I don't think it would be wise to put this in the Bulletin. There are so many people, in fact, who don't care a whit about anything, who don't take life seriously, but in the wrong way: they don't take seriously what they have to do, they don't take their progress seriously, they take nothing seriously - they go to the movies when Sri Aurobindo is dying. That sort of thing. So I think this passage would open the door to too many misunderstandings. It's true, but it is true up ABOVE. A bit too high up for people. I think we should omit it. Especially when I say that those who have given me the most trouble are the people who take life seriously. page 35 , Mother's Agenda , volume 4 , 18th Jan 1963 |
A few days afterwards, I receive a letter from someone very close, who has an ardent faith and really holds on to me with almost perfect faith, exceptional. In the letter: the whole story, the attack, the hemorrhage, how suddenly the being is SEIZED, the consciousness is SEIZED with an irresistible will, and hears words - the very words that were uttered HERE. The result: saved (he was dying), saved, cured. Just enough time for the letter to reach me. page 109 , Mother's Agenda , volume 4 , 6th April 1963 |
All the details are clear - it would take a book to write them. Everybody now has his place and meaning. [[Mother often said that each of the Ashram disciples was the symbol of a particular difficulty to be conquered. ]] And they're all so content, so content! So BLISSFULLY ignorant of the condition they live in. And I'm not speaking of people who know nothing: all those who were there last night were people full of philosophy, of knowledge, of "spiritual experiences" and all that - the cream. The elite of mankind.... page 183 - Mother's Agenda , volume 4 , 19th June 1963 |
And the true sincerity: to live for the Divine without expecting any benefit from Him in return.I said this yesterday or the day before, because I was very angry with the Ashram people! ... We are going through a very difficult period financially, and so, you know, people ... they respect you only as long as you have money; when you have no more money, they don't respect you anymore - and they find it so self-evident, so natural! They don't even feel ill at ease, not at all: it's perfectly obvious that you respect someone only when he has money and holds you in his grip. I wasn't happy, so I wrote this note. page 32 , Mother's Agenda - volume 5 , 22th Jan 1964 |
At the time, I had all the money (as I did in Sri Aurobindo's time: he never took care of the money, he would hand everything over to me, and afterwards it went on as it was), and that keeps them a little quiet. But when I say, "I don't have any money, I can't pay," then ... That's "spiritual life" for you! Now, according to what I have seen and tested (with "little tests" done casually), there are certainly - oh, being EXTREMELY generous, patient and (what shall I say?) merciful - there are a good third who are here only because they are comfortable: you work if you want to, you don't work if you don't want to, you always eat, you always have shelter and clothes, and, ultimately, you sort of do as you please (you must pretend to obey, that's all). And if you're denied a convenience, you start grumbling - Yoga is simply out of the picture! It's a hundred thousand miles away from their consciousness (their mouths are full of words, but it's only lip service). Sometimes you have a little scruple in order to appear to be doing some work. And some have grown very old or come here because they have become unfit for life outside ... so we can't send them away! (It was wrong to accept them - I must say I have little to do with that acceptance: I'll say no, and ninety-nine times out of a hundred, they'll pretend they heard yes, but anyway ... that's life.) So I can't send them away. But I am going to make life ascetic for them: one won't be here to be comfortable anymore - then for what? page 36 , Mother's Agenda - volume 5 , 22th Jan 1964 |
I have here three quotations on difficulties.... They apply so marvelously now! Sri Aurobindo wrote them in ... 1946, '47, '48 - the dark hours. And things are repeating themselves now: "The Mother's victory is essentially a victory of each sadhak over himself. It can only be then that any external form of work can come to a harmonious perfection." November 12, 1937 page 41 , Mother's Agenda - volume 5 , 29th Jan 1964 |
You know, I am forever struggling with people who've come here to be comfortable and "free to do what they like," so ... I tell them, "The world is big, you can go." No soul, no aspiration, nothing.... I am counting on your book very much. page 58 - Mother's Agenda , volume 12 , 3rd Mar - 1971 |
You know my impression? They're all old and I am the only one who is young! [[Let us recall the Tantrasara: "Although thou art the primordial cause of the worlds, yet thou art forever young." ]] That's it, you know, that flame, that will ... what is called push -- they are satisfied with stupid little personal satisfactions ... which lead nowhere, preoccupied with what they're going to eat and ... oh! I have the impression that there is a sort of display now, a display of everything that should not be. Yes.But the flame, the flame of aspiration (Mother shakes her head), not many bring it to me. Provided they are what they call "comfortable," that's all they want -- and free to do some nonsense they wouldn't do in the world! While you feel you could hasten the coming -- you COULD hasten it if you were ... if you were a conqueror! page 58 - Mother's Agenda , volume 12 , 3rd Mar - 1971 |
And then quarrels over nothing, people wanting more money -- oh, a subhumanity! And they think they're.... You see, they are grossly ignorant; they come here without experience, without knowledge, without preparation, and they think they are going to realize the Supermind right away.... It's really pathetic. Some things are ... they display reactions and attitudes one would be ashamed of in ordinary life. page 63-64 - Mother's Agenda , volume 12 , 6th Mar - 1971 |
Now that I am here like this, in seclusion, the lowest nature of everyone comes out. They do things, thinking "Oh, Mother won't know." That's how it is. So this "Mother won't know" means there's no more restraint. I would say it's rather disgusting. People to whom I have said, "You can't stay in the Ashram" move in anyway. And nobody stops them. Not only that, but they go to the Auroville offices and try to direct things. I tell you ... it has become really, really disgusting. Because I am here, because I don't see so clearly anymore and my hearing isn't so good - so they take advantage of it. People say that I am no longer in control in the Ashram, that those around me direct and do exactly as they please. !!!But it's not true. page 24 - Mother's Agenda , volume 13 , 8th Jan - 1972-1973 |