25th August 2013 –
Meditations on Savitri
The last Sunday of every month is
when we have the 'Savitri' Reading
Circle at the Centre. We were to read selected lines of Book 4 Canto 4 - “The Quest”. As this was a
continuation from the previous month’s “Meditation
on Savitri” session, we had an idea about the background to the Quest that Savitri
was about to undertake, her Quest to find her soul-mate, Satyavan.
This Canto essentially described
the period of Savitri’s search for Satyavan in ancient India. The lines in this
Canto give vivid descriptions of the places that Savitri travels through, the
changes in terrain and the changes in season and how she is looking out for
Satyavan across the lengths and breadths of ancient India. The descriptive
nature of these beautiful lines just added to the beauty of Huta’s already
beautiful paintings.
After having watched the video,
we formed a circle and read the selected lines a couple of times and shared our
thoughts and ideas on the same.
Once done, we sat down for our
Closing Meditation.
1st September
2013 - Readings of The Mother’s words from “Steps to Freedom and Mastery” and
OM Choir
This evening we gathered
into a circle of five. We read three passages, 1) We can master only what we
are conscious of 2) To develop consciousness is to become increasingly
conscious 3) Consciousness - A mirror and a searchlight.
The readings gave further
insights into the need of becoming conscious, the necessity even, and what it
is that can be achieved with a growing consciousness. We read the passages
about two to three times, between pauses.
Some ten minutes were
available for talk time during which comments were made pertaining to one's
daily life. One question raised was whether problems could be eliminated as one
became more and more conscious and the other was the challenge of trusting
everyone completely.
After examining together
those comments with reference to the writings, we sat down to chant Om for the
remaining minutes and dispersed after meditation music, looking forward to a
whole new month of growth from looking within.
Here is one passage for
sharing:
"Ignorance is dispelled by a growing
consciousness; what you need is consciousness and always more consciousness, a
consciousness pure, simple and luminous. In the light of this perfected
consciousness, things appear as they are and not as they want to appear. It is
like a screen faithfully recording all things that pass. You see there what is
luminous and what is dark, what is straight and what is crooked. Your
consciousness becomes a screen or mirror; but this is when you are in a state
of contemplation, a mere observer; when you are active, it is like a
searchlight. You have only to turn it on, if you want to see luminously and
examine penetratingly anything in any place." - The Mother
8th September
2013 - Readings from Sri Aurobindo’s “Bases of Yoga”
We have been reading the book, ‘Bases of Yoga’ by Sri Aurobindo, on the
second and third Sundays of the month, at the Centre. This book is small, in
comparison to the other volumes written by Sri Aurobindo, but is packed with
the precious nuggets of wisdom so simply written that the lines reach our
hearts upon reading with concentration.
We started off from where we
paused the previous month, with the chapter “Calm-Peace-Equality”.
In our previous reading, we saw the differences between Quiet, Calm, Peace and Silence.
With that background, we began our reading.
Sri Aurobindo says our
consciousness is like a vessel, which needs to be emptied of its undesirable
contents from time to time. In order to be able to do this, it is important to
keep our quietude, for it is this quietude which helps in filling the vessel
with things which are new and true, right and pure. We need to open ourselves
upwards and wait patiently for the Grace to do its work on us.
Besides aspiring for Peace and
Silence, it is a great step in itself to attain Calm. It is the very foundation
of the divine consciousness. Even if there is anything else that we aspire for,
it is important to retain this rock-solid foundation of Calm, without which
even Knowledge, Ananda and Power cannot remain.
After reading the excerpts and
discussing them, we sat down for our Closing Meditation.
15th September
2013 - Readings from Sri Aurobindo’s “Bases of Yoga”
This being the Third Sunday, we
were to continue reading the chapter “Calm-Peace-Equality”
from ‘Bases of Yoga’ by Sri
Aurobindo.
We had a large circle of about 15
people. We read each of the sections thrice. In the first section, Sri
Aurobindo emphasizes again on how Purification and Calm are the primary-most
needs in the Yoga. However rich our wealth of worlds, visions and voices is,
the richness tends to be nullified by the unpurified and troubled
consciousness. At first, even if the Peace and Calm come and go, it is
important to be patient and let it be. Once this happens, the rest—knowledge, strength
and Ananda come, to make it complete.
Once this new consciousness is
completely formed and has established itself in the vital and physical being,
it must not only be calm, it must also expand and become wider and wider. We
must remain quiet, open ourselves and call the divine Shakti to confirm the
calm and peace. We must not be over-eager in our pursuits and disturb the
established level of calm and peace. Aspiration is key.
After reading the excerpts and
discussing them, we sat down for our Closing Meditation.
22nd September 2013 - Meditations on Savitri
There were about 13 members in the circle this evening. We contemplated
on Book 5, Canto 1 and 2 with Meditations on Savitri. It was the beginning of
the Book of Love. We were at the juncture of a highly significant moment in
Savitri's life, its turning point even. It was her meeting with Satyavan in the
wilderness. Sri Aurobindo takes us deep into Nature's bosom of sweetness and
grandeur. We travelled with Savitri into the nature-bound, heavenly abode of
Satyavan, where "Love in the wilderness met Savitri....Gaze met close gaze
and clung in sight's embrace". It was a meeting of two lives that would
spell a revolution for mankind, a vision or even a promise Sri Aurobindo
unfolded and revealed through Savitri. Here are the concluding lines for
today's session to contemplate on :
"There is a Power within that knows beyond
Our knowings; we are greater than our thoughts,
And sometimes earth unveils that vision here.
To live, to love are signs of infinite things,
Love is a glory from eternity's spheres."
- Preethi and Jayanthy
No comments:
Post a Comment