Breath of Grace - All Books By Title by Auromere Ayurvedic Imports

From the blurb "This is an invaluable collection of reminiscences of early sadhaks of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, recording their personal experiences of Sri Aurobindo's and the Mother's Grace in day-to-day life. It presents a rare and intimate history of the Ashram. The personalities of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother stand revealed in all their compassion, love and solicitude for humanity." The editor asks "how have they (Sri Aurobindo and the Mother) radiated their Light in this obscure and resisting world, how have men and women received their Grace in day-to-day life?" This book is inspired "by a strong need to record this practical side of their Manifestation".

REVIEW

In recent years, there has been a welcome interest in the early years of Ashram Life. There have been special issues of Ashram journals dealing with this important theme. A photography exhibition in the Ashram has also brought to limelight, probably for the first time, an ensemble of extremely rare photographs dating back to this period.

Collectively, these efforts, mounted by the initiative of different individuals, have kindled a new interest in this era, often described as the golden age in the Ashram history.

This has served several purposes: a look back at the Ashram's past for inspiration and rededication to the ideal, a homage to the memory of the extraordinary group of dedicated seekers, an essential education for the younger generation about the spiritual history, and above all the answer to a paramount need to immerse ourselves in the grace of the Master and the Mother. Clearly their presence permeates every single account of this volume.

In the wake of these developments, we are fortunate now in having a new edition of an excellent period history by one of the senior Sadhaks of the Ashram, the late M.P Pandit. It will be hard to recall the various contributions Panditji made over the years for the Divine cause in the Ashram and outside. He lived in the Ashram for over fifty years in an exemplary manner, a greater part of which was spent as the Mother's secretary. He was also a professor at the SAICE. His commentaries on the Vedas, Upanishads, occultism, psychology and yoga in the light of Sri Aurobindo's integral philosophy and practice have greatly helped to ensure a wider dissemination of the Mother and the Master.

In the present book, which I consider as one of the most outstanding in its category, Panditji has commendably brought together sixteen personal narratives of early Sadhaks and Sadhikas. In doing so, he has rendered a signal service to the Ashram as a community. The book also shows his great devotion to his Guru, marking a lasting contribution to the future generations.

As Panditji rightly informs us in the preface while underlying his basic aim in the book, there exist very few accounts as to how the Mother and Sri Aurobindo's writings and talks have radiated their light in this obscure and resisting world and how men and women have received "their grace in day-to-day life".

This collection offers a rare glimpse into an extraordinary chapter of Ashram's history. As one goes through this book, one is struck by the depth of vision, the spirit of total surrender to the Guru, dedication to the cause, attention to the smallest details of day-to-day living.

Thus, the volume operates primarily at two levels: a record of yoga along with glimpses into the inner world, and secondly a fascinating account of day-to-day life in a spiritual community.

The next remarkable aspect of the collection is the great variety of personality types that we find in the book. While all focus on their relationship with the Gurus, they bring with them an extraordinary variety in terms of their upbringing, education, initiation and maturation. These are Bengalis, Gujaratis, Telugus, Tamils and others who come from unequal socio-cultural background. But this fact is no hindrance to a life of spiritual quest.

The record of their proximity to the Mother and Sri Aurobindo elevates even an ordinary reader to a state of elevated consciousness, such is the charged atmosphere underlying the texts. Each speaks with honesty and transparency. An overall spirit of humility marks the account of each individual seeker. Diaries and notes are joyfully kept as a record of inner life. No part of the day or night is ignored as unworthy of attention. There are reproductions of conversations and letters exchanged with the Mother and the Master. Irrespective of the length of the narrative, each contributor brings in a unique perspective, a note that adds to the overall beauty of the symphony.

With Ganpatram, we see a simple child whose obsession with Pranayam and a near death experience saves him from the clutches of a worldly father. Similarly, K chooses to write about himself as an observer in the third person, a story of how "Grace comes to the seeker". Kanailal Ganguly's arrival at Pondicherry is described with wit and humor. Similarly, Kodandarama Rao recalls that Sri Aurobindo's way of judging a person was unique: he never asked anyone regarding his parentage, antecedents etc. His way of knowing was by identity. Others like Sahana Devi and Mrutyunjoy speak of unique Ashram institutions like the Soup ceremony, Pranam and many instances of Mother's infinite grace. Romen Palit offers recollections of his life as one of the first children to come into the fold of the Ashram. The story of his training in the hands of the Mother provides a priceless glimpse into her personality.

ST, likewise, speaks of his occult and mystical experience. Shanti Doshi remembers the special gesture of Sri Aurobindo at the time of the Pranam. His declaration to the Mother: "I do not want to be a yogi, I want to be a child" is most memorable. Poojalal's poignant account about the surrender of Bushy the cat, and the story of the sparrow that alights on Sri Aurobindo's chair reveal the deep compassion of the Master vis a vis the natural world.

Then there are the minute details of day-to-day life: the meaning and relevance of horoscope, the merits of keeping a file, the purpose of writing a book and the ethics of receiving a gift in spiritual life. All are taken up by the seekers. And all questions receive patient, equal and considerate answers from the Gurus.

In the spiritual annals of the Ashram, some books are destined to find a special place. Breath of Grace, in my opinion, is one of them.

— Sachidananda Mohanty

November 2002