l JANUARY 1941The radio news said that Hitler has prayed to the Almighty to protect him against his enemies, as he is a single power surrounded by enemies. SRI AUROBINDO: Since when has he become pious? DR. MANILAL : God must be in a fix, Sir. (Laughter) Page -1000 SRI AUROBINDO: He is always in a fix. DR. MANILAL : And Hitler prays to the Almighty, not just to God. SRI AUROBINDO: He thinks himself a mighty man; God, being almighty, will be on his side, he thinks. DR. MANILAL : On which side would Krishna be, Sir, in this war? On the British? SRI AUROBINDO: But his army might be on the other side as in the Mahabharata. Send a letter of enquiry to his chief secretary. (Laughter) DR. MANILAL : I was telling Nirod that when a medicine has both good and bad effects, it is the good aspect that acts in a disease, while the bad effect remains behind. For instance, aspirin when given in rheumatism exerts only its good effect. SRI AUROBINDO: The bad effect has no occasion to exert itself, so it has time to lie idle! (Laughter) DR. MANILAL : While if aspirin is given in normal health, it may exert a bad effect on the heart. SRI AUROBINDO: Since it can't do good, it does harm? (Laughter) Is it true that sometimes a thing which is contraindicated in a disease cures the disease? Mother told me the story of a lady in Paris who was suffering from diabetes. The doctor asked her not to eat potatoes at any cost. But at that time no other vegetable than potatoes was available. So she ate them and got cured. (Laughter) Is it possible? DR. MANILAL : Not impossible, Sir. I have no faith in doctors and medicines. NlRODBARAN: But you take medicines all the same. SRI AUROBINDO: Habit or chance'. (Laughter) (After Dr. Manilal had left) Modern science says that quantity and movement alone are real. Quality is a creation of the senses. What is seen is a configuration of the senses. The configuration of reason acting on the configuration of the senses produces what is seen! But that doesn't go far enough, for the scientific researches which deal with quantity and movement as data are also a configuration of the senses. So everything is Maya, illusion. Page -1001 2 JANUARY 1941Anilbaran has been trying to introduce The Life Divine as a course of study in Indian universities. Some universities have refused on varying grounds. Others have given hopeful answers. He wants to make the study of religion also apart of the curriculum. SRI AUROBINDO; If he wants to make The Life Divine a text-book for the colleges, I object. It will have worse results than in Manilal's case. (Laughter) Anilbaran has made a few drafts of letters to be sent to the universities for that purpose. Sri Aurobindo approved none of them. He remarked that Anilbaran had made The Life Divine a special course of study. PURANI: He wants to make it compulsory. SRI AUROBINDO: Hitlerian? No, what should be done is to introduce a course of Indian philosophy in Indian universities and The Life Divine can come in by the way. It can't be made a principal subject. (Laughing) If it is made a textbook, one indubitable effect will be that the Arya Publishing House will get a lot of motley and my private purse will get fat. DR. MANILAL : In this year's prayer,¹ we are expected to be valiant warriors. Sir. I should like to be a warrior, but a warrior, against what? Whom shall I fight? SRI AUROBINDO: Suppose you are sent to Italy as a pilot? DR. MANILAL : No, Sir. I can only give suggestions. SRI AUROBINDO: You have to fight the hostile forces. But how can you do that without knowing how to use the Force? NIRODBARAN: Dilip says that Ashok Maitra - Heramba Maitra's son, who has married a famous actress - has asked him for permission for your Darshan. SRI AUROBINDO: Why do all these actors and actresses want to come for Darshan? NIRODBARAN: Dilip says they are very fine people. ¹The Mother's New Year prayer of 1941: "The world is fighting for its spiritual life menaced by the rush of hostile and undivine forces. Lord, we aspire to be Thy valiant warriors so that Thy glory may manifest upon the earth." Page -1002 SRI AUROBINDO: Everybody is fine to Dilip. How old is this Ashok Maitra? NIRODBARAN: My age. We were in the same class in City College. SRI AUROBINDO: You were in City College? NIRODBARAN: Yes, one year. SRI AUROBINDO: Not time enough to be Herambaised? NIRODBARAN: Dilip says many good people from Madras are coming for the Darshan this time - an insurance manager, etc. SRI AUROBINDO: He means high-placed people? PURANI: So others who have come are bad people? (Laughter) DR. MANILAL : How can bad people come? They won't get permission. SRI AUROBINDO: Can't say that. DR. MANILAL : But all who are permitted to come have the intention of doing Yoga and are fit for Yoga. SRI AUROBINDO: They may be fit but they have no intention. 3 JANUARY 1941Dr. André and we are all puzzled about Nishtha's case. She is rapidly going downhill and no definite diagnosis has been arrived at. Dr. André called Dr. Manilal for a consultation. Dr. Manilal saw her and said it was gout and that she has been asked to take chicken and fish. But the difficulty about the arrangement of cooking meat and fish couldn't easily be solved; when it was finally solved some other difficulty cropped up and Nishtha was much upset. Nirodbaran had to spend a lot of time speaking with the Mother about how things were to be managed. SRI AUROBINDO (after hearing the report): Vichy negotiations finished? (Laughter) NIRODBARAN; Yes. It is all about the cooking arrangement. Nishtha finished about half a chicken yesterday, though the chicken was very tough. SRI AUROBINDO: So it is anorexia carnivora? (Laughter) DR. MANILAL : Whenever I prescribe a meat diet to patients, I am not at ease with my conscience, Sir. So I avoid giving it whenever possible, saying that meat is not good for health. Is it the voice of my conscience, Sir? Page -1003 SRI AUROBINDO: Sanskara! DR. MANILAL : I thought it was my inner voice, Sir. (Laughter) NIRODBARAN : Like Gandhi's? DR. MANILAL : Is not meat injurious to the body, Sir? SRI AUROBINDO: Depends on the person. Of course it makes the body heavy, I mean the subtle body. The other objection to a meat diet is the taking of conscious life. DR. MANILAL : Isn't it tamasic? But Vivekananda used to recommend it. SRI AUROBINDO: He said it is rajasic. NIRODBARAN: It is rajaso-tamasic. DR. MANILAL : Is it good for the spiritual life? SRI AUROBINDO: Again it depends on the person. Vegetables are, of course, better. If there is no attachment to meat, it does not do any harm. I was very much attached to meat. In order to get rid of the attachment, I used to give up meat for a long period, then take it up again and again give it up until I got rid of the attachment. DR. MANILAL : Why are there so many diseases now in the Ashram? SRI AUROBINDO: The Inconscient! NIRODBARAN: But surely not all are ill? SRI AUROBINDO: Some have illnesses, others other things. NIRODBARAN: Are we promised a better time after the Inconscient is conquered? SRI AUROBINDO (laughing): I don't promise anything. It may be as bad. EVENINGDR. MANILAL : Purani's cold still persisting! (To Purani) Why don't you apply the Force on yourself since you speak of it to others? PURANI: I am applying it. I am already better. SRI AUROBINDO: Applying Coué diligently! DR. MANILAL (laughing): Nishtha seems to have been completely metamorphosed, Sir! She was actually running. SRI AUROBINDO: The Divine Force is great but the force of chicken seems to be greater! (Laughter) NIRODBARAN: She is doing very well with her chicken and fish. Now she waits eagerly for her meals. After finishing half a chicken, she kept the other half for the next day! Page -1004 DR. MANILAL : Gouty people are usually good eaters. The Maharaja Sayajirao was also like that. He knew which things were forbidden to him but when they were served on the table, without looking this way or that, he would go on eating everything. Afterwards somebody would say, "Sir, you shouldn't have taken those things!" and he would reply, "Oh, why didn't you tell me?" (Laughter) Then Dr. Manilal began to tell same stories about the Maharaja. DR. MANILAL : I remember he once lost his wallet. He had dropped it in the bathroom. He suspected somebody and charged him with the theft. When the wallet was found, the man came to the Maharaja and gave him a bit of his mind: "You are great people; I am your poor, small officer. So you could charge me with the theft. Even when I denied it you didn't believe me," etc. The Maharaja heard all that very calmly and didn't utter a single word. SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, but he would take his revenge afterwards. DR. MANILAL : Yes, of course. But to listen to the abuses so calmly is unusual for a Maharaja. He was a great man except for one or two defects. SRI AUROBINDO: More than two! (Laughter) A case of pox had broken out in the Ashram. Dr. Manilal said after hearing the symptoms that it might be small-pox. Dr. André saw the case and said it was chicken-pox. SRI AUROBINDO (after asking Dr. Manilal about the period of infectiousness): I had a mild attack of small-pox in Baroda and at that time there was no such illness there. A judge prepared some mango drink and asked me to take it and transferred his small-pox to me in the process. The Maharaja asked me to go to Mussouri but the illness prevented me. When I got cured, I went there but the Maharaja sent me back quickly. Somebody named Ananda, about sixty years of age, has written to Anilbaran that he has taken up Sannyasa, is suffering from many ailments and wants to come for the Darshan. Page -1005 DR. MANILAL : He will increase Nirod's work. SRI AUROBINDO: How old is he? PURANL: Sixty. SRI AUROBINDO: He can postpone it for the next life. (Laughter) DR. MANILAL : There are some here who wear the Sannyasi dress. So, he will be one of them. Dilip also puts on Sannyasi garb. SRI AUROBINDO: But he is not called Ananda unless you call him Dilipananda. (Laughter) DR. MANILAL : You have yourself given the name Ananda to people — to that Japanese.¹ SRI AUROBINDO : Yes, I gave him the name but not Sannyasa. (Laughter) 4 JANUARY 1941DR. MANILAL : What type of diseases does the Inconscient bring out, Sir? ..... SRI AUROBINDO: No type! Any type. It doesn't select. Each person may have a personal selection. For instance, Nirod has a predilection for a cold. DR. MANILAL : And I have for shoulder pain, gall-bladder trouble, angina, blood pressure — a walking museum of diseases, Sir. SRI AUROBINDO: Then you must be a big Yogi. (Laughter) DR. MANILAL : How? SRI AUROBINDO: Barin used to say that all the big Brahmo preachers used to have a lot of ailments. So they must have been big Yogis. NIRODBARAN: What comes after the Inconscient? SRI AUROBINDO: Nothing. The Inconscient is the basis of matter. NIRODBARAN: I mean, what will be the next phase of the working? SRI AUROBINDO: Development of Supermind or of the higher planes. NIRODBARAN: Will the troubles be less? SRI AUROBINDO: For whom? ¹Sundarananda— the name given to the Japanese architect of Golconde, George Nakashima. Page -1006 NIRODBARAN: General. SRI AUROBINDO: Oh, open your Inconscient first. NIRODBARAN: I thought it was open. SRI AUROBINDO: Manifest it at any rate. DR. MANILAL : What really is the Inconscient, Sir? SRI AUROBINDO: Absence of consciousness. (Laughter) The world is inconscient. Consciousness grows in it but along with its development the Inconscient also remains, like a crust, so that the development is always limited. This Inconscient has to be broken in order that consciousness may enlarge. Your shoulder, for instance, is conscious of the pain but is unconscious of the Force. (Laughter) DR. MANILAL : "What should the shoulder do, Sir? SRI AUROBINDO: The Inconscient in the shoulder or else the shoulder itself can become conscious and open to the Force. The Inconscient is the last obstacle. DR. MANILAL : Have you heard of Ralph Waldo Trine, Sir? SRI AUROBINDO: No, who is he? DR. MANILAL : He is an American writer and mystic. His method is like Vedanta. SRI AUROBINDO: In tune with the Infinite - something like that? DR. MANILAL : Yes, Sir. He says that one should imagine oneself as the Brahman and try to feel the force running through all the fibres of the body. SRI AUROBINDO: Like Coué. You had any result with it? DR. MANILAL: For a time. SRI AUROBINDO: It is the same with the descent and action of the Force, only it is an unconscious process, done by the power of the idea of the mind. It may help but I don't know if it goes the whole way. It may affect the mind, but after the mind, there are the vital, the physical and the Inconscient. The Inconscient has ideas of its own, as it were. If the opposite ideas are strong enough and have power over them, then a cure may result. DR. MANILAL : You have written in Bases of Yoga that one should say to oneself in any trouble, "I am a child of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo." . SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, it is the same power of the idea, a question of fundamental faith not only in the mind but in every part of the being, even in the Inconscient. Page -1007 DR. MANILAL : Will it take a long time, Sir, to finish the Inconscient? Sri Aurobindo with such a smile and tone said: "Yes!" that we all roared with laughter. EVENING Champaklal forgot today to give the wiping cloth to Sri Aurobindo and Nirodbaran did it instead. We laughed over it. Sri Aurobindo asked why we were laughing. When we said that Champaklal had forgotten to give the cloth he said, "The Inconscient?" NIRODBARAN: Is the Inconscient the last? SRI AUROBINDO: I have told you many times that it is the last, but I must remind you that the work is not short and not individual; it is the principle of the Inconscient that is being worked out. Sri Aurobindo now took up Dara's radio news. Dara had incorrectly written something like Lord Garlic. SRI AUROBINDO: Lord Garlic and Lady Asafoetida! (Laughter) NIRODBARAN (after the news was over): I don't quite understand your work in the Inconscient. If it is concerned with the general Inconscient, then we ought also to be benefited by it. SRI AUROBINDO: Indirectly. (After a while) What I want to discourage in you all is the idea that you will get the Supermind or be on the way to it as soon as the work in the Inconscient is over. NIRODBARAN: No, I am not asking with that motive; neither have I that ambition. SRI AUROBINDO: You may not, others have. DR. MANILAL : They will be at the feet of the Supermind. (Laughter) SRI AUROBINDO: Not even at the tail. DR. MANILAL : But one thing is certain. Sir, that when the Supermind is established, there will be a control over diseases. SRI AUROBINDO: All over the world? DR. MANILAL : Not that way, Sir; I mean mastery over disease. SRI AUROBINDO: Whose disease? Page -1008 NIRODBARAN: In the Ashram. DR. MANILAL: Among the sadhaks. (Laughter) NIRODBARAN: If it is only in the Ashram, he will be left out, so he says sadhaks. DR. MANILAL : Even among those outside who have faith. SRI AUROBINDO: You bring in the faith condition now. Champaklal and Purani gave instances in which even without any faith people had been cured by a flower from the Mother. SRI AUROBINDO: So you see (looking at Dr. Manilal), the problem is very complex. DR. MANILAL : Yes, Sir, but how to explain it? (Laughter) 5 JANUARY 1941NIRODBARAN: In Nishtha's case, is it the Force that has produced this rapid improvement or is it the right medicine? SRI AUROBINDO: You can infer or believe as you like. NIRODBARAN: If the Force, why then was there no effect for such a long time but as soon as the right medicine was given she improved? PURANI: It may be that the right conditions were absent before and now they have been brought about and so there is a cure. SRI AUROBINDO: But does the right medicine always cure? DR. MANILAL : No, Sir. NIRODBARAN: If the right medicine can be found, yes. SRI AUROBINDO: There are many instances where the right medicine has no effect. According to the French doctor, the medicine is an excuse; it is the doctor that cures. NIRODBARAN: If that were true, why couldn't André, who has been treating Nishtha all along, cure her before and is only now able to do it? SRI AUROBINDO: It is the French doctor's opinion, not mine. NIRODBARAN: What is yours then? SRI AUROBINDO: As for me, there is the Force, the doctor and the medicine. It is the combination of all these that brings about the Page -1009 cure. From my point of view, a disease is a play of forces. If you make a combination of one kind of forces, it gives one result, a different combination a different result. But in Nishtha's case the main credit, goes to the chicken (laughter) and one can say that the doctor has hit on the right medicine. DR. MANILAL : After the Inconscient, Sir, aren't the mind and vital to be worked out? SRI AUROBINDO: No, that has already been done; not in each and every one but in principle. In the mind and vital again there are many parts. There are also the subconscient mental, vital and physical. DR. MANILAL : What is the difference between the Inconscient and the Subconscient? SRI AUROBINDO: In the Subconscient, consciousness is suppressed but it is there, while in the Inconscient all is black, there is no consciousness at work, and yet consciousness is involved in it, out of which matter and everything else emerge by evolution. DR. MANILAL : Jada is Inconscience, isn't it? SRI AUROBINDO: No, consciousness may also be Jada; Jada is a result of Inconscience. NIRODBARAN: What is the difference between Inconscience, Ignorance and Nescience? SRI AUROBINDO: Ignorance is knowledge that is wrong, partial or imperfect. Nescience is absence of knowledge; knowledge develops out of Inconscience. The theory I have put forward in The Life Divine is that the Inconscient and the Superconscient are two sides or counterparts of the same reality, though they appear to us as opposed to each other. The Inconscient is a black trance - the dark counterpart — while the Superconscient is a luminous trance. Out of the Inconscient, knowledge emerges by evolution. In the Superconscient, knowledge is always there, it only manifests out of it. They are the two opposite poles of the manifestation of the Absolute. Nescience may be sensitive to impulses without knowing what these impulses are, whereas Inconscience is insentient. This is the great riddle, that Inconscience can yet create perfect order. It is like the Sankhya Prakriti which is Jada and at the same time intelligent. NIRODBARAN: What are effects of the working out of the mind and vital? Page -1010 SRI AUROBINDO: Opening to the higher consciousness and a capacity to receive it. NIRODBARAN: Why don't we see any effect then? SRI AUROBINDO: It is only in principle. If everybody were able to receive it, then the whole of humanity would be changed. NIRODBARAN: But we are slightly different from humanity. SRI AUROBINDO: But still part of humanity unless you want to say that you have achieved the Supermind. DR. MANILAL : We ought to have at least a little taste of the Supermind since we are here. If an incense burns in a room, one gets the smell of it. SRI AUROBINDO: But if you don't have a nose like Sayajirao? (Laughter) NIRODBARAN: If the work is now in the Inconscient, why do some people, especially newcomers, get experiences? Is the work in them not in the Inconscient? SRI AUROBINDO: It depends on what kind of experiences - inner or higher experiences or those in the vital. One may think that one has become the Supreme and the Supermind, but the fact may be otherwise. NIRODBARAN: But don't some newcomers have psychic experiences? SRI AUROBINDO: The work may be going on in the psychic, the Inconscient coming in between to hinder it. PURANI: Those who have been here long may be participating in the working and in them the Inconscient may rise up. SRI AUROBINDO: So that you may suddenly feel stupid. (Laughter) PURANI: That should give some consolation! 6 JANUARY 1941DR. MANILAL : The Mother says in her Conversations that one can progress without meditation. SRI AUROBINDO: Can't say anything without the context. In that case the whole world would progress. PURANI: No, the Mother says about those who can't meditate that through work they can progress in sadhana. Page -1011 SRI AUROBINDO: That is different. There are people here who can't meditate at all but are working all the time and they receive through their work. (Addressing Dr. Manilal) But you have no excuse. You can meditate. You go into deep meditation, though not quite like a Tirthankara. (Laughter) DR. MANILAL : I couldn't be a Tirthankara, Sir, otherwise I wouldn't have been born again. PURANI: Why? Are Tirthankaras afraid of life? SRI AUROBINDO: No, afraid of Pudgal.¹ (Laughter) DR. MANILAL : Might I have been a jain in my previous birth, Sir? SRI AUROBINDO: Certainly, since you know all about Jainism but don't follow it. (Laughter) DR. MANILAL : Is it a tragedy, Sir? SRI AUROBINDO: No, your knowledge comes from a previous birth; you don't follow because it is not necessary — you have done it already. DR. MANILAL : How to pass through the stage of sleep in meditation? SRI AUROBINDO : Is it sleep or going within? DR. MANILAL : Well, I don't know. Sometimes I seem to come out of a deep sleep knowing or remembering nothing about where I have been. Sometimes, I see many incoherent things but can't remember them. SRI AUROBINDO: That is the border of the Subconscience. Before sitting, one has to fix a-will to-be conscious; the result comes afterwards. . CHAMPAKLAL: I also seem to be going somewhere very deep; it is very pleasant and nice there. One would like to be there for ever. SRI AUROBINDO: That is the inner being. You feel like Shankaracharya who said, "I went somewhere to a region of Bliss. I wish I could remain there." After this, the talk turned to the Hindu Mahasabha, whose conference was taking place in Madurai. DR. MANILAL : The Mahasabha people are in favour of giving help to Britain but they also want India's freedom. I don't ¹Body, matter. Page -1012 understand Gandhi's attitude at all. There is no question of his being insincere but his stand and actions are not very clear. NIRODBARAN: Some say he is not sincere. As proof they cite the fact of his pledging unconditional support at the beginning and then making a somersault, saying that we are not making a bargain when it is nothing but that. SRI AUROBINDO: The question is, when is a bargain not a bargain, like the question, when is killing not killing. DR. MANILAL (apropos of Abhay's father who suddenly lost his sight due to cataract): There is no cure for a cataract except an operation when it is mature, unless Dr. Agarwal can do something. But I think gazing at the sun may sometimes destroy the eye. SRI AUROBINDO: It depends on how one does it. Sun-gazing has been done in India since time immemorial. I myself have done it and there are people here who have regained their sight and discarded glasses by the practice. PURANI: I have done it too. For many years I used to gaze at strong sunlight. But I gave it up after what happened once during meditation. There was a great descent of force then suddenly I felt a severe pain in my eye. SRI AUROBINDO: It must have been an attack. MULSHANKAR : In meditation also can the hostile forces attack? SRI AUROBINDO: Why not? It is their business to do so at any time. MULSHANKAR: Is there no protection from the Divine? Purani is quite strong. SRI AUROBINDO: Strength and protection are not the same thing. So long as there is a weak spot one is liable to attack unless one puts it right oneself. 7 JANUARY 1941DR. MANILAL : Does the killing of mosquitoes come in the way of spiritual attainment, Sir? SRI AUROBINDO: Whose attainment? Of the mosquitos? (Laughter) DR. MANILAL .; No, Sir, our attainment? Page -1013 SRI AUROBINDO: No, it may be for the mosquitoes because you kill them before they have exhausted their mosquito propensity. But why that question? NIRODBARAN: Gandhian ahimsa, perhaps, or Jain virtue and vice. SRI AUROBINDO : It may take away from ethical qualities but it has nothing to do with spiritual principles. DR. MANILAL: In medical practice we may sometimes be liable to kill patients because of our lack of knowledge, negligence, etc. Are we responsible for the deaths? SRI AUROBINDO: If they are due to negligence, yes, but not if they are due to lack of efficiency or knowledge. It is the spirit or intention that is more important than the act. NIRODBARAN: But is ignorance excusable? SRI AUROBINDO: If one is ignorant and goes on committing mistakes in his ignorance, then he can't be excused. But if his intention is good, his lack of knowledge doesn't make him responsible for his mistake. I am not speaking of those people who make experiments on patients. 8 JANUARY 1941DR. MANILAL : The knee is bending a little more, Sir. SRI AUROBINDO: Do you think so? DR. MANILAL : Yes, Sir. NIRODBARAN: Is it the Inconscient that stands in the way of a rapid cure? SRI AUROBINDO: Partially and many things in between. NIRODBARAN: If diseases arise from the Inconscient, then when it is worked out, all diseases should cease - Dr. Manilal's too. SRI AUROBINDO: That depends on Manilal. NIRODBARAN: If by Sri Aurobindo's working on the higher planes we can open more easily to them, then by his working on the Inconscient our diseases ought to be cured. PURANI: Yes, but we can open only in the reverse way! (Laughter) There was news that Hitler was trying to persuade Bulgaria to allow German passage or to join the Axis orbit. Page -1014 SRI AUROBINDO: That is the danger now. I don't think an invasion of England is likely. If Britain can't help the Balkan powers with sufficient anti-tank guns, aeroplanes, etc., it will be difficult for them to resist Germany. NIRODBARAN: Turkey may come in to help Bulgaria if the latter is attacked. SRI AUROBINDO: Don't know. If Turkey waits till Bulgaria is attacked it will be too late. In that case Hitler may turn towards Palestine and help Italy there, and then move on to Africa. Next he will ask Spain to join him so that the English army in Africa will be caught between two forces. . PURANI: Yes, that is why England is trying to hurry up the Libyan campaign so that it can move its forces to Greece. EVENING Dara has reported that Roosevelt in his speech mentioned three things, one of which was freedom from care. SRI AUROBINDO: Freedom from care? Is it material or spiritual freedom? Take for instance Manilal's shoulder. Material freedom would mean freedom from pain, while spiritual freedom would mean it does not matter even, if there is pain. Which do you want, Manilal? DR. MANILAL : Both, Sir! (Laughter) Afterwards it was found that Roosevelt had said "freedom from want". There was a difference of opinion about a case of chronic appendicitis. Dr. B. C. Roy advised an immediate operation, while others said it should be postponed for a year. Nirodbaran asked Dr. Manilal's view. DR. MANILAL : I don't know the case, but if it is chronic it is better to remove the appendix. But it may not be appendicitis at all. Many mistaken operations have been performed even in cases of pneumonia, typhoid, pleurisy. At one rime it was the fashion to blame the appendix for any trouble and remove it. Doctors sometimes make much of a little thing. SRI AUROBINDO: I remember in England Sarat Ghose had a small pimple on his lip. A doctor was called. He examined it and said Page -1015 with a long face, "Very serious, very serious!" The way he said it with a grave shaking of his head was most comical! NIRODBARAN: I had an urgent call today from X. I got a little frightened as she has been having the haemorrhage trouble. But when I went in, I saw that she had called me for just a few patches of leucoderma she had suddenly discovered under her breasts. She was on the point of weeping and asked me to tell you to stop them. She said, "God has made me sufficiently ugly. Why this further addition?" (Laughter) SRI AUROBINDO: If she were a professional beauty I could understand her fear! (Laughter) NIRODBARAN: You must have seen that K. S. Roy has become the leader of the Bengal Congress party. SRI AUROBINDO (smiling): Yes. Y and Z have seen that the game is up now. They are the most wonderful people for creating splits. I haven't seen anyone else like them. 9 JANUARY 1941Somebody from Bombay has written that in the old files of lndu Prakash he has found a series of six articles on Bankim written by Sri Aurobindo. Purani asked Sri Aurobindo if it was true. SRI AUROBINDO: I may have, I don't remember. I wrote some articles on Madhusudan, I remember. In which year was it? PURANI: In 1894, the second year of your stay in Baroda. SRI AUROBINDO: My knowledge of Bengali was very little at that time. I couldn't have finished reading all the writings of Bankim or perhaps I wrote the articles during the first enthusiasm of my learning the language. Of course we started learning it Cambridge - the judge, Beachcroft, was one of us — under an Anglo-Indian pundit. He used to teach us Vidyasagar. One day we hit upon a sentence of Bankim's and showed it to him. He began to shake his head and said, "This can't be Bengali!" (Laughter) PURANI: Nolini is very happy that he will get materials for another book. SRI AUROBINDO (smiling): Can't allow publication of that. It must have been very immature. Page -1016 It was decided that the man should be asked to send us copies of the articles for Sri Aurobindo's inspection. The man in his reply wanted to charge about ninety rupees for expenses. SRI AUROBINDO: I can't pay money for these articles. They are not worth anything. PURANI: If Sri Aurobindo wants to see them, money can be arranged from outside. SRI AUROBINDO: Then I have no objection. Later on it came out that Sri Aurobindo had written some articles on the Congress. SRI AUROBINDO: Those will be interesting to see. NIRODBARAN: How could Madhusudan write so well in Bengali? SRI AUROBINDO: He engaged several pundits and he had the inborn poetic faculty. PURANI: Besides, he was a linguist; he knew many European languages. SRI AUROBINDO: Oh yes! You can see the influence of Homer, Virgil and Tasso in his writings. DR. MANILAL : I asked Nirod if he was having experiences. He said, "No, my work is now in the physical." I asked, "What about mind and vital?" "Oh, all that is finished!" "So it will be Supermind next?" "Yes," Nirod replied. (Laughter) (After some time) Nirod, how is your poetry getting on? SRI AUROBINDO: He has finished his mental and vital working. (Laughter) Page -1017 |