Aurotherapy
: An Alternate Therapy System/Som P. Ranchan. Delhi, Indian Publishers,
2001, 313 p., $33. ISBN 81-7341-215-4.Aurotherapy
: An Alternate Therapy System/Som P. Ranchan. Delhi, Indian Publishers,
2001, 313 p., $33. ISBN 81-7341-215-4.
Contents: Preface. 1. A brief biography. 2. Integral Yoga. 3. Cartography and typology. 4. Vedanta and Tantra : implications for Aurotherapy. 5. Auro-seoctrum. 6. Alchemy. 7. Psychopathology. 8. Western Therapies Vs Aurotherapy. Index.
"Aurotherapy is based on Sri Aurobindo’s ideas on Consciousness. Energy as articulated in his numerous writings such as The Synthesis of Yoga, The Life Divine, Savitri, The Foundations of Indian Culture, etc. to name just a few titles.
"Aurotherapy unfolds in depth and practical therapeutic system, which aims at growth and transformation and healing. The growth and transformation issues are spelled out in chapters such as "Cartography", "Alchemy", "Aurospectrum". The healing of mental illnesses and disorders such as hysteria, schizophrenia, paranoia, depression, etc. is dealt with in depth in "Psychopathology".
"The differences between Aurotherapy and Western therapies (Freudian, Jungian etc.) dispersed through out the book are encapsulated in the conclusion.
"The opening three chapters deal with Sri Aurobindo’s life in psychoanalytic terms, integral Yoga, Vedanta and Tantra and their bearing on Aurotherapy.
"Aurotherapy is both scholarly and readerly, scholarly because it is a rigorous application of Sri Aurobindo’s ideas to therapy and psychiatry and readerly because it substantiates the application from case histories drawn from author’s extensive and intensive practice, formal and informal.
"Aurotherapy should be of immense use to:
"Nothing like this has been attempted before, despite a veritable plethora of books on Sri Aurobindo’s on his life, philosophy, integral Yoga, etc. Incidentally, this book is a result of fellowship (2.5 yrs.). At the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla.
"Students of literature, mythology, folklore, philosophy as it is interdisciplinary in its renaissance rangings.
"The author will be available for lecturing on the book, for enhancing its dissemination." (jacket)