XIV From 1963 - LOSS OF PERSONAL CONTACT     In the year 1962, probably after April, a long period of personal contact with the Mother came to an end and was resumed in 1966. For she fell seriously ill. As a result all the interviews had to be suspended. When she recovered she stopped coming down altogether. The personal contacts were re-established only with those who were in charge of the departments. Interviews were granted to the visitors or people on their birthdays and they used to take place in the Music Room on the second floor.     On the first of February, 1963, the month of her birth, I had a strange experience during my morning meditation. It lasted about an hour. I saw man

X THE MOTHER'S MAGNANIMITY     A young man came to me with a letter of introduction from a friend in Calcutta. Our friendship went back to Scotland but we had hardly met each other since our arrival in India. This man had gathered all particulars about me from that friend, and, adding that he too was a doctor, said he would like to stay here. He also said he knew Dr. Sanyal. From other details it appeared that he was well-connected in Calcutta. Quite impressed, I arranged for him a room in Golconde. I informed the Mother about him and even consulted him in a medical case. Some days passed; he was gaily moving about and telling many tall stories to the young people.     One evening, whe

XVIII ECLIPSE     Now followed a long period of distress to her body to which the regular attendants alone were witnesses. We could only hear her cries of pain. A tragedy worse than that of Sri Aurobindo was being enacted, and most of us had no means of knowing what was passing in the closed chamber. Some news could be gleaned now and then from Pranab and other attendants, but they themselves were quite ignorant of and bewildered by the nature of the ailment. I would meet Champaklal only at night, and he could give no detailed news either, but there was always in his speech an uncertain tone ending with "Only He can help", or something to that effect. At times he used to be called urgently

XX THE MOTHER'S MESSAGE OF APRIL 2, 1972     For centuries and centuries humanity has waited for this time. It has come. But it is difficult.     I don't simply tell you we are here upon earth to rest and enjoy ourselves; now it is not the time for that. We are here to prepare the way for a new creation.     The body has some difficulty, so I can't be active, alas. It is not because I am old, I am not old. I am not old. I am younger than most of you. If I am here inactive, it is because the body has given itself to prepare for the transformation. But the consciousness is clear, and we are here to work . . . . . . rest and enjoyment come afterwards. Let us do our work here.  

VIII LIGHT INTERLUDE     After all these serious talks, let us see the Mother in her lighter moods, just for a change, but no chronological order is intended in the narration of the various incidents.     I had now the 'chance' of seeing the Mother along with the others every morning. It was the time of the morning Pranam. Some young students were going to the Gingee Hills for an outing during the holidays. They invited me as a teacher to join them. Their captain Prabhakar brought a list of names to the Mother for her sanction. As she scanned the list, she found that my name was also there. "Will you be able to climb the hills?" she asked me. I replied, "Oh yes, Mother!" I was above fi

                                                                                                                     THE MOTHER - SWEETNESS AND LIGHT NIRODBARAN EDITIONS AUROPRESS 1st Edition - 21st February 1978: The Mother's Birth Centenary Edition. Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, 1978. Photographs of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother: Copyright Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust. Published by Editions Auropress Sri Aurobindo Ashram Pondicherry 605002 India Printed at Auropress, Aurov

XV 1966 SHORT ASCENSION     The year 1966 is a memorable year for me: I had the opportunity of renewing my contact with the Mother after a long interval and it was one of the closest and happiest, as if some old barrier had broken down. It came about in an unexpected manner. Champaklal had fallen ill during the last months of the year. Dr. Sanyal was treating him. I was one of the attendants. When after recovery he went to the Mother I accompanied him till he reached the door of her room. Then he asked me to come inside with him. Though I had a strong impulse, I hesitated to go without previous permission, but he insisted and told the Mother what he had done. She did not mind, of course,

IX THE MOTHER'S WAYS OF ACTION     The Mother gave me some apparently simple and trivial work whether as a test or with a deeper intention, I cannot say. But this we knew that she had almost always an occult or hidden purpose behind her movements. Sometimes she would disclose it. At any rate we were supposed to take it as a matter of discipline. I am afraid, my nature was not so obedient and thus I failed to cooperate with her at times She asked me, for example, to give instructions in anatomy and physiology to a young girl who had come from outside. I could not understand why a girl who intended probably to stay here, and would never take up a medical course should learn these subj

APPENDIX THE MOTHER'S LETTERS TO A STUDENT Sweet Mother                 1-6-60                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Can you hear me whenever I call you? My dear child,     Be sure that I hear you each time you call and my help and force go straight to you. With my blessings.     30-8-63     Bonne Fete! Je t'embrasse d

IV DAWN     I arrived a few days before the February Darshan and was lodged in what was formerly called Boude House near the Ashram Press. A little far but otherwise a nice quiet place on the seaside, it was meant to be a halting station for the newcomers or even a jumping-board for prospective sadhaks. I had brought a silk dhoti for Sri Aurobindo and a well-known Bengal perfume for the Mother. The choice was made instinctively, or unthinkingly, if you like. My niece was very much amused to see my present for the Mother and said laughingly, "Do you imagine that the Mother uses such ordinary perfumes ?" I looked very foolish. All the same, when an interview with her was arranged, I took my prese