The Samadhi sthal in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, is not a Samadhi in the conventional sense but much more. Ordinarily, a state of Samadhi is achieved by the rare Yogin by withdrawing from the outer and even the inner consciousness into the highest Superconscient state. The Yogin, in Samadhi, becomes totally oblivious of all else but the Highest. But The Mother and Sri Aurobindo always remained conscious of everything even in the Highest state, as that is the very nature of the Divine in His Supramental Consciousness. The Divine is not only conscious of Himself but of the whole creation in all the minutest details at the same time.
As to experiences, there are plenty, not only mine but of several others at the Samadhi Sthal of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. But I can share one that was quite striking and remarkable when I came here permanently in 2003. Quite a few well-meaning people tried to dissuade me by saying that the Divine is everywhere and you can pursue the Yoga anywhere, something which I knew to be true. But their ‘logic’ included the statement that now Sri Aurobindo and The Mother are no more there, so living there serves no special purpose as such. My experience as a visitor however had confirmed that there is a special Presence there at the Samadhi and one can feel it easily. But when I actually came and started with the idea of living here, then something most unexpected happened. I would often feel and sometimes see Sri Aurobindo and The Mother in their golden bodies, not just seated but moving around the Samadhi Sthal. It was too overwhelming and concrete. This continued for about 3 months and then faded away. But it revealed to me clearly that there is a tremendous dynamic Presence of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother there in Their Supramental Bodies.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
