conscious spiritual experiences—and matured only after going to Pondicherry after receiving the inner command.

The main points of Swami Vivekananda’s ideals and objects of life in this world can be summed up in his own words as under:—

Each soul is potentially divine. The Goal is to manifest the Divinity within by controlling Nature, external and internal.

Do this either by Work or Worship or psychic control or Philosophy—i.e. through Karmayoga, Bhaktiyoga, Raja-yoga or Jnanayoga. This can be done by practicing one or more or all of these—and Be Free. Mukti—Freedom from life is the main object of life.

For Swamiji life is either a dream or an illusion—Maya. To come out of this Ignorance and be established in Knowledge till the end—death comes and then to enter into Nirvana of the Eternal or Freedom—Moksha is the goal of this life.

     Whereas the main principles of Sri Aurobindo’s Yoga are—

1.      To open one’s self to a greater divine consciousness through faith—sraddha and Aspiration—Abhipsā.

2.      To rise to this power of Light, Truth and Bliss through constant and continuous Surrender—Samarpana.

3.      To discover one’s True Self and remain in conscious and constant union with the Divine.

4.      To bring down the higher Supramental force in the whole being—Physical, Vital and Mental and transform one’s self into the Divine Being—in Truth and Harmony—Satyam-Ritam or Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram as well as Anandam—Truth, Beauty, Goodness and Bliss and thereby help in establishing Life Divine on this Earth.

For Sri Aurobindo, this Life on Earth is neither a chimera nor an illusion nor a dream but a field for evolving Life Divine—an evolutionary process is going on from Inconscience to Divinity through Matter, Life and Mind—from physical mind to Supermind!

Thus Freedom, Liberation—Moksha or Emancipation or Extinction—Nirvana is not the goal of this life but transforming this life into Life Divine is the main goal of life for Sri Aurobindo.

SRI RAMAKRISHNA MISSION AND SRI AUROBINDO

By Goutam Dharmapal

Let me begin with Sri Aurobindo’s letter to Sri Motilal Roy from Pondicherry after 15th August 1912:

“What you say about the Ramakrishna Mission is, I dare say, true to a certain extent. Do not oppose that movement or enter into any conflict with it. Whatever has to be done, I shall do spiritually, for God in these matters especially uses the spiritual means & the material are only very subordinate. Of course you can get into that stream, as you suggest, and deflect as much as you can into a more powerful channel, but not so as to seem to be conflicting with it. Use spiritual means chiefly, will & vyapti. They are more powerful than speech & discussion. Remember also that we derive from Ramakrishna. For myself, it was Ramakrishna who personally came & first turned me to this Yoga. Vivekananda in the Alipore jail gave me the foundations of that Knowledge which is the basis of our sadhana.”

According to records Sri Ramakrishna first came to Sri Aurobindo during a planchette session in 1907 and instructed him ‘to build a Temple to the Mother’ and as if took charge of Sri Aurobindo’s new Yoga-Sadhana. It must be Sri Ramakrishna who sent Swami Vivekananda to Aurobindo Ghosh in Alipore Jail to instruct him about the various stages of consciousness etc. See, Uttarpara Speech of Sri Aurobindo. Sri Ramakrishna again appeared to Sri Aurobindo at Pondicherry in 1912 and again in 1913 for the last time, saying he will not come to him (Sri Aurobindo) anymore!

Of course all along, Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual life was guided and controlled by Sri Krishna. The only guru or guide in Sri Aurobindo’s yoga on the physical mundane level was the Vaishnava Yogi Vishnu Bhaskar Lele who gave him the mantra and guided him in his meditation in 1908 after Sri Ramakrishna came to Sri Aurobindo. After Sri Ramakrishna’s last visit to Sri Aurobindo, came to Pondicherry a remarkable Frenchman and his wife, Paul Richard and she who is now known as Sri Mira Devi. They had been in search for years of a Master in whom they could recognise a World-Teacher! After her second and final coming to Pondicherry in April 1920, Mira Devi slowly became the Mother of the Ashram, taking complete charge of Sri Aurobindo Ashram after 24th November 1926 when Krishna Consciousness descended in the physical consciousness of Sri Aurobindo and he retired to silent life for intensive yoga for the descent of Supermind.

Sri Aurobindo continues in his letter to Motilal Roy, “The error of the Mission is to keep too much to the forms of Ramakrishna & Vivekananda & not keep themselves open for new outpouring of their spirits—the error of all “Churches” and organised religious bodies. I do not think they will escape from it so long as their “Holy Mother” is with them. She represents now the Shakti of Ramakrishna so far as it was manifested in his life. When I say do not enter into conflict with them, I really mean “do not enter into conflict with her”. Let her fulfil her mission, keeping always ours intact and ever increasing.” Page 179, Vol 36, Complete Works, Autobiographical Notes.

The situation did not change even after the passing away of Sri Sharada Ma in July 1920—a few months after Mother Mira returned to Pondicherry on the final call of Sri Aurobindo after the passing away of Mrinalinidevi, wife of Sri Aurobindo in 1918 at Calcutta. Sri Aurobindo had called her to come to Pondicherry and be of help in his yoga. Sri Ramakrishna Mission Movement simply spread more and more in different parts of India and in the West. As the movement was led by the Sannyasins of the Ramakrishna Order, Ashrams with exclusive temples with idols or pictures of Sri Ramakrishna, Sharada Ma and Swami Vivekananda – the Trinity were established, Puja and worship were conducted proclaiming Sri Ramakrishna as an Avatara—‘avatar-varisthay’—best of avataras—of this age. Sri Aurobindo himself acknowledged him as such an Avatara—Incarnation of God—in one of his writings in Bande Mataram.

In Pondicherry after the return of Miradevi from Japan in April 1920, The ‘Arya’ monthly which Sri Aurobindo had started publishing since 1914 was discontinued. During this period Sri Aurobindo had published most of his major philosophical and yoga works. After going into total seclusion from November 1926, Sri Aurobindo intensified his Sadhana of bringing down the Supramental Consciousness to the physical level. Apart from giving Darshan to the devotees four times in a year, he kept in touch with the disciples only through correspondence—personally meeting only a few persons in between. Mother Mira took the charge of the Ashram. Everybody had to approach Sri Aurobindo through the Mother. She was the Shakti to whom all had to surrender. He said, ‘Surrender to her is surrender to me as well—as We are One as Shiva & Shakti.’

By 1950, Sri Aurobindo saw that the time had come for his entering into the Inconscient to transform it, otherwise no progress can be possible. So in spite of Mother’s remonstrations, he left his body on 5th December 1950. When he left the body, his physical body remained illumined by Supramental Light for five days—bright enough for all to see.

Mother Mira continued like Sharda Ma for the next twenty-three years to fulfil the promise of Sri Aurobindo for the Descent of the Supermind in the Earth Consciousness. It is said, Supermind descended to the Earth in February 1956 but again receded as the people round about were not yet ready to receive It. Mother herself left her body on November 17, 1973 struggling very hard to transform the cells of her physical body.

But what is the situation now? Where do we stand? Are we not clinging to the Forms of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother? Is not Sri Aurobindo’s Movement too turning into a ‘church’? That is the question we have to ask ourselves. Each of us have to dive deep in Sadhana, to realize the Divine Self—ātmā—within our own selves first and foremost and realize the Divine everywhere, continuing with the process of purifying and transforming our total Being—physical, vital and mental.

Let us not be turned into an exclusive ‘church’ like the Ramakrishna Mission Movement. We should be inclusive of all, especially Sri Ramakrishna as we directly derive from him. There is not at all the question of conflict and opposition. It is rather the matter of amalgamation—not necessarily—institutionally—rather in spirit of Brotherhood.

A POEM BY GOUTAM DHARMAPAL

ANIMALS = MAN + AILS

We are all ANIMALS

Bring out MAN from them

Leave all AILS behind

And find the MAN

MAN of the MIND

Maner Manush.

That is HE

HE is THAT

THAT Are YOU – Thou art That

Tat Tvam Asi - That Thou Art – (Kala, part one sixteenth part of the moons disc!)

I too am THAT

THAT is BRAHMA

I am Brahma

Aham brahmaasmi

THAT I AM

SO(A)HAM asmi

That is Real Man

MAN That Is GOD

NOTES ON HOW TO AVOID ALZHEIMER'S AND PARKINSON'S DISEASES

PLEASE CONSULT A PHYSICIAN BEFORE TRYING OUT THESE

FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

 - In food, use Cilantro,  turmeric n pepper,

 - hOMEOPATHY - try Baryta Carb., high - 10M, 3-4 pills a dose, on consecutive days (i.e., 3 doses in all, one each day).

 - CANNABIS.

 - Red wine, green tea, gingko biloba, walnuts daily.

 - Re  Methylene Blue(MB) plus Vit C, a user says- 

" I bought the 1% MB at a hardware shop in the aquatics section. Then I converted the 1% MB to 0.1% MB by adding 1 X part by volume of MB to a dropper bottle, then I added 9 parts by volume of water as well. I just use a simple bottle cap for this -- where 1 part by volume equals one cap full. This will give you 0.1% MB. I put this mixture into a suitable bottle with a dropper top. 

"When I need it, I take one full glass of water with 2 grms Ascorbic Acid completely crushed and dissolved in it and add just one or two drops of the 0.1% MB to it. I take this twice a day if I need the energy or if I feel a cold or flu coming one. Gives you alot of energy and significantly boosts the immune system." the two dyes -- crystal violet and methylene blue -- eliminated measurable concentrations of Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease, in human blood samples."

  - Low doses of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which may work by making blood cells and vessels less sticky and improving blood flow

 - Actively engaging in cognitive activities such as reading, which may increase the nerve connections in the brain and delay the onset of the disease

 -  taking antioxidants such as Vitamin E and selignine. In the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study, a dose of 1,000 IU of vitamin E and 5 mg of selignine twice daily delayed nursing home placement, loss of the ability to perform self care, and severe dementia.

 -  hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women, which may delay the onset of symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The relationship between the hormone estrogen and Alzheimer's disease still needs further investigation.

  - avoiding head injuries. A person should wear a seatbelt at all times when riding in a motor vehicle. Sports safety guidelines for children, adolescents, and adults can be helpful in avoiding other head injuries.

 1 Take 30C potency of the homeopathic remedy known as Alumina daily. Alumina helps to clear up confusion as well as reduce memory impairment. Discontinue use of this treatment if you see no improvement after a week. 

 2 Take 30C potency of the homeopathic remedy known as Lycopodium, twice per day, if you have trouble recalling words. This treatment also works well if you struggle to remember basic information, like names or your address. 

 3 Take 30C potency of the homeopathic remedy known as Natrum Sulphuricum to help slow the progress of Alzheimer's Disease. This treatment also works well for people that were recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and are having a tough time emotionally dealing with the diagnosis.

1. Phosphatidylserine 

Phosphatidylserine is the major phospholipid in the brain, where it plays a major role in determining the integrity and fluidity of cell membranes. Normally the brain can manufacture sufficient levels of phosphatidylserine, but if there is a deficiency of methyl donors such as SAM-e, folic acid, and vitamin B12 or essential fatty acids, the brain may not be able to make sufficient phosphatidylserine. Phosphatidylserine has shown very good results in the treatment of depression and/or impaired mental function in the elderly. The typical dosage is 100 mg three times daily.

 2. L-acetylcarnitine 

Carnitine is a vitamin- like compound that helps your cells make energy. Carnitine attached to an acetyl molecule becomes L-acetylcarnitine, which looks and acts a lot like acetylcholine. Researchers have found that L-acetylcarnitine delays the progression of Alzheimer's disease and helps elderly patients who have depression or impaired memory. The typical dosage is 500 mg three times daily.

 3. Ginkgo Biloba Extract 

This ancient herb is showing great benefit in the treatment of senility, including Alzheimer's. It increases the functional capacity of the brain by improving blood flow. It also appears to enhance neurotransmitter activity by normalizing acetylcholine receptors in the hippocampus, the brain area most affected by the disease. Ginkgo is not a cure, but it may slow or delay mental deterioration during the early stages, allowing the patient to live a normal life for as long as possible. Improvement may take three to six months to appear. 

4. Huperzine 

The symptoms of Alzheimer's appear to result from reduced levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. In the brain, acetylcholine is broken down by an enzyme. A compound from club moss known as huperzine A appears to slow down the action of the enzyme and thus may help preserve the supply of acetylcholine and improve memory in Alzheimer's disease without causing side effects. Preliminary studies in China are extremely impressive. The typical dosage is 200 mg twice daily.

FOR  PARKINSON’S DISEASE

 - Green tea, methyl-blue, crystal violet, magnesium,  music therapy,  omega 3,

FOR HEART DISEASE

 - Eat oats porridge, salmon, avocado, olive oil, nuts, berries, legumes, spinach, flaxseed.

monacolin K contained in red yeast rice.

Videha Dharana : fixing the mind outside the body

Videha Dharana : fixing the mind outside the body

                                                                 Sri Maha Sarasvati Trust

                                                                                                                                       13/06/2010

                                                                                                                                             7 a.m.

1. A temple to Devi Mahasarasvati ( as visualiSed by Gautam Dharmapal on 21^st April 2004 at Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir – Haridwar ).
2. Sri Aurobindo – Anirvan Veda Vidyalaya. (Veda classes are already being held at 9/2, Fern Road.)
3. “Ritam” Prakashani – Elevating books to be published under the banner of “Ritam”. Following three books have already been published under “Ritam”.
   1. Puro Natun Veder Kobita – Gouri Dharmapal 2003.
   2. “Shatadru” A collection of poems of Gouri Dharmapal – Sole Distributor – Saptarshi – 2009.
   3. “The Linguistic Atom and The Origin of Language” – Gouri Dharmapal – 21^st April 2010.

        Books no 1 & 3 were inaugurated at Sri Aurobindo Bhawan – Kolkata 700071.

(a)  Veda O Sri Aurobindo (1^st edition 1985 – Sri Aurobindo Pathmandir.)

(b)  Veda O Robindranath ( Published by Ushagram Trust in 2007.) and

(c)  Veda O Vivekananda ( Published in 2009 – by Somalata.)

All the above three books on Veda have been published by different organizations.

                        Om Vajradharinim Vinavadinim Vedavasinim Maha-Sarasvatim Vande

                                       II Om  aim hrim shrim maha Saraswattai namah II    

Devi Saraswati is the only Goddess that is being worshipped in Bharat i.e. India from Vedic Times to the Present days, through Puranas, and Tantras. In ‘Chandi’ alone She is addressed as Mahasaraswati in the Dhyana Mantra, as the destroyer of Shumbha and other demons. – Shumbhadi-daitya-mardini. At all other places, She is worshipped as Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge.

Sri Aurobindo in his book “Mother” specially talks about Maha Sarasvati as one of the “Four great Aspects of the Mother; four of her leading Powers and Personalities (that) have stood in front in her guidance of this universe and in her dealings with the terrestrial play”. The four great Mothers, he calls, Maheswari, Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, and Maha Sarasvati; bestowing Wisdom, Strength, Harmony and Perfection. About Maha Sarasvati, he writes,

“ Maha Sarasvati is the Mother’s Power of works and Her Spirit of Perfection and Order. The youngest of the four , She is the most skilful in executive faculty and the nearest to physical Nature.  …….The Science and Craft and T echnique of things are MahaSarasvati’s province”. – By and large, She too is the Goddess of Knowledge, human as well as divine.

But our Maha Sarasvati is both the Goddess of Knowledge and Power. She is bestower of Knowledge of all Arts and Sciences, as well as the giver of Strength and Power, physical, vital, mental and spiritual. She is the destroyer of Darkness and Ignorance as well as the destroyer of Rakshashas and Asuras, Demons and Devils that dwell in us as well as in this world – in jiva as well as in jagat and help us in being divine – in becoming Ribhus and gods.

                      Om Vajradharinim Vinavadinim Vedavasinim Maha-Saraswatim Vande

                                       II Om  aing hring shring maha saraswattai namah II 

                                                                                                         Gautam Dharmapal.

                                                                                                                             05.05.2009.                                                

                                                                                       OM!

                                                              Maha  Sarasvati Mantra Saptaka

                       II Om,Vajradharinim, Vinavadinim, Vedavasinim Maha Sarasvatim Vande II

Om, ambitame naditame devitame Sarasvati,

Aprashasta iva smasi prashastim amba naskridhi II 1 II

Om, pavakah nah Sarasvati, vajebhir vajinivati,

Yajnam vashtu dhiyavasu II 2 II

Om, chodayitri sunritanam, chetanti sumatinam,

Yajnam dadhe Sarasvati II 3 II

Om, maho arnah Sarasvati, prachetayati ketuna,

Dhiyo vishva virajati II 4 II

Om, ya kundendu-tushara-hara-dhavala,

Ya shubhra vastravrita,

Ya vina-vara-danda-manditakara,

Ya shveta-padmasana,

Ya brahmachyuta-shankara-prabhritibhih,

Devaih sada vandita,

Sa mam patu Sarasvati bhagavati,

Nihshesha-jadyapaha II 5 II

Om shuklam brahma-vichara-sara-paramam,

Adyam jagadvyapinim

Vina-pustaka-dharinim abhayadam,

Jadyandhakarapaham,

Haste-sphatika-malikam vidadhatam

Padmasane samshitam,

Vande-tvam parameshvarim bhagavatim

Buddhipradam sharadam II 6 II

Om, ghanta-shula-halini shankha-mushale,

Chakram-dhanum-sayakam,

Hastabjaih dadhatim ghananta-vilastat

Shitamshu-tulyaprabham,

Gouri-deha-samudbhutam, trijagatam,

Adharbhutam maha-purvamatra

Sarasvatim anubhaje,

Shumbhadi-daityardinim II 7 II

Yato vacha nivartante, aprapya manasa saha

Anandam bhramano vidvan,

Na bibheti kadachana _ Tai.Up. 2/4

Yato vacha nivartante, aprapya manasa saha,

Anandam brahmano vidvan,

Na bibheti kutastichana _ Tai.Up. 2/9

From where the speech returns with mind

Without finding Him,

By knowing That Ananda-Brahman,

One is not afraid of anything _ Tai.Up. 2/4

From where the speech returns with mind

Without finding Him,

By knowing That Ananda-Brahman,

One is not afraid of anybody._Tai.Up.2/9

                                                             DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATION

                                                                                     OF

                                                                     DHARMA SANGHA

Dharma Sangha was established in Ahmedabad on 10^th October 1945, at Pushpakunja Society, Kankaria Lake, Ahmedabad, where eight Dharmapals under the leadership of Bandhu Dharmapal took their vows. Gautam and Sharad took their vows 3-4 days later after their arrival from Mumbai where they were held up due to flood in Narmada. Then on 16^th October 1945 Bandhu Dharmapal left for Calcutta as the first missionary of Dharma Sangha, as Calcutta was considered the heart centre of the New Age.

( The function began just at 10-00 am even though none of the invitees had arrived, with meditation for 5 minutes with the mantra –

Om Aim Hrim Shrim Maha-Sarasvattai Namah

After meditation Gautam Dharmapal began reciting the Seven Mantras invoking the Goddess Mahasarasvati - 4 from Rig Veda, 2 Pauranik Mantras and 1 Mantra from Chandi – the Dhyanamantra of Mahasarasvati – the destroyer of Shumbha and Nishumbha. )

By this time our friend Subhash Chandra Basu arrived. Arundhati phoned that she is unable to come. Gautam then read from the dairy – (rather Life sketch of Gautam – Vishnu ) translated in Bangla by Gauri giving a short resume of the First Dharmasangha gathering, vows by the Dharmapals with their former family names as well as the new Dharmapal names and their later history. Then Gautam described how the form of Sarasvati as divine mother appeared in the early morning of 8^th February 1954 – before the inner eye of Bandhu. It was a Sarasvati Puja – Vasanti Panchami day and a similar photo of Sarasvati was published in the Amrita Bazar Patrika of that very day. Then he told the whole story of the present picture of Ma Sarasvati that we have with us.

How the vision of Maha-Sarasvati appeared in the Dhyana Kalpana of Gautam on 21-04-2004 at Haridwar, Sri Aurobindo Yogamandir, was also narrated by him. Three artists have been assigned with the work of drawing the picture. We have to wait for the outcome!*

Gautam then read with some explanations the pamphlet “the Message of Dharma” by Bandhu Dharmapal.

At the end of the meeting some Shanti mantras which we generally recite at the end of our monthly veda-class were recited by Gauri Dharmapal.

1. Om Bhadram Karnebhih Shrunuyama devah…..
2. Om Shanno Mitrah, Sham Varunah…….
3. Om Madhu Vata Ritayate………..etc. and
4. Om pashyema Sharadah Shatam………..etc.

At the end of the meeting some refreshments were served by Rohini Dharmapal Banerjee and it was decided that from now on every year on 10^th October such a function will be organized at ‘Ritam’, 9/2, Fern Road. Incidentally it may be mentioned that 10^th October is the birth date of Bandhu Dharmapal.

Copies of the pamphlet “the Message of Dharma” with a 12 page – brief exposition of the same by Gautam  Dharmapal were distributed. Thanks to Apurva Dharmapal, son of Bandhu Dharmapal who had delivered to us a few copies of “ The Massage of Dharma” only a day before, though he could not come on 10^th October due to previous engagement.

*The picture of Maha-Sarasvati we have got now, thanks to an young artist Utpal Gain in 2008.

SriSri TaraSaranam

Bodhan  

Pravachan vol 3: 149. Haimavati, Shillong, 22.9.63.

Satya,

Let me say a few words today about Bodhan.

Immediately the question arises, How could there be the Bodhan or Awakening of the Devi [Durga]? Is She sleeping? She is the Consciousness of all beings, so what can this "sleep" and "awakening" mean?

We have to analyze the issue from our point of view, i.e. from the position of the sadhaka, the spiritual seeker. Rupa Goswami had said, "Nityasiddhasya bhAvasya prAkatyam hrdi sAdhyatA"----- To make the timeless ever-perfect, Pure Consciousness   clearly manifest in the seeker's heart is the goal to be achieved.

Therefore, 'She *[G1] is indeed always awake, but I am the one who cannot understand': the very attempt to grasp this concept is Bodhan. Really, then, it is not the Bodhan or Awakening of Devi but that of my own heart!

The concept of Bodhan comes to us from yet another context [the Vedic worship of internal and external luminosity, my note]. During the period of uttarAyana or the Sun's movement towards its longest day, the gods remain awake, this period being their "day." And during the DakshinAyana, [when the Sun traverses the path to its 'death', the solsticial point] the gods sleep, this period being their "night." This alternation of 'day' and 'night', this too is from the perspective of my consciousness.

The Vedas hold the worship of the Adityas paramount.**  The Aditya visible to us we recognize as the  Supreme  Radiance,  paramajyoti. I make (him, That) one with my own consciousness. We see a waxing and waning of that radiance during the Uttarayana and Dakshinayana. Actually, the Supreme Radiance is beyond such. But it is true that on the relative plane, we observe such an ebb and flow. When the radiance waxes ever stronger, Nature herself aids my spiritual efforts. In the waning phase, nature is not clement ay more but hostile.

Within that decay, through sheer valor, solely through one's own strength one has to keep the Light alive in one's heart. The ceremony of Bodhan is a strong suggestion to us, all spiritual seekers, to arouse this strength and courage from OUR side.

Why Bodhan on Sashthi tithi, the 6^th day of the waxing lunar phase?

 The 15 tithis or lunar "days" comprising each half of the lunar cycle are divided into thirds comprising pentads named sequentially: nandA, bhadrA, jayA, riktA, and pUrNA. The three stages or bhumi-s of consciousness map to this tripartite arrangement of pentads.

At the first, our consciousness of self is not awake, but She remains ever so and the work cyclic existence goes on without a hitch. This is Her activity beyond our ken--such as that in our infancy. In the second bhumi or stage, or consciousness of self awakens. Only then can sadhana, effective spiritual striving, begin, becoming self-conscious. Therefore, Bodhan, a rite of awakening, only now becomes relevant.

 Sashthi, the 6^th lunar day [when Bodhan takes place] is known as the NandA tithi, signifying Devi NandA. NandA Devi means She who is Joyous, Anandamayi. Her form is that of bAlikA, a little girl 4-5 years old [spontaneously joyous]. In the BhadrA tithi, She is Devi Sumangala, her aspect a kishori, less than 9 years old. In JayA, She emanates Her form of Power, Shakti, and appears as a taruNI, prepubescent teen. In RiktA She is Yogini, a pubescent teen, in PUrNA, a fully developed young woman.

One should meditate on the inherent perpetuity of time, or the inherent continuity of cyclic existence in this way***  From Sashthi to Dashami, Her [Devi Durga] worship is carried out in this mode.

Why Bodhan under a Bilva/Bael-fruit tree?

The shastras peak of the sanctity of certain species of trees. The "purusa-dominant"  among this fall into the class of brahmavrksas whiles the "prakrti"  or "shakti" dominant species are known as kulavrksas. The Bale belongs to both classes but is a special kulvrksa. Here is its rahasya,  subtle and esoteric mysteries:

The Devi's iconic Form as Yantra is created by merging  two triangles, one with its vertex pointing up, the second with  the vertex down. For the first, imagine Her face [at the apex] and her two breasts [one each at the base] forming the three points of the triangle. This upward facing triangle is known a Her Agni  form. The downward facing triangle represents her yoni and is Her Soma form. The Bael leaf is composed of three leaflets just like the Durva grass [Cynodon dactylon] and the trident or Trishul. So the Bael  leaf is a symbolic  representation of the Mother's yoni, the fruit Her breasts. Her Face must be imagined located somewhere in the  tree's crown. The Bael tree holds within itself the complete  representation of the Mother's Yantra, the union of the upper and lower triangles.

Moreover, covered with spines the bael tree is untouchable. In other words, the Devi here is the Unapproachable, Inviolable Kumari Virgin. This represents her BrahmabhAva, Brahman aspect. In this one tree, there has occurred the union of Agni-Soma and Brahma-Shakti. Therefore, meditating on one's own body as this tree, one must perform Devi's Bodhan at the root, i.e. the muUladhAra  chakra. This is the rahasya of the Bodhan.

Swami Satyananda was a student of Sri Anirvan at S. Nigamananda's ashram near Jorhat, Assam. He became a trusted confidant of his former instructor  after  Sri Anirvan left the ashram and struck out on his own. Their friendship lasted all their lives.

bengali is a non-gendered language. The persona pronouns for the Absolute Consciousness, "God" etc. are left deliberatey vgue by Anirvan throughout hiswritings by the us of "tini" and "tanr", the honorific "That person." In this way, the bengali reader gets a snse of what he is trying to convey without being bogged down in the minutiae of the exact cosmogony, of exactly which particular level of Cosciousness i being indicated. All three levels are A's favored mode.

however, English andmny inia languages are genered and force once to make a choice, as if asking one to mae a dfinite staement about the sbject. The deliberate 'fzziness" is lost, and lss clarity is created in the process!! I sall try to translate this particulr letter fr itsgenera meaning and make it a "quick & dirty" job because today is the Bodhan. Fine detail can come later.

**"seven deities of the heavenly sphere RV. ix , 114 , 3 , &c. S3Br. iii , 1 , 3 , 3 (the chief is Varuna , to whom the name Aditya is especially applicable ; the succeeding five are Mitra , Aryaman , Bhaga , Daksha ; that of the seventh is probably Surya or Savitri ; Monier Wiliams

 Sri Anirvan with Gauri & G autam Dharmapal : Evernew Vedic Wedding ; Saptarshi Prakashan, Kolkata; p.94:

Vishnu the Sun advances from the darkness below the horizon to midday....seven steps... seven gods... Twin Ashvins, i.e. riders, SavitA the Iimpeller, Usha the Dawn, Bhaga the breaker of horizon, PushA Nourisher, Surya the Propeller nd Vishnu the all-pervadingl light.

Pravachan vol 3: 228-229: TrisuparNAmantrAh (Taittiriya AraNyaka 38-40)

however, English andmny inia languages are genered and force once to make a choice, as if asking one to mae a dfinite staement about the sbject. The deliberate 'fzziness" is lost, and lss clarity is created in the process!! I sall try to translate this particulr letter fr itsgenera meaning and make it a "quick & dirty" job because today is the Bodhan. Fine detail can come later.

**"seven deities of the heavenly sphere RV. ix , 114 , 3 , &c. S3Br. iii , 1 , 3 , 3 (the chief is Varuna , to whom the name Aditya is especially applicable ; the succeeding five are Mitra , Aryaman , Bhaga , Daksha ; that of the seventh is probably Surya or Savitri ; Monier Wiliams

 Sri Anirvan with Gauri & G autam Dharmapal : Evernew Vedic Wedding ; Saptarshi Prakashan, Kolkata; p.94:

Vishnu the Sun advances from the darkness below the horizon to midday....seven steps... seven gods... Twin Ashvins, i.e. riders, SavitA the Iimpeller, Usha the Dawn, Bhaga the breaker of horizon, PushA Nourisher, Surya the Propeller nd Vishnu the all-pervadingl light.

Pravachan vol 3: 228-229: TrisuparNAmantrAh (Taittiriya AraNyaka 38-40)

***Shaktas also divide each day and each night into these parts

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN SRI GAUTAM DHARMAPAL AND A FOLLOWER OF SRI ANIRVAN
POSTED HERE ACCORDING TO SRI GAUTAM DHARMAPAL'S WISH

Dear X,
Very glad to receive your “na janami”_ i don’t know _letter Dt. 20th June. You are completely right. It is extremely difficult to know, if there is any concrete God! Of course there is nothing concrete in this world_all are moving atoms, you can call them Linguistic Atoms or spiritual atoms _always moving and changing forms _forms are never permanent _they live for a few moments, or for many many years _but one day they break and dissolve in the sea or sky of Atoms! That is God! Call Him Shiva or Vishnu or their so-called avataras _incarnations Krishna, Buddha or Christ!
But I can give you a concrete god whom you can worship and find the God within you and in the world. That is the Sun whom you see everyday rising and setting before your own eyes! Without Him nothing on Earth can live or exist _ of course the atoms of which we and all this earth is made of will continue to live because they are in Him and He is in them!
From Vedic times people in India have been worshipping the Sun-god as Savita, Surya, Indra or Vishnu! But no worship is fruitful without Faith and understanding. S’raddhaya Upanishada S’raddha-Faith is the first and most important step in any Sadhana. It is said “adau s’raddha tatah prajna”. In the beginning there should be S’raddha, and it will end in Prajna _Knowledge.
About knowing and Not-knowing you should read the second chapter of Kenopanishad. Om! May we know and meditate upon that maker of Day _ Producer of Light! May that Surya-the Sun impel us!
Surya_the Sun is directly connected with each self through His rays. That ray lies hidden in our hearts. Meditate upon that inner ray the Self-Atma_hidden in the cave of the heart. This one Sadhana is enough. You don’t have to go anywhere in the world to find God _ He is there hidden in your heart. Meditate upon Him sitting in a quiet place and realize Him! See Bhagavad Gita Ch. 18/61-62.Only these two s’lokas are enough. But the sharanam _ taking of Refuge in Him must be total _ full of Faith, S’raddha _ and Surrender.
This is all I have to say against your, “I do not know”_ the rest are worldly formalities.
After all this world is His and therefore our Play and His maya _daivi maya or Vishnu Maya – Illusion or Mystery_ Take it as you like! Of course, you will take it as your nature forces you to take! After all svabhava-stu pravartate! One acts according to one’s nature!
Hope you are reading Gouri’s book slowly but carefully. I am personally much more interested in her book “Puro Natun Veder Kobita”. Have you got it?
Yes both of us are happy that the book could be published! Thank God!
Have you got Anirvan’s Bangla Kenopanishad with you? Just now I am seeing the proofs of my English translation of Swamiji’s Bangla Keno-Upanishad.
For prayer and meditation there is the most famous Gayatri Mantra of Visvamitra which brahmanas in India repeat everyday like parrots! You know it perhaps, so I need not write.
Recently Sri Aurobindo has given us another Gayatri Mantra.
Om! Tat savitur varam rupam,
Jyotih parasya dhimahi
Yan-nah satyena dipayet._
Om! We meditate upon that wonderful form
Of Savita, That is the Light of the Supreme.
May He enlighten us with Truth.
I have received two Gayatri Mantras at Jagannath Puri in January 1988.
1, Om! Jagannathaya Vidmahe,
Vis’varupaya dhimahi
Tan-nah Vishnuh pracodayat!
May we know and meditate upon Jagannath_ the Lord of The Universe who has taken up the universal form! May that Vishnu impel us!
2, Om! Divakaraya Vidmahe
Atma-rupaya dhimahi
Tan-nah Surya pracodayat!
Om! May we know and Meditate upon Divakara_ the Sun, who has taken the form of Self! May that Surya_the Sun impel us!
Both of us are carrying on with our brittle health. After all, I am 86 and Gouri is almost 80!
One friend has promised to pay the expenses for the publication of all the Upanishads of Sri Anirvan published by the Burdwan University_ translated by me in English from 2004 to 2010! I hope, I will be able to see them published!
Gouri-ma has many things in her basket! Let us see how many fruits come out of it! She is continuing with her monthly Pathshala on Veda-mantras!
With all love and best wishes from both of us_
Gautamda
Vande Mataram.
From Smt Gouri Dharmapal

Snher X ke
1) Ohe sundar, mama grihey aaji paromotsab-rati
Rekhechi kanakmondirey kamalasan pati.

2) Sahasa ekoda apona hoitey
Bhori dibey tumi tomar amritey
Aai bharosai kori padotaley
Sunyoo hridai daan

Dukali Robigaan
Gourimaa


From: X
Date: Saturday, July 31, 2010,

My dearest Gautamji!
Let's see if you will receive this email from Y! that's where i happen to be these days.
I came 2 weeks ago and leave for Z again in 3 weeks.
My father and sister wanted to see me. So, i came...
Life has become ... or rather my mind has hard time to find something to give her 'energy' from what's happening around her...
I realize that one needs a 'dream' to keep him/her going in this life...
Somehow 'i' 'decided' to see/experience how life is without a 'dream'... i.e. without 'dreaming'... ( a prerequisite for 'waking up' perhaps... )
we shall see how the experiment will go and where it will take me...
Let's see if you'll receive these words...
X--
May you live in peace!
May all beings live in harmony!
May we all live in peace and in harmony!

On Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 2:05 PM, Gautam Dharmapal wrote:

Dear X,
Received your e-mail at my e-mail address. Did you received my long letter in reply to your 'i don't know' letter sent through Rajesh's e-mail address? Can we publish it at anirvan akash sight?
You are right. One should rather must have some higher aspiration other than the worldly ones to survive the attacks of this world. It may be for god or any ideal like social survice or an aspiration to go beyond all sorrow. God or no god does not matter yourself, atma, is there beyond or behind your ego. Find out if one can rise above ego, all the problems will be solved.
Hope this finds you well.With love and all the best wishes,
Goutam

From: X
To: "Gautam Dharmapal"
Date: Tuesday, August 3, 2010, 10:57

Hello dear Gautamji and 'welcome' to the world of the 'world wide web'!!! (very useful at times and also 'danger' at others...)
No, i have not received anything else from you through email. You mean 'Rajesh Sanghai' ?? I Cc him... ( Mrinalini-di sent me his email address... )
I would be interested to read your 'long letter in reply to your[my]'i don't know' letter' ... although... 'words' do not 'touch' me anymore...
only the 'touch' of the 'ultimate' could perhaps 'wake me up'... if 'It' (i.e. the 'Ultimate' ) 'exists' and can 'touch'...
" who may know...
perhaps the gods in the highest heavens may know... or perhaps even they may know not... "
May you be well...
give my pranams to Gauri-ma...
X
OM TAT SAT...
May you live in peace!
May all beings live in harmony!
May we all live in peace and in harmony!

On Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 2:41 PM, Gautam Dharmapal wrote:

Dear X,
your e-mail of yesterday 3/08/2010 received. sending the copy of my long letter written in reply to your " i don't know letter" in the attachment file.
you should pray for the grace of the lord who might descend on you or touch you. meditation or prayer are the only means to find him but it is he who will decide when and how to descend.
with all the best wishes
Goutam

From: X
To: "Gautam Dharmapal"
Date: Friday, August 6, 2010

Thanking both of you for your words of 'encouragement' and advices...
It is true that my mind is not 'quiet' these days... but it is certainly part of my 'onward path' so i welcome that too...
Without any 'thoughts', without any ideas, without any 'beliefs', without any 'faith', without any 'theories'.... empty... empty... completely 'empty'... i may go completely 'empty' one day... and then ... if anything appears at that state it may be 'something worth while' to observe and go along with it...
Having anything else to start with is 'dangerous'...
'Theories' when supported and 'fired' by 'shraddha' become the concrete stuff of one's imagination ... what i call 'dreams'... and i don't want to live in dreams anymore...
No matter what ... Life is 'interesting' and amusing sometimes... at others it may be painful and sad... aren't they both part of the same 'thing' we call 'Life'??? so be it...
Anything a man-wo 'does' (most likely 'imagining' that he/she does it!) takes him/her away from the reality of the 'emptiness'...
So be it... each one of us 'acts' and 'dreams' according to our 'nature'... that's why we are all 'puppets' in the 'puppet-show' we call 'Life'... So be it... till we 'wake up'...

X
HARI OM TAT SAT....
May you live in peace!
May all beings live in harmony!
May we all live in peace and in harmony!

X wrote on August 17, 2010
Hello Mrinalini
If that's the wish of Gautamji then it is ok...

Two comments for your information:
1st : In general, i do not see 'problems' around me (and inside me). It is all part of the movement of the River-of-Life... waves... up and down... these are not 'problems'... 'problems' see the limited human mind....

2nd : I am not a 'follower' of Sri Anirvanji and i do not think i ever was. Once upon a time his written words had captured my attention and 'imagination'. Now, for years, i've tried to walk away from 'imaginary' things... How 'good' or 'bad' (both relative words) was for my 'growth' spending so much energy on 'imaginations' perhaps i will never know... So be it... Life is still a mystery...
May the 'gods' be 'real'...

X.
May you live in peace!
May all beings live in harmony!
May we all live in peace and in harmony!