THE MOTHER Words of the Mother - I Words of the Mother – I i empty page ii The Mother Words of the Mother I Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry VOLUME 13 COLLECTED WORKS OF THE MOTHER Second Edition ISBN 81-7058-670-4 Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust 1980, 2004 Published by Sri Aurobindo Ashram Publication Department Pondicherry - 605 002 Website: http://sabda.sriaurobindoashram.org Printed at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Press, Pondicherry PRINTED IN INDIA The Mother and Sri Aurobindo Darshan Day, 24 April 1950 ii Publisher’s Note This volume consists primarily of brief written statements by the Mother about Sri Aurobindo, herself, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville, India, and nations other than India. Written over a period of nearly sixty years (1914 – 1973), the statements have been compiled from her public messages, private notes, and correspondence with disciples. The majority (about sixty per cent) were written in English; the rest were written in French and appear here in translation. The volume also contains a number of conversations, most of them in the part on Auroville. All but one were spoken in French and appear here in translation. There are also several reports of comments by the Mother. These reports were noted down by disciples and later approved by her for publication. All of them were spoken in English. They are identified by the symbol § placed at the end. The volume is arranged by theme in six parts, each part having a number of sections. Within the sections, dated pieces are placed in chronological order, undated ones where they best fit in thematically. Readers should note that most of these statements were given to particular individuals under particular circumstances. The advice in them, therefore, may not apply to everyone. v empty page vi Contents Part One: Sri Aurobindo Sri Aurobindo 3 Mahasamadhi 6 Eternal Presence 10 Centenary 14 Work and Teaching 21 General 27 Sri Aurobindo and the Mother 32 Part Two: The Mother The Mother 37 Outer Life 43 Work and Teaching 47 Sadhana of the Body 54 Blessings 60 General 62 Relations with Others 66 “I Am with You” 66 “To Be Near Me” 76 Physical Nearness 77 Role as Guide 80 “Do as You Like” 84 “I Am Not Displeased” 86 Way of Working 90 Rumours 95 Remonstrances 99 Part Three: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Sri Aurobindo Ashram 105 Conditions for Admission 111 vii Contents Proper Conduct 115 No Politics 119 Comfort and Happiness 126 Coming to the Ashram 129 Leaving the Ashram 136 Relations with Persons Outside the Ashram 144 Finance and Economy 149 Organisation and Work 154 Paid Workers 169 General 179 Part Four: Auroville Aims and Principles 187 Matrimandir 223 Community Affairs 228 General 228 Social Regulations 236 Relations with Local Villagers 241 Finance 246 Early Talks 251 Matrimandir Talks 277 Aspiration Talks 310 Talk of 30 March 1972 347 Part Five: India India 351 Part Six: Nations Other than India Nations Other than India 379 Note on the Texts 385 viii Words of the Mother I ix x [symbol and facsimile on this page] xi ii Part One Sri Aurobindo 1 2 Sri Aurobindo (From a meditation written on the day after the Mother first saw Sri Aurobindo) It matters little that there are thousands of beings plunged in the densest ignorance, He whom we saw yesterday is on earth; his presence is enough to prove that a day will come when darkness shall be transformed into light, and Thy reign shall be indeed established upon earth. OLord, Divine Builder of this marvel, my heart overflows with joy and gratitude when I think of it, and my hope has no bounds. My adoration is beyond all words, my reverence is silent. 30 March 1914 * [facsimile] 3 Words of the Mother – I What Sri Aurobindo represents in the world’s history is not a teaching, not even a revelation; it is a decisive action direct from the Supreme. 14 February 1961 * (Message for broadcast by All India Radio, Tiruchirap- palli) What Sri Aurobindo represents in the history of the earth’s spir- itual progress is not a teaching, not even a revelation; it is a mighty action straight from the Supreme. 15 August 1964 * (Message for the issuance of a Sri Aurobindo commem- orative stamp) He has come to bid the earth to prepare for its luminous future. 15 August 1964 * Sri Aurobindo has brought to the world the assurance of a divine future. * Sri Aurobindo has come on earth not to bring a teaching or a creed in competition with previous creeds or teachings, but to show the way to overpass the past and to open concretely the route towards an imminent and inevitable future. 22 February 1967 * 4 Sri Aurobindo Sri Aurobindo does not belong to the past nor to history. Sri Aurobindo is the Future advancing towards its reali- sation. Thus we must shelter the eternal youth required for a speedy advance, in order not to become laggards on the way. 2 April 1967 5 Mahasamadhi [facsimile] Lord, this morning Thou hast given me the assurance that Thou wouldst stay with us until Thy work is achieved, not only as a consciousness which guides and illumines but also as a dynamic Presence in action. In unmistakable terms Thou hast promised that all of Thyself would remain here and not leave the earth atmosphere until earth is transformed.Grant that we may be worthy of this marvellous Presence and that henceforth every- thing in us be concentrated on the one will to be more and more perfectly consecrated to the fulfilment of Thy sublime Work. 7 December 1950 * 6 Mahasamadhi The lack of receptivity of the earth and men is mostly responsible for the decision Sri Aurobindo has taken regarding his body. But one thing is certain: what has happened on the physical plane affects in no way the truth of his teaching. All that he has said is perfectly true and remains so. Time and the course of events will prove it abundantly. 8 December 1950 * To Thee who hast been the material envelope of our Master, to Thee our infinite gratitude. Before Thee who hast done so much for us, who hast worked, struggled, suffered, hoped, endured so much, before Thee who hast willed all, attempted all, prepared, achieved all for us, before Thee we bow down and implore that we may never forget, even for a moment, all we owe to Thee. 9 December 1950 * To grieve is an insult to Sri Aurobindo who is here with us, conscious and alive. 14 December 1950 * We must not be bewildered by appearances. Sri Aurobindo has not left us. Sri Aurobindo is here, as living and as present as ever and it is left to us to realise his work with all the sincerity, eagerness and concentration necessary. 15 December 1950 * I was painfully shocked when I heard the translation of the leaflet you are distributing here in the Ashram. I never imagined you could have such a complete lack of understanding, respect and devotion for our Lord who has sacrificed himself totally for us. Sri Aurobindo was not crippled; a few hours before 7 Words of the Mother – I he left his body he rose from his bed and sat for a long time in his armchair, speaking freely to all those around him. Sri Aurobindo was not compelled to leave his body, he chose to do so for reasons so sublime that they are beyond the reach of human mentality. And when one cannot understand, the only thing to do is to keep a respectful silence. 26 December 1950 * People do not know what a tremendous sacrifice Sri Aurobindo has made for the world. About a year ago, while I was dis- cussing things, I remarked that I felt like leaving this body of mine. He spoke out in a very firm tone, “No, this can never be. If necessary for this transformation, I might go, you will have to fulfil our Yoga of supramental descent and transforma- tion.”§1 1950 * Lord, we are upon earth to accomplish Thy work of transfor- mation. It is our sole will, our sole preoccupation. Grant that it may be also our sole occupation and that all our actions may help us towards this single goal. 1 January 1951 * We stand in the Presence of Him who has sacrificed his physical life in order to help more fully his work of transformation. He is always with us, aware of what we are doing, of all our thoughts, of all our feelings and all our actions. 18 January 1951 * 1 Whenever the symbol § appears, it indicates a spoken comment of the Mother which was noted from memory by a sadhak and approved by the Mother for publication. 8 Mahasamadhi When I asked Him (December 8, 1950) to resuscitate his body, He clearly answered: “I have left this body purposely. I will not take it back. I shall manifest again in the first supramental body built in the supramental way.” 11 April 1952 * Sri Aurobindo has given up his body in an act of supreme un- selfishness, renouncing the realisation in his own body to hasten the hour of the collective realisation. Surely if the earth were more responsive, this would not have been necessary. 12 April 1953 9 Eternal Presence You spoke of Sri Aurobindo’s birth as “eternal” in the history of the universe. What exactly was meant by “eternal”? The sentence can be understood in four different ways on four ascending planes of consciousness: 1. Physically, the consequence of the birth will be of eternal importance to the world.