They also had a sudden brainstorm to affiliate with the Sri Aurobindo Society. But the Sri Aurobindo Society has absolutely nothing to do with their project: it's a strictly external thing, organized by businessmen to bring in money - EXCLUSIVELY. That is, they want to put people in a position where they feel obliged to give (so far they have succeeded and I believe they will succeed).But this has nothing to do with working for an ideal, it is COMPLETELY practical. [[Although it began as a fund-raising organization for the needs of the Ashram and Auroville, this 'strictly external thing,' which had 'nothing to do with working for an ideal,' would, after Mother's departure, coolly declare itself the 'owner' and guide of Auroville. ]] And of course, World Union has nothing to offer the Sri Aurobindo Society: they would simply siphon off funds. So I told them, 'Nothing doing - it's out of the question!' 'But your name is there as President of the Sri Aurobindo Society,' they said. My name is there to give an entirely material guarantee that the money donated will really and truly be used for the Work to be done and for nothing else; it's only a moral and purely practical guarantee. These people aren't even asked to understand what Sri Aurobindo has said but simply to participate. It's a different matter for those in World Union, who are working for an ideal: they want to prepare the world to receive (laughing) the Supermind! Let them prepare it! It doesn't matter, they will achieve nothing at all, or very little. It's unimportant. That's my point of view and I have told them so. In addition, I told them it was preferable not to hold any functions here - they can be held at Tapogiri in the Himalayas, or elsewhere - and this is understood. They did hold a seminar here (a perfect fiasco, besides), but it had been arranged a long time ago. They invited people who promised to come (I think very few showed up in the end), and it was of very secondary importance. Nevertheless, I told them, 'This is the last time; don't do it here any more. At Tapogiri, as often as you like: it's a beautiful spot in the mountains, a health resort, people go there in the summer for the fresh air and ... to sit around and chat!' page 110- Mother's Agenda , volume 2 , 4th March 1961

It began with this famous World Union [[See conversation of March 4. ]] and now the Sri Aurobindo Society [[After Mother's departure, this 'Society' would try to appropriate Auroville: 'Auroville is a project of the Sri Aurobindo Society.' (sic) ]] is meddling in it! They have put together a brochure saying, 'We will facilitate your relations with the Mother'!! Luckily, the draft was sent to me. I said, 'I do not accept this responsibility.' I agreed to be President because money is involved and I wanted to be a guarantee that all these people who make propaganda don't put the money into their own pockets for their personal use; so I agreed to be President - to guarantee that the money would really go to work for Sri Aurobindo, that's all. But no spiritual responsibility; I have nothing to teach to anyone, thank God! page 182 , Mother's Agenda , volume - 2 - 25th April - 1961

After this, I received the draft of the Sri Aurobindo Society's brochure to be distributed among all disciples, all society members, in order to 'encourage' them. Well, that was the last straw! Oh, the most asinine propaganda! And plump in the middle of a bunch of other things (which had nothing to do with me), I come across this: 'We have the great fortune to have the Mother among us, and we propose to be the intermediary for all who wish to come into direct contact with her'! They wanted to print this and distribute it, just like that! So I took my brightest red ink and wrote: 'I do not accept this responsibility, you cannot make this promise.' And that was that. I cut it. And now here's A., doing the same thing! page 182 , Mother's Agenda , volume - 2 - 25th April - 1961

Look here, there's a muddle in all this. The Sri Aurobindo Society people had ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the spiritual life when they began; they didn't at all present themselves as a 'spiritual group' - nothing of the kind; they were people of good will who volunteered to collect money to help the Ashram. So I said, 'Very well, excellent' and as long as it's like that, I'm behind it. Leaflets can be handed out - whatever people like; it's enough if their interest is aroused, if they know there is an Ashram and that it needs some help to go on. But that's all. It has nothing to do with yoga or spiritual progress or anything of the kind - it was a strictly practical organization. It was not the same thing as World Union. page 183 , Mother's Agenda , volume - 2 - 25th April - 1961

But then, they [the S.A.S. people] began posing as ... almost as teachers! Luckily, the draft of their brochure was brought to me. I said, 'Nothing doing. If you want to talk to people, tell them what you like, it's all the same to me, but I am not publishing this. What you have written about me is not to be printed and you are not to distribute it. I'm not in the picture. My name, the fact that I am president, is simply to give my guarantee that the money won't go into the pockets of those who collect it but will be used for the Ashram, the running of the Ashram, and that's all. And on this basis alone I give my guarantee. I am in no way going to help people imagine they are doing a yoga!' It's absurd. page 184 , Mother's Agenda , volume - 2 - 25th April - 1961