Aurobindo Ghosh

Indian philosopher and yogi who synthesized Eastern spirituality with Western evolutionary thought, pioneering Integral Yoga.

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh (1872–1950) revolutionized spiritual and philosophical discourse by bridging ancient Indian traditions with modern existential questions. Born in Kolkata, he studied at Cambridge and initially engaged in anti-colonial activism. After a mystical revelation in 1908, he shifted focus to spiritual evolution.

His Integral Yoga proposed a synthesis of individual and cosmic consciousness, rejecting ascetic withdrawal. Instead, he advocated for ‘life divine’ – transforming earthly existence through inner awakening. His magnum opus, The Life Divine, reinterprets Darwinism through a spiritual lens, asserting that humanity is a transitional species evolving toward supramental beings.

Aurobindo’s ashram in Pondicherry became a global hub for holistic living. His collaboration with French spiritual collaborator Mirra Alfassa led to experiments in conscious community-building, influencing later New Age movements. Unlike Gandhi’s political non-violence, Aurobindo’s vision addressed metaphysical roots of human suffering, making him a unique bridge between nationalism and universalism.

Critics argue his theories lack empirical basis, yet his impact persists in fields like transpersonal psychology. The Auroville international township, founded in 1968, remains a living testament to his radical idealism.