"But...." "You think it was wrong to tell an untruth? Perhaps... but can't you imagine what would have happened if I had revealed my identity? The doctor would have informed the police right away and, amid general rejoicing, the police commissioner would have clapped me in irons and led me back to jail. The next day's papers would have carried dramatic headlines, such as 'Midnight arrest of Aurobindo Ghose while trying to escape!' Isn't that so? "Tell me, does it strike you as very strange that a Yogi should have taken recourse to falsehood? You see, there is such a thing as spiritual discernment, which is far above strict moral codes. And it is that which indicates

helped me beyond all expectations. Earlier it had been Mr. Drewett who had taught me personally, now it was the headmaster of St. Paul's who took me in hand. This, I have noticed, is one of the finer traits in the English character. If an Englishman grows fond of you or is impressed by you, he will go to any length to help you." "Didn't you feel lost and lonely among so many English boys?" asked Aurobindoprasad. "Why lonely? You mean because I was an Indian? But at that age one is not supposed to have all those notions about racial distinctions! Or perhaps I believed I was English myself, since I spoke like them, dressed like them, in every way I was like them - whe

several occasions some fun and enjoyment in the company of my 'boys'. Do you want to hear about my arrest?" Cries of 'Yes, yes,' rang out from all sides, while Sri Aurobindo sat smiling. "Listen, then. I have told you already, haven't I, how well I was sleeping that early morning after a long night's work, when suddenly the police barged in." "Did they handcuff you?" "Yes, and also tied a rope round my waist with which they pulled me behind them. But that was later removed at the insistence of the Moderate leader, Bhupen Basu." "Why don't you start the story from the beginning? Why did the police suddenly decide to arrest you?" "It was not sudden at

October 1936 I don't know if you want a separate report from me of D.L., apart from what I sent you through Pavitra. R surely writes everything and Pavitra tells you all. I have said that R doesn't agree with Valle's diagnosis and writes in today's report that it is "dyspeptic congestion of the colon"!! About Chlorodyne, Dr. Becharlal and I have given our opinion. The report you speak of has not reached me, so I don't know anythingabout the chlorodyne. There is a letter from R, but it gives only the general condition during the day (hyper-pyrexin and a crisis due to tympanitis), says that in spite of that there is some amelioration, Iunderstand from Pavitra

August 1938 T asks whether it is any more necessary to continue her special diet. She fears she will grow very fat. [Mother:] It is better if she goes on with her present diet for the moment. August 2, 1938 I seem to have an easier flow of inspiration now, but the product is not of such a superior quality, I don't find striking lines and expressions. Is it because of the ease of flow? Page-1136 Yes, partly. The ease is that of practice in this metrical form and a certain achieved level of style and flow. But that level is not one of constant striking lines and expressions — that is not possible without some effort — not effort of constructi

November 1937 J's eczema looks very well. . . Should we try Listerine now or see again with the present medicine, for the last time? [The Mother marked with a vertical line "or see... time?"] Yes, it is better. Jiban is better now. Dr. Becharlal says he can take a cup of cocoa in the morning. He can also take up his work from tomorrow. Jiban wants your sanction. Page-1019 Surely he can work now. It will do him good. November 2, 1937 Please look at Jiban well tomorrow; we want to know if his diet can be improved. On Sunday he seemed almost all right — Diet can be improved. November 3, 1937 . . . Shall we

July 1937 What do you think now of this piece. Sir? What do you think—fine, very fine, eh? Never mind what you say, I find it damn fine! Sir, I fully admit it. No need to bully me into assent with a damn. Amen! The revolution in rhythm is not my fault. Sometimes you allow truncations, sometimes you don't. What to do? Revolutions of rhythm must produce new rhythms, not no rhythm at all. In the other line ["A voice threading the dimness, faintly heard!"] is it "threading" or "threatening"? Threading, sir—why the deuce should there be a Pondicherry squabble, however faintly heard, in this business? July 1, 1937 [The follo

April 1938 Guru, D has suddenly stopped writing to me though it's two weeks since he went to Calcutta. . . I wrote in one of my short replies that I have nothing to write about. He might have taken it in a different light. But is he really as sensitive as all that? God! Quite possible with D. He might think that you mean "what a nuisance it is to have to write to this fellow" or "what can I find to write to a fellow like you?" Must be careful with D — and in fact with most people, if you can judge from the sadhaks here. April 2, 1938 Tomorrow I shall write D a mild, sweet letter. Alas. Guru. what you say is so true, so true! One has to be a perfect and co

Index Complete Index to Volumes 1 and 2 Abyssinia, 564, 584, 595, 597, 604, 702 Achilles, 249 Action/Activity, 83-4, 132 and right spirit, 1108 as part of sadhana, 41danger in every great attempt, 29, 94 fluctuating eternally, 684 three sources of, 252 see also Works; Karma-yoga Adhar Das, 341-3 Aeschylus, 355, 779,780 Affection, human, see Love, human affection Agarwal, R.S., 1065 Ahimsa, killing mosquitoes etc., 339 truth of, 225-6, 230 Allopathy, see Homeopathy, and allopathy Amal Kiran (K.. D. Sethna), ix, 333, 493-4, 507, 516, 895. 909,911,929,930, 931, 9

1937 Hirendranath Dutt, theosophist and philosopher, in one of his articles on Rāslīlā, asks why mystics and yogis use so much the imagery of passion, wine etc. in their description of experiences of Divine Love. Then he quotes Under-hill to say "... it [human love] most certainly does offer upon lower levels a strangely exact parallel to the sequence of states in which man's spiritual consciousness unfolds itself and which form the consummation of mystic life." I don't agree—unless it is a sadhana of the vital plane which then naturally expresses the vital being = love-excitement, love-quarrels, viraha,1 revolt, despair, rupture etc., etc., frequent surrenders, uni