About the Book
In this collection of letters,
Sri Aurobindo explains the fundamental principles and practices of his system
of Yoga. The philosophical and psychological foundations of his spiritual
teaching are taken up in the first quarter of the book. The remaining portion
deals with his method of spiritual practice. The subjects include:
The
Integral Yoga and the ordinary life.
The Integral Yoga and
other systems of Yoga
Planes of consciousness
and parts of the being
The Divine and the Divine
Force
Bases of Yoga
Sadhana through work,
meditation and love
The triple transformation
Difficulties in
transforming the nature
Human relationship in Yoga
Publisher's Note
This compilation consists of letters by Sri
Aurobindo on various aspects of his spiritual teaching and method of yogic
practice. Parts 1 to 4 deal mainly with the philosophical and psychological
foundations of the teaching, Parts 5 to 11 with the method of practice, and
Part 12 with elements of both.
Sri Aurobindo called his system the "Integral
Yoga" because it proposed "a union [yoga] in all parts of our being
with the Divine and a consequent transmutation of all their now jarring
elements into the harmony of a higher divine consciousness and existence".
Sri Aurobindo wrote most of the letters during the
1930s to men and women living in his ashram in Pondicherry, India. At this time
he was concentrated on his own spiritual practice and saw and spoke with
practically no one; but he kept in touch with the seekers who had gathered
around him by means of correspondence. The disciples sent him letters or
diaries recounting events in their inward and outward lives. He replied,
sometimes at length, sometimes simply by making marginal notations.
The letters included in this compilation have been
selected from the more than two thousand pages of letters published in various
volumes of the Sri Aurobindo Birth Centenary Library. References to these volumes
are given at the end of the compilation. Generally the entire published letter
has been reproduced. A few long letters dealing with two or more subjects have
been split up and reproduced in different sections. Some material not thought
relevant to the compilation has been cut out. Such omissions are indicated by
ellipsis points ( ... ).
Readers should keep in mind that each letter was
written to a particular individual on a particular occasion. Sri Aurobindo once
cautioned: The
tendency to take what I lay down for one and apply it without discrimination to
another is responsible for much misunderstanding. A general statement, too,
true in itself, cannot be applied to everyone alike or applied now and
immediately without consideration of condition or circumstance or person or
time.
In all his writings Sri
Aurobindo used words from Sanskrit and other Indian languages. He also employed
certain English words ("psychic", "vital") in his own way
and coined a number of terms ("supermind",
"environmental consciousness"). Readers not familiar with Sri Aurobindo's terminology are encouraged to consult the
Glossary at the end of the volume.
This compilation was prepared by Peter Heehs and Bob Zwicker of the Sri
Aurobindo Ashram Archives and Research Library.
Contents
|
Publisher’s
Note |
xi |
|
Sri
Aurobindo |
Xiii |
|
Introduction |
3 |
1. |
The Integral
Yoga and the Ordinary Life |
7-18 |
2. |
The
Integral Yoga and the Other Systems of Yoga and Philosophy |
23-35 |
3. |
Planes
of the Consciousness and Parts of the Being |
43-69 |
4. |
The
Divine, The Gods and the Divine Force |
77-91 |
5. |
Bases
of Yoga |
95-124 |
6. |
Sadhana
Through Work, Meditation, and Love and Devotion |
129-168 |
7. |
Experiences
and Realisations |
171-199 |
8. |
The
Triple Transformation: Psychic, Spiritual and Supramental |
201-234 |
9. |
Transformation
of the Nature |
239-268 |
10. |
Difficulties
in Transforming the Nature |
271-318 |
11. |
Human
Relationships in Yoga |
323-339 |
12. |
Other
Aspects of Sri Aurobindo’s Teaching and Method of
Practice |
343-365 |
|
Notes
on the Texts |
371 |
|
Glossary
of Names and Terms |
377 |
About the Book
In this collection of letters,
Sri Aurobindo explains the fundamental principles and practices of his system
of Yoga. The philosophical and psychological foundations of his spiritual
teaching are taken up in the first quarter of the book. The remaining portion
deals with his method of spiritual practice. The subjects include:
The
Integral Yoga and the ordinary life.
The Integral Yoga and
other systems of Yoga
Planes of consciousness
and parts of the being
The Divine and the Divine
Force
Bases of Yoga
Sadhana through work,
meditation and love
The triple transformation
Difficulties in
transforming the nature
Human relationship in Yoga
Publisher's Note
This compilation consists of letters by Sri
Aurobindo on various aspects of his spiritual teaching and method of yogic
practice. Parts 1 to 4 deal mainly with the philosophical and psychological
foundations of the teaching, Parts 5 to 11 with the method of practice, and
Part 12 with elements of both.
Sri Aurobindo called his system the "Integral
Yoga" because it proposed "a union [yoga] in all parts of our being
with the Divine and a consequent transmutation of all their now jarring
elements into the harmony of a higher divine consciousness and existence".
Sri Aurobindo wrote most of the letters during the
1930s to men and women living in his ashram in Pondicherry, India. At this time
he was concentrated on his own spiritual practice and saw and spoke with
practically no one; but he kept in touch with the seekers who had gathered
around him by means of correspondence. The disciples sent him letters or
diaries recounting events in their inward and outward lives. He replied,
sometimes at length, sometimes simply by making marginal notations.
The letters included in this compilation have been
selected from the more than two thousand pages of letters published in various
volumes of the Sri Aurobindo Birth Centenary Library. References to these volumes
are given at the end of the compilation. Generally the entire published letter
has been reproduced. A few long letters dealing with two or more subjects have
been split up and reproduced in different sections. Some material not thought
relevant to the compilation has been cut out. Such omissions are indicated by
ellipsis points ( ... ).
Readers should keep in mind that each letter was
written to a particular individual on a particular occasion. Sri Aurobindo once
cautioned: The
tendency to take what I lay down for one and apply it without discrimination to
another is responsible for much misunderstanding. A general statement, too,
true in itself, cannot be applied to everyone alike or applied now and
immediately without consideration of condition or circumstance or person or
time.
In all his writings Sri
Aurobindo used words from Sanskrit and other Indian languages. He also employed
certain English words ("psychic", "vital") in his own way
and coined a number of terms ("supermind",
"environmental consciousness"). Readers not familiar with Sri Aurobindo's terminology are encouraged to consult the
Glossary at the end of the volume.
This compilation was prepared by Peter Heehs and Bob Zwicker of the Sri
Aurobindo Ashram Archives and Research Library.
Contents
|
Publisher’s
Note |
xi |
|
Sri
Aurobindo |
Xiii |
|
Introduction |
3 |
1. |
The Integral
Yoga and the Ordinary Life |
7-18 |
2. |
The
Integral Yoga and the Other Systems of Yoga and Philosophy |
23-35 |
3. |
Planes
of the Consciousness and Parts of the Being |
43-69 |
4. |
The
Divine, The Gods and the Divine Force |
77-91 |
5. |
Bases
of Yoga |
95-124 |
6. |
Sadhana
Through Work, Meditation, and Love and Devotion |
129-168 |
7. |
Experiences
and Realisations |
171-199 |
8. |
The
Triple Transformation: Psychic, Spiritual and Supramental |
201-234 |
9. |
Transformation
of the Nature |
239-268 |
10. |
Difficulties
in Transforming the Nature |
271-318 |
11. |
Human
Relationships in Yoga |
323-339 |
12. |
Other
Aspects of Sri Aurobindo’s Teaching and Method of
Practice |
343-365 |
|
Notes
on the Texts |
371 |
|
Glossary
of Names and Terms |
377 |