Read what the learners in the Spring 2007 Orientation Programme said about their experience.

Prof. Beloo Mehra was an excellent guide as is required when one is new to Sri Aurobindo. Her understanding of each student was beautiful and her response very appropriate and encouraging. The reading material provided was also just right; not too heavy and yet complete enough, gradual and to the point . . . Beloo actually brought out the best in us by being an excellent guide. It was her deep understanding and genuine encouragement that made all the difference . . . This is really a wonderful forum and again thank you so much. Can’t tell you how much I am enjoying it. Is there an OP part 2?  I don’t want to stop at this :) – Mena

I am quite satisfied so far, I have appreciated the work done, the understanding and care from Beloo with the psychic touch. On the other hand, I think that more students would enrich the work and debates. – Philippe

Thank you Charles, to say the least, to take us through this wonderful journey! As you pointed out in the beginning, you covered the subject very wisely in this short span of time. I was specially moved by the interview of Barbara Marx and Alan (Savitra). I found it very motivating and very applicable. Could identify with it and feel its energy quite concretely. Thank you for exposing us to such a variety of thinkers and such poignant thinking on the subject. I would love to read something that you have written though. If it’s all right do post us something from your dissertation. I must say i have widened my understanding considerably on Sri Aurobindo's message of social development and world unity through this part of the course. It’s so heartening to know that so many wonderful people are coming together and working on realising
Sri Aurobindo's vision. I too hope that we will meet in person sometime. – Mena

Thank you Charles. This aspect of Sri Aurobindo's work was the least familiar to me before. But my interest in the worldly political and social affairs has increased very much since I have studied more the subject. – Philippe

Dear Larry, I have enjoyed working on this module with you, your explanations are very clear and I wanted to say that the overview about Sri Aurobindo's thought you wrote is most excellent: brief, clear and synthetic. Thank you. – Philippe

Hello Larry, I agree with Phillipe when he says that the overview of subjects that you wrote are excellent. It is a great task indeed to summarize Sri Aurobindo thus on the various subjects. I too deeply enjoyed and learned a lot from you through this module. It is a priceless opportunity that SACAR is providing us to come in deeper contact with Sri Aurobindo in this thorough and systematic manner. I consider it a great privilege and joy! Thank you, Larry. – Mena

Dear Larry, I must admit it’s truly a blessing to go through the "Metaphysics" Session. I read the two chapters of Life Divine given to us at the beginning of the session again today. Sentence after sentence I could read and understand! And that’s a leap forward I gained through your class and kind instructions you have provided us. Even though we have not met you in a physical classroom style environment, this medium is powerful enough to carry your consciousness (as Menaka mentioned before) and I am excited. I have great difficulty in English but going through this course, I got exposure to excellent English. I also want to thank my fellow learners too. –Kannappan

Dear Larry, Your replies to our doubts are helping us to think in an integral way and extremely useful to understand the difficult subject in hand. I learned and got a clue to move from narrow, separated, localized thinking to broader, all-inclusive and infinite thinking. Death used to be a scary thing for me, but reading your answer puts me at such ease. –Kannappan

Dear Margaret, I am deeply greatful to you for bringing me to the Integral Yoga in a way that was very pertinent to my own yoga and growth. The manner in which you unfolded the truths and knowledge to us was really very effective and complete. I have greatly benefitted from this section of the study. I would love to know more about the work you do and your experiences with the application of the Integral Yoga. Thank you Margaret. –Mena

Dear Margaret, Thank you for guiding us in Integral Yoga Psychology. I will continue to work on the feedback you have given. It’s been a great experience to go through the Orientation Course. –Kannappan

Comments of a learner who followed the Orientation Programme with several Science of Living courses.

August 3, 2007

From the several courses I’ve recently taken at Sri Aurobindo Darshan, I have gained a much greater appreciation for the work of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.

With the overview of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy and yoga (presented in the Orientation Program) and a complementary exploration of the yoga’s practical applications (in the Science of Living courses), one meets with, first, a vision of existence and life that is amazingly vast and profound; second, the problematical question of the transformation of one’s ordinary consciousness. Fascinating material that is bound to inspire numerous questions and self-musings long afterwards!

The facilitators of the courses do a fine job in giving guidance with the readings. I was particularly impressed by the insights and helpfulness of one of the facilitators in answering students’ questions and in commenting upon our observations. Needless to say, the readings themselves are very illuminating and can also be challenging.

I find that taking these courses—regularly doing the readings, thinking about their content, answering the assignment questions, digesting the facilitators’ comments, etc.—has helped ensure and direct my daily spiritual attentiveness. Many thanks to Sri Aurobindo Darshan for being such a resource!

—Wayne Tapio

On the doctoral-level Advanced Research Programme

Studying in the Advanced Research Programme has been a greatly enriching experience for me. It has provided me with an opportunity to study the literature of the Integral Yoga in much greater depth and detail than I otherwise would have been able to do. My facilitator, Larry Seidlitz, PhD, has been an excellent teacher and guide. He has consistently set a high standard for the work to be accomplished and also helped me to find within myself the capacities needed to understand the material studied and to interpret it appropriately at the intellectual level. Dr. Seidlitz's extensive knowledge of the works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and also of Western psychology, offers an exceptional opportunity to anyone studying under his guidance. The three years I have spent in the programme have been a time of significant intellectual challenge and personal growth. I am very grateful to have had the experience. I also need to express my gratitude to Ananda Reddy, PhD, President of TUT, for his very valuable involvement and support in my programme of study and for his work in making TUT available to students around the world, myself among them.

—Martha Orton, Doctor of Sri Aurobindo Studies