Integral Yoga: Sri Aurobindo’s Teaching & Method of Practice
My Review
This is a fascinating book. I’m constantly finding things that are different or the same as Blavatsky’s theosophy. Her teachings are my spiritual home base, which doesn’t mean I’m not open to other paths – or blind to Blavatsky’s defects. The reason though that this book constantly brings me back to her is that Aurobindo covers many of the same topics she did. Their approach differs a lot in places, but their conclusions and methods are in many cases surprisingly similar – though also on occasion diametrically opposite. One indication that a book is good is the amount of text I underline in pencil… Well, this book passes that test. It consists of extracts from letters Sri Aurobindo wrote to people asking for advice – from inside and outside his ashram. Well – those selecting must have taste close to mine, because I just can’t seem to keep my pencil off the page…
A bit outdated perhaps, but very original. A good introduction to the spiritual approach of Sri Aurobindo, one of the seminal teachers of 20th century India.
Sri Aurobindo for All Ages, a biography by Nirodbaran
I went on a short trip to Pondicherry recently and bought the book – ‘Sri Aurobindo for All Ages’ – at the Auroville Visitors Center. The return train journey from Chennai to New Delhi was a long one, over 30 hours, and it helped me read the entire book. Something I havn’t done for a long time. It is a great book for all readers who would like to have an overview of Sri Aurobindo’s like in a simple and interesting manner. It covers this great man’s life right from his birth to his Samadhi in 1950. Sri Aurobindo was an exceptional person in more ways than one. He was a very good student and was only the second Indian to clear the tough ICS exam. He did administrative work for the Gaekwad of Baroda, and also taught. He was one among the extremist leaders of pre-Independence India, who believed in complete sovereignty and self-rule. What prompted him to leave politics and become a Yogi? What’s the philosophy and course of action he advocates? Would you like to know the answers to these questions? If yes – do give this book a read. It is about 250 pages and contains a lot of information about Sri Aurobindo’s life and times.
An easy to read biography of Sri Aurobindo for all age groups.
[This review was written by Dinesh Mohan]
The Lives of Sri Aurobindo, Peter Heehs
by Katinka Hesselink
Reviewed in the West as the only decent biography of Sri Aurobindo Goshe, from politician, to poet and guru. This guy lived a fascinating life and Peter Heehs describes as many aspects of it as the Sri Aurobindo archives can help enlighten us on… The rest of this review: http://www.greatspiritualbooks.com/2010/lives-sri-aurobindo-heehs/
Search for the Soul in Everyday Living, The Mother
by Katinka Hesselink
Inspiring and thought provoking view on the spiritual path. A bit dated in places, but not less fascinating for it. There are real gems here though – things you’ll find rarely anywhere else… The rest of this review: http://www.greatspiritualbooks.com/2010/soul-everyday-living-mother/