Sri Aurobindo, the early-twentieth-century Indian philosopher, is now recognized as one of the forefathers of evolutionary spirituality. But Aurobindo was not just a philosopher, as historian Peter Heehs makes clear in his new book, The Lives of Sri Aurobindo, published by Columbia University Press. He was also a poet, a scholar, a spiritual leader, and a political revolutionary—one of the most prominent figures in the early years of India’s struggle for independence. In fact, he was at one point thought of by the British as “the most dangerous man in India.”

After reading Heehs’ 500-page tome, contributing editor Ellen Daly and executive editor Carter Phipps talked with the author about Aurobindo’s many “lives,” his unusual path to awakening, his dedication to spiritual practice, and his extraordinary contribution to the philosophy and vision that inspires so many “evolutionaries” today.

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