December to January Sunday Activities at the Centre – A glimpse

5th Sunday Programme : Sunday Walks Over the Years, Presentation by Mr Shashi Lal Kashyap, 29 December 2013

Our Chairperson, Mr Shashi Lal Kashyap presented the slides he had compiled of our walks and some Society activities over the years for the occasion of our 40^th Anniversary last year. They were first screened in Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry, last December when some 25 of us made a landmark trip to Ashram and Auroville to mark the 40th Anniversary. The photos were shot from 1984, when Mr. Kashyap joined the Society and started developing an enthusiasm for taking photographs. 

The photographs brought back fond memories for many of us who have been with the Society for some time, ranging from 40 to two years ago. For the newcomers, whichever year we entered into the scene, the photographs spoke much about the past events and most importantly, caught the camaraderie amongst members. 

The slide presentation exceeded our usual hours for Sunday programme. Nevertheless, most remained till the end, lured by these photos of yesteryears. 

At the end of the programme, Mr. Prabhudeva expressed his gratitude spontaneously for the peek into the past and looked forward to newer faces joining us.

The conclusion was a sweet one, with meditation on New Year music.

First Sunday Programme at Centre: Readings from 'Steps to Freedom and Mastery - Selections from the works of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother', 5 January 2014

We started with a circle of eight initially, which became eleven towards the end of the programme. We read one passage today, titled, "Self-Reviewing". The Mother, in her compassion, shows us the most profoundest of secrets, the most essential guide, the most complex psychological approach towards self-growth in the most simple, direct and succinct manner that touches everyone who receives these in a conducive state. Today's reading was one such example. It was about looking at oneself, knowing oneself. It was as if she handed us an instrument or a tool we ourselves could use for self-growth, within our disposal irrespective of time and place. One only needed a little will that agreed to look within. The driving force would probably be a need that seeks the truth of oneself deep within. A steady faith and sincerity would probably regulate this exercise that Mother hands over to us, as our help and aid in this path. Here is what Mother tells us about how to know about ourselves and the different motivations that move us and to place ourselves on the path of progress:

"If this reviewing is to make you progress, you must find something within you in whose light you yourself can be your own judge, something which represents for you the best part of yourself, which has some light, some goodwill and which precisely is in love with progress. Place that before you and, first of all pass across it as at a cinema all that you have done, all that you have felt, your impulses, your thoughts, etc.; then try to co-ordinate them, that is, find out why this has followed that. And look at the luminous screen that is before you: certain things pass across it well, without throwing a shadow; others, on the contrary, throw a little shadow; others yet cast a shadow altogether black and disagreeable. You must do this very sincerely......Then you take a good look at these things in the light of your ideal: "Is cherishing this movement in conformity with my seeking and the realisation of my ideal or not? I put this little dark corner in front of the light until the light enters into it and it disappears."

(For the full text, please refer to CWM4:38-39 or Pg. 45-47 of the book referred to at the beginning of this entry.)

The first Sunday of the year concluded on the rising notes of OM, as the following quotation was read loudly and clearly: "In concentration and silence we must gather strength for the right action."


Second Sunday Programme at Centre: Reading Circle, Bases of Yoga, Sri Aurobindo, 12 January 2014

It was a beautiful evening to gather at the Centre. We meditated on New Years' music awhile and then, after readings from ‘Prayers and Meditation’, formed a circle of thirteen.

We read pages 29 to 31 this evening, on Faith-Aspiration-Surrender. Understanding to differentiate between personal effort, the opening and the Divine grace and help, was put to us. As usual, the answers elude, though sharing thoughts and concerns invite responses that may throw a few rays of stray light of assurance or hope. However, contemplating in silence on these words help a lot. The evening came to a quiet and subtle end as the discussion slid into how people met The Mother or experienced her presence, resulting in some spontaneous change that took place in them. Even recalling the events that touched one deeply, when one knew that She was there, larger than life, was enough to bring tears to the eyes, even in the eyes of those who heard these experiences being recounted. Today's session found beauty in this. We came together in silence as the meditation music signalled the conclusion of the day's gathering.

Here are some lines that were highlights for today:

"The practice of rejection prevails in the end; but with personal effort only, it may take a long time. If you can feel the Divine Power working in you, then it should become easier."


Third Sunday Programme at Centre: Reading Circle, Bases of Yoga, Sri Aurbindo, 19 January 2014

On this day, nine of us formed the study circle. We continued reading from page 31 and stopped at page 35. A common theme for today, represented by the writings of Sri Aurobindo was aspiration:

"The fire is the divine fire of aspiration and inner tapasya."

The following passage summarised the day's readings and answered some queries:

"To practise Yoga implies the will to overcome all attachments and turn to the Divine alone. The principal thing in the Yoga is to trust in the Divine Grace at every step, to direct the thought continually to the Divine and to offer oneself till the being opens and the Mother's force can be felt working in the Adhar."

As we were concluding, surrender was a topic that came into the circle and we remembered the way The Mother surrendered to Sri Aurobindo from the time She met Him, in what is referred to as 'perfect surrender'.

- Jayanthy