Reflections on Yoga (English): Recent Episodes
Dr. Alok Pandey
Dr Alok Pandey reflects upon different aspects of life and existence from the spiritual perspective. In English.
This talk by Dr Alok Pandey is centered around the difficulty experienced at a stage of yoga when one becomes aware of the division within oneself.
This reflection takes up the question of conquering the difficulties of vital nature especially desire. A talk by Dr Alok Pandey.
This is a brief reflection on the different ways that the different systems of healing work. A talk by Dr Alok Pandey.
This talk refers to an interesting ancient legend recounted in the Vedas in the backdrop of the Martanda Sun Temple in Anantnag, Kashmir state of India. A talk by Dr Alok Pandey.
This is a brief reflection on the first meeting of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. A talk by Dr Alok Pandey.
A brief reflection based on a phrase from Savitri about the inner struggle of evolution.
This reflection is about the relation between soul and nature. It is based on some lines from Savitri.
In this talk we touch upon some later messages of the Mother. A talk by Dr Alok Pandey.
This reflection is about ways and means of getting rid of lower movements such as anger, lust, ambition, greed etc.
This reflection is on one of the aspects of the Divine Mother where She is shown destroying her own body.
In this English reflection we see whom should the Indian nation rightfully regard as the father of the Nation India.
We take a look at some portions of an article by Nolini Da “On the Brink” [1976], where he speaks of the future of the Ashram. A full text of the article is here: https://auromaa.org/brink-nolini-kanta-gupta/
How modern left liberal thought has become intolerant toward religion and spiritual truths and why this has to change.
On the rise of some separatist movements in India and how to understand them in the context of a United India.
In this English reflection we take a look at the truth of genders to get a deeper understanding of it.
In this English reflection we take a look at the effect of using the social media on the spiritual life.
What is the psychic discernment and what can be the ways to discern matters coming into our life at different levels.
In this English reflection see how in the Savitri the Divine Mother speaks to Aswapati and then Her coming foreseen through the boon she gives him.
We look at the relation between the Yoga Sri Aurobindo brought for us and the Yogic paths that existed before.
In this English reflection we take the following letter of Sri Aurobindo in which he explains a certain attitude of people in Ashram with regards to comforts and food and it’s reasons.
In this English reflection we take a look at three transformations that are part of the Integral Yoga.
In this reflection we take up the subject of sleep and dreams and see how we are unaware of it and how to understand and grow through it.
In this English reflection we read the following passage of The Mother on resurrection and find its significance in the past events as well as its inner truth.
Life is riddled with problems, and our understanding of it does not help us in finding the solution. The true solution lies in light of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo.
When the soul leaves the gross physical body, it lingers for some time in the vital sheath. In most people this sheath is full of things that are not pleasant such as greed, fear, lust, anger etc. These elements begin to disintegrate when the central will holding them together in the bodily house is withdrawn. It is to destroy these elements that the body is given to fire and elaborate prayers and rituals are performed such as shraddha and asthi visarjan. It is however quite possible that as these elemental energies disintegrate, they may be unwittingly absorbed by someone who is weak in the vital or sensitive. In such cases some dislocation can take place leading to physical or psychological symptoms. In most instances these are temporary but at times they may continue if something in the recipient who has witnessed a funeral is open and receptive to such energies. Rarely some portion of the vital being of the departed may seek temporary shelter in the atmosphere of people who love or, especially when the death was premature or violent, even try to take hold of the body to maintain its continuity. It is for these reasons that children and women (both are generally more open and sensitive) were best advised to avoid the funeral. The rule of taking a bath soon after returning from a funeral was also for this reason.
However these are general rules for the masses. Much depends upon the individual who has departed. There are some whose atmosphere is quite good because they have lived largely a clean life detached from worldly things and turned towards a higher and nobler ideal. Also, if the funeral ground is kept neat and clean these elemental energies cannot linger long.
As to empathy, it should be there. For those who are left behind it was not the protoplasmic sheath but the personality that has gone ahead further in its journey. That is the origin of grief and not merely the absence of the body. What is needed is an understanding of the human condition that in its ignorance wants to hold on to people and things forever in the same way as they are accustomed to. This is not permissible nor desirable as it is counter-progress. All this needs to be slowly brought home to those left behind that death is not an end but the soul’s opportunity. However those with whom we share bonds that are deeper and rooted in the soul are lost only for a while. They meet us across lives and something within feels the old links even though the senses and the outer mind has forgotten.
How to deal with situations when when abuses, threats and nastiness is hurled upon one and what should be our response.
A part of a webinar initiated by ‘Samata’, a program in Auroville towards better understanding and working through mental health.
In this brief reflection we see how our actions, victories, difficulties etc. affect the entire life.
We see how the will sometimes finds it hard to overcome difficulties, and how to overcome these.
In this reflection we see the role of Mrinalini Devi in Sri Aurobindo’s life.
A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at Sri Aurobindo Ashram (Van Niwas), Nainital.
Is the concept of soul in human, animal and vegetal kingdom same?
A brief reflection by Dr Alok Pandey at Sri Aurobindo Ashram (Van Niwas), Nainital.
This reflection is on a writing of Sri Aurobindo where he pays tribute to Hirobumi Ito, the prime minister of Japan who was assassinated in 1909.
In this reflection we look at the difference between suggestions of different kind and intuition.
In this reflection we see the two conquests one can make in life. We take five stories: ‘Alexander and Diogenes’, ‘Sheikh Sadi’, ‘King Asoka and Buddha’ and ‘Master Archer of a Zen story’, and the example of Krishna and Shiva.
In this brief reflection we see how the psychic being can develop through different paths.
We look at the difference between the soul and psychic being, and growth of the psychic being through lives.
We read the lines from Savitri p407
I looked upon the world and missed the Self
And when I found the Self, I lost the world,
We take a look at Life and Greatness of Lord Rama in whom Sri Aurobindo saw the Avatar of the Illumined Mind.
What the Mother has said about the present conditions of the Earth and the course man must take in a passage from CWM-9, p. 169-170.
In this brief reflection we look at what turning inwards really means, why is it necessary and how can it be done.
In this reflection we read the Darshan message of 24th November 2021 and we take the full letter written by Sri Aurobindo, from which the message was selected (below).
An attempt to understand the meaning of Sri Aurobindo’s phrase ‘Yoga is nothing but practical psychology.
This is a brief reflection on the spiritual approach in caring for terminally ill patients and have even this crisis can be turned into a great opportunity for a spiritual leap.
In this brief reflection we see the role of the rational mind in the common good of man and what common good really means.
Special descents on Darshan days and the main work of Sri Aurobindo, opening a way towards the future.
A reflection on the Darshan Day Message for August 15, 2021:
… if we learn to live within, we infallibly awaken to this presence within us which is our more real self, a presence profound, calm, joyous and puissant of which the world is not the master – a presence which, if it is not the Lord Himself, is the radiation of the Lord within….
The truth of ourselves lies within and not on the surface.
Sri Aurobindo
In this brief English reflection, we speak about the ways of dealing with undesirable movements and tendencies in nature.
In this brief English reflection, we see the truth of seasons of life and how to go through them gracefully.
This brief English reflection is based on a talk of Nolini da where he speaks of the inner and outer reality of the Ashram.
In this brief English reflection we take an in-depth look at what are Will and Faith and the differences between them.
In this brief English reflection we share the deep insight from ancient mystic thought.
In this reflection we look at some of the spiritual truths from the past and try to understand their deeper meaning and see their relevance in the present. Some of these are:
(1) Spiritual Scriptures, (2) Adhikarbhed (Fitness for Initiation), (3) Chaturvarna (Fourfold order), and (4) Freedom.
In this brief English reflection we take up the following lines from Savitri :
Arisen beneath a triple mystic heaven
The seven immortal earths were seen, sublime:
(Savitri, p. 672)