Letters to Vasudha and Chandulal
The Mother : correspondence
THEME/S
The Mother
( October 11, 1954)
Letters To My Little smile
Portraits of Vasudha by the Mother (1931)
Your portrait when you smile, with your head on my lap.
My dear little smile,
You should not lose patience, nor courage; things will turn out all right. The state in which you were while embroidering "Silence"1 (flowers) cannot return as it was, for in the world things are never exactly reproduced; everything changes and moves forward — but the state of mental peace you have experienced will be nothing in comparison with the one — much deeper and more complete — that you will experience.
You must keep intact your aspiration and your will to conquer all obstacles; you must have an unshakable faith in the Divine grace and in the certainty of Victory.
Sri Aurobindo is working at your transformation, how can one doubt that he will triumph !
with all my love
1931
1. * Passiflora caerulea
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Soon you will begin a new sari on which you will embroider the beautiful red roses of human passion transformed into love for the Divine.
I thought you would find it easier to speak than to write. So I shall see you next Thursday and you will tell me all you have to say.
most affectionately
Today Vasudha is mum.
Why?
Look, she is crying ! — like a little baby, without any reason....
I don't scold her though — her brother is witness — but he teases her.
Is it for that that she is crying ?
To be sure she is easily moved to tears.
She is crying because she cannot speak French, but soon she will speak — and then she will smile.
I simply meant to say that you were happy and you
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had confidence the way a child or an animal has confidence.and is happy, without knowing why. Now you have to learn to be happy and to have confidence knowing why, understanding the deep cause of your happiness and your confidence.
My little smile,
That the smile may become truly "eternal", you must learn to speak to me as freely when you are close to
me as when you are in your room.
Also, it would be better not to lose one's temper, and if it does happen, it is better to forget one's anger quickly; and if that is not possible, then you should just tell me what has happened so that I may efface the anger from the consciousness of my "little smile" and give her back the joy and peace that I want her to keep always.
With my most affectionate blessings
To my little eternal smile,
All my compliments for her most beautiful drawing. It is exactly what I wanted.
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I have seen the sari embroidered by my little smile and I find it very fine, completely successful.
...you should not listen to the criticism of people without taste or sufficient education.
lovingly
This plant has the scent of verbena. We have given it the significance: "Conquering Fervour".
Today it is very late. And also the great day of the 15th August is nearing. So I am very busy and cannot keep my sweet little daughter, skilful as a little fairy, longer.
August 1931
Pujalal wrote to the Mother:
It seems Vasudha requires more than two litres of kerosene and she may even require more than three litres per month. Up to what limit can she take ?
I am giving her a third bottle of kerosene today.
Little child,
What is this ? Why so much kerosene ? I hope you are not working at night. You would spoil your eyes and it would be such a great pity !... If it is for some other use it does not matter. I do not care for the kerosene but for your eyes.
December 21, 1931
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My dear maman,
I shall speak to you freely when you next see me. I want to speak to you very frankly like a little child.
Your little smile
Here is a good resolution and I am happy about it. I shall see my sweet little smile on Thursday, April
21st, at 9.30. Until then I am very busy.
With all my love
April 12,1932
Dear maman,
I am sending you this rupee. Now I do not need any pocket money.
I accept the rupee and send to my dear little child, with my blessings, all my congratulations for the way in which she has passed her French test.
May 10,1932
I have no objection to the design being large and
that there should be flowers strewn on the sari; but for the moment I have not found anything pretty; at least not among "immortality"1 (flowers); while I was searching,
1 Gomphrena globosa
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I found two very beautiful drawings of chrysanthemums; that also, it seems to me, would make a very beautiful sari. What do you say ?
If you like the idea, you could come tomorrow morning at about 10 o'clock, I shall show them to you.
with my love
July 16, 1932
I don't have the passage you ask for; but I have found another one which you will surely like. I am giving it to you exactly seventeen years after it was written, to the day....
With my blessings and all my affection.
What words will ever tell the splendour of Thy Law and the magnificence of Thy Glory ! What words will express the Perfection of Thy Consciousness and the infinite Bliss of Thy Love !
What words can sing Thy ineffable Peace and celebrate
the Majesty of Thy Silence and the Grandeur of Thy omnipotent Truth !
The whole manifested world cannot speak Thy splendour and recount Thy marvels, and in the eternity of time, it is this which it has been trying to do more and more, better and better, eternally.
Marsillargues, July 31, 1915 1
July 31, 1932
1 Prayers and Meditations
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I am very happy that you have written; I am sure you are feeling much better now. Do not attach too much importance to all these things, they are the imaginations of a child who knows nothing of life, its miseries and its ugliness. For, life is not as it is shown in novels; day-to-day life is full of sufferings great and small, and it is only through identification with the Divine Consciousness that one can attain and keep the true, unalterable happiness. Keep your confidence and your faith, my little smile, and all will be well.
August 1,1932
I would like you to take some very hot milk, half a cup with a teaspoonful of honey. I am sending you a pot of honey. Ask Tara to prepare that for you.
You must also, every two hours, gargle with a hot solution of "potassium chlorate" in order to cure your throat. Keep quiet and do not worry, it will soon be over.
I am sending a note to Dayashankar for the gargle.
To my little smile, with all my love.
Good night! Sleep well!
August 12, 1932
Subject given for composition in the French class—
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Develop this thought:
Consecration to the Divine is the secret of the being— a perpetual renewal of force comes from communion with the Infinite.
My dear little smile, It is very simple, you'll see.
1) The Infinite is an inexhaustible store-house of forces. The individual is a battery, a storage battery, which, with use, runs down. Consecration is the connection by which the individual as battery is joined to the infinite - storehouse of forces.
or
2) The Infinite is the river that flows ceaselessly: the individual is the little pond that dries up slowly in the sun. Consecration is the canal that joins the river to the pond and prevents the pond from drying up.
With these two images, I think you will understand.
love
August 28, 1932
The feeling of heaviness comes from "tamas"; imaginative activity was shaking the tamas and was thus ridding you of the heaviness. But that is not the only way to get rid of it. Opening to the Light and Consciousness from above, and allowing them to replace the tamas in the outer consciousness, is a much better and surer way.
November 22,1932
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...my mind is always active, it runs here and there like a madman.
The mind always runs like a madman. The first step is to detach one's consciousness from it and to let it run by itself without running with it. Then it finds it less interesting and after some time becomes quieter.
November 23, 1932
...It is good to observe oneself in order to see one's weaknesses and to be able to correct them.
November 26,1932
...And when you were playing the organ I had a similar feeling, that the others were listening to Mother playing the organ for me and that was making me feel proud. I understood (even at that moment) that it was a wrong feeling and that I did not want such a feeling; but I don't know how I can get rid of it.
Mother, I think if I live all alone, where there is no one, I shall be very happy. I am very bad, I do not know when all these things will go away from me.
Take pity on me.
Your child
You should not exaggerate.... There are certainly movements of vanity — quite childish besides — but these are not the only movements. I am quite sure that while you
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were listening to the music you also had the simple and healthy joy of the music for its own sake, and when you are near me, you have also the simple and sincere joy of a child close to its mother.
Nature is complex and the true and the false, the good and the bad are always mixed together. It is very useful to see one's defects and one's weaknesses clearly, but one should not see only that, for that too would be a lack of balance. One should also know what is good and true in the nature, and give it all one's attention, so that this good and true side may grow and finally absorb all the rest and transform the nature.
December, 1932
When I saw you this morning at Pranam, it seemed to me that you were very serious. I am writing to you all that I think I should tell you, because I have promised to write all my thoughts and .feelings and I don't want to deceive you.
I have nothing good to tell you. I have a treasure of bad, ugly, stupid, vile things of this kind to tell you. If there is something good, it is just that I work for You ( your sari ), this is the only thing 1 can call good.
Today I was sad all day, I could not smile. You will have from me many things of this kind to read. But if you become serious as you were this morning I would prefer to stop writing.
Today I worked seven hours.
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No my child, I was not "serious" and I smiled at you as usual; it was you who had a sad little face and it is probably your own sadness that you saw reflected in my eyes. I know life too well for your confessions to make me "serious". Really, they are not very terrible, your confessions, whatever you may think of them. And when you will have told me all the things that torment you, you will see that they have disappeared and you will feel free and happy.
Keep your smile, little child, it is that which gives
you your strength.
December 7,1932
Mother, I don't know why, but for two or three days
I have been feeling a bit sad.
Mother, sometimes when I am depressed, when I feel that perhaps I will not be able to do yoga, my head imagines: "If Mother tells me that I am incapable of doing Yoga and asks me to go away from here, I have no one to whom I can go and I cannot stay anywhere, I shall remain here even as a servant, but it is impossible for me to live elsewhere."
By thinking all this, I make myself even sadder than before.
My maman, today it seems that my head is not serene
enough for writing anything to you.
Today I worked 9 hours on the sari.
Your naughty little child
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My dear little child,
You should not accept depression, never, and even less these suggestions, so stupid and false, that I could ask you to go away! How can you think of such a thing ? You are here in your own home — are you not my little daughter — and you will always have a place beside me, in my love and protection.
December 9, 1932
What does "Tu es ici chez toi" mean ? I don't understand this sentence you have written on the last page. Do you mean that I am in my own home ?
I mean that when a child is in the house of his parents, he is chez soi; that is to say, it is his own house. In French "chez soi" corresponds to the English word "home".
December 10, 1932
It is not a terrible thing, the mind always likes to be busy with something; imagining things (even when one knows that these imaginings are not true) is among the most innocent occupations of this agitated mind. Of course, in order to receive the light from above it must one day become calm and quiet; but in the meanwhile, you may surely tell me all this sort of things.
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I find them more amusing than stupid and they interest me. So don't say: I shall not tell Mother this or that, but on the contrary: I shall tell her everything quite frankly.
December 11,1932
My child, I am going to reveal something that you are to try to understand: you are not satisfied not because I do not give you all that you need, but because / give you more, much more than what you are capable of receiving. Open yourself, increase your receptivity by more self-giving and you will see that all discontent will disappear.
December 12, 1932
But nowhere do I see any progress. Even in my work I am not yet regular, how can I hope for your help ?
I don't understand what you say. My help is with you always as complete as it can be; it is up to you to open yourself and receive it. And it is surely not by being rebellious and discontented that you can do it.
And if you mean that I must first write all my thoughts and feelings every day and only then can you help me to get rid of all these things... it would be terrible to write everything. If I were to write everything I would have to stop my work, meals, my sleep, I would not
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even be able to come for the Pranam and even then I would need to have ten hands to be able to write in detail, for naturally the mind goes faster than the hand.
If I had felt a little change or progress, if not in anything else at least in my work—I mean if I had become regular in my work — / would feel a little joy and I could continue writing to you. But there is nothing at the moment to give me courage.
So many times I have resolved to work regularly and so many times I have failed! So I thought if I told you, I would have your help and would become regular in my work, but in vain.
How then can I continue, in this state of depression and discontent, my practice of writing to you ?
But I don't blame you for it, it is I, I don't have a strong will, so how can 1 get rid of it!
Your child who needs a whip-lash at every step
You do not need to have a strong will, just use mine.
Beware, child, do not open the door to depression, discouragement and revolt, that takes you far, far away from the consciousness and makes you sink into depths of darkness where joy cannot enter any more. Your great strength was your smile; because you knew how to smile at life, you knew how to work with courage and steadiness, and in that you were exceptional. But you have followed the example of others, you have learnt from them to be discontented, rebellious, depressed, and now you have let your smile flee, and, with it, your
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faith and confidence in me; and in this condition, even if all the divine forces were to concentrate on you, it would be in vain, you would refuse to receive them.
There is only one remedy, and you must not lose a single moment in accepting it: recover' your smile, regain your faith, become once again the confident child you were, do not vex yourself over your defects and your difficulties, it is your smile that will drive them away.
December 16,1932
Maman,
You are scolding me. Why ?
But it doesn't matter, now let us forget everything.
You have allowed me a lot of time to finish the sari, even a little baby could finish this sari with so much time. You allow me so much time and that is why I'm becoming lazy. My mind too has. time to think of stupid and useless things.
Command me: "I want the sari on the 21st February" (I don't mean you will wear it on the 21st February, I know you will wear Meenakshi's pink sari )....
We are going to split the difference, "cut the pear in two", as they say in France. You suggest the 21st February. I was going to suggest the 15th of August; we shall make it the month of May which falls just midway between the two, and so shall we say you will bring it to me on the anniversary of my return from
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Japan to Pondicherry in 1920.1 I do not remember the exact date now, but I shall look it up. That's all right, isn't it?
You are right, let us wipe out the past, let us not speak about it, let us not think about it any more, let us begin afresh joyously, in all love.
December 17, 1932
I have often noticed that when I awake from sleep, there is a kind of noise in my head, as if many people were speaking and I can understand nothing of what they are saying. And I feel as if this noise has been going on all night. It is like a bazaar, there is a lot of noise of people all talking at once and one. can under- stand nothing of it.
In your sleep you are becoming conscious of the noises that the mechanical thoughts of the most material mind make in their own domain.
December 18, 1932
There is an advantage in looking back after some time upon what one has done; with the passage of time, removed from the action, one sees more clearly and
' The Mother arrived on the 24th April.
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one understands better what ought to have been done and what ought not to have been done.
December 20,1932
Mother dear,
If you want these things (imaginations) to remain in me, let them remain, but if you do not want them to,
root them out.
Once more, do not worry, what must disappear, will disappear; only what is good will remain.
December 25, 1932
...I think this is the last thing I write to you. I should like to stop writing now, as I am feeling very tired.
I know that you will not like it but I have to say that it is better to put me aside. I am quite hopeless. Again for the last few days I have become irregular in my work. You had said once that to open myself to you is my work, because your help is always with me. But I do not know when I will open myself to you. I am as hard as a stone. If I had known before that these things are so difficult I should have never wished to come here. Mother, I wish you would not tell me that I am rebelling, I do not like to hear that.
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/ do not know, maman, why I have written all these things. Mother, please do not be angry with me, I have nobody except you.
Why this discouragement ? Everyone has his difficulties; yours are not any more insurmountable than those of the others. You have only to remain confident and cheerful.
December 27, 1932
"What must disappear, will disappear; only what is good will remain."
You had written this one day in my notebook. But all that I have written to you up to this day has not disappeared. Perhaps they are all good things ! And perhaps this revolt, discontent, discouragement and this bad mood are also good things. Because they have remained in me, they have not disappeared. And the smile and working regularly and having confidence—all that is perhaps bad. Because I see that they have disappeared, at least at present.
And if there is nothing bad in me, why are we taking so much trouble ? It would be better to remain quiet because "what must... will disappear."
Mother, I know that you will not like all this that I have written, but what to do ? I must write to you all this.
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I am not angry because all that you have written means nothing — I pity you, that's all. Did I tell you that it would disappear immediately, instantaneously, especially if you yourself are more inclined to hold on to it rather than reject it?
December 28, 1932
This morning after 9 o'clock Chandulal came to my room. He advised me to reject hostile suggestions, and things like that. He gave me a lecture. He did not say so but I think you asked him to go to my room.
But I must tell you that I don't like people to come and lecture me. Would you not tell me directly what is . necessary ? Am I not here, with you ? Am I so far away ? Why should I then have to listen to others' advice ?
It is your ego and your vanity that are in a state of exasperation and are preventing you from seeing affection where it is present.
/ do not know if you tell him (Chandulal) all that I write to you, but I would prefer that you don't.
Only Sri Aurobindo knows what you write to me.
You wrote to me once in this notebook ( December 16th ): "It is up to you to open yourself and receive
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it. And it is certainly not by being rebellious and discontented that you will be able to do it."
And you wrote to me once (December 7th) in this notebook: "And when you have told me all the things that torment you, you will see that they have disappeared and you will feel free and happy."
So I tell you that even this revolt and this bad mood torment me.
Of all things these are the worst.
I think I have told you all the things that torment me.
It is not enough to tell, you must will that they disappear.
Mother, today I am sad. I don't know why but I even wept.
Yet it is quite natural; how can one not be sad when one turns one's back on one's soul, and that simply out of pride!
Maman, rid me of this discouragement and this revolt, please. Will you not save me from it ?
With all my will I want to save you but you must allow me to do so. To revolt is to reject the Divine Love and it is only the Divine Love that has the power to save.
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Naughty or not, in any case I am yours.
I don't think you are naughty and I know that you are my child.
December 29, 1932
It seems to me that my mind (or rather myself) doesn't want to become quiet. Because if I wanted to become quiet I would naturally have tried to make myself quiet, no?
In the psychological domain, only the patients who do not want to recover, do not recover. Perhaps it is the same for physical illnesses.
January, 1933
What is all this, psychological illness and physical illness ? I understand nothing of it.
Psychological illnesses are illnesses of thought and feeling, like depression, revolt, sadness, etc.... Physical illnesses are those of the body.
January 6, 1932
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...Maman, yes, I know that you know that now I can hide nothing from you and that it is impossible for me to live without you, and that is why, maman, you like to see me suffering as much as possible, no ?
I understand absolutely nothing of what you say. You appear to be saying that I like to see you suffer; but it is so absurd that I cannot believe that that is what you mean.
While with all my will I am working at removing the suffering of the world, how could I wish, let alone like, that one of my children suffers.... It would be monstrous.
January 7, 1933
There are thieves in the invisible world as in the outer world. But one must close on them the doors of one's thoughts and feelings as carefully as the prudent man bolts the doors of his house.
These suggestions of sadness, despair and suicide come from them ( the thieves of the vital world ) because it is when one is depressed that they can best rob you. You mustn't listen to them — you must reject the evil suggestions and become once more yourself: that is my "little smile".
January 9,1933
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. Dear maman, ¦ You do not call me "my child" any more ? Am I so bad and unworthy ?
Maman, I think I am doing all I can do, and if I still cannot be good, what to do?
Yes, I know I am not what I was before.
My not writing "my child" on the little slip I sent you this afternoon was entirely unintentional. I was in a great hurry and I wrote as few words as possible. Of course I miss the time when you were truly the little eternal smile, spontaneously and without effort, when you felt satisfied with your work, happy to be near me, and when you were trusting and simple enough not to put a false interpretation upon all I do. Who has poured this poison of doubt and discontent into your heart ? Who has taken away from you at once your happiness, your simple joy of living and your beautiful smile which was a pleasure to see ? I am asking the question but not in order to get an answer from you, for I think I know it; it is only so that you may understand that I do not hold you responsible for this change that has come upon you from outside. Now there is only one way open, the way of progress; as it is impossible to go backwards, you must go forward; that which was merely instinctive, must now become conscious and willed. And never doubt my affection which is always with you to help you make this indispensable progress.
January 11,1933
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You told me to write something to you every day. But now that I find nothing, I don't know what to write. As for what I have written: Since you have told me that I must want with all my will, and I must work like before, in order to become happy and good, I have started that.
But when I have nothing to write to you, what can I write ( in order, as you said, to maintain the contact with you ) ?
Maman, you will tell me.
Your humble child
When you have nothing else to tell me, tell me at what time you woke up,... ( like this, for instance: this morning I woke up at such and such time-after having slept for so many hours, I got up, washed and dressed, then I ate my breakfast and I started working at such and such time, etc. etc.). You can tell me all the people you met and to whom you spoke, what you told them, etc. It will be a very good exercise in French and at the same time will create a further intimacy between us.
January 13, 1933
This morning I woke up at a quarter to six. I washed and dressed, then I went to collect my notebook from Nolini's window (I always go there). Then at about 6.30
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I drank my phoscao, then at a quarter to eight I started work. At 9.30 I went to Datta to bring some work for Tara, then I sat down again to work up to 11.30. Then I ate my lunch and rested for 10 minutes. At twelve I sat down to work—at 12.30 Tara came to work and at about 2 o'clock she made lime juice for us. From twelve to eight I worked. I have finished embroidering the crown.
Well, if is successful; it is well told, it is written almost faultlessly, and I am happy to know exactly how your day is spent. It will be good to continue like this.
January 14, 1933
I think six hours of sleep is not quite enough; it would be better to sleep seven hours.
January 24,1933
I always write to you the same things: sleep, work, talking. Maman, do you like reading the same thing
every day ?
Why not, my little smile? You can learn to say the same things in different ways; it is an excellent exercise for learning to write and forming one's style. It
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would seem that at the moment you are working on your calligraphy ! Who has taught you to write so beautifully ?
Your loving maman
January 25,1933
I don't understand why people come to see the house. We are negotiating with the proprietor with a view to buying it; it is therefore neither for sale nor for rent. So, my little smile, if these same people or others come again to see the house you must say that the house is neither for sale nor for rent and that you cannot allow anyone to see it.
January 26, 1933
/ hate him....
That's quite a big word. It is said that hatred is the opposite of love; in any case it is a dangerous passion which puts you at the mercy of the person you hate: to hate means you are still attached; the true attitude is one of complete indifference.
January 27, 1933
Today from 12.30 to 3.30, that is, for three hours
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there was in me a struggle between sleep and work. Sleep wanted to make me irregular in my work, but
the will to work regularly was victorious.
Bravo ! it is very good. But don't forget that you need to sleep seven hours per day.
February 2,1933
It seems your physical mother has written you a ¦ letter; I am sending it to you herewith. She has asked to come with your sister, but permission has not been I; granted. Chandulal has written her a very amusing letter.
Have a good day, my little child.
February 9, 1933
May this notebook end with an aspiration for a new beginning.
with my blessings
February 12,1933
Today I prayed to you with my body for ten hours. The next time when I see you I shall explain to you how the embroiderers fix the sari on the frame. The
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frame must be as big as the sari. Maman, shall I not have a big frame like that, for embroidering the saris very beautifully ?
If I give you such a big frame, we shall have to build a room so that the frame can fit into it.
February 13, 1933
I have worked on the sari for 10 hours. I think I shall finish this sari before the 24th April. Tara and Prasanna, both work at my place.
Maman, I have nothing new to tell you.
You are a lovely and skilful worker, my little smile,
and I am proud of you and your work that is so beautiful. I see that you have written without any mistakes.
February 14, 1933
On February 19th, Chandulal and I came to Pondicherry. Five years have already passed and now the sixth year is beginning.
You wore my two lotus saris after a long time. I am very, very happy to see you in these beautiful saris, maman.
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They are so beautiful that I dare not wear them often lest the washing spoil them. But I love them.
February 20, 1933
Today I prayed to you with my body for nine hours. I have again become regular in all my work as before. Maman, what else ?
It's good, my little smile, it is on regular work that balance in the being is founded.
February 27, 1933
My dear maman, t Today I have worked for 9 hours on the sari. When I don't work regularly I feel uneasy.
Then your feeling uneasy can't be happening very often, for it is quite rare that you don't work regularly, no ?
February 28, 1933
Yes, maman, now I am working regularly. Today too I have worked for nine hours on the sari.
Maman, this morning, I was thinking that all those
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who take pocket-money have the privilege of receiving it from you; I mean, you give it to them with your own hands. And we who do not take it miss this privilege; but this time I received ( we received ) a pencil from my dear maman.
I gave to some a pencil, to others a box of matches. The pencil signifies the power of expression, the box of matches the power of lighting the inner fire.
March 1,1933
And pocket-money, what does that signify ?
Pocket-money is given so that each one may show how he reacts to money and what use he makes of it.
March 2, 1933
Did you notice the date today?
Do you know that this happens only once in 11 years? Eleven years ago, in 1922, in the month of February one could write 2. 2. 22, and in eleven years from now one will be able to write 4. 4. 44 and so on. It is interesting, isn't it ?
March 3, 1933
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Supramental beauty in the physical — what does it mean ? All these things — these arts — the beautiful work that we do for the Divine—are they expressions of Supramental beauty in the physical ?
No, all that is only the manifestation of a universal harmony which is, as it were, in the very heart of creation. But Supramental beauty is something much higher and more perfect; it is a beauty that is no longer mixed with any ugliness and which does not need the proximity of ugliness in order to look beautiful.
When the Supramental forces will descend into Matter to manifest, this perfect beauty will express itself most naturally and spontaneously in all forms.
March 6, 1933
It seems you told Sarala that it is a long time since I put on the "Silence" sari. I put it on last August. Generally I wear these beautiful saris only once a year so that they are not washed too often.
March 8, 1933
No, maman, I am quite sure I did not say it that
way. Yes, I did speak to her of the "Silence" sari. I
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March 9, 1933
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said Mother loves the "Silence" sari and once Datta had told me, "Mother told me that you have put silence into the sari". That's all I told her about the "Silence" sari.
And Sarala was saying that it had been a long time since you had worn the pink lotus sari since this is the first time she has seen you in it, — it is more than two and a half years.
But all that doesn't matter; it is yours; you can wear it when you like. I am quite satisfied if I see you wear my work even once. I don't say once every year, I say I am quite happy even if you wear it only once.
Today I worked on the sari for 10 hours.
I am very happy when I wear your saris, but also I want to keep them with as much care as one keeps works of art and that is why I do not wear them very often.
March 9,1933
This morning I went to Sarala; she advised me to do exercises every morning.
Today I read a magazine for two hours. Today I prayed to you with my body for two hours only.
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2 hours of reading and 2 hours of work - that makes only 4 hours. Generally you work 8 or 9 hours. What did you do the rest of the time ? Did you rest ? Did your cold trouble you ?
March 11, 1933
Dear Mother,
Today I prayed to you with my body for 10 hours. Maman, what else? Now I am again absolutely regular in all my work. That is all.
My dear little smile, I am very happy with such good news.
March 16. 1933
You are not telling me anything about your health. I hope you are all right. Have you continued the exercise ? And the results continue to be satisfactory ?
March 21, 1933
This morning you gave me a flower whose significance is: "Consciousness turned towards the Supramental Light"
2 Helianthus
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What does it mean ? I don't understand.
Today I prayed to you with my body for 8 hours.
If you replace "Supramental" with "Divine", does it become more clear for you ?
It means the consciousness which is not filled with
activities and influences of the ordinary life, but which is concentrated in an aspiration towards Divine light,
force, knowledge, joy.
Do you understand now?
March 23,1933
Soon I think I shall have news for you which will surely please you although it does not concern you personally.
Today I prayed to you with my body for 10 hours:
5 hours in the morning and 5 hours in the afternoon.
That's all.
10 hours! That's a lot.
Do you know which sari I am going to wear tomorrow, Sunday? The red-rose sari.
March 25,1933
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