Prez for generating greater tolerance, understanding

Observing that mankind is facing a multitude of crisis, President Pranab Mukherjee today asked the people to generate greater tolerance and understanding among all sections the society.
"We must be increasingly mindful of the sensitivities of those around us and how they may be affected by our words and deeds," he told students of Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education here.
What all human beings need was a world safe from violence and a world where one can pursue one's legitimate dreams, he said.
"If there is no dispute over this common goal, why should there be so much conflict, so much hatred and intolerance?" the President asked.

Referring to the spiritual leader Aurobindo's teachings, Mukherjee said the Great Master assures mankind that the solution to the crisis remains hidden in the crisis itself.
"We have to discover and develop the secret splendours of our consciousness, we have to call down and activate a transforming power which he terms the Supramental."

Speaking about the two phases of life of Sri Aurobindo, he said the first phase was devoted to the liberation of the country from the British rule and the second phase to the liberation of humanity from its enslavement to ignorance.
"Just as Sri Aurobindo realised that India's liberation was a certainty he was also confident of mankind's liberation. He further recognised liberation need not be an escape of the soul from this physical world. Instead, it can be an active life free from all imperfections that affect us," he said.

Mukherjee also mentioned about the students and teachers who are all inmates of the ashram and the international character of the Centre.
The liberality of approach and vision of the institute is "so unique to Sri Aurobindo and his Ashram stands as a symbol of hope for our conflict-ridden world and must be preserved and protected".