Aurobindo Ghose, also known as Sri Aurobindo, was an Indian yogi, poet, philosopher, spiritual leader, and Indian nationalist. During the early 20th century, he was a prominent name in the Indian nationalist movement for independence. And afterward, became a spiritual reformer and the founder of ‘Integral Yoga’, a yogic practice aimed at spiritual evolution that enhances one’s ability to lead a divine life on earth.
Sri Aurobindo was born in 1872 in Kolkata. His father, Krishna Dhun Ghose, was a surgeon and a former member of the Brahmo Samaj movement started by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Debendranath Tagore. His mother’s name was Swarnalata Devi. Aurobindo’s father wanted his sons to enter the Indian Civil Service (ICS), for which it was mandatory to study in England. So, at the age of 7, he was sent to King’s College, Cambridge, to complete his education.
In 1892, he returned to India and passed the ICS exam but refused to join the position because he didn’t want to work for the British government. Instead, he joined Baroda State Service and for the next 12-13 years, he held several administrative positions in both Baroda and Calcutta. He also started taking a keen interest in India’s struggle for freedom. He became the editor of a popular Bengali nationalist newspaper called ‘Vande Mataram’, gave fiery speeches across the country, and participated in several Congressional meetings.
Due to his political activities, he was imprisoned in 1908. It is believed that he encountered profound spiritual experiences and altered states of consciousness during this time, which ultimately inspired him to explore the path of spirituality instead of pursuing politics. Aurobindo claimed that he felt the presence of Swami Vivekananda, whose voice guided him through spiritual realizations in prison.
He fled British India and settled down in the French Colony of Pondicherry, where he spent most of his time developing the concepts of ‘Integral Yoga’. In 1926, with the collaboration of Mirra Alfassa Richard (also known as the Mother), he established the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The ashram attracted spiritual seekers from all parts of the world. At its core, the philosophy behind ‘Integral Yoga’ rejects the quest for attaining Moksha (liberation from ‘Samsara’ or the cycle of life and death) and instead focuses on attaining higher and higher levels of consciousness as means to live a more profound, joyful, and divine life while still being in the body, in a physical form. Aurobindo’s work survives in the form of his writings, teachings, and philosophical speculations. Some of his major works are – The Life Divine, The Synthesis of Yoga, The Human Cycle, and Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol.