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Sri Ramkrishna Das explains the significance of nama-japa in the sadhana of Sri Aurobindo's Integral Yoga and provides detailed instructions on the method of its practice. The author discusses in careful detail the many obstacles and difficulties with which the sadhak of this yoga is confronted and points out the way for overcoming them with the help of the Mother's name. He writes: "Since the Mother and her name are the same Truth and Principle, whenever the sadhak repeats her name, the Mother's presence remains with him. The difficult sadhana of transformation becomes very easy by doing nama-japa." Sri Ramkrishna Das goes on further to describe how the Mother found nama-japa to be indispensable for the transformation of the body. In 1959 the Mother herself said: "I have also come to realise that for this sadhana of the body, the mantra is essential . . . because only japa has a direct action on the body." The usefulness and effectiveness of nama-japa have been brought out by the author of this book in a lucid and straight forward manner.Part Two of this new edition features more questions and answers concerning the practice of Sri Aurobindo's Yoga as well as some anecdotes and experiences with Sri Ramkrishna Das that highlight his personality and his exceptional achievements in this yoga.

Am 28. Februar 1968 versammelten sich auf einem verödeten Plateau an der Koromandelküste Südindiens etwa 4000 Menschen aus der ganzen Welt zu einer höchst ungewöhnlichen Zeremonie. Abgesandte hatten aus denLändern der Welt eine Handvoll Erde mitgebracht und vermischten sie als ein Symbol für die menschliche Einheit. Warum unterstützte Indira Gandhi, die damalige Premierministerin Indiens, die Entwicklung einer "Stadt, die die Erde braucht"? Warum erklärte auch die UNESCO ihre Unterstützung für dieses Projekt? Warum ist der Dalai Lama seit vielen Jahren in das Projekt involviert? Was hat die Anthropologin Margaret Mead veranlasst darauf zu bestehen, dass Aurovilles Werdegang dokumentiert werden muss? Warum haben sowohl der Historiker William Irvin Thompson als auch Robert Muller, Repräsentant der Vereinten Nationen, erklärt, dass dieses gesellschaftliche Experiment für die Menschheit einen Durchbruch bedeuten kann, selbst wenn Kritiker es als "einen unmöglichen Traum" abtaten?"Auroville" ist der Name einer 1968 gegründeten universellen Stadt. Heute hat diese Stadt über 2800 Bewohner und viele Tausend Besucher. Dieses Buch ist eine kurze Abhandlung über den Integralen Yoga - die Aurovillezugrundeliegende spirituelle Vision von Sri Aurobindo und der Mutter - und eine Reflexion über Aurovilles Entwicklung seit seiner Gründung.Diese Veröffentlichung ist das Ergebnis einer Zusammenarbeit zwischen zwei langjährigen Bewohnern Aurovilles, Bindu Mohanty und B (William Sullivan), und ein Spiegelbild ihrer beständigen Hingabe an evolutionäre Ideale und das radikale gesellschaftliche Experiment Auroville.

This book presents an explanatory introduction to the variety of architectural approaches taken since Auroville's founding in 1968, while at the same time giving an opportunity to many of the township's practicing architects to talk about their work, their inspiration and future vision. Although we hope the book acts as a source of inspiration to all those interested in architecture, both within India and abroad, it does not set out to present any detailed analysis of Auroville architecture. Auroville: "At last a place where one will be able to think only of the future. At last a place where one will be able to think only of progressing and transcending oneself. At last a place where one will be able to live in peace, without conflicts and without rivalries of nations, religions and ambitions. At last a place where nothing will have the right to impose itself as the exclusive truth." - The Mother, February 1968

The book is a treasure-trove of fascinating historic photos, mostly in black and white, illustrating everything from early preparations at the site for the ceremony up to and including the actual event on 28th February 1968. In support of the many photos, a considerable number of which has never been seen before outside the Archives, there are also texts with the Mother's early visions for the township, the aims and ideals She wants Auroville to achieve, and of course everything concerning the day itself and the lead-up to it. Furthermore, there are also a considerable number of interesting interviews with those who took part, including some of today's Aurovilians. Their memories of that historic day greatly enrich the book, bringing in personal touches, observations and experiences that have never before been openly shared with other than close friends or fellow participants.The contributions of people like Roger Anger, Paolo Tomasi, Manoj Das Gupta, Udar Pinto, Prem Malik, Kireet Joshi, Manju Jhunjhunwalla, Kalya (Michel) Lemaire, Maurice Shukla, Vincenzo Maiolini, Tapas Bhatt, Frederick Buxloh, Gerard Cruz, Poppo Pingel and others - especially Kiran Poddar, whose father Navajata played a key role at the time - all combine to portray an occasion unique in the history of the world, when, as one participant put it, "We were (actually) creating the 'New' world", a day on which as another put it, "The atmosphere was vibrating", as Mother poured Her force into every detail of the event.

Crossroad The New Humanity is a book-compilation from the trilogy of The Human Cycle, The Ideal of Human Unity and War and Self-Determination by Sri Aurobindo (CWSA vol. 25). After examining the transition from infrarational to the rational, the subjective and, ultimately, the spiritual age, along with the corresponding societal changes, the focus shifts to Sri Aurobindo extolling the perfection of the individuals and of society as mutually interdependent. Expounding upon nation and group- soul, the inadequacy of the state-idea in spite of the attractiveness of the rational collectivist idea, a world-union of all the people for the unified growth and perfection of the human race instead of a world-parliament, the conclusion of Sri Aurobindo's excursus is the 'religion of humanity' and the dawning of the spiritual age.

As for the Divine and the human, that also is a mind-made difficulty. The Divine is there in the human, and the human fulfilling and exceeding its highest aspirations and tendencies becomes the Divine. ... When the Divine descends, he takes upon himself the burden of humanity in order to exceed it-he becomes human in order to show humanity how to become Divine. But that cannot be if there is only a weakling without any divine Presence within or divine Force behind him-he has to be strong in order to put his strength into all who are willing to receive it. There is therefore in him a double element-human in front, Divine behind-and it is that which gives the impression of unfathomableness of which you complained. If you look upon the human alone, looking with the external eye only and not willing or ready to see anything else, you will see a human being only-if you look for the Divine, you will find the Divine.

Antithesis of Yoga is a nonfictional novel of the first 25 years of wonderful and terrible life in the City of the Future, written by Jocelyn. Auroville, The City Earth Needs, near Pondicherry India, is a global spiritual township started by The Mother in 1968. For those interested in learning about the history of Auroville, and would like to meet the fascinating people and hear the often amazing stories of the beginnings of this Utopian experiment they can find here a first hand account of the tumultuous years of Auroville's early development.Roslyn, an American hippie single mother, had imagined she had had a vision calling her to India. She travelled to Pondicherry overland across Europe and Asia, not knowing her destination was Pondicherry. She arrived with her eight month old daughter Bliss in August 1969. She thought she had found Shangri la. Pondicherry was nothing like anywhere she had been. It sparkled.She soon met many interesting, exotic people, John Kelly, a New York City fireman who had had visions of Mother and Sri Aurobindo in the trenches in WWII; and Ananta. a Boston Brahmin sadhu who had built a temple to Zeus on the island Mother had given him; the Countess de B, a hero of the French Resistance; the tantric guru, Panditji; and many others. But Roslyn was completely captivated by The Mother and Her vision and ideals for Auroville.Roslyn's first glimpse of Auroville was a red eroded plain, pockmarked with impoverished villages. There was not a tree to be seen. There was no electricity in the area. There was 100% illiteracy among the villagers. But that was not what Roslyn saw. She saw a place where a utopia would be built by sun eyed children of a new dawn.There were many adventures, misadventures and challenges along the way.This book tells some of the story of the great adventure of the beginning of the town. Auroville today is a town in South India visited by VIP's, students and people from all over the world, the home of people from more than 30 countries, the winner of a Green Oscar, the site of the Matrimandir, and has applied for World Heritage status. It is a successful experiment in developing a spiritual global community.