Talks in English

An online workshop organized by NAMAH with Dr Alok Pandey.

An online workshop organized by NAMAH with Dr Alok Pandey.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the Sri Aurobindo Centre Gurugram, 2023.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the Sri Aurobindo Centre Gurugram, 2023.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the Sri Aurobindo Centre Gurugram, 2023.   A NOTE: श्रीअरविन्दोपनिषद् śrīaravindopaniṣad is one of the Sanskrit writings of Sri Aurobindo which consists of only 27 lines. Its essence has been summed up as: Brahman is real, the Jagat is also real and the Jagat is fully pervaded by Brahman who is one without a second and the jiva himself is Brahman. The entire thought style and presentation is Upanishadic, arising from Sri Aurobindo’s own spiritual experiences. To read this Upanishad and listen to its rhythmic chanting visit: https://upanishads.org.in/upanishads/10[both note above and the recitation are by Dr. Sampadananda Mishra]

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the Sri Aurobindo Centre Gurugram, 2023.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the Sri Aurobindo Centre Gurugram, 2023.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the Sri Aurobindo Centre Gurugram, 2023.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the Sri Aurobindo Centre Gurugram, 2023.

In this English webinar with Rashtram School we take up the topic of “Knowledge and Ignorance as revealed in the Upanishads”.

We look  at some great truths preserved in the form of Upanishads. Follow-up questions were: 1. Difference between Indian and Greek thought. 2. Presence of psychic being in creation

We look at the methods shown to us in the Upanishads to go ahead in the Yogic quest.

The first in the 17-instalment series on the Upanishads by Dr Alok Pandey. The series is assembled from groups of talks. The first four talks, never published before, were recorded as webinars for the Rashtram School in India in 2022.

This talk is about the future of religions and interfaith dialogues.

This talk by Dr Alok Pandey touches upon certain aspects of Sri Aurobindo’s Mahasamadhi on the 05th December 1950.

Democracy is proving inadequate, but what are the alternatives? This talk is on possibility of higher forms of governance. A talk by Dr Alok Pandey.

Q&A session with Dr Alok Pandey on destruction, new creation etc.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey

This talk at Savitri Bhavan, Auroville deals with our relation with the Mother with regard to different dimensions of Prosperity.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the Sri Aurobindo Integral Life Centre, Surat, Gujarat.

This talk is about the mystery of 17th November 1973.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the 2023 integral Yoga Retreat at the La Grace Integral Life Centre, South Carolina, USA.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the 2023 integral Yoga Retreat at the La Grace Integral Life Centre, South Carolina, USA.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the 2023 integral Yoga Retreat at the La Grace Integral Life Centre, South Carolina, USA.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the 2023 integral Yoga Retreat at the La Grace Integral Life Centre, South Carolina, USA.

Recorded in the Savitri Bhavan, Auroville, this talk followed the first Study Camp on The Life Divine.

A webinar on the concept of Akhand Bharat – an undivided Greater India. The questions asked were: – Is the unity in Akhand Bharat primarily cultural, spiritual, or political? – Given today’s geopolitical conditions, what are the challenges and opportunities for fostering cooperation and unity among the nations of the subcontinent? How do geopolitical factors impact the concept of Akhand Bharat? – How does the diverse demography of the region influence the idea of Akhand Bharat? Does the presence of different religious and ethnic groups pose challenges or opportunities for unity? – How do changing mindsets among the younger generations impact how people perceive the concept of Akhand Bharat? What role does generational perspective play in this discussion? – What is the relevance of cultural unity in power and geopolitics scenarios? – Is Akhand Bharat possible only on historical and cultural backgrounds? – Can we define or redefine the Akhand Bharat concept in the context of globalization? – As Sri Aurobindo says, spiritual nationalism was essential during the national movement. Therefore, it was necessary to define Akand Bharat during those days, but today, how to situate the concept of Akand Bharat without a National Movement? – Does the Akhand Bharat concept solve the problem in India, which has become a global problem like in Israel? – How does the concept of Akhand Bharat accommodate Islamic countries, which are opposite to Indianness or Indian cultural heritage?

A talk at the Savitri Bhavan by Dr Alok Pandey.

On the past and present Arab-Israeli conflicts as seen from the spiritual perspective.

This talk in Auroville touches upon some core elements of Education. Questions asked were on Free Progress System, Role of example and influence, rootedness in ancient Sanatan Dharma and modern times.

A new Age has dawned upon earth and a new humanity is in the making. This talk is about these new children.

This talk has been given at the Mother’s Garden, Auroville on the occasion of Sri Aurobindo’s birthday.

This talk at the Savitri Bhavan is a broad overview of the Karma Yoga. A question has been asked on the practice of offering.

An address at the inaugural session of the Indo-American World Yoga Conference organised by Swami Vidyanand ji and Yoga Alliance International.

In this webinar with NAMAH we speak about the hidden reasons of our highest and lows. A question is asked at the end about ways to train the passions.

A Questions and Answers session. Some of the questions: – Sharing experiences– Sankhya and multiple purushas– Reading Sri Aurobindo– Meaning of the term Psychic being– More on the psychic being– The Mother’s Yoga in the physical– Ultimate Goal of the spiritual seeker– Sadhana and sickness– Making choices and the Divine Will– Dealing with situations.– Wars– Getting rid of attachment.– Story of Ghatotkach and Abhimanyu– Soul’s true aspiration– Reading Savitri without understanding.

This talk touches upon some of practical aspects of the Integral Yoga.

This talk dwells on personality traits of an ideal teacher.

This talk gives a brief account of some of the fundamental principles of the Integral Yoga.

Q&A on the soul’s journey, the three steps of human evolution, and conceptions of God. A talk by Dr Alok Pandey in Chicago, USA.

This talk is about the various approaches man has taken towards the intended spiritual evolution.

We take up the subject of walking the Supramental Path.A follow-up question: How to approach global issues currently in the world?

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey in Chicago, USA

This talk is part of a series of talks arranged by La Grace on the Psychic Being.

A talk at Savitri Bhavan, Auroville, by Dr Alok Pandey.

This concludes the series on ‘The Life Divine’ written by Sri Aurobindo.

We continue the series on ‘The Life Divine’ written by Sri Aurobindo and take the chapters twenty seven and twenty eight of Book Two. The questions asked were:1. Development of the parts of being.2. How Soul grows through experiences.3. Can one aspire for a certain kind of next life?

We continue the series on ‘The Life Divine’ written by Sri Aurobindo and take Chapters 25 – 26 of Book Two.The question asked was ‘Psychic and Spiritual and Beyond’.

We continue the series on ‘The Life Divine’ by Sri Aurobindo and take chapters 23 – 24 of Book Two. The questions asked:– Discipline vs spiritual practices.

We continue the series on ‘The Life Divine’ written by Sri Aurobindo and take the chapter nineteen to twenty two of part two of Book Two. The questions asked were:1. Shraddha rituals and it’s significance.2. Evolution acceleration caused by Supermental manifestation.3. Aspiration needed while departing from the body and preparation of next birth.

Ascent and Integration. In this this English webinar with Rashtram School we continue the series on ‘The Life Divine’ written by Sri Aurobindo and take the first four chapers of part two of Book Two.The question asked was:1. Where are the roots of habits?

The origin and remedy of Falsehood and Evil.We take up Chapters Nine to Fourteen of Book Two.The questions asked were:1. Psychic being in traditional Kundalini yoga.2. Good and evil behind all events.

Knowledge and Ignorance. We continue the series on ‘The Life Divine’ written by Sri Aurobindo and take Chapters Four to Eight of the Book Two. The questions asked were:1. Subliminal and it’s discussion in written literature.2. Lucid dreams and hallucinations.

Reconciliation of opposites. We continue the series on ‘The Life Divine’ written by Sri Aurobindo and take the first four chapters of Book Two. The questions asked were:1. Insincerity and its origin.2. Difference between self, individual and being.

We continue the series on ‘The Life Divine’ written by Sri Aurobindo and take the chapters twenty four to twenty eight. The questions asked were:1. Reconciliation of opposites.2. How to know ones swadharma?3. Deriving energy from different source.4. Divine life in a divine body.5. Getting over craving for food.

Mind, life and the soul of man. We continue the series on ‘The Life Divine’ written by Sri Aurobindo and take the chapters seventeen to twenty three.

The Creation and the Creator (Supermind and Maya). We continue the series on ‘The Life Divine’ written by Sri Aurobindo and take the chapters eleven to sixteen. The questions asked were:1. Maya and Nature2. Central being, Jivatman, Soul and Psychic being.3. Formative power.

Now we continue the series on ‘The Life Divine’ by Sri Aurobindo, and take the chapters five to ten.

Human aspiration and the Omnipresent Reality.We continue the series on ‘The Life Divine’ written by Sri Aurobindo and take the first four chapters.

This is the first talk of a series on ‘The Life Divine’ written by Sri Aurobindo.The questions asked were:1. Truth in its totality.2. Plant medicine.3. Use of drugs by seekers of lower rung.4. How to approach reading ‘The Life Divine’.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey.

This webinar with NAMAH takes up the first indispensable step of Yoga that is purification.

This webinar is based on discovering the essence of the Gita with reference to the Supramental Yoga of the future. A webinar with La Grace Integral Life Center, North Carolina, USA

This talk is about the inherent complexity of our being and nature which we have to reckon with for the Yoga. A talk by Dr Alok Pandey.

This talk touches upon some psychological aspects of health and illness.

This talk is about practices of healthy living.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at Savitri Bhavan, Auroville (audio only)

An overview of the essence of integral education and its true purpose. Follow-up questions included: 1. The need for unlearning2. Contagion of consciousness3. Yoga and education

In this webinar with La Grace we see how Savitri reveals to us the highest possibility of spiritual realisation. The questions asked were:1. How does one know if one has a call or if it is deception of mind to escape?2. On yoga3. How to apply Savitri to mental illness?4. What can I do every day to get closer to the psychic in me?

In this English webinar with participants of the Integral Yoga Retreat at Sri Aurobindo Dham, Karnataka, we take up questions related to the Yoga after a brief background on the subject. The questions were: 1. The Mother’s Yoga in modern life context.2. Please explain: ‘Death is a process of life’.3. Aspiration of the soul in mind and vital.4. Advice to make the best of Spiritual retreat.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the Savitri Bhavan, Auroville, in April 2023. A follow-up question: Is Auroville a spiritual city or just an international township?

This talk at the Savitri Bhavan discusses the ways to collective realisation of the spiritual life.

This talk is centered around the final return of the Mother to Pondicherry.

This talk delivered at the Sri Aurobindo Education Society touches upon some aspects of National Education. Audio only.

This talk is about the great demigod Hanuman.

How attachments and bonds that one experiences in life can be transmuted into spiritual links. An English webinar with NAMAH – The Integral Journal of Health. The questions were: 1. How attachments masquerade themselves. 2. How to deal with attachments which are becoming a weakness.

This talk at Sri Aurobindo Bhawan Kolkata takes up the subject of crisis and the way to navigate through it.

This webinar with the Sri Aurobindo Ashram – Delhi Branch is focused on what is a beautiful life and the ways to manifest it.

A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the Brahmanaspati Kshetram, The Mother Sri Aurobindo Centre, Edayanchavadi, Auroville. Recorded on 29 March 2023.

This is a Q&A session following the main talk on education (TE 462). The questions asked were :     – Learning from Nature;     – Need of a framework;     – The necessity of school.

This talk is centered around what the education really should be. A talk by Dr Alok Pandey at the Aha Kindergarten in Auroville.

A webinar with the Sunshine School.

This talk touches upon the gifts that the Mother has brought for earth and humanity. The following texts by the Mother and Sri Aurobindo were used:

In this talk we read a message given on the 21st February 1948. “VICTORY TO THE MOTHER India is free but she has not achieved unity, only a fissured and broken freedom…. But by whatever means, the division must and will go. [Sri Aurobindo] O our Mother, Soul of India, guide us so that we may be always on the side of great ideals and show to men thy true visage, as a leader in the ways of the spirit and a friend and helper of all the peoples. [The Mother] A new spirit of oneness will take hold of the human race. [Sri Aurobindo]”

In this English webinar with La Grace Center we read some passages from Savitri that reveal Glory of the Divine Mother. The questions asked were:1. Does surrender build a home for the Mother2. The opening in Rigveda explained3. Whom does Satyavan represent in Savitri.

This meditation is a demonstration of using guided Imagery, which was shared during a webinar session on Integral Health with Pramukhswami Medical College, Gujarat.

This is a webinar with some students of Psychology from the Delhi University recorded on 7th Nov 2022. The questions were as below: 1. Traumatic experiences such as sexual harassment how to reconcile with it? Given if we have to again encounter the person who did it on a regular basis? 2. At this juncture, when we are trying to enter the professional world, there’s constant unsettling within me with how to progress ahead. There are certain things that I might want to do, and certain others that I don’t want to do as much it comes with certain perks majorly financial- all this with expectations from the family and desire to be financially independent. How do I navigate? 3. How do we understand death? It is as much a part of our life as birth, however there a denial about it. Is it just the death of the body or is there any way to view is, to make life more meaningful not just see our existence by some mere chance 4. At times it so happens that there’s a thing I have been wanting to do. And when the moment comes, I am doing it but something would happen in the middle of it or when i am just about to complete it, that there would be urges in me which just don’t want to complete it. They will not let me do, I find myself torn apart. I want to do, and there’s a part in me which is not letting me. What is it? Why does this happens? What is the way out? 5. How to be with a child and how to be like a child. Keeping the inner wonder and curiosity alive. 6. As a generation now we are becoming aware more and more aware about our civilization, its culture and its spiritual roots. Also, understanding how we have been fed wrong information over the years in school. So why it’s that? Is it because of the evolution of consciousness or the political influence that is taking place? 7. When sharing our personal journey whether in spiritual or experiences in life how do we know its out of our ego that we are sharing or its an act of giving. 8. How do we develop ourselves to be able to help people in their pain and suffering? Especially in metal health. 9. Does modern clinical psychology give space for these extraordinary experiences? 10. Every time darkness in some form or the other comes up in life, sometimes in form of relationships, in form ambition, in tiny forms. How to be aware of it how to pull ourselves back. How to be in touch with the divine in the worst days 11. Strengthening the ego before transcending it (individuality).

In this English webinar with NAMAH: The Integral Journal of Health we see how one can cultivate the right attitude in Everyday life. A follow-up question: balance between unexpectedness of life, planning and trust.

In this webinar we take up the subject of healing by the intervention of the Divine Grace and the healing Force.

In this English webinar with SAYFNA we discuss the ideals of Swaraj and Swadeshi as propounded by Sri Aurobindo during India’s independence movement and its relevance in present times. A talk by Dr Alok Pandey for Sri Aurobindo Yoga Foundation of North America, New Jersey, USA.

A part of the special New Year’s Eve Satsang Programme with Sri Aurobindo Society, Chennai. We read some of the special New year Messages given by the Mother and understand their significance.

A session held for a group of teachers trying out an integral approach to teaching in a school based on the ideals of Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Education.

Q&A session at the Women Council Meeting of the Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry.The following subjects were touched upon:1. Dealing with different kinds of people2. Difference between Oneness and sameness3. Worshipping the Snake in tradition4. Lines from Savitri

A passage from the Mother’s writings:“QUESTION: What is exactly the nature of religion? Is it an obstacle in the way of the spiritual life? THE MOTHER: Religion belongs to the higher mind of humanity. It is the effort of man’s higher mind to approach, as far as lies in its power, something beyond it, something to which humanity gives the name God or Spirit or Truth or Faith or Knowledge or the Infinite, some kind of Absolute, which the human mind cannot reach and yet tries to reach. Religion may be divine in its ultimate origin; in its actual nature it is not divine but human. In truth we should speak rather of religions than of religion; for the religions made by man are many. These different religions, even when they had not the same origin, have most of them been made in the same way. We know how the Christian religion came into existence. It was certainly not Jesus who made what is known as Christianity, but some learned and very clever men put their heads together and built it up into the thing we see. There was nothing divine in the way in which it was formed, and there is nothing divine either in the way in which it functions. And yet the excuse or occasion for the formation was undoubtedly some revelation from what one could call a Divine Being, a Being who came from elsewhere bringing down with him from a higher plane a certain Knowledge and Truth for the earth. He came and suffered for his Truth; but very few understood what he said, few cared to find and hold to the Truth for which he suffered. Buddha retired from the world, sat down in meditation and discovered a way out of earthly suffering and misery, out of all this illness and death and desire and sin and hunger. He saw a Truth which he endeavoured to express and communicate to the disciples and followers who gathered around him. But even before he was dead, his teaching had already begun to be twisted and distorted. It was only after his disappearance that Buddhism as a full-fledged religion reared its head founded upon what the Buddha is supposed to have said and on the supposed significance of these reported sayings. But soon too, because the disciples and the disciples’ disciples could not agree on what the Master had said or what he meant by his utterances, there grew up a host of sects and sub-sects in the body of the parent religion—a Southern Path, a Northern Path, a Far Eastern Path, each of them claiming to be the only, the original, the undefiled doctrine of the Buddha. The same fate overtook the teaching of the Christ; that too came to be made in the same way into a set and organised religion. It is often said that, if Jesus came back, he would not be able to recognise what he taught in the forms that have been imposed on it, and if Buddha were to come back and see what has been made of his teaching, he would immediately run back discouraged to Nirvana! All religions have each the same story to tell. The occasion for its birth is the coming of a great Teacher of the world. He comes and reveals and is the incarnation of a Divine Truth. But men seize upon it, trade upon it, make an almost political organisation out of it. The religion is equipped by them with a government and policy and laws, with its creeds and dogmas, its rules and regulations, its rites and ceremonies, all binding upon its adherents, all absolute and inviolable. Like the State, it too administers rewards to the loyal and assigns punishments for those that revolt or go astray, for the heretic and the renegade. The first and principal article of these established and formal religions runs always, “Mine is the supreme, the only truth, all others are in falsehood or inferior.” For without this fundamental dogma, established credal religions could not have existed. If you do not believe and proclaim that you alone possess the one or the highest truth, you will not be able to impress people and make them flock to you.

Deepawali is generally celebrated as the return of Lord Rama after vanquishing Ravana. But there is another mystic dimension to the story that we discover here.

In this webinar with Rashtram school of public leadership, we reflect upon the following sentence from Sri Aurobindo’s “Synthesis of Yoga”: All life is secret Yoga. Follow-up questions were:1. The problem of reconciliation in man.2. Yoga in the animal world through survival instinct.