Sri Aurobindo
Karmayogin
Political Writings and Speeches — 1909-1910
The Ideal of the Karmayogin1
Have you seen my review of “The Ideal of the Karmayogin”?
Yes, I have seen it, but I don't think it can be published in its present form as it prolongs the political Aurobindo of that time into the Sri Aurobindo of the present time. You even assert that I have “thoroughly” revised the book and these articles are an index of my latest views on the burning problems of the day and there has been no change in my views in 27 years (which would surely be proof of a rather unprogressive mind). How do you get all that? My spiritual consciousness and knowledge at that time was as nothing to what it is now — how would the change leave my view of politics and life unmodified altogether? There has been no such thorough revision; I have left the book as it is2, because it would be useless to modify what was written so long ago — the same as with Yoga and Its Objects. Anyway the review would almost amount to a proclamation of my present political views — while on the contrary I have been careful to pronounce nothing — no views whatever on political questions for the last I don't know how many years.
SRI AUROBINDO
21.4.1937
Later edition of this work: The Complete Works of Sri Aurobindo: Set in 37 volumes.- Volume 35.- Sri Aurobindo. Letters on Himself and the Ashram.- Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, 2011.- 658 p.
1 A few articles from the weekly Karmayogin were brought out in book-form in 1918 under the title, The Ideal of the Karmayogin. The fourth edition in 1937 was revised. Sri Aurobindo's letter refers to this revision.
2 2011 ed. CWSA, vol.35: was