News 2012

At the very moment when everything seems to go from bad to worse, it is then that we must make a supreme act of faith and know that the Grace will never fail us.
The Mother

5 Dec: Darshan day, Sri Aurobindo's Mahasamadhi day Devotees of Nairobi Centre observed this day at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. After collective recitation of Sri Aurobindo's Gayatri Mantra, The Mother's Prayer of 23rd October 1937 was read out. Then the message sent from Sri Aurobindo's Ashram was read out, followed by meditation for half an hour accompanied by Sunilda's music.

2 Dec: Nairobi Centre of SAS held a seminar on 'Work' at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. Twenty three members participated in the seminar which began at 11 am with The Mother's Prayer: For those who wish to serve the Divine. After the collective recitation of Sri Aurobindo's Gayatri Mantra, the chairman gave a brief welcome and introduction on the subject of the seminar. The participants then gave their views on different aspects of work and work as an offering to the Divine. Sri Aurobindo's poem - The Divine Worker and the aspect of Mahasaraswati from Sri Aurobindo's book 'The Mother' were read out. The chairman concluded the seminar by giving few important hints on importance of work in Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. Lastly, Sri Aurobindo's enlightening words on how to be a perfect Divine Worker from the book 'The Mother' were read out, followed by collective recital of 'Om' twelve times and silent meditation. Lunch was served to all who were present at the Bhavan.

28 Nov: Nairobi Centre presented two thousand and two hundred booklets in twelve different titles to M.P.Shah Hospital, Nairobi at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. The booklets were received by the PR and Marketing Manager and Director of Operations of the hospital. The booklets will be distributed among the hospital staff, doctors. They will be kept in various departments of the hospital, in the hospital wards and also in the reception area of outpatients clinic.

27 Nov: The Student Development Officer and the Chaplain of Daystar University visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. They were presented by the with two thousand booklets in ten different titles and two hundred of the booklets - Sleep Well and Right Spirit in Everyday Life, one hundred of each. The University has got three campuses in Kenya with about six thousand students. The booklets will be kept in the libraries and reception areas and will be distributed among the teachers and the head students of the university.

27 Nov: One thousand booklets in ten different titles were presented to the chief coordinator and to the staff of Kenya Community Development Foundation at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. The booklets will be distributed among the staff and social workers who in turn will use them for seminars and in other fields of their activities for the community development of the country.

24 Nov: Darshan day, Day of Realisation. Twenty one devotees gathered at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi Centre at 5.15 pm. Mother's Prayer and the Darshan Message from Sri Aurobindo Ashram were read out. After collective recitation of Sri Aurobindo's Gayatri Mantra there was meditation for fifteen minutes. Articles on the significance of the day were read out followed by readings from Collected Works of The Mother, Vol.15. Prasad was distributed along with copies of the Darshan Message and flowers.

20 Nov: The Mother's body laid to rest. The day was observed at the Bhavan with a half an hour meditation. Message of The Mother inscribed on Sri Aurobindo's samadhi was read out followed by the meditation.

17 Nov: Darshan day, The Mother's Mahasamadhi day. Members of Nairobi Centre gathered at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan to observe the day. There was fifteen minutes meditation. The Mother's Prayer and the darshan day message from Sri Aurobindo Ashram were read out, followed by collective recitation of Sri Aurobindo's Gayatri Mantra and Invocation to the Divine Mother from Savitri. There was readings from Savitri and Collected Works of The Mother, Vol.15.

12 Oct: Two thousand booklets in ten titles and two hundred booklets of Ideal Child in Kiswahili were presented to the Director and the Facilitator of Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Eastleigh Community Centre, Nairobi at the Bhavan. The centre identifies critical issues that concern communities and translate them into short and long-term programs such as Child and Women Empowerment Program, Urban Refugee Empowerment Program and Youth Skills training and Entrepreneurship Development Program. The booklets will be distributed to all the program centres and will be kept in the libraries.

8 Oct: The chairman and the coordinators of the Nairobi Centre of SAS presented 2200 booklets in eleven different titles to the officials of The Mater Hospital at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. The booklets will be distributed among the patients, staff and the out-patient clinic of the hospital.

29 Sep: Nairobi Centre presented 390 booklets on Ideal Child, Ideal Parent and Ideal Teacher to the headmistress of Covenant Academy Primary School which is situated in Kwangware, Nairobi. The headmistress will distribute them among the students and the teachers of the school.

26 Sep: Nairobi Centre of SAS presented six hundred booklets in twelve different titles to Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development on their request for the booklets. The co-ordinator of the institute confirmed that these booklets go a long way in helping the readers and the booklets will be distributed throughout their many outlets in the country.

25 Sep: Twenty sets of booklets in ten different titles were presented to the coordinator of German International Cooperation which is an NGO working with Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims running a clinic in the slums of Eastleigh, Nairobi known as Biafra Clinic. The clinic deals with patients of domestic and gender based viloence. It also provides them with counselling services. The booklets will be kept in the reception area of the clinic and also will be distributed among the staff of the clinic.

23 Aug: Ten sets of booklets in ten different titles were presented to the tutorial teacher, Mr. David Shikuku who gives tuitions to few senior students of different schools. He will distribute them among his students. 900 booklets in nine different titles and 20 booklets on 'True Role of Women' were presented to the Head Sister of Sisters of Our Lady of Charity (Edelvale Homes) who work to uplift the dignity and worth of women in shanty towns by giving them education and technical training. They run a hospital, a junior school and a home with vocational technical school where the girls live in family model groups each with a group mother The booklets will be distributed among the teachers, counselors, students and patients.

15 Aug: 140th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo Nairobi Centre of SAS observed this auspicious occasion at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. After the readings of The Mother's Prayer and the Darshan Message, a half hour meditation accompanied by Sunilda's music followed. There were twenty five devotees present, each one received copy of the Darshan Message and prasad.

Significance of Sri Aurobindo's Birth: The Eternal Birth
Physically, it means that the consequences of this birth will last as long as the Earth. The consequences of Sri Aurobindo's birth will be felt throughout the entire existence of the Earth...
Mentally, it is a birth the memory of which will last eternally. Through the ages Sri Aurobindo's birth will be remembered, with all the consequences it has had...
Psychically, it is a birth which will recur eternally, from age to age, in the history of the universe. This birth is a manifestation which takes place periodically, from age to age, in the history of the Earth...
And finally, from the purely spiritual point of view, it will be said that it is the birth of the Eternal on Earth. For each time the Avatar takes a physical form it is the birth of the Eternal himself on Earth.

The Mother (Homage to Sri Aurobindo, pg.4)

3 Aug: Nairobi Centre of SAS presented 750 booklets in twelve different titles to the hospital matron of Guru Nanak Ramgarhia Hospital, Nairobi. The booklets will be distributed among the patients and the staff of the hospital.

13 July:
Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society celebrated the 9th anniversary of the enshrinement of Sri Aurobindo's relics at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. A half hour meditation was held at the Bhavan at 630 pm.

29 June: Nairobi Centre of SAS presented 2200 booklets in twelve different titles to the Kabete Technical Training Institute at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. The booklets were received by the chief librarian and counsellor of the institute which has the capacity of three thousand students. The booklets will be distributed among the young students who come for vocational training, the teachers and few sets will be kept in the library of the institute. The institute falls under the ministry of Higher education, science and technology of Kenya.

13 June: Nairobi Centre presented 450 booklets of Ideal Child, Ideal Teacher, Ideal Parent and 400 booklets of Ideal Child in Kiswahili to Nairobi Utumishi Rotary Community Corps. at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. The president of the Utumishi Club had specially requested for these booklets to distribute them to the Star of Hope School situated in Lunga Lunga Slum on the occassion of celebration of Family Health Day in the school. Letter of Appreciation has been sent to the chairman of the Nairobi Centre.

11 June: The Training Coordinator of Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development received 500 booklets in ten different titles on the teachings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo from the Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society. The booklets will be distributed mainly to the social workers and the staff of the institute and some will be kept in the institute's library. Letter of Appreciation has been sent to Nairobi Centre of SAS.

5 June: Fifty booklets on 'Sleep Well' and fifty booklets on 'Right Spirit in Everyday Life' have been distributed in the Aga Khan University Hospital Doctors' Plaza. The booklets are being kept in the reception areas of the doctors' offices.

3 June:
Nairobi Centre of SAS held a seminar on Sri Aurobindo's epic poem Savitri - "Savitri - The Light of the Supreme". The first seminar on Savitri was held on 22nd January 2012. Twenty two devotees attended the program. It started at 11 am with Mother's Prayer dated 28th November 1913 (A Dawn Prayer). Collective chanting of 'OM' for ten minutes and Sri Aurobindo's Gayatri Mantra twelve times followed. Next was a collective recitation of the invocation to the Divine Mother from Sri Aurobindo's Savitri (Book 3, Canto 2, pp 314-15). This was followed by a lucid introduction and summary of the epic: Savitri, the legend and the symbol. Then there was recitation and reading from "About Savitri", Book One, Canto One, 'The Symbol Dawn', pp2-3. After that there was a lively interaction amongst the attendees as to how Savitri's mantric lines are a guide in our day to day life. The program ended with meditation accompanied by Savitri music. Everyone present received a copy of An Outline of Sri Aurobindo's Savitri by Shraddhavan and Sri Aurobindo's Gayatri Mantra. The day ended with lunch.

10 May: Nairobi Centre presented 2400 booklets in twelve different titles to officials of Kenya Prisons Service at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. The officials expressed their gratitude to SAS and reported that the booklets are appreciated by the prisons staff and the inmates of the various prison centres. Some of these booklets are to be sent to the prison centres of Kakamega region of the country and some will be distributed in the prisons of Nairobi.

24 April: The Mother’s final arrival in Puducherry in 1920. Darshan Day meditation was held at 630 pm at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan.

20 April: Nairobi Centre of SAS presented two thousand and four hundred booklets in twelve different titles containing The Mother and Sri Aurobindo's Teachings to the co-ordinator and staff of Marketing and Customer Service department of The Nairobi Hospital which is one of the largest hospitals in Kenya with two satellite clinics in addition to the main hospital. The booklets will be kept in all the reception areas of the hospital and satellite clinics for the patients and will be also distributed to the hospital staff. The presentation took place at the Bhavan.

4 April: Sri Aurobindo’s arrival in Puducherry in 1910. Devotees met at 0630 pm at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan and observed this day by reading a selection from the Mother's prayer and meditation followed by half hour meditation on the Mother's music.

23 Mar: The Principal and Co-ordinator of the Kenya Young Men's Christian Association, which is a national training institute for the youth in Kenya, visited Nairobi Centre of SAS with the chief accountant of the institute. The chairman of the Nairobi centre introduced them to the teachings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo and thereafter presented them with two thousand booklets in ten different titles. These booklets will be distributed in about twenty three centers of the institute based in different regions of Kenya. Their letter of acknowledgment will follow soon.

14 Mar: Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society presented two thousand booklets in ten different titles to the officials of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Kenya. The booklets will be kept in the library and reception of all departments, catering mostly to the students and professionals of the ministry.

07 Mar: Narad and Shraddhalu from Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry visited Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi Centre. About thirty five members were present. After Mother's Prayer, Shraddhalu gave an insightful talk on the definition of spirituality based on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. Narad spoke on the spiritual significance of flowers as attributed by The Mother. Then he introduced the members to the history and development of the OM choir. Narad founded the choir under the inspiration of the Mother and it continues to this day - the choir is held weekly at the Savitri Bhavan at Auroville. For half an hour all present collectively chanted the mantric word OM, which the Mother has said is the signature of the Lord. Following this prasad and flowers were distributed.

29 Feb: Golden Day - the day of the Lord. The day was observed at the Nairobi Centre with collective meditation between 630pm and 730 pm. The Mother's words on Supramentalisation of mankind on Earth and today's Darshan message was read first. An half hour meditation to the Mother's music followed. The evening was attended by approximately twenty people. Everyone received a copy of the Darshan message and prasadam.

24 Feb:
Nairobi Centre presented two thousand booklets in ten different titles on various teachings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo to Amani Counselling Centre and Training Institute, Nairobi which also have three regional branches. A non-profit making organisation which provides counselling services to individuals, couples and families seeking help in solving psychological and psycho-spiritual problems. The booklets will be helpful for them as well as for the counselling staff in the institution. Two thousand booklets were also presented to Gertrude's Children's Hospital, one of the largest hospital for the children in Kenya. The booklets will be kept in the hospital's reception area for the patients' guardians and the staff members. They will also be distributed in the six satellite clinics of the hospital.

21 Feb:
The Mother's 134th Birth Anniversary. Nairobi Centre of SAS celebrated the occasion at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. At 0630 pm, The Mother's prayer and this year's Darshan day message were read. A half hour meditation to the Mother's music followed. The evening was attended by approximately thirty people. Everyone received a copy of the Darshan Message and prasadam.

3 Feb:
Nairobi Centre of SAS presented two thousand booklets in ten different titles containing Sri Aurobindo and The Mother's teachings on various topics to the Head of Kenya Institute of Professional Counseling (Centre for Applied Psychology), at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. The institute offers counseling, training and consultancy services staffed by professional counsellors and trainers. It also has twenty four regional centres in Kenya. The Head expressed her gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society for the booklets and said that the booklets will of great help in holistic counselling. The booklets will also be kept in their library and sent to the regional centres.

22 Jan:
Nairobi Centre of SAS held a seminar on Sri Aurobindo's epic poem, Savitri. Fifteen devotees attended the program. It started at 11 am with Mother's Prayer. Translations of some of the sanskrit prayers to The Mother and Sri Aurobindo compiled by Kapali Sastry were read out, followed by collective recitation of Savitri Mantra and other mantras to The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. There was collective recitation of the invocation to the Mother from Sri Aurobindo's Savitri ( Book 3, Canto 2, pp314-15) and meditation on Savtri Music. This was followed by the reading of the Mother's luminous notes on Savitri (a recollection from memory of what the Mother had spoken in early 1960 to Mona Sarkar, a disciple, about Savitri). Then everyone present spoke a few words on what Savitri readings meant to each one of them in their lives. This was followed by collective recitation of the first thirty four lines of Book 1, Canto 1 - The Symbol Dawn. After that, Mother's explanations and recitation of those lines were read out from - About Savitri by Huta. A brief introduction to the journal, Invocation by Savitri Bhavan, Auroville and to the other books and talks on Savitri by different sadhaks was given. The program ended with collective recitation of Aum, twelve times.

1 Jan:
Venue was Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi at 11 am. The Mother's New Year Prayer and New Year Message of 2012 from Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry was read out, followed by collective recital of Sri Aurobindo's Gayatri Mantra. This was followed by a half an hour meditation. New Year calendars with Mother's Presence were distributed to the attendees along with a copy of the Darshan message card and prasad. About twenty five devotees were present.
O divine Master, let Thy light fall into this chaos and bring forth from it a new world. Accomplish what is now in preparation and create a new humanity which may be the perfect expression of Thy new and sublime Law.
- THE MOTHER

From Left to right: New year greetings | Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, 01.01.2012 | Meditation Hall, Bhavan, Nairobi Centre on 01.01.2012