December December 2, 1964 ... Letters are piling up in fantastic numbers, and I haven't answered. People should learn to receive: I answer very forcefully, very clearly, even with words, a precise sentence. If they learned to receive mentally, it would be good. I always answer. And when it's something important and I have some peace, when I have no external action, I even repeat my answer by making a very precise mental formation - they should receive it. (Mother picks up at random a letter from a Western disciple who asks to change her work or stop her external work, because, she says, it doesn't correspond to her nature. She also complains about her relationship with others and

February 22, 1964 (The day after Mother's eighty-sixth birthday. Mother first reads the translation of the message she gave on the 21st:) It was translated in an interesting way.... I read it, then I concentrated (A. was sitting here, not moving or saying anything), so first I said a word or two to him to "establish the atmosphere." Then I remained quiet, and it simply came - it isn't exactly a translation: Sa volonté solitaire affronta la loi du monde. Pour arrêter la roue fatale, cette Splendeur se leva ... Her single will opposed the cosmic rule. To stay the wheels of Doom this greatness rose. (Savitri, I.II.19) *** I had a strange night last night. The

March March 4, 1964 So, how are you? And you? Experiences ... I have nothing to say. It's too much and too little at the same time - too many things, details, innumerable little observations, innumerable little changes; but nothing sensational, nothing to make a "nice picture," no. But first, I had asked you to tell me if you saw something. I did see something, but I don't think it's very interesting, or collective either. I seemed to kind myself in an enormous plane, a very powerful one, which managed to take off (a takeoff which, besides, gave me a very pleasant sensation). It took off, but it was hedgehopping, that was dangerous. At first, the space before us was clear anyw

January 28, 1964 (The following conversation between Mother and a Bengali disciple, B., was not tape-recorded but only noted from memory in English:) (B.) I am going to Calcutta. There they will ask me one question regarding the present situation - communal riots.[[It may be recalled that at the time a continuous flood of Hindu refugees from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was pouring into Bengal, sparking off numerous reprisals against the Muslim communities there. ]] What is the solution? The solution is, of course, the change of consciousness. I know those other people [in Pakistan] behaved badly, like animals - even animals are better than human beings - but if people he

October 10, 1964 (For the past few months, Mother has often remarked that she could no longer see and was writing her replies without seeing. Once, she even said, "I am blind.") That's another odd thing. All of a sudden, for no apparent external reason, even for no apparent psychological reason, I'll see clearly, precisely - it lasts a few seconds, and then ... it's over. And it happens to me in entirely different circumstances. For instance, I'll pick up a piece of paper: I'll see as clearly as I did before; I'll notice that I am seeing clearly - and it's finished! It has happened a little more often lately. At times, on the contrary, I try; for instance, nobody is here to re

April April 4, 1964 You gave me two recordings of Wanda Landowska and I have listened to them. In one of them, there's a passage which is a pure marvel.[[It is the transcription, by W. Landowska, of a "popular Polish song." ]] Isn't it! It doesn't last long - it's like crystal. Yes, exactly! I found it extraordinary. It's so beautiful! I've never heard anything so pure. Pure, yes, absolutely pure! That's a divine means of expression. It's really a divine manifestation on earth.... Yes, very pure - and simple. I have always wondered why I wasn't born a musician.... You must have been a musician. It's really a regret in my life not to be a musician. Writing

July 28, 1964 (This conversation is about Dr. S., who left for the U.S.A. for a brain operation. The operation consists in introducing a needle into the diseased spot and injecting liquid oxygen to destroy the group of affected cells. The first operation took place three months earlier, and the second was scheduled for this month.) I've just received a long letter from Dr. S.... You know that one side was operated on and that ... To make it interesting, I should tell you the story from the beginning. Before his departure for America, when he spoke to me about the operation, I immediately saw not only that it was dangerous (that was obvious, he himself knew it), but that it couldn't

July 13, 1964 (Satprem is back from a three-month journey to France. Unfortunately, only a fragment of this conversation was kept.) ... Did you get my last note on the golden card? Yes, I did. But you know, I had an amusing experience.... When I came back to Brittany from my trip to Savoy, I was in a car with my brother, and as we approached the Quiberon peninsula, I saw in the sky two extraordinary, immense wings, two clouds that were like immense wings. I said to my brother, "Look!" It really struck me: "Look at those immense wings, look at that victorious angel welcoming us!" It was wonderful.... Then I went into the house, and found your letter: "Open your wings and soar..." It'

April 29, 1964 (From Satprem to Sujata) Paris I have obtained from the embassy my return visa and I am quite relieved, because I was terribly anxious that this visa might be refused - it's silly, but I waited for this visa with a horrible fear. Page 115

August 14, 1964 Last night, and maybe the night before, oh, you and I talked for a very, very long time about all sorts of subjects, and I became aware that there is a place, somewhere in the physical Mind, but very close to the earth, where people must almost inevitably go at night. There are sorts of big meeting rooms where people come and discuss all kinds of problems: they meet, work out programs and discuss problems. I don't know why, I've been going there for the last two nights (I am afraid it is because of all those seminars and all that business where they play tape-recordings of me[[To mark August 15, several groups connected to the Ashram have been meeting in Pondicherry.