Saturday, July 14, 2007

The Complete Works of Sri Aurobindo is nowhere near its completion

It is a matter of regret that the Complete Works of Sri Aurobindo is nowhere near its completion. One doesn't know how many more years will it take or what is the progress with respect to different volumes. The subscribers are totally in dark. It is astonishing why a simple letter is not issued every quarter or so.
In the absence of authentic editions scholarship suffers, while those who have access go on to publish books and articles by leveraging their privilege. 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. [TNM]

5 comments:

  1. Surely you realise that the publication of the Collected Works is a momentous task, and one that can be done once every few decades only? A number of us serious students of Sri Aurobindo would rather the publication department take their time and do a thorough and complete job rather than be in a tearing hurry and bring out an incomplete collection. Even now new letters of Sri Aurobindo are surfacing.

    Also, the tone of your letters is rather unjustified. Can you elaborate on charges such as "those who have access go on to publish books and articles by leveraging their privilege"?

    Indeed, we are all impatient for the treasures that lie waiting but a little more patience is what you and I both need my fellow sadhak on the path of IY...

    Warmly,

    V

    P.S.: I may also add that looking at the quality of what has come out so far, we are lucky to have the team who are currently working on the publication.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for replying. I never demanded immediate publication of the Series. The basic thrust of my post was:

    [What is the progress with respect to different volumes.The subscribers are totally in dark. It is astonishing why a simple letter is not issued every quarter or so.]

    You have not commented on that. Further, you have mentioned that:

    [Even now new letters of Sri Aurobindo are surfacing.]

    This is what we outsiders are eager to know. When did it surface? From where? These kind of tidbits can light up our day. And these facts are of enormous historical significance.

    You have asked me to [elaborate on charges such as "those who have access go on to publish books and articles by leveraging their privilege"]

    I am willing to do so provided, 1) You disclose your full identity and location, and 2) You assert that they have not published books or articles.

    Personally, you are free to defend [the quality of what has come out so far], but that cannot be taken as a critical acclaim.

    ReplyDelete
  3. > Thanks for replying.

    Same here.

    > I never demanded immediate publication of the Series. The basic thrust of my post was:
    [What is the progress with respect to different volumes.The subscribers are totally in dark. It is astonishing why a simple letter is not issued every quarter or so.]
    You have not commented on that.


    Your original post doesn't have 'one' basic thrust. You seem to vent your (anger? / frustration? / unhappiness? / irritation?) on a number of fronts. What you posit as your 'baisc thrust' is one of them, and perhaps the most justified of these. The PD could indeed let subscribers know how things are progressing every once in a while. My comment and observation on the rather harsh and accusative tone of your original post continues to stand. On this of course we may both choose to disagree...

    > Further, you have mentioned that:
    [Even now new letters of Sri Aurobindo are surfacing.]
    This is what we outsiders are eager to know. When did it surface? From where? These kind of tidbits can light up our day. And these facts are of enormous historical significance.

    Indeed, but would you rather they work on completing the set first, or start a journal to disuss new finds?

    > You have asked me to [elaborate on charges such as "those who have access go on to publish books and articles by leveraging their privilege"]
    I am willing to do so provided, 1) You disclose your full identity and location,

    You don't hesitate to make charges publicly, so why do you refrain from elaborating them publicly? Is my identity so important? Consider me a fellow-sadhak with another point of view.

    > and 2) You assert that they have not published books or articles.

    I have no clue, and you are the expert, it seems! On one hand, you want them to provide you with 'tidbits', what research is going on and what findings are taking place, and on the other you would not like them to use the information they are 'privileged' to access, for writing articles. Strange contradiction this!

    > Personally, you are free to defend [the quality of what has come out so far], but that cannot be taken as a critical acclaim.

    You are quite right on this. I am curious though, what do you think about what has come out so far?

    "May we grow wide", as the Vedas say.

    V

    ReplyDelete
  4. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  5. < 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.

    Quite, 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

    ReplyDelete