If they have some intelligence, they will publish it. If they publish it, it will be good for everyone.... I haven't told you this little story which resembles yours: some two years ago, The Illustrated Weekly asked questions on where India stood, and in their questionnaire they had asked for the answers to be put in as few words as possible. Very well. As for me, I answered with one word, two words, three words, because things can be put in very few words. [[See in addendum the text of Mother's answer. ]] They published it in a box in the middle of people's answers, which were columns long! Mon petit, it seems it had more effect than all the rest. They said to themselves, "It has forced us to think." It will be the same thing for you if you have the courage to put just what has to be put, in as few words as possible: the thing as exact as possible.

If they have the courage to publish it, it will do a lot of good, a lot. [[Satprem's article is published in addendum. ]]

And it isn't a question of condensing, it's not that: it's a question of saying just the essential - of catching the essential behind all that and of saying it.

Do that, it'll be fun!

Sri Aurobindo is happy.


page 212 , Mother's Agenda , volume 6 , 7th Aug - 1965

THE STATE OF THE NATION

The Mother answers

(A questionnaire from The Illustrated Weekly of India, Republic Day issue of 1964 - original English)


1. If you were asked to sum up, just in one sentence, your vision of India, what would be your answer?
India's true destiny is to be the Guru of the world.

2. Similarly, if you were asked to comment on the reality as you see it, how would you do it in one sentence?
The present reality is a big falsehood - hiding an eternal truth.

3. What, according to you, are the three main barriers that stand between the vision and the reality?
i) Ignorance ii) Fear iii) Falsehood.

4. Are you satisfied with the overall progress India has made since Independence? (Yes or No)
No.

5. What is our most outstanding achievement in recent times? Why do you consider it so important?
Waking up of the yearning for Truth - because without Truth there is no real liberty.

6. Likewise, can you name the saddest failure? On what ground do you regard it as so tragic?
Insincerity. Because insincerity leads to ruin.

(November 12, 1963)


page 212-13 , Mother's Agenda , volume 6 , 7th Aug - 1965