Sri Aurobindo Indian philosopher, poet, revolutionary, yogi, guru and founder of Integral Yoga. Date of Birth: 15.08.1872 Country: India

1. Birth and Early Life
2. Return to India and Political Activism
3. Embracing Yoga and Imprisonment
4. Pondicherry and Integral Yoga
5. Literary Legacy and Philosophy

Birth and Early Life

Sri Aurobindo, an esteemed philosopher, poet, revolutionary, yogi, and founder of Integral Yoga, was born on August 15, 1872, in Calcutta, India. He was the son of Dr. Ghosh, a physician from a noble warrior family.

From the tender age of seven, Aurobindo received education in England, first at St. Paul's School in London and later at King's College in Cambridge. He excelled in classical and modern Western literature, demonstrating exceptional abilities in Latin, Greek, and poetry.

Return to India and Political Activism

In 1893, at the age of 21, Aurobindo returned to India. For the next 13 years, he held various administrative positions in Baroda, taught English and French literature at the local university, and eventually became Principal of National College in Calcutta in 1906. During this period, he actively participated in the political struggle for India's independence.

Aurobindo's journal, "Bande Mataram," became a powerful voice for the liberation movement, advocating for complete independence and outlining strategies for its achievement. Alongside his political pursuits, he continued writing poetry and delved into India's cultural and spiritual heritage, mastering Sanskrit and other languages to decipher ancient sacred texts.

Embracing Yoga and Imprisonment

In 1904, recognizing the profound value of spiritual knowledge, Aurobindo embarked on the path of yoga, seeking to harness its power for his nation's liberation. In 1908, he was arrested under suspicion of organizing an attempt on the life of a British official and faced a death sentence. However, after a year-long trial, he was acquitted and released.

This imprisonment became Aurobindo's "yoga university." He achieved profound spiritual realizations and recognized that his mission extended beyond India's freedom to the transformative evolution of the entire universe, overcoming ignorance, falsehood, suffering, and death.

Pondicherry and Integral Yoga

Guided by an inner voice, Aurobindo retired from his political activities in 1910 and settled in Pondicherry, a French colony in South India, to pursue intense yoga. Building upon the spiritual achievements of the past, he envisioned a radical transformation of humanity, including the physical level, and the manifestation of "life divine" on earth.

Aurobindo dedicated himself to this cause, developing his Integral Yoga, which sought to integrate all aspects of human existence. From 1914 to 1921, he published a monthly philosophical journal, "Arya," where he expounded his ideas on human existence, the ancient scriptures, Indian culture, societal development, and the evolution of poetry.

Literary Legacy and Philosophy

Sri Aurobindo passed away on December 5, 1950, leaving behind a literary legacy of 35 volumes. These include philosophical works, extensive correspondence with disciples, poetry, plays, and the epic poem "Savitri," a powerful embodiment of his multifaceted spiritual experiences.

Aurobindo's unique мировоззрение (worldview) posits that cosmic evolution is a gradual self-discovery of the Divine, which has been hidden within Nature through a process of involution. Moving from stone to plant, animal to human, evolution progresses toward a higher, "divine" species that will transcend humanity.

Humans are merely transitional mental beings whose destiny is to evolve into a higher, "supramental" state of consciousness, the Consciousness-Truth. By embracing this supramental consciousness, humanity can transform itself and manifest the Promised Land of truth, harmony, and justice on earth.