(Two Americans have brought Mother photos of a former disciple who left for the United States:)

Do you remember C.? He has become a great guru there, with a group, and it seems he hypnotizes people.... And two Americans have come here (very nice people, one is a painter, the other is a sculptor); one was in C.'s clutches and it's the other who saved him by keeping him, almost brutally, materially far from C. for three days - the third day, he was free (which does seem to prove that he has a hypnotic influence) - and by telling him, "We're leaving for Pondicherry, you don't need an intermediary between the Mother and you." Because C. plays the great "intermediary" between Sri Aurobindo and the poor public.

(Mother looks at the photos)

Well, well, that's just it! Oh, just look at this....

(Then she reads the letter that accompanies the photos)

"... Z and I met with him a few times. Since I saw in him a devilish evil, we have broken contact. I leave this now in your hands."

Z lives in the forest with his friend S., in a house built with logs. I saw the photos some time ago. The forest is a marvel.

But as for me, of course, I knew....

He asked for a visa as "preacher" (!) and it seems that in that case you are allowed to stay indefinitely; he no longer has to leave - that's very good, I am very glad he is there! Because when people are caught, it was their destiny and they needed to be caught. And you can even reach the Goal through a devil as well as through an angel - better, sometimes! (Mother laughs)

But it was visible when he was here: a fantastic pride and ambition that were to end up like this. He has a nasty face, very nasty.

But still, the fact that he declares himself to be the Ashram's "envoy" is troublesome.
Ah, but I immediately wrote to Dr. Sanyal, who passed on my answer to all the people he knew.

But this S. [an American], C.'s friend, is quite in a beatific adoration - that's very good, it had to happen to him.

The Americans have so little discernment. They rush headlong at anything.
Absolutely no discernment.

He [C.] must have something, but I don't feel anything! (Mother makes a gesture as thin as cigarette paper.) It's something without force. But K., too, when she was in America, was quite under his thumb. And she said she had marvelous meditations with him! ... But I wrote to K., because he gave her advice on her life and on what she should and should not do; so she wrote to ask me, "How much am I to believe?" I answered, "Nothing! "... He had forbidden her to come to the Ashram; he had told her that it wasn't the place for her, that she was much too grown-up to come here! The Ashram is good for those who have nothing in them, who need to be kept well in hand, while someone with a capacity must live independently.

That's how he catches them.


page 218-19 , Mother's Agenda , volume 6 , 18th Aug - 1965