The Essential Aurobindo

by Sri Aurobindo

Book by McDermott, Robert (Ed)

Genres: Philosophy, Spirituality

258 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1988

About the author

Sri Aurobindo (Bengali: শ্রী অরবিন্দ Sri Ôrobindo) was an Indian nationalist and freedom fighter, major Indian English poet, philosopher, and yogi. He joined the movement for India's freedom from British rule and for a duration (1905–10), became one of its most important leaders, before turning to developing his own vision and philosophy of human progress and spiritual evolution.

The central theme of Sri Aurobindo's vision is the evolution of life into a "life divine". In his own words: "Man is a transitional being. He is not final. The step from man to superman is the next approaching achievement in the earth evolution. It is inevitable because it is at once the intention of the inner spirit and the logic of Nature's process."

The principal writings of Sri Aurobindo include, in prose, The Life Divine, considered his single great work of metaphysics,The Synthesis of Yoga, Secrets of the Vedas, Essays on the Gita, The Human Cycle, The Ideal of Human Unity, Renaissance in India and other essays, Supramental Manifestation upon Earth, The Future Poetry, Thoughts and Aphorisms and several volumes of letters. In poetry, his principal work is Savitri: a Legend and a Symbol in blank verse.

Reviews

[Linda Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked reading this book. Sri Aurobindo was a very intelligent man and I think ahead of his times.

[Nick Mather]

Since the school I attend (California Institute of Integral Studies) was deeply influenced by the thought of Sri Aurobindo I thought I should actually take the time to actually read some of Aurobindo's writings. I began with this collection, edited by Robert McDermott who is the chair of the Philosophy, Cosmology and Consciousness program at CIIS.



I'm actually more impressed with Aurobindo than I thought I would be. His ideas come across like a synthesis of Nietzsche and Teillhard de Chardin. McDermott presents Aurobindo's writings in three sections; Man in Evolution, Integral Yoga and Toward a Spiritual Age. While Aurobindo's writing can be a bit tedious at times, the ideas presented demand reflection. I'll definitely be checking out more of his writings in the coming months.