Dear Spiritual Family,

In the current world crisis, the excesses of power, greed  and religious extremism are causing profound upheavals. People are looking to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother for answers. Those of us who have given our lives over to their high ideals understand the Ashram and Auroville will be places where every problem facing humanity has to be confronted and solved.

Even with this perspective, I must admit a profound sadness from reading recent letters concerning The Lives of Sri Aurobindo. I have kept from speaking out with the deep hope that time and reflection would allow for some dialogue and exchange of ideas. Instead there rather seems to be a growing mob mentality looking to punish and avenge.

If we present ourselves to the wider world as representatives of a path that has as its foundation sincerity and equanimity, can we allow emotional hyperbole to take over our communications with one another?

Can we not put aside name calling, character assassination and guilt by association? Can we forgo quoting Sri Aurobindo and Mother against one another along with the implication that They support our point of view against our brother or sister?

Is not our very diversity of opinion and our tolerance of one another our strength as we collaborate on the greater work to be done?

Can we all agree to a standard of communication worthy of Sri Aurobindo and Mother?

I can report first hand that Peter Heehs's book The Lives of Sri Aurobindo has been read in its entirety by a number of devotees who exceed my 36 years of involvement and who I deeply respect for their concrete service. Like me, they have felt closer to Sri Aurobindo from having read the book. One person who had never experienced an emotional tie wept with description of the passing of Sri Aurobindo, realizing a deeper connection than he knew and attributed it to the quality of Peter's writing.

Another scholar who had not read Sri Aurobindo in depth was eager to know after reading Lives if he had attained the Supramental Consciousness before his passing. She became engaged not in history or biography, but his spiritual life in a positive way from reading this book.

If there are facts in dispute, let us seek the truth of the matter. Let scholars and disciples and other interested parties understand the cultural differences and beliefs which have led to the current  situation and seek to resolve them point by point. But let us proceed from the highest moral and  intellectual standard.

In the meantime, can we all remember that we live in a very interconnected world. Acts of intolerance, infighting and revenge echo quickly around a very small circle of those who are just opening to Sri  Aurobindo, the Mother and Auroville. If we intend to participate individually and institutionally on the national and international stage, we should do our utmost to represent a model of the future. Any whiff of book banning, ostracism and fascism in our community does more harm to the name and legacy of Sri Aurobindo around the world than the book itself could ever do.

The venom of past conflicts still poisons our collective well. Let us all try to resist pouring forth a fresh batch.

Most sincerely,

Julian Lines