The experience of being in the "outside world" for a period of time as I presented programs on the work of the Matrimandir and its Gardens, with slides and quotations from the Mother, meeting people who were sincerely interested in the experiment of Auroville, people of various races, philosophies, etc., was not only encouraging but enlightening.

An Ashramite who recently returned from Europe expressed her feelings to me in this way: "I was so happy there. People were kind and generous, more friendly than I had ever known them to be. Yet, when I returned here with all the difficulties we face, I felt that here the soul is given a little push forward, something that is not evident there.

Though we are living in an unprecedented period of evolution when the Presence is clearly felt by many (though often we still sleep) and we feel the Supramental churning through the world, forcing us to come face to face with our weaknesses, intransigence, insincerity and unwillingness to sacrifice everything to surrender to the Divine within us, still the spirit advances and the supreme light is felt by many and seen by a few. It is a time of the great transition from man to a diviner being who shall walk on the earth as leader, friend and brother.