India - the Mother

May 23, 1956

The first time I came to India [in March 1914], I came on a Japanese ship. And on this Japanese ship there were two clergymen, that is, Protestant priests, of different sects. I don't remember what sects exactly, but they were both English; I think one was an Anglican and the other a Presbyterian.

... Then [after a religious service in the ship's saloon], the clergyman came to ask me, more or less politely, why I hadn't attended. I told him, "Sir, I am sorry, but I don't believe in religion."

"Oho, you are a materialist!"

"No, not at all."

"Ah! Then why?"

"Oh, if I were to tell you, you would be quite displeased, it is probably better not to say anything!"

But he insisted so much that I said at last, "Just this. I don't feel you are sincere, neither you nor your flock. You all went there to fulfil a duty and a social custom, not at all because you really wanted to enter into communion with God."

"Enter into communion with God! But we can't do that! All we can do is to say some good words, but we have no ability to enter into communion with God."

Then I said, "But that's just why I didn't go: it doesn't interest me."

After that he asked me many questions and confided to me that he was going to China to convert the "pagans." At that I became serious and told him, "Listen, even before your religion was born—it is not yet two thousand years old—the Chinese had a very high philosophy and knew a path leading them to the Divine. And when they think of Westerners, they think of them as barbarians. And you are going there to convert those who know more than you? What are you going to teach them? To be insincere? To perform hollow ceremonies instead of following a profound philosophy and a detachment from life which lead them to a more spiritual consciousness? I don't think you are going to do a very good thing."

Then he was so flabbergasted, the poor man, that he said to me, "Eh, I am afraid I can't be convinced by your words!"

"Oh," I said, "I am not trying to convince you. I only described the situation to you. And I don't quite see why barbarians should wish to go and teach civilized people what they have known long before you. That's all."

And that was the end of it!

Questions and Answers (1956): 23 May 1956