August 2019 Newsletter

August 2019 SRI AUROBINDO SOCIETY VOL 33.08 Singapore NEWSLETTER Nature of the being: The Mind Mind Its true value depends on its surrender to the Divine. Thevetia peruviana Yellow oleander, Be-still tree, Lucky nut Medium-sized fragrant yellow narrow funnel- shaped flower with swirled petals; borne in few-flowered cymes. A large shrub or small tree with glossy linear lanceolate leaves and highly poisonous fruits. Our minds are starters in the race to God. Savitri Last night I had the experience of the effectivity of confident surrender to Thy guidance; when it is needful that something should be known, one knows it, and the more passive the mind to Thy illumination, the clearer and the more adequate is its expression. December 3, 1912, The Prayers & Meditation of the Divine Mother

Nature of the being: Mind Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. August 2019. Guiding Light of the Month O THOU, sole Reality, Light of our light and Life of our life, Love supreme, Saviour of the world, grant that more and more I may be perfectly awakened into the awareness of Thy constant presence. Let all my acts conform to Thy law; let there be no difference between my will and Thine. Extricate me from the illusory consciousness of my mind, from its world of fantasies; let me identify my consciousness with the Absolute Consciousness, for that art Thou. February 15, 1914 Prayers and Meditations, The Mother From the Editor’s Desk The August issue of the newsletter draws its extension could hold the lead to solutions, heralding the addition from the previous theme on Nature or Prakriti. Since of a future evolutionary rung above that one stands Nature is said to be only “the outer or executive aspect poised now. of the Shakti or Conscious Force that forms and moves the worlds”, it will be pertinent to contemplate upon the Sri Aurobindo has ascribed 5 types to the mind: The different aspects of nature and how these may be related physical, the vital, the mental, the psychic and the to the evolving Soul in us. In the next few issues, we spiritual mind. In man, mind is only an energizing will look at the different aspects of Prakriti in man – consciousness. This mind is, he writes, more clearly The Mind, The Heart Centre and The Body. The Mind aware of itself and things, though first partially and in stands as something characteristic of the human kind, limited spheres. However, here again the promise is an instrument that has contributed to the unfolding of that it will rise into an “integral power of itself.” This the greater life upon earth heading towards an unknown “emergence is the goal of evolution.” We are therefore future. The thinking-mind of man, as is widely put face to face with the proposition that this mind as acknowledged in this era of global challenges looming it appears to us today, apparently responsible for the above us, has also created problems for itself. It has to creation of an advanced life propelled by technology, be a higher mind that can probably find solutions to has greater fields to cross and mines to dig in knowing these problems and not that same problem-creating its higher potentialities and states of existence. thinking mind. It is ever so important now that the Existence itself would take another turn in this way. Mind, also a consciousness, finds ways and means to The future issues of our Newsletter would carry details elevate its functioning so that from this elevated of this promise and how it may be actualized. function can result a more elevated life upon earth. The solution could lie in the invocation of the Mind of August is a special month, since it observes the Birth Light. What does this mean? Sri Aurobindo has written Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo, on the 15th of August about the mind in all his major works such as The 2019. We also include in this issue an article written Synthesis of Yoga, The Life Divine, The Supramental by Jared Quek on The Human Cycle: The Imminent Manifestation upon Earth, On the Veda, The Revolution. This article examines mind as a possible Foundations of Indian Culture, The Ideal of Human gateway to world’s beyond or above. Finally, we Unity, and of course, Savitri. Sri Aurobindo is more include in this issue about 3 pages on Kusum-ben by than upbeat about the potential of the mind climbing Anurag, a long-time ashram inmate who passed away beyond its limitations and boundaries in the earth on the 12th of May 2019. In this article, her inspiring consciousness to regions above earth and the body. The life is left open for everyone to know, feel and fact that one is able to use one’s thinking mind to ask appreciate, and if just possible, to learn a thing or two oneself, “where do we go from here?” indicates that about the art of living a life consecrated to the Divine. there is something beyond this thinking mind which www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 2 Nature of the being: Mind

Nature of the being: Mind Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. August 2019. Savitri The mind of mortal man is led by words. His sight retires behind the walls of Thought And looks out only through half-opened doors. (Savitri VI, 2) The mind no silence knows nor dreamless sleep, In the incessant circling of its steps Thoughts tread for ever through the listening brain; It toils like machine and cannot stop. (Savitri, VII 2) If Mind is all, renounce the hope of bliss; If Mind is all, renounce the hope of Truth. For Mind can never touch the body of Truth And Mind can never see the soul of God. (Savitri X, 4) Savitri, Sri Aurobindo Questions & Answers I wish to have a consciousness that would prevent me from behaving badly. I think that only the psychic consciousness can do that. Failing the psychic, the enlightened mind can prevent the vital from behaving foolishly. (15 April 1935, More Answers of the Mother, Series One) Allow me to observe silence, let me go into solitude. Observe silence in your mind, go into the solitude of your psychic being and you will find me there. (27 May 1935, More Answers of the Mother, Series One) www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 3 Nature of the being: Mind

Nature of the being: Mind Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. August 2019. The Human Cycle: The Imminent Revolution By Jared Quek The Unexpected Future It may appear inevitable that our future will be one dominated by machines – a world where robots are ubiquitous; super-intelligent world-spanning AIs organise society; genetic engineering enhances our biological heritage; and 3D printers miraculously create objects in our homes and factories. The technological cornucopia that has delivered much over the last few hundred years seems destined to bring humanity into a future marked by a complete reliance on the Machine. In the next few centuries, there seems to be no way we can escape from the shackles of the genie that has, in any case, brought us so much. Yet Sri Aurobindo, with his prescient and radical eye, predicts a very different trajectory from that supposed by conventional wisdom, which linearly and unimaginatively projects a future of more and more machines from the conditions of the present. The broad outlines of his ideas on a spiritual society and the ‘supramentalisation’ of the human race are quite well known. He predicts the holistic transformation of the human organism by the divine Spirit, leading to a creation of a renewed humanity co-existing with a new ‘superhuman’ species (the ‘supramental being’). This, in turn, will culminate in the complete reign of God in individuals and in society. To many, such a vision is a downright delusion. To others, this is a distant ideal - a ‘good to have’ that is one of the far possibilities of future: the kingdom of God that may well come but nobody is too clear about the how and the when. Yet, in the Human Cycle, Sri Aurobindo has in fact set up a precise road map on the attainment of this ideal. Indeed, it is clear, in this writer’s opinion, that he is predicting extraordinary things that we shall see in the next few decades. As if to help us to watch for the signs of the times, so that we can collaborate and aspire, he has predicted three overlapping stages of social evolution where humanity will change from a society with a rationalistic materialistic focus into a society with a ‘subjective’ focus on the vital force as the ultimate reality (‘vital subjectivism’), before attaining an era focused on the mind as the ultimate reality (‘mental subjectivism’): The human intellect in modern times has been first drawn to exhaust the possibilities of materialism by an immense dealing with life and the world upon the basis of Matter as the sole reality, Matter as the Eternal, Matter as the Brahman, annaṁ brahma. Afterwards it had begun to turn towards the conception of existence as the large pulsation of a great evolving Life, the creator of Matter, which would have enabled it to deal with our existence on the basis of Life as the original reality, Life as the great Eternal, prāṇo brahma. And already it has in germ, in preparation a third conception, the discovery of a great self-expressing and self-finding inner Mind other than our surface mentality as a master-power of existence, and that should lead towards a rich attempt to deal with our possibilities and our ways of living on the basis of Mind as the original reality, the great Eternal, mano brahma. (The Human Cycle, 253-4) And it is the final stage that prepares the spiritual advent: The true secret can only be discovered if in the third stage, in an age of mental subjectivism, the idea becomes strong of the mind itself as no more than a secondary power of the Spirit's working and of the Spirit as the great Eternal, the original and, in spite of the many terms in which it is both expressed and hidden, the sole reality, ayam ātmā brahma. Then only will the real, the decisive endeavour begin and life and the world be studied, known, dealt with in all directions as the self-finding and self-expression of the Spirit. Then only will a spiritual age of mankind be possible. (254) www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 4 Nature of the being: Mind

Nature of the being: Mind Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. August 2019. He is also precise in the timing of these changes: After the material formula which governed the greater part of the nineteenth century had burdened man with the heaviest servitude to the machinery of the outer material life that he has ever yet been called upon to bear, the first attempt to break through, to get to the living reality in things and away from the mechanical idea of life and living and society, landed us in that surface vitalism which had already begun to govern thought before the two formulas inextricably locked together lit up and flung themselves on the lurid pyre of the world-war. (250) At the time of the first appearance of this passage, the ‘world war’ in question can only be World War One. Hence Sri Aurobindo, writing from the Arya publication period of 1914-1921, is looking backwards to the heyday of materialism, which he views as being already past, to his era dominated by vitalistic creeds, and towards a future that is already in seed. The era of vital dominance will later find its darkest developments in the advent of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, where the worship of Power and the reign of the Asura reached its climax—and where this ‘Titanism’ ended, as Sri Aurobindo has predicted, in ‘something violent, huge and “colossal”, foredoomed in its very nature to excess and ruin, because light is not in it nor the soul’s truth nor the sanction of the gods and their calm eternal will and knowledge’ (251). The end of World War Two in 1945 and the fall of the ‘Titanic’ nations of Germany and Japan, marked the closing or at least the final stage of the vitalistic era. After this, vitalistic thought, whether in politics, philosophy or biology, fell generally out of fashion. Intriguingly, World War Two also marked the invention of the first electronic computers, which were first used for cryptography. The late 1940s also witnessed the publication of Claude Shannon’s seminal paper on Information Theory, a field that had an enormous impact on fields such as artificial intelligence and cybernetics. It made possible the basic infrastructure of our ‘information age’ – wireless communications, satellite communications, and of course, the internet. Vitalism was out. Computational theories and metaphors took over the intellect of humanity, and its countless technological applications have revolutionized the world. While the era from 1945 till today appears to be of triumphant materialism: of moon landings, genetics, the microchip and all—yet a deeper eye informed by the writings of Sri Aurobindo will see all such developments as in fact the first stage of an era where humanity ‘attempt to deal with our possibilities and our ways of living on the basis of Mind as the original reality’. Inevitably, the beginnings will be marked by an increased understanding and deployment of the physical mind and the externalised reason. The mechanical manifestations of the physical mind—the supercomputer and the internet are the wonders of our age, and true AI, super-intelligent, immortal and mighty, is seen by many as a worthy successor to humanity. On the other hand, there has been a mass democratisation of education and mental training, till literacy, numeracy and the basic ability to reason based on external facts have been attained by a wider portion of humanity than ever before. Yet, for all the dazzle, this is no more than a small beginning. Indulged in for too long, this era will prove to be an abortive dead end or even a dangerous trap that brings catastrophe. As Sri Aurobindo writes, This first stage is foreshadowed in an increasing tendency to rationalise entirely man and his life, to govern individual and social existence by an ordered scientific plan based upon his discovery of his own and of life’s realities. This attempt is bound to fail because reason and rationality are not the whole of man or of life, because reason is only an intermediate interpreter, not the original knower, creator and master of our being or of cosmic existence. It can besides only mechanise life in a more intelligent way than in the past; to do that seems to be all that the modern intellectual www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 5 Nature of the being: Mind

Nature of the being: Mind Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. August 2019. leaders of the race can discover as the solution of the heavy problem with which we are impaled. (251) Even when reason has been raised to super-reason by the advent of our planetary computing infrastructure, the problem remains fundamental. Mechanisation and the Machine, and an externalised education of external facts—the highest developments of the physical mind and a reason enmeshed in the senses, cannot resolve the deep problems of existence that God has strewn in our path. It can prolong life and extend a certain happiness, but it cannot conquer the inevitable darkness of the inconscience, nor release the hidden Love at its heart; it can increase our efficiency at knowing some of the surface secrets of the universe - but it cannot plumb the vortexes and currents that rage and sweep in from the hidden universes that layer our small material existence. It cannot bring a lasting peace and good to humanity, whether collectively or individually. God, unity and true freedom remain infinitely beyond its grasp. The real purpose of our Information Age is to construct the physical foundation and nervous system for an age of Mind. It is to bring our foundational mental powers, the physical mind and external reason, to their fullest development. To a great degree, this has been accomplished. Never before can even the humblest members of society access so much information, and therefore, power at their fingertips, and at such extraordinary speeds. Never before, in a reversal of the parable of the Tower of Babel, could humanity work together and collaborate with such ease. Never before could humanity develop our individual and collective minds with such facility. And never before, has an interconnected network of artificial minds been developed with such fantastic speed and power. The very richness of the development of our planetary ‘intelligence’, juxtaposed with the very frustrating reality that our fundamental problems remain quite unresolved, is a clear sign that humanity is ready to move on to the next arc of our development. This next stage, in my view, will be something we can expect to flower in the immediate future. Sri Aurobindo is again very precise in outlining this highly important stage of ‘mental subjectivism’, which will eventually make possible the spiritualisation of humanity: But it is conceivable that this tendency [to mechanize life] may hereafter rise to the higher idea of man as a mental being, a soul in mind that must develop itself individually and collectively in the life and body through the play of an ever-expanding mental existence. This greater idea would realise that the elevation of the human existence will come not through material efficiency alone or the complex play of his vital and dynamic powers, not solely by mastering through the aid of the intellect the energies of physical Nature for the satisfaction of the life-instincts, which can only be an intensification of his present mode of existence, but through the greatening of his mental and psychic being and a discovery, bringing forward and organisation of his subliminal nature and its forces, the utilisation of a larger mind and a larger life waiting for discovery within us. (251-2) Sri Aurobindo thus predicts an extraordinary era for humanity – where the barrier is breached, on a collective level, between our surface mentality , and what he terms our ‘inner being’, our hidden larger minds, life and subtle bodies. This will, like the earlier revolutions, first take place on a small scale in pioneering communities, where one can expect developments empowering a collective widening and greatening of consciousness, love and power. Sri Aurobindo outlines the first signs of this birth: Such a turn of human thought, effort, ideas of life, if it took hold of the communal mind, would evidently lead to a profound revolution throughout the whole range of human existence. It would give it from the first a new tone and atmosphere, a loftier spirit, wider horizons, a greater aim. It might easily develop a science www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 6 Nature of the being: Mind

Nature of the being: Mind Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. August 2019. which would bring the powers of the physical world into a real and not only a contingent and mechanical subjection and open perhaps the doors of other worlds. It might develop an achievement of Art and Beauty which would make the greatness of the past a comparatively little thing and would save the world from the astonishingly callous reign of utilitarian ugliness that even now afflicts it. It would open up a closer and freer interchange between human minds and, it may well be hoped, a kindlier interchange between human hearts and lives. Nor need its achievements stop here, but might proceed to greater things of which these would be only the beginnings (252). A new astonishing art, a new science and technology that offers deep self-knowledge and a true reign over nature, new possibilities for unity and loving interchange, and a higher aim to social endeavor and effort – all these great things that basically escape us - and all these, only as first beginnings to even greater things. These are what we can look forward to, not in the far future, but very likely, in the coming decades as the next stage of the age of Mind commences. It is important to realize that an age where the ‘subliminal being’ opens up collectively, will also imply the fullest development of the inner knowledge that Sri Aurobindo calls ‘occultism’. Shorn of its diabolical and fantastical implications, Sri Aurobindo defines the true aim of occultism as ‘the discovery of the hidden truths and powers of the mind- force and the life-power and the greater forces of the concealed spirit. Occult science is, essentially, the science of the subliminal, the subliminal in ourselves and the subliminal in world-nature, and of all that is in connection with the subliminal, including the subconscient and the superconscient, and the use of it as part of self-knowledge and world-knowledge and for the right dynamisation of that knowledge’ (The Life Divine, p. 910). This, evidently, will be the future ‘science’ that will supplant and yet include our physical science. It is not a linear progression that indicates our future most clearly – but an extraordinary bending of the curve that will take humanity to unforeseen horizons. The ‘Atlantean Arc’ With these conclusions in mind, it is now possible to consider the few hints left by Sri Aurobindo on the legend, if we may call it that, of Atlantis, and its relevance to the coming of the age of mental subjectivism. In fact, I shall argue that the recovery of the earlier gains of the ‘Atlantean cycle’ is indispensable to the full blossoming of mental subjectivism. Perhaps Sri Aurobindo’s earliest reference is in 1910 in ‘The National Value of Art’: For man intellectually developed, mighty in scientific knowledge and the mastery of gross and subtle nature, using the elements as his servants and the world as his footstool, but undeveloped in heart and spirit, becomes only an inferior kind of asura using the powers of a demigod to satisfy the nature of an animal. According to dim traditions and memories of the old world, of such a nature was the civilization of old Atlantis, submerged beneath the Ocean when its greatness and its wickedness became too heavy a load for the earth to bear, and our own legends of the asuras represent a similar consciousness of a great but abortive development in humanity. To be continued…. www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 7 Nature of the being: Mind

Nature of the being: Mind Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. August 2019. June - July Sunday Activities at the Centre - A glimpse June 23rd – Savitri Circle In the Savitri Circle, we first watched picture 2 to picture 11 from the Mediations on Savitri with the Mother herself reading the passages from Book 7 (book of Yoga), Canto 5 (The Finding of the Soul). We then read each of these passages and discussed how our lives are impacted by a consistent reading of Savitri June 30th – Evolution Fast Forward We watched some sections of video three one of the three-part series of the videos, \"Evolution Fast- Forward\" . This third video describes the \"Parts of the Being and Planes of Consciousness\" and we were treated to a beautiful explanation of the various parts of the being such as Physical, Vital (Lower, Central and Higher), Subliminal and Psychic. As Sadhaks on the path of Integral yoga, we need to understand all these parts that exist in us and transform these so that we are ready to receive the Supramental consciousness that is waiting for us. The videos definitely benefits all beings who aspire to walk on this sunlit path as laid by Sri Aurobindo and the Divine Mother. July 7th – Antar Yantra – a journey within self. A talk given by Mr Jha Antar Yatra-a journey within self. A talk given by Mr Jha Mr Jha gave very inspiring ideas to go within and discover our inner self. 1. To bring our mind, which is always in a traffic jam of thoughts, to a kind of stillness and experience, calm breathing in and out slowly, steadily helps. 2. Every morning, as soon we open our eyes the following prayer is advised by our elders since age old times. The Karadarshana Prayer This is how the Karadarshana prayer is performed: upon waking up in the morning, sit up straight on the bed, open the palm of the right hand in front of you and, looking at the palm, recite the following. Karagre Vasate Lakshmi Karamadhye Saraswati Karamule Sthitha Gowri Prabhate Kara Darshanam This simple and short prayer is very powerful and gives us both physiological and psychological benefits. We should be very grateful to the Divine for giving a body which is perfect in its order to function in our daily life. But to go beyond our vital and mental being to reach the Super Consciousness we have to make an effort. 3. In life to have the blissful blood flowing through our body we should accept and embrace in love everyone and everything starting from our family to whole of humanity. We had a very valuable practical lessons on how life should move with a higher purpose! July 14th – The Human Cycle – Sri Aurobindo Mr Jared concluded the final part of the The Human Cycle with reading of the last 2 pages of The Advent and Progress of the spiritual Age. Sri Aurobindo and The Mother assure us that though the Spiritual Transformation of the whole of humanity now seems a difficult labour, it is the law of Nature to bring about a swift gathering up and www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 8 Nature of the being: Mind

Nature of the being: Mind Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. August 2019. precipitation of the elements into the new birth, a rapid conversion, a transformation that in its luminous moment figures like a miracle, though initially a long obscure preparation. As the Light that is being born increases, the number of individuals who seek to realize the possibility in themselves and in the world grows large and they get nearer the right way. The Spirit, now a concealed divinity, a developing light and power, will descend more fully as the Avatar of a yet unseen and unguessed God head from above into the soul of mankind and into the greater individualities. Mankind will become more compassionate to guide the younger generation also to ascend in the transformation. We are really blessed to be part of the Sunday evening meet at the Centre to be in the Sun Lit path, that Sri Aurobindo and the Mother have paved for us. - Ramachandran B and Jayalakshmi PROGRAMME FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2019 DATE TIME DETAILS 4 Aug 2019 8 AM Monthly Morning Walk * Sunday 6 PM AIM Magazine Reading and Discussion 11 Aug 2019 6 PM Thematic Study Circle Part I : Sunday The Human Cycle TBC 10 AM Centre Cleaning (followed by lunch) 15 Aug 2019 9 AM Sri Aurobindo’s Birthday Thursday 15 Aug 2019 7 PM Sri Aurobindo’s Birthday Thursday Thematic Study Circle Part II : 18 Aug 2019 6 PM The Human Cycle Sunday Youth Programme 25 Aug 2019 4 PM Sunday 6 PM Savitri Circle * *Please see below for details www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 9 Nature of the being: Mind

Nature of the being: Mind Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. August 2019. August 2019 MORNING WALK – NO. 408 Date: Sunday, 4th August 2019 Time: Walk Venue: 8:00 A.M. sharp for warm up exercise. Meeting Point: Fort Canning Park Registry of Marriages Car Park (Registry of Marriages, 7 Canning Rise Singapore 179869) Contact No: Mr SN Venkat (9668 3658) Meditation and Sri Aurobindo Society Premises at 2A, Starlight Road, Singapore 211755. Brunch Venue Host: Mr Arjun Madan RSVP to Mobile – 9186 7269 OR Email – [email protected] Note: All are encouraged to attend the Walk. Those, however, who are not able to join the Walk, the hosts would be very happy that they directly come and join in the brunch by 10:15 AM. Prayers and meditation will commence sharp at 10.30 A.M. All are requested to be punctual. PREVIEW OF FORTHCOMING SUNDAY MORNING WALKS WALK NO DATE PLACE HOST 409 04/08/19 Macrtichie Reservoir Mr K V Rao & Family 410 06/10/19 Gardens by the Bay Family of Uncle Shashi Lal Kashyap Along the Way… July Walk Review (walk no 407) Butterflies fluttered and birds chirped as our happy procession made our way through Pasir Ris Park. A chattering mix of youngsters and adults were taking part in the monthly Sri Aurobindo Society Singapore walk. Our route consisted of a stroll through the mangrove forests and then along the beach after touring the park for a while. We saw lots of wildlife such as fish, crabs and even a very large mudskipper along the www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 10 Nature of the being: Mind

Nature of the being: Mind Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. August 2019. mangrove boardwalk. As it was low tide, a few of our number ventured out onto the beach and caught sight of tiny hermit crabs scuttling around energetically. We even saw a few toucans flying above the treetops! Along the beach, we also saw another small group clearing the beach of litter so marine wildlife would not be harmed. Such initiative is used to be hard to come by, but is now becoming more and more common as people become more aware of sustainability. Reflecting on this, I understood the importance of a clean and litter-free environment. As our little group wound its way along the track, we talked and laughed with each other, relaxing in the calming atmosphere. We soon reached the Mehta household where we were greeted warmly by our hosts. After a peaceful meditation, we had a delicious meal provided by our wonderful hosts. All of us enjoyed the time we spent catching up with our friends - Anjali Curi Kusumben, a long-time innate of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry breathed her last on 12th May 2019. She was a well known figure in Pondicherry, especially for us who have had even a small acquaintance of Laboratoires Senteurs, a perfumery with other ashram products in the offing. She has been a dear child of The Mother’s. In this issue of our newsletter, we bring you an article written by Anurag, to remember her once again and more importantly, to get a glimpse into her offered life full of inspiration. We may each of us take away from this article what stays closest with us. Kusumben by Anurag On Sunday, 12 May 2019, one of the senior-most inmates of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram community collegeas well as one of its most loved members breathed her last at the Ashram Nursing Home. With her passing away, the community has lost one of those blessed ones who had the good fortune of touching the feet of Sri Aurobindo and being blessed by His touch on Darshan days. A most dedicated and sincere soul who would call the Mother the very reason of her own existence, she was the perfect example of the term ‘Divine Worker’. Work was not only her body’s prayer to the Divine but also that of her soul. Such was Kusum Nagda whom we all addressed lovingly as Kusum-ben. Kusum-ben was born on 28 November 1928 to Visanji Nagda, a Jain scholar and seeker who came to know of Sri Aurobindo Ashram in the early 1930s. Kusum-ben visited Pondicherry for the first time with her father in 1935. In those days, one had to write to the Ashram to seek permission to attend the joint Darshan of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and also send the photographs of the prospective visitors. www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 11 Nature of the being: Mind

Nature of the being: Mind Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. August 2019. Moreover, children below a certain age were not allowed. But Kusum-ben — who was then in her seventh year — was extremely keen to visit the Ashram. Seeing her eagerness, her father took her to Pondicherry. But when she reached Pondicherry, she was informed that she would have to seek permission to attend the Darshan. Visanji asked her to write to Sri Aurobindo. Kusum-ben was in a fix as she did not know English. But her father told her to write to Sri Aurobindo in Gujarati as He knew the language. So Kusum- ben wrote to Sri Aurobindo: “I want to come for Blessings.” Sri Aurobindo conveyed through A. B. Purani that she could come. That was the beginning. Every time Visanji visited Pondicherry, he would bring Kusum-ben along with him. While recalling her experiences during the Darshan days as well as of the Ashram of the yesteryears, Kusum-ben had told the present author in February 2009: ‘We were allowed to put our head in His lap. So we first did Pranam to Sri Aurobindo, He put His hand on our head. Then we looked at Him. He made a slight gesture with His eye, that is, “Go to Mother.” Then we did Pranam to Mother. She did the same as Sri Aurobindo. There was a little gap between the two of Them; we did Pranam there and both of Them kept Their hands on our head… ‘We used to carry garlands and offerings. There were two baskets on two sides. We used to put the garlands in one of the baskets and the offering packets in the other. ‘There were selected numbers of people… A place was given outside on the footpath. We went group- by-group in absolute silence. Nobody had to say: “Keep silent.” It was automatic. From the time when we were sitting we knew that we were going somewhere to a height. Everybody lived somewhere else. There was joy on the faces which came from deep faith. It was so different! A person serving in Dining Room was also affectionate… At that time the inmates lived in a certain inner satisfaction and inner calm. There were troubles also — that is understood. Sri Aurobindo and the Mother have said that in Their yoga everything would come up. The work was done in a very different way and the feeling of unity was there… In those days the number of people was less. At that time only those people who had really something were called. Everybody was not permitted. The whole atmosphere was very different. ‘I remember His eyes only. All the time I saw His eyes. I saw His whole face but mostly His eyes. I did see Him smile. It so happened that I thought that Dilip Kumar Roy would probably get a smile. So I tried to join him. I would be somewhere behind him though not exactly behind him. I saw that little smile when Dilip Kumar went. Otherwise it was not a smile but gravity and subtle love which were almost like a smile. You cannot say ‘smile’ as we speak of. We never wanted to move away from Him. We went on looking. He also looked into our eyes and then He would blink. His gaze was as if He was looking far, far into the infinite. He would look at you and at the same time He would probably go through you. Mother’s gaze was of love and full of smile. That was the way He said: “Now next.” That was His way of saying. And that blinking was so beautiful! I cannot describe but whenever I think of Him, His eyes will come, that blinking will come and the way He said: “Go.”’ Kusum-ben was also present in Pondicherry when Sri Aurobindo met with an accident on the eve of the November Darshan in 1938. As a result of this accident, the Darshan of 24 November was cancelled. Kusum-ben tells the present author about this incident that those who came for the Darshan were in a state of shock for not being able to see Sri Aurobindo. But, she recalls, ‘Mother doubly gave Herself. Her smile was overwhelming! It may not have been easy for Her also but She was giving such love because She knew that those people who came for the Darshan would feel sad.’ Visanji and Kusum-ben would stay in the Ashram for months. Thus young Kusum-ben got more and more attracted towards the Mother whom she would meet often. One day in 1942 she realized that she could not live without the Mother as she had developed an intimate bond with Her. She told Visanji that she would like to stay in the Ashram for good. Since the date of her departure from Pondicherry was approaching, Kusum-ben requested the Mother to kindly allow her to meet Her every time She opened the door to Her apartments on the first floor of the Ashram main building. The Mother would open the www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 12 Nature of the being: Mind

Nature of the being: Mind Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. August 2019. door four times and every time Kusum-ben saw Her. On the eve of her departure from the Ashram, the Mother kissed Kusum-ben on her forehead and said: “Come back soon.” Kusum-ben replied: “Call me back in one month.” Kusum-ben left Pondicherry on 22 May. But after reaching home it seems that she began to spend her days in an unhappy state. Her mother observed it and one day remarked: “I find you so miserable — you better go back to Pondicherry.” As Visanji had a business to attend, Kusum-ben was sent to Pondicherry with her aunt. On 22 June 1942 they reached Pondicherry. It is interesting to note that Kusum-ben had requested the Mother to call her back to Pondicherry within a month and she was back in Pondicherry exactly after a month. After staying for a few months in Pondicherry, when it was time for her to go back to her paternal house, Kusum-ben went and told the Mother: “I don’t want to go this time.” The Mother did not answer. But when Visanji went to see Her, the Mother told him: “Kusum is not going. She is seventeen now, she can decide for herself.”(Kusum-ben recalled with a smile: “I don’t know how She said seventeen for I was fifteen years old at that time.”) The Mother also said to Visanji that She had already kept a room ready for Kusum-ben. Thus, Kusum-ben stayed back at Pondicherry and was soon made an inmate of the Ashram. The Mother also told Kusum-ben: “Now you are mine. All that you want you will get from me.” When her own mother came to Pondicherry, she had exclaimed: “You are stolen away from me!” In November 1943 she was joined by her younger sister Dhanavanti, who went on to become one of the finest artists of the Ashram. Kusum-ben was one of the first students of the Ashram School when it was started in December 1943. Though she did not show any signs of brilliance in the school where she studied before joining the Ashram, she began to excel in every subject taught at the Ashram School. Sunil Bhattacharya, who was a very popular teacher, had once remarked: “I never had a student like Kusum. In 1944 the Mother asked Kusum-ben to join Golconde — the oldest dormitory of the Ashram — where she worked for eight years. She would go to Golconde right after the Mother’s Balcony Darshan at 6.30 a.m. Her work was to mark the laundry given by the inmates and supervise the workers who washed the clothes. Every day in the morning, she would undo all the bundles, check the numbered items and add numbers to those which were unnumbered. She would finish her work within an hour and leave for her house to have her breakfast. She would return after half an hour and mark the laundry which was collected afterwards. She would then go to the Laundry Room in the basement of Golconde to supervise the workers who washed the clothes. One day in 1945 K. Amrita, the Manager of the Ashram, informed Kusum-ben that the Mother would like to meet her and Anu-ben Purani (daughter of A. B. Purani) that very evening. When they met the Mother, She informed them that She had chosen both of them to look after the children of ‘Dortoir’— the first Boarding in the Ashram. Kusum-ben recalls: ‘I was then 17 and not an extrovert, timid by nature, a lover of solitude who hardly ever spoke and whose feelings would not easily find expression. All this was tickling inside, when the Mother came out with, “This is the right age for this work.” Then again another instruction, a very touching one: “Now you will work like two bodies with one soul.” Then again, “With children you should be like children, play with them.” My nature-erected wall, that upon which I had been leaning so long, must crumble down it seemed—I must assume another nature!’ The Mother also instructed that no child should be touched to wake him up; instead he should be called by his name until he woke up. Each and every child was asked to be brought up just like a tender flower. Early in the morning Kusum-ben would go down to inspect the maids washing clothes. After the children left for school, she would get busy with her activities which included dusting the furniture, preparing the dining room where small individual tables were set out and put away on a daily basis. After the children left for the second session of the school post-lunch, she ironed their clothes. In the evening, along with Anu-ben Purani, Kusum-ben prepared the children for the Playground. During the absence of the children, Kusum-ben and Anu-ben prepared their dinner. Thus, Kusum-ben worked for almost eighteen hours a day www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 13 Nature of the being: Mind

Nature of the being: Mind Sri Aurobindo Society, Singapore. August 2019. for seven years without knowing what fatigue meant. She would say that she got her energy from the Mother’s smile. However she had to discontinue her studies as a result of her responsibilities. The Mother was quite fond of an alcohol-based lotion called ‘Friction de Foucaud’ which was manufactured by a French company owned by Madame Lucienne Merle, a friend of the Mother. This lotion was imported from France as it had sixty uses. Following the merger of Pondicherry with India, the import of ‘Friction de Foucaud’ was banned. The manufacturing company suggested that the Ashram import the basic essences from France and add the alcohol in Pondicherry. The Mother accepted the suggestion and asked Udar Pinto to start a chemical laboratory for the said work. Thus Udar Pinto started the Laboratoires Senteurs. Udar Pinto recalls in his reminiscences: ‘… it was the Mother’s practice to get me to start many things in the Ashram and when these were well established She put me on to something else. So I did not remain to run any one unit but started several. To this end, I had to train someone each time to carry on the work when I had to go to start something else.’ He started looking for someone who could carry on the work at Laboratoires Senteurs. He took a list of names to the Mother who pointed out the name of Kusum-ben. At that time, Kusum-ben was still working in Golconde. She realized the difficulty in managing two unrelated departments so she wrote to the Mother: ‘Mother, I accept with joy, and at the same time I offer it to You to take the charge. With You I can do all, but without You, I can do nothing. Your help will be extremely necessary to be able to accomplish these two tasks.’ The Mother replied: ‘Je suis toujours avec toi dans ton travail et tu peux toujours compter sur mon aide qui ne te manquera jamais (meaning, ‘I am always with you in your work and you can always count on my assistance which will never be missed’). Thus, Kusum-ben took charge of Laboratoires Senteurs and continued to run it for over sixty years till the end of her life. The Mother had promised Kusum-ben that She would always be with her. And Kusum-ben had told the present author: “When I am at home I am full of Her presence… I don’t feel a single day that She is not here.” She had further added: “When I go for Darshan, I don’t feel that I am only seeing photos. I feel everything like my old Darshan days; whatever was happening inside happens now also. Of course if I want to use my mind then They are not there, instead Their photos are there. But in my heart only They are there… I ask sometimes: “So many people say Sri Aurobindo is there in the subtle physical. I can feel you so much but you never want to show yourself to me.” There was a time when I used to see Mother everyday in my dreams but it was long back. I don’t even see Them in dreams. I get up, I work, I feel I am directed and guided but I don’t meet Them. Maybe that keeps me humble.” Yes, humility was the most striking feature of Kusum-ben’s personality. There was never any air of spiritual ego in her. Her name meant ‘flower’; she was sweet as a flower but if necessary she could become extremely stern but without losing her inherent sweetness. With the passage of time, Kusum-ben’s body became weak but not her spirit. Despite her failing health she continued to attend to her work at Laboratoires Senteurs. A few days before she left her body, she developed breathing problems and constipation. She spent her last days in the Ashram Nursing Home where she was on oxygen. She left peacefully in her sleep at 3.40 a.m. on 12 May 2019 at the age of ninety after serving the Mother and Sri Aurobindo for over seventy-five years. Printed and Published by The Sri Aurobindo Society of Singapore 2A Starlight Road 01-07, Singapore 217755. Saurab: 86559940 or [email protected]; Sanjay: 98750767 or [email protected]; Email: [email protected] Visit our website at: www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg www.sriaurobindosociety.org.sg 14 Nature of the being: Mind