There are people who love adventure. It is these I call, and I tell them this: “I invite you to the great adventure.”
1960 to 2020: 60 years of Creating The Next Future.
And the Adventure continues…
The Great Adventure
It is not a question of repeating spiritually what others have done before us, for our adventure begins beyond that. It is a question of a new creation, entirely new, with all the unforeseen events, the risks, the hazards it entails—a real adventure, whose goal is certain victory, but the road to which is unknown and must be traced out step by step in the unexplored. Something that has never been in this present universe and that will never be again in the same way. If that interests you... well, let us embark. What will happen to you tomorrow -I have no idea. One must put aside all that has been foreseen, all that has been devised, all that has been constructed, and then … set off walking into the unknown. Come what may!
-The Mother
The Mother our Executive President
The Society was registered in Calcutta, with the Mother as the Executive President. The Memorandum of Association of the Society bears the Mother’s signature as the President, and is dated 19th September 1960.
From the beginning, She has remained the guide and the dynamic force for all its activities.
The main objectives of the Society, as directed by its President is:
“To make known to the members and people in general the aims and ideals of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, their system of Integral Yoga and to work for its fulfilment in all possible ways and for the attainment of a spiritualised society as envisaged by Sri Aurobindo.”
Guidance from Sri Aurobindo, embodiment of The Supreme Light
Time voyages with with Thee upon its prow –
And all the future’s passionate hope is Thou. – Sri Aurobindo
In the hour of God cleanse thy soul of all self-deceit and hypocrisy and vain self-flattering that thou mayst look straight into thy spirit and hear that which summons it. – Sri Aurobindo
Sri Aurobindo is always present. Be sincere and faithful. This is the first condition. Blessings
– The Mother (in a message to the Baroda Branch)
The Mother’s Love and Action
Blessing from the Mother 1967
Sri Aurobindo Society's Logo
The Symbol created by the Mother for the Society is representative of its deepest aspiration. It is the Symbol of Sri Aurobindo, with two intersecting triangles, within a diamond. The descending triangle represents Sat-Chit-Ananda. The ascending triangle represents the aspiring answer from matter under the form of life, light and love. The junction of both—the central square—is the perfect manifestation having at its centre the Avatar of the Supreme—the lotus. The water—inside the square—represents the multiplicity, the creation. Later when Nolinida, a Trustee of the Ashram, was asked about the ‘diamond shape”, he explained that the significance of the diamond, according to Sri Aurobindo, is the Mother’s Light at its most intense. The symbol of the Society can therefore be seen as representing the power of the Light of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, working out the destined transformation of humanity.
The Beginning
Talks and Reminisces of Navajata, first General Secretary and Treasurer of the Society, appointed by The Mother
“Mother, so many people are connected with you all over the world. You have to establish world unity, you have to help India to progress, you have to bring about a social change. If we all get together, we can do a great work in the world. But this cannot be done unless you guide it directly.” The Mother said, “Surely it can be done… I will definitely guide you.” It is thus that the Sri Aurobindo Society came into existence in 1960.
She directed that a constitution be drawn up and the Society be registered. The Mother herself became its Executive President. The Mother gave instructions to include an important clause in its constitution that no final decision could be taken without her prior permission.
After the Mother left her body, her guidance has not ceased. In fact it is there with an even greater force. She has given her word that she would direct and guide the Society. Her promise is bound to be fulfilled. The entire earth has still to be transformed and till this is achieved the Mother will continue to guide us. But it is necessary that we become her instruments, that we receive her guidance and follow it in our actions.
Once the Mother was asked what is the work of Sri Aurobindo Society. The Mother replied that the work of Sri Aurobindo Society is to work for the realization of the ideals of Sri Aurobindo throughout the world, in every field, in every walk of life – education, economic life, social life, political life.
Sri Aurobindo Society today
Is an international not-for-profit working to contribute to national and global agendas in multiple dimensions, including Education, Women and Youth Empowerment, Development of Children with Special Needs, Palliative Care, Sustainable Development, Rural Development, Prison Reformation, Skill Development, Integral Yoga, Indian Culture and Leadership amongst various others. The Government of India recognizes Sri Aurobindo Society as a Charitable organization, a Research Institute and an Institution of Importance throughout the nation. In its relentless pursuit to create sustainable, inclusive, scalable, innovative models of excellence in every field, it has interacted, involved and touched millions of stakeholders across India and the world. Society invites every individual and organization, without any distinction, to collaborate in its endeavour to build a beautiful tomorrow and a happier world based on a dynamic application of spirituality to material life and all its activities