kindliness that encourages what is good and does not severely emphasise what is bad. Grace is always closer to the truth than justice.    1961  * Mother, what should be done in a class when a child refuses to conform to a discipline? Should he be left to do as he likes? Generally speaking, above the age of twelve all children need discipline.     Some teachers believe that you are opposed to disci- pline.    For them, discipline is an arbitrary rule that they impose on the little ones, without conforming to it themselves. I am opposed to that kind of discipline.   So discipline is a rule which the child should impose on himself. How can

-57_Mother's-Action-in-a-Class-of-Aged-10 to 11.htm Yes, but for that the calm must be perfect in all parts of the being so that the power can express itself through him.           (The children's notebooks had been sent to Mother for her assessment.} I have put marks in the children's notebooks without making any classification. Is this classification really necessary? Each one has different merits and it is difficult to grade them.  June-July 1960 * (Extract from one of the teacher's letters:} I trust You and I trust the children because of You; as for myself, I know nothing and I want nothing, except what You want for us. Only show me a

The Championship Badge  During the Athletic Championships of the J.S.A.S.A. which were held this quarter, the champion of each sub-group received as a prize a badge of championship. This badge is in the form of a golden tortoise with a full circle of red in the centre from which radiate twelve white rays. The form and colour of the badge have an occult significance and may be interpreted as follows: The tortoise is the symbol of terrestrial immortality, that is, the immortality of the physical body on this earth. The red centre symbolises the illumined physical and from this radiate the twelve white rays of the integral Light of Truth. The rays are curved to indica

PART TWO MESSAGE, LETTERS AND CONVERSATIONS I SRI AUROBINDO INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF EDUCATION During the 1920s and 1930s, the Mother's educational guidance was limited to instructing a few individuals in French and offering general counsel in other courses of study. At that time, children were not permitted, as a rule, to live in the Ashram. In the early 1940s, a number of families were admitted to the Ashram and instruction was initiated for the children. On 2 December 1943, the Mother formally opened a school for about twenty children. She herself was one of the teachers. The number of pupils gradually increa

Part One ARTICLES In these articles I am trying to put into ordinary terms the whole yogic terminology, for these Bulletins are meant more for people who lead an ordinary life, though also for students of yoga – I mean people who are primarily inter- ested in a purely physical material life but who try to attain more perfection in their physical life than is usual in ordinary conditions. It is a very difficult task but it is a kind of yoga. These people call themselves “materialists” and they are apt to get agitated or irritated if yogic terms are used, so one must speak their language avoiding terms likely to shock them. But I have known

TESTS Sometime I would like to know, Mother, Your inten- tions with regard to regrouping these classes in the new year, whether with an examination or without. I consider an examination as quite necessary. In any case there will be one in French. My love and blessings.  29 October 1946 *   * It is not by conventional examinations that students can be selected for a class. It is only by developing in oneself the true psychological sense. Select children who want to learn, not those who want to push themselves forward.   29 October 1965 * (Concerning cheating in tests) What should I do? Must we do what is done out- side put three teac

Tournaments January, February, March and April are for us the months of tournaments. Small and big, all participate with the same ardour, but, I must say, not in the spirit of the ordinary competitors. For we always strive, not to win, but to play the best we can and open thus the way to a new progress. We are not aiming at success – our aim is perfection. We are not seeking fame or reputation; we want to prepare ourselves for a Divine manifestation. That is why we can boldly say: It is better to be than to seem. We need not appear to be good if our sincerity is perfect. And by perfect sincerity we mean that all our thoughts, feelings, sensations

Messages for the Annual Demonstration of Physical Culture Demonstration 1960 Bravo! To all those who participated in yesterday's performance! 1 It was excellent. My congratulations to everybody. Everything was well planned and well executed. With love and blessings to all.  November 1960   * Demonstration 1963 Yesterday I was with you all the time, with all the force and all the consciousness to help you and uphold you, I knew that the rain was a test which had to be overcome. You have done it victoriously and I am very happy about it. Let everyone know of my entire satisfaction. With my blessings.  3 December 1963 *

Religion and Occultism RELIGION God gives Himself to His whole creation; no one religion holds the monopoly of His Grace.                       Instead of excluding each other, religions ought to complete each other. The spiritual spirit is not contrary to a religious feeling of adoration, devotion and consecration. But what is wrong in the religions is the fixity of the mind clinging to one formula as an exclusive truth. One must always remember that formulas are only a mental expression of the truth and that this truth can always be expressed in many other ways. 6 December 1964 * You express your faith in Sri Aurobindo with certain words

DOCTORS AND MEDICINES Illnesses             Truth is supreme harmony and supreme delight.             All disorder, all suffering is falsehood.             Thus it can be said that illnesses are falsehoods of the body and, consequently, doctors are soldiers of the great and noble army fighting in the world for the conquest of Truth.             If we take the human body as a tabernacle of the Lord, then medical science becomes the ritual of worship and doctors the priests who officiate in the temple.             Thus considered, the medical career is priesthood and should be treated as such.             A broad mind, a generous heart, an u