A Comment on a Comment

I have repeatedly gone through the comment given by Anonymous on the post "Savitri Era Party demands independence of Auroville..." published by Tusar Mohapatra in Savitri Era. It created mixed reactions in me.

First of all, I wonder what made Anonymous to remain anonymous. It seems it is due to lack of courage. It would have been better and farer, if the writer would have given his name.

Secondly to say that Tusar is ignorant is too much of an attack on him. And as far as I know Tusar is not an ignorant person. Anonymous could have expressed what he wanted to convey, without calling Tusar ignorant. Whatever epithet Anonymous added to Mr. Nandivarman I am not going to question, as I don’t know anything about him.

Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville are two great symbols for all who love and follow The Mother and Sri Aurobindo throughout the World. The names are sacred, the places are sacred. They are creations of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. Legally, they may be private institutions, but whenever there are reports of untoward events, followers and devotees are really hurt and aggrieved. Therefore, those who are in charge of the administration and management of these great institutions should be very careful, so that there is no scar or spot in the whiteness of the sacredness. It is natural that some of the followers and the devotees may react when they get some information of some event or incident touching the sacredness of these two symbols.

What Anonymous said could have been said in a better way, in a more polite way, without uttering the word ‘ignorant’. Anonymous, or for that matter anybody else, has every right to express himself, express his ideas and views, but without hurting the sentiments of others. We may differ from Tusar — but it can be expressed without any harshness. That much we may expect from one who advises and speaks about self-realization.

Personally, I feel that one may differ from Tusar about the issue whether Auroville should be free from the hands of the Government of India. It may be held that the involvement of the Government is better than the lack of involvement, which would eventually create anarchy and chaos in Auroville, as the Society in general is not yet free from the anti-social elements.

Regarding the Ashram, too, I feel that one should be impartial and let the Ashram and the Ashramites settle the matters of inner dispute, if any — until the things become uncontrollable and cross the limits! However, I hope and feel certainly that such a situation will never arise, as The Mother is there, along with the Presence of The Master. Very often, the human mind is too petty to understand and interfere and it creates quarrels and feuds!

I fully agree with Anonymous, when he says to live within and know one’s self. Indeed, that is the most important and the first task before each of us. Anonymous has rightly pointed this out. Indeed, our first task and goal should be to transform ourselves and to endeavour to realize the Truth that Sri Aurobindo and The Mother brought for us. It matters little whether one lives in the Ashram or in Auroville or in the world at large.

"One man's perfection still can save the world" — it is surely true. And each of us to aspire and strive for this Perfection!

However, to conclude, I may say that we cannot infringe upon the rights of anybody else in floating a party or in endeavoring to bring together the Aurobindonians [I prefer the word Aurobindonian to Aurobindian, the former term being used by K D Sethna and M P Pandit and some others]. If one has the urge, if one feels the Call, let him do it.

And it is of utmost importance that we should seek the Truth or the Self within, I fully agree, but that should not restrict us from attending the external world and solving its problems!

And let us collectively seek the Truth that The Mother and The Master have brought for us!

Barindranath Chaki
16-7-2008
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[The concerned Comment :
From: Anonymous <http://in.mc88.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=noreply-comment@blogger.com>To: http://in.mc88.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=tusarnmohapatra@gmail.com
Anonymous has left a new comment on the post "Savitri Era Party demands independence of Auroville...":

It is sad, Mr. Tushar, that though you claim to be some sort of Sri Aurobindo devotee - notwithstanding your coming up with such pathetically shallow and immature notions such as 'Savitri Era Party' - you are now associated and being felicitated by Mr. Nandhivarman, who is part of the pseudo-rationalist tribe, and a known mud-slinger at the Ashram, and at the Mother and Sri Aurobindo themselves, and who does it purely for base political gains.

The Internet is a powerful tool, but in the hands of the ignorant, such as yourselves, and the perverse, such as Mr. Nandivarman, it is easily misused. The 2 of you provide excellent examples of this. Hopefully, your readers will have the discernment to separate the chaff from the wheat - though the wheat is so rare to come by!

A piece of advice to you, to other Aurobindonians, and to myself: Discover the Divine within; the changes outside will follow. The less we encourage this mental and vital fret, the better for our collective growth and progress. For till we don't find Her within, our shrill cries from either bank of the river of phenomenal reality are equally foolish.

As to your occasional unsolicited comments and advice such as how Auroville should be autonomous, and how the Ashram should be better managed, refer once again to the above para. If you still feel the overwhelming urge to 'act' however, get down from your fibre-optic tower and see the deeper ground Reality of things.

It is my conviction - and I am hardly alone - that the Ashram and Auroville are shaping up beautifully, in the hands of individuals who are committed and dedicated even if imperfect, and who work more than they talk, and talk even less than they type. Of course there are wayward individuals everywhere, and all organisations have their share of them too, but the Hand that has guided so far, continues to guide, and slowly, ever so slowly but surely, those who have the eyes to see recognize that these centres of the Divine's concrete Presence and Work, grow onward towards the Light.

It is pointless to reply to your friend Mr. Nandhivarman; his motives are in question. The greater tragedy is when professed devotees like yourself are pulled into their devious game, and do not have the wisdom to realise that our only work is within ourselves, and our only genuine concern the kingdom within ourselves. May we grow wide, as the Vedas say.

V

P.S.: If you tell us that you are indeed conscious of that deeper reality within yourself, and that you are truly inwardly realised and convinced that it is necessary to set up 'systems', create a 'Savitri Era Party', 'save' the Aurobindonian community from impending doom and destruction wrecked by the wretched administrators you seem to conjure - well, sound the bugle, and perhaps we shall be inspired to join you. But at present you hardly come across as one who has the Knowledge or the Call. I can imagine there is much which can be changed for the better, in Auroville, in the Ashram, in India, in the world; but where does that change begin? Nay, Their workings are far more complex, intricate, and mysterious, and "One man's perfection still can save the world…" Posted by Anonymous to Savitri Era at 5:05 PM, July 07, 2008 ]

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Posted in All Choice by Barindranath Chaki

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From Devabrata ~

I fully agree with the spirit of Barindranath Chaki in relation of Sri Aurobindo and Auroville. There may be thousand and one lapses in these two esteemed institutions -but what ever it may be -it must be mended or corrected by the inmates of these institutions. Otherwise-the very purpose of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother will be defeated. Who are we to judge the situations there when we believe that The Mother is working still -and as per the Mother -Sri Aurobindo would not leave this world till the work is done?

With all reverence to Satprem I must say that it all started with him after he made public his personal opinions on the Ashramite open to the people. In spite of the Mother's repeated advice not to make public her political uttering -Satprem did not comply. His harsh comments on the Ashramites and his comparison of the Ashram with that of Vatican opened the gate of all this. Even after reading Agenda-some people -I know them-asked me the eligibility and the attainment of Nolini Kanta Gupta. It happened all for Satprem. He was much loved by the Mother (as The Mother loved all people of this world)-but this fact should not give him licence to vilify the Ashram. I knew many highly elevated Ashramites (they were hidden yogis) much after Satprem had left the Ashram-and I personally got sheltered by their spiritual power. I know still some persons -who are extremely dedicated sadhakas. Some Tamil groups and politicians are always keen to denigrate the Ashram. Thank you with all sincerity for writing this.

Regards.

Devabrata
9:27 PM
16-07-2008

My view:

Satprem was a great person, a great Follower of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo, a great Worker of The Mother. He has a great lot of lofty contributions to the Cause of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. And he was an Ashramite, a close devotee of The Mother. He has a lot of contributions for others, and his leaving the Ashram or his criticisms of the Ashram, if any, are not any part of his great and lofty contributions! One can now forget it. And it has nothing to do with the present acitivities of Nandiverman or other critics.

Barindranath Chaki
24-07-2008