Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Finally in 1993 it was moved to Unionville where it still remains

With blessings from Amal Kiran and Nirodbaran (senior devotees of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry) the SRI AUROBINDO SPIRITUAL CENTRE of TORONTO came into existence on November 24, 1990 in the residence of Neeti and Renu Ray in Toronto, Canada. Among its founding members were Ramnik Shah, Binu Mukherjee (Head of Department of Physics, Royal Military Academy of Canada, Kingston) and Ruma Mukherjee, Rasesh Thakkar, Professor of Economics, York University, Sudha and Abdul Khandwani,Tanushree Gupta (CBC), Jyoti Patel and Manju Majumdar, among others.
That was an auspicious day, the decent of Krishna's consciousness into Sri Aurobindo took place on that day in 1926 after which Sri Aurobindo withdrew for higher work (deeper Sadhana). In 1991 the Rays residence moved to Thornhill so the Centre moved along with them and finally in 1993 it was moved to Unionville where it still remains.
The Centre houses the relics of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother in a small casket placed before their photographs.This is the central point from where emanate the force and their Presence. Surrounded with flowers, symbols, a portion of the sewrvice tree from the Ashram and the smoke from the incese it truly brings a feeling of being in the Ashram. There is a rekindling of the inner being and its aspirations and for a few moments one is rejuvanated before going back to the hustle and bustle of daily Toronto living.
In the beginning the meetings were held once a month, but as the devotees aspired it became twice a month. The devotees attending come from different nationalities and all walks of life. Often they travel long distances to be there. Winters are dificult particularly as the transit system on Sundays is not very good.
In 1998 Mr. Deven Nair, the former President of Singapore, joined the Centre and actively participated in its activities. Catherine Blackburn of AVI is also an active member since 1997 and there is a great collaboration between the two organisationsIn 1997 the Centre celebrated the 125th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo at the Vedanta Centre which was attended by a hundred people. The main speakers were Deven Nair and Binu Mukherjee. In 1998 a symposium was held at York University on Sri Aurobindo's Integral Yoga and in 2002. the Mother's 125th Birth Anniversary was celebrated at the University of Toronto.
In 1999 the Centre presented a major production on Sri Aurobindo's Savitri - a two and half hour dance drama produced by Renu Ray and choreographed by Alakananda and recited by Neeti Ray. Since then this performance has been presented thirteen times - thrice at Toronto, once at Ottawa, at New York, at Colorado Springs, at the Ashram in Pondicherry, in Auroville, Calcutta, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai, Baroda, and at Bangalore.
Meetings are help at the Centre twice a month on Sundays at 10:30 AM, and on Darshan days. Meditation with the Ashram music and Mother's reading takes place. This is followed by a reading from Sri Aurobindos or the Mother's works. Many of the devotees have been to the Ashram while some have not. A light tea is later served.
There is a small library and books can be borrowed. There is also a small bookstore where books and incenses are on sale at a very resonable price. Darshan days are observed four times a year and dinner or lunch is served on those days after meditation. This is a place for people seeking an inner life, a growth of inner consciousness through the practice of Sri Aurobindo's Integral Yoga. All are welcome

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