Email
sriaurobindo@sriaurobindo.co.ke
varsha@sriaurobindo.co.ke
Call
+(254) 20 245266, 4453577
Mobile: +254 (0) 734 257591
REGULAR ACTIVITIES
The first day of every month is Prosperity Day. All participate in a half an hour meditation at the Bhavan. Every Saturday 0515 - 0630 pm: collective meditation, Savitri studies and reading from the Collected Works of the Mother. Read the monthly newsletters (here) for further details.
Past and Future Events
Presentation of the booklets and a bookshelf to Kenyatta National Hospital
October
5th October 2017 – Three members of Sri Aurobindo Society, Nairobi Centre visited Kenyatta National Hospital, the largest hospital in East Africa region. 7100 booklets in 15 different titles (which includes Ideal Child, Ideal Parent and Ideal Teacher in Kiswahili) were presented to the Assistant Manager of Corporate Affairs and Communication of the hospital.
With the booklets was presented a bookshelf which was kindly donated by a member of the Centre for keeping the booklets. The booklets will be kept in the directors' offices of the hospital, the receptions of the Doctors' Plaza. Some will be distributed among the youth of the Youth Centre of the hospital and few will be distributed in various reception areas of the hospital.
The members also visited the children ward where there are about 28 children suffering from cancer. One of the members first read out Mother's Prayer of October 23rd, 1937 and the children recited the prayer along with the member.
Then, the second member who had brought sketches and colour pencils for the children sat with them and guided them to colour the sketches and also gifted them with stickers of stars. The children were very happy with this game. Few of the booklets will be distributed among the parents and the counsellors of the children and also among the staff of the ward.
Presentation of books on Education by the Mother and Sri Aurobindo
January
24th January 2018 –Peter Davies, Quality Assurance and School Improvement consultant with The Aga Khan Education Service based in France visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi.
He was given a brief introduction on the Mother and Sri Aurobindo and Their vision on holistic and integral education and was presented with set of six books on Education compiled from the works of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.
Presentation of the booklets to Taila Agler Girls'Centre
February
27th February 2019 – The founder of Talia Agler Girls'Centre, Nairobi was presented with 4500 booklets in 15 different titles (inclusive of the Kiswahili version of the booklets Ideal Child, Ideal Parent, Ideal Teacher), at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan by Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society.
This girls' centre is for the abused girls and young women (at present about 350 of them), where they follow four-pointed program.
Reaching out to the girls, rescuing them, rehabilating them and then finally reintergrating them in the society.
They are provided with shelter, counselling, education and vocational skills. The boooklets will be distributed among the young women, counsellors, teachers of the schools they go to and among the staff of the centre.
Presentation of 10 sets of booklets to Ashwin Brothers
January
29th January 2019 – 10 sets of booklets in 12 different titles were presented to the personnel staff of Ashwin Brothers (Certified Public Accountant's firm) by the secretary of Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society, at the premises of the firm.
Presentation of the booklets to 'A Million Faces Renaissance Library
March
7th March 2019 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 6000 booklets in 15 different titles, inclusive of Kiswahili version of Ideal Chid, Ideal Parent, Ideal Teacher to the director and a colleague of - 'A Million Faces Renaissance Library', which reaches out to marginalized groups through education, mostly containing of poor children and youth who come everyday to read in the library from their schools and surrounding areas.
Also quite a few refugees from surrounding countries of Kenya visit the library often.
The booklets will be distributed among them in the library, given out in youth forums organised by the organisation. Few of the booklets are to be taken and distributed in primary and secondary school situated in Migori district.
Presentation of the booklets to Kenya Prison Service
April
10th April 2019 – The chaplain and officer in charge of the Jamhuri Prisons visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society, after giving a short introduction of the Masters and the booklets, presented them with 4800 booklets in 12 different titles, 200 copies of Ideal Child in Kiswahili and 100 copies of Ideal Parent in Kiswahili.
They were very grateful to Sri Aurobindo Society for the booklets which they said would help the prison inmates and the staff immensely in all the spheres of their lives. The booklets will be distributed in Jamhuri Prisons, Nairobi West Prisons, Langata women's Prisons and Shimona Tewa Prisons in Mombasa.
Presentation of the booklets to Makindu Gurudwara
March
9th March 2019 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society had given 150 booklets in 15 different titles (including copies of Kiswahili versions of Ideal Child, Ideal Parent and Ideal Teacher) to a well wisher of the society to present the booklets in Makindu Gurudwara, situated at the outskirts of Nairobi. The booklets will be kept in its library.
Presentation of the booklets to Avenue Group
May
On 10th May 2019, the human resource manager and her colleague of Avenue Group which is in charge of two Avenue Hospitals in Nairobi, Avenue Healthcare and Homecare clinics in Nairobi and other counties of Kenya and Avenue Rescue Services visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi.
Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented them with 7500 booklets in 15 different titles which include the Kiswahili versions of Ideal Child, Ideal Parent and Ideal Teacher as well. The booklets will be kept in all the above facilities' reception areas.
Presentation of booklets to Giants Group of Twiga
April
27th April 2018 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 2000 copies of Ideal Child, 2000 copies of Ideal Parent , 50 copies of Ideal Teacher in Kiswahili and 550 copies in 11 different titles from the writings of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo to the chairperson of Giants Group of Twiga. These booklets will be distributed in 25 primary and secondary schools which are being supported by the organisation. The chairperson expressed her gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society and remarked that these booklets will come very useful in character forming of the schools children.
Presentation of the booklets to Saint Peter and Saint Paul Catholic School
August
August 24, 2018 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented the following booklets to the Headmistress of Saint Peter and Saint Paul Catholic School, Kiambu at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi:
1000 copies of Ideal Child in Kiswahili, 500 copies of Ideal Parent in Kiswahili and 200 copies of Ideal Teacher in Kiswahili. Also were presented 450 copies of booklets in nine different titles (50 copies of each). These booklets will be distributed in the school and also to few surrounding school children who visit the school on weekly basis.
Presentation of the booklets for Chileta Primary and Secondary School and for the Rotractors of Nairobi Utumishi Rotary Club
September
20th September 2018 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 2200 booklets in 11 different titles to the Project Manager of Nairobi Utumishi Club for Chileta Primary and Secondary School to be distributed among the students, teachers and counsellors of the school.
Some of the booklets will also be distributed among the young Rotaractors who have a weekly session with the youth from different sections of Kenyan community.
The project manager expressed his gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society on behalf of Rotary Utumishi Club for the booklets and said that they look forward to a continued partnership in regard to this invaluable educational project.
Presentation of the booklets to St.Bernardo's Home
September
25th September 2018 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 1200 booklets in 12 different titles, 200 copies of Ideal Child and Ideal Parent in Kiswahili (100 of each) and 20 copies of Ideal Teacher in Kiswahili to Bernardo's Home where about 100 orphan children reside of different ages.
The home is run by social workers and well wishers.
The booklets will be distributed among them, the staff, counsellors and social workers who look after the children's holistic well-being. Writings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo from these booklets will be read out to the children after the morning's prayers at the Home.
Few of the booklets will be carried to Lisbon, Portugal by one of the social workers as he is at present studying and working there in university.
Presentation of the booklets to A Million Faces - Renaissance Organisation
February
3rd February 2018 – One of the officials of the organisation called A Million Faces – Renaissance, visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi.
This is an organisation which advocates to quality child education especially for the children of refugee camps in Kenya and to the children of slum areas. Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 1500 booklets in Kiswahili of Ideal Child and 100 booklets of Ideal Teacher in Kiswahili.
The organisation has organised a walk for two hours on 4th February in Nairobi to support the Child Education and the booklets will be distributed to all who come there. Also some booklets will be kept in their library for further distribution.
Presentation of the booklets to The Nairobi Hospital
February
14th February 2018 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Hospital presented 2400 booklets in 12 different titles which includes Ideal Child in Kiswahili, to the officials of The Nairobi Hospital which is one of the largest hospitals in Kenya.
The booklets will be kept in different reception areas of the hospital for the patients and few will be distributed among the doctors and counsellors of the hospital.
RE-PHOTOGRAPHS OF MWALUKA CBO DISTRIBUTING BOOKS IN MBOLOLO WARD TAITA/TAVETA COUNTY
February
14th February 2018 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Hospital presented 2400 booklets in 12 different titles which includes Ideal Child in Kiswahili, to the officials of The Nairobi Hospital which is one of the largest hospitals in Kenya.
The booklets will be kept in different reception areas of the hospital for the patients and few will be distributed among the doctors and counsellors of the hospital.
Presentation of booklets to Starehe Girls Centre and School
January
On 30th January 2018, Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 2800 booklets in 14 different titles (which also includes Kiswahili versions of Ideal Child, Ideal Parent and Ideal Teacher), to the Assistant Sponsor Officer of Starehe Girls' Centre and School, which has more than 400 girls of all ages for day school and also boarding school of the centre.
These booklets will be kept in library, distributed among the girls, teachers and counsellors of the centre.
The sponsor officer was very grateful for the booklets to Sri Aurobindo Society and remarked that booklets like – To Women About Their Body and Aim of Life will provide very good guidance to the girls at the centre and the school.
Presentation of Booklets to Kabete Technical Training Institute
November
10th November 2017 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 3150 booklets in 13 different titles to the chief registrar and assistant librarian of Kabete Technical Training Institute, Nairobi. This institute has twenty different courses for more than three thousand university graduates.
The booklets will be kept in library and in different departments of the institute for the students and the teachers.
Presentation of the booklets to DIGNITAS PROJECTS on 7th July 2017
July
7th July 2017 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented following booklets to the Operations Officer of an organisation called Dignitas Projects. The organisation is committed to empower educators to lead school transformation for the next generation.
It deals with 52 community schools at primary level and it has more than 560 educators being trained all over Kenya.
The operations officer expressed her gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society for the booklets and is looking forward to continued support in holistic education for the children from the Society.
Ideal Child, Ideal Parent and Ideal Teacher in Kiswahili – 500 copies of each
Ideal Child, Ideal Parent, Ideal Teacher in English – 500 copies
2200 booklets in 11 different titles – 200 of each
Report of presentation of booklets to AKDN
August
29th August 2017 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 50 sets of 12 different titled booklets and 30 booklets in Kiswahili of Ideal Child, Ideal Parent and Ideal Teacher in Kiswahili (10 copies of each titles) to Partnerships and Communications Officer and his colleague of Aga Khan Foundation, at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan.
The Aga Khan Foundation works for Early Childhood Development programmes, Education in primary and secondary schools all over Kenya and other neighbouring countries, Teachers' Training programmes and social services.
These booklets will be distributed among the various committees of the foundation and thereafter it will be decided how to distribute more of the same booklets in Kenya.
Presentation of the booklets to BAPS Charities Kenya
September
13th September 2017 – Officials from BAPS Charities Kenya visited Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society. This organisation conducts a wide variety of charitable programs throughout Kenya. One of the key areas they work for is Educational Services.
Apart from that they also conduct medical camps for the indigenous Kenyans and work for community empowerment in Kenya. Nairobi Centre presented them with 3600 booklets in 12 different titles and 900 copies of Ideal Child, Ideal Parent and Ideal Teacher in Kiswahili (300 copies of each). The booklets will be distributed in primary and secondary schools which are under their educational program.
Also they will be given out in medical camps they conduct.
Presentation of the booklets to Hindu Religious Service Centre
June
1st June 2017 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented booklets to one of the officials of Hindu Religious Service Centre. One of their projects is to provide food for more than 50,000 school children in Kenya. The following booklets will be distributed among the primary school students and teachers:
1200 booklets of Ideal Child, Ideal Teacher , Ideal Parent in English
1000 booklets of Ideal Child in Kiswahili
500 booklets of Ideal Teacher in Kiswahili
Also 1200 booklets in 12 different titles will be sent to the neighbouring country Uganda to be distributed among secondary and primary school children, parents, teachers and counsellors; affiliated with HRSC.
Presentation of the booklets to Tabasamu Child Foundation
May
5th May 2017 – Nairobi Centre presented 3600 booklets in 12 different titles and 300 booklets of Ideal Child in Kiswahili to the founder and co-founder of Tabasamu Child Foundation which has got eighteen stations in the sub-county of Njiru, Kenya.
One of their missions is to create reading environment for children and young people.
Also they provide life-skill training and sports and talent oriented programs to the children and youth.
They were grateful for the booklets which they are going to keep in their libraries and distribute few among the children, their parents, teachers and among their staff and counsellors at all the eighteen stations.
Booklets at Tabasamu Child Foundation
Booklets
The attached photograph is taken at Tabasamu Child Foundation Library.
The officials in-charge of talent Management picking up the booklets, ready for distribution to the community in Kayole, Nairobi.
Presentation of the booklets to KAACR
March
8TH March 2017 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 1200 booklets in 12 different titles, 300 booklets of Ideal Child in Kiswahili and 300 booklets of Ideal Parent in Kiswahili, to the administrator of Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan.
These booklets will be distributed in the centres (throughout Kenya) of the organisation to the children, parents, teachers and the staff.
The administrator extended her gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society and said that the booklets will contribute towards improving the lives of the children.
Presentation of the booklets to The Kenya Scouts Association
February
21st February 2017 – Nairobi Centre presented 3600 booklets in 12 different titles to the chief co-ordinator of The Kenya Scouts Association. The booklets will be distributed among the young scouts in the camps being held for them throughout the country.
Presentation of the booklets to Faraja Cancer Support Trust
December 2016
On 14th December 2016, the Patient Support Manager of Faraja Cancer Support Trust visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi.
He was presented with 1200 booklets in 12 different titles, 100 booklets of Ideal Child in Kiswahili, 100 booklets of Ideal Parent in Kiswahili by the Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society.
These booklets will be distributed among the patients, caretakers and the doctors in their Nairobi hospice and also in their various screening camps throughout Kenya.
Presentation of the booklets
23rd November 2016
23rd November 2016 – Nairobi Centre presented 2400 booklets in 12 different titles and 200 booklets of Ideal Child in Kiswahili, 100 booklets of Ideal Parent in Kiswahili to the Fund Development Assistant of SOS Children's Villages at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. These booklets will be distributed among the children of the four villages which are in Nairobi where the children are kept in homes and among the children and parents of few communities which the organisation has adopted in slum areas.
23rd November 2016 – Nairobi Centre presented 4800 booklets in 12 different titles and 200 booklets of Ideal Child in Kiswahili to the project manager of Young Women's Christian Association of Kenya who is in charge of the women and the girls around Kenya to achieve their social and economic empowerment. There are eight main branches where the booklets will be distributed among the women and their leaders. She expressed her gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society for the booklets which are collected by this volunteer organisation every year from the Nairobi Centre and which are helpful to the women and the girls for their spiritual enrichment and character development.
Presentation of the booklets to M.P.Shah Hospital
30th September 2016
30th September 2016 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 2400 booklets in twelve different titles and 100 booklets of Ideal Child in Kiswahili at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan; to Director of Operations, Reyaz Shariff and to Marketing Manager, Rebah Sijenyi of M.P.Shah Hospital, Nairobi.
The hospital has got six reception areas in the main departments, out-patient clinic and different wards for the patients.
These booklets will be kept in the mentioned places and also will be distributed among the staff and the doctors.
The director of operations expressed his gratitude to the Society and looks forward for the Society's continued support towards this very important aspect of holistic living.
Report of presentation of the booklets to The Nairobi Hospital
Booklets
The assistant of the Head of Marketing Department of The Nairobi Hospital visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan on 23rd September 2016. She was presented with 2400 booklets in 12 different titles from The Mother and Sri Aurobindo's writings; and 100 booklets of Ideal Child in Kiswahili from the Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society.
The booklets will be kept in patients' wards, library of School of Nursing of the hospital, reception area, in out-patients clinic and in two satellite clinics of the hospital. Some of the booklets will be distributed among the doctors and the staff.
The Nairobi Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in Kenya.
Presentation of the booklets to Oshwal Library
July 2015
14th July 2015 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society - The assistant librarian and her colleague of Oshwal Library, Nairobi visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan to receive 1200 booklets in 12 different titles based on The Mother and Sri Aurobindo's teachings.
They found the booklets of extreme educational value and expressed their gratitude for them to Sri Aurobindo Society.
These booklets will be kept in the reception area of the library where the students and the staff can have access to them for reading and taking them on individual basis. Some of the sets will be kept in the library section for long term usage.
Report of the presentation of the booklets to Rotary Utumishi Club
April
On 22nd April 2015 the president of Rotary Utumishi Club visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented her with total of 2600 booklets in 12 different titles. 240 booklets will be distributed at Meru medical camp and 2400 booklets will be distributed at Kisumu medical camp where about 3000 people will be getting free medical treatments. The president of the club expressed her gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society for the booklets which she said are greatly appreciated by all who have been receiving them in the past from the Rotary Utumishi Club.
Report on presentation of the booklets to The Kenya Scouts Association
Booklets
Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented four thousand booklets in ten different titles containing teachings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo on different subjects, to The Kenya Scouts Association, Africa.
The Communications and Corporate Affairs Executive of the organization received the booklets and expressed his gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society. Their motto being – 'creating a better world', he is sure these booklets will be very inspiring for all the readers.
The booklets will be distributed to the commissioners who in turn will induct the teachings of the booklets to the scouts aged between six years to twenty six years.
Report on presentation of booklets to Nairobi Women's Hospital
August
On 1st August 2014, Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 2400 booklets in 12 different titles containing teachings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo on different subjects, to the Business Development and Marketing Officer of Nairobi Women's Hospital which is one of the largest hospitals in Kenya dealing with mental and physical health of girls and women.
The hospital has also four satellite clinics in Kenya. The booklets will be distributed in the main hospital in the wards and among the staff, and in the satellite clinics.
Presentation of the booklets to Highlands State College
January
On 29th January 2015, Nairobi Centre presented 1200 booklets in 12 different titles to the Director of Highlands State College at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. The college is based in the city centre with another branch coming up in Thika. The college has about 350 students offering courses in child psychology, business management, social and community services etc. The college also deals with primary and secondary schools. The booklets will be kept in the libraries of the college and the some of the schools, and also in the reception area of the college.
Report on presentation of the booklets to Gertrude's Children Hospital and Lima Taxi Association
July
On 1st July 2014, Nairobi Centre presented 2400 booklets in twelve different titles to Gertrude's Children Hospital. The hospital has ten satellite clinics. The booklets will be kept in the reception area of the main hospital and will be sent to the satellite clinics as well.
Some will be distributed among the staff at the hospital.
On 1st July 2014, Nairobi Centre presented 30 booklets of Ideal Child, Ideal Parent and Ideal Teacher and 30 booklets of Ideal Child in Kiswahili to the assistant chairperson of Lima Taxi Association. The booklets will be circulated among the taxi drivers to read and to take home.
There are about sixty taxi drivers in the association. The assistant chairperson was very grateful for this kind gesture of Sri Aurobindo Society.
Presentation of the booklets to Balm of Gileard Foundation
December
On 6th December 2013, Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented one thousand booklets in ten different titles and fifty booklets – Ideal Child in Kiswahili to the Director of Balm of Gileard Foundation at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. The foundation deals in community work and counseling in schools and organizations all over Kenya. The booklets will be distributed to the social workers, counselors and among students.
Presentation of the booklets to Rudan Junior Academy
September
On 13th September 2013, Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 440 booklets of Ideal Child, Ideal Parent, Ideal Teacher, 100 booklets on 'Right Upbringing of Children' and 100 booklets on 'Aim of Life' to Rudan Junior Academy which has two branches in Nairobi. The booklets will be distributed among the students, parents, teachers and the staff of the school.
Report of 24th April 2013
24th April 2013
24th April 2013 - Darshan Day - Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society celebrated this significant day at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. The Mother's Prayer was read out followed by collective recitation of Sri Aurobindo's Gayatri Mantra.
The Darshan message received from Sri Aurobindo Ashram was read out. There was meditation for half an hour accompanied by Sunilda's music. Copies of Darshan message and prasad were distributed.
Presentation of the booklets to AAR Healthcare
November 2014
5th November 2014 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 2400 booklets in 12 different titles at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi to the officials of AAR Healthcare which has numerous branches all over Kenya. The booklets will be kept in the reception areas for the patients and also will be distributed among the staff.
Presentation of the booklets to GSU
April 2013
On 12th April 2013 Nairobi Centre presented four thousand booklets in ten different titles to the Commanding Officer of General Service Unit at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. The officer was accompanied by his family and he extended his gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society for the booklets which are every year distributed to the officials and the staff of the GSU Service. He finds them useful for their spiritual development and character building.
Presentation of the booklets to Kenya Prisons Service
March 2013
On 15th March 2013, the coordinators of Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented photograph of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo, two thousand booklets in ten different titles and fifty booklets of 'Ideal Child' in Kiswahili to the official bearer of Kenya Prison Service, Nairobi at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan.
The booklets will be kept in the library of the Prisons Headquarters for the inmates and the staff. Some of the booklets will be distributed among the prisoners of Langata Prisons and some will be taken to the coastal region of Kenya to be distributed among the staff and inmates of the Prison Headquarters there.
These prisons are mostly for the women offenders and their children and the booklets will be of great help in their rehabilitation process.
Report on presentation of the booklets to KSDC
November
27TH November 2014 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 3600 booklets in 12 different titles and 300 booklets of 'Ideal Child' in Kiswahili to Kenya Society for Deaf Children at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi.
The Director, Chief Accountant and one of their ENT staff received the booklets.
The society has 110 centers all over Kenya including secondary and technical schools for deaf and hard of hearing children in Kenya.
The booklets will be distributed in the centers to the youngsters and to the staff and teachers.
Report of presentation of the booklets to Aga Khan Doctors Plaza and Kenya Prisons
April
240 booklets in 12 different titles were presented to the secretary of one of the doctors of Aga Khan Doctors' Plaza who will distribute them throughout the reception areas of the doctors' in the plaza.
Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 1200 booklets in 12 different titles to the Chief Social Welfare Officer of the Kenya Prisons at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan on 27th April 2015. She was accompanied by her colleagues.
These booklets will be distributed among the inmates, prisoners' counsellors and the staff in various prisons throughout Kenya. The Commissioner General of Prisons has sent a letter of appreciation to Sri Aurobindo Society for the booklets.
Presentation of the booklets to National Youth Service School of Business and Commerce
March
On 12th March 2015, Nairobi Centre presented 1200 booklets in 12 different titles to the Lecturer of Communications working in the National Youth Service School of Business and Commerce Studies. There are about 800 students in the college. The booklets will be kept in the library and distributed among the staff. The lecturer was grateful for the booklets and is sure these booklets will be very useful for the youth in their character development and giving them the right guidance for their future.
Presentation of the booklets
February
1st February 2015 – 4000 booklets on 'Ideal Child, Ideal Parent, Ideal Teacher' were presented to a senior official of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (Kenya) by Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society.
One of the activities of the organization is to distribute books and magazines for the enlightenment of citizens in general. These booklets will be distributed in eight schools in the rural areas by the chairperson of the organization and report on the distribution will be presented to the chairman of the Nairobi Centre.
10th February 2015 – Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented following amount of booklets to the President of Nairobi Utumishi Rotary Club:
300 booklets in 12 different titles for Milimani Rotary Club, 300 booklets in 12 different titles for Kisumu Rotary Club – These booklets will be distributed among the club members.
600 booklets on 'Ideal Child, Ideal Parent, Ideal Teacher' to Muguga Green City Council School. The booklets will be distributed among the students and the teachers.
Report on the seminar 'Fear'
14th April 2013
Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society held a seminar on 'FEAR' at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan on 14th April 2013. Twenty five members participated in the seminar which began at 11.00a.m. with The Mother's Prayer. After the collective recitation of Sri Aurobindo's Gayatri Mantra, the chairman gave a brief welcome and introduction on the subject of the seminar emphasising on development of the inner being to overcome fears and some of the methods suggested by The Mother to overcome fear. The participants then gave their views on their personal fears and how they try to overcome them. The seminar was concluded with the brief readings of The Mother's Words on why humanity generally fears and how the sadhaks of Integral Yoga should face fear. This was followed by collective recital of 'Om' twelve times and silent meditation. Photographs of the seminar were taken. Lunch was served to all who were present at the Bhavan.
Report on presentation of the booklets to The Kenya Girl Guides Association
November
On 12th November 2013, Sri Aurobindo Society, Nairobi Centre presented 4000 booklets in 10 different titles to the Public Relations Officer and to the Board Executive Member of The Kenya Girl Guides Association, at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. The booklets will be distributed in the counties of the organization and few will be kept in their main library.
Presentation of the booklets to Community Centre of P.C.E.A. Church
24th February
On 24th February 2015, the director and the secretary of Eastleigh Community Centre which is run by P.C.E.A. Church visited Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society. This community centre has about 250 destitutes from Kenya and from refugee camps.
It has about 20 teaching staff. It provides primary and secondary education as well as vocational skills for the young men and women. Nairobi Centre presented 1200 booklets in 12 different titles to the director.
He expressed his gratitude for these booklets which he said will help the students in their character building and to restore lost hope and faith in them. The booklets – Faith in the Divine, Significance of Prayers, Aim of Life will especially help all those ones who have gone through war-torn and traumatic experiences in their young lives.
The booklets will be distributed among the senior students, the teaching staff and the counselors of the centre.
Report on presentation of Collected Works of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo
May
31st May 2014 – A child of The Mother and member of Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society donated one set of The Collected Works of The Mother (17 Volumes) and one set of The Collected Works of Sri Aurobindo (33 Volumes) to the incoming President of The Rotary Club of Nairobi Utumishi at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. The books are to be kept at the main library in Voi, Kenya.
Report of presentation of the booklets to The Nairobi Hospital
March
The chief librarian, Ms Caroline Gathuru, of The Nairobi Hospital visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan on 23rd March 2015. She was presented with 1200 booklets in 12 different titles from the Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society. The booklets will be kept in patients' wards, library of School of Nursing of the hospital, reception area and in out-patients clinic. Some of the booklets will be distributed among the doctors and the staff. The Nairobi Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in Kenya.
Report on presentation of the booklets to UDPK
May 2013
On 28th May 2013, Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented 1000 booklets in ten different titles to the United Disabled Persons of Kenya which is the umbrella organisation of Person with Disabilities in Kenya. The booklets were received by the officials of the organisation and they will be distributed to the members of UDPK which currently has membership of about 200 disabled persons. The booklets will be also used by the counselors of their Support Group.
Presentation of the booklets to Youth Enterprise Fund Development
May 2013
On 3rd May 2013, Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented three thousand booklets in ten different titles to the Public Relations Officer of Youth Enterprise Fund Development. Its mother body is the Ministry of Youth Affairs which is specifically mandated to represent and address youth concerns in Kenya. The booklets will be of great help in character building of the youth.
The booklets will be kept in the reception areas of the offices and also some of them will be sent to different constituencies all over Kenya.
Report on presentation of the booklets to Nairobi Place
October
On 11th October 2013, Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented two thousand booklets in ten different titles to The Marketing and Administration officer of Nairobi Place, which is a specialized medical centre offering services in counseling, addiction treatment programmes, meditation and yoga among many other services.
The booklets will be distributed among the staff, counselors, psychiatric doctors and the patients. The booklets will be also kept in the reception areas of the medical centre and distributed in Family Support Programmes.
Spiritual significance of Flowers
Flower Of The Month
Mother, when flowers are brought to you, how do you give them a significance?
By entering into contact with the nature of the flower, its inner truth. Then one knows what it represents.
Each flower has its special significance, hasn't it?
Not as we understand it mentally. There is a mental projection when one gives a precise meaning to a flower. It may answer, vibrate to the touch of this projection, accept the meaning, but a flower has no equivalent of the mental consciousness. In the vegetable kingdom there is a beginning of the psychic, but there is no beginning of the mental consciousness.
In animals it is different; mental life begins to form and for them things have a meaning. But in flowers it is rather like the movement of a little baby - it is neither a sensation nor a feeling, but something of both; it is a spontaneous movement, a very special vibration.
So, if one is in contact with it, if one feels it, one gets an impression which may be translated by a thought. That is how I have given a meaning to flowers and plants - there is a kind of identification with the vibration, a perception of the quality it represents and, little by little, through a kind of approximation ( sometimes this comes suddenly, occasionally it takes time), there is a coming together of these vibrations ( which are of a vital-emotional order ) and the vibration of the mental thought, and if there is a sufficient harmony, one has a direct perception of what the plant may signify……
ENTHUSIASM
July
“True enthusiasm is full of a peaceful endurance” — The Mother
Botanical Name: Petunia x hybrida
Flowers are of vivid colours and mildly fragrant. It is small seasonal plant.
"We say: the capacity for enthusiasm, something which throws you out of your miserable and mean little ego; and the generous gratitude, the generosity of the gratitude which also flings itself in thanksgiving out of the little ego. These are the two most powerful levers to enter into contact with the Divine in one’s psychic being. This serves as a link with the psychic being—the surest link." ~The Mother
Psychological Perfection
May
There is not one psychological perfection but five. They are sincerity, faith, devotion, aspiration and surrender.
(Extract from a talk by the Mother)
Plumeria rubra
Frangipani, Temple tree, Nosegay, West Indian jasmine, Pagoda tree
Medium-sized fragrant five-petalled flowers borne in large terminal clusters on small to medium-sized trees with stiff leathery leaves, thick weak branches and milky sap.
Psychological perfection is the general significance given for all Plumerias and also for two specific flowers
- Predominantly yellow flower with a white edge
- Very fragrant white flower with five rounded petals and a large yellow centre.
Spiritual significance: Sachchidananda | Strong and pure, it stands erect with its creative power
February
Botanical name: Hedychium
Common name: Ginger lily, Garland lily
Small to medium-sized highly fragrant waxy flower with a long narrow corolla tube and three petal-like lobes, the upper larger and deeply split; in white and shades of orange, red, yellow and pink; borne in dense terminal spikes from a tight cluster of sturdy green bracts.
God is Sachchidananda. He manifests Himself as infinite existence of which the essentiality is consciousness, of which again the essentiality is bliss, is self-delight. ~Sri Aurobindo
That which has thrown itself out into forms is a triune Existence-Consciousness-Bliss, Sachchidananda, whose consciousness is in its nature a creative or rather a self-expressive Force capable of infinite variation in phenomenon and form of its self-conscious being and endlessly enjoying the delight of that variation. It follows that all things that exist are what they are as terms of that existence, terms of that conscious force, terms of that delight of being. ~Sri Aurobindo
Spiritual significance: Mahasaraswati’s Perfection in Works | It is not satisfied with makeshift.
January
Botanical name: Rondeletia odorata
Small bright orange or deep pink salverform flowers with a limb divided into six rounded lobes and a conspicuous yellow central ring; borne in cymes. A small loosely branched shrub.
Mahasaraswati is the [supreme] Mother's Power of Work and her spirit of perfection and order. . . . Of all the Mother's powers she is the most long-suffering with men and his thousand imperfections. Kind, smiling, close and helpful, not easily turned away or discouraged, insistent even after repeated failure, her hand sustains our every step on condition that we are single in our will and straightforward and sincere; for a double mind she will not tolerate and her revealing irony is merciless to drama and histrionics and self- deceit and pretense. A mother to our wants, a friend in our difficulties, a persistent and tranquil counsellor and mentor, chasing away with her radiant smile the clouds of gloom and fretfulness and depression, reminding always of the ever- present help, pointing to the eternal sunshine, she is firm, quiet and persevering in the deep and continuous urge that drives us towards the integrality of the higher nature. ~ Sri Aurobindo
For [Mahasaraswati] everything must be done down to the last detail, and done in an absolutely perfect way. And she wants, she insists that it should be done physically, totally, materially, that it should not remain in the air, you see, like a mental or vital action, but that it should be a physical realisation in all its details, and all the details should be perfect, that nothing should be neglected. ~The Mother
Mahasaraswati [is] the goddess of divine skill and of the works of the Spirit, and hers is the Yoga that is skill in works, yogah karmasu kaushalam, and the utilities of divine knowledge and the self-application of the spirit to life and the happiness of its harmonies. ~ Sri Aurobindo