Enlightened spirituality is all but forgotten

Debashish Banerji Hindustan Times

As an Indian and a follower of Sri Aurobindo, I feel it is really deplorable if what this report says is true about the denial of visa extension to Peter Heehs. Not only is it a defeat to the freedom of expression which is one of the pillars of the Indian constitution, but it is a clear case of fraudulent action since Heehs' book has nothing of a "blasphemous" nature. It seems to be a set-up and the carrying out of unconstitutional decisions pressed into effect in a underhand manner...

Thanks for being a sane voice in an ocean of xenophobia. It seems from most of the other posts that a politicized divide is being created. "Secular historians" like Ramchandra Guha and Romila Thapar are being clubbed with sensationalist western academicians like Wendy Doniger and Jeffrey Kripal, and Peter Heehs is being thrown into this league. I guess on the other side are ardent Hindutva flag-bearers. An enlightened spirituality is all but forgotten in the middle of this. It is also clear that these violent voices have not read Heehs' book or else they have no reading skills.

31 March 2012: Don't expel US historian, govt told Addendum: The question about the relationship between Sri Aurobindo and the Mother is only one of dozens of objections raised by that handful of religious fundamentalists; it is not even mentioned in the Orissa Gazette Notification. It is, however, what appears to produce the most visceral effect in the public, for reasons we fail to understand. Heehs made it perfectly clear that there was no sexual element at all in this relationship. On the contrary, what he wrote underscores its profoundly sacred nature. Only readers with a serious Freudian hang-up can fail to see this. — Editors, IYF. Recent Additions

1 April 2012: Chidambaram to decide on Heeh's visa

31 March 2012: Don't expel US historian, govt told

10 March 2012: Those who get upset by these things are worse

24 February 2012: Sri Aurobindo, Heehs and the fragility of faith

9 August 2011: Review by Antony Copley

31 July 2011: BAN the BAN by Ramachandra Guha

SA used different terminologies and different formulations in different texts, this doesn’t necessarily mean he abandoned one for the other. debbanerji Posted March 14, 2012 Permalink

Finally, the siddhis and anandas spoken of in the Record are not addressed anywhere else but can clearly be seen in Sri Aurobindo and the Mother’s own functioning. Comment on The Seven Quartets of Becoming by Debashish Banerji by debbanerji from Comments for Posthuman Destinies by debbanerji Eyes open, mind closed 

Chidambaram won't allow US historian to stay in India Hindustan Times‎ - Aloke Tikku, New Delhi, April 04, 2012 00:46 IST [Posted by General Editor at 4/04/2012 07:34:00 AM] 8:47 AM, 9:10 PM