The Essential Writings of Sri Aurobindo

by Sri Aurobindo, Peter Heehs (Editor)

Scholar, poet, political and revolutionary leader, philosopher and social theorist, yogi and spiritual leader, Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950) is one of the most important figures of 20th century India. This is a selection from his writings, arranged in six sections according to Sri Aurobindo's main areas of politics, the Indian tradition, social and political theory, philosophy, yoga, poetry and poetics. It includes a general introduction giving an overview of Sri Aurobindo's life and works, brief introductions to each section, textual notes explaining references to persons and events, a glossary of Sanskrit terms, a chronology and suggestions for further reading.

418 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

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.