Many years ago I came to know from newspapers when I was in Asansol that there was litigation between the Aurovillians and the Sri Aurobindo Society in respect of control over Auroville. It’s not my business here to go into the details on that matter. One of my friends who was very against whatever was associated with Sri Aurobindo and the Mother-taking a cue from that news told bad things against all of them and asked my opinion –why such things could happen with those who were the children of the so called Divine Mother! I was already depressed myself –rather confused and shocked, floundered for a speech in defense of the children. It was –as if an ordeal to me to save somehow the great names that were linked with the litigation as in some quarters there arose questions against the wisdom of such dream for a habitat of future man named after Sri Aurobindo by the Mother as-Auroville. Even it was criticized as a Utopia when the existing habitat of the Indians was in a shabby condition. However in my desperation as a self appointed advocate in defense of the Mother and the Aurovillians I retorted to my friend “ Do you think that Auroville will grow without troubles and problems-internal and external to fulfill the dream of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo-in the midst of hellish mud and mire of human consciousness? Being a devotee of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo-I was delighted to know the event of the foundation of Auroville. I personally cherish and live on the prospect of human evolution as prophesized by Sri Aurobindo. But I can not think that it will come without paying a cost or without being tormented at the struggle between the truth and ignorance within me. Auroville is an infant and is growing as pushed by its own soul from inside it. But it is growing from within us also-though we are not Aurovillians. Like a child it will falter and even fall and even move in a wrong way. But these facts of life can not deter it from attaining its adulthood as visualized by the Mother. And for us-who want to see Auroville to grow in a great exemplary way-must collaborate from outside. Did not the Mother want it from us? We should never forget that for a single fault or fall of a single Aurovillian –the responsibility lies equally with us also being a part of humanity. Aurovillians come also from the same species. Do not try to take the advantage of another’s shoulder for keeping your gun to shoot your target.”
But after about forty years, while I myself have felt breaking down under the widespread news from both the print and electronic media that things are far from good with those whom I love as the most exemplary communities for our hope for the future –I prayed to the Mother in the same desperation I remembered her to my friend.
After touching the birthday blessing of the Mother on my forehead I woke up in the morning and felt happy on the first day of my individual New Year.
But after some hours while surfing the Internet I chanced to see several sites which were full of such information which could not be expected by the devotees of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. My eyes were filled with tears and I asked my Mother why such things happened. Could not be those people be otherwise?
All the true answers come from within. None in this world can offer a true answer. We are never denied answers of our sincere and serious questions by the Mother. So after praying to the Mother I tried to become peaceful and calm. After an hour or two I just opened a book casually without knowing the name of the book and its author. I opened the book in the middle of its pages. I saw a heading-JUDGING OTHERS. The Mother says under it:
“Unless your vision is constantly the vision of the Divine in all things, you have not only no right but no capacity to judge the state which others are in. And to pronounce a judgment on someone without having this vision spontaneously, effortlessly, is precisely an example of the mental presumptuousness of which Sri Aurobindo always spoke….And it so happens that one who has the vision, the consciousness, who is capable of seeing the truth in all things, never feels the need to judge anything whatever. For he understands everything and knows everything. Therefore, once and for all, you must tell yourselves that the moment you begin to judge things, people, circumstances, you are in the most total human ignorance.
In short, one could put it like this: when one understands, one no longer judges and when one judges, it means that one does not know”.
The name of the book:
The Sunlit Path-page 153
6 July 2008
Judgement of The Mother
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4 comments:
Dear Debabrata babu,
Namaskar. I am happy that you have given voice to the anguish of thousands of Savitri Erans, the world over, who are deeply troubled by reading all that has come out (and continue to pour) in the media with regard to Auroville and the Ashram. No official words have come from the Ashram while the Auroville rejoinders are tame. All this tell us for sure that everything is not well, and to accept things in a disciplique way may not be the right thing to do.
These are clearly management issues, and unless definite systems are put in place, the rot may worsen further. How the officials are elected/selected, and for what and how many tenures, must be specified so that no one succumbs to survival instinct. Separation of powers within the organization should be inbuilt, and communication (media) is a must.
Savitri Erans should take part in these discussions and apply their mind as to how to preserve sanctity.
Yours fraternally,
Tusar N. Mohapatra,
President, Savitri Era Party.
Director, Savitri Era Learning Forum. [SELF]
SRA-102-C, Shipra Riviera, Indirapuram,
Ghaziabad, U.P. - 201012, Ph: 0120-2605636, 2815130 INDIA
www.sepact.blogspot.com
Dear Tushar Babu,
I have not any intention to fight for the cause of Ashram and Auroville.
I feel sad when these esteemed institutions are widely reported against.
If I have any responsibility it is clearly written in the blog.
Whenever there happens anything concerning the name of Sri Aurobindo I have access to that stuff. So I know about some problems inside the Ashram and Auroville. But never have I felt to voice my concern. Yes I definitely feel pained. Once upon a time I knew many people in the Ashram. Nobody is there now for me. But at that time also I never enquired about Ashram. When I get depressed I fail. And in such a moment I wrote to you.
I should always stick to one principle and it is to stick to the Mother.
I am not a social worker. I live a very personal life and almost in seclusion. I am interested in Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. If I discussed Auroville it was because of my human failure.
I read your articles and I know that you are a follower of Sri Aurobindo. But in your own way. I have said it many times that you are doing Mother's work. I believe it in my heart. But if I am going to do what you are doing then it will not be Mother's work.
I think -you will understand the spirit of my attitude towards mending others' way. I have been trying for the last 36 years to mend myself -to stick to what I have known in my heart-but in spite of all this I have not progressed an inch. Perhaps you and my friends in the Forum have already known about it.
So how can I make efforts towards correcting other people. Some people were interested in World Unity. They published a journal. The Mother once told that these people were quarrelling amongst themselves and they were preaching world unity! She was for unity in different cells of the body. So how can I-a most imperfect person in all respects can go in for voicing my complaints against others. Moreover -my very nature is just for doing other things.
I regard you as my friend-who is also a wise person. So in a weak moment I told you sth personally. But instantaneously I felt my lapse. And I wrote an article in my blog.
With my warm regards to you and all the friends.
Devabrata
Dear Debabrata babu,
As per the teachings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo, we are all participants in an evolution that is taking place whether we stay aware of it or not. So, when you say that ‘I am this and this, and I do not want to be that and that’ it is simply not within your powers to decide. If we really leave ourselves in the hands of the Mother, then it is she who makes one Bagha Jatin, and another her Togo. What was waiting for years happens one fine morning.
Through your Blog you are connected to a wide range of people. You no longer live a “personal life almost in seclusion.” Let’s give possibility a chance.
Yours fraternally,
Tusar
P.S.: Mamata Dash wrote in as below;
We are now in Bangalore, within a few days we will be in Pondicherry. I read your article, - about your personal experience and the solution you found in the book, Sunlit Path. The frustration you experienced and the solution which Mother gave to you miraculously- the whole thing is really wonderful. We all have gone through this kind of conflict, sadness and frustration after knowing the reality of the situation. Many times. I also feel sad and bad when I know about the failings of Ashram and Auroville. The quarrel, the corruptions in the Ashram, the meanness, the advantage the disciples take from Ashram without doing any sadhana, the anger and indifference they display to outsiders..... Oh the list is too long. But I also pray to the Mother and ask Why? Why?
I have read that passage about judgement. I never judge but I feel sad and when somebody asks me the reason I say Our Sadhana is to be transformers, it is not to repress one's nature and go above it.. So under the pressure of this kind of Yoga the bad qualities are coming out. And as they are the children of the Mother and doing Sadhana they will surely deal with it and one day they will resolve their limitations.
Can I ask you one thing? Have you read all the Agendas?
Thank you for reminding all of us about Mother’s words ‘On Judgement'
With good wishes Mamata Dash
Mamata Dash
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Savitri Era Party demands independence of Aurovill...":
http://nandivarman.rediffiland.com/blogs/2008/07/07/AUROBINDO-DEVOTEES-DEMAND-AUROVILLE-LIBERATION.html
It is sad, Mr. Tushar, that though you claim to be some sort of Sri Aurobindo devotee - notwithstanding your coming up with such pathetically shallow and immature notions such as 'Savitri Era Party' - you are now associated and being felicitated by Mr. Nandhivarman, who is part of the pseudo-rationalist tribe, and a known mud-slinger at the Ashram, and at the Mother and Sri Aurobindo themselves, and who does it purely for base political gains.
The Internet is a powerful tool, but in the hands of the ignorant, such as yourselves, and the perverse, such as Mr. Nandivarman, it is easily misused. The 2 of you provide excellent examples of this. Hopefully, your readers will have the discernment to separate the chaff from the wheat - though the wheat is so rare to come by!
A piece of advice to you, to other Aurobindonians, and to myself: Discover the Divine within; the changes outside will follow. The less we encourage this mental and vital fret, the better for our collective growth and progress. For till we don't find Her within, our shrill cries from either bank of the river of phenomenal reality are equally foolish.
As to your occasional unsolicited comments and advice such as how Auroville should be autonomous, and how the Ashram should be better managed, refer once again to the above para. If you still feel the overwhelming urge to 'act' however, get down from your fibre-optic tower and see the deeper ground Reality of things.
It is my conviction - and I am hardly alone - that the Ashram and Auroville are shaping up beautifully, in the hands of individuals who are committed and dedicated even if imperfect, and who work more than they talk, and talk even less than they type. Of course there are wayward individuals everywhere, and all organisations have their share of them too, but the Hand that has guided so far, continues to guide, and slowly, ever so slowly but surely, those who have the eyes to see recognize that these centres of the Divine's concrete Presence and Work, grow onward towards the Light.
It is pointless to reply to your friend Mr. Nandhivarman; his motives are in question. The greater tragedy is when professed devotees like yourself are pulled into their devious game, and do not have the wisdom to realise that our only work is within ourselves, and our only genuine concern the kingdom within ourselves.
May we grow wide, as the Vedas say.
V
P.S.: If you tell us that you are indeed conscious of that deeper reality within yourself, and that you are truly inwardly realised and convinced that it is necessary to set up 'systems', create a 'Savitri Era Party', 'save' the Aurobindonian community from impending doom and destruction wrecked by the wretched administrators you seem to conjure - well, sound the bugle, and perhaps we shall be inspired to join you. But at present you hardly come across as one who has the Knowledge or the Call. I can imagine there is much which can be changed for the better, in Auroville, in the Ashram, in India, in the world; but where does that change begin? Nay, Their workings are far more complex, intricate, and mysterious, and "One man's perfection still can save the world…"
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