(by Richard Eggenberger published on Sunday, January 22nd 2017)
This above is one of the most extraordinary letters I ever received from Mother. When I returned to the U.S. in 1962 I wanted to work for Mother in any way I could offer. At the time the Handmade Paper division in the Ashram was making excellent paper, especially watercolour paper. I was given the work of introducing the paper in the U.S.
At this time there were two major companies in the world making the highest quality watercolour papers famous throughout the world, the first, Whatman Papers from England and the second an Italian firm. The Whatman paper company was facing a difficult time as labour costs were skyrocketing and they were at a point where they were contemplating having to discontinue production (which in fact, they did). I visited Mr. Dyson, head of the Whatman paper division in Manhattan and showed him samples of the quality of the Ashram papers. He was most impressed and suggested I write the preeminent watercolour artists in the U.S. to ask for their evaluation and I did so, sending them all full-size samples. The responses were amazing. Every one of the artists sent me rave reviews and asked when the paper would be available.
I then asked Mother for a name for the papers and She gave the name, "Arvind".
I took the replies from the American artists to Mr. Dyson and he immediately ordered a ream of 500 sheets, 22 x 30 inches. This was to begin a long and difficult period for me in my offering to Mother. The first ream was sent and was improperly packaged and all the papers were spoiled when sea water entered. Mr. Dyson informed me and I went to see him and humbly apologized and told him I would have another ream on its way as soon as possible. There were many letters going back and forth to and from an American who was representing the handmade paper department, and they were not pleasant letters.
The next ream was sent and Mr. Dyson called me and told me that the paper was filled with black spots and could not be sold and that was that. I must say that I was deeply saddened as I felt this could have meant hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, in income for the Ashram but the department representative was intransigent saying that I should make do with what they produced. I wrote everything to Mother and She said if the Ashram could not meet the world standards I would have to drop the work.
Around this time I met a man in Long Island, New York. He was making watercolour papers n his basement and they were superb. He said that if I would agree to pay his passage to the Ashram and his return to the U.S. he would teach them how to make the best paper. I wrote to Mother hoping this might be the solution and I could go back to Mr. Dyson, hat in hand and with profuse apologies ask if we might try once more.
The above was Mother's reply!
Copyright 2017