PREFACE

The plan of this volume is substantially the same as the one adopted for the earlier volume in this series, Champaklal Speaks. The papers have been arranged section-wise as follows:

Reminiscences

Correspondence with Champaklal

Correspondence with Others

Mother's Memos and Notes

Miscellany of various items of interest

Quotes from Mother's remarks or writings

An additional feature of this book is its Appendix. An explanation is perhaps necessary about its contents. During the pre- Ashram years and even in the early years of the Ashram (after 1926), sadhaks — at any rate some of them — used to maintain a file of copies of certain records of Sri Aurobindo's talks, remarks, replies to letters etc. These notings were not seen or approved by Sri Aurobindo for publication. But he had allowed their circulation in a limited way. These files usually consist of copies and naturally mistakes have crept in. Some of their contents have been published since then, in full or in part. Champaklal was kind enough to let me have his file and a selection has been made from these papers with an eye to their value to the historian as well as to the earnest seeker.

M. P. PANDIT

Sri Aurobindo Ashram,

Pondicherry

5.1.1976

The Mother in Japan

1929: The Mother setting out for evening drive

I

REMINISCENCES

SRI RAMAKRISHNA'S PHOTOGRAPH

Do you remember my coming to you, now long ago, and asking you to send photographs of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother to anyone wanting them, irrespective of whether they are in a position to pay for the photographs or not ? I came to you on hearing from Mother the nice things she said of your work, the spirit in which you do it and so on. And you readily agreed to carry out my wish.

MADHAV: Ah, yes, I remember; I still send photographs free to those who ask for them but cannot pay.

C: Very good, continue it. If you fall short of copies, let me know. I shall draw from my stock and give you. But first let me tell you the story behind my wish expressed to you at that time.

It is in May, 1919 when Punamchand had come to Pondicherry (that was before I came). When he was back to Patan I asked him whether he had seen Sri Aurobindo's room inside. I put him several questions regarding the room. He said there were two rooms connected by a door in between. The inner room was his private room. In the front room there was an almirah and on it was placed a photo of Sri Ramakrishna in a dancing pose. It was framed.

After some time I came across the same photo in a special number of a journal brought out by the Ramakrishna mission. I was happy on seeing it and thought of getting one for myself. But I had no money, not even a single pie. You know that in those days youngsters were not allowed to keep money with them. My father was ready to give whatever was asked, but somehow I could not ask for money for this purpose. If I had asked, he would surely have given me the necessary money. Then I wrote to the Ramakrishna Mission saying that I was a student, I had no money, but I would like to have a print of Sri Ramakrishna in the dancing pose, that was included in their special number. I wrote that I was very eager to have it and requested them to send me one free of cost.

I waited and waited, but I am sorry, to say, there was no response. I felt it sorely at that time that such an institution following the great saint should have turned a deaf ear to the plea of a young aspirant.

Then I forgot about it.

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What happened later is interesting. As I told you, when I came to Pondicherry for the first time in 1921, I asked Sri Aurobindo if we could see his room. He stretched his golden hand and pointed to his room. That sight of him, sitting on the chair and stretching out his beautiful hand still remains etched in my memory. It is unforgettable. As soon as I entered the room I remembered what Punamchand had told me about Sri Ramakrishna's photo in the dancing pose; I looked for it in every corner of the room, but I did not see it anywhere. I thought it must have been removed.

Later in 1923 when I came for good and got the privilege of working in Mother's and Sri Aurobindo's rooms, I again looked for the same photo but could not trace it. I did not ask Mother about it.

In 1927 when they moved to the Meditation house from the Library house on February 8, 1927, Mother told me to carry certain things of Sri Aurobindo to the Meditation house. She asked me to carry them myself. At that time I found this very photo in one of the drawers of Sri Aurobindo's table. I showed it to Mother. And without my asking for it she gave it to me.

So there you are! Another instance of sincere aspiration getting fulfilled one day, is it not ? Now you will understand why I am particular that when anyone asks for a photograph of the Masters out of aspiration or devotion, it must be supplied to him who has no money to pay.

WORK OR MEDITATION?

I was holding strong views on the subject. I had always felt that meditation was not at all necessary. When I came to Mother, this idea became stronger. One day, however, I asked Sri Aurobindo whether work was not enough and meditation was at all necessary. He replied emphatically that meditation was very necessary. He explained why it was necessary to sit in medita- tion. Among other things he said that when one sits quietly one can receive fully what comes from above. This habit must be formed.

I may add that my subsequent experience has confirmed what he said.

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SRI KRISHNA

N: I hear you have said about this image of Krishna that it is very much living. What is meant by living?

SRI AUROBINDO (laughing): Living means living; there is some force in it.

C: Is it a conscious force?

SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, but the consciousness is not in the image but around it.

C: Would it mean that Sri Krishna has this form?

SRI AUROBINDO: Sri Krishna is not a human being. It is a form that the sculptor has seen. I am speaking of the photograph of the image, not of the image which I have not seen

.

PROMODE KUMAR CHATTERJI

SRI AUROBINDO'S COMMENTS:

His sketches are very living and very expressive. He is certainly an artist.

Yamuna: the river is good but the figure is self-satisfied. Krishna and Vidur: Vidur is good. Kailas: not bad. Shiva with cobra: good.

GENERAL REMARK:

The artistic part is all right but he lacks in idea, that is to say, there is nothing big in the idea.

Kailas: very good.

Shiva profile: more original; there is some expression.

Dwga and Fire: good; the face of the fire is not that of fire, they seem to have benevolent, goody goody faces.

Cloud and Mountain; Manas lake: good.

He is an artist but as I said his figures ... I have not fixed my opinion yet.

Everything is all right except the faces. The faces are satisfying. There is calm, trance or sweetness in them but no deeper conception.

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MY SACRED THREAD

As you know I have always worn the sacred thread, yajñopavita. One day it occurred to me that I could do without it. But as I was thinking of removing it, the idea came: How can I remove it when Sri Aurobindo has touched it so many times?

I must explain. When, after the accident, he used to walk daily, he would support himself by keeping his hand on my shoulder, around the neck. It was at that time that his hand touched my sacred thread. Naturally only that part which came under his palm was being touched. Each day I would mark the portion that was so touched and the next day place the next portion near my neck. Thus the entire thread came to be touched by him. I had done the same with my tulasi-mālā.

To come back to the story. So, I gave up the thought of removing the thread. But again another thought arose in my mind:

Why the thread only ? He has touched my body so often; and that body is going to go one day!

However, I did not remove the thread myself. It got torn by use. I have still kept it safe.

WHY CHAMPAKLAL DOES NOT LIKE?

Once it happened that some photographs were before Mother' for autograph. I pointed to the photo of Sri Aurobindo (the one without the chair at the back) and said: Mother, I do not like this photo at all.

Mother looked at me with surprise and asked: What?

C: Yes, Mother, I do not like it.

Mother became a little serious in expression.

I went down and brought another photograph of Sri Aurobindo (the one with the chair in the background) and said: Mother, I like this one.

Mother held the photo in her hand, went on looking at it for a very long time. I moved away to my place at a little distance.

At that time Amrita was with Mother with some papers. She turned to him and said: There is vital force, a living life in this;

that is why Champaklal likes it. In the other photo there is supramental light but no life. That is why he does not prefer it.

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1923: Inmates of the Ashram

Top: Rajangam, Tirupati* Khitish*Nolinida* Satyen* Kanai* Bejoy*

Purani* and Nagaratnam (a local devotee)

Centre: Punamchand* Champaben, Mrs. Kodandaraman, Mr. kodandaraman

Bottom: Champaklal, Moni* Amrita,* Manmohan.

The interesting part of the story is that when I began looking at that photograph (which I had not liked earlier) subsequently, that dislike disappeared completely.

ROBBERS ON THE WAY

I read and liked the following sentence in an article of Maulana Azad:

I know the path, but what can I do if the robbers rob me on the way?

I took it to Mother. She wrote on the back of the slip on which I had copied that sentence:

CALL THE LORD TO CATCH THE ROBBERS.

26.10.63

MOTHER HAS COME FOR WORK

One day, during the later years, Mother had not been well physically. After her sparse breakfast, she asked me: Champaklal, what shall I do ? Rest or work ?

C: Work, Mother.

MOTHER: Why?

C: You have come for work. Mother.

MOTHER: All right, call the people.

She said it so readily and sweetly. I rushed out and called you all who where waiting on the terrace. And she went through the whole programme as if nothing was the matter with her health.

On some other occasions when some sadhaks threw their weaknesses or ill-will on Mother, her distress was obvious when she looked at me. I would say, on such occasions, "Mother, you have come for that." She would smile at times; at times there was no expression.

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"I AM THERE"

Ever since Mother left her physical body, known and unknown persons have been asking for something touched by her. Once someone came and said, "Please give me something touched by the Mother; it will help me much in sadhana." I saw that he was sincere. I also remembered seeing him with Mother upstairs. Now, you know how devotees always wanted to place their head in Mother's lap but some lacked the courage to do it. To some of them I used to say, "Place your head in Mother's lap." This person was one of them. So I asked him about it. He was so happy to recall that occasion and said: "Champaklaiji, I amyery grateful to you for ever. You asked me to lay my head in Mother's lap. I would never have dared to do it myself. And how she caressed me!"

I said: Oh, then you are very fortunate. But you do not have anything touched by Mother ?

HE : No, Champaklaiji, that is why I am praying for it.

C: What about your head? Has it not been touched by Mother ? You are always carrying it and it remains with you all the time. Nobody can take it away from you. Is it not?

HE: Yes, you have opened my eyes today. I now understand how the inner life is more important than the outer.

On a similar occasion, another person said to me:

Of course she has blessed me with both the hands. And more. First she placed her hand on her own heart and then she placed her full palm over my chest, gently pressed one finger and said:

There I AM. See there inside.

Here also I had to draw his attention to the fact that Mother's touch was stamped on his body and ask him what more he wanted. He was deeply moved, he closed his eyes and folded his hands.

VERY PRECIOUS

The niece of our Joshi (laboratory) was bringing something special to be offered to Mother each time she visited the Ashram. On the last occasion, she brought a box containing 1,111 Blessing packets. They had been arranged beautifully in square marbled envelopes. In each envelope was a golden cover with a heart-

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shaped window; within that were placed flower petals. Mother was very happy on seeing it and named it GOLDEN HEART BLESSING PACKET. With a memorable expression she placed both hands over the packets and moved them from one end to the other, over and over again, saying, 'pretty', 'beautiful'.

When the girl left the room. Mother took the box near her chest and held it with her hands crossed over it. Looking at me, she said: 'pour moi' (for my use), 'pas à vous' (not for you). Then she gave me the box saying, 'Keep it very carefully, very precious, very precious. Give when I ask.'

But as you know she used them very little. She has left them for us. As I look back, I understand why "she asked me to keep them carefully and why she did not use them freely.

Speaking about Blessing packets, I am reminded about the special packets of DIVINE'S LOVE. You remember Kamala had wanted plastic boxes and you had arranged for them. Kamala would fill a box and send it to Mother or give it personally. How happy Mother was when she received the box each time! It was a great privilege for Kamala. At some stage Mother stopped using these packets. I could not understand why she was still sending the Divine's Love flowers for making packets, though she was not using them. The collection went on growing.

Then on the occasion of the last Kali Puja day, she said she would give these Divine's Love packets to people. It was on 5.11.1972. She distributed them freely.

SITTING ERECT

MADHAV: Champakbhai, I notice that you always sit erect, never leaning or bending. I am curious to know how you do that.

C: Ah, there is a story behind it. I will tell you.

During my childhood, even at 6 or 7 years of age, I could not sit without leaning. Once my father asked me, "Why do you sit in that way?" I replied that I could not sit otherwise; my back ached much if I sat erect. He was surprised and remarked that it was strange, for such back-ache comes only in old age. Things continued in this way till I came here to Mother (at the age of twenty).

One day I told Mother of this difficulty. She told me: Champaklal,

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you do what I say. Take a towel and rub your back with it, first vertically and then horizontally.

I started doing it for a short time after bath, regularly. Once I looked at the watch to see how long it took. The time taken was short though it seemed long to me. Since then I started counting the number of times I did the rubbings: I used to do the up and down movement sixty times and an equal number sideways. Nowadays I do it a hundred times each way. Sixty should suffice, but when I do more the hands also get some exercise. As you know I was twenty when I came here for good and next month I will be completing 73. This exercise has lasted all these years and helped me to sit erect.

I find that generally people do not care for such natural ways of curing things; they prefer to take pills. They do not realise that medicines bring in their own interferences. 6.1.1976

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