Service Letter From Nairobi Centre, Sas

Service Letter From Nairobi Centre, Sas

The January 2012 issue of Sri Aurobindo Society's e-magazine "Next Future" and the Sri Aurobindo Society Website has also been updated.

The Mother's words in EternallyYours and Living Words usher in a new year full of promise:

Glory to Thee, O Lord, Supreme Master of all realisation.
Give us a faith active and ardent, absolute and unshakable in Thy Victory. - The Mother

Let us go to sleep with a prayer and wake with an aspiration for the New and Perfect Creation. - The Mother

Question of the Month answers what the difference between Experience and Realisation is; ever wondered how paradigms are formed - take a look at The Art of Life; Ananhita Sanjana shares her Prayer with us Creative Corner; Resurgent India begins a new chapter exploring the life of the ancient farmer and finally, M.S.Srinivasan gives us some insight into the 'Defects of Yogis'.

Our Editorial asks us one if we can make some conscious changes with the start of the new year:
"Have you noticed how instinctive some of our reactions are? No one has to tell us to behave in such and such manner - we just do it. At that point, we don't question why we do it because we trust and understand the necessity to do so. Take an absolutely commonplace scenario: if you chance across a garbage dump, your first reaction is to close your nose or inhale less deeply and move away as fast as possible. Why? Because you find it unnecessary to inhale that repugnant odour. It is unpleasant and makes you uncomfortable. And you would like to have it removed from the vicinity if you could or else remove yourself from it. Such is the instinct by and large.
The wise tell us that one must not react. Be a witness and above all, don't be a slave to your mind -display absolute control over your thoughts for that is a necessary step towards spiritual life. While this is irrefutable, it isn't easy to practice. Maybe because it sounds like an abstract method.
But what if we were to make it more practical? What if we were to say, that from now on, every thought that is utterly useless or carries within it the trap of unnecessary emotional see-sawing or triggers negativity within us, should be treated like garbage... what would you do then? Would you allow the stink to remain within you or would you rather follow your instinct to throw it out and distance yourself from it?
A new experiment at the start of a new year...


Christmas messages by THE MOTHER

Christmas was designated by the Mother as the festival of the return of the Light.
May the New Light illumine your thoughts and your lives, govern your hearts and guide your action.
Blessings. 1962

If you want peace upon earth, first establish peace in your heart.
If you want union in the world, first unify the different parts of your being.
Blessings. 1964

Union and goodwill upon earth.
Behind the rigidity of the outward celebrations there is a living symbol; it is this that we must remember.
Peace and goodwill to all.
Unless a break is made with the habits and the beliefs of the past, there is little hope of advancing rapidly towards the future.
1967

Hail the new light.
That it may grow in all hearts.
Blessings, 1969

Father Christmas,
I evoke you today! Answer our call. Come bearing all your marvellous gifts. You are the greatest dispenser of worldly possessions; you are the untiring friend who hears every request and grants it generously. Give each one the material object he desires, and as for me, give me enough, give me much so that I may give largely to all.
1972

(Significances of the gifts offered by the three Magi to Jesus at the time of his birth)
Gold: wealth of the world and supramental knowledge.
Frankincense: purification of the vital.
Myrrh: immortalisation of the body.
1972


The December 2011 issue of Sri Aurobindo Society's e-magazine "Next Future" and the Sri Aurobindo Society Website has also been updated.

The Mother's words act as our deepest aspirations as well as allow us to look positively at all situations in Eternally Yours and Living Words:

Before Thee may my heart be pure as a pure crystal,
so that wholly it may reflect Thee.
- The Mother

Always circumstances come to reveal the hidden
weaknesses that have to be overcome.
-The Mother

In Question of the Month we ask whether we can have a foot in both worlds and yet move forward; struggle can in fact be our best friend if we understand its true motive - that is what The Art of Life tells us; Ella Wheeler Wilcox wraps up the year in Creative Corner; Resurgent India continues to look at the importance of Sanskrit as an Indian language and finally, Amal Kiran writes of 'The Sacrifice of Sri Aurobindo'.

Our Editorial asks us one last question before the year ends:

"What kind of a year has it been for us? All hailing from different corners of the country and the world, each of us has had our share of trials and tribulations, welcome surprises and unnecessary shocks - such is life and none can escape it even though our experiences vary in degrees from that of our neighbour. But we all know that it is only by clinging to that faith in a higher Intelligence that no matter what comes our way, we are willing to accept and overcome. At times, we may falter, but it is only natural for toddlers to stumble once they begin to walk. A second later, a helping hand comes along, lifts us up, and urges us to take the next step. That is the beauty of all life.
Many of us are in the habit of praying to the Divine for this or that. We pray out of necessity. We pray out of gratitude. We pray when we just want to have a chat. Our prayers carry all that we are and will be. And we send them with conviction that they will be heard and fulfilled.
But what of the Lord? Are we ready to address and fulfil His prayers? That is what we must introspect at the end of this year for that is what may make us take that next step, more confidently, more sure of our goal, more in tune with the All-Life.
Until the next time..."


The following questions and answer has been taken from Collected Works of The Mother, Vol.14, pg.111.

Q: One of the main problems of the present is that the population has increased enormously in the last 100 years.
1. How have so many souls evolved in such a short time?
2. What will be the destiny of the world in regard to its population? Will the numbers go on increasing with the current speed or will there be at a certain period a drop without any artificial means?
3. In case the population decreases in the future, what will be the fate of so many souls that have evolved so far?
Mother answers: "There is a Supreme Consciousness that governs the manifestation. His wisdom is certainly much greater than ours. So we need not bother about what will happen. Blessings."

Cure of Illness by Medicine
Thoughts and Aphorisms by Sri Aurobindo

"Disease is needlessly prolonged and ends in death oftener than is inevitable, because the mind of the patient supports and dwells upon the disease of his body."
*
"Medical Science has been more a curse to mankind than a blessing. It has broken the force of epidemics and unveiled a marvellous surgery; but, also, it has weakened the natural health of man and multiplied individual diseases; it has implanted fear and dependence in the mind and body; it has taught our health to repose not on natural soundness but a rickety and distasteful crutch compact from the mineral and vegetable kingdoms."
*
"We laugh at the savage for his faith in the medicine man; but how are the civilised less superstitious who have faith in the doctors? The savage finds that when a certain incantation is repeated, he often recovers from a certain disease; he believes. The civilised patient finds that when he doses himself according to a certain prescription, he often recovers from a certain disease; he believes. Where is the difference?"