All the reasonings in your letter come from the external physical mind. You cannot expect me to come down to that level and discuss with you from there. I see things from another plane and in a different way. 19 July 1942 * It is quite inexact that in my consciousness there is a will to be late. The truth is that the will to be ready in time does not take precedence in me over the other wills: it is in its place among the others, not exclusive and unique but forming part of the whole in which degrees of greatness and importance may not conform to what you think or feel. In fact, your sense of relative importance is not the same as mine. Moreover, you consider the probl

Early Talks June 1965 Have you heard of Auroville? For a long time, I had a plan of the “ideal town”, but that was during Sri Aurobindo's lifetime, with Sri Aurobindo living at the centre. Afterwards, I was no longer interested. Then the idea of Auroville ― I gave the name ― Auroville was taken up again, but from the other end: instead of the formation having to find the place, it was the place ― near the lake ― which gave birth to the formation, and until now I took only a very minor interest in it, for I had received nothing directly. Then our little A took it into her head to have a house there, by the lake, and to have a house for me next to hers, and to offer it to

Eternal Presence You spoke of Sri Aurobindo's birth as “eternal” in the history of the universe. What exactly was meant by “eternal”? The sentence can be understood in four different ways on four ascending planes of consciousness: 1. Physically, the consequence of the birth will be of eternal importance to the world. 2. Mentally, it is a birth that will be eternally remembered in the universal history. 3. Psychically, a birth that recurs for ever from age to age upon earth. 4. Spiritually, the birth of the Eternal upon earth. 1957 * Since the beginning of earth history, Sri Aurobindo has always presided over the great earthly transformat

Nations Other than India MESSAGE FOR AMERICA Stop thinking that you are of the West and others of the East. All human beings are of the same divine origin and meant to manifest upon earth the unity of this origin. 4 August 1949  * MESSAGE FOR THE INAUGURATION OF A  FRENCH INSTITUTE AT PONDICHERRY In any country the best education that can be given to children consists in teaching them what the true nature of their country is and its own qualities, the mission their nation has to fulfil in the world and its true place in the terrestrial concert. To that should be added a wide understanding of the role of other nations, but without the spirit of im

Blessings Every day, at each moment, my blessings are with you. My child, My blessings are with you to widen and purify your consciousness so that peace may always be within you. Whether the words are written or not, I always send you my blessings. 23 April 1934 * My blessings are always there to awaken you, but you must want to make use of them. 21 October 1935 * Blessings are a manifestation of the divine grace, in favour of an individual or a collectivity. 22 October 1935 * My love and blessings are with you. Understand that blessings are for the best spiritual result, not necessarily according to human wishes. My blessings are very d

Organisation and Work “[For the Ashram] there has never been, at any time, a mental plan, a fixed programme or an organisation decided beforehand. The whole thing has taken birth, grown and developed as a living being by a move- ment of consciousness (Chit-tapas) constantly main- tained, increased and fortified.” Sri Aurobindo (22 August 1939) * That is to say, the movement of consciousness has never ceased at any moment. It is not that a “movement of creation” was started and then stopped and then again started ― constantly the consciousness is recreating, so to say, continues its creation; it is not a thing which has been done and which grows

Paid Workers You should be very polite with those who depend upon you for their living. If you ill-treat them, they feel very much but cannot reply to you as man to man for fear of losing their job. There may be some dignity in being rough with your superiors, but with those who depend on you, the true dignity is to be very courteous. 23 June 1932 * The shoe-maker would like a raise. He requests me to ask you for 10 rupees instead of 8, as he has to sup- port a family of three. Family considerations do not interest me at all. The salary should depend on the work of the worker, on his ability, his regularity, not on the number of people he has to

The Mother Since the beginning of the earth, wherever and whenever there was the possibility of manifesting a ray of the Consciousness, I was there. That which is speaking to you now, is a faithful servant of the Divine. From all time, since the beginning of the earth, as a faithful servant of the Divine, it has spoken in the name of its Master. And as long as earth and men exist, it will be there in a body to preach the divine word. So, wherever I am asked to speak, I do my best, as a servant of the Divine. But to speak in the name of a particular doctrine or of a man, however great he may be, that I cannot do! The Eternal Transcendent forbids me. 1912 *

Conditions for Admission Do not judge on appearances and do not listen to what people say, because these two things are misleading. But if you find it necessary to go, of course you can go and from an external point of view it may be indeed wiser. Moreover it is not easy to remain here. There is in the Ashram no exterior discipline and no visible test. But the inner test is severe and constant, one must be very sincere in the aspiration to surmount all egoism and to conquer all vanity in order to be able to stay. A complete surrender is not outwardly exacted but it is indispensable for those who wish to stick on, and many things come to test the sincerity of th

Relations with Persons Outside the Ashram I appreciate your feelings about what a sadhak ought to be and from that point of view, what you say is quite true. But it is well understood that the Ashram is not exclusively composed of sadhaks. The Ashram is a reduced image of life where those who practice yoga are a minority, and if I were to keep here only those who are quite sincere in their sadhana, very few indeed would remain. Sri Aurobindo always reminds us of the fact that the Divine is everywhere and in everything, and asks us to practise a true compassion, as is so beautifully expressed in this aphorism which I am just commenting upon, “Examine thyself wit