News 2014

“To keep the consciousness awake you must set apart a certain time every day for concentration and remembering the Mother and keeping yourself in contact with us.”
- Sri Aurobindo

27 Nov: Nairobi Centre 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.

24 Nov - Darshan Day - Siddhi Day or day of Victory Members of Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society celebrated this significant day at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan. The Mother’s prayer and the Darshan Message of the day were read out followed by collective chanting of Sri Aurobindo’s Gayatri Mantra. Then there was meditation for half an hour. Everyone present received a copy of the Darshan Message.

17 Nov - The Mother's Mahasamadhi Day This day was observed at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society. The Mother’s Prayer of 25th September was read out followed by reading of the message from Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Then there was half an hour meditation. Each one present received copy of the message of the day.

9 Nov - Nairobi Centre held seminar on "Aim of Life" at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan
Twenty three members attended the seminar which began with The Mother’s Prayer and collective recitation of Sri Aurobindo’s Gayatri Mantra. The chairman of the centre briefly introduced the subject. He highlighted the points that one needs to have an aim in life and that effort towards fulfilling it gives meaning and joy to life quoting The Mother’s and Sri Aurobindo’s words.
He pointed out that usually some unexpected and untoward events in life turn us towards the real aim of life. He also explained as to how our ancient Vedic mantras guide us towards Light and Truth which should be our aim in the human life. The convener then spoke about how his life’s aims have changed after coming to The Mother and Sri Aurobindo.
Then he invited the speakers one by one to give their views on what they felt aim of life should be and how do they try to achieve them and how guidance from the writings of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo has helped them. To achieve aims of life; beauty, positive outlook, perseverance, self development, harmony and surrender to the Divine’s Will were some of the main factors discussed.
Also how the circumstances of life and different stages in human life determine the aims of life was talked about. There was also a touching e-letter from UK on the subject where the emphasis was put on receiving and spreading Divine Love as aim of life.
The writer quoted from ‘Savitri’ and Mother’s prayer on surrender in living all the aims of life. As a conclusion to the seminar, The Mother’s and Sri Aurobindo’s teachings on the subject were read out, taken from their writings and talks.
The Mother’s Prayer of October 23, 1937(A prayer for those who wish to serve the Divine) was read out which is a complete guidance to fulfill aim of living a spiritual life. There was collective recitation of ‘Aum’ twelve times and all received booklet ‘Aim of Life’ before partaking in the lunch.

54th Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo Society—19 Sept The year 1956 was a milestone in the spiritual mission of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, as it was on 29 February of this year that the Manifestation of the Supramental Consciousness took place. In the very first commemorative year of this momentous event, in 1960, Sri Aurobindo Society was formed on 19th September with the Mother as the Founder and Executive President, “… to make known to the members and people in general the aims and ideals of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, their system of Integral Yoga, and to work for its fulfilment in all possible ways and for the attainment of a spiritual society as envisaged by Sri Aurobindo.” The Mother gave the following Motto for the Society:

3 Sept President of Nairobi Utumishi Rotary Club was presented with 1200 booklets in 12 different titles and 100 booklets of ‘Ideal Child’ in Kiswahili. These booklets will go to schools in upcountry which are managed by Rotary Club. And some of them will be given to the dignitaries of the Club

1 Aug - Nairobi Centre 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.

22 July - Nairobi Centre presented 2000 booklets of ‘Ideal Child, Ideal Parent and Ideal Teacher’ to a child of the Mother who works with the Hindu Religious and Service Centre, Kenya. These booklets will be distributed to fifteen schools in remote parts of Kenya where the centre is running children feeding program for the needy children in the schools. The booklets will be distributed among the teachers, parents and children of the schools.

P13 July - 11th Anniversary of the Enshrinement of Sri Aurobindo's Relics at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi Centre of SAS This auspicious day was observed by twenty five devotees at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society. The Mother’s prayer of October 23, 1937 ('A prayer for those who wish to serve the Divine') was read out, followed by half an hour meditation accompanied on Sunilda’s music.
Then there was collective recital of Sri Aurobindo’s Gayatri Mantra, and two cantos from Book Three ‘The Book of The Divine Mother’ from Sri Aurobindo’s epic poem ‘Savitri’. Prasad was distributed among the devotees.

1 July - 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.
Nairobi Centre also 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 SAS.

27 June - Nairobi Centre presented 1200 booklets in 12 different titles to the program facilitators of Kenya Girl Guides. These booklets will be distributed next month on International Women’s Day to about hundred girls and women at a function which will be held by Kenya Girl Guides in Nairobi.

27 June - The Fund Development officials of SOS Children’s Villages Kenya visited the Nairobi Centre. They were presented with 4800 booklets in twelve different titles. They have five villages in different parts of Kenya with about 250 children in each village and each village has 16 family houses. Their mission is to build families for children in need and to help them shape their futures and to develop their communities. The officials expressed their gratitude to Sri Aurobindo Society and said that these booklets will be of great help in fulfilling their mission. The booklets will be distributed in all the villages.

16 June - Nairobi Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society has presented 360 booklets in 12 different titles to a devotee of The Mother who will be taking them upcountry to the pastor of Nakuru Church for distribution of the same to the church members.

5 June - Nairobi Centre presented 2400 booklets in twelve titles to the Coordinator and Marketing officer of M.P.Shah Hospital. The hospital is among one of the largest hospital in Kenya and has many medical facilities. The booklets will be given out in the wards to the patients, distributed among the doctors and the staff of the hospital and will be kept in various reception areas of the hospital which also includes an outpatient clinic.

31 May - A member of Nairobi Centre of SAS 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.
The books are to be kept at the main library in Voi, Kenya. Also, 360 booklets in 12 titles were presented to a devotee of The Mother who will be distributing them upcountry to the pastor of Nakuru Church for distribution of the same to the church members.

24 April - The Mother's Final Arrival in Puducherry - Darshan Day 630 pm: the Mother’s Prayer was read out followed by reading out of the Darshan message from the Ashram. Thereafter there was half an hour meditation accompanied by Sunilda’s music. All present received copy of the Darshan message and prasad.

29 March - The centenary of the Mother’s first meeting with Sri Aurobindo at Pondicherry This day was observed as a special day like other Darshan days at Nairobi Centre. The Mother’s Prayer of 30th March 1914 was read out and then the Darshan Message of 29th March 2014 from the Ashram was read out followed by collective recital of Sri Aurobindo’s Gayatri Mantra. Thereafter there was half an hour meditation accompanied by Sunilda’s music. This was followed by readings on significance of the Mother’s first meeting with Sri Aurobindo on 29th March 1914, given by Rishabhchand and how to observe the centenary quoting Sri Aurobindo’s words taken from All India Magazine, March 2013. The copies of the darshan message and prasad were distributed to all present. There were thirteen people present.

10 Jan - Nairobi Centre presented 900 booklets in 9 different titles compiling on different subjects from The Mother’s and Sri Aurobindo’s teachings and 100 booklets of Ideal Child in Kiswahili to the General Manager of Medanta AfriCare at Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Nairobi. Medanta AfriCare is Indian based company which provides pathology and radiology services and has stem cell bank. It has ten satellite clinics in different regions of Kenya. The booklets will be distributed in Nairobi main branch and in the satellite clinics.