from saroj patnaik sarojpatna@gmail.com to tusarnmohapatra@gmail.com date 15-Jul-2007 17:29 subject Complete works of Sri Aurobindo - Publication
Please refer to the debate on the issue. It is understandable that devotees who are having with them the letters written by the Mother & Sri Aurobindo may not part with the same so easily. I would have also not done so. After all it was a letter written by the Supreme Avatar, which one may consider as a personal treasure. May be a letter is written to an individual but its relevance is for the whole humanity. However, human beings have their own tendencies. A large number of letters may still not surface. But for this will it be proper to withhold the publication of the complete works? Some letters surfacing after the publication could be accommodated in the next revised edition. Everybody will agree that there will be addition every time a fresh edition is brought out. So why late. Hurry up. May be the publishers want to bring out the best, and if that be the reason one can wait for a reasonable period of time, but certainly not for an indefinite period of time. The debate, however, is good, a healthy one. We can not consider it as an accusation or criticism. A devotee has the right to know more and more about the Lord and there is nothing wrong to be restless for the same. It may just be a process in that direction. 8:49 PM
< Please refer to the debate on the issue. It is understandable that devotees who are having with them the letters written by the Mother & Sri Aurobindo may not part with the same so easily. I would have also not done so. After all it was a letter written by the Supreme Avatar, which one may consider as a personal treasure. May be a letter is written to an individual but its relevance is for the whole humanity. However, human beings have their own tendencies. A large number of letters may still not surface.
ReplyDeleteQuite, I agree with the point you are making here. Maybe they should just push the new Letters on Yoga till after everything else is out. Maybe that's already the plan? I have no idea...Does anyone know?
> But for this will it be proper to withhold the publication of the complete works?
Withholding the publication? I still seem to get a couple of new books every 1-2 years in my postbox...
> Some letters surfacing after the publication could be accommodated in the next revised edition.
Everybody will agree that there will be addition every time a fresh edition is brought out. So why late. Hurry up. May be the publishers want to bring out the best, and if that be the reason one can wait for a reasonable period of time, but certainly not for an indefinite period of time.
"Indefinite period of time"? A couple of years between new additions seems reasonable enough to me, considering especially the magnitude of the work being done. (Look at the 'Note on Texts' in Volume 12 for example. My opinion may not be 'critical', but well, it does look like something like this takes a lot of patient research work).
> The debate, however, is good, a healthy one. We can not consider it as an accusation or criticism.
Indeed, debates are good, but this...
>>> In the absence of authentic editions scholarship suffers, while those who have access go on to publish books and articles by leveraging their privilege.
and especially this
>>> In the meantime, questions as to the published volumes are being raised. It is a pity that such restrictive practices are tolerated in a democracy like India.
is clearly something else.
Once and for all, to explain my stand: the issue in question is not whether new material is being discovered or whether the Publication Department is or should be writing articles...The sooner we have everything, the better, no doubt, but I care 2 hoots as long as I have the full set within the next 15 years, or before I die, I hope!
My objection is simply that the attitude expressed in the above paragraph, and the first post in general, is unfair towards the people and the Asram which is working towards compiling the new edition, (apart from being arguably 'unyogic', or as the blogmaster might prefer, a bit 'unSavitri-Eranlike' - excuse my harmless sense of humour.)
> A devotee has the right to know more and more about the Lord and there is nothing wrong to be restless for the same.
Indeed, indeed, and who is stopping the devotee? Plunge into the Yoga of Knowledge, read Srinivas Iyengar or George Van Vrekhem, read On Himself, The Mother - know and experience all you want about every aspect of the Divine...but, what is expressed in the above para is something quite other than wanting to know "more about the Lord".
I may add here, that I am expressing my concerns only because I genuinely feel that the kind of feelings expressed in the above quoted para, and which is frequently done by others online too, work like acid, eating away at the tender and special bonds that hold together the Aurobindonian community. Particularly, in the absence of the physical presence of our Gurus and the lack of clear solutions to our many differences, may we be a little more understanding, patient, and kind to each other, and abtsain from flinging around unchastened, unsubstantiated emotions and thoughts. This holds true for me too, and I apologise for any ruffled feathers.
I believe, not restlessness, but an intense and yet patient individual quest is the need of the hour; if successful, its repurcussions will no doubt echo around us, in the larger Aurobindonian community, and in the human collectivity beyond as well.
And then, maybe, just maybe, the new set will be out quicker too. :)
"May we grow wide," as the Vedas say.
V