Wednesday, March 7, 2012

If nothing visible is seen, do we scrap the The Life Divine?

from:  Narayan T Rao narayan.t.rao@gmail.com date: 6 March 2012 22:16 subject: reply to Shri Ranganath's response to the Declaration 12:33 PM 6:37 PM 7:45 PM 
10. If we were to believe in what the writer believes, 
but the present management is composed of ordinary human beings, whose sole responsibility is the external management of the organization and its smooth functioning. To equate the present set of five mortal transient, imperfect human beings with the true and deeper reality of the institution is a devious trick intended to mislead those of mediocre intelligence, who are more than willing to transfer their allegiance from Mother to the trustees. This is a truth that will stand against all false attempts to insist on the contrary which is that the trustees represent the Ashram spiritually. Nothing could be farther from the truth. 
This Ashram should exist only in form of books and preserved only for records. What has happened with the Presence of our Masters could be classified as a thing of our ancient civilizations like our Mohenjadaro and Harappa. The writer here challenges the formation of the Trust Board of Ashram formed by The Mother? I am still waiting for an immortal person in the board of Trustees…
11. Certainly it is clear that all internal problems should be resolved by the members themselves within the organization itself. No one would like an outside intervention, except when there is no other choice left. 
Absolutely correct. For whom is the writer speaking of, himself or a group which has gathered around him and he is the chosen speaker for all of them? There are still more choices and one of them could  surely be  a holistic one…. intended to mislead those of mediocre intelligence, who are more than willing to transfer their allegiance from Mother to the trustees… is this the gathering  the writer is referring to and who is their piece of mouth? In the kingdom of blind, one eyed  man is the king?
12. There is always a limit to it. That is the reason why nowhere in the world is an individual elected to a position of power for more than a fixed period of time. It is a well known truism that all power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. That is why these questions have arisen now in the context of the book maligning Sri Aurobindo. 
If freedom was not allowed, how do you think a dharna of this peaceful nature could have taken place for one whole week, leaving ones usual work?
….. Several members of the Ashram have been removed from their usual work, thus interfering with their normal functions……….. She is not guiding the others? And guidance is one thing and understanding the guidance and acting according to it is another matter altogether. 
I wonder how many responsible people would have joined a dharna in the outside world, for one whole week (actually the duration asked was for one whole month) without pay or family duties? I think we must allow at least us, the Ashramites, this unique freedom!
13. The trust deed was made purely for legal reasons. It was drafted in a hurry and the result was not really satisfactory. There is no spiritual sanctity to it and we know that legal matters did not interest the Mother…….. So to claim that it is a sacred document and fully approved by the Mother is not the fact at all. Besides, nothing in this transient world is a rigid truth for ever. Changing times and circumstances always necessitate adjustments and alterations to suit the new conditions that crop up. 
If what you say is according to your wise judgment a solution, then please tell me of some person, any where you know of has actually lived and practiced to live a life Divine, and transformed his physical being, having followed our Masters teachings. This is the yoga of Sri Aurobindo, and after so much time, if nothing visible is seen by humanity, and of course sadhaks like you and me, do we scrap the The Life Divine along with the other volumes, or at least add or rewrite these volumes of Sri Aurobindo because, changing times and circumstances always necessitate adjustments and alterations to suit the new conditions that crop up…? The Mother Herself has signed on the trust deed, it ought to be sacred to Her followers at least. I see no other option but to accept it as it is, unless you do not accept The Mother as your Guru.
14. The responsibility to avoid this is squarely on the shoulders of the management.
Good conclusion, let them do it and leave them alone, please. This was the idea of the declaration. […] Manas

10.  This entire passage may well apply to all human beings and both parties in this unfortunate confrontation, although clearly you mean by it only those who are protesting against the protection of Peter Heehs by the trustees.
At this point, let it be clearly and loudly stated that the SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM is built by the Mother and Sri Aurobindo and its truth is eternal and deeply planted. But the present management is composed of ordinary human beings, whose sole responsibility is the external management of the organization and its smooth functioning. To equate the present set of five mortal transient, imperfect human beings with the true and deeper reality of the institution is a devious trick intended to mislead those of mediocre intelligence, who are more than willing to transfer their allegiance from Mother to the trustees. This is a truth that will stand against all false attempts to insist on the contrary  which is that the trustees represent the Ashram spiritually! Nothing could be farther from the truth. This is a simple fact that was so well understood even by Monsieur André Morisset, the Mother’s son. He kept insisting on this truth. To call those who stand by this truth “deluded” is itself an act of supreme delusion.
11.  Certainly it is clear that all internal problems should be resolved by the members themselves within the organization itself. No one would like an outside intervention, except when there is no other choice left. The question is who is responsible for this unfortunate pass. When arrogance, inflexibility are the norm and not sympathetic dialogue and a spirit of accommodation, then there is no option left except unusual methods.
12.   Up to what degree is this freedom to be allowed? Taking a hypothetical case, where a serious illegal action has occurred, is the freedom still to be allowed? Should not the laws of the land take over? Now, who is to judge regarding the degree of illegality? Can anyone explain the innumerable court cases instituted against the ashram management? Why was even an arrest warrant issued against some of them? Freedom can never be infinite. There is always a limit to it. That is the reason why nowhere in the world is an individual elected to a position of power for more than a fixed period of time. It is a well known truism that all power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. That is why these questions have arisen now in the context of the book maligning Sri Aurobindo. To maintain that the book is only “foolish” but harmless and the storm will blow over in time is to completely misunderstand the situation.  The book is a direct attack on the Divine by a hostile force and if we give it protection in the Ashram, nothing could be more dangerous for the institution, which will render it open to constant problems of a more serious nature.   There are those who think that the objectionable  passages in the book by Peter Heehs are not at all bad, that they are merely harmless objective remarks, or at worst they are foolish and immature and need not be taken seriously at all. And that those who are raising a hue and cry about the book are completely mistaken or at best are exaggerating  and are making a mountain out of a molehill. Those who hold that view may please explain how at first more than ninety passages were found to be “obnoxious” and the decision to expel Peter Heehs  from the Ashram was taken, and how at the insistence of one individual,  that decision was reversed  within minutes. And all the others meekly agreed to tow the line laid down by one person!!! It appears that the real significance and danger of sheltering Peter Heehs within the Ashram has not been grasped by the trustees and their entourage.  
13.  The trust deed was made purely for legal reasons. It was drafted in a hurry and the result  was not really satisfactory. There is no spiritual sanctity to it and we know that legal matters did not interest the Mother. We have some statements from her clearly expressing this view. It is also known  that the Mother was not at all happy with the draft. This was known to several of the old sadhaks and specially Mr. Counouma, who had spoken about it to some people. So to claim that it is a sacred document and fully approved by the Mother is not the fact at all. Besides, nothing in this transient world is a rigid truth for ever. Changing times and circumstances always necessitate adjustments and alterations to suit the new conditions that crop up.                                                            
14.  I do not think that anyone really wants to do that. But rigidity and inflexibility automatically invite forces that dictate change. The responsibility to avoid this is squarely on the shoulders of the management. [...]

www.ashramite.com The point of this declaration is not to issue a personal endorsement of the trustees as individuals. It does not even matter who the five trustees happen to be. Rather this is an initiative that expresses faith in the constitutional structure and processes enshrined in the Trust Deed, the Mother's document. It is therefore an initiative in support of the high ideals, the very idea, the sheer reality, of Sri Aurobindo Ashram itself. We must not and will not see the fabric that holds our organization together ripped apart. And by the same token, those making the point that they are only attacking the trustees and not the Ashram itself and that their actions are for the good of the institution are deluding themselves and playing a dangerous game. There are vested interests attempting to create the impression that a majority of Ashramites are sympathetic to those filing lawsuits against the Trust, but nothing could be further from the truth. We will not allow this false and dangerous notion to gain further ground. This is the time to stand firm, stand together in the face of this assault on the core values of our Ashram, to lend our voices in support of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother's institution and its appointed representatives against the forces that are out to destabilize our community.
Under these trying circumstances we extend our support to the board of trustees of Sri Aurobindo Ashram. We trust that the Mother will use them, despite any shortcomings, despite the possibility of errors of judgement, as Her instruments, and that She will ensure that the institution is administered effectively and in accordance with the principles laid down by Herself and Sri Aurobindo. May Her will prevail.

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