神圣母亲，印度近代史上著名精神人物，又称米娜氏，全名Mirra Alfassa，1878年2月21日出生于巴黎，其父亲为银行家Maurice Alfassa（ born in Adrianople, Turkey in 1843），母亲为 Mathidle Ismaloun（born inAlexandria, Egypt in 1857），其出生前一年父母全家由家乡迁至法国 。成年后，神圣母亲因为与印度近代史上三圣之一的室利阿罗频多（Sri Aurobindo）共同创建主持阿罗频多修道院和阿罗频多学院大力推广宣扬大全瑜伽而举世闻名。1973年12月17日神圣母亲在印度阿罗频多修道院仙逝，享年95岁。被称为“当代玄奘”的我国著名学者徐梵澄先生曾在阿罗频多学院主持华语工作几十年，并有专著详细介绍神圣母亲和室利阿罗频多。

神圣母亲

“母亲”密那氏（Mira）为室利阿罗频多学院的另一精神大师，被尊为院母，“神圣母亲”或“母亲”，皆表尊敬义。她是法国人，生于1878年，寂于1973年。密氏出身贵族，从小多才艺，后倾心于精神哲学，致趣于玄秘学术。曾想游历中国，恰逢当年中国正值北洋乱世，所以未能如愿。往日本时，途经法属南印度之琫地舍里，遇在此避难并隐居的室利阿罗频多，两人论学相契。后母亲由日本返回巴黎，变卖房产，筹措款项，于1914年3月29日（此被定为该院之重要节日）再度登岸南印度，从此开启了长达六十年的伟大的精神事业。

1926年，阿罗频多退隐，母亲遂全面主管院务，她亲手把一个“阿施蓝”（修道院）建设成为世人瞩目并敬仰的“阿罗新城”。由她所翻译的阿罗频多重要著作有若干种，然这《母亲的话》，则是她自撰的文字和讲说。甘地曾经读过该书并叹曰：“此滴滴甘露也！”

神圣母亲生平著作主要介绍和翻译室利阿罗频多的瑜伽论著，其最著名的作品《母亲的话》充满智慧，是其日常主持修道院，回答院众的记录，用平易近人的方式详细解说了如何修持大全瑜伽，是室利阿罗频多瑜伽论的最佳注解。

著作有：

Vol. 1. Prayers and Meditations

Early prayers and meditations from diaries of 1912 to 1919.

Vol. 2. Words of Long Ago

Early writings on spiritual life, women, war, etc.

Vol. 3. Questions and Answers

Early conversations with disciples on Yoga and life (1929-1931).

Vol. 4-9. Questions and Answers

1950-58. Six volumes of conversations with students and disciples.

Vol. 10. On Thoughts and Aphorisms

Commentaries on Sri Aurobindo's Thoughts and Aphorisms.

Vol. 11. Notes on the Way

Conversations with a disciple on the Mother's own spiritual experiences between 1961 and 1973.

Vol. 12. On Education

Writings and conversations on education.

Vol. 13. Words of the Mother I

Short written statements on Sri Aurobindo, the Mother, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, etc.

Vol. 14. Words of the Mother II

Short written statements on Yoga, its demands and difficulties, etc.

Vol. 15. Words of the Mother III

Short written statements on religion, war, wealth, illness, etc.

Vol. 16. Some Answers from the Mother

Correspondence on spiritual life.

Vol. 17. More Answers from the Mother

Letters on various aspects of spiritual life.

· Flowers and their Messages (309 pp.)

The spiritual names of over eight hundred flowers along with the passages from the writings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother on the significance of flowers. 125.00

· Paintings and Drawings (198 pp.)

Collection of all the paintings and drawings of the Mother. With several colour plates. hc 500.00

Deluxe edition on art paper hc 1,000.00