As far as I have understood, the idea of Gyangunj, à la Shangri La or a city of immortals somewhere in Tibet or the Himalayan gorges, is either referring to a plane of consciousness, which it most probably is, or else a possibility of the future which is yet to be realised. Quite a few scriptures speak about an ideal city where death and sorrow do not exist. The Christian mystics knew it and termed it as the city of delight. Sikh scriptures call it as Begumpura, literally meaning the city where there is no sorrow. There is also the mention of an eternal Vrindavan where all beings live in perfect harmony and delight. Looking at the various descriptions, it seems like an actual plane where such a life and beings do exist. Sri Aurobindo also refers to the plane of the Gods as also to the Supramental world that is revealed in great detail in Savitri. In fact, one of His major work or mission is to bring down and establish this Ideal World here upon earth. The Ashram and later Auroville itself is an attempt to establish such a world amidst our humanity.
However, looking at the facts as they are, it is very doubtful if such a city exists materially. Even if it does, it is surely not in communication with the world at large, and hence its usefulness to the collective progress of mankind becomes a limited one. Knowing this fact, Sri Aurobindo and the Mother attempted their grand divine experiment right in the heart of humanity. But they also knew that the kingdom of Heaven must be first established within our hearts before it can manifest materially. That is where the probably unique experiment of the New World, the Supramental world, stands. It is here, right by our sides, lining the outer world as we know and experience. But for it to manifest fully upon earth, mankind must be ready. The main requirement for this being that the reign of ego must completely end, and in its place, all in our individual and collective life be governed by the Divine Consciousness.
As to whether Sri Aurobindo said something about it, the closest that it comes is when He was asked about some Mahatmas in Tibet and the Himalayas helping his work. He mentioned in a way characteristic of him that he is not aware of any such beings who may be existing upon earth or helping him in this work. He did however write a beautiful poem on the Mahatmas as conceived in Theosophy (? of Tibet) who are helping mankind to enter the New Age but that is not an earthly reality but a truth of another plane. I am quoting the conversation that comes nearest to the concept of Gyangunj from the Evening talks:
Sri Aurobindo: We have to find out, – we don’t know. The Mahatmas are said to have conquered death.
Disciple: They can be seen in Vaishakha Valley according to a recent publication of the Theosophists.
Sri Aurobindo: But there are cycles of evolution, not one evolutionary movement.
Disciple: Yes, many cycles have taken place in this world-evolution and different races have their roots.
Sri Aurobindo: There are seven root races and other are sub-races; and, I believe, the sixth root race was being prepared in California, and then it has shifted perhaps to Australia.
Disciple: Their theory is that there was a great civilisation on the continent of Atlantis.
Sri Aurobindo: Yes, there is every possibility that it is true.
Disciple: What is the proof?
Sri Aurobindo: Well, it is so because, perhaps, the Master says. But apart from that, they take their stand on geology and the theory of evolution. Once there was an idea that civilisation is only three or four thousand years old. Now people are forced to change their ideas.
Disciple: But the details about the last civilisation and the Mahatmas – are they all true?
Sri Aurobindo: What do you mean by “true”? On the vital plane there is nothing that you cannot see : you can recast the whole history of the world. It is not the mentalplane –really speaking it is the mental-vital. I was in that condition for ten days and any number of things came at that time.
Disciple: You could have written them down.
Sri Aurobindo: If I had thought them worthwhile.
Disciple: But then how far is it all true?
Sri Aurobindo: There is always some truth at the bottom. For instance, there is every likelihood that the continent of Atlantis had a great civilisation. So also the idea of evolution is true as far as physical evolution is concerned. But the fourth and fifth root race and the other details which are given are not certain.
That is the difficulty: to isolate the true intuition from the mixture – mental as well as vital. It would be quite another matter if one could keep the mind completely passive. But, evidently, that is impossible. The mind enters so much and also the vital being – they are both great and active creators.
Disciple: But what you see on the vital plane – in that state – is it true?
Sri Aurobindo: Again, what do you mean by “true”? Something that you see is true somewhere – on some other plane, – some of those things are probabilities, some are only tendencies trying to realise themselves. But it may not be true for this earth-plane.
(Ref. https://incarnateword.in/resources/evening-talks-purani/on-medicine#p144)
Affectionately,
Alok Da
Source: संसार और भगवान की ईच्छा (Divine Will Working in the World) | Dr Alok Pandey
