October 16, 1965 I have just thrown a fit of indignation! Because almost without exception, all the people around me, who profess to want nothing but what I want, are apparently completely obedient, but their instinct is just the opposite. When I see someone, for instance, I see how he is, what he is capable of, etc., and when I see it's a man we can't count on, THEIR instinct is: "Oh, what a wonderful man!" And it's their INSTINCT, in other words, the spontaneous movement of their being is in constant contradiction with my knowledge. Page 273 So that means ... I can't say it's hypocrisy, but it's a purely mental attitude that doesn't correspond to the consciousness of the being

February 19, 1965 (Regarding the mantra Satprem asked for when he was in hospital but did not receive.) The mantra ... Did you get my note?... Several times while walking for my japa, I sent you the mantra insistently. The truth is that I intend to give you a beautiful present. Only, for it to be truly a beautiful present, it is necessary that the mind shouldn't interfere in any way; otherwise I won't be able to pass the Power on to you along with the words. It's a Power that has been growing from year to year. Up to now, I have kept it exclusively for myself, but when you asked me, I looked to see if there was something that suited you, and I so to say received the int

November 15, 1965 (For some time Mother has been giving Sujata packets of ready-made soups from Germany, Sweden, etc.) ... You'll become cosmopolitan, my child - cosmopolitan in taste. (Sujata makes a face) You don't want to? Is there something in your nature that doesn't want? (Sujata:) Food, ever since childhood I haven't liked eating. But mon petit, I have never been interested in food! I have never liked eating. When I was small, they had to think up all sorts of tricks to make me eat, to me it was the most absurd and least interesting thing. Well, I know the food of every country and have done a comparative study (!) of all cuisines, and I can be Page 297

July 31, 1965 There is a problem I'd like to put to you. What problem? A practical problem, not a yogic one! It's about Italy, N. and the publication of the book on Sri Aurobindo ["The Adventure of Consciousness"]. N. translated it and gave it to his friend S. to look after the publication in Italy. S. saw a publisher, who asked to read the book in French and found it interesting. And then, I don't know whether on the publisher's suggestion or S.'s, they are asking if it wouldn't be better to publish first a book by Sri Aurobindo like, for instance, "The Guide to Yoga." That doesn't exist! Yes, you know, fragments of letters were used to make "The Bases of Yoga" and so on, and

November 20, 1965 (On Mother's table lies an issue of "The Illustrated Weekly" showing a large photo of President Kennedy with folded hands. This is the second anniversary of his death, November 22, 1963.) Was he a religious man? He was Catholic, I think. Oh, Catholic! ... Ah, that's why he died.... You know he was truly in favor of freedom, and not only freedom but union. And he was receptive. You know how he worked for the Blacks there (moreover, that's the external cause of his death). But he was the one I counted on, not without reason, as he had shown signs of assent to a union with Page 299 Russia to establish peace on earth. Talks had already started and t

October 13, 1965 There is sand in the gears, everywhere. It grates. (silence) It seems there is a new disease in Pondicherry, which doctors from various parts of India are coming to investigate here, and it's a sort of paratyphoid - everyone is ill. You haven't caught it, have you? You did well! (To Sujata:) Neither have you? Good. It is one way of grating. There are other ways of grating, but they are very usual: one's ego scraping against another's - it always produces grating. The result: very busy nights, and not pleasantly busy. (silence) But the Lord is smiling, so I don't think it's serious. He is smiling.... He has taken the opportunity to make a practica

June 30, 1965 (About a cyst) What should be done for Sujata? What did the doctor say? They are going to operate on her tomorrow. Did he say it should be cut out? Yes, but since she mentioned it to you, it has become much smaller! (Mother laughs and examines Sujata's cyst:) Does it still hurt? ... It's better to remove it because if a small bit is left, it will start again. But it's true, it's smaller. (Sujata:) And it keeps getting smaller. Tell the doctor it's getting smaller, he will see - maybe he will say we should wait a few more days?... It's true (laughing), it's much smaller.[[In fact the cyst has grown smaller almost by half since Sujata mentioned it t

September 18, 1965 (Regarding the Indo-Pakistani conflict:) I have all kinds of things to show you ... because I have been made to say some things - I am always made to say things! (Mother gives Satprem a hibiscus flower called "Grace") It's the season for graces. Do you know this text from Sri Aurobindo? (Mother holds out a note) "... The fight in which we are engaged is not like the wars of old in which when the King or leader fell, the army fled. The King whom we follow to the war today is our own Motherland, the sacred and imperishable; the leader of our onward march is the Almighty Himself...." May 11, 1907 Page 246 Then I wrote this: "

August 15, 1965 (Message for Sri Aurobindo's birthday:) Some day surely The world too shall be saved from death by love. Sri Aurobindo Page 218>

December 28, 1965 (Mother shows a box of candy-pink writing paper she has just received.) Page 340 Pretty paper ... to write poetry on! Will you write? Me! I am no poet! The first poetry I was able to appreciate in my life was Savitri. Previously, I was closed. To me it was always words: hollow, hollow, hollow, just words - words for words' sake. So as a sound it's pretty, but ... I prefer music. Music is better! This translation of Savitri gives me a whole lot of fun, it's great fun for me. Much more fun than having to "tell things" ... that are unnecessary. *** Later ... My nightly work begins around nine, till four in the morning, and it's divided