An extraordinary girl

1. Before Darshan Day of 17th November 1993

I was boiling some water in a kettle. As I brought down the kettle from the stove, I lost my grip and the boiling water fell on my feet. As a result the right foot got very badly scalded. At once I dipped both my feet in cold water. Though it had an immediate soothing effect, an intensely burning pain followed, so much so that I had to go to the doctor. For two days I remained at home, but when blisters had formed and the right foot had swollen, I had to be shifted to the Nursing Home where I stayed till I was much better. The accident prevented me from attending not only the Darshan of the 17th, but also that of 24th November 1993.

I asked Sri Aurobindo why I had to meet with this accident when I was supposed to be under his protection. He replied, "There cannot be an absolute protection under the present conditions. There are small entities around who are always trying to make mischief. One has to be always on one's guard till the protection becomes absolute."

I will tell you an interesting thing I have noticed in this connection. You see, I was living all alone in my flat for many years without engaging any servants, doing all my chores by myself. But a few weeks before the accident, an old woman came as if from nowhere and was employed as a gatekeeper for our apartment building. For no apparent reason she became fond of me and was helping me by running some of my errands. Had this woman not been there during my accident, life would have been very difficult indeed, for the burning pain made me unable to move from my bed for the first few days that I stayed at home. Was there a Divine Eye that had forseen the probable mishap befalling me and had made this provision?

Though I cannot claim my conclusion to be the truth of the matter, I have no doubt in my own mind because of a similar incident some years ago. I believe I have recounted it already. It was the incident of my having fallen down into the water tank early one morning when I had gone down to fetch some water. I was waiting there helplessly till some one came and rescued me. A few days earlier I had wondered why I had seen Sri Krishna's right hand stretched out in a gesture of protection. I realised later that the accident could have been serious given the circumstances, and that his protecting hand, though it could not prevent it altogether, had minimised the ill effects.

On one Darshan day I did not feel like attending the meditation at 10 a.m. Sri Aurobindo told me distinctly, "No, you must attend the meditation. It is very important."

On another day I asked him, "How can I be sure that it is your voice that is speaking?"

He replied, "Be quiet; make your mind free from all desires. Then you will hear the true voice. It applies to all who can observe this condition. Desire distorts the true answer."